OneManchester
Thursday, March 28, 2024
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GO UCONN! Fans of both the men’s and women’s teams are pumped up as both Huskies squads are in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament this weekend. Back here in Manchester, Illing Middle School and Highland Park Elementary held student-staff hoop games last week to raise money and spirits. That's Highland fourth-grader D'Andre White during last Thursday night's game, which was played in front of a big crowd in the MHS gym. Looking ahead, there are town-wide concerts coming up Monday through Wednesday and we have the breakdown below.
Townwide Concerts Are Next Week
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The Town Wide Concerts will be held at Bailey Auditorium next week and here's the lineup:
Monday -
- Grade 4 string students; grade 6 orchestra; grade 8 orchestra; MHS orchestra and MHS chamber orchestra
Tuesday
- Grade 6 concert band; grade 8 concert band; MHS concert/marching band; jazz bands from MHS, IMS and Bennet.
- Grade 4 honors choir; grade 6 choir, grade 8 choir; MHS choirs
Performances are free, starting at 7 p.m., and we have photos below from a yesterday's grade 4 orchestra rehearsal. To see the flier click here.
Illing's Meg Clough Named Outstanding Music Educator
Illing teacher Meg Clough was selected as the CMEA 2024 Outstanding Music Educator. She will be honored at the All-State Conference at the keynote session on Friday, April 5th at the CT Convention Center in Hartford.
Also:
- Lovers of big band music needn’t travel far to hear the UConn Jazz Ensemble and its award-winning musicians, as the group readies for a free performance on Wednesday, April 17, at 8 p.m. at Bailey Auditorium. For more info click here.
Alumni Update
As we wrap up Music in our Schools months, here's a photo of Manchester High alum Mitch Mangan, who is currently the band director at Bulkeley High School in Hartford. Mitch, who is also one of CT’s premier jazz bass trombone players, visited MHS last week to meet and play with students.
Hooping It Up
Highland Park (above) collected donations for MACC Charities and Illing raised money for the Brandon Kienle Scholarship Foundation during their respective events. Check the district FB page for more pictures from these games.
BoE Update
News and Notes
Also
- The Student Equity Advisory Team at MHS is selling another round of merchandise featuring the slogan "Ignite Change, Love Worldwide", a phrase that embodies the work they do in the community and what they want the community to embrace. There’s more information here and to order (and see samples) click here.
- Celebrate a Manchester High senior with a Pink Flamingo Flocking from MHS Project Graduation. And if you would like to volunteer to lead a committee for Project Graduation '25, you can click here for information.
- Summer Day Camp registration for Manchester residents starts April 8. Click here for info.
Black History Celebration
The Week Ahead
Thursday, March 28
9 a.m. - 2 p.m. -- Engage with Downtown Manchester’s Improvement Project at WORK_SPACE, 903 Main St.
10:30 - 11:15 a.m. -- Shake, Rattle & Roll for children ages 2-5 at Mary Cheney Library.
6 - 8 p.m. -- Learn to Make a Quilted Tote Bag at Whiton Library.
6:30 - 7:15 p.m. -- Pajama Storytime for children ages 2-5 at Mary Cheney Library.
Friday, March 29
10 a.m. -- Preschool Playgroup at Mary Cheney Library.
Saturday, March 30
10:30 - 11:15 a.m. -- Saturday Storytime for 2 - 5 year olds at Mary Cheney Library.
2:30 - 4:30 p.m. -- Puzzle Off at Mary Cheney Library.
Monday, April 1
9:30 - 10:15 a.m -- ABC Storytime at Mary Cheney Library.
10:30 - 11:15 -- Tykes, Trucks & Trains at Whiton Library.
1 - 5:30 p.m. -- UR Community Cares open house for its new Tech Center, 153 Spruce St. Ribbon cutting at 4:30 p.m.
7 - 8 p.m. -- Can and bottle donations at WWLM Warehouse Loading Dock, 16 Brainard Place.
Tuesday, April 2
6 a.m. - 8 p.m. -- Presidential Primary. Click here for more details.
8 - 9 a.m. -- Business Link: Collaboration & Coffee at WORK_SPACE, 903 Main St.
10 - 10:20 a.m. -- Baby Rhyme Time at Mary Cheney Library.
6 - 7 p.m. -- Manchester Youth Commision meeting at Lincoln Center.
Wednesday, April 3
10 a.m. - 4 p.m. -- Abstract Art - Abstracting your Photos with Polly Castor at Manchester Church of Christ, 595 Tolland Tpke.
Noon -- Lunchtime Lecture at Cheney Hall: Legally Blonde the Musical.
3:30 - 4:45 p.m. -- R.E.A.D. to a Dog (pre-k - grade 4) at Mary Cheney Library.
6:30 p.m. -- Into-Me-See with Nadia Sims at WORK_SPACE, 903 Main St.
6:30 - 8 p.m. -- At-Home Composting at Eastside Neighborhood Resource Center, 153 Spruce St.
6:30 - 8:30 p.m. -- East Side Neighborhood Block Watch meeting at 153 Spruce St.
7:30 - 8:30 p.m. -- BSA Troop 25 new scout meeting at Center Congregational Church, 11 Center St.
Also:
Town offices and Manchester Public Schools will be closed tomorrow, March 29 in observance of Good Friday.
The parking ban is in effect until Monday.
Boy Scout Troop 27 wants to egg your house. Read all about it here.
The Blank Canvas: Unboxed art exhibit at WORK_SPACE runs through April 5. Click here for the schedule and info on W_S programming.
Ramadan
Ramadan began at sundown on Sunday, March 10, and ends at sundown on Tuesday, April 9. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection and community. The final evening of Ramadan consists of a celebration called Eid al-Fitr, when the traditional month-long fast is ended with a feast. Eid al-Fitr is a school holiday but it falls this year during the April vacation, which is the week of April 8-12.
Down The Road
April is Autism Awareness Month and you can show support by wearing bright colors. Click here for more information.
MHS Project Graduation is holding a comedy fundraiser at the Elks Club on April 4. Click here for details.
The Free Movie Nights at Nathan Hale Recreation Center wrap up on April 5 with ‘Shaun the Sheep.’
Presidential and early voting will continues at Mahoney Rec on March 28 and 30.
The Manchester Sculpture Project will host a Designer Bag Bingo benefit on April 18 at Cheney Hall.
Legally Blonde: The Musical opens at Cheney Hall on April 12 and runs on the weekends through April 28.
BSA Troop 123 is holding a car wash fundraiser on April 20 at Concordia Lutheran Church from 9 a.m. – 1p.m.
The Illing Middle School Drama Club will present ‘Junie B. Jones The Musical Jr.’ at Bailey Auditorium April 25 - 27. Click here for details.
Rebuilding Day in Manchester will be on April 27. Click here for details.
Summer Stuff
The school district, Manchester Early Learning Center and town Parks and Recreation Department will be offering various summer opportunities to students. Click her for all the details.
- The Hartford Shockers are offering a Holiday Basketball clinic tomorrow. Click here for details.
- Manchester High's spring season starts Saturday when the softball team hosts Glastonbury on campus at 10 a.m. and the baseball team hosts Danbury at Mt. Nebo at 11 a.m. Here is the complete MHS spring schedule.
- The CT Knights AAU travel basketball program has opening for third and fourth grade girls. Click here for details.
- It's not too late to sign up for Manchester Little League & Softball and you can find more info here.
- Manchester Country Club has a summer golf program for Black and Brown community members and you can find out more by clicking here.
- Coerver CT East is offering summer soccer camps at various locations. Click here for more info.
Katie Morin helps oversees the grade 4 string program in town and travels to each of the district's seven elementary schools. Yesterday she stopped at Bowers, where students are mastering pieces that they will perform with fellow fourth-graders from throughout town when they gather at MHS on Monday night.
- 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 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.
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