Schools Open in Joplin, Town Moving on After Tornado

School is back in session- and on time- in Joplin, Missouri.

True, the students were spread out in trailers, old school buildings, and even a shopping mall, The Kansas City Star reported, but the school year has started promptly.

Superintendent C.J. Huff vowed back in May that the school year would begin on time.

"We've been through a lot as a community, you've been through a lot," high school principal Kerry Sachetta told a group of juniors, the KC Star reported. "We need to remember that, but we also need to rejoice."

While teachers and students acknowledged the changes, they were happy to be getting back to a more normal routine.

"You can't pretend like nothing happened," English teacher Brenda White told the Associated Press. "But everything is so new here. Every single thing that is this school is new and different."

The town is still recovering from a tornado that struck on May 22. It was the seventh deadliest tornado in the U.S., according to the Storm Prediction Center.

The city recently reminded residents to properly debris, otherwise it may not be picked up.

"Since the debris management phase of this disaster is completed, the City has shifted its focus to the demolition of unsafe structures and the rebuilding aspect for its residents," according to city council press released published on Aug. 12.