It’s tough for little tykes to leave home for the first time to spend a day at school with a classroom full of strangers in unfamiliar surroundings—but 44 kindergartners did just that last week when the 2012-13 fall term got underway at Perkins County Elementary.  (Above) Sallinna Torres gives her daughter Isabella a hug in Mrs. Prante’s classroom as Pearl Kirkpatrick (below) solemnly unpacks her bag with daddy Jason in Mrs. Fisher’s class. (Photos by Jan Rahn)