Walton County schools back in session (PHOTOS)

Eleven-year-old Jessica Anth waited in the front office of Emerald Coast Middle School.

She had recently moved to the area from Georgia and said the anticipation of the morning had her tossing and turning the night before.

“I’m nervous and excited,” the sixth grader said. “I’m really excited to meet new friends.”

Guidance counselor Marie Laurino called Jessica’s name and draped her arm around the small girl’s shoulders to direct her to her first class of the day.

“As soon as she got in her classroom her eyes welled up,” Laurino said later. “The first day is really hard.”

For more photos from Emerald Coast Middle School, click here.

To check out Bay Elementary, click here.

For the first day at Van R. Butler, click here.

Anth was one of thousands of Walton County students who started a new school year Thursday. Okaloosa students returned last week, while Santa Rosa County schools resume Aug. 23.

At Van R. Butler Elementary School, parents, children and teachers hurried through the front office trying to get ready before the first bell’s ring sounded off.

Curriculum coach Meg Fette stood inside beside the front door and greeted the nervous children and near-weepy parents.

She said her favorite part about the first day of school is seeing the children in their bright, white tennis shoes toting new backpacks with unsharpened pencils in hand.

“They’re all feeling anticipation and excitement and, I think, a little bit of fear,” Fette said in between directing the early-morning traffic. “So far we haven’t had any criers. It helps that the parents walk out very slowly.”

In the parking lot of the joint middle school and elementary school, two women hugged each and wept, their cameras held to the side.

Jessica’s mom, Diane Anth said she would likely cry once she got to her car.

“In the beginning it’s a little nerve racking,” Anth said. “I think once we get through the initial part we should be good.”