Students picked for NH music festival, teachers honored: Education news
Fourteen students from Oyster River High School were selected to participate in the State Music Festival
DURHAM – Fourteen students from Oyster River High School (ORHS) have been selected to perform at the New Hampshire Music Educators Association (NHMEA) All-State Festival in April, Superintendent Dr. Robert Shapps and Principal Rebecca Noe said.
ORHS students prepared advanced music, scales and excerpts to present to the NHMEA jury on November 23. The students competed against music students from across the state to be selected to perform at the NHMEA All-State Festival.
Here are the 14 students selected from ORHS:
Elizabeth Bisset (mixed choir); Devin Moore (mixed choir); Gwendlyn Eckes (trio chorus); Maren O’Keefe (trio chorus); Steffi Chen (band); Lydia Jeong (band); Geneva Rummel (band); Ethan Boysen (orchestra); Georgia Lyon (orchestra); Margaret O’Shea (orchestra); Lani Pavlik (orchestra); Vivian Stewart (orchestra); Joshua Tomlinson (orchestra); Isaac Williams (orchestra).
Rummel was the saxophonist with the highest scores out of everyone who auditioned in the state.
All 14 students will now attend and perform at the All-State Festival, which will be held April 3-5, 2025, at Concord High School and the Grapon Convention Center in Concord.
Hampton School District teachers honored at the 22nd Annual Educational Leadership Awards Gala
HAMPTON – Two Hampton School District teachers were honored at the New Hampshire Department of Education’s 22nd Annual Educational Leadership Awards on December 4, Superintendent Dr. Luis Costa shared.
Hampton Academy technology teacher Brian Gray and Marston School fifth grade teacher Jason Schrack were honored for their participation in the 2025 Teacher of the Year selection process during the 22nd Annual Educational Leadership Awards.
Schrack was selected as a semifinalist for the award, and Gray as a finalist.
Governor Chris Sununu, Governor-elect Kelly Ayotte and Education Commissioner Frank Edelblut were in attendance.
Gray joins Hampton Academy this year from Sanborn Regional High School, where he was nominated for Teacher of the Year as a business technology and social studies teacher. With 16 years of experience, Gray has a passion for connecting classroom learning with real-world applications, ensuring his students are prepared for success in a rapidly changing world.
Gray has made an immediate impact on Hampton Academy’s technology program. From helping students produce Shark News to teaching robotics and social media safety, he brought new ideas and a collaborative spirit to the school.
Adeline C. Marston’s fourth grade teacher Jason Schreck was also recognized for his accomplishments as he was named a semifinalist.
Schreck has been a teacher at Marston School for the past 17 years, teaching third, fourth and fifth grades. He was nominated for Teacher of the Year by the student’s parents who expressed their appreciation for his work in creating a welcoming and warm learning environment. Where students can thrive.
ORCSD celebrates Coding and Computer Science Education Week with a “Coding and Cocoa” event.
DURHAM – Oyster River Cooperative School District (ORCSD) students from all grade levels participated in coding activities to celebrate the Hour of Code last week, Superintendent Dr. Robert Shapps said.
Oyster River Schools hosts Coding & Cocoa annually the first week of December and during Computer Science Education Week (December 9-13). This year the district-wide event was held on Wednesday 4 December.
Digital learning specialists Celeste Best (ORHS), Jade Tyrell (ORMS), Susan Leaver (Mastway) and Sarah Curtin (Mohremt) coordinated activities for their schools. They sponsored appropriate grade-level activities for students and staff.
At ORMS, students participated in a school-wide programming activity during the consultation period.
After completing the coding activities, students enjoyed a cup of hot cocoa.
Members of the University of New Hampshire’s STEM-MoBILE team, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, TurboCam, Mobius Mobility and Liberty Mutual hosted presentations and experiential activities, reinforcing the importance of coding to students.
More than 40 volunteers, community members and organizations helped make this event a success.
