Students are once again hitting the books in Green Bay after fire at Preble High School

GREEN BAY (WITI) – Summer break is officially over for Preble High School students and classes are back in session. A fire damaged the Green Bay school’s gym last month which pushed the school’s start date back nearly two weeks.

Clothes, backpacks, and shoes weren’t the only new things that could be seen on the first day of school at Preble High School. You could say the school itself looks brand new.

“The school is really clean,” said Ellie Brennan, a junior at Preble High School.

That’s because last month smoke traveled throughout the building. A restoration crew had to clean it from top to bottom.

Some students said the first day of class was different than in years past.

“Usually the first day of school we have a big pep assembly and so we don’t get all the freshmen pumped up and ready to start school. It’s been different having to deal with not having that anymore but I think we’ll be fine,” said Tekara Jones, a senior at Preble High School.

Some students said they’re happy to be back.

“I was kind of ready,” Brennan said.

Others like Riley Vanden Plas said, “More summer is always good.”

The high school’s gym is off limits as the restoration crew continues to repair the building.

School officials say they expect the gym to reopen next month.

“Most of the pieces that were in the gym have been moved out. Right now, I guess if I had to define it, it’s just an open shell and they’re starting the renovation process,” said Natasha Rowell, Preble High school principal.

In the meantime, some teachers say the late start has had its challenges.

“I work toward the AP tests which are in May and because of our two week start, I had to really decide what to cut out and what to cram in with the shorter amount of time for those tests,” said Jennifer VanRemortel, an English teacher at Preble.

But despite it all, school officials say it’s nice to have students and teachers back inside the building.