Assawompset Elementary School students flooded off the buses and into the building on a rainy Tuesday for the first day of school.

Principal Bethany Pineault, Alan Strauss, the Freetown-Lakeville Regional School District’s new superintendent, and staff members greeted the children and pointed them in the right direction as they entered the school to begin a new year. 

“There’s nothing like the first day of school,’’ Strauss said.

He said he is particularly excited because he is new. 

This is Strauss’s second job in Massachusetts and his first position as a superintendent. He worked in education for years in Connecticut before making the move.

Aspen, a “much more user-friendly” student information system, is the biggest change for the upcoming year per Strauss. 

The district will also offer a new phone app where students and parents can access documents, events, updates, and emergency notifications. Strauss wants to enhance communication with parents, which Pineault echoed.

Strauss credits the people around him for easing his adjustment into the new role.

“When you have superb people surrounding you, it certainly helps,” Strauss said. “I’m a former coach, and the most important thing I did [when I coached] was hire great assistant coaches.’’

Georgia Johnson, like Strauss, is entering her first year working in the district and her second year as a full-time teacher. But she is already familiar with the school because her daughter graduated from Assawompset last year.

“This is my dream job,” Johnson said as she carried a box to her classroom. “I wanted this school all along. It came up really last-minute. It’s like an amazing family. Everyone’s so kind and supportive and I’m so happy to be here. It’s going to be so fun.”

School Librarian Maria Sylvain helped students find where they needed to go upon exiting the buses. She sees all the students in the school, which includes kindergarten through third grade.

“I can’t wait to see all the kids,” Sylvain said. “We have a lot of fun stuff with our makerspace, robotics, our literacy projects, and our research projects.”

Pineault is entering her seventh year as principal of Assawompset and wants parents to know they can reach out to her at any time.

“I’m feeling very motivated to get started,” Pineault said.