Sarasota children head back to school

Ms. Reese's pre-K class lines up to go to breakfast. // Whitney Elfstrom

Brian and Vralon Jackson walk hand-in-hand to Southside Elementary. // Harry Sayer

Susan Crittenden, second-grade student Summer Harris and Dax Harris take a photo opp in front of Alta Vista Elementary’s mural wall. // Brynn Mechem

Sherry Gunderson shakes hands with Ar'Marian Gilchrist, who was excited to be in her fifth-grade class at Emma E. Booker Elementary this year. // Nathalie Kaemmerer

Brielle Kilduff parks her scooter at Southside Elementary. // Harry Sayer

Joseph Salguero-Mondragon and Aaliyah Vasquez Navarro prepare for their first day of kindergarten at Gocio Elementary School. // Whitney Elfstrom

Fabienne Augustin and first grader Abigail Denize are loaded up with school supplies for the year at Alta Vista Elementary. // Brynn Mechem

Maliyah Summers and Jessica Young. Summers is going into fifth grade at Emma E. Booker Elementary. // Nathalie Kaemmerer

Brock, Scarlett, Kinley and Michelle Gratton prepare themselves for the first day of school at Southside Elementary. // Harry Sayer

Kayden Clyburn colors before his first pre-K class starts at Gocio Elementary School. // Whitney Elfstrom

First grader Dakota Harvey and Shakiera Harvey poses for a picture before heading off to class at Alta Vista Elementary School. // Brynn Mechem

Emma E. Booker Elementary Principal Edwina Oliver straightens a students collar. // Nathalie Kaemmerer

Mosaik Williams prepares himself for his first day of fourth grade as he walks to Southside Elementary. // Harry Sayer

Debora Jean waits in line for breakfast on her first day of third grade. // Whitney Elfstrom

Rozanny Moreno, first grade student Amy Ramirez-Moreno and Jenny Cabrera are excited for the first day of school at Alta Vista Elementary. // Brynn Mechem

Major Wynan and Romelo Salem fuel up before school at Emma E. Booker Elementary. // Nathalie Kaemmerer

Jackson, Porter and Stella McCoi relax a moment outside of Southside Elementary. // Harry Sayer

Denae and Brenda Evans say goodbye on Denae's first day of pre-K at Gocio Elementary School. // Whitney Elfstrom

Delmy Guerra and first grade student Edgar Amador-Guerra are happy to head back to Alta Vista Elementary. // Brynn Mechem

Shawn, Cornesha and Cordell Thomas spend the last few seconds of school-free days together before the year starts at Emma E. Booker Elementary. // Nathalie Kaemmerer

Katie, Harper and Corey Jordan walk together to Southside Elementary. // Harry Sayer

Eyva Theodore shows off her rainbow bow on her first day of kindergarten at Gocio Elementary School. // Whitney Elfstrom

Two girls hold hands as they excitedly walk to class at Alta Vista Elementary. // Brynn Mechem

First graders Serenity Carter and Genesis Williams smile for the first day at Emma E. Booker Elementary. // Nathalie Kaemmerer

Southside’s Panther Mascot welcomes children to their first day of the new school year. // Harry Sayer

Yenisbel Fernandez snaps a photo of Pablo and Natalie Velazquez before her first class at Gocio Elementary School. // Whitney Elfstrom

t’s a party of five as Sha’Miya Williams, 1st grade student Lyric Chisholm, Ja’Anna Smith, Curtis Thomas and 4th grade student Quintonio Chisholm walk the halls of Alta Vista Elementary. // Brynn Mechem

Imori Gordon and Stella Nash await the first day of third grade at Emma E. Booker Elementary. // Nathalie Kaemmerer

Dylan Sobol and Sebastian Harvey work on their chess moves outside of Southside Elementary. // Harry Sayer

Nina Mortimer and Irvin Puga-Tapia smile on their first day of first grade at Gocio Elementary School. // Whitney Elfstrom

Alta Vista Elementary kindergarten teacher Alyssa Haven is all smiles as she welcomes students into their first day of school. // Brynn Mechem

Rokhi Williams munches on cereal in the Gocio Elementary School cafeteria before his first day of kindergarten. // Whitney Elfstrom

Hezekiah Quamina and Cody Zarves wait for their turn to be called on during the first day of kindergarten at Alta Vista Elementary. // Brynn Mechem

Johanna Caminero helps Jaime Tomas-Jacinto with a worksheet at Emma E. Booker Elementary. // Nathalie Kaemmerer