OneManchester
Thursday, April 7, 2022
SCHOOL'S OUT next week -- after which comes the two-month sprint to summer -- but things have certainly been busy throughout the district lately and we have some of the many highlights below. Learn about an award-winning photographer, All-State musicians, an elementary artist whose message could save lives -- and more. And if you know of anyone in town who isn't aware of OneManchester but would enjoy reading it each week, this is the link that is used to subscribe.
Humans of Manchester
Carolina Mancini, a sophomore at MHS whose many talents include photography, is the latest addition to our gallery, which is on Facebook and Instagram and (for those who'd like to read it in a different language ) right here,. She won a statewide medical careers photography contest with the three images on the right, taken at (top to bottom) Regeneron Pharmaceuticals in New York, ASM (Ambulance Service of Manchester) and Connecticut Valley Orthodontics in Vernon.
The district was well-represented at the recent annual CMEA conference and All-State Music Festival. MHS Senior percussionist Grace Reid and Junior clarinetist Ethan DeBaise (shown above with K-12 music coordinator Keith Berry) earned coveted positions in the All-State Band; they spent 3 days in Hartford in intensive rehearsals for a concert on April 2. Also Verplanck Elementary School general music teacher Liz Oman-Wilfrid (right) was a presenter on the topic of "Social Justice in the General Music Classroom."
Hartford County's Best
Waddell's Dhaanya Elango placed first among all fourth grade submissions in the 2021-22 CT Fire Prevention Poster Contest and also was the overall winner for Hartford County. That's 8th Utilities District Fire Marshall Ken Roback presenting her award.
A meeting of the Repurposed Schools Task Force is scheduled for Monday, April 18 at 6:30 p.m. and will be held in the cafeteria at Nathan Hale, 160 Spruce Street. This meeting is open to the public and will include a public comment session.
Buckley Time Capsule
Renovations continue at Buckley Elementary School and when the building reopens in the fall it will include a time capsule to be opened ... someday! Former (and current) Buckley families, students and staff are invited to contribute notes, stories and any such memorabilia. The deadline is May 20, 2022 and there's more information here.
MHS Fundraisers
Project Graduation and Silk City Coffee are teaming up this Friday, April 8 from 1 - 6 p.m.. Here's the flier.
- For a donation of $25, you can honor a soon-to-graduate MHS student by having vibrant pink flamingos displayed in the graduate’s yard for a few days. Click for details.
- And MHS Project Graduation’s Sock-A-Thon runs through April.
- Also, purchase a lawn sign for a 2022 MHS graduating senior by April 30.
- And here's latest: A Cinco de Mayo taco-eating contest with proceeds going to Project Graduation. Mayor Jay Moran will be among those trying to eat the most tacos in 5 minutes and 5 seconds on Thursday, 5-5. All the details are here.
More News and Notes
- Interested in a job in education? The district has lots of opportunities and open positions and this flier has the info you need to take advantage.
- Applications are being accepted from families interested in enrolling children in the district Early Childhood Education Program for 3- and 4-year-olds. Click here for more information.
- It's time for the April family survey and your can find it here.
Manchester Adult and Continuing Ed: Spring checklist; meet case manager (and wife, mom, etc) Nicole Lemoine; and sign up for spring classes that include piano, guitar and Spanish lessons.
Long-Range Planning
The town's Plan of Conservation and Development is used to help guide and improve "livability, economics, mobility, recreation, employment, housing, and resilience" and public input is needed. A special event kicks things off on Monday (6:30-8 p.m.) and you can take part in person or online. Your options:
- Eastside Neighborhood Resource Center - 153 Spruce Street (Spanish translation services available)
- Bangladesh Bhaban Community Center - 9 Delmont Street (Bengali translation services available)
- Online: Please visit: https://manct.us/11 to register. (Translation in Spanish and Bengali will be available through Zoom.)
Luminaries of Change Nominations
Rotary Club's “Day of Service” Conference
ECHN is hosting the Manchester Rotary Club's “Day of Service” conference at Manchester Memorial Hospital and all the info is here.
- Manchester youth who are entering grades 9-12 in the fall of 2022 are encouraged to apply to serve on the Manchester Youth Commission. The deadline to apply is May 2 and all the info is here.
Manchester Matters: Fire flow tests start today; 'Manchester Next' kickoff event is Monday; compost bins and rain barrels are available to purchase.
Manchester Historical Society: 'Manchester Then & Now’ exhibit is open to the public Wednesday - Friday, 10 a.m. - 2p.m.; a glimpse at the Manchester Herald from April, 1952; interesting details on the Johnson block on Main St. and more.
The Week Ahead
Thursday, April 7
8:30 a.m. -- Manchester Art Association’s ‘Out of My Comfort Zone’ exhibit opens at Town Hall, 41 Center St.
10 a.m. -- Fire flow testing at Burr Corners.
2 p.m. -- Walking Book Club starting at Mary Cheney Library.
3 - 6 p.m. -- Free Second dose COVID vaccination clinic at Verplanck Elementary School - Boosters will be available as well.
6 - 7 p.m. -- A Beginner’s Guide to Small Space Gardening at 153 Spruce St.
Saturday, April 9
9 a.m. -- Boy Scout Troop 27 can and bottle drive at St. Mary's Episcopal Church, 42 Park St.
10 a.m. - 2 p.m. -- Blank Canvas Show at WORK_SPACE, 903 Main St.
10 a.m. - noon -- In Bloom: A Spring Celebration at the Spruce Street Community Garden, 160 Spruce St.
2 p.m.-- Easter Egg Hunt at First Baptist Church, 240 Hillstown Rd.
Sunday, April 10
7 p.m. -- Free concert, New World Trio: East Meets West at Unitarian Universal Society:East, 153 West Vernon St.
Monday, April 11
Noon - 5 p.m. -- Red Cross Blood Drive at Manchester Church of Christ, 595 Tolland Tpke.
6 - 8 p.m. -- In-person Songwriters Group at 153 Spruce St.
6:30 - 8 p.m. -- Manchester Next, a community event on Zoom.
6:30 p.m. -- Spring poems with Wit and Wisdom Poetry Club at Whiton Library.
2:30 - 4 p.m. -- Boys to Men at YSB, 63 Linden St.
7 p.m. -- Manchester Garden Club presents ‘Easy Care Roses for the Home Gardener’ at 27 Adams St.
Tuesday, April 12
10:30 - 11:15 a.m. -- Playdough party for ages 3 and up at Mary Cheney Library.
2 p.m. -- Drop-in Craft Time for Teens at Mary Cheney Library.
7 p.m. -- BOD meeting - Budget Adoption at Lincoln Center.
Wednesday, April 13
3:30 - 4:45 p.m. -- R.E.A.D. to a Dog (pre-school - grade 4) at Mary Cheney Library.
9:30 a.m. -- Yoga for Children at Mary Cheney Library.
6 p.m. -- Middle School Nights at Mary Cheney Library.
6:30 - 8:30 p.m. -- Values Based Vision Boards at WORK_SPACE, 903 Main St.
Also
- Monday, April 11 is the first of three free golf days for Manchester residents at Manchester Country Club.
- Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike runs on the weekends at Cheney Hall through April 17.
- Boy Scout Troop 25 has new scout meetings on Wednesdays from 7 - 8:30 p.m. at Center Congregational Church, 11 Center St.
Down The Road, Etc.
- Rebuilding Together Manchester will be Saturday, April 30.
- The Spring Street Mile, Spring St. returns on Saturday, May 21.
- Celebrate Manchester (formerly known as Pride in Manchester) will be back this June. Click here for details.
OneManchester is compiled by Jim Farrell of the school district's communications office; he can be reached at b11jfarr@mpspride.org or 860-268-6377. OneManchester has been published since August 2017 and features the photography of Paul Ofria. Want to subscribe? Just click here.