Students selected the phoenix as the school’s mascot a year ago when the building was still under construction. Many arrived Tuesday wearing phoenix T-shirts.

“Lincoln-Way North has risen like a phoenix,” Principal Michael Gardner told students over the loud speaker as they settled in to their classrooms. “(It) now holds a prominent spot in this community…. Feel the excitement caused by the phoenix as it begins its new life span.”

He then invited students, teachers and staff to join the marching band as it made its way through the halls playing the school fight song.

“Follow the marching band as it awakens the phoenix and brings it to life by playing our fight song, `Phoenix Rising,’ ” said Gardner before meeting everyone in the gymnasium for an all-school assembly.

Band director Bert Johnson, who wrote the words to the school song, read through each verse at the assembly, encouraging students to sing along as the band played and the cheerleaders and poms performed a routine from the gym floor.

Afterward, they gathered outside for a balloon launch and all-school photo.

“This will be the best year ever,” Gardner told the group. “Not only because it’s the first year, but because of the people in the school. It begins with you, the students. You create the excitement in this school. Your hard work in and out of the classroom, with the help of an outstanding teaching staff, will allow North to rise up and be recognized for its academic and athletic successes.”

The school has already received a number of accolades and trophies. This summer, the school’s marching band, the Marching Phoenix, received a Best Musical Entry trophy at the Fourth of July parade in Mokena. The school’s JV baseball team won the Southwest Suburban JV Baseball Summer League Championship.

The trophies were formally presented to the school on Tuesday.