'A great day': Masks popular as students return to school

  • Jessica Richards (from left), a Summers Elementary School kindergarten teacher, looks on as Jayden Wilson watches his parents Ashley DeFreitas and Ryan DeFreitas wave good-bye to him on the first day of school. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)
    Jessica Richards (from left), a Summers Elementary School kindergarten teacher, looks on as Jayden Wilson watches his parents Ashley DeFreitas and Ryan DeFreitas wave good-bye to him on the first day of school. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)
  • Deziraye Bristol (left) gets a kiss from her mother April Arce before she goes into her Summers Elementary School kindergarten classroom on Monday morning. Due to safety protocols implemented by the school district, parents were only allowed to walk pre-kindergartners and kindergartners to class for the first day of school. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)
    Deziraye Bristol (left) gets a kiss from her mother April Arce before she goes into her Summers Elementary School kindergarten classroom on Monday morning. Due to safety protocols implemented by the school district, parents were only allowed to walk pre-kindergartners and kindergartners to class for the first day of school. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)
  • Michael Brock hugs his daughter Artie Brock as he drops her off at a Summers Elementary School kindergarten classroom Monday morning. The Columbia School District started the 2020-21 school year Monday. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)
    Michael Brock hugs his daughter Artie Brock as he drops her off at a Summers Elementary School kindergarten classroom Monday morning. The Columbia School District started the 2020-21 school year Monday. (TONY BRITT/Lake City Reporter)

    Delayed twice, Columbia County’s first day of school went off without a hitch Monday.

    “The first day has been great,” said Hope Jernigan, assistant superintendent of elementary schools for the Columbia…