BAILEY, Colo. -- Students returned to class amid high security Thursday at Platte Canyon High School for the first time since the tragic shooting at the school one week ago.

Sixteen-year-old Emily Keyes was shot and killed by a man who held her and five other girls hostage in a classroom before taking his own life.

Classes also resumed for students at Fitzsimmons Middle School, which adjoins the high school along U.S Highway 285 west of Bailey.

"It's good," said Park County sheriff's Sgt. Glenn Hardey, who is regularly assigned to the school. "It's the first step toward moving forward and moving on."

Pink ribbons, streamers and balloons lined the entrance to the administrative building next to the high school as buses and parents dropped off students.

Fifty mental health professionals from around Colorado were on hand to provide counseling to students who needed it, school district Superintendent Jim Walpole said. He said initial reports from staff and mental health professionals indicated students were doing "extremely well."

"I believe healing will take a long time for all of us, but we're at the point of knowing we have to move forward," he said.

Platte Canyon High School Principal Bryan Krause issued a prepared statement on Thursday that said:

"We are continuing to heal from last week's tragedy. The staff and students are thankful to be back into school. We would like to also thank the Bailey community for their support today as well as all the other state agencies that have helped to restore hope."

Walpole said only 17 of 769 high school and middle school students were reported absent.

"Every time I walked by the room where it happened, it gave me the cringes," said student Mark Grinnell.

Scarves were made for the students and were handed out before school. Teddy bears were handed out after school.

On Wednesday, students were allowed back into the school to pick up items left behind when they were forced to evacuate last week.

The students were encouraged to bring their parents and visit with their teachers.

Platte Canyon School District said the idea behind allowing students back in the school Wednesday was to ease some of the anxiety students still have.

Some students said in some way it was a relief to come back to school. They said they are trying to get back to a normal routine.

"It's kind of scary going back to a school when you know what happened," said student Carl Griebel. "Eventually I think there will be some type of normalcy, but it will take awhile."

For many students, roaming the halls of the schools and seeing their teachers brought them comfort.

"It was weird at first, but it felt good to be there," said one student.

"We've cried and we've mourned and we've been through the shock. We now need to get our lives back to reality," said Griebel's father, Roger Griebel.

Additional security has been hired and, starting Thursday, any adult walking into the school must wear a nametag.

A Web site has also been set up to help answer questions that students may have. To visit the site, click here.