&uot;It’s been fantastic today. It’s been like we were never gone. Everybody came in and knew exactly where to go and had all their supplies and went straight to their rooms.&uot;

Those were the excited words of Tricia Corbett, principal of Vincent Elementary School, on the first official day of school for the only year-round school program in Shelby County. Vincent schools welcomed the return of students July 28.

Corbett explained that supplies, meeting new teachers and other details were worked out before the end of the last school year to make the transition easier on students.

Corbett said Vincent Elementary began the first day of school with 449 students, a number, she said, which is slightly down.

She said the school had an enrollment of 490 students at the end of the school year.

However, Corbett said this school year actually started a week earlier than normal.

Usually, she said, Vincent Elementary has nine weeks on and three weeks off, but due to the state graduation exam schedule, this year the school had nine weeks on and two weeks off