First day of school a success in Wilson County

Teachers at Springfield Middle School in Wilson County were working hard to make sure students' first day back at school was special and safe.

All of the nearly 480 students were wearing a mask inside the building.

Some things didn't quite go the way as planned — the morning bell didn't ring, for example. But, the school said they'll get that fixed.

In the hallway, Principal Marquis Spell pointed students, confused about their schedules, to the right elective classes.

"Everything was the same. The only difference, we have our face covered," Spell said.

In Aaron Edmundson's music class, the kids clapped their hands and shook their feet. The rhythm sounded better in-person, compared to virtual learning.

"The excitement level from everybody is just a little bit higher," Edmundson said.

After electives, children piled together in the cafeteria, masks off, feasting on chicken fajitas and meatball subs.

Somewhere in the crowd is seventh grader Reed Haynes, who was hungry for the real school experience again.

"I'm very glad because it was kind of boring last year when we were virtual because you don't get to see your friends, and you kind of get lazy, because you're there all day," he said.

Assistant Superintendent Ben Williams said sanitizing practices are vigorous as ever.

"They're not new for us. We've been doing them," he said. "We were doing them at the end of school last year, so it's really a continuation of what we've been doing."

Before students knew it, 3:30 p.m. rolled around. It's a good start to what everyone hopes will be a normal year, masks not withstanding.