For many students across the metro area, Tuesday was ushered in by the sounds of a school bus rumbling down the block, signifying the end of summer and beginning of the new school year. ¶ Some students battled nerves, especially those 5- and 6-year-olds entering kindergarten, where everything is new, a little scary and terribly exciting at the same time. ¶ For juniors and seniors, the first day of classes meant sliding into familiar routines, all the while inching closer to leaving the safety net of both home and school. ¶ The new school year often brings changes.