They had an extra bounce to their step and a twinkle in their eye.

Indeed, Slatington Elementary pupils who arrived for the first day of classes in the Northern Lehigh School District Tuesday morning certainly looked the part.Decked out in their neat attire and equipped with backpacks draped over their shoulders, the students were greeted by faculty members who welcomed their return.Principal Linda Marcincin said she couldn't have scripted a better initiation for the first day of school."We had an excellent start to the school year," Marcincin said. "The day went as planned."Marcincin said she observed the pupils as they sat through assemblies."The kids were eager to see their teachers," she said. "We had a perfect start to a new school year."Superintendent Michael Michaels described the start as having gone "extremely smooth.""There's always going to be one or two scheduling glitches," Michaels said. "We've got to get the parents and the kids back into the routine of things."Michaels said the few minor transportation issues shouldn't take long to work through.The day will not only go down as the official start to another year full of excitement, but also as one where old friendships were renewed and new acquaintances formed.