Editor’s note: The original version of this article incorrectly classified Delta Charter School. The article has since been corrected below. We regret the error and are happy to set the record straight.

NATCHEZ — Students at a Natchez private school and a Ferriday charter school started class Thursday with a sneak peek into the year ahead.

At Delta Charter School in Ferriday, seventh grader Trace Hilbun didn’t have much interest in engineering or computer science before sitting through his first day of class.

That all changed after just a few minutes in Emily Dawkins’ classroom.

Dawkins is teaching new elective classes this year using curriculum from Project Lead The Way, which is a non-profit organization that develops lesson plans and programs specializing in science, technology, engineering and math material.

The middle school program is called Gateway to Technology and is a project-based program designed to challenge and engage students in grades six through eight.

Dawkins explained all that important information to her students Thursday morning, but all Hilbun could focus on was a presentation showing some of the projects students would get to create in the class.

The presentation showed various projects created using a 3D modeling software the Delta Charter School students would soon learn how to use.

Hilbun could barely stay in his seat.

“I always liked using computers, but I’ve never seen that kind of stuff you could do with them,” Hilbun said. “It looks really hard, but I think I can do it.”

That type of excitement is exactly what DCS Director Clovis Christman was hoping for on the first day of the school’s second year of operation.

“I think the kids are starting to understand and appreciate our excitement for this school and what we’re doing here,” Christman said. “We’ve held these kids to a high standard from Day One, and we’re going to continue that going forward.”

Delta Charter opened last year at the former Huntington School campus in Ferriday for kindergarten through ninth-grade students.

The school expanded to 10th grade this year and will continue expanding in the next two years to accommodate its first senior graduating class.

Christman said curriculum initiatives such as Project Lead the Way and other rigorous learning tools used in all grades and subjects will help students apply the skills they’re learning in one class to another.

“We don’t want math skills to just be used in math class, so these programs are helping teach across the curriculum and across classrooms,” Christman said. “It also helps when you can apply what you’ve learned in the classroom to actual hands-on projects to see the benefit of what you’re learning.”

Christman said he was pleased to see a number of new and returning faces in the hallways — especially students from the first graduating kindergarten class that started first grade Thursday.

“When those kids graduate, they will be the first students to have gone through all grade levels at Delta Charter, and that’s when I know it’ll be time for me to retire,” Christman said, jokingly. “These students have already shown us they can do great things, and we’re looking forward to continuing that this year.”

Across the river in Natchez, Head of School Les Hegwood said he couldn’t have been more pleased with the first day at Trinity Episcopal Day School.

A level of excitement that Hegwood first saw at orientation for students and parents Wednesday night continued Thursday.

“You just didn’t see people dragging their feet, thinking it was going to be the same old, same old,” Hegwood said. “What you had was a group of excited and energetic students and teachers ready to celebrate the beginning of the school year.”

In an assembly Thursday for fifth- through 12th-grade students, Hegwood said he reassured the students of the goals for the upcoming year.

“Our mission is to prepare students for excellence in college and life — because life is forever,” Hegwood said. “Yes, you’re going to be ready for wherever you go to college, but furthermore, you’re going to be a kind, loving, unselfish member of society for the rest of your life.”

Hegwood said the key to ensuring those goals are met is to maintain a strong Episcopalian identity throughout all classes, activities and programs.

“Some of that stuff is the more boring curriculum material that you don’t get to see everyday, but it’s all a part of shaping the culture at Trinity,” Hegwood said. “Those are the things that will be felt more long-term and will have a lasting impact on our students.”