For some kids, the first day of school is a bummer.

Rochester Memorial School students don’t see it that way.

The school’s $26.5 million renovation project is nearly over, according to principal Jay Ryan. The 120,000 square-foot school has undergone renovations for the past 18 months, including the addition of a new 33,000 square-foot wing made of precast concrete. Teachers and staff members spent part of the summer training for many of the new technology upgrades, including six portable labs. These labs are equipped with iPads and iMacs, and can be moved throughout the classrooms as learning tools.

“We’re very excited to have everyone back and, most importantly, in their new classrooms,” Ryan said. “For awhile we had makeshift or temporary rooms for some classes.”

While the state paid $11.9 million, the town picked up the rest of the tab. Along with the portable labs the school will also be using voice amplification systems for teachers, Eno interactive whiteboards, and ergonomic chairs.

Principal Ryan said the school truly is state-of-the-art.

“We’re very pleased with the quality of the construction,” said Town Administrator Richard LaCamera. “Gilbane [Building Company] has done a very nice job.”

As the kids stepped off the buses and shuffled into the new building, smiles were everywhere. First graders went to the cafeteria to meet their new teachers as older students moved through the new hallways to their classrooms.

Schools across the area started Wednesday, Aug. 31 after Tropical Storm Irene’s wake delayed Tuesday’s scheduled first day. According to Ryan, however, Rochester Memorial wasn’t affected at all.

“Everyone was scrambling the days before the storm,” he said. “But we had power Monday morning.”