The barking-dog alarm clock near Rebecca White's bed woke her at 7 a.m. Wednesday morning.

The eager 6-year-old bounced right out of bed, the excitement of her first day in first grade already stirring in her mind.

Her clothes were ready, the teal tunic, brown leggings and pink Adidas shoes were waiting for her because she picked them out the night before.

Rebecca took her Honey Nut Spins with just a little milk, because she doesn't like to have to drink it afterward.

Then she and her two older brothers, Nicolas and Mitchell, went about completing the list of morning chores hung on the fridge -- teeth brushed, backpack ready, bed made, snacks picked out.

The list helps out mom, Melinda White, so she doesn't have to remind them of the tasks every day.

Rebecca and her brothers were ready at 7:45, but school doesn't start until 8:30.

"They were begging to go way too early," Melinda said. "They had it all together for the first day of school."

After a first-day-of-school-photo in the hallway, the children were allowed to watch some cartoons before heading out the door.

The family attended a Smith School open house on Tuesday night, so when Rebecca walked into Virginia Dundas's class her supplies were already in her desk.

Rebecca wanted Melinda to walk her in, and then seemed completely at ease as she left the building.

"I felt really happy for her," Melinda said. "She is so excited about learning and being in school. She's been talking about first grade since the last day of school. It's exciting for her, so it's exciting for me."

Rebecca is obviously comfortable with Dundas, which may have something to do with the fact that her two older brothers had Dundas as a teacher.

Dundas, a veteran teacher with more than 30 years under her belt, said teachers are just as excited as students the first day.

"It's special the first day -- refreshing," she said. "We are getting to know them, and they are getting to know us."

Rules are the first topic in class: ears listening, eyes watching, hands still, feet quiet, and lips closed. This list is revisited many times throughout the course of the day.

Smith Principal Pam Wright said going over the rules and expectations is a critical part of the first day.

"The first day sets the tone for the entire year," she said. "You have to have everything covered and in place so every kid feels success the first day."

After establishing who gets hot or cold lunch, Dundas broke out the Oreo cookies. After enjoying the treat, students used scissors, glue and black and white construction paper to create a paper Oreo just the way they like to eat it -- a full sandwich, in two pieces or just the middle.

The tasty exercise was part of a graphing lesson. The students determined how most students in the class eat their Oreos by sticking their paper cookies on a chart.

Rebecca said this was her favorite part of the day, because she rarely gets Oreos at home.

"When we do my mom and dad eat them all," she said with a giggle.

After the first hour of school, the class seemed to settle in, making Dundas proud of her young students early in the day.

By 11:40 a.m. students eagerly formed a line in preparation for lunch. Rebecca found a place at the lunch table and sat to eat her turkey sandwich on wheat and fruit cup while visiting quietly with nearby neighbors.

Throughout the day students worked on a six-page book all about their first day of school. Inside they drew a self-portrait, wrote about their favorite color, and described how they were transported to school. And the end of the day, the book would make the trip home with them.

In a late August mist, the second recess of the day required a jacket -- and brought tire swing rides for Rebecca, complemented by a trip down the slide and a good dose of running with classmates.

Dundas read a couple of picture books to her students for some down time. The last of the first-day events took place in the school's gymnasium with physical education class.

By the time the first school day came to an end at 3:05 p.m., some students were obviously exhausted and sluggishly made their way to their family vehicles or school buses waiting in the parking lot.

Rebecca on the other hand, was still energetic and enjoyed a warm bowl of popcorn with her brother as an after school treat.

Reporter Alana Listoe: 447-4081 or alana.listoe@helenair.com