Elliston-Lafayette Elementary first-grader Ethan Webb in a moment on his first day.

Photos by JUSTIN COOK The Roanoke Times

Elliston-Lafayette Elementary School Principal Denise Boyle parades with fifth-grader Kedaisha Coleman and other students during the first day of school.

Preschooler Casi Gwinn is comforted by Melissa Craighead on the first day of school at Elliston-Lafayette Elementary School.

Administrative assistant Debbie Streitenberger (left) and cafeteria manager Theresa Hinkley comfort each other on the first day of school at Elliston-Lafayette Elementary School.

ELLISTON -- Denise Boyle has two jobs this year.

The Elliston-Lafayette Elementary School principal started her 19th, and final, year at the school on Wednesday.

It was Montgomery County Public Schools' first day of the academic year and the final first day of school for two of its elementary schools -- the 48-year-old Elliston elementary and 38-year-old Shawsville Elementary School.

Next year, Elliston's students will merge with those from Shawsville in a $26 million building along U.S. 460.

Boyle will lead the new school, which has capacity for 600 students, and must organize before it opens next fall.

That means she's in charge of two schools this year.

"This is a historic day for us," Boyle told Elliston students during a schoolwide welcome meeting in the cafeteria.

"Next year, we're going to be one big school because our friends from Shawsville are going to join us."

Despite the generally hectic nature of the first day, Boyle said her comments were among a few nods to the impending change.

"Everyone's trying to keep it as a regular school day because, with kids, if you get them too excited, it'll be hard," she said.

Instead, she bent her knees and swayed to first-day tunes, asked students about their summers and taught them the school's signal for silence.

Students kept with tradition as all grade levels paraded along the school's grounds. The parade is designed to teach new children about their surroundings and to familiarize everyone with each other.

But the signs that the school's days are numbered -- at 180, to be exact -- are there. Paint on the playground, which would usually be brightly spruced up on the first day, remained dull and peeling.

The 10 portable classrooms still are filled with students and reading, special education and language teachers must share a space.

Regardless, some older students said they were ready to return to their school.

"It's a good day," said fifth-grader Isabel McGuyer. "I'm glad to see all my old friends."

Teacher Audra Milgrim, who has 15 years' experience as a teacher and administrator but is new to this school, said she's thrilled to be at Elliston.

"I don't have children, so you are my children this year," she told her 16 fourth-graders.

While Milgrim teaches them about Virginia history and polygons, she'll also likely ask for some input on the new school.

Boyle said the school's naming committee is expected to have its third meeting Aug. 31 and that teachers and community members from both schools will be in on discussions about playground equipment and furniture.

"It's not so much as what I say is going to happen," she said. "I truly believe ... everyone has a voice and everyone has a say."