BARNESVILLE — School started Thursday for Barnesville students, and their principals reflected on the first day of classes during the Barnesville Exempted Village School District Board of Education meeting that evening.

Elementary school Principal Clinton Abbott said the first day went smoothly for the district’s youngest students, and kindergarten and preschool classes will start soon.

“Kindergarten screening continues through Aug. 21, and then the kindergartens will start on the 22, and then preschool is just a day behind,” he said.

Abbott also said the students enjoyed their new playground.

“The playground today, man, great success. Those kids, they were having a great time. Some of the aides told me that they didn’t have to really watch the kids that much because they spread out, they were playing very well together.

“That obstacle course area — I think at one point there were 30 kids just on that alone, just playing,” he said.

Abbott said he was glad to see many familiar faces returning to school.

“We really are only replacing one staff member. All the aides came back. They all know they’re working with the same similar kids, just a great start, and we appreciate everyone’s help,” he said.

Overall, Abbott said that he enjoyed going back to school.

“It was a really good day. From my years here, this was probably the best opening day that I’ve had. Everything went well,” he said.

Middle school Principal Casey Mayo said that school staff are working with students to update their schedules. He said that when students start middle school, they have more control over their schedules and can choose electives.

“Unfortunately, not a lot of kids are open to telling us what they want to do right off the bat, and the reality of it is that it usually takes a few days until the parent reaches out and tries to make some change,” he said.

Mayo explained that he tries to give students two study hall periods, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. He said students can take electives in place of a study hall period. Students can have a maximum of three study hall periods as part of their schedule.

“We have a lot of kids that are able to do band and choir as well as the specials, but again, they want a study hall that we have to work around. So there are some things that we’re working through but as you know, they’ve really worked hard to try to find that empty window for them,” he said.

Mayo also said he has posted reminders about the school’s cellphone and clothing policies, and he has received positive feedback from parents about the policies.

“Just quick reminders, you know, shorts have to be fingertip length, no belly shirts, things like that,” he said.

Mayo said the first day of school went well other than dealing with conflicts in students’ schedules.

High school Principal Ron Clark said the enrollment for the high school is higher than in previous years.

“In the building, we have 369 kids. Include our JVS kids and full-time CCP (College Credit Plus) kids and it goes up to 405,” he said.

Clark said that the school currently has 113 freshmen.

Clark said the high school will be hosting an activities fair on Aug. 28 where students can sign up for different school clubs and organizations.

“That’s something that we started last year, we saw an increase in our student participation in those extracurriculars. So we’re gonna go ahead and do that again this year, and allow us an opportunity for kids to sort of walk around the gym and talk to the club advisers and find out what the different clubs are about and sign up,” he said.

For more information about Barnesville schools, visit bevsd.org.

The board meets at 5:30 p.m. the third Thursday of each month in the Barnesville Middle School cafetorium.