Medfield's Top School Stories of 2011

It was another notable year for Medfield Public Schools as 2011 provided plenty of stories of success and achievement around the district. There were also several significant retirements throughout the district and the tragic loss of a teacher.

Here's Medfield Patch's Top 10 School Stories of the Year:

10. : In remembrance of the 10th Anniversary of Sept. 11, Medfield High School and middle school students attended a school-wide assembly on the MHS turf. Town Historian Richard DeSorgher was a guest speaker at the assembly, speaking about 9/11 and how the world we currently live in transformed from that tragic day in history.

9. : Medfield lost several key teachers and administrators this past June to retirement. These nine teachers and administrators were recognized for their years of service and impact to the Medfield community. 

8. : Medfield High School Student Council members Rose Sievewright and Katie Nickerson worked hard this past fall to bring the powderpuff football tradition back to Medfield High School and the interest was overwhelming with over 100 junor and senior girls participating.

7. : After 37 years as a Medfield educator, principal Judy Noble retired this past June.

6. : Replacing Noble at the helm of Medfield High School was former Blake Middle School principal, Robert Parga, beginning a new era at MHS.

5. : MHS student Katrina Simon accepted a "Hi" and a handshake from First Lady Michelle Obama during a trip to Washington D.C. for a "100,000 Strong Initiative" rally this past January.

4. Friends, Colleagues Remember Ken Brackett: Perhaps the most tragic story of 2011 in Medfield was the sudden passing of KenBrackett, a Blake Middle School physical education teacher and assistant Medfield High School basketball coach. He was and will always be dearly missed by his friends, colleagues and the Medfield community.

3. : Blake Middle School students, faculty, staff and administration participated in National Geographic Kids challenge in October to break Guinness World Records title for jumping jacks in 24 hours as part of a nationwide initiative.

2. : Nine Medfield students – six from the middle school and three from the high school – spent three weeks in October in Bengbu, China, where they experienced Chinese culture and utilized their Mandarin immersion classes.

1. : In February, the Medfield High School Jazz Band took first place in the Charles Mingus Institute's High School Band Competition in New York.