![Teachers hold signs reading, "Be happy" and "Have a great day."](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/49b9a21/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4200x2799+0+94/resize/2000x1333!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F8f%2F12%2Fd2287f244cefbc9134015fa82f98%2F1332376-me-oc-back-to-school-03-ajs.jpg)
Teachers hold signs of encouragement as students and their parents arrive for the first day of school at Roosevelt Elementary in Anaheim.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Thursday was back-to-school day for the Anaheim Elementary School District. At Roosevelt Elementary, students and parents gathered for the 8:10 a.m. start of instruction.
![A group of children and parents stand at a school entrance.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/875270a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4200x2800+0+0/resize/2000x1333!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0e%2F6a%2Fd8bb9ef1498b96550ca72ea65886%2F1332376-me-oc-back-to-school-07-ajs.jpg)
Awaiting the day’s start, Roosevelt Elementary students and their parents reflect the gamut of first-day emotions, including tears.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
![At the edge of a crowd, two girls hug.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e321a91/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4200x2710+0+0/resize/2000x1290!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa2%2F23%2Ff0c5f055493c8c61ed247df23cd9%2F1332376-me-oc-back-to-school-06-ajs.jpg)
Second-grader Sarah Mojarro,7, foreground right, hugs classmate Alexa Hernandez, also 7.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
![A mother wraps an arm around a smiling child.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0229dc6/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4200x2800+0+0/resize/2000x1333!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F9e%2F13%2Fc997738e4c74b3711b410d63fcb2%2F1332376-me-oc-back-to-school-02-ajs.jpg)
It’s the first day of kindergarten for Winry Millspaugh, 5, who giggles with her mom, Tasha Millspaugh, before school begins.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
![A teacher leans toward a speaking child.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/fbb5016/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4200x2548+0+0/resize/2000x1213!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fba%2F9f%2F501c5aa14f3291791a1a54f6ddf8%2F1332376-me-oc-back-to-school-11-ajs.jpg)
A dual language immersion class focused on Mandarin is led by Krystin Wong, who speaks with Shelby Rezner, 4, at center.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
![A child holds an apple-shaped chalkboard that reads, "First day of kindergarten."](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/50fbc3d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4200x3223+0+0/resize/2000x1535!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F98%2Fc1%2F62af4bc44d3ca1cecc7457ab28c3%2F1332376-me-oc-back-to-school-01-ajs.jpg)
It’s picture time before the start of school.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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