Students get to work in Bridget Burke’s classroom on the first day of classes at Truman Benedict Elementary School in San Clemente, CA on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Chloe Clark has her photo taken by her mom in front of a Welcome Back sign on the first day of classes at Truman Benedict Elementary School in San Clemente, CA on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Third grade student Piper Hunn gives a hug to school counselor Andrea Hitchcock on the first day of classes at Truman Benedict Elementary School in San Clemente, CA on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Brothers Wyatt and Dylan Green take a photo in front of a Welcome Back sign on the first day of classes at Truman Benedict Elementary School in San Clemente, CA on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Second grade teacher Stefanie Lamar talks to her students on the first day of classes at Truman Benedict Elementary School in San Clemente, CA on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Kindergartener Scarlett Gattinella has her photo taken on by her mom Tiana on the first day of classes at Truman Benedict Elementary School in San Clemente, CA on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Parents take photos of their students on the first day of classes at Truman Benedict Elementary School in San Clemente, CA on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
First grade teacher Cindy Anderson leads her first grade students in a cheer on the first day of classes at Truman Benedict Elementary School in San Clemente, CA on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Second grade student Lyla Whitworth waits with her mom Haley on the first day of classes at Truman Benedict Elementary School in San Clemente, CA on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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Students get to work in Bridget Burke’s classroom on the first day of classes at Truman Benedict Elementary School in San Clemente, CA on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The time has come for students to open up their textbooks and launch into another year of learning.
But first, there was time for hugs and high-fives on Tuesday, Aug. 19, as friends reunited and teachers welcomed back their pupils.
Parents quelled first-day jitters and snapped photos to mark the start of the school year as thousands of Capistrano Unified School District students filled classrooms again after summer break.
