With all its modern equipment and classrooms, the new Oswegatchie School may have little in common with its predecessor, but for a group of retired teachers and staff, their tour of the school last week seemed familiar.

"This is home for me," said Patty Clairwood, a teacher at Oswegatchie School for 18 years before she retired in 2006. But, it's not the same classroom she had in the former school, which closed in June and was razed last month.

But, it's not the same classroom she had in the former school, which closed in June and was razed last month. Clairwood, who joined about a dozen former Oswegatchie teachers for an impromptu reunion and tour of the school, smiled as she watched a class of kindergarten students sing a song. The kindergarteners had plenty of room to spread out in the room, which features kid-sized workspaces, a walk-in closet, and an adjacent bathroom.

Clairwood, who joined about a dozen former Oswegatchie teachers for an impromptu reunion and tour of the school, smiled as she watched a class of kindergarten students sing a song. The kindergarteners had plenty of room to spread out in the room, which features kid-sized workspaces, a walk-in closet, and an adjacent bathroom."There's more open space and it's brighter," said Clairwood, who wore a broad smile. "It's more conducive to supplementary teaching."

"There's more open space and it's brighter," said Clairwood, who wore a broad smile. "It's more conducive to supplementary teaching."Clairwood marveled that the art and music teachers had their own classrooms, and no longer had to conduct their lessons in each grade's classroom.

Clairwood marveled that the art and music teachers had their own classrooms, and no longer had to conduct their lessons in each grade's classroom. "There's no more art in a cart," she said. "No more music in a cart."

"There's no more art in a cart," she said. "No more music in a cart." The group had an informal reception in the library where they skimmed class pictures from the past 44 years at Oswegatchie and met with current Oswegatchie principal Nancy Macione.

The group had an informal reception in the library where they skimmed class pictures from the past 44 years at Oswegatchie and met with current Oswegatchie principal Nancy Macione. Superintendent of Schools Randall Collins, along with central office administrative assistant Cherie Richards, organized the tour, which was conducted by Macione.

Superintendent of Schools Randall Collins, along with central office administrative assistant Cherie Richards, organized the tour, which was conducted by Macione. "We did the same thing at the new Quaker Hill School last year," Richards said. "The retirees really are a special group."

"We did the same thing at the new Quaker Hill School last year," Richards said. "The retirees really are a special group." Oswegatchie is the second of the town's three elementary schools to be rebuilt. Quaker Hill School opened in 2008, and the new Great Neck School is under construction and is scheduled to open in 2010. Oswegatchie was built in 1965.

Oswegatchie is the second of the town's three elementary schools to be rebuilt. Quaker Hill School opened in 2008, and the new Great Neck School is under construction and is scheduled to open in 2010. Oswegatchie was built in 1965.Connie Giordano, a former fifth-grade teacher at Oswegatchie, who later spent 16 years as the principal at Great Neck School, said it become evident in the late 1980s and 1990s that the town needed to update its buildings.

Connie Giordano, a former fifth-grade teacher at Oswegatchie, who later spent 16 years as the principal at Great Neck School, said it become evident in the late 1980s and 1990s that the town needed to update its buildings. "We would have classrooms in the basement and the pipes would burst," she noted.

"We would have classrooms in the basement and the pipes would burst," she noted. Giordano recalled when she once left a desk drawer open and water from a pipe leaked into it overnight.

Giordano recalled when she once left a desk drawer open and water from a pipe leaked into it overnight. Other teachers remarked on the role technology plays in education, as classrooms are now outfitted with plenty of computers for students, instead of just one with a blinking cursor and green screen.

Other teachers remarked on the role technology plays in education, as classrooms are now outfitted with plenty of computers for students, instead of just one with a blinking cursor and green screen. "Now there are computers for every student," Giordano said.

"Now there are computers for every student," Giordano said. Giordano also noted the presence of the electronic blackboard, which has become standard issue in all of Waterford's new schools, that allow teachers to incorporate various media into their lesson plans.

Giordano also noted the presence of the electronic blackboard, which has become standard issue in all of Waterford's new schools, that allow teachers to incorporate various media into their lesson plans. "Assignments became more varied," she said.

"Assignments became more varied," she said. The way teachers use their classroom also has changed in the newer schools. No longer are there rows of desks all facing the chalkboard. Students now sit six or seven to a table and tend to interact with each other more.

The way teachers use their classroom also has changed in the newer schools. No longer are there rows of desks all facing the chalkboard. Students now sit six or seven to a table and tend to interact with each other more. "It's evolved," Giordano said. "It's not just teacher-directed learning."

"It's evolved," Giordano said. "It's not just teacher-directed learning."Still, Giordano said that though Waterford's students are now in the vanguard of modern classrooms and technology, they are, as always, reliant on two things: support from the residents and committed teachers.

Still, Giordano said that though Waterford's students are now in the vanguard of modern classrooms and technology, they are, as always, reliant on two things: support from the residents and committed teachers."I really think Waterford is top-notch," she said. "There are good teachers everywhere, but Waterford has them in abundance."

"I really think Waterford is top-notch," she said. "There are good teachers everywhere, but Waterford has them in abundance."