First-grade student Adriana Gaertner gets encouragement from her teacher Kate Hernandez on the first day of class at Harbor View Elementary School in Corona del Mar on Monday, August 17, 2026. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Jordan Gough gets a hug from his mom Betsy on the first day of class at Harbor View Elementary School in Corona del Mar on Monday, August 17, 2026. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
First-grade teacher Katie Danahy gives her students a coloring assignment on the first day of class at Harbor View Elementary School in Corona del Mar on Monday, August 17, 2026. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
First-grade student Mateo Katavic gets a kiss from his mom Karin on the first day of class at Harbor View Elementary School in Corona del Mar on Monday, August 17, 2026. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
First-grade student Swayzee Reza takes a photo with her mom, Ashley Coss, and dad, Tony Reza, during the first day of class at Harbor View Elementary School in Corona del Mar on Monday, August 17, 2026. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Murphy Megonigal and his sister Scharlotte poke their heads through a welcome back sign before the first day of class at Harbor View Elementary School in Corona del Mar on Monday, August 17, 2026. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Students head to class during their first day at Harbor View Elementary School in Corona del Mar on Monday, August 17, 2026. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
First-grade students work on a coloring project on the first day of class at Harbor View Elementary School in Corona del Mar on Monday, August 17, 2026. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Hugo Dickens takes a moment with his mom Sofia on the first day of class at Harbor View Elementary School in Corona del Mar on Monday, August 17, 2026. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Sawyer, Scharlotte, Graham and Murphy Megonigal take a photo in front of a welcome back sign before the first day of class at Harbor View Elementary School in Corona del Mar on Monday, August 17, 2026. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
First-grade student Adriana Gaertner gets encouragement from her teacher Kate Hernandez on the first day of class at Harbor View Elementary School in Corona del Mar on Monday, August 17, 2026. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
ExpandSummer has come to an end for thousands of area students.
The Newport-Mesa Unified School District returned its learners to their classrooms on Monday, Aug. 17.
Read more First look inside Mercado González, Costa Mesa’s colossal new food hall and marketplace
At Harbor View Elementary, fun signs and smiling teachers welcoming back the students helped counter some of the jitters for parents and students alike.
Read more Northgate bringing its Mercado González food hall to La Habra