Hacienda La Puente Unified launched the new school year Wednesday amid the hustle and bustle of families relearning how to drop their kids off at their new schools.

In the middle of the chaos, principals welcomed students and parents back for another year at one of the San Gabriel Valley’s biggest school districts. Interim Superintendent Cynthia Parulan-Colfer is filling the top spot left by Barbara Nakaoka, who retired after nearly 40 years with the district.

The Board of Education also appointed many new principals over the summer. These include: Steve Cazares at Valley Alternative Schools, Frank Chang at Wilson High School, Jorge Ronquillo at Grandview Academy, Carmel Horseman at Mesa Robles, Leslie Miller at Lassalette, Edna Moore at Orange Grove, Christina Sanchez at Nelson and Erika Terrazas at Kwis.

“I feel like I’m returning home,” said Principal Moore. “I was a teacher at Orange Grove for eight years before I became a principal at Palm School.”

Grazide Elementary began with a Welcome New Parents breakfast in the cafeteria at 7:30 a.m. in Hacienda Heights. Moore had a first day of school rally on the patio of the Hacienda Heights middle school.

Officials at the district offices said there had been no major problems with the opening of school. The phones had been ringing off the hook with questions from families about the opening of school.