Westport students, teachers turn the page for new school year

"C'mon, go get 'em, kiddos!"

And so the 2010-11 school year kicked off at Kings Highway Elementary School on Wednesday morning, as bus monitor Malakie Koury rallied her Westport young charges, who trotted off the bus and into a new chapter in their academic careers.

Koury's exhortation was a familiar, yet vibrant part of the busy scene outside the school's entrance. Buses began to pull up around 8:15 a.m., and students hopped off with the usual first-day accoutrements -- shiny, floral-covered backpacks, crisp t-shirts and sharp Adidas sneakers for many boys, and neatly pressed dresses worn for lots of the girls.

More than 480 students were expected to report for the first day of classes at Kings Highway. Jennifer Robson, assistant to Superintendent of Schools Elliott Landon, reported that the day got under way without any major problems at the eight Westport public schools.

"I'm excited. I'm thrilled to have the children here," said Kings Highway Principal Susie Da Silva.

She could relate to the first-day jitters felt by some of the students. Da Silva has just joined Kings Highway from Woodrow Wilson School in Waterbury.

"There are always challenges," she said. "You're nervous about how the school year's going to begin, but you work through all the caveats that might come your way."

Parents dropping off their kids also expressed a mixture of nerves, mixed with optimism.

Judith Orioli is the mother of triplet boys starting their first day as fourth graders at Kings Highway, after having moved from Columbus, Ohio.

"I'm nervous that they'll do OK, but I'm sure they'll make friends," she said.

She also praised the "accommodating" way in which the Kings Highway administration has helped her sons make the transition to their new school.

G.C. Johorey, the grandfather of second-grader Kashvi Kumar and fourth-grader Eshita Kumar, also gave high marks to school officials for their preparations for the new academic year.

"I have a lot of faith in the system," he said. "The kids know what to expect."

Most of the students filing in seemed to confirm Johorey's assessment.

While some kindergartners gazed in bewilderment at their new surroundings, most of the other students strode in with smiles. Some of the fifth-graders entered with particular aplomb, as they chatted and exchanged playful shoves with their friends.

The teachers greeting the students outside displayed similar enthusiasm.

"Good job! ... I can't believe you're fifth-graders! ... You look so cute!" Spanish teacher Ali Scozzafavo exclaimed to students bounding up the steps toward her.

And there were other reasons to celebrate the beginning of a new school year.

"I'm very excited," said Marla Katz, mother of a first-grader Alexa Katz Anastasi.

"I like for my kids to be back on a regular schedule," she added. "And I'm glad to be back on a regular schedule. I'm a working mother."