It is that time of year again for students in Escambia County. Time to say goodbye to summer jobs and activities and hit the books once again as school officially began Monday morning.

As is the case with most new school years, kids around the county are getting used to new classes, new teachers and the new grade that gets them one step closer to graduation day.

At Escambia County High School, third-year Principal Zickeyous Byrd said everything was running smoothly.

“It’s been good today,” Byrd said Monday. “We’re back at it.”

Byrd said ECHS faculty and staff will be using the first days of school to let the students get settled in before activities, assemblies and other programs get started.

“We’re just taking it slow,” he said. “We’ll get started with some new things a little later on.”

Around town, other Atmore schools began the new year with new principals. At A.C. Moore Elementary School, John Brantley takes over for long-time principal David Nolan and Cindy Jackson has stepped in as interim principal at Rachel Patterson Elementary School, replacing Susan McKenzie who has been named principal at W.S. Neal Elementary School.