At Las Juntas Elementary School in Martinez, Payton Helms, 4, above, meets her new kindergarten teacher, Sharon Geernaert, during the first day of classes on Tuesday. Meletupou Latu, 4, right, stays close to her dad, Justin Fotofili, as he says goodbye to her before the start of school. Children in the Martinez Unified School District returned to classes Aug. 21, and students in the Mt. Diablo Unified School District are scheduled for their first day of classes Aug. 29.

DAN ROSENSTRAUCH/Staff photos