Mathews County School Board member Lanell Jarvis, at right, bends down to chat with a Lee-Jackson Elementary School student as she prepares to start her first day of classes on Tuesday morning. Judy Martin, the school's 2012 Teacher of the Year, gets all the students in line as they get off the bus. Photo by Charlie Koenig

Gloucester County Public Schools opened its doors to children Tuesday to begin the 2012-2013 school session. Above, Botetourt Elementary School teacher Julie Johnson shared a story with her classroom full of kindergartners while school division superintendent Chuck Wagner quietly observed. Photo by Kim Robins

Parents and school staff members were still working on scheduling and transportation logistics Tuesday as Gloucester County Public Schools opened for the 2012-2013 school session.

"It went very well. We had a real good day, I think, by all measures," GCPS superintendent Ben Kiser said of opening day. "Overall, students and teachers seemed to be excited about being back."

Kiser said one bus headed to Peasley Middle School was delayed Tuesday after getting stuck in some mud while turning around on its route. He said the bus had to be towed out but eventually made it to Peasley. He also noted the arrivals and departures went smoothly at Gloucester High School and Page Middle School, which share the same campus and changed to the same operating schedules this fall.

Due largely to a change in protocol at GHS, where students no longer have a "home room," Kiser said there was not an accurate attendance count for the first day of school. He said Wednesday’s count, which was not available at press time, would be a more accurate figure. School officials had anticipated about 5,674 students for the beginning of the school year.

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