Back to school a big deal for one student

Mathematics should be a breeze this year for 11-year-old Morgan Demming.The Central Middle School sixth-grader spent her entire summer bucking the odds.Doctors gave Morgan a 1 percent chance of surviving a brain aneurysm and stroke she suffered in March.If she did survive, doctors said, she would spend the rest of her life in a hospital.But that wasn't the case Wednesday, as Morgan joined thousands of students from across the Fox Valley as they headed back to school."She made it through the whole day," said Sherry Demming, Morgan's mom. "It was very emotional. We've come a really long way." It will take some time for Morgan to get fully acclimated, her mom said. After all, this is her first experience as a middle schooler. But Morgan already has a full class load. And more importantly, she's been able to go to school with her friends, Sherry Demming said.The first day "made me really aware of what she can't do," Sherry Demming said. "But I'm really happy for what she can."So what did Morgan think of her first day?"It was too hot," she said. But it wasn't all bad. "I got to see all my friends." Middle school Principal Lloyd Stover said school officials are just as thrilled to have Morgan back in class."I think it's fantastic that Morgan is able to come back to school this early," Stover said. "We're just tickled pink to have her here at CMS."Morgan's return was just one of the things on Stover's mind Wednesday. He was also busy dealing with general start of school stuff -- albeit with only half as many students as last year, because Central Unit District 301 just opened a new middle school."The halls are a lot less crowded," he said. "But we've had a very productive first day of school so far. It's just great to get back into the swing of things."District 301 students weren't the only ones headed back to school this week.St. Edward Catholic High School students were back in school Tuesday. Elgin Academy officials welcome their kids today.And both Elgin Area School District U-46 and Cary Elementary District 26 opened their doors Tuesday.U-46 had the biggest first day, welcoming back an estimated 40,000 students.As far as first days of school go, district spokesman Tony Sanders said, he was thrilled."The first day of school is always busy," Sanders said. "So far it looks as if we've had a real good one in U-46."Sanders said the district had a few glitches with busing -- not uncommon for school districts on their first day back. But overall, he said, school officials didn't face many problems."Our facilities were all ready, our teachers were prepared and our classrooms were ready," Sanders said. "My personal impression is just how incredibly smooth it went. We were ready for the students."Cary District 26 officials also were ready for their kids.The district had a brief power outage in the morning, interim Superintendent Bill Dodds said. But other than that, it was a pretty smooth day, he said."Everything is up and running quite well," he said. "You see the children eagerly coming back, wanting to get back in the learning mode. It's a very exciting time." 512303Michelle Bellenie, an English teacher at Burlington Central High School, calls roll in a classroom in the school's new addition, which opened Wednesday.George LeClaire | Staff Photographer 512372Kindergarten teacher Laura Ocampo helps students with the pledge as they return Wednesday for the first day at Washington Elementary School in Elgin.Brian Hill | Staff Photographer 512349Jorge Toledo shies away as his kindergarten class begins Wednesday at Washington Elementary School in Elgin.Christopher Hankins | Staff Photographer