Words and photos by Ken Valenti

WESTPORT–Across town today, children toted their backpacks with school supplies and made their way to the first day of class.

Emma Vodola was heading for her start in third grade, but she’s new to Westport, having moved recently from Chevy Chase, Maryland. So when she made an early visit to Saugatuck Elementary School yesterday, she was just learning about it.

“We have a great library right next door,” she said. 

Her mother, Lee Evans, said, “We met her teacher and she was wonderful.” 

Anree Harrington said her son Miles was thrilled to be starting third grade with Ms. Scappaticci, the same teacher that his older sister Marlowe had two years ago.

“He is very excited and happy to be back,” she said. 

“It’s the best day of the year,” James Fitzpatrick said after walking his fifth-grade daughter Caroline to the bus stop.

More than 5,000 students are enrolled in the district’s nine schools. They made it with little trouble, said Superintendent Thomas Scarice.

“Great start!” he said at the end of the school day. “Overall things went very smoothly across the district.”

Lieutenant Anthony Prezioso, the Westport Police Department spokesman, said there were no major issues in the morning. Police have been out in force for the past few days, keeping an extra sharp eye on school zones for speeders, distracted drivers and other issues, while also checking bus stops and routes to ensure that motorists are obeying school bus signals. That includes both marked and unmarked cars following buses along their routes and it will continue for at least a couple of weeks, Prezioso said.

For Evans and her family, the positive experiences with the schools reinforce their happiness with their new community.

“Last night, we went to the beach for dinner,” she said. “Who does that the night before school?”

Ken Valenti

^{_{A career journalist and lifelong resident of the New York City region, Ken Valenti has enjoyed decades of reporting local, regional and national news in New York and Connecticut. Topics of special interest are development, the environment, Long Island Sound and transportation. When not reporting, he’s always on the lookout for the perfect coffee shop or used book sale.}}