Images: The first day of school - Wednesday
Mary Valenti hugs her son Rosario goodbye after dropping him off for his first day of first-grade at Prairie View Grade School in Elgin Wednesday. Prairie View is in Burlington Central District 301.
Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com
Marella Lawas smiles for her mom Mariel as she gets ready to start first-grade at Prairie View Grade School in Elgin Wednesday.
Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com
Prairie View Grade School Principal Dan Schuth high fives the students as they head to their classes during the first day of school for kids in Burlington Central District 301 Wednesday.
Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com
Adrian Villagomez hoists the flag during the first day of school at Highland Elementary School in Elgin Wednesday, August 24, 2011.
Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
Principal Steve Johnson makes sure that the students are headed to the correct classes during first day of school at Highland Elementary School in Elgin Wednesday, August 24, 2011.
Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
The classroom of 3rd grade teacher Mrs. Roi Petrides says the Pledge of Allegiance to start the day at Salt Creek Elementary school in Elk Grove Village on Wednesday.
Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
Making it a family event the Murphys, Angela and Jim, escort their two girls Gracie, 6, and Abby, 7, to Salt Creek Elementary School for their first day on Wednesday.
Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
It was the first day of classes at Salt Creek Elementary School in Elk Grove Village on Wednesday.
Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
Julia Parisi, 10, in the 5th grade at Salt Creek Elementary School in Elk Grove Village exits her school bus loaded with gear excited about the new year.
Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
Loaded down with a book bag stuffed with supplies student Eric Iterlien, 10, takes time for a little snooze before heading off to his first day of class at Salt Creek Elementary in Elk Grove Village on Wednesday.
Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
Abby Sprenger, 6, and her friends Gabbi Fontanetta, 7, left and Viktoria Velikova, 7, head to their first day of class at Salt Creek Elementary School in Elk Grove Village on Wednesday.
Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
Shannon Anne talks to her daughter Charlotte as she starts her first day of kindergarten at Greenbrier Elementary School in Arlington Heights.
Bill Zars/bzars@dailyherald.com
Malgorzata Myrda kisses her daughter Angelica goodbye as she starts her first day of kindergarten at Greenbrier Elementary School in Arlington Heights.
Bill Zars/bzars@dailyherald.com
Students file in on the first day of classes at Greenbrier Elementary School in Arlington Heights.
Bill Zars/bzars@dailyherald.com
Sixth-grade student David Lekah strolls an empty hall looking for his class Wednesday at Haines Middle School in St. Charles.
Christopher Hankins/chankins@dailyherald.com
Social studies teacher Dave Evans tries to keep things organized as he dismisses students from the lunchroom Wednesday morning at Haines Middle School in St. Charles.
Christopher Hankins/chankins@dailyherald.com
A sign hanging in the doorway of a classroom leaves no doubt about what students should do on their first day back in class at Haines Middle School.
Christopher Hankins/chankins@dailyherald.com
Sixth grader Ajay Gustafson puts some of his school supplies into his backpack between classes Wednesday morning at Haines Middle School in St. Charles.
Christopher Hankins/chankins@dailyherald.com
Sixth-grade students Ahtziri Orozco, left, and Paige Norkus get the hang of dealing with their lockers Wednesday morning at Haines Middle School in St. Charles.
Christopher Hankins/chankins@dailyherald.com
Students in Kim Christensens first-grade class build a tissue tower with their supplies as a fun activity on their first day of school at Williamsburg Elementary on Wednesday.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com
First grader Anthony Salazar patiently sits in line on the playground waiting for the first day of school at Williamsburg Elementary to start on Wednesday.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com
Williamsburg Elementary principal Julie Dye stands on a ladder and uses a megaphone to welcome students gathered on the playground to school on Wednesday.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com
Williamsburg Elementary principal Julie Dye laughs with parents and teachers as students enter the building on their first day of school on Wednesday.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com
First-grade teacher Kim Christensen takes a photo of new student Bradley Anderson, 6, and his mom, Heather, on his first day of school at Williamsburg Elementary on Wednesday.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com
Student, parents and teachers say the Pledge of Allegiance on the playground before coming into school for their first day of class at Williamsburg Elementary on Wednesday.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com
Kim Jacobsen says goodbye to her son, Evan, 9, before he starts his first day of fourth grade at Williamsburg Elementary on Wednesday. Jacobsen said she could tell he was a little bit nervous but also excited as he has several good friends in his class.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com
Kindergartner Isabella Dinovo, 5, makes her way to Williamsburg Elementary for her first day of school on Wednesday.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com
Crystal Engle gets a hug from her mom Loretta at the doorway to her second-grade class with Kristin Miller on the first day of school at Anne Fox School in Hanover Park on Wednesday.
George LeClaire/gleclaire@dailyherald.com
Students at outside of Anne Fox School sing a welcome to school song on the first day of school in Hanover Park which is part of Schaumburg Township Elementary District 54 on Wednesday.
George LeClaire/gleclaire@dailyherald.com
Third grader Arlene Benhart is happy to be returning to Anne Fox School as she walks through a Tunnel of Hope made up of staff, teachers, parents and community members lining the sidewalk outside the schools main entrance in Hanover Park on Wednesday, the first day of school in Schaumburg Township Elementary District 54.
George LeClaire/gleclaire@dailyherald.com