Principal's Welcome Home

Welcome to Richard D. Hubbard Elementary School!

Dear Hubbard Families,

It is with tremendous excitement and gratitude that I welcome you to the 2026-2027 school year at Hubbard Elementary School. As the new principal of Hubbard, I am honored to join the Berlin Public Schools community and look forward to getting to know the students, families, staff, and traditions that make Hubbard such a special place.

There is something truly special about an elementary school. It is a place where children discover who they are as learners, build friendships, develop confidence, take risks, solve problems, and experience the joy that comes from learning something new. I believe our responsibility is to create a school where every child feels known, valued, challenged, supported, and excited to come to school each day.

At Hubbard, our students are at the heart of every decision we make. Our talented and dedicated staff works collaboratively to provide engaging learning experiences that support the academic, social, emotional, and developmental needs of every child. We recognize that children learn in different ways and at different rates, and we are committed to helping each student discover their strengths while providing the support and encouragement they need to grow.

I also believe deeply that joy and learning belong together. Elementary classrooms should be places of curiosity, creativity, purposeful play, exploration, conversation, collaboration, and meaningful academic learning. Children should have opportunities to wonder, ask questions, make mistakes, persevere, create, and experience the pride that comes from accomplishing something that once seemed difficult.

Our work at Hubbard is closely connected to the Berlin Vision of the Graduate. Beginning in Kindergarten, we are helping students develop the skills and dispositions they will carry throughout their education and beyond. We want our students to become thoughtful communicators, collaborative learners, critical thinkers, creative problem solvers, innovators, and contributing members of their communities. Just as importantly, we want them to grow into kind, compassionate, resilient young people who understand the importance of empathy, respect, responsibility, and caring for others.

As your principal, one of my most important priorities will be building relationships. I want to know our students, not simply their names, but their personalities, interests, strengths, accomplishments, and the things that make them smile. I want our families to feel comfortable reaching out, asking questions, sharing ideas, and partnering with us. I also look forward to listening and learning from our staff and community as I become part of Hubbard's story.

Strong schools are built through strong partnerships. Families are children's first and most important teachers, and our work is most powerful when school and home work together. I hope you will participate in school activities, connect with our PTO, attend family events, celebrate our students' accomplishments, and stay engaged in all that is happening at Hubbard.

Our school website will continue to be an important resource for school information, calendars, resources, and other helpful information, while ParentSquare will serve as a primary way we communicate timely news, reminders, and updates with families.

I am incredibly excited about the year ahead and grateful for the opportunity to serve as Hubbard's principal. I look forward to learning alongside you, celebrating our successes together, and continuing to build a school community filled with belonging, curiosity, kindness, growth, and joy.

Here's to a wonderful school year and the beginning of our journey together!

Warmly,

Deb Murray

Hubbard School Principal