FORTNIGHT. An arcane word (and spelled differently from the popular video game, which ends with -nite), it refers to a period of two weeks and is derived from the Old English “fēowertȳne niht” which means "fourteen nights." OK, with that clarified, because schools are offline next week so, too, is our newsletter. Our next edition will be in a fortnight -- on April 27 -- and so today we have an extra long calendar that includes lots of programming for kids at the libraries and YSB; an Abba tribute at Cheney Hall and an Earth Day cleanup and hike on April 22.

Technically there's a four-day 'spring vacation period' that precedes the Friday holiday of Eid al Fitr, which is the festival marking the end of Ramadan (and its month of fasting).

• After that, it's an eight-week sprint to summer, with one day off (Memorial Day is May 29).
• Graduation for MHS is scheduled for Wednesday, June 14 (rain date: June 15) and will be held on the football field.
  
• The last day of classes is Friday, June 16.

Click to see the calendar.

At Bowers school last Friday, fourth graders shared their writing with other grades. Below are scenes from a workshop for MHS and Illing girls last Thursday that gave them exposure to science, technology, engineering and math as well as to positive role models in those fields.

That's junior Brooklynn Gore being interviewed by Amazon warehouse manager Tynesha Fichter. You'll find the JI story here and it includes a video clip from Brooklynn's interview.

KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION

The kindergarten registration window for the 2023-2024 school year is now open. Parents/guardians of children whose fifth birthday falls on or before January 1, 2024, may begin the registration process by visiting the registration page of the district website.

STEAM CAMP FOR STUDENTS

Manchester Adult and Continuing Education is offering a fee-based STEAM camp for school-aged students from July 31 to Aug. 18. Here's the flier.

Also:

• Summer programming is by invitation only for students who are below grade level in reading and currently in grades K-3. Invitations have already been sent out. Also:

• We will continue to run credit recovery courses at Manchester High School. Again, more information to come.

• The MHS Class of '23 is selling fun novelty socks to help keep the costs down for students to attend the prom and Senior Class picnic; the details are here.
• Purchase your lawn sign to honor an MHS senior by April 30 by clicking here.
• Pink Flamingos in the yard are a fun, positive way to celebrate high school accomplishments. Click here to "flock" a friend from the Class of ‘23.
• Silk City Coffee is sponsoring a Give Back Day for Project Graduation on April 21, 1-6 p.m. 20% of all sales will support this year's Project Graduation party- that includes merch, beans and gift cards.

ALSO:

• Online enrollment for MELC's summer program started April 3. This is for children currently in grade K-6 and runs from July 3 through Aug. 11. For details click here.
  
• The Manchester Community Service Council has scholarship money available for students going to college in the fall. Click here to find out how to apply.

Our expanded calendar includes a big event at Cheney hall and a hoop showdown at Mahoney Rec. The faces at left are on this YSB flier.

Thursday, April 13
9:30 - 10 a.m. -- Mother Goose storytime at Mary Cheney Library.
10:30 - 11:15 a.m. -- Shake, Rattle & Roll for ages 2-5 at Mary Cheney Library.

Friday, April 14
10 a.m. - noon -- Preschool playgroup at Mary Cheney Library.

Saturday, April 15
8 a.m. - 1 p.m. -- Household hazardous waste collection at 321 Olcott St.
10 a.m. - noon -- Polish food sale at St. John’s Catholic Church, 23 Golway St.
2 -3 p.m. -- Mother’s Day Craft at Mary Cheney Library.

Monday, Apr. 17
9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. -- Kid’s Pet Portrait Painting Workshop at YSB, 63 Linden St.
10:30 - 11:15 a.m. -- Play Dough Party at Mary Cheney Library.
2:30 p.m. -- Kids Crafternoon at Mary Cheney Library.
5:30 - 7:30 p.m. -- Boys II Men enrichment program at YSB, 63 Linden St.
6 - 8 p.m. -- Holocaust Remembrance Day service and presentation at Beth Sholom B’nai Israel, 400 MiddleTpke. East.
6:30 p.m. -- Author Nan Rossiter at Whiton Library.

Tuesday, April 18
9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. -- UCONN tour for Manchester residents in grades 10- 12.
3:30 - 4:15 p.m. -- Origami Storigami with Motoko children's program at Whiton Library.
3:30 - 4:30 p.m. -- Teen Trivia at Mary Cheney Library.
6 p.m. -- Manchester Youth Commision meeting at Lincoln Center.

6:30 - 7:15 p.m. -- Sport Stacking for grades K - 5 at Mary Cheney Library

Wednesday, April 19
9 a.m. - 3 p.m. -- A Day in Nature at Hammonasset State Park for kids grades 4 -12.
3 - 3:45 p.m. -- Chat with a Meteorologist children’s program at Whiton Library.
6 - 7:30 p.m. -- Dungeons & Dragons at Mary Cheney Library.
6 p.m. -- Spring Poems for adults at Whiton Library.
10:30 a.m. -- Kings of the Court 3 x3 basketball tournament at Mahoney Rec, 110 Cedar St.
3:30 - 4:45 p.m. -- R.E.A.D to a Dog at Mary Cheney Library.

Thursday, April 20
9 a.m. - 3 p.m. -- The Ultimate Art Experience! A field trip to New Britain Museum of American Art for kids age 10 and up.
10:30 - 11:15 a.m. -- Pete the Cat and the Music Room at Mary Cheney Library.
1:30 - 6:30 p.m. -- Red Cross Blood Drive at North United Methodist Church, 300 Parker St,

Friday, April 21
9 a.m - 3 p.m. -- Treat Yourself a day of taking care of you for youths 14 and old.
7 p.m. -- Dancing Dream, Abba Tribute Band at Cheney Hall.

There's a graffiti battle at Urban Lodge a week from Sunday and on April 25 a creative cook-off at Mary Cheney Library for students in grades 6-9.

Also:

• 300 Years of Manchester exhibit: The Present opens at The Lutz on Tuesday and runs through May 28.

The Board of Directors on Tuesday adopted a $229.4 million budget for the next fiscal year, which means the new tax rate is based on 37.2 mills, a 3% increase for most residents. The JI has the story and you can watch a replay here. Directors cut $2.76 million from the Board of Education’s proposed budget.

Better Manchester Magazine: Gain insight on ‘gaming,’ and a local player who has burst on to the national scene; meet local ‘egg artists’ whose work can be enjoyed all around Northwest Park; 3 on 3 basketball tournament info; rec golf league starts this month, etc.

Manchester Historical Society: Trolley Day is May 13; test your knowledge of manchester buildings in the National Register of Historic Places; Volunteers needed for Cheney Homestead grounds clean up and work party; read the news from 140 years ago in an April, 1883 Manchester Herald and much more.

Manchester Matters: The Town of Manchester has a number of job openings; Household hazardous waste collection will be Saturday -- appointment necessary; Early Childhood Fair on April 22; Kindergarten registration window is now open; Holocaust Remembrance Day is April 17. Click here for a free subscription.

That's Katie Regan, who pitched a complete game shutout to help lead the MHS softball team to a 3-0 win over Enfield on Wednesday and, at right, Wally Lee, who with doubles partner Kyle Burke defeated their opponents on Monday as the MHS boys tennis team beat Plainville 7-0.

Even though Manchester students are on break next week, games and events continue. Here's the complete MHS athletics spring schedule.

MORE SPORTS

• Manchester Little League's second Opening Day will be held on May 6. Click the link for details.
• Manchester Travel Basketball is sponsoring a Mini Ballers spring session at Bennet Academy for Manchester students in grades 1-4. Click here for dates and sign-up info.
• The Hartford Shockers will host the Hub City Hogs in a ECBL Mid-Atlantic Conference game Sunday at 2 p.m. at East Catholic.
  

The Manchester High Roundtable Singers capped off a busy Wednesday night at Bailey Auditorium for the town-wide chorale concert, which also featured a fourth grade honors chorus and performers from Bennet and Illing. Performances resume after the break as on April 25 the MHS Modern Band Concert will be held. More school concerts are scheduled starting in May and we have all of that information here.

• NOTE: OneManchester is compiled by the school district's communications office but is dependent on contributions from people and institutions throughout the town and school district. So if you have something, anything, that you think people would want to know about, please let us know. Photos, fliers, links, tips, whatever -- please share with Paul Ofria at pofria@mpspride.org.