Cole Middle School Principal Alexis Meyer was pleased with the outcome of the first day of the new middle school. In fact, her only complaint was a pair of aching feet from tramping up and down stairs for the last week.

"Everything went very well," she said. "We had an opening ceremony with Jay Gowell [Building Committee chairman] and Superintendent Mercurio making short speeches and then we got everyone to classes."

A small squad of police were on hand for when school let out, headed by Sgt. John Carter. They made sure that buses got into the school parking lot while parents queued-up along the section of Cedar Avenue just west of the school. After the buses had left, parents were directed into the entrance to pick up their children.

"We were very happy with how everything went today," said Vice Principal Vin Verrecchione after school. "We made the schedule and kind of anticipated something would go wrong, but nothing did."

"The kids were really excited, and you can't beat 'em so join them," said science teacher Kelly Grennan-Smith about the atmosphere during the first day of classes in the new building.

Students funneled to their various teams, then were escorted around the new building Monday morning.

"Everything's new so you have to teach expectations," Grennan-Smith said after school. "They're curious, so you can't stifle that."

She let each of her students twirl on the roller chairs then laid down the rule: No horseplay with the chairs.

Math teacher Julie Wortmann said she found the entire atmosphere of the new building calming. She liked the timing of the move as well.

"It was nice to come back from vacation and be excited," she said.

There will be an open house for anyone interested in seeing the new space on Wednesday starting at 7 p.m.

With reports from Elizabeth F. McNamara.