By Jessica Coleman -- Daily Staff Writer

FRONT ROYAL — The first day of school in Warren County brought with it excitement and mild anxiety for kindergartners and parents at Ressie Jeffries Elementary School.

Monday was also the first day of classes for Clarke County Public Schools.

On the kindergarten hall at Ressie Jeffries, teachers were buzzing with excitement as they prepared to meet their new pupils. The doors to brightly colored rooms were flung open, revealing miniature desks and chairs labeled with each individual's name.

"We try to keep it as low-key as possible," said Katie Dodson, a kindergarten teacher. "It always ends up being exciting anyway."

New kindergartners, escorted by older siblings, school staff members or parents, searched for their respective classrooms. Children run the spectrum of emotions on the first day, Dodson said.

"It depends on the kid," she said. "Some of them come in and are fine. Others it takes a little longer."

Kindergarten teacher Heather Lupton agreed. She said the first day was mostly about learning the rules and where everything is.

"It's just learning a new routine for most kids," Lupton said.

For parents, however, the transition can be a bit more difficult, she added.

"It's a hard day," Lupton said. "A lot of tears usually on the first day, mostly from the parents."

Most parents on the kindergarten hall carried digital cameras to effectively capture the Kodak moment. Others walked down the hall wiping their eyes as they left their precious children at school for the first time.

Jordyn Hupman, whose mom is a bus driver, stayed on the school bus until his mother could leave and walk her into her class, although Jordyn was more than willing to go in by herself.

"It's my last baby," said Jordyn's mom, Michelle Hupman. "I'm going to be alone during the day now."

Other parents were surprised at how well their children adjusted to new surroundings.

"I thought there was going to be more drama, but he just walked right in," said Jennifer Berry, whose son, Dylan, was starting school in Dodson's class. She stood watching from the doorway as he settled in.

"I'm good because she's good," said Jennifer Berry, watching her daughter, Morgan, walk into her kindergarten class. "My baby's going to school."

And some parents who would be in the same building as their kindergartners still found the milestone daunting. Dave Cramer, a fifth-grade teacher at Ressie Jeffries, walked his daughter, Kaitlyn, to her class before beginning his own first day of school this year.

"I was OK until last night, and then we got a little upset," he said. "I did. She didn't."

Warren County Superintendent Pamela McInnis said attendance for the first day was 5,097, 38 fewer than last year, although she attributed the decline to beginning the school year before Labor Day. She said she thinks many pupils may still be on vacation and expects the number to rise soon.

Clarke County Public Schools estimated its first-day attendance at 2,179 pupils.

Everything went "very smooth," said Assistant Superintendent Matt Eberhardt. "Except for your normal kid who forgot a lunch or missed a bus," everything was very orderly, he said.

* Contact Jessica Coleman at jcoleman@nvdaily.com