First day of school in the suburbs
First graders Autumn Ottoman, left, and Grace Stanley, both 6, hug during the first day of school Wednesday at Fremont Elementary School in Mundelein.
Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer
Kindergartners and first graders line up at Deer Path School in Cary Elementary District 26.
Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer
Steve Olofson helps organize supplies on the first day of school at Coleman Elementary School in Elgin Wednesday.
Brian Hill | Staff Photographer
First-grade teacher Sally Hanson directs Nina Borkowki, 6, left, and Alexa Ruhnke, 6, to their school bus during the first day of school Wednesday at Hawthorn Aspen Elementary School in Vernon Hills.
Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer
New Fremont School District 79 Superintendent Jill Gildea greets students as they exit buses during the first day of school Wednesday at Fremont Elementary School in Mundelein.
Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer
Principal Thom Gippert looks over a lonely piano in an empty music room on the first day of school at Deer Path School in Cary Elementary District 26. Music and art are some of the programs that have been cut due to budget constraints.
Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer
Principal Brian Stark at Coleman Elementary School in Elgin Wednesday.
Brian Hill | Staff Photographer
Physical science instructor Michael Jarvis talks with students.
Daniel White | Staff Photographer
Children arrive at Deer Path School in Cary Elementary District 26.
Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer
Students in Karen Roberts' Buffalo Grove High School computer class were the first to use 30 new machines on the first day of school.
George LeClaire | Staff Photographer
First-grader Drew Wellington draws while his teacher, Lisa Buschick, collects supplies during the first day of school Wednesday at Fremont Elementary School in Mundelein.
Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer
Fourth-grade teacher Carolyn Haase waits for her students to line up at Deer Path School in Cary Elementary District 26.
Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer
Students Sara-Anne Oberkirch and Tyler Bell walk to classes at Naperville Central High School.
Daniel White | Staff Photographer
Naperville North seniors prepare to enter the building in the traditional "First Day of Seniors Year" on Wednesday.
Bev Horne | Staff Photographer
Teacher Karen Roberts explains new features on a computer to junior Hana Vanderveen during the first day of school at Buffalo Grove High School.
George LeClaire | Staff Photographer
Dana Christensen gets a hug from her daughter, Reiss, 6, after taking her picture on her first day of first grade at Western Avenue School in Geneva.
Laura Stoecker | Staff Photographer
English teacher Adam Freed, left, points out class locations to students at Naperville Central High School.
Daniel White | Staff Photographer
Second-grader Anthony Cervantes, 7, has his picture taken by his teacher, Stacey Terchin, during the first day of school Wednesday at Hawthorn South Elementary School in Vernon Hills.
Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer
Third-grader Matthew Franzen gets his shot to ring the bell for the first day of school at Louise White Elementary in Batavia on Wednesday. All 497 students got a chance to ring the bell, which dates to the 1890s.
Rick West | Staff Photographer
Students gather for the first day of school at Western Avenue School in Geneva.
Laura Stoecker | Staff Photographer
One of the first to arrive, Gerry Ostergard and his children, Carrie, 10, and Matthew, 6, arrive for the first day of school at Western Avenue School in Geneva. Ostergard says, "They've been excited about this for a long time." Matthew added, "I'm SO excited."
Laura Stoecker | Staff Photographer
Second-grade student Lexi Wageman holds up a sign to line up at Deer Path School in Cary Elementary District 26.
Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer
The library still needs to be prepped and readied at at Coleman Elementary School in Elgin.
Brian Hill | Staff Photographer
Steve Olofson helps organize supplies on the first day of school at Coleman Elementary School in Elgin Wednesday.
Brian Hill | Staff Photographer
Neil Duncan, instructional coordinator of physical education, addresses students at Naperville Central High School.
Daniel White | Staff Photographer
Corey Glenn runs cable above the ceiling during the first day of school at Naperville Central High School.
Daniel White | Staff Photographer
Freshman student Peter Ko makes his way into Naperville Central High School.
Daniel White | Staff Photographer
Fourth-grade teacher Marline Krug is surrounded by fifth graders (her former students) on the first day of school at Western Avenue School in Geneva. Krug has been a teacher at the school for 22 years.
Laura Stoecker | Staff Photographer
Students find their way to classes through construction during the first day of school at Naperville Central High School.
Daniel White | Staff Photographer
Kids unload from buses on the first day of school at Western Avenue School in Geneva.
Laura Stoecker | Staff Photographer
Caroline and Tom Baginski, left, and Carrie Miller take pictures of their daughters as they walk into the building for their first day of second grade at Western Avenue School in Geneva. Caroline Baginski said her daughter, Grayson, 7, was up at 5 a.m.
Laura Stoecker | Staff Photographer
Holding hands, Grace Leahy, middle, and Livia Goewy, right, step outside to line up in their classes for their first day of first grade at Western Avenue School in Geneva.
Laura Stoecker | Staff Photographer
Principal Brian Stark, left, helps Juan Fernandez and Jonathan Lara, right, both 11, raise the flag on the first day of school at Coleman Elementary School in Elgin.
Brian Hill | Staff Photographer
Second grade teacher Tammy Marshall's classroom on the first day of school at Deer Path School in Cary Elementary District 26.
Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer
First-grader Liam Waco and his mom Amy are greeted by teacher Nancy Siles on the first day of school at Deer Path School in Cary Elementary District 26.
Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer
Teacher Karen Roberts explains new features on computers to students during the first day of school at Buffalo Grove High School.
George LeClaire | Staff Photographer
Principal Thom Gippert walks through an empty art room on the first day of school at Deer Path School in Cary Elementary District 26. Art classes have been cut in the district due to budget constraints.
Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer
Students stand on their toes to get a better view of the flag-raising at Coleman Elementary School in Elgin on Wednesday.
Brian Hill | Staff Photographer
New Fremont School District 79 Superintendent Jill Gildea helps first grader Jonathan Babin, 6, get to his class during the first day of school Wednesday at Fremont Elementary School in Mundelein.
Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer
Parents line the sidewalk as they send off their children at Deer Path School in Cary Elementary District 26.
Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer
Students head to second period classes at Buffalo Grove High School.
George LeClaire | Staff Photographer
Students find their way to classes through construction at Naperville Central High School.
Daniel White | Staff Photographer
Zac Novack, from left, Nick Damianides and Jason McIntosh lead the way as Naperville North seniors prepare to enter the building in the traditional "First Day of Seniors Year" on Wednesday.
Bev Horne | Staff Photographer
Entertaining themselves while waiting in line to start school, second graders Zach Lew, left, and Lucas Hipp, both 7, wrestle with school supply boxes outside Western Avenue School in Geneva.
Laura Stoecker | Staff Photographer
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