Pine Hill Middle School, Richmond County's newest school, is open for class.

"It's very exciting," says Glenda Collingsworth, principal of Pine Hill Middle School.

"We've been looking forward to this day," Collingsworth said. "Everything has been running very smoothly and our students are very excited."

More than 500 pupils experienced their first day of school Friday in Richmond County’s newest school on McElmurray Road in Hephzibah.

"We can always say we were the first," said Kentrell Monroe, 13. "It kind of makes you feel special because we get to make a mark."

Seventh- and eighth-graders were drawn from Hephzibah, Sego and Spirit Creek middle schools.

The majority of the pupils came from Hephzibah and Spirit Creek.

Brittany Perkins, 13, already knew many of the pupils at school.

"It's cool but it's weird," Perkins said. "I've been to both Hephzibah and Sego, so I see a lot of people I haven't seen in a while."

Reach Nikasha Dicks at (706) 823-3336 or nikasha.dicks@augustachronicle.com.