LAWRENCE - Like typical wide-eyed high school girls, they giggled waiting for the first school bell of the year to ring.

Once it did, Sylvia Lopez and Angeramis Tejada, both 16-year-old juniors at Lawrence High, could not contain themselves. They and other juniors and seniors climbed the stairs of their new $110-million school, the state's biggest and most expensive public school.

"It's a fresh new start for a new year," said Sylvia, who along with Angeramis had trouble sleeping the night before, their minds occupied with thoughts of attending the new school.

Yesterday, students arrived dressed in khaki pants and polo shirts in sky blue, white, maroon or dark green - depending on which of Lawrence High's six academies they belong to.

"It's a great opportunity to focus on our studying instead of other things," said Lopez of the uniforms.

Freshmen and sophomores report for classes today.

Seeing the students dressed in a rainbow of colors pleased Thomas Sharkey, principal at Lawrence High for the past six years.

"This is a wonderful beginning," he said as he stood at the door greeting students and teachers. "This is another sign of where we want to go. We don't have any prior norm. We're creating a new norm, which will lead us to success."

Sharkey called the school, "The Disney World of all high schools."

His sentiment was echoed by students, staff members and teachers.

"I was more excited than the kids," said Diana Cruz, principal of the math, sciences and technology academy. "When I saw the building, I kept saying, 'Wow! 'Wow!"

Ana Victoria Morales was in awe at the beauty of the building.

"I thought it was amazing," said Ana Victoria, 15. "I never thought we would get something like this. It makes me want to go to school and plan for my future."

Students Qin Hoang and Tu Huynh had only seen the new Lawrence High School from the road as they drove by Showcase Cinemas on Route 114. Yesterday, they stood admiring the campus. The school sits on 42 acres on North Parish Road. An enclosed walkway leads students to their respective schools. The high school has 3,000 students.

Jennifer Medina and Jacqueline Carrillo sat in the cafeteria after getting their class schedules yesterday.

"This is better in every single way," Jennifer said, comparing the new school to the 106-year-old former high school. "Basically, nothing compares to this. It's like night and day."

Sorabel Harrigan, 17, Arisbel Henriquez, 16, and Doris Henriquez, 16, were already sitting in teacher Elizabeth Traina's class as they waited for classmates to join them.

"Now it feels likes a school," Sorabel said. "I like the uniform because there is no competition."

The three girls, all seniors, were excited that theirs will be the first class to graduate from the new school.

"When you're old, you can tell your children you graduated in the first class," Arisbel said.

"It's like making history," Doris said. "It makes you feel special."

Traina, who teaches English language arts and introduction to criminal justice, agrees a new building will help students achieve.

"The small environment will instill pride in the students," said Traina, a teacher at Lawrence High for six years. "You feel so good about it and it gives you more of an incentive to do better."