Pinecrest Academy’s middle and upper schools started back to school Thursday.

As the bell rang to announce the next period, noise filled the empty hallways, followed by smiling faces. Lockers slammed as books were grabbed and students headed to their next class on Thursday afternoon.

Teachers greeted their former students, and new teachers introduced themselves with a quick biography at the start of class.

Though most classes only reviewed objectives per their syllabi, some teachers got a head start on the new school year with a quick review of previously learned material.

Some of the students were absent on the first day of class, as they were preparing to fly overseas for the World Youth Day Festival in Madrid next week; in which Pope Benedict XVI will be present.

Though the students will be absent, they were asked to stay on top of their studies and were assigned homework to complete while gone.

The middle school boys had a special discussion about Madrid during their Spanish class, as it pertained to the upcoming event.

Here is a look at the first day of school at Pinecrest Academy in Cummng through our series of photographs.