PHOTOS: First day of school at Jesse Wharton Elementary

Adam Dovico has kindergartners hold up four fingers for the number of towers in “Giraffe Nation” before the induction ceremony on the first day of school on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023, at Jesse Wharton Elementary School in Greensboro, N.C. All students and faculty members are in a tower during their time at the school.

Kindergartners listen as Adam Dovico explains how students will be inducted into “Giraffe Nation” on the first day of school on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023, at Jesse Wharton Elementary School in Greensboro, N.C.

Kindergartner Easton Alvey reacts as he unveils his purple bandana during the “Giraffe Nation” induction ceremony on the first day of school on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023, at Jesse Wharton Elementary School in Greensboro, N.C. Alvey will be in the purple, or Kordofan, tower during his time at Wharton.

Kindergartner Ruth Harrison waves her orange bandana around during the “Giraffe Nation” induction ceremony on the first day of school on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023, at Jesse Wharton Elementary School in Greensboro, N.C. Harrison will be in the orange, or rothschild, tower during her time at Wharton.

Students in Andrya Kelly’s kindergarten class check out their bandanas during the “Giraffe Nation” induction ceremony on the first day of school on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023, at Jesse Wharton Elementary School in Greensboro, N.C.

Students in Erica Abondolo’s kindergarten class compare bandanas after the “Giraffe Nation” induction ceremony on the first day of school on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023, at Jesse Wharton Elementary School in Greensboro, N.C.

Jayden Russell shows kindergarten teacher Erica Abondolo his work while Abondolo helps Caitlyn Mitchell write her name on the first day of school on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023, at Jesse Wharton Elementary School in Greensboro, N.C.

Luna San Martin shakes her head back and forth as she demonstrates how to be quiet while pretending to hold a bubble in her mouth as instructed by kindergarten teacher Ashley Veneble on the first day of school on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023, at Jesse Wharton Elementary School in Greensboro, N.C.

Ayden Sanchez demonstrates how to be quiet while pretending to hold a bubble in his mouth as instructed by kindergarten teacher Ashley Veneble on the first day of school on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023, at Jesse Wharton Elementary School in Greensboro, N.C.

Charlotte Price plays with Play-Doh as she listens to kindergarten teacher Ashley Veneble on the first day of school on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023, at Jesse Wharton Elementary School in Greensboro, N.C.

Aaron Gwa (clockwise from right), Archie Davis, Benjamin Clark and Kaden Hollis participate in a “get-to-know-you” activity in Tina Doran’s third-grade class on the first day of school on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023, at Jesse Wharton Elementary School in Greensboro, N.C.

Aaron Gwa (clockwise from right), Archie Davis, Benjamin Clark and Kaden Hollis participate in a “get-to-know-you” activity in Tina Doran’s third-grade class on the first day of school on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023, at Jesse Wharton Elementary School in Greensboro, N.C.

A student raises their hand to answer a question in Tina Doran’s third-grade class on the first day of school on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023, at Jesse Wharton Elementary School in Greensboro, N.C.