School opens for 28,000

<p>It was back to school for more than 28,000 students across Sonoma County on Monday, as school was in session for nine of the county’s 40 school districts, including Santa Rosa.</p><p>Kindergartners learned their new routines at elementary schools in Santa Rosa, Mark West, Bennett Valley, Rincon Valley, Roseland Wright, Bellevue, Cloverdale and Kenwood.</p><p>Middle and high schoolers got lockers, were issued gym clothes and picked up books at campuses across the county.</p><p>“This is probably the calmest (first day) I have ever seen,” said Santa Rosa High Principal Jim Goddard.</p><p>Students there will hold a welcome back rally and toga dance Friday.</p><p>At Piner High, students took placement tests, received syllabi and went over class expectations, said Principal Mary Beth Halsey.</p><p>“There was very little confusion after first period today,” she said, crediting the work of the school’s counseling staff with getting students slotted into class well before the confusion of the first day.</p><p>Forestville, Piner-Olivet and Waugh kick off Tuesday, with other districts rolling out in the days to come.</p><p>Geyserville and Windsor started class last week. </p><p>Cotati-Rohnert Park is the last district to get under way. Students there go back to classes Aug. 27.</p>