OneManchester

Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021

LABOR DAY WEEKEND marks the end of an eventful summer that last weekend was especially busy, with the Peach Festival, Silk City Fest and more. Looking ahead, classes resume on Wednesday (or Thursday for some of the older kids) and we have everything you need to know down below. If you like OneManchester and want to subscribe, please click here.

In The Spotlight

Big picture
Superintendent Matt Geary was a guest conductor, Teacher of the Year Nikki Kupec and Tim Wise (an equity expert) addressed school staff - all part of the runup to next week's re-opening.

The Countdown Continues ...

THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL IS WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 8:

  • That's when grades K-5, 7 and 9 return

  • Students in grades 6, 8 and 10-12 join in on Thursday, Sept. 9.

  • Pre-school starts Sept. 8 and HEAD START (full day) begins Sept. 13.

  • Manchester Adult and Continuing Education classes also begin Sept. 8.

  • Click here for the full-year calendar.


THE BIG NEWS


  • Remote Learning: The state has decreed that instruction must be in-person except in cases involving quarantine.
  • Masks: The state also is requiring that masks be worn in schools by all students, staff and visitors through Sept. 30.
  • Visitors: Will be allowed again with masks required and names, dates and locations recorded in the event contact tracing becomes necessary.
  • Sports: Fall sports are back as usual except masks must be worn indoors.

Notebook

Monday's BoE meeting: Superintendent Matt Geary gave an update on the opening of school. Click here to watch a replay.
Picture

LET’s Talk: Latasha Easterling-Turnquest, the district’s Chief of Family Partnership & Student Engagement, is sharing reminders related to attendance as well as general town happenings and you can see her latest video here.


Adult Ed: Classes begin Sept. 8 and the new department website has all the information you need. Also, you can check out this enrollment information (and here’s a Spanish version). And the latest department newsletter is here.


Before- and After-school Programming: It’s offered in partnership with MELC (the Manchester Early Learning Center) at Bennet / Bowers / Buckley / Highland / Keeney / Martin / Odyssey / Verplanck and Waddell and online registration is ongoing. Click here for information.

Picture
Big picture

Manchester Energy Efficiency Series

Big picture
"The man behind the plan" is Randall Luther, an architect and partner at Hartford-based TSKP Studio. Our series on Buckley Elementary School's ‘net zero energy’ renovation continues. Click here for Chapter 3.
Big picture

Sean met Shaq a week ago in Las Vegas at an event at the Encore Beach Club, where DJ Diesel (Shaq’s stage name) sometimes performs. Both men work with DJ Lazy K, who also works for Shaqfu Radio. Sean, whose second album, called Go! Mode, is coming out today at LiveMixTapes.com, is the father of two current MPS students and if you want to see what he looks like standing next to Shaq, click here.

Festival Weekend

Big picture

Friday was all about peaches at the Eighth District Firehouse and Saturday featured music and more at Purnell Place. That's Manchester-based band Johnny Mainstream, one of 12 music acts that played the Silk City Fest.

Notable


Big picture

Making Strides

Big picture
Saturday's events included a 5K race through Center Springs Park (left) and a relay from Willimantic to Hartford with MHS student-athletes completing the final six legs (36 miles) of a 95-mile relay race. Pictured at the finish line are (L to R): Abdullah Barlas, Jaime Dykstra, Jason Skoog, Jack Larson, Caleb Curtis and Sean Barkasy.
The Week Ahead:

The Week Ahead:

Thursday, Sept. 2

Noon-1 p.m. -- Brown Bag Biz Buzz at WORK_SPACE
6:30 p.m. -- Little league Congratulatory Celebration at Northwest Park


Saturday, Sept. 4

8 a.m. - noon -- MACC Manchester Farmers Market at Forest St. parking lot.
2 - 4 p.m. -- Old Manchester Museum Open House. 126 Cedar St.


Tuesday, Sept. 7
6:30 p.m. -- GriefShare at Manchester Church of Christ, 595 Tolland Tpke
7 p.m. -- BoD special meeting at Lincoln Center


Wednesday, Sept. 8

First day of school for Pre-K, K-4, grades 5, 7 and 9.

4:30 - 7:30 p.m. -- Farmer’s Market at Northwest Park.


Also:

The Week Ahead:

Little League Celebration Postponed

Due to an ominous forecast, tonight's congratulatory event for the 12U All-Star team has been rescheduled to Thursday, September 9th. Click here for details.
Big picture
The renovations to the gym floor at MHS are near completion and will be ready for the fall season and a new scoreboard will be going up on the football field as well.