Marston Named NH Elementary School of the Year

It didn't come to much surprise to Superintendent Kathleen Murphy that the state thought highly of the teaching staff and approach at , although she was surprised by just how highly that respect and appreciation goes.

Officials from the New Hampshire Department of Education officially announced Friday during a packed assembly that the Hampton school was named the New Hampshire Elementary School of the Year as a part of the state's annual Excellence in Education awards.

Delegates from the Excellence in Education — also known as the EDies — selection committee surprised students and teachers with a commemorative banner and bell at the end of an assembly Friday featuring a speech by Paralympic skier and Hampton native Chris Waddell, said Murphy.

Murphy said she knew the announcement was coming, although she said she took great joy in seeing the jubilant reaction from the entire school, almost all of which had no idea the award was coming despite staff and students' involvement in a lengthy award application process.

"This award isn't handed out lightly," said Murphy. "It was quite an honor, and it was quite moving.

"In my eyes, it’s just a credit to the faculty, the staff, families and the children at Marston School. They’ve worked very hard. Obviously, I’m a little biased, but in my eyes they are very deserving."

Principal Lois Costa and Assistant Principal Dan Mitchell were on hand Friday to accept and ring the award, and Hampton School Board Chairwoman Peppa Ring also made a statement during the assembly.

Marston School staff have made presentations in Concord, submitted applications and done a variety of other things over the past several months as a part of the nomination process, which was started when Murphy suggested Costa put Marston in the running.

Only one elementary, middle and high school award is given each year, and Murphy said sometimes an award isn't bestowed at all for one of the grade levels. She said this year is the first time a Hampton school has ever won an EDie, although Marston School was a runner-up in 2007 and 2008.

Murphy said the thing EDies committee members said impressed them the most and was the biggest reason behind choosing Marston School was the style of education and use of technology they saw while talking with students and sitting in on classes during a March 13 site visit.

Murphy said the "differentiation of instruction" and the students' engagement swayed the judges, and she said that's fulfilling as an administrator because that's the goal of school.

"That’s what we do, right?" she asked rhetorically. "What we do is teach, so for them to walk in and see that, it was kind of neat."

An official awards ceremony will be held in Concord on June 2, and more information is available of the EDies website.