Lockers have been assigned, laptops have been issued and students are saying their final goodbyes to the long days of summer.

Students will again be filling the halls of local schools, as the new school year is set to begin tomorrow in the Park City and North Summit School Districts. Students will report in the South Summit School District on Aug. 26.

The beginning of a new school year is a welcome ritual for many students, such as Will Smyth, who will be entering fourth grade at Jeremy Ranch Elementary School. Though he’ll mourn the loss of late summer nights and lazy mornings, he is excited to see friends he hasn’t seen since the end of last school year.

“I’m kind of sad for summer to end,” Smyth said, adding that he visited his grandparents in Iowa over the break and attended summer camp. “But I want to see my friends from school. I’m looking forward to having fun with them.”

Smyth’s mother, Sarah Smyth, said her other two children, who will be beginning their first years at Ecker Hill Middle School and Jeremy Ranch, respectively, are a little nervous to be at new schools but share Will’s excitement.

And as for Sarah Smyth, the feelings are mixed between wanting more time with her kids and excitement for the school year.

“Every summer seems shorter and shorter and before you know it, you’re buying back-to-school clothes,” she said. “From that perspective, I do wish we had more time to spend together. But they’re ready to go back.”

Cathy Lanigan, who will have three children at Park City schools, said what she’ll miss most about the summer are the slow mornings. But even so, she knows her children also are ready to go back after a busy summer filled with camps and programs.

“When school starts, mornings become pretty hectic,” Lanigan said. But I’m excited for school to start, and I think it’s going to be a great year.”

Lanigan’s daughter, Kirsten Lanigan, who is entering 10th grade at Park City High School, said that in addition to seeing her friends, there’s another reason she’s marked the start of the school year on her calendar.

“I’m mostly excited to have a bigger school,” she said. “At Treasure (Mountain Junior High), the hallways are always packed with kids.”

Of course, it isn’t just parents and students who are looking forward to the school year, as educators also are ready to get going. Park City Superintendent Ember Conley said she is excited to see her district take a big step this year towards its overall goal — becoming the best school district in the country.

“We’re focused on making sure all students are learning at a high level,” Conley said. “We’re excited to look at the growth they’ve made. And everyone has a piece in that learning, from bus drivers, to the cafeteria staff to teachers and administrators.

“We’re definitely looking for excellence. We know it doesn’t happen overnight, that it’s a long journey and takes a lot of hard work.”

School start times:

Park City School District

First day — Thursday, Aug. 21

Park City High School: 7:30 a.m.

Treasure Mountain Junior High: 7:35 a.m.

Ecker Hill Middle School: 8:50 a.m.

Jeremy Ranch Elementary: 8:15 a.m.

McPolin Elementary: 8:10 a.m.

Parley’s Park Elementary: 8:15 a.m.

Trailside Elementary: 8:15 a.m.

North Summit School District

First day — Thursday, Aug. 21

North Summit High School: 7:45 a.m.

North Summit Middle School: 7:44 a.m.

North Summit Elementary: 7:45 a.m.

South Summit School District

First day — Tuesday, Aug. 26

South Summit High School: 7:50 a.m.

South Summit Middle School: 7:45 a.m.

South Summit Elementary: 8:50 a.m.