Ephrata students return to class as new school year begins
Ephrata High School cheerleaders and football players great Grant Elementary students as they walk into their first day of classes.
NANCE BESTON/COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD
An Ephrata Parkway Intermediate student works on decorating her teacher's door with motivational messages on the first day of school.
NANCE BESTON/COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD
Ephrata High School students attend their second period art class Thursday. Their assignment was to answer questions about themselves on a notecard and then create a drawing related to one of their answers on the opposite side.
NANCE BESTON/COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD
A Groff Elementary School student receives a hug from one of their teachers on the first day back Thursday.
NANCE BESTON/COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD
Ephrata High School students receive their combination locks for their gym lockers Thursday during their second period class.
NANCE BESTON/COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD
Students in a science class at Parkway Intermediate School work on filling out paper beakers with information about themselves during their first day back at school Thursday.
NANCE BESTON/COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD
Groff Elementary School students grab breakfast before heading to their class for the first day of school Thursday.
NANCE BESTON/COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD
Ephrata High School students listen to Mrs. Johns for their second period of the first day of school.
NANCE BESTON/COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD
The Parkway Intermediate band class outgrew its room and expanded to take over the gym, instead of the classroom located behind the stage.
NANCE BESTON/COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD
Ephrata High School students walk from the 1937 Beezley Annex back to the main campus on the first day of school Thursday.
NANCE BESTON/COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD
Groff Elementary School students pose on the bench for their parents to take a picture on the first day back to school.
NANCE BESTON/COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD
Ephrata Police Dept. Sergeant Jack McLauchlan poses next to the tiger on the first day of school.
NANCE BESTON/COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD
EPHRATA — Hallways filled with students, new backpacks and a mix of excitement and nervous energy Wednesday as Ephrata School District students returned to classrooms for the first day of the 2026-27 school year.
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