NEELYVILLE, Mo. -- As students poured into the Neelyville campus for the first day of school Wednesday, faculty and students seemed excited for the new year and the longer-day, shorter-year school calendar.
Seventh and eighth grade teacher Traci Reinbott was on parking lot duty during what turned out to be a calm first day of school.
"They've all come in, they're smiling like they're happy to be here," she said.
Reinbott is one of the teachers looking forward to the new schedule.
"I think the longer days are going to be very beneficial for students," she said, adding many teachers and students are looking forward to an early May release date following testing in late April.
"When we do the MAP testing ... the older kids especially, feel like they're finished," Reinbott continued. "This way we take our MAP test and we really are kind of done. I think that the 30 minutes extra at the end of each day can be more beneficial than the extra time at the end of the year."
Senior Chelsie Kovach, who said she's most looking forward to graduation and playing basketball and softball in her last year, is also looking forward to the new schedule.
"I like it because we get out sooner in the year," she said.
Junior Cathryn Bratton agreed the new schedule is "better because we get out of school earlier."
Others weren't so sure.
"We're a little ambivalent about it just because it's new," said Candy Dugas, parent and PTO treasurer.
Dugas' son, Hunter, began his first day at the Neelyville campus.
"He's a little nervous this morning because he's coming from Hillview to Neelyville," Candy Dugas said.
Hunter is excited about the new recess schedule, though, she added. Candy Dugas said she also liked the new lunch program, which offers students more choices.
Students aren't the only ones making transitions this year. Speech implementor Jaennetta Scott previously worked with lower elementary students but has now moved to the Neelyville campus to work with fifth through 12th graders.
"I am excited about working with the older children," Scott said. She also agrees with the new schedule, which will allow students to "finish out the day better."
Curriculum director Janet Davis said it is not unusual for students to be nervous about the shift from Hillview to Neelyville. Fortunately the district assigned teachers at the end of last year, and students learned who their teachers would be on their final report cards. Open houses held Sunday and Monday also helped students adjust to the new school year.
"The kids get to see their room, where they're going to sit," Davis said. "It makes the first day easier for them."
Fifth and sixth grade students switch classes for reading, English, science and math, and while some need time to adjust, Davis believes it leads to a "gentler transition" to junior high and high school.
Fifth grader Sierra Larson said switching classes was "fun" as she and friend Adrianna Newcomb waited in the hall to go to their next class. Both said they're looking forward to their favorite subject - math - and prefer switching classes to staying in the same room.
Superintendent Brad Hagood started the day at the Hillview campus, where Neelyville R-IV kindergarten through second graders attend school. While tears aren't uncommon for younger students, Hagood said he didn't' see any himself.
"Things went pretty well," he said. "They went pretty smooth."
When Hagood greeted students and asked them if they were ready for the school year, he received mixed responses.
"There were some excited," he said. "There were some that were nervous."
"Some would shake their heads and hug mom's leg," Hagood added.
Among both campuses, no major problems were reported. While administrators were still enrolling students Wednesday morning, elementary enrollment was at 306 and seventh through 12th grade enrollment was at 306 as well.