Area school divisions are gearing up for the start of the 2013-2014 academic year, with students returning to the classroom in Gloucester and Mathews counties on Tuesday.

In Gloucester

Gloucester County Public Schools expects to welcome about 5,400 students to its eight campuses when school opens Tuesday. The school division had just under 5,500 students at the end of the last school year.

This week, teachers have been back at work readying classrooms and preparing to greet parents and students during open house events. The faculties include 41 brand new employees who met each other, school administrators and their assigned mentors during an orientation session Monday at the Gloucester Library. 

The open house events end this evening and include open house at Page Middle School from 4 to 7 p.m. Open house for grades two through five are also this evening, with hours from 4:30 to 6:30 at Achilles, Botetourt and Petsworth Elementary; from 5 to 7 at Abingdon and from 6 to 7...