For fifth-grader Kahjir Turner, going back to school Thursday was "awesome."

"I was so excited that I was up at 6 o'clock," the 10-year old said. "I kept begging my mom to hurry up because I wanted to see everything."

By "everything," Kahjir meant all the new features of his school, Washington Elementary, which has been undergoing $17 million worth of renovations since the start of last school year.

Kahjir was among the roughly 10,000 School District of Lancaster students who returned to the classrooms Thursday at 21 district schools.

Opening day "went off without a hitch," superintendent Pedro Rivera said, especially at Washington, Wharton, Lafayette and Ross, each of which opened new facilities to a chorus of "wows" from returning students, staff and parents.

For Kahjir and hundreds of other youngsters at those schools, Thursday marked the first time they could frolic in a new gymnasium, eat lunch in a spacious, airy cafeteria or attend classes in high-tech, air-conditioned splendor.

"Compared with what we've lived with forever, this is heaven," Washington principal Janette Hewitt marveled.

Her school opened a new addition with a gymnasium, cafeteria, art room, offices and about 15 classrooms linked by wide, colorful halls.

"It's awesome to see the kids' faces when they walk into the building and see the brand-new construction that's been completed," said Nilsa Garcia, an in-school suspension assistant at Washington.

"Their reaction is the best part of coming to the new building."

Second-grade teacher Amanda Stoner said she loves the extra space and natural light in her new room.

"I had a very small classroom last year, and it was kind of dark. I'm loving the big open windows. It's nice and bright in here."

In addition to a panoramic view of the school's playing fields, her classroom features a bathroom and sink and a computerized white board and projector.

What previously passed for technology in her room, Stoner said, was an overhead projector.

Much work remains at all four schools, which will continue to utilize unrenovated spaces and makeshift classrooms, libraries and music rooms until the construction projects are wrapped up by the summer.

But the progress made over the past 12 months has been dramatic.

A year ago, a huge mound of excavated earth greeted students starting the year at Wharton.

On that same spot Thursday was a new drop-off drive and a sparkling addition housing a gymnasium, library and offices.

Over the summer, the old school building had been transformed, with an exterior cleaning and brick repointing, new windows and renovations to eight classrooms.

A second addition now under construction will provide even more modern classroom space.

"For the most part, parents were thrilled" with the progress, principal Jackie Hair said.

"They know it's not completely finished, but they know the final product will be wonderful," she said.

"What's great about it is that everybody sees where we're going. We have a vision."

SDL students in all grades returned to classes Thursday with the exception of upperclassmen at McCaskey and McCaskey East high schools, who start the new year today.

Elsewhere in Lancaster County, Columbia Borough School District students begin classes Tuesday, and Warwick students will be the last public school pupils to return on Wednesday.

bwallace@lnpnews.com