Students make their way to school for the first day of school at the Hayden MacFadden Elementary School in New Bedford. The school which has been underperforming has opted to start a week early in an effort to get a jump start on the school year. PHOTOS PETER PEREIRA
11009397793 manbHayMacFistDay Students arrive for the first day of school at the Hayden McFadden Elementary School in New Bedford. PETER PEREIRA/THE STANDARD-TIMES/SCMG
21009397793 manbHayMacFistDay Parents bring their children to school on the first day of school at the Hayden McFadden Elementary School in New Bedford. PETER PEREIRA/THE STANDARD-TIMES/SCMG
31009397793 manbHayMacFistDay Julie Miller, left, helps students find which door to enter on their first day of school at the Hayden McFadden Elementary School in New Bedford. PETER PEREIRA/THE STANDARD-TIMES/SCMG
41009397793 manbHayMacFistDay Parents and students enter the building for the first day of school at the Hayden McFadden Elementary School in New Bedford. PETER PEREIRA/THE STANDARD-TIMES/SCMG
51009397793 manbHayMacFistDay Andrea Fairbairn gives granddaughter Keyana DeRosa, 6, a kiss as she prepares to enter the school for the first day of school at the Hayden McFadden Elementary School in New Bedford. PETER PEREIRA/THE STANDARD-TIMES/SCMG
61009397793 manbHayMacFistDay A student cautionsly enters the front door for the first day of school at the Hayden McFadden Elementary School in New Bedford. PETER PEREIRA/THE STANDARD-TIMES/SCMG
71009397793 manbHayMacFistDay Jennifer Cummings helps her students, Katharina Lui, and Julia Berry make their way into school for their first day of school at the Hayden McFadden Elementary School in New Bedford. PETER PEREIRA/THE STANDARD-TIMES/SCMG
81009397793 manbHayMacFistDay Kindergarten teacher Patricia Michaud, sees Keyana DeRosa, 6, for the first time since she was her student last year as she and others get ready for the first day of school at the Hayden McFadden Elementary School in New Bedford. PETER PEREIRA/THE STANDARD-TIMES/SCMG
91009397793 manbHayMacFistDay Fourth grade teacher Jane Thomas is seen between the stack of math books she will be handing out on the first day of school at the Hayden McFadden Elementary School in New Bedford. PETER PEREIRA/THE STANDARD-TIMES/SCMG
101009397793 manbHayMacFistDay Teachers help parents and students identify where their classes are on the first day of school at the Hayden McFadden Elementary School in New Bedford. PETER PEREIRA/THE STANDARD-TIMES/SCMG
111009397793 manbHayMacFistDay A teacher walks a student to class on the first day of school at the Hayden McFadden Elementary School in New Bedford. PETER PEREIRA/THE STANDARD-TIMES/SCMG
121009397793 manbHayMacFistDay Maira Pacheco, 8, fills out her desk id after arriving in class on the first day of school at the Hayden McFadden Elementary School in New Bedford. PETER PEREIRA/THE STANDARD-TIMES/SCMG
131009397793 manbHayMacFistDay Students follow their teachers to their class on the first day of school at the Hayden McFadden Elementary School in New Bedford. PETER PEREIRA/THE STANDARD-TIMES/SCMG
141009397793 manbHayMacFistDay Students attend gym class for the first time on the first day of school at the Hayden McFadden Elementary School in New Bedford. PETER PEREIRA/THE STANDARD-TIMES/SCMG
151009397793 manbHayMacFistDay Dyna Gomez, 7, joins her second grade classmates in pledging allegiance to the flag on their first day of school at the Hayden McFadden Elementary School in New Bedford. PETER PEREIRA/THE STANDARD-TIMES/SCMG
161009397793 manbHayMacFistDay Danilo Ixcuna places an anchor with his name on the door to his class on the first day of school at the Hayden McFadden Elementary School in New Bedford. PETER PEREIRA/THE STANDARD-TIMES/SCMG
171009397793 manbHayMacFistDay Pins with second grade students names hang on a poster on the first day of school at the Hayden McFadden Elementary School in New Bedford. PETER PEREIRA/THE STANDARD-TIMES/SCMG
181009397793 manbHayMacFistDay Second graders are eager to answer Ms. Felicia Estrela's questions on the first day of school at the Hayden McFadden Elementary School in New Bedford. PETER PEREIRA/THE STANDARD-TIMES/SCMG