Students and teachers return to school: Seacoast education news

Portsmouth Herald
·7 min read

Oyster River Community Read

From left to right are Kerry Cronin, director of the Newmarket Public Library, Hayley Van-Gils, director of the Lee Public Library and Sheryl Bass, director of the Durham Public Library holding the Community Reads book choice.
From left to right are Kerry Cronin, director of the Newmarket Public Library, Hayley Van-Gils, director of the Lee Public Library and Sheryl Bass, director of the Durham Public Library holding the Community Reads book choice.

Durham, Madbury, Lee, Newmarket, & Newfields — Oyster River Community Read (ORCR), a grassroots collaboration aimed at using books as tools to help foster connections and build common understandings among community members, will be taking place from Sept. 13 through Nov. 13.

This year’s read will feature Eric Klinenberg’s book "Palaces for the People: How Social Infrastructure Can Help Fight Inequality, Polarization, and The Decline of Civic Life," which explores the ways in which accessible public spaces help foster critical connections among diverse individuals and increase community resilience. The author is scheduled to give a talk about the book on Oct. 13 at the University of New Hampshire. Copies of the book will be available through the Durham, Madbury, Lee, Newmarket, and Newfields libraries and/or can be purchased through local booksellers or online.

Other scheduled programs geared around this year’s topic include facilitated discussions, community roundtables, and showings of a variety of films. The kick-off event will feature a trivia night hosted by NHPR’s CIVICS 101 Podcast held at The Barn at Powder Major’s Farm in Madbury on Tuesday, Sept. 13 at 6:30 p.m. Trivia will include questions on public spaces and will feature a book giveaway and refreshments. To RSVP and to see the full calendar of events, visit the Oyster River Community Read website at orcread.org.

Seabrook students return to school

A group of second grade students begin a painting project during art class.
A group of second grade students begin a painting project during art class.

SEABROOK - The beach is a little quieter in Seabrook. School is back in session for almost 700 Seabrook students who were greeted by the staff at Seabrook Elementary and Middle schools. Although summer is coming to an end, an exciting new chapter is beginning for the Seabrook Schools.

“There is so much positive energy around our schools,” Middle School Principal Jaime Parsons said. “It was great to see students come through the door with smiles and see the excitement from our staff as they welcomed them in for a new year.”

Seabrook welcomes a new administrative team at both the Elementary and Middle schools as well as a handful of new staff. The new administrative team has a shared vision of blending the two schools and working together as a district with a focus on equity, student/staff agency, and community engagement.

“It’s great to be here in Seabrook and to have students and staff in the building. The energy and positivity in our district are unlike anything I’ve experienced before. I’m excited to be part of this community and I’m looking forward to a great year ahead,” said Tim Dow, the elementary assistant principal.

“It’s wonderful to be a part of this amazing community here, at Seabrook! This district has such positive, welcoming energy! I’m so excited for the new year,” said Kari Harwood-Bramhall, director of student services.

Seabrook staff kicked off the year with workshops from White Pine Programs, a nature-based nonprofit educational organization located in Southern Maine. Staff spent time learning in the outdoor spaces and the campus nature trails with a variety of workshops.  White Pines Programs helps teachers introduce practices such as gratitude, acknowledgment of the land and its original stewards, song, play, and nature exploration. The intention is to establish a safe and inclusive environment where participants are free to be curious, vulnerable, and whole-hearted.

“I was so excited to see all the teachers," fourth grader Emelia Gram said. “I am most excited to get books and to read this year”

“We are so thankful for the dedicated staff here in Seabrook,” Elementary Principal Bryan Belanger said. “The building looks great, classrooms are bright and colorful, and we want to thank our entire staff for coming together to prepare for a great start.”

Preschool and kindergarten students had their first day of school on Tuesday, Sept. 6.

Hampton School District welcomes two new administrators

Kenneth Hawkins (left) has been named Principal of Hampton Academy. Elizabeth Henderson has been named the Assistant Principal of the Marston School.
Kenneth Hawkins (left) has been named Principal of Hampton Academy. Elizabeth Henderson has been named the Assistant Principal of the Marston School.

HAMPTON — Superintendent Lois Costa wishes to officially welcome two Hampton School District employees into key administrative roles.

Kenneth Hawkins has been named the Principal of Hampton Academy and Elizabeth Henderson has been named the Assistant Principal of the Marston School. Both assumed their new roles on July 1.

"We are so excited to welcome Ken and Elizabeth into their new positions," Superintendent Costa said. "Both have a wealth of knowledge and experience in the educational field, and I am confident that they will use this experience to find new ways to support their students and their school's continued growth."

Principal Hawkins has served as the Interim Principal of Hampton Academy since February 2022.

As principal, he plans to institute a daily advisory period, which will serve as a way for students to connect with an adult who will support their learning and personal growth in a non-academic setting. Students will participate in grade-level-based group activities and can also connect with their advisor individually for help navigating ongoing needs or accessing guidance resources.

Before joining the district, he served as Principal of Saco Middle School in Maine and Tamworth's Kenneth A. Brett School, as well as Assistant Principal of York Middle School in Maine.

Principal Hawkins holds a bachelor's degree in biology from Keene State College, a master's degree in educational technology from Lesley University and a certificate of advanced study in educational leadership from the University of Southern Maine.

Principal Hawkins began his career in education in 1997 as an eighth-grade science teacher at Portsmouth Middle School.

Outside of school, Principal Hawkins is an avid runner and has completed 23 marathons in 17 states, as well as three Ironman Triathlons.

"I am so excited to continue working with the Hampton Schools' Leadership Team, teachers, students and the greater community," Principal Hawkins said. "The level of support I have received at all levels while becoming acclimated to Hampton Academy has been incredible. This support represents the high-level dedication this community has for its schools and students."

Assistant Principal Henderson has served the Hampton School District for the last 14 years as a fourth-grade teacher.

Outside of the classroom, she served as the Marston School's "Girls on the Run" coach, volunteered for the school's Ski Club, and was a member of the District Science Committee.

She recently received a certificate of advanced graduate studies in educational leadership from Southern New Hampshire University. She also holds a bachelor's degree in business administration/finance and a master's degree in elementary education from the University of New Hampshire.

"My last 14 years at Marston School have been nothing but rewarding," Assistant Principal Henderson said. "I am ready and excited to continue my journey here in the assistant principal role."

UNH Scientists play role in NASA moon mission

The Cosmic Ray Telescope for the Effects of Radiation (CRaTER) was designed and built by UNH’s Space Science Center and has been making crucial radiation measurements while orbiting the moon.
The Cosmic Ray Telescope for the Effects of Radiation (CRaTER) was designed and built by UNH’s Space Science Center and has been making crucial radiation measurements while orbiting the moon.

DURHAM — As NASA launches the Orion spacecraft as part of the Artemis 1 mission, the United States will be one step closer to the moon for the first time in 50 years. Scientists at the University of New Hampshire have made an important contribution in determining if radiation levels at the moon, which can cause serious health issues, are safe enough for astronauts.

To measure those levels, researchers at UNH’s Space Science Center built one of the two instruments on NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) that has been monitoring space radiation levels. The Cosmic Ray Telescope for the Effects of Radiation (CRaTER), was launched in 2009 and has been making crucial measurements while orbiting the moon ever since.

“Artemis 1 is the next important steppingstone to putting humankind back on the moon,” said Harlan Spence, professor of physics and principal investigator for the CRaTER instrument. “CRaTER has diligently been monitoring radiation so Artemis will not venture into the unknown but rather confidently into a well understood environment with a design and instruments needed to make a safe journey with astronauts.”

In place of real astronauts, NASA is flying instrumented mannequins or “moonikins” in the Orion spacecraft that will ultimately shuttle humans on the same trip back to the moon. One of the instruments in those simulated astronauts will also be measuring radiation.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Students and teachers return to school: Seacoast education news