Area elementary and high schools welcomed back students this week.

Libby School District has an estimated 1,162 students this year, 624 in the elementary, 172 in the middle school, and 366 in the high school, according to Libby Public Schools superintendent Craig Barringer. Troy W.F. Morrison Elementary has an estimated 182 students and Troy High School has an estimated 177 students, according to elementary principal Diane Rewerts.

Wednesday was the first day of school for most Libby and Troy students, who had all summer to prepare and build anticipation for the 2016-17 school year.

On Tuesday, both school districts held open houses for students and parents to get acquainted with the school and the new teachers.

Many students were excited to see their friends again, including Troy first-grader Eric Stanton, who ran and hugged his friend and fellow first-grader Emily Sentell when they saw each other on Tuesday. The pair were also very excited to find out that they’d been assigned to sit next to each other during class.

Taryn Greene, a fourth grader at W.F. Morrison Elementary in Troy said that she’s excited to learn new things this year. Math is her favorite subject because she said, “I like how you get to answer stuff.”

Some of the students said on Tuesday that they had their first-day outfits planned out. One student said she was planning to wear her red velvet dress and third-grader Aedynn Thomas said she’s going to wear her new country dress.

Libby kindergarten students will begin class next Tuesday, Sep. 6.

Reporter Bethany Rolfson may be reached at 293-4124 or by email at reporter@thewesternnews.com