Aubrey Houdek smiles on her first day of second grade outside Strawberry Hill Elementary in Anamosa on Monday. Aug. 25 marked the first day of the 2025-26 school year for area schools, including the Anamosa Community School District.

Students file onto the school bus and are taken to the other school campus for the first day of school, Aug. 25

Strawberry Hill Elementary staff guide students when arriving for the first day of school.

Parents drop off Strawberry Hill Elementary students as they place backpacks on, signaling the end of summer.

Strawberry Hill Elementary Principal Ellen Recker greets students with big hugs before starting the first day of school.

From left, Strawberry Hill Elementary Principal Ellen Recker welcomes the district's first School Resource Officer, Derek Kunkel, on his first day of school Aug. 25.