Old Lyme ― Mile Creek School Principal Kelly Enoch stood at a side door with her goldendoodle Isla Thursday morning greeting students as they went inside to find their classrooms on the first day of school.

Regional School District 18, comprising Lyme and Old Lyme, was the first school district in the region to begin classes.

At Mile Creek, which houses students in kindergarten through grade 5, teachers and assistants greeted the children as their parents dropped them off in the circular driveway. The faculty and staff helped the kids out of cars and as they stepped off buses, which arrived later than expected.

In one classroom, first grade children were busy putting away their backpacks and snacks and meeting their teachers and classmates.

Other schools in the area are scheduled to open next week or after Labor Day. Classes begin Aug. 28 in East Lyme, Aug. 30 in Groton, Montville, Preston, North Stonington and Waterford. School starts Sept. 5 in New London, Norwich Public Schools, St. Bernard and Stonington. School starts Aug. 31 in Ledyard.

Norwich Free Academy’s full first day is Aug. 31, but grade 9 students will start Aug. 30.