ANTRIM, NH - The Great Brook School in Antrim, NH was one of 24 schools in the country to be awarded a Civic Star Award from the American Association of School Administrators in recognition of the Crotched Mountain School Partnership now in its sixth year. The Civic Star Award is given to school districts that implement unique and creative methods to cultivate community partnerships that result in enriched student achievement.

The Crotched Mountain Partnership Program teams up middle school students from Great Brook with students with disabilities from here on the mountain. Once a week, for a semester, Great Brook students in grades 5 through 8 get a chance to see how kids with different abilities learn here on the mountain. The middle school students even get a chance to help develop lessons for their Crotched Mountain School counterpart. This program helps students from Great Brook accept differences in other people. As a result, friendships are made and students from Great Brook often come back to Crotched Mountain as volunteers in order to continue those friendships.

"As Liason for the Crotched Mountain School - Great Brook School Partnership, I have been fortunate to see lives change, and meaningful relationships develop. The motivation demonstrated by all the students and staff involved has been enriching and inspiring," remarks Denise Desbiens, Great Brook Liason for Crotched Mountain School.

Crotched Mountain is a charitable organization employing more than 900 people. Its mission is to serve individuals with disabilities and their families, embracing personal choice and development, and building communities of mutual support. Crotched Mountain provides specialized education, rehabilitation, community, and residential support services for more than 2,000 people, including individuals with disabilities and the elderly, living in New England and New York . For more information about Crotched Mountain , please visit their web site: www.crotchedmountain.org.