There were crisp new backpacks, squeals from happy reunions between friends and many nervous parents as students streamed into local elementary schools Tuesday Sept. 3.

More than 30,000 students headed back to school in East Multnomah County's four school districts over the last few days and a lucky 3,900 or so in the Gresham-Barlow School District are learning in brand new or substantially remodeled school.

Just minutes into the new school day, all the East Gresham Eagles were in their new classrooms at 900 S.E. Fifth St., sitting at new tables or on new rugs intently concentrating on their first tasks of the school year.

Brissia Ganona, a third grader at the shiny new North Gresham Elementary School, waiting on the sidewalk before school, said she hadn't seen inside her new school yet but admitted she was nervous for the first day of school.

North fifth grader Faron Bunder said of her new school, "I think it's really cool. It's very modern. It will be a great school."

Abby Koerner, a first grader at North, had prepared a back-to-school sign and when asked about her new school she simply said "yay!" and jumped up and down.

Her dad, Dan, said "she's looking forward to seeing all her friends."

The first day for the North Stars was busy but well-organized.

Multiple staff members directed traffic and gave directions to parents and students in the new, unfamiliar parking lot and school.

North educators lined the hall welcoming students into the gym, where kids sat on the floor by grade, waiting to be shown to their brand new classrooms at 1001 S.E. 217th Ave.

The new North and East schools are part of a building program in the Gresham-Barlow School District funded by a $291.2 million bond voters passed in November 2016.

With that money, Gresham and Barlow high schools are getting major overhauls and East Gresham Elementary School was also replaced.

Hall and Hollydale elementary schools got some new classrooms.

All the district schools received security and other upgrades.