A school bus pulls up in front of Stewart elementary to drop off an excited group of students for their first day of school Aug. 23, 2023. (Kalen McCain/The Union)
Mt. Pleasant Middle School Principal Mark Adams helps sixth-grader Cameron William Clark with his locker combination during the first day of school at Mt. Pleasant Middle School. (Andy Hallman/The Union)
WACO Elementary welcomed students back with a cheerful sign. (AnnaMarie Ward/The Union)
Jesse Thompson, Brock Thomann, Sawyer Shalla, and Bryce Hazelett return to Highland High School for their first day of sophomore year. (AnnaMarie Ward/The Union)
Brian Musgrove rushes to greet staff at the door of Stewart Elementary, minutes before the school day starts Aug. 23, 2023. (Kalen McCain/The Union)
The Hayes family approaches the door at Stewart Elementary the morning of Aug. 23, 2023. (Kalen McCain/The Union)
Stewart Elementary School kids kicked off their first day of school with a recess, although recreation later in the day was scheduled to stay indoors thanks to a sky-high heat index. (Kalen McCain/The Union)
Washington Superintendent Willie Stone (right) greets Elorah Valdez (left) and Samantha Martin (middle) on their way into Stewart Elementary for the first day of school. (Kalen McCain/The Union)
Mt. Pleasant Middle School Social Studies teacher Katie Pringnitz asks her homeroom class how many students will be eating a hot lunch on Mt. Pleasant’s first day of school, Wednesday, Aug. 23. (Andy Hallman/The Union)
Mt. Pleasant Middle School students gather for an assembly on the first day of school Wednesday, Aug. 23. (Andy Hallman/The Union)
From left, Elainie, Emmett and Parker Turner stop for a photo before Emmett’s first day of Kindergarten in Washington (Kalen McCain/The Union)
Mt. Pleasant Middle School Social Studies teacher Barb Duder “walks like an Egyptian” during a school assembly on the first day of class Wednesday, Aug. 23. (Andy Hallman/The Union)
Mt. Pleasant Middle School Associate Principal Sherri Orris welcomes students back to the building on their first day of class Wednesday, Aug. 23. (Andy Hallman/The Union)
Mt. Pleasant Middle School art teacher Michele Peterson shows her class the binder they will be using on the first day of school Wednesday, Aug. 23. (Andy Hallman/The Union)