BELLEVUE, Wash. -- School is now in session for some, but not for all, of the school districts in Western Washington.
Bellevue kicked off the school year today as police crack down on speeders blowing through school zones.
It was a sea of nervous faces as little ones clutched their parent's hands, walking to the first day of school. Today was a big day for Michelle Gnilopyat as she headed into the first grade.
"I didn't like my vacation. I only liked to go to school because it's much funnier," said Michelle.
Back to school can be a fun time, but it's also nerve-racking for parents.
"I'm nervous but I know she's a good girl," said Irina, Michelle's mom. "She loves to play with kids and is a good student too."
"I'm also feeling alone," said Padma, mother. "The last two months they are at home. Now they're going away, I'm feeling a bit nervous."
Something else that is also starting up again this school year: photo enforcement cameras.
They were turned off during the summer, but Bellevue police turn the cameras back on today on the first day of school.
Bellevue police installed the cameras at two school zones last year, Stevenson and Lake Hills elementary schools. The cameras stirred up some controversy, with some residents complainining the cameras were an invasion of privacy.
Bellevue police says speeding through school zones is still a huge problem. Last year, the department handed out nearly 8,000 tickets from its Stevenson Elementary School location.
KING 5's cameras caught a driver getting pulled over in front of the school.
Officers say drivers aren't learning their lesson, blasting through school zones at speeds over 50 miles per hour.
As for Michelle and her new classmates, they've already picked out their favorite classes for this 2010 school year.
"Yeah I love recess because I like to play outside," said Michelle, "going to the gym, going to the library, doing music."
Over at Lake Hills Elementary in Bellevue, nearly 2,000 speeding tickets were mailed out last school year, all caught by those cameras.
Bellevue police tells KING 5 speeding has gone down about 34 percent at Lake Hills, but officers have not seen a reduction in speeding at Stevenson Elementary School zone, even with signs posted about the photo enforcement cameras.
Drivers who go over the speed limit in a school zone could get a ticket in the mail for $124.
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