Hundreds of Heritage Hill Elementary students in grades 1 through 5 walked back into classrooms Aug. 13, kicking off the 2026-2027 school year under the district's staggered start.

The school held a Back to School Assembly where students demonstrated they remembered school expectations, according to a post on the school's website. Staff said the youngest Vikings settled into new classrooms with smiles on the first morning.

Kindergarten families in Evendale, Woodlawn, Sharonville and Springdale still have a few days to prepare. Heritage Hill's kindergartners begin Aug. 17, after completing orientation and assessments on Aug. 13 and Aug. 14.

The school's priorities for the year center on academic goals, social-emotional growth and student leadership, a framework the district brands as "Every Student, Every Opportunity" under Superintendent Dr. Mari E. Phillips.

Strong turnout at Open House

Rain didn't stop them.

Heritage Hill's Open House on Aug. 12 drew strong family turnout, with 38 new parents and staff members signing up for the Heritage Hill PTO, according to a separate school post.

Principal Erika Zaleta Lastra set the tone in a back-to-school letter to families in late July, thanking parents for trusting the school with their children and expressing eagerness for the year ahead.

What families need to know

As we reported Aug. 12, all students in grades 1 through 12 attend Aug. 14. PreK and kindergarten students district-wide start Aug. 17.

Heritage Hill's daily schedule: students eating breakfast may enter at 8:45 a.m., all other students at 9:00 a.m., with tardy marked at 9:15 a.m. Dismissal runs from 3:45 to 4:00 p.m.