MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION: What tests will MPS students in grades 3-8 be taking this month? Is it A) CMT; B) SAT; C) ACT or D) SBAC. Yep, it’s D) and it stands for the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium. Illing had practice test sessions yesterday as did Bennet, which first held grade-level pep rallies to pump up students. The actual assessments are coming soon and we have more below. Also coming up -- a teacher recruiting event tonight at MHS and the annual Downtown Butterfly Stroll a week from Saturday.

Bennet Principal Megan Thompson handed pies to two students who gleefully gave good-natured AP Reggie Tucker a playful face full of whipped cream during a spirited pep rally designed to hype students as they prep for SBAC testing.

Want to know more about the SBAC? This website has lots of information including practice tests anyone can take at different grade levels. The photo at lower left was taken at Illing yesterday during a practice session.

ALSO and interestingly:

• In 2001 the "No Child Left Behind' educational reform included expansion of state-mandated standardized testing then in 2015 the federal "Every Student Succeeds Act" mandated steps to reduce such testing. Learn more here.

Also:

• Manchester High paraeducator Mike May interviewed MPS Teacher of the Year Jason Daniels for the Community Voice Channel in Bolton. Click this link to watch.

The district music department is busy this month with Bennet fifth-graders taking to the stage at Bailey Auditorium tonight and much more coming soon; we have the schedule here.

In other news:

• Manchester Adult and Continuing Education is offering a fee-based STEAM camp for school-aged students from July 31 to Aug. 18. Here's the flier.
  
• The kindergarten registration window for the 2023-2024 school year is now open. Parents/guardians of children whose fifth birthday falls on or before January 1, 2024, may begin the registration process by visiting the registration page of the district website.
• Online enrollment for MELC's summer program is under way; this is for children currently in grade K-6 and runs from July 3 through Aug. 11. For details click here.

The Manchester Youth Commission is recruiting students entering grades 9-12 in the fall. The application to serve on the MYC has been extended to May 20. Find more info on this flier and apply here.

Plus:

• The next BoE meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 8 with an Adult Education update on the agenda.

There will be an ice cream social on the MHS track on May 16 from 4-6 p.m. to support Project Graduation. Click here for details ... The Class of '23 is selling fun novelty socks to help keep the costs down for students to attend the prom and Senior Class picnic; the details are here. ... Purchase your lawn sign to honor an MHS senior by April 30 by clicking here. ... Pink Flamingos in the yard are a fun, positive way to celebrate high school accomplishments. Click here to "flock" a friend from the Class of ‘23.

AND IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

• Are you worried about supporting your child's mental health this summer? You can attend a virtual session offered on May 23 by the Healing Springs Wellness Center and you can click for details.
  
• The Manchester Community Service Council has scholarship money available for students going to college in the fall. Click here to find out how to apply.

Teachers are deservedly in the spotlight next week and all month is dedicated to "paying tribute to the generations of Asian and Pacific Islanders who have enriched America's history and are instrumental in its future success." Here's more.

Thursday, May 4
9 - 10 a.m. -- National Day of Prayer service at Salvation Army, 661 Main St.
9 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. -- Red Cross Blood Drive at North United Methodist Church, 300 Parker St.
2:30 - 6 p.m. -- Teen Center is open, 63 Linden St.
5 - 7 p.m. -- Future teacher discussion panel at Manchester High School.
6:30 p.m. -- Snakes of Connecticut with Ginny Apple at Mary Cheney Library.

Friday, May 5
7 p.m. -- Laurel Canyon, a tribute to Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young at Cheney Hall.

Saturday, May 6
7:15 a.m. -- 2:15 p.m. -- Community cleanup and shred event at Transfer Station, 311 Olcott St.
9 a.m. - 5 p.m. -- Free Comic Book Day at Mary Cheney Library
9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. -- Memorial Disc Golf Tournament at Wickham Park.
7 p.m. -- Yale Whiffenpoofs at Cheney Hall.

Sunday May 7
Noon - 2 p.m. -- First open house of the year at the Woodbridge Farm, 495 Middle Tpke.
12:30 p.m. -- Colossal jelly bean egg hunt, at Woodbridge Farmstead 495 Middle Tpke. followed by a guided tour of the farmhouse at 1p.m.

Monday, May 8
10:30 a.m. 11:15 a.m. -- Storytime at Whiton Library.
6 - 8 p.m. -- Songwriters Group meeting at WORK_SPACE, 901 Main St.
7 p.m. -- BOE meeting at Lincoln Center.

Tuesday, May 9
10 a.m. -- Tea Talk Tuesday at Wickham Park.
3:30 - 4:30 p.m. -- Teen Crafternoon at Mary Cheney Library.
6:30 - 7:15 p.m.. -- Storytime at Whiton Library.
6:30 - 7:30 p.m. -- Preschool Bingo Blast at Mary Cheney Library.
7 p.m. -- BOD meeting at Lincoln Center

Wednesday, May 10
10:30 - 11:15 a.m. -- Toddlers, Trucks & Trains at Whiton Library.
12:30 - 6 p.m. -- Teen Center is open, 63 Linden St.
3:30 - 4:45 p.m. -- R.E.A.D to a Dog at Mary Cheney Library.
6 - 7:30 p.m. -- Animi/Manga Club at Mary Cheney Library

Also:

• 300 Years of Manchester exhibit: The Present can be seen at The Lutz through May 28.

Down the Road:

• The Butterfly Stroll returns to Main St. and the Lions Club will hold a free fishing derby - both on May 13.

• There will be an an archaeology dig at the Pitkin Glass Works on May 16.

• The Manchester Land and Conservation Trust’s annual giant tag sale will take place May 19 -27 at the barn on 330 Bush Hill Rd.

• Manchester Running Company’s ‘Spring Street Mile’ will be back on May 20. Click here to register.

• Manchester’s Memorial Day Parade will be held on Monday, May 29 starting at the Army and Navy Club at 9:30 a.m.

• The Spruce Street Farmer's Market returns to 153-163 Spruce St. on Thursday evenings starting on June 7.

• Check out the schedule and lineup for MARC Concert Series 23 that will run in July.

Sophomore twins Jaica (left) and Jaima Cabonita won their doubles match on Wednesday to help the Red Hawks girls tennis team beat Bristol Eastern 7-0.

Fourth grade student leaders at Highland Park School held a coin drive and raised enough money to purchase a maple tree to replace an old oak tree that had to be cut down last year.

The tree was planted last Friday on Arbor Day and dedicated to the fourth grade class of 2023. Bob’s Discount Furniture donated the plaque.

• 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.