There were smiles, high-fives and a feeling of optimism as students returned to the classroom Monday in the Northern Lehigh School District.

Interim Superintendent Jack Corby described the first day of classes as "an incredible day.""I've been in education now for 36 years, and first days are always one of my favorite days," Corby said. "There were smiles all over the place, teachers, kids, parents. Their heart and soul was in it."That was across the board, added Corby, who said he attended every building in the district."Things went well," he said. "I'm so proud of our transportation department, they're the first to pick up the kids; you could tell the excitement was right from the get-go."At the high school, students were offered Grab 'N Go Breakfast, stuffed shells, steamed carrots, a dinner roll, and their choice of fruit, juice or milk, with an alternate of daily selection of entries; the menu was the same at the middle school, where the alternate was a grilled chicken wrap; and cereal, stuffed shells, steamed carrots, a dinner roll, and their choice of fruit, juice or milk, where the alternate was a grilled chicken wrap.Corby said there were 1,595 students enrolled in the district. Of those, 120 were kindergarten students."Administrative staff, teachers, instructional aides, our volunteers, you could tell they had their heart and soul (into it), and am confident it will continue throughout the year," he said.