The Fales Elementary School will celebrate the opening of school on Sept. 13, two weeks after their first classes.
The school turns 50 this year, having first opened on Sept. 14. 1963 as far as Principal Maryann Stannard can tell.
Fales will celebrate the milestone during its Sept. 13 school meeting, two weeks after the school year opens on Aug. 28, she said.
Stannard invites Fales alumni from the school's early years to contact her.
"I'd love to hear about what was it like. Even it was that first decade: what was it like here in 1963?" said Stannard, who is in her fifth year as Fales principal.
Stannard plans to discuss the milestone with the teachers and the parents.
"I'm sure it will be brought up throughout the year as we have events," she said.
Fales' Family Fun Day is Oct. 19, she noted.
Last year, Fales students approved the school's first mascot: Annie the Hedgehog, named for Annie E. Fales, the educator for whom the school is named.
Stannard said she found an article about Annie E. Fales not long ago.
"She was never here as an educator per se, but she was quite an interesting lady," Stannard said.
"So, I think we'll learn a little bit about her."
Annie the Hedgehog will help Fales continue its character education efforts, Stannard said.
The Fales Character Education Council will continue working on the Fales Cares Code of Character, she said.
"Annie is kind of a message sender. She's like a cheerleader for good character," Stannard said.
The school also will explore starting a diversity council, she said.
"It will be a celebration of our diversity," Stannard said.
"It will be a part of our monthly school meetings."
Another thing that Fales visitors will notice is that Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School metal fabrication teacher Neil Mansfield and his students created some benches for the district's STRIDE (STudents Reaching Individual Excellence) program.
"They need a place to sit and wait to be picked up at the end of the day," Stannard said.
Assabet Vallet students "will work on some other projects, maybe hedgehog related," she added.
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