N-W Schools are open

by Susan Mikula Campbell
Niagara Wheatfield Tribune, September 6, 2007

Students and parents walk outside Errick Road Elementary
School in Wheatfield. Classes resumed Wednesday.

Nine-year-old Justin Dworzanski usually doesn’t like to see his summer come to an end.

Wednesday, however, as the Errick Road Elementary fourth-grader joined some 4,000 youngsters returning to Niagara-Wheatfield schools, he told his mother, “Mom, I’m actually looking forward to going back to school.”

It’s been a long summer for Justin, who severely broke his leg on the school playground in May and didn’t get out of the wheelchair until the end of July. He was on a walker, but had a smile on his face as he arrived back at school Wednesday. Like the other kids, he was excited to see his classmates again and meet his new teacher.

Errick Principal Nora DiMatteo, who was greeting students as they arrived, said the opening day of school is always a fresh, exciting start to the school year. “Errick Road is a fantastic place to learn and grow. Today is the first step for great things to come.”

The scene was repeated at the district’s other schools, where Superintendent Dr. Judith H. Howard said principals were reporting a smooth opening with no major issues.

Howard spent her morning visiting the schools.

“The kids are pretty impressed with the high school; it’s so much different than what it was,” said Howard, referring to the major renovations completed in the building. The public will be invited in to see the changes later this fall.

There were some first day bumps in the school bus transportation system, but nothing major, according to Terry Eisenman, transportation supervisor.

“We need to ask the parents for patience as we make the changes we need to make,” he said.

Justin Dworzanski, 9, was happy to get back to Errick Road Elementary
School, even if he had to use a walker to protect the leg he broke last May.
His mom, Debbie, dropped him off. (photos by Chuck and Donna Cederman)