SAN DIEGO — Thousands of students in the San Diego Unified School District headed back to the classroom Monday morning.
Parents and kids gathered outside Alice Birney Elementary, excited for the new school year.
"They're growing up way too fast," said dad Andrew Bencini. He has two children. One is heading into second grade, the other is in fourth grade.
"It gives me more gray hairs," he laughed. "But it's pretty exciting, I love it."
Students wore their "back to school" outfits and carried new backpacks.
"I am feeling fabulous," said mom Erika Clemens. Her son is in third grade.
"We have been dragging it out, we had a visit to the grandparents, but we are making it tooth and nail to the first day of school," she said. "It's crazy he's now in third grade, not with with the little kids anymore. That means we're all getting older and more tired, but it's a great day."
WATCH RELATED: San Diego Unified parents prep for the start of new school year