As the first chill of autumn nipped the air, parents and children of the Chappaqua Central School District were looking forward to the start of the new school year at Douglas G. Grafflin Elementary School on King Street.Lisa Nissman, 38 years old, says shes delighted with the excellent teachers and great curriculum in district schools but as the mother of four and six-year-old children, she is a bit concerned about increasing pressure on public schools to teach to the tests required by government standards. A former New York City resident and middle school teacher herself, she says she just met with her childrens teachers for the academic year and is thrilled with their level of expertise and how caring they seem to be.Nissman says she moved from the city to Chappaqua about eight years ago mainly for the school system.Several children who were coming from after-school activities, including Laura, 10, a student at Robert E. Bell Middle School, her younger sister Hannah, 8, who attends Grafflin, and their friend Sophie, who will turn 8 in October, said they were especially looking forward to Halloween events in the district, including the Bell Family Bonfire, sponsored by the Parent-Teachers Association, and the annual Spooktacular.Thats so fun, Laura said.
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