Summer vacation officially ended for Wareham students in grades one through 12 on Tuesday, but Superintendent Kimberly Shaver-Hood says you wouldn't know it.

"It looks like we've been in school for a month," said Shaver-Hood, who stopped by each of the district's schools on Tuesday morning. "Kids are in classrooms, they're working, they're taking little tours. It's just been very smooth."

The School Committee over the summer hired Shaver-Hood to lead the district. She replaced Barry Rabinovitch, who retired.

Shaver-Hood called her first day with students in the classroom "fun," and noted: "The kids are excited. They're ready to start school. They're very eager and it's a nice thing."

The redesigned Wareham Public Schools website, www.warehamps.org, launched on Tuesday with a clean look, loads of information, and places to anonymously report problems on buses and bullying incidents.

"We're excited about that," she said, explaining that she encourages parents to share their comments and suggestions about the website and the district as a whole.

Shaver-Hood can be reached via e-mail at kshaver-hood@wareham.k12.ma.us or at her office in the Multi-Service Center at 508-291-3500.

Kindergartners head to school on September 10. Here's what's happening throughout the district!

From Wareham High

Principal Scott Palladino said the school year is off to a good start.

"We changed a few things up this year," he noted, adding: "So far, so good."

Among the changes is the procedure for bus drop-off. Buses are now letting students off at the entrance to the cafeteria, rather than at the front of the school. The change eased up traffic at the front, making it easier for parents to drop off students.

There are also some changes in school security. Students will be required to wear photo IDs on lanyards. Students are having their photos taken, and the system is expected to be in place by the end of this week, said Palladino.

Palladino also noted that there are a lot of new teachers at Wareham High School this year, as many seasoned teachers retired.

"It was a great year for hiring for us at the high school," Palladino said. "We've got a lot of really qualified new teachers."

From Wareham Middle

It was Principal Ellen Bankston's first day at the helm with students in the school, and she was thrilled.

"I've been here all summer working with lots of people ... but it really takes the students to make the buzz in the school that's supposed to be there, so for me, it was really exciting," said Bankston.

Bankston replaced Howard Gilmore, who retired over the summer.

Always big for new middle-schoolers is getting lockers open. Bankston gave kudos to the middle school staff, who stopped to help students throughout the day with the pesky combination locks.

"I had a student who actually came to find me because he opened it on his first try," the principal said. "I had met him over the summer and he was so excited."

The middle school welcomed new fifth- and sixth-grade students this year, and Bankston said all seemed to be adjusting well on the first day.

"Students were really engaged in what was going on," she said. "And teachers were spending times in their teams to set procedures and expectations."

From the John W. Decas School

At the John W. Decas School in West Wareham, Principal Christine Panarese says Tuesday was a "great first day."

"Students were excited that they would not be in the portables, and grade 3 students were thrilled that they were in the 'upper class hallway,'" Panarese said, explaining that with fifth-graders now at the middle school, the staff was able to reconfigure the school for its best use.

"While we miss our [fifth-grade] students, I must say it was a pleasure to see the library not used as a classroom and the lunch times not overcrowded," the principal said.

Panarese thanked the parent volunteers who worked diligently to get the school's new reading program materials ready for the school year and to make sure the playground's new swing set was up and ready for the first day of school.

"Without the help of these parents and community helpers, children would not have had these resources ready to use," said Panarese. "We are so grateful and fortunate to have such wonderful Decas volunteers."

Panarese also thanked her staff.

"All our staff and students are so excited with this new school year and are looking forward to expanding our collaborative partnerships within and outside our community," the principal noted. "Both children and staff came in with happy faces and left with happy faces."

Another "Community Build" for the Decas playground will take place on Sunday, September 22. Stay tuned for details!

From Minot Forest Elementary

Across town at Minot Forest, Principal Joan Seamans said Day 1 went smoothly.

"I think the first day went really well," she said. "The students came in, we made sure we knew where they were going at the end of the day," and they were off to their new classrooms.

Seamans said she is excited to be implementing a district-wide program called Positive Behavior Intervention Support, in which positive behavior is encouraged and then rewarded.

"The ultimate goal is to reduce discipline by praising the positives," Seamans explained.

The program was embraced on the first day.

"The students walking in the hallways were so quiet, just from the teachers telling them about it," said Seamans.

"It's just great to have everybody back," the principal continued. "It was a really great start."