It still felt like summer outside, but Wayne County students reported back to their classrooms last week for the new school year.

Students and teachers jumped back in to learning, laughing, experimenting and even dancing as classrooms, labs, auditoriums and cafeterias once again bustled with activity.

Joshua Smith captured these photos for the Western Wayne News.

Western Wayne

  • Brooke Bonwell draws during third grade art class at Western Wayne Elementary School on the first day of school, Wednesday, Aug. 7, in Cambridge City.
  • Maci Combs draws during third grade art class at Western Wayne Elementary School on the first day of school, Wednesday, Aug. 7, in Cambridge City.
  • Penelope Anguiano, left, and Elizabeth Dargie react while discovering how many drops of water a penny can hold during STEM Lab at Western Wayne Elementary School on the first day of school, Wednesday, Aug. 7, in Cambridge City.
  • Raylan Bishop, left, and Caleb Aubuchon count how many drops of water a penny can hold during STEM Lab at Western Wayne Elementary School on the first day of school, Wednesday, Aug. 7, in Cambridge City.
  • Olivia Hook, left, and William Amyx work together to see how many drops of water a penny can hold during STEM Lab at Western Wayne Elementary School on the first day of school, Wednesday, Aug. 7, in Cambridge City.
  • Amy Puckett reads a book to first grade students at Western Wayne Elementary School on the first day of school, Wednesday, Aug. 7, in Cambridge City.
  • First grade teacher Emma Berger talks to Alayna Banks during class at Western Wayne Elementary School on the first day of school, Wednesday, Aug. 7, in Cambridge City.
  • First grade students Tuker Agee, left, and Arlee Rex create with modeling clay during class at Western Wayne Elementary School on the first day of school, Wednesday, Aug. 7, in Cambridge City.
  • First grade students raise their hands during class at Western Wayne Elementary School on the first day of school, Wednesday, Aug. 7, in Cambridge City.
  • First grade student Boyd Bowman talks about his modeling clay creation during class at Western Wayne Elementary School on the first day of school, Wednesday, Aug. 7, in Cambridge City.
  • Kindergarten students draw during class at Western Wayne Elementary School on the first day of school, Wednesday, Aug. 7, in Cambridge City.
  • Kindergarten teacher Kelsey Agee talks to students during class at Western Wayne Elementary School on the first day of school, Wednesday, Aug. 7, in Cambridge City.
  • Kindergarten student Colton Judy draws during class at Western Wayne Elementary School on the first day of school, Wednesday, Aug. 7, in Cambridge City.
  • Kindergarten teacher Kelsey Agee takes a dance break with students during class at Western Wayne Elementary School on the first day of school, Wednesday, Aug. 7, in Cambridge City.

Northeastern

  • Students and teachers at Northeastern Middle School start the first day of school on Tuesday, Aug. 6, in Fountain City.
  • Principal Clayton Smith, right, and other staff members wait to greet students Tuesday, Aug. 6, at Northeastern on the first day of school in Fountain City.

Richmond

  • Staff and students attend the 54th annual flag-raising ceremony Tuesday, Aug. 6, at Charles Elementary School. It was Richmond Community Schools’ first day of school for students.
  • Eugene Crawford helps Penny Daggy, Brynn Lafuze, Abigail Quiroz and Keaton Ritchie attach a United States flag to the flagpole for Charles Elementary School’s 54th annual flag-raising ceremony on Tuesday, Aug. 6.
  • Staff and students attend the 54th annual flag-raising ceremony Tuesday, Aug. 6, at Charles Elementary School. It was Richmond Community Schools’ first day of school for students.
  • Staff and students attend the 54th annual flag-raising ceremony Tuesday, Aug. 6, at Charles Elementary School. It was Richmond Community Schools’ first day of school for students.
  • Preschool students get accustomed to their classroom on Tuesday, Aug. 6, at Charles Elementary School on the first day of school.
  • Penny Daggy, left, Brynn Lafuze, Abigail Quiroz and Keaton Ritchie hold a United States flag for the 54th annual flag-raising ceremony at Richmond’s Charles Elementary School on their first day of school.
  • Preschool students get accustomed to their classroom on Tuesday, Aug. 6, at Charles Elementary School on the first day of school.
  • Preschool students get accustomed to their classroom on Tuesday, Aug. 6, at Charles Elementary School on the first day of school.
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A version of this article appeared in the August 14 2024 print edition of the Western Wayne News.