Sixth grade teacher Janelle Taha talks to her students during the first day of class at Melinda Heights Elementary School in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA on Monday, August 15, 2022. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Teacher Christine Hay gets to know her students during the first day of class at Melinda Heights Elementary School in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA on Monday, August 15, 2022. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Makena Jones has her photo taken by her mom Stephanie on the first day of kindergarten at Melinda Heights Elementary School in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA on Monday, August 15, 2022. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Sixth grade teacher Janelle Taha talks to her students during the first day of class at Melinda Heights Elementary School in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA on Monday, August 15, 2022. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Rem Prijoles gives a kiss to his daughter Amerie Raine Prijoles during the first day of 2nd grade at Melinda Heights Elementary School in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA on Monday, August 15, 2022. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Students and parents make their way to the first day of classes at Melinda Heights Elementary School in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA on Monday, August 15, 2022. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Koen Morgan answers a question during the first day of 6th grade at Melinda Heights Elementary School in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA on Monday, August 15, 2022. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Teacher Christine Hay talks to her students during the first day of class at Melinda Heights Elementary School in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA on Monday, August 15, 2022. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Students take a group photo during the first day of class at Melinda Heights Elementary School in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA on Monday, August 15, 2022. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Twins Bridget and Gretchen Kelly, from left, have their photo taken by their mom Laurie on the first day of class at Melinda Heights Elementary School in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA on Monday, August 15, 2022. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Daniyal Mansoor and his mom Tooba Ahmad take a selfie on the first day of class at Melinda Heights Elementary School in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA on Monday, August 15, 2022. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
School is back in session in the Saddleback Valley Unified School District. Campuses welcomed back students this week for a new year of learning.
As parents dropped their young learners off the first day of school, many stopped for photos marking the milestone and then students were off to their classrooms to get down to business.
