Students along with their parents arrive for the first day of school at Oak Creek Elementary School in Irvine on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Sal Dealba takes a photo of his children, Autumn, left, in second grade, and Connor, center, in pre-kindergarten, as they arrive at Oak Creek Elementary School in Irvine for the first day of school on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Oak Creek Elementary School Assistant Principal Michelle Hulley greets a student in front of the school as she arrives for the first day of school in Irvine on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Oak Creek Elementary School kindergarten teacher Amy Ly greets a student in front of her classroom on the first day of school on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024, in Irvine. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Anna Volnykh, left, carries bouquets of flowers as she crosses the street in front of Oak Creek Elementary School in Irvine with her daughter, Nicole, in first grade, and husband Val, as they arrive for the first day of school on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Medhi Sadr takes a photo of his son, Shahan, a first grade student, in front of the sign at Oak Creek Elementary School in Irvine on the first day of school on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Students get off the bus as they arrive for the first day of school at Oak Creek Elementary School in Irvine on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Oak Creek Elementary School kindergarten teacher Anika Bright, center, hands out name tags as she greets students in front of her classroom on the first day of school on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024, in Irvine. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Oak Creek Elementary School kindergarten teacher Amy Ly greets a student in front of her classroom on the first day of school on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024, in Irvine. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Students along with their parents cross the street in front of Oak Creek Elementary School in Irvine as they arrive for the first day of school on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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Students along with their parents arrive for the first day of school at Oak Creek Elementary School in Irvine on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
There were first-day photos and last hugs and words of encouragement and then it was time to get serious about learning.
The Irvine Unified School District welcomed thousands of students back to its campuses on Tuesday, leaving summer fun in the rearview mirror for the launch of a new exciting school year.
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