Photos: First Day Of School In Dublin

DUBLIN, CA — Roughly 12,650 students in Dublin returned to school Friday, including the first ever 350 students to attend Emerald High School.

EHS Principal Francis Rojas said that he was proud that the school is finally a reality. "Our "first" first day of school at Emerald High School was amazing!" Rojas said in a statement shared with Patch.

"As the Inaugural Principal of our new school, I am so proud of and grateful for our DUSD community, especially the members of our EHS Design Team whose work last year has become reality today. I also want to thank the leadership, students and staff of Dublin High and Valley High for their support as we all share the campus this school year. We have an opportunity this year to nurture a sense of unity as one Dublin community.

"On the first day of school, I was able to visit nearly all of our classrooms and observed our awesome teachers leading the way in building up our positive and inclusive school culture, developing meaningful relationships, and setting strong foundations for their learning communities. Our office staff has done an amazing job leading the operations of our school - registration, attendance, scheduling, purchasing, health and wellness - ensuring that our staff, students, and families can focus on learning in a safe and caring school environment.

A year ago, EHS had a staff of one - just me - and now we have a staff of 30+ and 357 freshmen and their families. This is going to be an exceptionally special and historic year for us. Go Emerald Aerouants!"

"Witnessing the vibrant halls filled with the energy of eager learners and dedicated staff members reaffirms the impact our community has in shaping a brighter future and is truly inspiring," said DUSD Superintendent Chris D. Funk. "I’m looking forward to witnessing the continued growth and achievements that this year will undoubtedly bring. Here's to a year filled with countless memorable moments."

If you'd like to share photos of back-to-school adventures in Dublin, email Michael.wittner@patch.com.