Children with new backpacks, hoes and pencils arrived at Cape Girardeau public schools this morning to begin a new school year.

"Things have gone great," said Dr. Dan Tallent, Cape Girardeau superintendent.

First-day enrollment was 4,120 students, down a couple of hundred from last year. But Tallent said that number will grow over the week.

Traditionally, the first day of classes sees a low head count. By next week a more accurate enrollment figure will be available.

Kindergarteners arriving for their first day of school arrived for a first in the Cape Girardeau School District: all-day kindergarten.

Jim Watkins, principal at Franklin Elementary School, said that when lunchtime rolled around one first-grade student put on a backpack and was ready to head home, but all the kindergarteners knew they were staying all day.

"I think it went very well," Watkins said. "We had the normal kindergarteners and first-graders who have been home and didn't really want to stay, but by 10:30 or 11 a.m., that was all over."

A smooth start of school takes plenty of preparation.

Tallent said, "Our maintenance folks have been working all summer getting things ready."

Principals and clerical staff also work weeks in advance to make sure schedules are set and teachers plan ahead to make sure everything is prepared for the first day.

"Everyone got to school on time with the bus routes," Tallent said. "It's gone smoothly."