OneManchester

Students at Buckley had a parade yesterday, accompanied by the Manchester High Marching Band, to cap off a project that included learning about the legendary Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York.

Buckley is on a roll: The school was recently named a School of Distinction by the state Department of Education -- in recognition of its exceptional performance and growth under the state’s Next Generation Accountability System -- and on Monday Buckley is hosting the BoE meeting.

Last week, Manchester High School hosted about 100 educators from across New England as part of a partnership with the RISE Network, serving as an innovation school demonstration site. The educators were visiting to learn more about our efforts to ensure 9th-grade students are on track for 10th grade and to increase the number of juniors and seniors who leave high school college and career ready. Interim Principal Dr. Amaka Fennimore (right) and her team showcased elements that have had a meaningful impact on student success.

The Board of Education meets on Monday (Dec. 1) at Buckley Elementary, which was recently named a School of Distinction by the state Department of Education -- in recognition of its exceptional performance and growth under the state’s Next Generation Accountability System.

• The MHS Drill team is holding a Lyman Orchards fundraiser to help cover new uniforms, choreography, and other expenses. The details are here.
• The Manchester School PTA's third annual toy drive will be at Mahoney Rec on Friday, Dec. 5 and this flier has more. The Manchester Police and the Blue Angels Foundation are also sponsors.

• The Illing Middle School choir will be performing at the Manchester Symphony, Orchestra and Chorale Handel's Messiah event on Dec. 6 and there's more info here.
• Concora Youth Choir, under the direction of Karla McClain and Lauren Torres Lambert, will be holding auditions for singers in grades 4-8. Click here for more info.

Graduates of the district's 'Parents as Partners" and "Fatherhood" programs received recognition and certificates at a ceremony held at MHS.

Seventh and eighth-graders from Illing walked to Bowers Elementary on Tuesday to read to kindergarten students.

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... and 30,000 fans are expected for today’s Manchester Road Race, which starts at 10 a.m. in front of St. James Church on Main Street.

Defending champions Weini Kelati and Andrew Colley are both running again this year -- and so too will be thousands of people of all ages and ability levels who make the race a part of their annual Thanksgiving routine.

Last Saturday, the Little Manchester Road Race was held at MHS, where the next generation of runners gave it their all.

Also:

• Tomorrow at MHS, there's both a non-perishable food items (run by MACC Charities) and the Ray Crothers Blood Drive and there's more info on the MRR website.

• The latest edition of 'The Pulse' includes a feature on the LMRR and you can see it here.

Check out "Shop Small Saturday" on Main Street and kick-off the holiday shopping season with sales, specials and pop-up shops.

Friday, Nov. 28
8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. -- Ray Crothers Blood Drive at Manchester High School.
10 a.m. - noon -- Preschool Playgroup at Mary Cheney Library.
7 p.m. -- Stand Up, Speak Out, the musical that ends bullying, at Cheney Hall.

Saturday, Nov. 29
10 a.m. -- Holiday on Main “Shop Mall Saturday.”
10:30 - 11 a.m. -- Saturday Storytime at Mary Cheney Library.
Noon - 4 p.m. -- LTM’s Annual Holiday Arts & Craft Fair at Cheney Hall.
5 - 6:30 p.m. -- Tree Lighting Ceremony starting at Silk City Coffee at 4:15 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 30
11 a.m. -- Risley Ramble, a 1.5 mile hike at Risley Pond, 366 Lake Street, Vernon.

Monday, Dec 1
9:30 - 10:15 a.m. -- Shake, Rattle & Roll at Mary Cheney Library.
6:30 - 7:30 p.m. -- Christmas Cartel at Mary Cheney Library.
7 p.m. -- BOE meeting at Buckley School.

Tuesday, Dec. 2
9:30 - 10 a.m. -- Baby Rhyme Time at Mary Cheney Library.
10 a.m. - noon -- Manchester Blind & Low Vision Support Group Party at 153 Spruce St.
6:30 - 7:15 p.m. -- Evening Bingo for Kids at Mary Cheney Library.
6:30 - 7 p.m. -- Mother Goose (0 - 24 months) at Whiton Library.

Wednesday, Dec. 3
9:30 - 10:15 a.m. -- Toddling Tots at Mary Cheney Library.
10:30 - 11:15 a.m. -- Preschool Fun with Math Storytime at Whiton Library.
3:30 - 4:15 p.m. -- R.E.A.D. to a Dog (Pre-K - Gr. 4) at Mary Cheney Library.
6 - 7 p.m. -- Teen Winter Gingerbread House Making at Mary Cheney Library.

Also:

• Town offices and Manchester schools will be closed Thursday and Friday for the holiday.

• Manchester’s Leaf Collection Program is in progress. Click here for more information and here for a status map updated Nov 24.

• Manchester Art Association’s exhibit ‘Wildlife Near & Far’ can be seen at Town Hall weekdays through Jan. 14.
  YSB will be offering a support group for siblings with disabilities on Dec. 4. See SIBSHOP for more info.

• The Manchester Land Trust will hold a fundraising tag sale Dec. 5, 6 and 7 at 330 Bush Hill Rd. Saleable items can be dropped off at the right side of the cider barn.

• The 10th Annual Manchester CT Jazz Fest will take place on Dec 6 and 7 at Cheney Hall. Tickets have sold out in advance the last three years. Click here for ticket and lineup info.

• The 12th annual Knights of Columbus 'Pizza With Santa' even till be held on Dec. 7 in the St. James Church Hall and details are here.

• PJ Day for the Kids raises funds for kids battling cancer and will take place in Manchester Public Schools on Dec.12. Click here for details.

• Santa’s Workshop at Wickham Park opens on Dec. 13 and runs through Dec.23. Click here for the schedule.

• The Connecticut Elks Association is sponsoring poster, essay and video contests for students in grades 3, 4 and 5. Click here for more info.
• Park's Taekwondo is offering four-week family training sessions. Click here to learn more.

The junior class won Tuesday night's Turkey Bowl, which featured standout performances from Iyanna Sheets (left) and Samiya Eady.

Also

• Tryouts for winter sports at MHS will take place the first week of December. Click here for specifics.
• The Knights will hold basketball instructional clinics in December and January.
• The Manchester Road Race will be held on Nov. 27 and registration is continuing. Click here for more info.

Waddell students were thoroughly engaged by a presentation from Ch. 3 meteorologist Tyler Hughes yesterday.

DON'T FORGET THE ANNEX: This is our spillover space to other newsletters, social media accounts and more, including the 'OneManchester Planner', which has even has more calendar listings for the months ahead. Plus we share a special flashback photo from Paul Ofria each week. To get to The Annex, click here.

• 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.