Photo by Amber Phipps

(Photo by Amber Phipps) Marietta Police Department’s School Resource Officer and Patrolman Rob Sury with his dog Phoenix welcome students for their first day at Marietta Elementary School on Thursday.

(Photo by Amber Phipps) Teachers at Marietta Elementary School help students off of the buses for the first day of school Thursday morning.

(Photo by Amber Phipps) Sixth grade teachers hold up welcome signs for their students on the first day of school at Marietta Elementary School on Thursday.

(Photo by Amber Phipps) Sixth grade teachers hold up welcome signs that they designed to welcome the students for their first day back from summer break on Thursday at Marietta Elementary School.

(Photo by Amber Phipps) Students at Marietta Elementary School went back to school on Thursday and many of the students had the family dog with them in the drop-off line.

(Photo by Amber Phipps) Marietta Elementary School fifth grade teachers made welcome signs for their students on the first day back Thursday.