LEWISTON – There was a lot of newness on opening day of the $10.7 million Farwell Elementary School on Tuesday.

While many were excited to be in the new school, the day was especially emotional for kindergartners and their parents.

Hannah Chaput, 5, wore a new outfit, a purple backpack and a big smile as she waited for school to open.

Pam Chaput said sending her youngest off was “a little frightening. It hasn’t hit me yet. Once I walk her to her classroom, it may hit me.”

Tanya Thurlow, the mother of three Farwell students, said her son, Austin Thurlow, 5, was worried about getting lost. She was not. “He’ll be fine. It’s time for him to spread his wings.”

Jamie Bragdon stood with a video camera, waiting for his son, Cayden, 5, to get off the bus. As the bus pulled up, Bragdon aimed the camera to document the magic moment of his son arriving at school for the first time.

He and other parents raved about the new Farwell. “It’s well worth it,” Bragdon said.

“It’s beautiful,” Chaput said.

Inside her kindergarten class, Sue Basso welcomed students. Most came with parents.

“I just love the first day,” Basso said. “To see everybody’s smiling faces and get to see a whole new group of kids, and see the kids from last year.”

Like children in many school districts, Lewiston kindergartners attend all day. The grade has become more academically challenging, Basso said. “It’s like the first grade used to be 15 years ago.” By the end of the year, kindergartners are expected to be able to read, write and spell 25 words.

Basso said she likes having students all day. “It gives us a chance to do more things – spend time with themes, with caterpillars and butterflies, things you had to hurry through before.”

Occasionally, kindergartners cry on their first day, but more often parents are the ones with misty eyes, Basso said. One anxious mother, Megan Griffey, wept a little upon leaving her daughter Tuesday.

“I don’t want her to start school,” Griffey said of her only child, Lauryn Griffey, 5. “I swore I wasn’t going to cry.” The first five years went by fast, she said. Her daughter was excited to go.

“She told me, ‘You have to let me grow up,'” Griffey said.

As her mother talked, Lauryn was already at her desk, delighted with her “beautiful” and “cool” school. Yes, Lauryn said, she’d miss her mother. She’d help her mom “by getting this day over.”

For the past two weeks, Cynthia Lizotte said her son, Tyrell, 5, has asked when was he going to school. Sitting at his desk, Tyrell said he was happy to be there. “I love this school.”

One floor up, sixth-graders were also impressed with their new school.

“It’s a lot bigger and a lot nicer,” said Mikaela St. Laurent, 11. “The old school had a combined gym and cafeteria. It’s good they’re separate.”

There’s more room, observed Reilly Bolduc, 11. “We have lockers, which is a lot better. The old school, you had something to hang up coats.”

Emily Fournier, 11, likes that the gym and cafeteria are separate. “We won’t see a bunch of gym equipment when we’re eating.” She also approves of how the sixth-grade rooms are connected. “That’s good. With the opening, you can walk into both rooms.”

Principal Linda St. Andre said opening morning went smoothly. The new school has better security, and all visitors are asked to sign in and wear a guest pass.

“Parents were all very cooperative and followed the security procedures,” St. Andre said. That allowed school to began on time at 8:40. All were “in our places with smiley faces.”