DO THE MATH. People can expect to work about 90,000 hours during their lifetime, so those who find jobs that are meaningful, gratifying and rewarding are fortunate. At Manchester High, students get lots of chances to explore careers and to apply academic learning within authentic, school-based, external or simulated work-based environments. We have more about that below along with pictures from two events last weekend that celebrated language and more.

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Shown above is EMT instructor Terrence Wain Jr. who was working with Mrs. Lambert's EMT Certification class at Manchester High last Friday. Monday's Board of Education meeting included a presentation on programs that provide more than a thousand MPS students each year with authentic, work-related opportunities.

From left, Mikhaila Entsiwah, Kayori Henry, Nadira Iqbal and Sumitra Bramwell spoke about medical careers while Isaiah Charles (top) and Eddie Zalewa talked about their opportunities in manufacturing. Here are the slides from the CTE presentation.

More BoE news:

• The Board approved next year's school calendar, with the first day of classes once again coming after Labor Day.
• The next BoE meeting is scheduled for March 13 and the agenda will include a winter data update.
• As for the budget, General Manager Steve Stephanou is scheduled to deliver his proposed spending plan to the Board of Directors on Tuesday. The BoD's first budget workshop is Wednesday with a focus on the Board of Education.
• For more on the budget development process and timelines click here.

Every school day in January and February we are shared the story of a Manchester High School student and you'll find them all on the district Facebook page and other MPS social media sites. Plus this video looks back at the special series

• Project Graduation has a Munson's Chocolates fundraiser with pickup scheduled for April 5-6 at MHS. Here's the link to order and to see the flier with more information click here.
• Cornerstone, a faith based non-profit organization in Vernon-Rockville, has a program that allows students to try on and take home free prom gowns, tuxes and accessories. There's more info here.

• Entries for the Black Joy Youth Poetry Contest are due tomorrow. Click here to learn more.

• All 7th-12th grade students will be taking a Youth Voices Count survey either on Tuesday, March 7 or Wednesday, March 8. Parents will have the option to opt out of their child taking the survey and here's more information including the opt-out form.

• Click for info about Norovirus, a “stomach bug” that is spreading through the state and nation.

Last weekend was a busy one, with two events that brought people together to shares stories, music, dance and more.

Kwasi Ntem Mensah (top left) read "The Identity of Language" as part of Sunday's program at Bailey Auditorium that also included dance ensembles featuring Bangladeshi community members. At bottom right is Edwin Vargas, a guitarist from Puerto Rico and at bottom left Katalina Maldonado, who did a Caribbean Bomba dance.

And across town at the History Center on Sunday, globally renowned storyteller Len Cabral shared narratives from his travels, followed by youth presentations from (left to right, below) Ethan Brown-Thompson, Amir Waterman, Phoenix Patterson and Carsyn Patterson.

Dr. Seuss was born on this day in 1904 and readers rejoice annually in his honor. The March spotlight is also on women in history and music in schools.

Thursday, March 2
1:30 - 6:30 p.m. -- Red Cross Blood Drive at North United Methodist Church.
2:30 - 6 p.m. -- Manchester Teen Center is open, 63 Linden St.
6:30 p.m. -- Wanderlust Book Club at Mary Cheney Library.

Friday, March 3
9:30 - 11:30 a.m. -- GriefShare support group at 595 Tolland Tpke.

Saturday, March 4
2 - 4 p.m. -- Art show reception at United Universalist Society East, 153 Vernon St.
5 - 9 p.m. -- Manchester Latino Affairs Council fundraiser at Elks Club, 30 Bissell St.

Sunday, March 5
10 a.m. - 4 p.m. -- Manchester Comics and Toy Convention at Army & Navy Club.

1 - 2:30 p.m. -- Walking Tour of Downtown Manchester with Town Historian Susan Barlow.
1 - 4 p.m. -- ‘Women of the Cheney Family’ Exhibit dedication at 175 Pine St.

Monday, March 6
7 - 8 p.m. -- Can and bottle drive at World-Wide Lighthouse Missions, 16 Brainard Place.

Tuesday, March 7
7:30 a.m. -- FY24 Budget Presentation to the Board of Directors at Lincoln Center.
9:30 - 11:30 a.m. -- GriefShare support group at 595 Tolland Tpke.

7 p.m. -- BOD regular meeting.at Lincoln Center.

Wednesday, March 8
10 a.m - noon -- The Historical Society’s Genealogy Group is restarting, 175 Pine St.
10 a.m. - 3 p.m. -- Manchester Art Association’s ‘Color Theory’ workshop at Manchester Church of Christ, 595 Tolland Turnpike.
5:30 p.m. -- FY24 Budget Worksop #1: Board of Education at Lincoln Center.

ALSO

• LTM is introducing the first-ever Manchester Playwright Festival. Submissions are due March 15.

• The Youth Services Bureau has a bunch of programs for kids of all ages. Click here to find out what, where and when.

• Spring thoughts: Yard waste collection resumes March 20.

DOWN THE ROAD

• The Dept. of Leisure, Family and Recreation will host Family Game Show Night at Nathan Hale Activity Center on March 10.

• Daylight Savings Time begins at 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 12.

• The 60th annual Manchester Antique and Collectible show will be held at Second Congregational Church on March 17 and 18.

• ‘Ticket to Ride’ will be celebrating the music of the Beatles at Cheney Hall on March 18.

• MARC Inc’s Rockin’ Bowl-A-Thon is March 26 but you can donate early by clicking here.

• ‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time’ opens at Cheney Hall on March 31 and runs on the weekends through April 16.

• Wickham Park’s 2023 season opens on April 1. Click here to see the full schedule.

• Save the Date: April 29 for Rebuilding Together in Manchester

Better Manchester Magazine: Manchester NEXT report is ready for review and comment; Pups in Our Parks info; recreation golf will start in April; meet YSB’s Caitlin Barclay and Shakir Leacock; Winter/Spring programming guide, etc.

Manchester Adult & Continuing Education: Learn something new about Black history from Dr. CK; check out the classes offered starting March 20;Calling all artists for a ‘themeless’ show in June to help celebrate Manchester's 200th anniversary; there will be a welcome back dinner on March 29 to kick off the third trimester of the year, plus a ‘graffiti battle’ in April featuring some big names in the graffiti game.

Manchester Historical Society: Dedication of the Women of the Cheney Family exhibit will be on Sunday from 1 -4 p.m. at the History Center; check out an aero-view of Manchester from 1880; read about Manchester’s first school; look at a picture of the 1923 Centennial Committee that includes Mary Cheney herself and Sunday’s history walk will will cover downtown and reuse of historic buildings.

Manchester Land Conservation Trust: Membership information, pictures from the properties,a new map of the Bush Hill hiking trails, free walks and events and a photo of the month that may leave you asking, 'Who?"

Manchester Matters: Heroic Manchester teacher story; FY24 Budget Workshop schedule; Black Joy Poetry Contest; looking for a job? The town of Manchester is hiring; Manchester Art Association event schedule and more. Click here for a free subscription.

ALSO:

Manchester Next, the Town’s Plan of Conservation and Development, is now available for review there's more info here.

Manchester's Tylon Smith Jr. dazzled the crowd and was the player of the game with 32 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists as the Hartford Shockers kicked of 2023 season with a 116-100 win over the Philly Raiders at East Catholic last Saturday. You can catch the defending ECBL champs again this Saturday (March 4) at East when they host the DC Heat at 5 p.m.

The MHS spring play is Footloose, the iconic 1984 musical, and the cast has been rehearsing daily under the watchful eye of director Kelly Munro for March 23, 24 and 25 performances at Bailey Auditorium.

• 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.