Holley Kidd and her son Levi Kidd, 8, have their photo taken outside of Stanton-Smith Elementary School in Whitehouse on the first day back to school from summer vacation Wednesday Aug. 16, 2017. (Sarah A. Miller/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

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Music blared and students ran through a field of bubbles on their way to class at Stanton Smith Elementary School.

More than 600 students poured into the halls of Stanton Smith eager to learn at the start of Whitehouse ISD’s school year, where almost 5,000 students returned to class on Wednesday morning.

Principal Sterling Haskell said the students and staff were excited and ready to live up to the high marks awarded last year with a Blue Ribbon School nomination.

Blue Ribbon School nominations are given by the U.S. Department of Education to campuses that model academic excellence or make great strides in closing achievement gaps.

“We’re just overwhelmed with excitement,” fifth-grade teacher Amy Cooksy said.

Before heading to her own homeroom, Cooksy helped students find their classrooms and eased parents’ fears about the first day of class.

“I think dropping them off is harder on the parents, especially in pre-K and kindergarten,” Haskell said.

When Kalvin Dryman’s mother walked him to class, he knew what to do and where to go.

As a student in Cooksy’s homeroom, Kalvin would be changing classes throughout the day for the first time.

“I’m excited about where I’m going next,” he said. “I don’t even know what class I’m going to. I’m going to have fun.”

Kalvin settled in and opened a letter from the student who occupied his desk last year. The letter outlined tips and tricks to make his fifth-grade year successful.

The most important suggestions, according to Kalvin, were to listen to the teacher and to work hard.

Superintendent Christopher Moran said the district expects to grow by about 1.5 percent once all the new students are fully enrolled.

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