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Photographer Jamie Nygaard captured the start of the 2022-2023 school year at Bluffton Elementary School, where students and teachers began the process of settling back into classroom routines.

As students left afterwards, the atmosphere was all sunshine and smiles. Superintendent Greg Denecker reported that the day went well. Elementary Principal Ben Thiel said the real challenge is when kindergardeners arrive on Wednesday, Agust 31.

After buses departed, the flock of children meeting siblings, parents and grandparents for the walk or ride home was lively, with school staff helping sort it all out.