Photo feature: Classroom prepping

Published 12:07 am Thursday, July 31, 2014

Third grade teacher Amanda Mercer, left, and Aja Purvis, 15, center, put up a poster in preparation for the first day of school at West Elementary School Wednesday. The first day of school is Aug. 11. (Sam Gause/The Natchez Democrat)

Third grade teacher Amanda Mercer, left, and Aja Purvis, 15, center, put up a poster in preparation for the first day of school at West Elementary School Wednesday. The first day of school is Aug. 11. (Sam Gause/The Natchez Democrat)

Second grade teacher Linda Patten takes a chair from her son Zelik Patten, 7, while preparing her classroom at West Elementary School. (Sam Gause/The Natchez Democrat)

Second grade teacher Linda Patten takes a chair from her son Zelik Patten, 7, while preparing her classroom at West Elementary School. (Sam Gause/The Natchez Democrat)