BY SUSAN WARE

When a last-minute student assembly was called in May, the rumor mill started to churn.

“It was funny – so many rumors where going around regarding the assembly, everything from that it was a pep rally to who knows what,” said Michael Reardon, headmaster of Pembroke Academy.

Reardon had kept quiet about the reason, except for a few students he had asked to speak at the assembly.

The reason for the assembly was that Pembroke Academy had just learned that it was given a Secondary School of Excellence award from the New Hampshire Excellence in Education Award Program Organization – or EDies – through their primary sponsor, McDonald’s Restaurants of New Hampshire. The school recieved the award at a banquet on Saturday, June 9.

“When the kids learned that we won the award, they went berzerk. They were so excited and so proud,” said Reardon.

Pembroke Academy was a finalist last year for this award that recognizes and celebrates schools that achieve high standards and exemplary practices of excellence within the state.

The winners are chosen by a selection committee of elementary, middle and secondary level representatives. A member from the EDies board heads each committee and members are selected from the educational and business communities throughout the state.

The award is based on a rigorous rubric, which highlights six areas of educational criteria which includes curriculum and instruction, teaching and learning process, student achievement, community and parent involvement, leadership and decision making, and school climate.

“It is very meaningful when your peers validate your work. Being in school is like being in a cave. You think you are doing good work, then this group of 15 judges come through and applauds you, it is good stuff,” said
Reardon.

Pembroke Academy gets a $1,000 prize, which Reardon says will go into the general account and be used for something educational.

As for the reason this school of 1,000 students got the nod, Reardon said the EDies committee focused on the school’s record of improvement.

“We have created a culture of constant improvement here. We are always trying to do everything better,” he said.

According to Reardon, Pembroke Academy has created initiatives that time and time again increase state test scores, cut tardiness, absences and the dropout rate, as well as increasing the number and quality of college acceptances and the number of students taking advanced placement courses.