Prairie Park school counselor Ed Barnhart, left, greets Zachary Signor, 5, on his first day as a kindergartner at school Wednesday. With Zachary is his mother, Angela Signor. First through 7th-graders and high school sophomores had their first day at school today.

Most Lawrence public school students are back in the classroom Wednesday for the 2009-2010 school year.

Grades one through six, seven and 10 zipped up their backpacks and went off to their respective schools.

The high school juniors and seniors and eighth and ninth graders will join the other students starting Thursday.

New leadership this school year includes Superintendent Rick Doll, Lawrence High School Principal Matt Brungardt and Sunflower School Principal Sue Hosey.

This year, the Lawrence school calendar ends before Memorial Day, with the last day of classes for grades seven through nine being May 24 and all other students wrapping up on May 25.