A lot happened in Somerville schools this year. Here's a look at some of the top school stories of 2011: 

• The East Somerville Community School hit a $5 million snag. But city officials came up with a plan to move forward with the project, and construction on the school resumed in November. 

• The Somerville Group for Progressive Education submitted an application to the state's Board of Education to open the Somerville Progressive Charter School. The school would open in September 2012. A public hearing about the proposed charter school took place in December, and the board will decide in February whether or not to grant a charter. 

• Somerville was thrust into the national spotlight for an email about Columbus Day and Thanksgiving sent by the principal of the Kennedy School.

• Somerville high's headmaster, Tony Ciccariello, announced he would resign at the end of the school year. 

• The East Somerville Community School invited students in the middle grades from all elementary schools to its after-school magnet program. 

• A group of seventh grade boys from the Kennedy School placed fifth at the national History Day competition. 

• Students in Somerville High School's vocational program built an imitation hospital and dentist office that will help train students in the school's health careers program.

• Gretchen Kinder, the grant writer, researcher and spokeswoman for Somerville's public schools resigned, and Susana Morgan took her place. 

• The Winter Hill Community School, the Argenziano School and Somerville High got salad bars. 

• The public schools introduced after-school classes in Japanese, French, Spanish and other foreign languages to the elementary schools. 

• The Massachusetts Biotechnology Council named Somerville High School the "Innovative School of the Year."