OneManchester
Thursday, June 2, 2022
JUNE IS BUSTIN' OUT ALL OVER. Seniors at MHS are in celebration mode as graduation approaches while four younger students (grades 2-7) are in Detroit for the National Invention Convention. Meanwhile, 'Celebrate Manchester' arrives Saturday highlighted by a free concert in Center Memorial Park. We have it all covered below as well as lots more. And did you know: OneManchester is the town's most comprehensive newsletter and you can get it sent to you by email each week by clicking here.
This Weekend's Highlights Include ...
Saturday
- “Selfies with Joe” Walking Tour at 10 a.m.
- Women’s Club Town-Wide Tag Sale from 8 a.m to noon
- Concert in Center Memorial Park featuring Soul Sound Revue at 6:30 p.m.
Sunday
- Art in the Park (Center Memorial again) from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Plus: Lots of hiking as part of CT Trail Days, celebrated this weekend
For a complete list of activities , click here.
Senior Sprint
Manchester High Seniors enjoyed a 'Red Hawk Ready' event yesterday, a celebration with music, fun, food, games and prizes designed for those who have finalized their post-secondary plans and are "ready for flight.' The festivities resume next week as graduation approaches. Here's the lineup:
- Graduation Car Parade -- It's Wednesday, June 8 (with a rain date of June 9)
- Graduation Walks (June 7 & June 9) - Dressed in their cap and gown, seniors take a trip down memory lane and parade through the halls of elementary schools.
- Class of 2022 Graduation Ceremony - Wednesday, June 15 (rain date - June 16) at 6 p.m. at - Memorial Field at Manchester High School (gates open at 5:15; tickets required)
Four MPS students advanced to the National Invention Convention, which is currently under way in Detroit -- with winners scheduled to be announced tomorrow night. Representing Manchester are:
- Boden Archer - Grade 2 - Martin
- Josie Steffenson - Grade 3 - Buckley
- June Steffenson - Grade 5 - Bennet Academy
- Riley Shove - Grade 7 - Illing Middle School
... and you can click here to learn about their inventions.
Four other MPS students advanced to the state level:
- Hailey Kanehl - Grade K - Bowers
- Amelia Anastas - Grade 1 - Martin
- Juliet Kanehl - Grade 2 - Bowers
- Tessian Wright - Grade 8 - Illing Middle School
Calendar Notes
- JUNE 8 AND 15 ARE FULL DAYS: Wednesday has been an early release day for much of the school year but that's ended. The following two Wednesdays -- June 8 and 15 -- will be full days. (One exception: June 15 is an early release at MHS only because graduation is that evening.)
- THE FINAL WEEK: Starts with no school on Monday, June 20 (in celebration of Juneteenth). All schools will have early release (using emergency dismissal schedule) every day starting Tuesday, June 21. The last day for all schools except Illing is Thursday, June 23. IMS will have classes on Friday (with an emergency dismissal schedule) because they were closed one day earlier this year due to a staffing shortage.
Coming Up
ALSO
- The Student Equity Advisory Team at Manchester High School is holding a multicultural night on Friday from 5-7 p.m. Click for details.
- The last of the spring concerts is Monday, June 6 featuring the MHS Chorus and an Alumni Chorus from the Ed Tyler years. It'll start at 7 p.m. at Bailey Auditorium.
- The next BoE meeting is June 13 and will feature an update on Adult Education and recognition of Manchester Teachers of the Year.
Pictures Perfect
MHS Student Journalists Honored
Manchester High School students took home 3 awards for news stories at the FOX61 Student News Awards:
- FOX61 Hard News Story - "Go Baby, Go!" by Emily Madden and Madelyn Spina
- FOX61 Feature News - "Huddies Cookies" by Ty LeGeyt and Antonio Mascitti
- ACES Diversity and Inclusion - Gizmo and Gadget - The Cutest Mascots for Mental Health
Check out this interview with Ty and Antonio and click for more.
Head Start Enrollment Underway
Manchester Head Start is currently enrolling preschoolers for the 2022-23 school year. A federally funded program that has been supporting Manchester's preschool children’s growth and development for over 20 years, Head Start offers a variety of services, including early learning and development, health, and family well-being, helping children get ready to succeed in school and in life through learning experiences tailored to their current needs and abilities. Click for registration info.
Trade Fair Traffic
Union representatives were on hand Wednesday with information about apprentice programs and careers in the trades at the 1st Annual Trade/Construction Fair at Manchester High.
Art of Pride
June is Pride Month and Fox61's coverage started with a stop at WORK_SPACE, where as Tracy Zackin explained an art exhibit is amplifying LGBTQIA+ voices. Click here to see the report and for more about the exhibit click here.
- The JI has the latest on the town's effort to develop the long-vacant Broad Street Parkade property. Here's the story.
Other Newsletters
Manchester Historical Society: Celebrate Manchester info; free Bicentennial Bandshell concert on June 9; weaving and music event for all ages at the Cheney Homestead on June 12.
Manchester Matters: Dog Licensing for 2022-23 is under way; Senior Center newsletter for June is now available online; Household Hazardous Waste Collection is this Saturday.
Manchester Adult and Continuing Education: Celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month; a look back at Rebuilding Together Manchester; info on low cost wi-fi; STEAM Camp runs from Aug. 1 -19.
The Week Ahead
Another busy week includes a local blood drive, town-wide tag sale and Celebrate Trails
Thursday, June 2
9 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. -- Red Cross Blood Drive at North United Methodist Church 300 Parker St.
10 a.m. -- Fire flow tests at the corner of Main and Pearl Streets.
7 - 8:30 p.m. -- Conversations for Racial Healing on ZOOM.
Friday, June 3
5 - 8 p.m. -- 5th - 6th grade Social at YSB, 63 Linden St.
Saturday, June 4
8 a.m. - 1 p.m. -- Household Hazardous Waste Collection at 321 Olcott St. - online appointments are mandatory this year.
6:30 p.m. -- Celebrate Manchester kick-off Concert in the Park featuring Soul Sound Review.
7:30 p.m. -- Animal Series: Black Bears in Connecticut with Paul Colburn at the Lutz.
Sunday, June 5
8 a.m. - 5p.m. -- Amateur Disc Golf Tournament at Wickham Park.
10 a.m. - 2 p.m. -- 2022 Cheney Tech PTO Car Show, 791 Middle Tpke West.
Monday, June 6
6 - 8 p.m. -- In-person Songwriters Group at 153 Spruce St.
6:30 p.m. -- CT Wildlife Series: Porcupines and Opossums at Mary Cheney Library.
7-8 p.m. -- Can and bottle redemption to benefit World-Wide Lighthouse Mission’s outreach program at 723 Main St.
Tuesday, June 7
7 p.m. -- BOD meeting - CANCELLED.
Wednesday, June 8
4:30- 7:30 p.m. -- Spruce Street Farmers Market at 153 & 163 Spruce St. (Wednesdays through August 31)
6 - 8 p.m. -- Middle School Nights at Mary Cheney Library.
Down The Road
Cub Scout Pack 47 will be fundraising at Jersey Mike’s from June 5-11 with a special event on June 9. Click here for details.
On Saturday, June 11 there will be a Mini-Golf Tournament to benefit the Elisabeth M. Bennet Statue at Mar-Lea in Bolton.
- MARC Inc. Celebrates its 70th birthday at Northwest Park on July 11.
The Off-Main Experience returns to Purnell Place on Thursdays in July from 5 - 7 p.m.
Cruisin’ on Main has been a Manchester staple for over 20 years and will be back on Main St. Aug. 7.
- The Silk City Fest will be held on Aug. 27 at Purnell Place. Click here to see this year’s band lineup.
State Champs
Illing Middle School eighth graders Damarion Wilson (55 m hurdles) and Samiya Eady (100 and 200 m) won their events at the 14th Annual Middle School Track and Field championship held at Manchester High last weekend. The Iliing girls were tops in the 28-school event while the boys came in second, just a half point behind Nathan Hale Middle School from Coventry
ALSO:
The Hartford Shockers won the ECBL Mid-Atlantic Division with a 9-3 record and will host a playoff game (opponent TBD) on Saturday, June 11 at 5 p.m. at East Catholic. The Shockers are led by Manchester resident and Illing Middle School math teacher Tylon Smith Jr. who averaged 28 ppg during the regular season.
Registration is open for the Manchester Running Company's summer series at MHS. It starts July 7 and there's more info here.
‘Together We Tee’ is a six-week golf program offered this summer at Manchester Country Club to local Black and Brown youth of all genders and their parents/guardians. Click here for more information.
After a two years of cancellations due to COVID, the Memorial Day Parade stepped off from the Army Navy Club at the base of Main Street and included a program at Center Park. We have dozens of photos on our FB page and also the JI has it covered.
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.