Damaged LA, Henderson County Schools Welcome Students Post-Disaster

As the 2025-2026 school year begins across various U.S. regions, schools are welcoming students back with enthusiasm and resilience. In Chelsea, Alabama, Chelsea Park Elementary School opened its doors with principal Mary Anderson praising the creativity and dedication of teachers preparing classrooms for students' return. Mattoon, Illinois, saw student performers energize staff at a welcome breakfast, with senior Sophia Hoppin highlighting the significance of her final school year and mentoring younger musicians. In California, schools affected by recent wildfires, such as the Village Playgarden preschool, are reopening amid challenges, with efforts to rebuild and maintain a sense of normalcy for displaced families. Meanwhile, Henderson County, North Carolina, is starting its first full school year post-Hurricane Helene with excitement and caution, as over 12,000 students return to 23 schools, emphasizing community resilience and safety. Across these diverse communities, the start of school symbolizes hope, continuity, and a fresh educational chapter despite recent hardships.