FARMINGTON — Regional School Unit 9 Superintendent Tom Ward said it was a great opening day for students and staff in the district Wednesday.

“I went to every school and classroom in the school district,” he said. “Students and staff are all very happy and excited to get the new year going.”

The fifth-grade classrooms are averaging 25 students, he said, and are being closely monitored.

“We had a great opening day with staff, and it looks like we are with students as well,” he said.

Students in kindergarten through grade nine attended Wednesday, with sophomores, juniors and seniors scheduled to start Thursday.

Children waiting at a school bus stop in Wilton on Wednesday morning were excited but a little nervous on the first day back from summer vacation.

Nastya, 8, and Yuri Varuolo, 6, waited with their parents Marina and Jay Varuolo of Wilton. Jay Varuolo grew up in Wilton but it was a new experience for their children, since they have only been in the country about a month.

Two other children, Dasani Dupree, 10, and Aryona Weaver, 8, and her mother, Amanda Lake, also waited at the stop.

The children said they were excited, though one of the older children said it was scary as well.

Marina Varuolo translated a question to her children, who speak Russian.

“We’re kind of scared because of the language,” she said, because they will be the only foreign students in the Wilton schools.

The bus came around the corner, stopped and off the children went for their first day.

Students and staff will have a long weekend with Friday and Monday off. All students, including prekindergarten, return to school Tuesday, Sept. 6.

 dperry@sunmediagroup.net