Teacher Pamela Padian talks to her kindergarten class during the first day of school at Portola Hills Elementary School in Trabuco Canyon on Thursday, August 20, 2026. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Charlotte Hartranft walks through a tunnel of cheering teachers with her brother Parker and mom Alison during the first day of school at Portola Hills Elementary School in Trabuco Canyon on Thursday, August 20, 2026. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Teacher Katie Botsford greets a student walking through a cheering tunnel of teachers during the first day of school at Portola Hills Elementary School in Trabuco Canyon on Thursday, August 20, 2026. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Jaylene Garcia gets a hug as she walks through a tunnel of cheering teachers during the first day of school at Portola Hills Elementary School in Trabuco Canyon on Thursday, August 20, 2026. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Teacher Barbara Ryan talks to her kindergarten class during the first day of school at Portola Hills Elementary School in Trabuco Canyon on Thursday, August 20, 2026. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Lynkon Garcia, Alaina Rawlin and Lyden Garcia, from left, have a photo taken by their mom Sierra during the first day of school at Portola Hills Elementary School in Trabuco Canyon on Thursday, August 20, 2026. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Camden and Kai Lee, from left, take a photo in front of a welcome back sign during the first day of school at Portola Hills Elementary School in Trabuco Canyon on Thursday, August 20, 2026. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Parents take a class photo of their kids during the first day of school at Portola Hills Elementary School in Trabuco Canyon on Thursday, August 20, 2026. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Stella and Evan Taghvaee make faces for their parents photo during the first day of school at Portola Hills Elementary School in Trabuco Canyon on Thursday, August 20, 2026. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Warren Sapolu waves good-bye to his parents Luke and Stephanie as he heads into the first day of first grade at Portola Hills Elementary School in Trabuco Canyon on Thursday, August 20, 2026. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Teacher Pamela Padian talks to her kindergarten class during the first day of school at Portola Hills Elementary School in Trabuco Canyon on Thursday, August 20, 2026. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
ExpandSummer has come to an end for thousands of south Orange County students.
The Saddleback Unified School District returned its learners to their classrooms on Thursday, Aug. 20.
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At Portola Hills Elementary, fun signs and smiling teachers welcoming back the students helped counter some of the jitters for parents and students alike.
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