Some Redlands students were greeted with fanfare as they returned to campus for the 2025-26 school year.
At Lugonia Elementary School, the staff welcomed students with balloons and a red carpet, upon which they could walk back onto campus.
From left, Lelani Paul, Jennifer Paul and son Austyn Paul walk Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, into Lugonia Elementary School in Redlands for the first day of the 2025-26 school year. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Associated Student Body students at Clement Middle School cheer Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, at the campus entrance as students enter for the first day of school in Redlands. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Jennifer Paul and son Austyn Paul enter Lugonia Elementary School in Redlands for the first day of the 2025-26 school year Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Associated Student Body students at Clement Middle School cheer Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, at the campus entrance as students enter for the first day of school in Redlands. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Lugonia Elementary School students walk on a red carpet Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, for their first day of the school in Redlands. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Lugonia Elementary School students arrive for the first day of the 2025-26 school year Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025 in Redlands. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Johnny Estrada holds a “My first day” frame Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, as he starts transitional kindergarten at Redlands’ Lugonia Elementary School. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Redlands students walk into Clement Middle School for the first day of school Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Lugonia Elementary School Principal Sara Burton takes a photo with twins Andrew and Adrian Baez on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, on the first day of school in Redlands. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Lugonia Elementary School students walk on the red carpet Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, for the first day of the 2025-26 school year in Redlands. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Lugonia Elementary School students walk onto the Redlands campus on a red carpet for the first day of the 2025-26 school year on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
Students walk into Clement Middle School for the first day of the 2025-26 school year Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, in Redlands. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
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From left, Lelani Paul, Jennifer Paul and son Austyn Paul walk Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, into Lugonia Elementary School in Redlands for the first day of the 2025-26 school year. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)
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Students at nearby Clement Middle School — where returning students were cheered on — and across the Redlands Unified School District also said goodbye to summer vacation Thursday, Aug. 7.
Many Inland Empire school districts are reconvening over the next couple of weeks.
The Corona-Norco Unified School District in Riverside County joined the Redlands school district in starting classes Thursday morning.
The Colton Joint and San Bernardino City unified school district were among the region’s first to go back on Monday, Aug. 4. They were quickly followed by the Ontario-Montclair School District on Wednesday, Aug. 6.
More school districts will begin next week, including the Riverside, Murrieta Valley, Hemet, Pomona and Temecula Valley school districts.
