SUNNY DAYS are always nice but even more so as we move further into the era of solar power. Town leaders gathered last Friday to celebrate the installation of 5200 panels at six schools (Verplanck, Highland, Martin, Waddell, MHS and MRA) and the Water & Sewer Building -- a project that's projected to save $100,000 annually in energy costs. We have more below as well as info about a busy week ahead that includes Monday’s Memorial Day parade.

Monday's Board of Ed meeting featured a presentation that personalized the process at Manchester High designed to ensure that students graduate "with optimism and confidence in their choices."

MHS Principal Katelyn Miner introduced three seniors -- Ky'Lynn Monts, Nathan Forrester and Cody Marques -- who shared their stories. You can watch a replay here. (And to see a larger version of the chart that explains grade-level experiences, click here.) And we have more below about a special opportunity afforded MHS students through the town's Department of Public Works.

Some key dates upcoming:

• The groundbreaking ceremony for the renovation of Keeney Elementary is Monday, June 12 at 5:30 p.m.
• The next BoE meeting will be on June 12 in Lincoln Center at 7 p.m. with an end-of-year update and Teacher of the Year presentation.

• Manchester High’s graduation will be held on Memorial Field on June 14 (rain date: June 15). Here are other 'Senior Sendoff' dates.
• The last day of classes is Friday, June 16 (except for MHS and Bentley, which have a makeup day on Tuesday, June 20.
  

The last in a series of spring concerts is tonight as the MHS chorus performs at Bailey Auditorium at 7 p.m. The group just performed for Fantastic Festivals and received a Platinum rating (highest possible rank) by expert judges affiliated with the Berklee School of Music and the University of Rhode Island.

Shown here are Verplanck Elementary (left) and Manchester Regional Academy -- two of the six schools that had solar panels installed as part of the project, which was made possible in part thanks to the Connecticut Green Bank’s Solar Municipal Assistance Program, with Greenskies Clean Focus responsible for the installation of the systems. Read more here.

Big celebrations coming up next week and the week after. More info below.

• Jane Austen’s ‘Pride & Prejudice’ will be at Cheney Hall from June 2 - 18.

• The Manchester Woman’s Town Wide Tag Sale will be on June 3 (rain date June 4). Click the link for details.

• Celebrate Manchester June 3 -11 with free family-friendly events and activities.

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

• Manchester Art Association’s ‘Art in the Park’ will take place in Center Memorial Park on June 4.
  

• Visit six beautifully designed private backyard gardens in Manchester on this year’s Garden Tour June 10. Click here for details.

• Manchester will celebrate Juneteenth with food, music and activities on Saturday, June 17th at Mahoney Rec, 110 Cedar St.

• Click the links for info on the MARC Concert Series and the Beller’s Summer Concert Series that will be happening in July and August.

OTHER NEWSLETTERS:

Better Manchester Magazine: The Spruce Street Farmers Market returns next month, Rec on the Run is revving up, summer programing sign-ups, etc.

Manchester Historical Society: History walk # 10 of 23 on Sunday, the Old Manchester Museum will be open on June 3; many museums throughout the state will be open free of charge on June 10, plus much more.

Manchester Matters: Water and energy assistance programs, Public Works Week, ‘Celebrate Manchester’ preview, Union Trade Fair, Holiday schedule and more. Click here to subscribe.

100M WINNERS Arlon Poteat (far left) and Samiya Eady (far right) won their respective 100 meter events at the rain-shortened 41st Randy Smith Journal Inquirer Track & Field Invitational on Saturday. Click here for complete results from the meet.

MORE SPORTS:

• The 15th Middle School Track and Field state championship with be held on Saturday at Manchester High starting at 10 a.m.
• Manchester PAL is sponsoring a 3 on 3 basketball tournament at Charter Oak Park in July and August. Click here for sign-up info.
• Manchester Soccer Club is holding travel tryouts for the 2023-24 season in June. Click here for details.
• And if you are looking into summer soccer camps, you can register for one-week sessions in July and August by clicking here.

Five students from MHS and Bentley Academy were honored yesterday by Mayor Jay Moran, Director of Public Works Tim Bockus and Deputy Director of Public Works Courtney Lindberg for their successful completion of an internship program in which they explored various trades that they were interested in exploring as part of their career journeys.

All four seniors pictured, Malachi Peterkin, Micahus Walton, Avery Hasson and Alex Elusme were offered summer jobs and hope that this will lead to permanent career opportunities. Junior Anthony Taylor plans to continue in the program next year. The Department of Public Works has 5 divisions -- Building Inspection, Engineering, Facilities Management, Field Services and Sanitation -- all of which have trucks, which were a big hit with kids of all ages.

Check the district FB page soon for more coverage from yesterday's festivities.

At Illing, a student-staff tug-of-war last week left everybody smiling.

• 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.