By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
NILES – It's back to school for Niles and Brandywine students as today marked the first day of classes for the 2007-2008 school year.
Children and their parents waited anxiously for the first bell to ring as new backpacks, clothes and clean sneakers filled the halls of area schools.
Elementary students in the Niles Community School District began classes at 8:35 this morning. High school students started at 7:25 a.m., while middle school began at 7:35 a.m.
Students at Brandywine Elementary began at 8:30 this morning, while Merritt students started at 8:40 a.m. The middle school and high school students began at 7:40 a.m.
The breakfast and lunch programs began today, as it is a full day of school.
If you still need information about your child's transportation, including a list of bus stop schedules, please check the school calendar, which was delivered by mail to everyone last month. If you did not receive one, please check with your child's school.
The first GED test sessions will be Tuesday, Sept. 25, and Wednesday, Sept. 26, at 4 p.m. Pre-registration is required.
This summer vacation was a little longer than usual, as classes were dismissed in May and resumed after Labor Day, something that has not been done in the past.
At a meeting on Aug. 17, Niles Community Schools Superintendent Doug Law said parents and students seemed very pleased that classes start after the holiday.
Head Start and Early Learners have not started school yet, as orientation will be on Tuesday, Sept. 11 beginning at 8:30 and 9:15 a.m. for morning students and 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. for afternoon students.
To register a child for preschool, please call 684-1544 if you are interested. Preschool is for students 4 years old.