Scientist David Ho, Time Magazine “Man of the Year” in 1996, receives a gift of a dragon from Greens Farms Academy seniors Justin O’Neill of Fairfield, and Lexie Herman of Westport Thursday. Ho. who noted he was born in the Chinese year of the dragon (the GFA mascot),  was on hand to help dedicate the new science labs at GFA. He spoke to students about the importance of studying science, and related his own experience which led to the discovery of the first drug cocktail to halt the spread of AIDS. Herman pledged funds from GFA’s community service board to help Ho’s AIDS initiative in China. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Natalie Heller for WestportNow.com

Representatives from the Staples Class of 1966 presented checks totaling $1,500 from classmates to launch a new “All-Alumni Scholarship Fund” in support of the Staples Tuition Grants program that started in 1943. They encouraged other Staples grads to make similar contributions. Pictured (l-r) are: Jeff Wieser (past chair of the Staples Tuition Grants Committee); Donna Smirniotopoulos, current chair; John Lupton (president of the Class of 1966), Lynne Baker Betts (‘66) and Ann Sheffer (‘66). (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Westport’s public elementary schools had 66 more students enroll this fall than anticipated, not more than 100 as first announced.

The Westport School District issued a correction to figures announced at Tuesday night’s Board of Education meeting.

At the meeting, Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon said Westport elementary schools have more than 100 students than originally anticipated. (See WestportNow Sept. 12, 2006)

The correction issued by the district said 2,487 students were budgeted in the elementary schools while 2,553 showed up, or 66 more.

Guests check out the new Westport Staples High School library today after the official ribbon-cutting ceremony. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com

Those doing the honors at today’s Staples ribbon-cutton ceremony were (l-r) Jo Fuchs Luscombe, chair of the School Building Committee; Dan Kail, chair of the Staples Building Committee; Staples Principal John Dodig; Board of Education Chair Mary Parmelee; Westport First Selectman Gordon Joseloff, and Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com

A seventh grader waits for the school bus today near Westport’s River Lane. More than 5,000 students headed back to classes after the summer vacation. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Larry Untermeyer for WestportNow.com

The average Staples High School 2006 graduate scored 1735 on the new, longer version of the SAT, according to a College Board report.

The report—which includes a breakdown of scores by district across the state—was released Tuesday and shows the average score in the state was 1518.

In Westport, 319 Staples students took the test, which the report states is the entire senior class. Across the state about 75 percent of seniors took the SAT.

The 1735 score includes reading, math and writing. Without writing, a new separate section this year, the average Staples score was 1159, down from last year’s 1191.