School bells rang across the Escalon Unified School District on Thursday, Aug. 7 as classes resumed at all sites.
From the youngest Transitional Kindergarten, TK, students to those entering their final year of high school, the new year officially got underway.
“Our very first day of school, I had the pleasure of visiting each of our campuses. It was truly one of the smoothest and most joyful starts to a school year we’ve experienced in recent memory,” said District Superintendent Ricardo Chavez. “Our district-wide attendance was outstanding, with 98.54 percent of enrolled students present and ready to learn. The energy on every campus was vibrant, fueled by both new and returning staff who were eager to welcome their students.”
The various campuses have welcomed everyone back, and are now settling in to the weekly routine. Escalon Unified includes Collegeville, Dent, Farmington and Van Allen elementary sites; El Portal Middle School; Gateway Charter Academy; Vista High School; and Escalon High School.
At Dent Elementary, it was a doubly special day for young Devyn Diaz, as she was celebrating her eighth birthday for her return to school.
“It’s exciting,” she said, wearing a ‘Happy Birthday’ crown and getting ready to start third grade.
She also received birthday wishes from EUSD Assistant Superintendent Mark Vos, who was on site to welcome students back from summer vacation.
“It’s going great,” Vos said. “It’s exciting to see students excited to be here and you walk into the classrooms and they’ve got great teachers so it’s going to be fantastic … a great start to the year.”
Mom Ximena Garcia was getting her daughter, Citlaly Romero, 5, settled in to her classroom while also trying to settle her own emotions down a little, as Citlaly is her first to start school.
“Oh, my heart is racing,” Garcia admitted. “I’m just like, I don’t know should I be crying right now or should I be excited and jumping?”
Mom and daughter found Citlaly’s name on her desk and teacher Jessica Towner was there to help her hang up her backpack and find her cubby, as other students began to file in to the classroom.
Several youngsters also had the chance to eat breakfast prior to the start of the school day and spend a few minutes on the Dent playground, getting out some nervous energy before lining up to head inside. There were some tears from a few of the youngest students, though there were plenty of teachers and support staff on hand to help make the transition easier.
Chavez said it was a similar scene across the district, with a very successful first day in the books.
“Across our schools, staff, administrators, and volunteers greeted students with warm smiles, and photo backdrops created perfect spots to capture those memorable first-day moments,” explained Chavez. “Many campuses were also supported by dedicated parent volunteers, ensuring a seamless day for all. It was, in every sense, a fantastic beginning to the year and I am genuinely excited for all that 2025-2026 has in store for us.”
