BIDDEFORD — “This is the best first day of school,” said St. James student Tucker Boucher, whose excitement was shared by his fellow classmates and teachers at the Biddeford school.

As the entire student body and staff counted down, a weather balloon expanded, popped and launched into the clouds, carrying student experiments on a voyage across Maine.

The experience was made possible with a new relationship between St. James and the University of Maine High Altitude Ballooning Program. Students come up with ideas for experiments, and the program launches the balloon, recovers the materials and returns the results of the experiments to the school.

“I wanted to start the year off with a love of learning, some creative thinking, and something exciting for the students,” said Nancy Naimey, principal at St. James. “All of the students watched and had big smiles on their faces.”

The middle-school students designed the experiments to see what effect the high altitude would have on an egg, cookie dough, a light bulb, balloons, marshmallows and other objects. They are able to follow the location of the balloon on a special website. As of Sept. 8, it was west of Hiram. The students will also be able to view a video of the flight thanks to an attached GoPro camera.

“The kids are wondering if the cookie dough will cook, the egg will explode, or the light bulb won’t work,” Naimey said. “It’s fun and a great way to start the year.”