Elizabeth Reyes captures her 4-year-old daughter Sophia’s first day of school at Pacific Drive Elementary School in Fullerton with a sign and a photo on Monday, August 10, 2026. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Children arrive with their parents at Pacific Drive Elementary School in Fullerton as the early morning light casts shadows during the first day of school on Monday, August 10, 2026. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Pacific Drive Elementary teacher aide Carla Barajas chats with former student Aliaah Chaidez-Avila, 6, at Pacific Drive Elementary during the first day of school in Fullerton on Monday, August 10, 2026. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Principal John Leonard of Pacific Drive Elementary School in Fullerton greets Audrey Moran, 10, as she begins her first day of school as a fifth grader on Monday, August 10, 2026. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Victoria and Zac Applegate walk their son Ollie, 7, to his second-grade classroom with their daughter Juniper, 4, on the first day of school at Pacific Drive Elementary School in Fullerton on Monday, August 10, 2026. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Children arrive with their parents at Pacific Drive Elementary School in Fullerton for the first day of school on Monday, August 10, 2026. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Parents take part in a first-day-of-school orientation in teacher Anna Ambriz’ dual-language class at Pacific Drive Elementary in Fullerton on Monday, August 10, 2026. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Pacific Drive Elementary teacher Amy Song greets students during the first day of school in Fullerton on Monday, August 10, 2026. She hugs former student Grace Sosa, 5. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dual Language Academy TK teacher Anna Ambriz loses balance while getting a hug from former student Natalia Hermosillo, 5, on the first day of school at Pacific Drive Elementary in Fullerton on Monday, August 10, 2026. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
School friends Jared Perez and Emilia Pimentel, both 6, enthusiastically greet each other with a hug during the first day of school at Pacific Drive Elementary in Fullerton on Monday, August 10, 2026. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Summer is starting to come to an end for tens of thousands of area students.
The Fullerton Elementary School District and the Fullerton Joint Union High School District called back their young learners on Monday, Aug. 10.
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At Pacific Drive Elementary, smiling teachers welcoming back the students helped counter some of the jitters for parents and students alike.
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On Tuesday, the La Habra City School District starts classes and on Wednesday the Buena Park School District, Lowell Joint School District and Brea Olinda Unified celebrate their first days of the new school year. Thursday is the first day of school for Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified.
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