Kennedy School art teacher Mitch Pearson, high-fives students as they enter the school on the first day of school Wednesday, August 15, 2007. School started Wednesday for elementary school children and with an orientation for high school sophomores.

Welcome back.

Thousands of Lawrence elementary students ended their summer vacations this morning and returned to the classroom.

Several said they were happy to rejoin their buddies.

“It’s fun. You get to play with your friends,” said Ebony Woods, 7, a second-grader at Kennedy School, 1605 Davis Road in southeastern Lawrence.

The students also met their teachers and administrators who have high hopes for another year.

Kennedy Principal Felton Avery said he was looking for a big academic year from students and teachers.

“We think that reading is the backbone of all subjects and that’s what will be our major focus this year,” Avery said.

Seventh-graders at West, Southwest and Central junior high schools and Free State and Lawrence High sophomores also returned this morning for orientation sessions to help get acclimated to their new schools before a full day Thursday.

Because of ongoing construction at the campus in the 2700 block of Louisiana Street, kindergarten through sixth-grade students at Broken Arrow Elementary School do not start until Friday. South Junior High students head back Monday.