Inland Empire students are picking up what they need for the new school year.
A student is seen through Plexiglas as he picks up textbooks Friday, Aug. 7, 2020, during a textbook-distribution event at Murrieta Mesa High School as students prepare to begin the school year online. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Hailey Pittman, 14, grabs a textbook from the library Friday, Aug. 7, 2020, at Murrieta Mesa High School. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
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Freshman Skylar Roznos, 14, right, checks out textbooks as secretary Lora Orme scans through a Plexiglas shield Friday, Aug. 7, 2020, at Murrieta Mesa High School. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Students and parents wait outside the gymnasium to get school identification cards Friday, Aug. 7, 2020, at Murrieta Mesa High School. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Alejandro Franco, 16, grabs a stack of books Friday, Aug. 7, 2020, at the Murrieta Mesa High School library. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Student Jadyn McCasland, 14, center, is assisted by Vira Riles, right, as they search for textbooks Friday, Aug. 7, 2020, at the Murrieta Mesa High School library. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Students and their parents wait Friday, Aug. 7, 2020, outside the Murrieta Mesa High School gymnasium to get school identification cards. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Students wait Friday, Aug. 7, 2020, to check out textbooks at the Murrieta Mesa High School library. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Second-grade teacher Akiko Mera, left, goes over a graphic Monday, Aug. 3, 2020, with Simpson Elementary School Principal Cristina Swanson as she prepares material for students, who will begin their school year with online learning. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Assistant Principal Joseph Tomaselli, left, and Ivette Mejia, an instructional technology assistant, facilitate a drive-thru electronic distribution at Simpson Elementary School in Rialto on Monday, Aug. 3, 2020. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Assistant Principal Joseph Tomaselli, right, waves to parents as they pick up Chromebooks at Simpson Elementary School in Rialto on Monday, Aug. 3, 2020. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Simpson Elementary School in Rialto staged a drive-thru electronic distribution event for the new school year Monday, Aug. 3, 2020. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
A staff member disinfects an iPad during a drive-thru electronic distribution event Monday, Aug. 3, 2020, at Simpson Elementary School in Rialto. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Akiko Mera, sits in her classroom as she prepares material Monday, Aug. 3, 2020, for her second-grade students at Simpson Elementary School in Rialto. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
First-grader Kenneth Jones, left, and guardian, Alfonso Lopez, talk to Assistant Principal Joseph Tomaselli as they pick up a Chromebook on Monday, Aug. 3, 2020, in preparation for the new school year that will start online. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Kindergarten teacher Katie Matus sits in her classroom Monday, Aug. 3, 2020, as she prepares online material for her students at Simpson Elementary School in Rialto. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Simpson Elementary School kindergarten teacher Katie Matus prepares for the new school year Monday, Aug. 3, 2020. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Cars line up Monday, Aug. 3, 2020, at a drive-thru electronic distribution event at Simpson Elementary School in Rialto. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
But instead of raiding their local big-box stores for notebooks and backpacks, students have been stopping by school.
For example, Rialto and Murrieta Valley unified school district students this week got books, computing devices and internet hot spots so they can begin the school year from home.
Classes resume Monday, Aug. 10, in Rialto and Friday, Aug. 14, in Murrieta, but some districts, such as San Bernardino City Unified, already have begun lessons.
