OneManchester
Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024
“THE TIME IS ALWAYS RIGHT TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT.” The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. shared that sentiment in a speech to Oberlin College students in 1964 -- encouraging them to sustain the nonviolent fight for racial equality -- and 60 years later his words are no less impactful and still applicable to every facet of life. Manchester will again honor Dr. King’s legacy at the 39th annual MLK Celebration event on Tuesday at 6 p.m. in Bailey Auditorium. The following night is the big MHS Winter Concert. It's also in Bailey Auditorium (starting at 7 p.m.) and features the high school's most polished ensembles. We have more on both events:
The Manchester Youth Commission, in collaboration with Manchester Public School's Department of Race and Equity, is inviting all members of the community to honor the legacy of Dr. King by celebrating students who are upholding his values of racial and social justice, equity and equality, and the fight against racial oppression. Click for the flier.
In The Spotlight
Staff members (from left) Kendra Montstream, Stephanie Case and Brent Mikkelson are the latest additions to the "Humans of Manchester' gallery, which you can find on both Facebook and Instagram.
- Each was recently honored in the district employee recognition program, which gives MPS staff a chance to nominate co-workers who who go above and beyond in their work to make a positive impact on our students and school community.
- We are now inviting parents and guardians to let us know who you would like to see recognized. This form tells you how that works.
Superintendent Proposes $127.5 Million Budget For 24-25
Monday's BoE meeting included a presentation of the superintendent's recommended 2024-25 budget and board members will take a deeper dive into the document in workshops that begin Jan. 18. As for the next full board meeting, that's scheduled for Monday, Jan. 22 with an update on Humanities and STEM 5-12 on the agenda.
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News and Notes
Fundraiser: MHS Broadcast Journalism students are hosting a Bingo fundraiser at the Elks Club tomorrow night to help support their trip to the National Convention In California. No tickets will be sold at the door. Click here for more info.
Also: Bennet Academy's PTSA will be holding a fundraiser at DQ on Hartford Rd. on Jan.29 from 5-7 p.m.
Multilingual families: The LAS Links is a yearly assessment that measures a child’s English language proficiency level and schools began testing this week. Please click here for more information.
TLC Foundation Seeking Donations: The TLC Foundation Inc. mission is to provide a safe, nurturing home environment to adolescents who cannot stay at home due to family disruption, parent-child conflict or the lack of a suitable home environment. Please consider making a donation through the TLC Foundation website or by contributing much-needed supplies from the Amazon wish list. The house also desperately needs a washing machine.
Rockin' Out
Coming up
On Wednesday, Jan. 17, it's the MHS Mid-Winter Concert. Performing will be: Percussion Ensembles, Jazz Ensemble, Roundtable Singers and Chamber Orchestra. All that and the featured soloist will be MHS music department custodian Justin Comolli. (Scroll down to see Justin 'rehearsing' last Sunday.)
And on Monday, Jan. 22 MHS presents the United States Coast Guard Band
Both shows start at 7 p.m.
The Week Ahead
Thursday, Jan. 11
10:30 - 11:15 a.m. -- Shake, Rattle & Roll for 2-5 year olds at Mary Cheney Library.
12:30 - 5:30 p.m. -- Red Cross blood drive at North United Methodist Church, 300 Parker St.
6:30 - 8:15 p.m. -- Learn Counted Cross Stitch - Heart Design at Whiton Library.
6:30 - 7:15 p.m. -- Pajama Storytime at Mary Cheney Library.
Friday, Jan. 12
10 a.m. -- Preschool Playgroup at Mary Cheney Library.
7 p.m. -- Broadcast Journalism Bingo at Elks Club, 30 Bissell St.
Saturday, Jan. 13
9 a.m. - noon -- Knights of Columbus can and bottle drive at St. James Church parking lot, 896 Main St.
10:30 - 11:45 a.m. -- Saturday Storytime at Mary Cheney Library.
Tuesday, Jan. 16
3:30 - 4:30 p.m. -- Chess Club for grades 6-9 at Mary Cheney Library.
6 - 7:30 p.m. -- Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration at Manchester High.
6 p.m. -- Treating autoimmune, neurodegenerative, and chronic pain conditions with Dr. Nicholas Palermo and Pharmacist Gene Gresh at Manchester Memorial Hospital, 71 Haynes St..
6:30 - 7:15 p.m. -- Pajama Storytime at Whiton Library.
8 p.m. -- Free self-defense seminar at Academy of Martial Arts & Personal Development, 1404 Tolland Tpk.
Wednesday, Jan. 17
9:30 - 10:15 a.m. -- Toddling Tots at Mary Cheney Library.
10 a.m. - 4 p.m. -- Manchester Art Association Workshop with Scott Rhoades at Manchester Church of Christ, 595 Tolland Tpke.
6 - 7:30 p.m. -- Dungeons & Dragons at Mary Cheney Library.
6:30 - 7:30 p.m. -- Create Valentine’s Day cards at Whiton Library.
Also:
Town offices and Manchester Public Schools will be closed on Monday in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
The 39th Annual Dr. MLK Jr. Celebration will take place on Tuesday at the Manchester High School Bailey Auditorium. Click here for more information.
The ‘Perspectives of Time’ art exhibit at WORK_SPACE runs through Jan. 26
Down the Road
The Manchester Delegation will be hosting a legislative Town Hall at Lincoln Center on Jan. 29. Click here for details.
YSB will host ‘Sibshops’ for siblings of brothers and sisters with disabilities once a month starting Jan. 26. Click here for details.
Free Movie Nights at Nathan Hale Recreation Center continue on the first Friday of the Month through April. Next up: ‘Paddington’ on Feb. 2. Click here for show schedule and dates.
‘Little Theatre of Manchester’s 2024 season starts with ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ Feb. 2 - 18 and you can see the full lineup by clicking here.
Manchester’s Early Childhood Fair returns to the MHS cafeteria on Feb. 10.
Little Theatre of Manchester announced its 2024 Jukebox Music Series that starts with 'The Ultimate Cher Experience' on Feb. 24. Click here for the full schedule.
The Elks Club is bringing ‘The Wall that Heals’ back to Manchester in September. Click here for details.
Also:
- The Youth Service Bureau is offering mini-grants to local groups and organizations and the info is here.
- Manchester Public Schools is recruiting four parents/guardians to join a Community Research Team for a 10-12-week pilot project focused on getting to know our fastest growing, largest population, our Hispanic/Latinx/Latine population. If you are a parent/guardian of a current MPS student and identify as Hispanic/Latinx/Latine please see this flyer for more details:
Pin City
Senior Tennyson Sado, wrestling at 150 pounds, pinned his opponent in 32 seconds to help Manchester beat E. O. Smith 65-18 Wednesday afternoon. The Red Hawks had seven pins over 14 matches and improved to 5-5 on the season.
We will have pictures from the meet later today on our OneManchester CT sports Facebook page.
ALSO:
- The Hartford Shockers are hosting a basketball tournament on Monday for boys and girls in grades 3-8. Click here for details.
- Illing Middle School will host the 36th annual Buzz Wooldridge Invitational Tournament on Jan. 25, 26, 27. Click here for more informantion.
- Tylon Smith Jr. is offering 'Open Runs' basketball games for boys and girls in grades 6 -12 at Illing Middle School on Wednesdays evenings. Click the link for more details.
Rain and warmer weather have done their thing, leaving us to wonder whether last weekend's snowstorm was an aberration or an appetizer with a lot more to come.
But as these pictures attest, the storm was a big one, challenging B&G staffers including Justin Comolli to have everything ready come Monday morning. They did -- no strings attached.
- 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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