Emma Kate Tharp posed for a picture with her parents, Katie and Brandon, Monday morning and then she was off into Woodson Kindergarten Center.

After all, it was a big day for Emma Kate. It was her first day of kindergarten and her fifth birthday.

Though it’s the beginning of August and traditional calendar students don’t start school for about a month, students on the 45/15 calendar started school Monday morning. Both Sumner Elementary School and certain sections at Woodson Kindergarten Center started the fifth year of the 45/15 calendar.

“We’re increasing in enrollment and we’ve added three sections, and our test results continue to look really good,” Sumner Principal Sheila Berger said.

Since the school tested the non-traditional calendar, Berger said the students have gotten used to it and it’s a normal routine for them.

“This is typically the time that most kids are at home getting bored over the summer, activities are getting wrapped up,” Berger said. “So this is a good time to be getting back to school.”

At Woodson, Principal Jessica Cabeen said the new kindergarten students are usually always very excited for school to start, and don’t mind the early start time.

“Some of the traditional calendar kids are jealous honestly, because they’re so excited they want to start already,” she said.

Cabeen said the students in the 45/15 calendar become like mentors to the traditional calendar students when they start classes in September, since the first group has been there for a month already.

“The students get a good solid month of learning routines, so they actually become mentors and role models for the students coming in September,” she said.

Woodson has three sections of about 59 students in 45/15 classes. But Cabeen said regardless of the calendar the students are on, administration tries to include every student in the big events.

“We really work hard to make sure all our special events occur when everybody’s on the calendar,” Cabeen said.

The 45/15 students’ first break is Sept. 28, where there will be a three-week break with two weeks of intersession summer-school programming for students who need it.

Berger said the new year is always exciting.

“We love coming back,” Berger said. “A new year is fun because everyone’s energized and you work hard to prepare the room to make it a great year for kids.”

Woodson is still accepting enrollments for both the 45/15 and the traditional calendar. The traditional calendar deadline is Aug. 12 and 13, and while the 45/15 calendar is already started, Cabeen said students can still get on the calendar for about a week.

“We welcome any incoming kindergartner,” Cabeen said.