Van Buren schools tried out the first day of classes after shuffling grades to different buildings.
Monday was the first day for more than 500 freshmen to be under the same roof. It’s a new year and a new school, only for ninth grade students.
"When you're in the ninth grade, it feels like you're graduating from something,” said Principal of Van Buren High School Freshman Academy Lisa Miller. “It feels like the end of something, but students didn't understand that ninth grade is the beginning."
Van Buren High School Freshman Academy merges Coleman and Butterfield Junior High Freshmen. Principal Miller says the district voted on the change last September. The transition took place over the summer.
"Everyone's really starting fresh,” said Principal Miller. “It's almost like opening a brand new campus. It's very exciting."
The academy is at the former Coleman Junior High building. So far, students we spoke with say they don’t mind the change.
"I love it because I've had a lot of friends at Butterfield that I get to see every day now," said freshman Callie Poole.
Blue, black, red, and purple. Students split into teams of new school colors just to make sure old rivalries don’t flare up.
Principal Miller says she hopes the new transition will encourage students to start thinking more about their future.
"Got to get good grades cause it'll look better on the college transcripts," said freshman Noah Miller.
But Monday, it was all about celebrating being united at one school. The day kicked off with a motivational speaker and ended with a pep rally.
"Most of the day, we've only been going to classes for ten minutes," said Poole.
The other junior high in Van Buren was transformed into Butterfield Trail Middle school. It along with Northridge Middle School now will teach sixth through eighth grade students.