Beaufort County Schools staff welcomed back students for their first day of school on Monday. From excitement to nervousness — and maybe a few tears — the county’s students are diving in for the 2016-2017 school year. Dr. Don Phipps, BCS superintendent, said the first day ran smoothly. “It was nice to see the result of all the planning and preparation that goes into students returning to school. It is the work behind the scenes that may go unnoticed that makes the day successful. There is so much enthusiasm at the start of a school year. We hope to maintain that enthusiasm throughout the school year,” Phipps said.