Prairie View Elementary School Principal Daniel Schuth high-fives kids after they get off the bus as District 301 kicks off its school year in Elgin Wednesday.
Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com
With much hoopla from school workers, and the repeated clicks from parents' smartphone cameras, students returned to school Wednesday morning throughout the Tri-Cities, Aurora, and the Kaneland and Burlington Central school districts.
Students at Louise White Elementary School in Batavia lined up for the traditional ringing of the historic school bell, to announce to the community classes are underway. The bell used to call students to attendance daily from 1893 to 1961 at the previous Louise White School building on Washington Avenue. Batavia elementary and middle schools started Wednesday; Batavia High School began Monday.
At Fabyan Elementary School in Geneva, a fifth-grader sang the national anthem at the starting ceremony before students entered the building. And at Harrison Street Elementary School, also in Geneva, two children were the first to receive birthday presents of a new book, in a program instituted by Principal Kimberly Hornberg.
It wasn't just the first day of school for kids in the Kaneland 302 District. It was the first school day of his first year on the job for Superintendent Todd Leden. He greeted students first at Kaneland High School in Maple Park, then at Kaneland Blackberry Creek Elementary School in Elburn.
New this year in Burlington Central District 101, each student will have access to their own Samsung Galaxy Tablet (for kindergartners and first-graders) or Google Chromebook (for the rest).
Images: Excitement and nerves as students return to classes
Eric Pairitz of Geneva talks to his daughter Cuyler, 6, before she starts first grade Wednesday at Fabyan Elementary School in Geneva.
Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
First-grade teacher Katie Bauer greets some of her students during the first day of school Wednesday at Fabyan Elementary School in Geneva.
Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
Parents walk their children to Kaneland Blackberry Creek Elementary Wednesday on the first day of school in Elburn.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com
Kaneland Superintendent Todd Leden greets students just off the bus Wednesday at the first day of school at Kaneland Blackberry Creek Elementary in Elburn. It is Leden's first year as superintendent.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com
Claudia Wolff, 9, and her sleepy little brother, Liam, 7, get their picture taken by their mother, Frances, on the first day of school Wednesday at Kaneland Blackberry Creek Elementary in Elburn. Liam wasn't too up for photos. "He's still sleeping," Frances joked.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com
Students, parents and teachers gather outside the front doors at Kaneland Blackberry Creek Elementary in Elburn for the first day of school Wednesday.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com
Louise White Elementary School Principal Kevin Skomer hands the rope off to students to ring the historic bell in front of the school in Batavia Wednesday. Every year, each student rings the bell to announce to the community the school year is in session.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com
Second-grader Kayleigh Williams, 7, takes her turn at ringing the bell outside Louise White Elementary in Batavia to announce the first day of the school year Wednesday.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com
Jack Atkins gives a quick look back to his parents before filing in for his first day of kindergarten at Prairie View Elementary School in Elgin Wednesday.
Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com