FAIRFIELD, Conn. Its difficult to tell who was more anxious Tuesday morning: Victorina Sgaglione or her mother Laurie as Victorina began her first day of kindergarten at Stratfield Elementary School. As Laurie walked her daughter toward the door to start her time in Fairfield Public Schools, the smiles on both of their faces were ear-to-ear.
I am excited, Laurie said. This is our first day of a lot of exciting stuff. Hopefully, it all works out.
More experienced parents can tell Sgaglione that the excitement doesnt end on their end, even if older kids dont feel the same way. Fifth-grader Molly Doherty could only just barely hide her disappointment when she replied, I guess, when asked whether she was looking forward to the new school year. But her mother Jen was much more enthusiastic as she shepherded Molly and her brother Jack into Stratfield.
Yes, Im excited, Doherty said. But Ill cry when I get back to the car.
Of course, the Stratfielders feelings might have been altered by the increased buildup. Fairfield was supposed to start classes Thursday. But Hurricane Irene knocked out electricity to as many as eight schools at one point. Since the last holdout did not come back on until the weekend, Superintendent David Title pushed the start of classes until after the Labor Day weekend.
Title said last week he had to make the call even though the last thing anyone wants to do is postpone the start of the school year, as he wrote on his blog. Its like Opening Day of the baseball season and having two rainouts.
Stratfields families had extra reasons to look forward to the new school year. Though a construction trailer still sits on the front lawn, nearly all of the work on Stratfields upgrade is finished, so its students have brand-new or renovated classrooms throughout. Families at Jennings School and Fairfield Woods Middle School were also able to walk into upgraded spaces for the first time Tuesday. The building looks beautiful, Sgaglione said.
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