Photos: First Day of School 2023

Gazette photojournalists Geoff Stellfox and Savannah Blake captured the start of another school year at Starry Elementary and the new Prairie Creek Intermediate

Special education associate Kim Vrbicek walks students to the building after their bus was late on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023, at Starry Elementary in Marion, Iowa. Starry Elementary School will close at the end of this year and students will move into a new building built under the district's facility master plan. The school will likely be remodeled as an extension of the high school. (Geoff Stellfox/The Gazette)

Renee Reedich of Ely takes a photo with her daughter Sandy Reedich, 10, in front of the Prairie Creek sign on Sandy’s first day of fifth grade at Prairie Creek Intermediate in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Wednesday, August 23, 2023. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Special education associate Kim Vrbicek walks kindergartener Ashton Adnerson to school for his first day on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023, at Starry Elementary in Marion, Iowa. Starry Elementary School will close at the end of this year and students will move into a new building built under the district's facility master plan. The school will likely be remodeled as an extension of the high school. (Geoff Stellfox/The Gazette)

Chris Page gives his daughter Aurora a hug ahead of there first day of second grade on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023, at Starry Elementary in Marion, Iowa. Starry Elementary School will close at the end of this year and students will move into a new building built under the district's facility master plan. The school will likely be remodeled as an extension of the high school. (Geoff Stellfox/The Gazette)

Fifth grader Vashon Whittaker, 10, (CQ) takes a selfie with his mom, Lisa Whittaker of Cedar Rapids before going inside for his first day of school at Prairie Creek Intermediate in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Wednesday, August 23, 2023. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

“Five minutes everyone!” special education associate Kayla Schmickle exclaims as students line up for their first day of school on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023, at Starry Elementary in Marion, Iowa. Starry Elementary School will close at the end of this year and students will move into a new building built under the district's facility master plan. The school will likely be remodeled as an extension of the high school. (Geoff Stellfox/The Gazette)

Taylor Miller gives a hug to her children Callie and Mason a hug ahead of Mason’s first day of kindergarten on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023, at Starry Elementary in Marion, Iowa. Starry Elementary School will close at the end of this year and students will move into a new building built under the district's facility master plan. The school will likely be remodeled as an extension of the high school. (Geoff Stellfox/The Gazette)

Jamesette Sackie of Cedar Rapids takes a photo of her son Augustine Sackie on his first day of fifth grade at Prairie Creek Intermediate in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Wednesday, August 23, 2023. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Teachers watch on as students line up for the first day of school on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023, at Starry Elementary in Marion, Iowa. Starry Elementary School will close at the end of this year and students will move into a new building built under the district's facility master plan. The school will likely be remodeled as an extension of the high school. (Geoff Stellfox/The Gazette)

Starry Elementary school principal Chad Zrudsky greets students on their first day of school on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023, at Starry Elementary in Marion, Iowa. Starry Elementary School will close at the end of this year and students will move into a new building built under the district's facility master plan. The school will likely be remodeled as an extension of the high school. (Geoff Stellfox/The Gazette)

Starry Elementary school principal Chad Zrudsky reads the morning announcements the first day of school on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023, at Starry Elementary in Marion, Iowa. Starry Elementary School will close at the end of this year and students will move into a new building built under the district's facility master plan. The school will likely be remodeled as an extension of the high school. (Geoff Stellfox/The Gazette)

Students walk across the crosswalk on their first day of school at Prairie Creek Intermediate in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Wednesday, August 23, 2023. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Sixth grader Annabel Stick smiles as she talks with her seat mate on the first day of school at Prairie Creek Intermediate in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Wednesday, August 23, 2023. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

A teacher unlocks the door ahead of the first day of school on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023, at Starry Elementary in Marion, Iowa. Starry Elementary School will close at the end of this year and students will move into a new building built under the district's facility master plan. The school will likely be remodeled as an extension of the high school. (Geoff Stellfox/The Gazette)

Fifth grade teacher Tifani Daly smiles as she talks with her students about school rules during the first day of school at Prairie Creek Intermediate in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Wednesday, August 23, 2023. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Starry Elementary school principal Chad Zrudsky prepares to meet students outside for the first day of school on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023, at Starry Elementary in Marion, Iowa. Starry Elementary School will close at the end of this year and students will move into a new building built under the district's facility master plan. The school will likely be remodeled as an extension of the high school. (Geoff Stellfox/The Gazette)

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