OWENSBORO, Ky. — Students in Daviess County Public Schools returned to classrooms Tuesday, blending excitement with a touch of parental anxiety on the first day of the new academic year.

At Tamarack Elementary School, young learners arrived amid a flurry of backpacks and greetings, as educators emphasized a culture of kindness and high expectations to kick off the term.

Yvonne Parker, dropping off her first-grade granddaughter, captured the bittersweet emotions many caregivers felt.

“She likes school. She likes to learn,” Parker said. “I think she’s missed it. I think she’s ready to get back into it.”

Parker, reflecting on changes in education since her older children attended school, noted heightened safety concerns and reduced parental involvement, such as joining students for lunc

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