First grade teacher Patti Dube organizes children’s books Tuesday in her classroom at Farwell Elementary School in Lewiston. “I am so ready to go back,” she said. “To be able to sit on the floor with my kids rather than in separate groups. I miss that so much. For me, school is not just a place to learn, but a place to share your thoughts. Perhaps about their karate class or T-Ball game.” She said she worked 12 to 15 hours a day last school year, “So this summer I did not do anything. I needed that time to recharge.” The first day of school is Sept. 1. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal