First day of school

Jacob Wiegand

Thursday, August 15, 2019

Moments from the first day of school Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019, at Jefferson Elementary School in Cape Girardeau. “I had this vision that I want our kids to dream big and I want our kids to have a sense of belonging when they are here,” principal Leigh Ragsdale said.

Jefferson Elementary School principal Leigh Ragsdale hugs fourth-grader Robert Grant Jr. on the first day of school Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019, at the school in Cape Girardeau. "I had this vision that I want our kids to dream big and I want our kids to have a sense of belonging when they are here," Ragsdale said. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
Jefferson Elementary School principal Leigh Ragsdale, center in yellow, welcomes children on the first day of school Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019, at the school in Cape Girardeau. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
Jazmyn McDowell-Hill, 5, sits with her parents Emerson McDowell-Hill and LaShanda Daniels before the start of the first day of school Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019, at Jefferson Elementary School in Cape Girardeau. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)
Jefferson Elementary School first graders, visible from left, Cade Strop, Molly Mittrucker, Daleyza Hernandez and Axel Garcia-Mendoza stand for the pledge of allegiance on the first day of school Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019, at Jefferson Elementary School in Cape Girardeau. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)

Jefferson Elementary School principal Leigh Ragsdale delivers her daily "morning message" to students on the first day of school Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019, at the school in Cape Girardeau. (Jacob Wiegand ~ Southeast Missourian)