School Dayz

Alivia Miller, 7, a second-grader at Seaborn Elementary in Mineral Ridge, is helping her little sister, Gracie, 5, on her first day of kindergarten.

Julia Kirchner was photographed on her first day of kindergarten at St Christines School by her grandfather, Anthony Julian of Youngstown.

Brothers Nicholas (6) and Alex (3) LaPlante are shown on their first day of school last year. Nick was starting Kindergarten at Holy Family in Poland, and Alex was beginning his first year of preschool at the Davis YMCA.

This is Maureen Welsh Schrecengost of Hubbard when she was in first grade at St. Rose School in Girard.

This picture came into us with no identification, but it was just too cute to pass up. He's a little guy with a big problem

This is a picture of Jonathan Carano of Campbell.

This is Malana Scrocco and a friend on the playground at preschool.

Belinda Berry of Salem was so excited to ride the big yellow bus on her first day of school. She is the great-granddaughter of Marilyn Davis.

Sophia, 3, and Jaden, 7, of Boardman.

This is 3 1/2-year-old Carley Johnston getting ready for her orientation play date on Aug. 18 Holy Family Preschool in Poland. She is very proud of her princess book bag!

Maddie Moran patiently waits for the school bus for first grade at St. Charles School.

Olivia DeSantis, 7, of Poland is ready for her first day of second grade this year at St. Nicholas School in Struthers. Parents are Christian and Chris DeSantis.

8. Toni Shields Acevedo of Boardman shows her excitement after earning a master's degree in teaching at Marygrove College in Detroit, Mich. She is also a graduate of Youngstown State University.

Jacob Spin of Boardman is patiently waiting for the bus to take him on his first day of kindergarten at West Blvd.

Jeremy Lodwick and his mother, Lisa Lodwick, are at the new student orientation for first grade at Roosevelt Elementary School in Hubbard.

This is Chloe Dyce on her first day of first grade. Chloe is the daughter of Trevor and Katrina Dyce of Alexandria, Ohio. Grandparents are Terri and Ron Dyce of Girard.

This is Kyrstin Bradford when she started kindergarten at Sexton Street School in Struthers. She is now a junior at Struthers High School and is the oldest grandchild of Ray and Sue Bradford of Struthers.

Three-year-old Annika Thompson latches onto big sister Linnea, 5, for the first day of kindergarten at St. Anslem's Church in Chesterland. Parents are John and Kirsten Thompson of Chesterland, and grandma is Marcie Thompson of Mineral Ridge.

Angelina Estes of Girard is coming home on her first day of school carrying her 'rescue pet.' Two years later, 'Sparky' is still her favorite but stays home till she gets back.

Molly Bury, daughter of Mike and Tina Pallante-Bury of Liberty, is pictured with her friend, Sydney Vukovich, daughter of David and Tammy Vukovich of McDonald, on their first Holy Communion from St. Rose Catholic School in Girard on April 25.

Erin, 5, and Michael, 8, Chaplow of Canfield celebrated their first day of school last year with a family cookout and a 'bus cake' for dessert.

Walking down the sidewalk to Mom's car for the first day of preschool is Annika Thompson, 3, of Chesterland. She is the granddaughter of Marcie Thompson of Mineral Ridge.

Rachel Parrish of Youngstown says her 15-month-old son, Isaiah Irby, is trying to his best to 'read' like Mommie.

Carson Magni and Jared Knight are both of Poland.

Hope and Jessie Thomas live in North Lima.

On the first day of school at Watson Elementary in Austintown in 1988, Dr. Amy Toth Dahl is pictured with her and sister, Chrissy Toth, who was 30 years old yesterday.

On his first day of kindergarten last year, Jacob Woods appears to be thinking, 'Hey, Mom, aren't you coming too?' Jacob attends Stadium Drive Elementary in Boardman.

Ethan Clark, 6, left, and Brady Kridler, 5, both of Columbiana, on preschool graduation day.

Kate Coppola is with her teacher, Miss Firmstone, after graduating from kindergarten at Lowellville K-12 campus in June 2009.

Mason Rassega attends third grade at Market Street Elementary School.

Chloe Noele Ballesteros gets a huge from her mother, Alison, after graduating from St. Rose Church kindergarten in Girard on June 8.

Members of the Vari-Coppola family attending preschool open house at St. Paul's in New Middletown this spring included 4-year-old triplets Lily, Carli and Patrick with big sister Kate.

Max Rassega attends kindergarten at Market Street Elementary School.

Best friends Sophia Mellott, left, and Lindsay Zublena are first-graders at Lynn Kirk Elementary in Austintown.

Showing their Penquin pride are Holly and Brian Palmer, sister and brother, as they participated in Senior Day at Youngstown State University on Nov 8, 2008. She was a veteran Marching Pride member, playing the flute. He was the placekicker and a four-year letterman on the football team.

Logan Clark, 8, left, and Zoe Finsley, 5, both of Columbiana, are shown on Zoe's first day of kindergarten.

Crystal Blakeman, who is now a senior at Springfield Local High School, is shown on her first day of kindergarten at Springfield Elementary. She is the granddaughter of Bob and Ulah Blakeman of North Lima.

Catching the bus outside their Poland home for their first day of school at Holy Family in Poland are Tyler Hayes, 5, who is in kindergarten, and Katrina Hayes, 10, a fourth grader. They are the children of Darren and Maria Hayes of Poland.

Jordan Pellin and Jimmy Goske are heading to West Boulevard Elementary School Boardman.

Anisah Moorman, 7, is dreessed in her uniform for her first day of school on Aug. 24 at St. Christine in Youngstown.

Ethan Gearhart, left, and his friend, Colton, at his preschool graduation from Earth Angels Preschool in Lordstown.

Hope Ramsey, 10, and Bobby Ramsey, 8, are waiting for the bus to take them to Poland Union School last year.

Gabrielle Eberly, who is in the fifth grade at Canfield Village Middle School this year, and her sister, Holly, a second-grader at C.H. Campbell in Canfield, are greeted by a school bus cake every year when they get home from their first day of school. Their mom, Sherre Eberly of …

This is a favorite school memory of Salem residents Denny and Marion Johnson, when their daughter, Casey Jade Johnson, 6, went on a field trip with her class at St Paul to the Cleveland Zoo.

Nicole Strock graduated from preschool in Boardman in 2007.

Alexandria Phillips, 5, of Hubbard boards the bus on her day of first grade at Roosevelt Elementary.

Wendy Jenkins of Boardman (center) is all smiles as she poses with her proud kids, Brittany, Bobby and Billy Jenkins, all of Boardman, and her sister (right), Cheri Fisher of Phoenix, Ariz., after receiving her nursing degree in May from Mercy College of Northwestern Ohio.

Brooks Thomas lives in North Lima.

Christopher Ray Black is a proud preschool graduate.

Patrick Krieger was 6 when he was photographed heading off on the bus on his first day of kindergarten at St. Charles School on Aug. 29, 1996, by his grandpa, Michael Lacivita. Today, he is a freshman at the University of Pennsylvania.

Attending the Canfield High School Sweethearts dinner dance in 2007 were, from left, Nicole Strock, Ashley McCluskey and sister Alex Strock.

Brandon Moody Byrd, third from the left, and his classmates are shown on graduation day from Rockridge Montessori Preschool in Oakland, Calif. He is the grandson of Mary Moody.