Starting off Nansemond-Suffolk Academy’s 39th year Monday morning, seniors like Joey DiRenzo were thinking, &uot;One more year!&uot; New headmaster Shane Foster might have been thinking, &uot;My first day!&uot; Eighth-graders like Preston Phillips were worrying, &uot;Wow, I hope I don’t get lost in the Upper School!&uot;

As the 1,042 Saints – the highest enrollment in the school’s history – poured through the doors, one week earlier than their public counterparts, DiRenzo started off his farewell tour.

&uot;I’m ready for my new endeavors in college,&uot; he said, &uot;but I’ll enjoy my senior year. It’s nice being able to mentor young kids I had good seniors in the past that helped me, and I want to pass on what they taught me.

Compared to his other first days, DiRenzo said, &uot;This first day was a little more stressful.&uot; He entered the school in eighth grade.

&uot;I’m taking Advanced Placement physics, calculus and English,&uot; he said. &uot;The teachers jumped right in. I’m going to have to do some reviewing tonight.&uot;

In the office, Foster, who took over from the retiring Doug Naismith, helped get things rolling, hopefully all the way to June.

&uot;We had a wonderful start,&uot; he said. &uot;The parents and the students were happy. We had a beautiful day. It was a great way to start the new year. We have a good student body, and supportive parents.&uot;

Meanwhile, new Upper Schoolers like Phillips tried to adjust to their new surroundings.

&uot;It was cool, but confusing around the hallways,&uot; he said. &uot;It was my first time in the Upper School. I had a schedule, so I’ll do better tomorrow. The hallways are all crowded, but at least I got to drink soda for lunch.&uot;

As the day wound down, Sheila Wiggins pulled one of the school’s 18 buses up to the curb outside the Lower School.

&uot;We love it!&uot; she said of bus driving. &uot;Right now, we don’t have to fight the other buses on the road. It’s going to be very congested when the (public school) buses get out on the road. We love the kids.&uot;

jason.norman@suffolknewsherald.com