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Friday, Sept. 18, 2009
Newton North, Newtonite ◆ 3
Soccer game honors late counselor, coach ELI DAVIDOW o commemorate the life of Ucal McKenzie, the first annual McKenzie Friendly at Warren Field honored the late counselor and coach by playing the game that he loved so much: soccer. “I think this is great,” his wife Suzanne McKenzie said. “We’ve got the whole community to gather together. It really speaks about how much the community cares about Ucal. “It’s the most appropriate way to honor him.” The event was sponsored by the new Ucal McKenzie Breakaway Foundation, which will run soccer clinics for ages 8-18. “These clinics will have fitness incorporated into them too,” McKenzie said. “The clinics will encompass all the points that Ucal wanted to make.” At the event, four scrimmages were played: the girls’ varsity team against current faculty and alumni, the boys’ varsity team against Cambridge Rindge and Latin, the boys’ junior varsity team against Cambridge Rindge and Latin and two club teams, Newton BAYS U10 against Valeo FC Blast U11. McKenzie used to coach the Valeo FC Blast U11 team along with coaching the boys’ varsity soccer team. After the scrimmage between the girls’ varsity team and current faculty and alumni, four speakers talked about their unbreakable connection with Ucal. James Nelson, the athletic director at Ucal’s alma mater Suffolk University, said that Ucal BY
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“Ucal always pushed us our hardest. He always emphasized professionalism, and that will stay with me forever.” -Phil Song ’08 had the “voice of all the young people.” “His voice was the voice that brought pride to the sport of soccer, his family and himself,” he said. Next Phil Song ’08, a captain from Ucal’s 2007 team, said that Ucal’s stress on doing everything the right way will remain with him into the future. “Ucal always pushed us our hardest,” he said. “He always emphasized professionalism, and that will stay with me forever. “His legacy will live on, it will live on in the way we practice, live on in the way we do everything in life.” After Song, New England Revolution Vice President Craig Tornberg presented Ucal’s jersey to his family. The Ucal McKenzie Breakaway Foundation has retired his number eight. Senior Ryan Vona ended the program with beautiful interpretations of the United States’ national anthem and the Jamaican national anthem.
New faculty members in the building BY
MARENA COLE, JAY KRIEGER OLIVIA STEARNS
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Who: Sarah Hoffman What: Guidance Counselor Background: Earned a master’s in education from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education in 1990. She worked as an assistant director of admissions at Smith College and then as a college counselor at Northfield Mount Hermon School until family photo 2009. Excited about…: Sarah “Finding out what Hoffman matters most to students and helping with the complicated application process.”
Teddy Wenneker
Retiring the number: New England Revolution vice president Craig Tornberg presents Suzanne McKenzie, wife of the late Ucal McKenzie, with his retired jersey at the Breakaway Foundation’s soccer event Sept. 3.
Who: Sherley Blood What: Latin Teacher Background: Earned a master’s in technology from Marlboro College in 2005 and a master’s in Latin and classical humanities from UMass Amherst in 2007. Most recently, she taught Latin at Groton-Dunstable Regional High School Gaby Perez-Dietz from 2007 to 2009. Sherley Excited about…: Blood “The kids, teachers, and everyone at Newton North are great. It is an honor to succeed Bob Mitchell.”
Who: Jerry Etienne What: Guidance Counselor Background: Earned a master’s in education from Cambridge College in 2007. He then worked at Boston Latin High School as a guidance counselor from 2007 to 2009. Looking forward to…: “I am looking forward to getting Shira Bleicher acclimated as soon Jerry as possible, as well Etienne as building lasting relationships with students and fellow faculty members.”
Who: Emily Hartz What: History Teacher Background: Earned a bachelor’s in history from Smith College in 2007. Taught World History at Hopedale Junior-Senior High School from 2007 to 2009. Looking forward to...: “I hope to get Shira Bleicher involved with the travel programs Emily Hartz here. I think it’s pretty unique that students get to go to China and other places around the world.”
Who: Andrea McClellan What: Pilot Teacher Background: Attended College of Wooster in Ohio and Lesley University of Education before beginning work as an English teacher at Dearborn Academy from 2006 to 2009. Excited about...: “I’m excited about meeting new peoShira Bleicher ple and getting the Andrea full experience of a McClellan working at a public school.”
Who: Laura Rice What: Director of Pilot Program Background: Earned a bachelor’s and master’s from Boston College. Most recently, she worked at Dearborn Academy in Arlington as the director of the Step program. Excited about…: “I’ve been lucky to work with the PiShira Bleicher lot team. They care Laura Rice about the kids.”
Who: Andrea Shurtleff What: Drafting Teacher Background: Graduated from this school in 1991 and earned a bachelor’s in architecture from Boston Architecture College in 2000. She worked as a senior associate in a residential design office for 12 years until 2009. Looking forward Shira Bleicher to…: “Having never Andrea worked with kids Shurtleff before, I’m looking forward to my first teaching experience.”