OneManchester

Two more district elementary schools have been recognized by the state Department of Education based on student growth in mathematics in two spaces -- for all students, and for 'high needs' students. Waddell (above) and Verplanck (below) hit nearly 85 % of their growth targets -- and thus were each designated as a School of Distinction because the percentage of the student growth target achieved is in the top 10% of all schools in the state in math. Waddell joins Buckley and Highland Park, which have been identified as Schools of Distinction in previous years.

To see the letter Superintendent Matt Geary sent to the community on Tuesday with this and other good news, click here.

Manchester High School's Sock & Buskin Club is presenting the psychological thriller “Wait Until Dark” in Bailey Auditorium’s Black Box Theater on Nov. 12-14. Click here for more information.

Also:

• The next Board of Ed meeting is Monday (Nov. 9) at Lincoln Center and the agenda includes an update on Human Capital and Talent. You can watch the meeting here and for the upcoming meeting schedule, click here.
• Hartford Health Care is offering free medical services for adults and children at Illing Middle School on Saturday, Nov. 7 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. No insurance is needed and services include health screenings, behavioral health services, lab tests and more. To see the flier click here.

Manchester Adult and Continuing Education is among the sponsors of a Healthcare Acceleration Program that can lead to a CNA career. art 1 starts Nov. 16. Click here for information.

MPS is excited for the opportunity for our scholars to attend the 3rd annual Black Men in White Coats Youth Summit on Saturday, November 14th from 8:00 am-2:00 pm in Waterbury, CT. There are limited spaces per school, so please see this link for information on registration, transportation, chaperones, and forms to complete.

K-12 students could win up to $20,000 towards their post secondary education plan. The entry deadline is Nov. 6 and the details are here.

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The Manchester High school store has added online ordering -- in partnership with ARM, a local screen printing and embroidering business. School store students picked out some basic designs and it will change throughout the year. Orders are made on-demand and only take 5 business days to fulfill. To see a flier click here or if you are ready to shop, click here.

The broadcast journalism program at MHS is once again holding a Broadcast Bingo fundraiser. It will be held will be held Nov. 21 and all the details are here.

The Red Hawk softball team is working with Leading Edge to sell cookie dough that will be shipped to your door before the holidays begin. Donations are accepted as well. The fundraiser runs through Nov. 13 and all the information is here.

New student registration is underway for Manchester Adult and Continuing Education's next session, which starts Dec. 7-8. The registration deadline is Nov. 20 and there's more information here.

A federal holiday observed annually on November 11, Veterans Day honors military veterans of the United States Armed Forces. The holiday traces its roots back to the end of World War I, as major hostilities were formally suspended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, when an armistice with Germany went into effect. Town offices and Manchester Public Schools will be closed in observance of the holiday.

• GIRL SCOUT TROOP 10602: Meets two Thursdays a month; for info click here.
• TROOP 123: Troop 123 welcomes boys and girls age 11-17. Click for flier.

Maxine Rothman (left) and Harper Shirley will be representing Manchester High in the CIAC Cross Country State Open meet this morning at Wickham Park. Shirley finished second at the LL Championships last Saturday while Rothman came in fourth. Check this link later on Thursday for State Open results.

• MANCHESTER TRAVEL BASKETBALL: Fourth-graders only -- Monday is the last night to try out for Manchester Travel Basketball. To see the flier click here and to register, here's the link.

• KNIGHTS INSTRUCTIONAL BASKETBALL: Instructional program starts Dec. 2 and the information is here -- or click to register.

MyRec is the town’s new online registration system for recreation programs and activities, and you can learn about it by checking out this flier.

• Also, there's a new Friday Night Hoops League for high schoolers who are not playing for their school team. Learn more here.

• Over 10K runners have registered for this year's Manchester Road Race. Click here for details.
• The 45th Ray Crothers Blood Drive will be held at Manchester High on Friday, Nov. 27. Click here for info.
• Park's U.S. Taekwondo has a special offer through Nov. 6.

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The new library will be open on Sundays from 1-5 p.m. starting this weekend -- giving visitors more time to browse for books and such while also enjoying features including the peg light board and the Rube Goldberg-inspired book-return-sorting -system and the hard-to-walk-past short story dispenser and more. And that's in addition to what's outside -- a drive-up window for patrons who received notice that their hold is ready, and a brand new drop box that's open 24/7. The Sunday hours come just in time because next Wednesday (11-11) the library will be closed for Veteran's Day.

• 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.