Our favorite photos from the first day of school on Long Island

Backpacks, buses and big smiles

The first day of school on Long Island this week brought the familiar mix of excitement, nerves and fresh starts.

Teachers set the tone for the year by sharing their expectations, building classroom communities and encouraging students to embrace challenges with confidence. The day was as much about celebrating school spirit and reconnecting with friends as it was about academics.

Most Long Island districts kicked off the school year on Wednesday, though some welcomed students back a day earlier or a day later. Jericho schools students got the earliest jump on the new school year — starting up classes before Labor Day weekend, on Aug. 27.

The school year also begins under a significant new rule for New York students: a statewide ban on cell phone use during class time. The measure is designed to help sharpen focus and encourage face-to-face connections.

_{Top photo: Students at a Smithtown elementary school receive a warm welcome on the first day of the 2025-26 school year (Smithtown school district).}