The voice of principal Joanne Meehan drifted across the McDowell Mountain Elementary School campus.

“Good morning on this beautiful first day of school, Aug. 5, 2013,” Meehan said.

She then went on to discuss the importance good manners before breaking into the rest of the day’s announcements.

It was just after 8:45 a.m. and the 2013-14 school year was officially underway.

Students were milling around the McDowell Mountain playgrounds just minutes before. Some were standing in lines, eager to get to their first day of class. Some were saying goodbye to mom and dad, portraying varying degrees of excitement and shyness. The majority, though, were running around with their friends, happily swinging, sliding and sharing stories from their summer vacations.

When asked how the first day of school went this year, Meehan smiled and said, quite simply, “smooth as silk.”

“Nobody got lost, everybody knew where they belonged. It was really nice,” Meehan said.

“I only saw one child crying and there were no signs of sobbing parents,” she added with a chuckle.

“It’s going to be the best year ever.”

It was a similar scene over at the Fountain Hills Charter School bright and early on Monday morning. Children dropped off their backpacks and supplies in the classrooms before running out to the playground to visit with friends. Before the first bell, everyone joined in the morning rendition of the National Anthem and the Pledge of Allegiance.

“The first day was great,” said Principal Karyn Miller.

“The kids were so excited. They had missing teeth, they were taller, had new haircuts and back to school clothes. It was perfect.”