Fiske Elementary School in Wellesley Celebrates Blue Ribbon Award

November has been such a warm month that having the Fiske Elementary School community gather outdoors on Monday to celebrate a recent national award seemed like a no-brainer. Until the weather decided to turn seasonal and rain – the only precipitation in at least a month – brought the celebration inside. No matter. Custodians rearranged chairs and sound equipment in record time, families filed through the parking lot leaving their umbrellas outside the door, and the show continued in the gymnasium.

The Fiske community has been on Cloud 9 since early this fall, when the school was named a National Blue Ribbon Award winner among public and private institutions by the U.S. Department of Education.

“Last week, Ms. Stetzel and I had the honor of traveling all the way to Washington, D.C., to accept this prestigious award on your behalf,” Director Rachel MacGregor told the assembled crowd of approximately 300 people, including students, family members, Colette’s elected council. Ofrank, School Committee Chair Linda Chow and Co-Chair Nikki Offenlach, Superintendent David Lussier and a representative from State Rep. Alice Paish’s office.

The Fiske Band played patriotic songs for the crowd, the Fiske Falcon mascot flew around building excitement, and the treasured Blue Ribbon flag was on display for all to see. By now he had probably settled into his new home on the flagpole in front of the main entrance to Fiske. As they say on Hastings Street, winning the award was fantastic.

Fiske was one of 356 schools nationwide to receive recognition and one of nine schools in Massachusetts to receive the award. Exemplary School of High Achievement Award (see criteria).

Hardy Elementary School became the latest Wellesley school to receive a Blue Ribbon award in 2021. Sprague received recognition in 2010.