NORWAY — Retiring Guy E. Rowe School Principal George Sincerbeaux wore a Donald Duck tie and a big smile Wednesday morning as he welcomed some 450 students.

SAD 17 schools opened for students in kindergarten, grades one to seven, and grade nine Wednesday. The remainder of the students start school Thursday.

Wearing a green, short-sleeve shirt with a brightly colored Donald Duck tie, his Boston Red Sox hat, and carrying a notebook, Sincerbeaux, known simply as “Bo” to many, began his 39th and final year with the district.

“It’s busy but I love it. It’s what I love the most,” Sincerbeaux said as he whirled from one side to the next welcoming walkers by name with a high five or brief quip.

“I’ll take a high five on that,” he said to one youngster who sported a Babe Ruth cap.

“You! I thought I just got rid of you,” he said with a big smile to another student.

Sincerbeaux was appointed principal in 2001 after serving many years in other schools throughout the state and in Vermont. He will retire next June.

Sincerbeaux joined other principals in the district and staff, including close to 70 new hires, in welcoming children back to the classroom.

Superintendent Rick Colpitts said opening day went smoothly.

“It went very well,” he said. The Oxford Hills Middle School campuses on Madison Avenue in Oxford and Pine Street in Paris were off to a good start, he said. Students and staff at both sites spent the day getting to know each other through team-building activities.

Transportation was a little behind schedule but went “as well as could be expected on opening day,” Colpitts said.

“The teachers seem very upbeat about the new school year,” he said.

On Thursday, students in grades eight, 10, 11 and 12 will return for their first day of classes.

ldixon@sunjournal.com