Children stepped off yellow buses and into their first day of school last Wednesday, Sept. 3.

The brisk, sunny summer morning saw some youngsters bummed to see their long vacation over, but many who were also pumped up, racing through school doors.

“I love those smiling faces,” said Fall City Elementary Principal Dan Schlotfeld. “They’re excited to see their teachers and meet their friends.”

The first day of school at Fall City went off without a hitch. It’s a honeymoon period, Schlotfeld said, with children all simply excited to get going.

For parents with kindergartners, the moment is a little tough. Cascade View Elementary planned “boo-hoo” coffee gatherings for parents the first day of kindergarten, Sept. 8, said Principal Tim Nootenboom.

But many parents are also good and ready for their children to head back to school.

“It’s exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time,” said mom Treena Puente of Fall City. She came to see her daughter Naomi, who is almost 7 years old, off to her first day of class, with Naomi’s little sister Sophie in tow.

At Cascade View, Ram Rathnam took photos of his son, fourth-grader Vishnu, as he followed his teacher off to class.

“I’m pretty excited,” said Vishnu’s mother, Chitra Rathnam. “They are also excited. I hope it will be a good year.”

First week totals showed there are about 5,835 students in the district this year. That’s up from 5,636 students at around this time in 2007, district spokeswoman Carolyn Malcolm said.