SALISBURY — By sunrise, the buses were out. As early morning traffic started, students waited by the side of the road, dressed in school uniforms and carrying backpacks, gearing up for their first day back.

Many schools planned special, first-day activities for students — from parent activities to pep rallies to a special dance performed by teachers.

At Carson High School, students flooded the atrium to take pictures in a photo booth and to see a special performance by teachers. High school theater staff spent a portion of their summer writing a parody to the famous Disney song “Be Our Guest.”

At exactly 8:20 a.m., history teacher Jason Stanley stood on the steps of atrium wearing a glittering navy hat and launched into welcome and song.

“Your teachers have been waiting all summer long to say: ‘Welcome home!’ ” he said.

Carson theater teacher Alex Reynolds said such a show was common the first day back at Carson.

“They do anything to make them feel like it’s a big deal,” he said.

Teachers wanted to celebrate the beginning of the school year with students, and get the excited for the months ahead. For Carson Principal Angelo DelliSanti, the day was about letting students know that the school was a home they could return to, again and again.

And the school year held lots of excitement.

“That’s probably what I’m looking forward to the most,” he said, “is seeing students grow into who they’re supposed to become.”