Northern Shores Elementary School Principal Tara Moore has cited her hard-working staff and the volunteering spirit of parents, after the school won a Board of Education Distinguished Achievement Award.

To win the award, the North Suffolk school met all state and federal benchmarks for at least two consecutive years, “and made progress toward the goals of the governor and the board,” according to a news release from Gov. Bob McDonnell’s office.

“I attribute the award to the teachers that are in the classrooms, who are committed to making sure students are successful academically and socially,” Moore said.

By focusing on reinforcing good behavior and study habits, academic results follow, she added.

“And we have very supportive parents,” she continued. “This is a community that really embraces education and the well-being of the students.”

Parents are often found on the campus helping out in classrooms or assisting students, including helping to provide remediation for those in need, Moore said.

Kristine DeFreitas, its president, said parents are becoming increasingly active in the school’s Parent-Teacher Association.

In one PTA initiative she described, about 20 parents inaugurated an awards celebration for accelerated readers, providing an incentive for other students to work on their reading skills.

“Because of the budget cuts … some of the parents have been coming in and helping in the computer labs, helping with things like teaching children typing,” DeFreitas said.

Parents, Moore said, are also contributing to her school’s success by reinforcing lessons with children at home.

“We have students who come to school motivated,” she said. “And if they’re not, that’s our job (to get them motivated).”

While it’s no secret that field trips in schools across the country have been pared back dramatically since the economy faltered, Moore said the Northern Shores PTA works hard to bring field trips to the school.

For instance, she said, when second-graders studied China, a Chinese storyteller visited the school. When other students learned about Jamestown, folks visited from Jamestown to teach about the colonial settlement.

“This year, we have partnered with the Coast Guard,” Moore said, another example of the school’s “community stakeholders helping support our students.”

Northern Shores is big on shout-outs, Moore said, and one was due at 2:15 p.m. Wednesday to announce the award to students and teachers.

Carrsville Elementary in Isle of Wight County also received a Distinguished Achievement Award.