Principal Deena Vela welcomes students on the first day of school at Hicks Canyon Elementary School in Irvine on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Teacher Rebecca Hsu talks with Cassidy Tong, one of her students in the Mandarin Immersion Kindergarten class on the first day of school at Hicks Canyon Elementary in Irvine on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Kindergarten teachers welcome Gianna Gos, 9, right, and her sister Bella, 5, to their first day of school at Hicks Canyon Elementary School in Irvine on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025. The two students were accompanied by their parents Jon and Corina. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
A kindergarten student at Hicks Canyon Elementary School begins a coloring assignment on the first day of school in Irvine on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
On the first day of school, teacher Rebecca Hsu welcomes her students to the Mandarin Immersion Kindergarten class at Hicks Canyon Elementary School in Irvine on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025. Students are taught academic subjects in Mandarin to develop language proficiency while gradually integrating English instruction to ensure mastery in both languages. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Along with her classmates, Avery Baldwin, right, begins her journey learning Mandarin on her first day of school in the Mandarin Immersion Kindergarten class at Hicks Canyon Elementary School in Irvine on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Kindergarten student Avery Baldwin, center, skips alongside Principal Deena Vela on the first day of school at Hicks Canyon Elementary School in Irvine on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025. Baldwin is signed up to start the Mandarin Immersion Kindergarten program. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Principal Deena Vela welcomes students on the first day of school at Hicks Canyon Elementary School in Irvine on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Teacher Rebecca Hsu introduces Sabastian Covarrubias to the Mandarin Immersion Kindergarten class at Hicks Canyon Elementary School in Irvine on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Larry Tran, right, puts his name on a list outside of his student’s Kindergarten class on the first day of school at Hicks Canyon Elementary School in Irvine on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Nancy Lee, right, takes a selfie with her children Phoebe,5, and Joanie, 3 on the first day of school for Phoebe, second from right, at Hicks Canyon Elementary in Irvine on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025. Phoebe is starting in the Mandarin Immersion Kindergarten Program in which students are taught academic subjects in Mandarin to develop language proficiency while gradually integrating English instruction to ensure mastery in both languages. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
1 of 10
Teacher Rebecca Hsu talks with Cassidy Tong, one of her students in the Mandarin Immersion Kindergarten class on the first day of school at Hicks Canyon Elementary in Irvine on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Tustin Unified students have bid farewell to their summer vacations and hello to another year of learning.
Among the district campuses starting back to school on Wednesday was Hicks Canyon Elementary, where teachers with pom poms greeted their returning pupils.
