After putting down pencils and picking up Wiffle ball bats and popsicles for the last couple months, students and parents made their way back to Swampscott’s three schools Wednesday morning for the first day of the 2026-27 school year.

At Swampscott Elementary School, students were greeted by tall balloon arches as they eagerly raced through the doors to begin a new journey. But for many, those efforts were delayed as parents wanted to snap one last photo before saying goodbye for the day.

“The first day of school is another fresh start,” said Superintendent Jason Calichman. “The beauty of working in schools and being a student is that every year you can sort of reinvent yourself and do a little better than last year, in and out of the classroom.

Calichman started his day at the elementary school, greeting students, waving to parents dropping off their children and even helping direct traffic.

“There’s a buzz about the schools right now,” he said. “There’s a great energy around all three of the schools and we’re hoping this will be the best year yet.”

The excited look on children’s faces as they arrived is something Calichman said he wants to see through the end of the school year.

“I want happy kids and happy staff who want to come to school every single day, that are learning and challenging themselves and doing the best they can,” said Calichman. “That’s the most important thing to me. We want to see the same thing day two and day 180.”

Calichman said for administrators and staff, the first day of school is like their Super Bowl.

For some of the younger students who were a little more hesitant to get back into the swing of things, seeing Sora, School Resource Officer Brian Wilson’s black Lab companion, offered a little extra comfort. Many stopped to say hello and give Sora a quick pet before heading inside.

“The dog loves the kids, and it’s weird not being around the kids when that’s what we do all day so I’m happy to be back with the kids,” said Wilson, who said the summer felt short but is excited to get back into the routine of the school year.

By just before 8 a.m., all students had made their way inside and the school day was officially underway. Elementary School Principal Lori Sanborn was impressed with how smoothly the drop-off process went, especially for the first day of school.

“I came out here and I had a line of kids already waiting to get in. We love how excited they are, and I’m just as excited too,” said Sanborn.

After spending the 2024-25 school year adjusting to the change of combining three elementary schools into one, Sanborn said it’s nice to see everyone now knows one another and has grown comfortable in the new elementary school.

“Last year we started making improvements, and now it’s such a good feeling,” said Sanborn.

Watching the students happily roll in on the first day means everything, Sanborn said.

“Them being happy means everything to me,” said Sanborn. “I love these kids.”