After nearly three weeks out for the Christmas and New Year’s holidays, Bogalusa School District students, administrators, teachers and staff returned to class on Monday.

Washington Parish teachers reported to school Tuesday, while students return to class on Friday.

Bogalusa High School Supervisor of Curriculum and Instruction April Nobles said she is primed to get started again after the holiday break.

The district got out for break on Dec. 19 and returned on Monday.

“It’s been fun to get back in the swing of things. We have so many great things going on,” Nobles said. “Se just love being around our students. The faculty is like a family. We missed each other.”

Nobles said spring brings with it some difficult situations, however.

“Spring is extraordinarily stressful because of standardized testing, but we’re prepared and ready.”

Standardized testing begins in March and runs through May.

BHS Band Director Chad Harry said his group will be busy over the next few weeks with seven parades scheduled.

“I’m looking forward to the parade season coming up,” Harry said.

The BHS band marches Jan. 18 in the Krewe of Claude Parade in Slidell. That is followed by parades in Covington, Bogalusa, Kentwood, Metairie, Slidell again and Gulfport, Miss.

BHS senior Jacquez Johnson said he was looking forward to returning to school.

“I’m ready to get out of school. I’m glad to be back so I can get out faster,” Johnson said. “I graduate on May 14 and plan on joining the military.”

BHS administrative assistant Connie Little and secretary Ann Young said they both were eager to return to work.

“We’re eager to be back and looking forward to the second half of the year,” Young said.

BHS guidance counselor Lisa Miller said students will do well during testing.

“Spring is going to be very busy with testing,” Miller said. “We’ve got some great kids at this school, and we’re expecting them to do well on testing.”

Seventh-grader Jessica Mezquize said she felt right at home back at school as she spoke with Miller.

“I was ready to come back to school. I like everything about school,” Mezquize said.