Nehemiah Wright, 5, high fives the cougar mascot at John B. Cary Elementary School as he arrives Tuesday, eager to get the new school year started.

Fifth-grader Akai Dupree Jr., 10, talks with Richmond Public Schools Superintendent Jason Kamras at Westover Hills Elementary School as classes start for the new academic year.

Teacher Abbie Radcliffe and her fourth-grade class at Westover Hills Elementary School line up to welcome Principal Allison El Koubi, Richmond Mayor Levar M. Stoney and Richmond Public Schools Superintendent Jason Kamras on the first day of school.

Kindergartner Alonna Smyre, 5, gives her mother, Shartisha White, a tearful goodbye Tuesday as she goes to school for the first time. Her mother said the youngster was excited about starting school at Westover Hills Elementary and claimed she wouldn’t be nervous. But once inside, the tears flowed and the hugs got tighter as she didn’t want her mom to leave.

Moth to a zinnia in East End

Hundreds of people line up outside the doors of Third Street Bethel A.M.E. Church in Jackson Ward on Monday for the 14th Annual Labor Day New Shoes for Back to School program. Students in kindergarten through high school could pick out a pair of new shoes to start the school year.

Larry Christian helps his grandson, Makhi Peterson, 5, try on new sneakers at the event.

At Cedar Street Baptist Church of God in the East End, youngsters were treated to a Barber and Beauty Day on Monday to get ready for school. A team of professional stylists and barbers worked with youngsters from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.

Coordinator of the event, Monique Brown, braids the hair of Nyla-Marie Outlaw, 6.

Ella Robinson, 6, shows off her new style for her first day in first grade at Obama Elementary School.

Keeper Sankara leads a yoga flow during the 17th Annual Happily Natural Day last Saturday in South Side. The festival, held at the Fifth District Mini-Farm in the 2200 block of Bainbridge Street, promotes holistic health, cultural awareness and social change.

Julian Desta, right, leads an individual sound healing bath session for Russell Gray. It was Mr. Gray’s first time undergoing the healing.

Kojo Marfo wears traditional Kente cloth from the Ashanti region of Ghana as he hugs his wife of 10 years, Anne Odumah Panti. The Richmond couple are natives of Ghana.

Georgia Bates of Henrico, above, adjusts the Ankara hats designed by her sister, Massa Watson, at a booth at the 2019 AfroFest RVA last Saturday. The event, sponsored by the city Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities, was held at Pine Camp Cultural Arts and Community Center in North Side. It highlighted the culture, food, music and fashions of people from African nations living within the Richmond community, along with a championship soccer match between teams from Ghana and Sudan.