CLINTON - Looks like The Morgan School has been the focus of the town's attention for long enough: On April 13, the Jared Eliot Middle School was honored as a New England League of Middle Schools (NELMS) Spotlight School Award designee.

"We are one of only three to be so recognized in the New England region. We were recognized because of our record of powerful learning for young adolescents and our observance of middle school best practices," Principal Linda Tucker said. "The award and designation will be in place for three years."

It all began through an application process. A steering committee was formed in the fall of 2010, through which three teachers gathered data from the state, records from the district, and surveyed teachers, parents, and students. They then wrote a narrative to the NELMS outlining why Eliot was the best candidate for the award.

In September 2011, Tucker was informed that the middle school was chosen as a finalist and would be visited by a team of NELMS representatives in November. In January, it was announced that Eliot was the sole school in the state that was awarded with this honor this year.

NELMS representative Eunice Taylor spoke on behalf of the program during the April 13 ceremony to the 476, 6th-, 7th-, and 8th graders. She noted that she has visited schools all throughout New England in the past seven years and that she and another NELMS representative came to the school for one whole day, touring and visiting classrooms, and knew almost immediately that this school was one to be recognized.

"It doesn't take very long once you get into the building to determine whether it's a really good place for students and for adults to work and learn," Taylor said. "When I arrived and got my tour of the building and started talking to people and seeing some of the things that were going on, we almost knew within the first hour that our decision at the end of the day would be this school should really be a spotlight school."

Teachers and staff members showed their pride by wearing celebratory T-shirts throughout the day. First Selectman William "Willie" Fritz read a proclamation to the school, but before that shared his pride with the students, not only for the award, but the fact the many children sitting in the crowd would be the first ones to graduate from the new high school.

"What a week for the town of Clinton-this is the greatest week to be first selectman. I want to congratulate the class of 2016 to be the first class to graduate from the new Morgan," Fritz said. "For Eliot to receive this award, what a tremendous honor. I'm just so proud of this town-at this point it's amazing."

Superintendent of Schools Jack Cross and Assistant Superintendent Maryann O'Donnell also spoke on behalf of the school and shared Fritz's pride for the students and staff at Eliot.

"Some people shy away from the spotlight and they hide in the shadows. Some people crave the spotlight, but then when it shines on them they cannot measure up and they fade in the bright lights," O'Donnell said. "Others, like all of you, are born for the spotlight and when it focuses on them, they shine so brightly that all who see them are captivated and moved by their performance."

Tucker offered closing remarks before the school jazz band stole the show with a performance of "What a Wonderful World" (which it appropriately changed to "What a Wonderful School").

"Our goal is to continue to grow, improve, and open doors for our students to succeed. This has certainly been a hallmark of my educational career and I will never forget it," Tucker said.