OneManchester

At Manchester Head Start, families visited yesterday to join students and staff for game-day fun.

Alissa Haight Aguda (in the middle wearing red) from the American Red Cross spoke to the Future Health Professionals Club at MHS on Tuesday about volunteering and donating at the big blood drive at MHS on Nov. 27. The Red Cross is celebrating a 40-year partnership with the Manchester Road Race and hopes to to collect 400 pints the day after this year’s race. Click here to sign up.

Understanding how artificial intelligence works, verifying online information, balancing screen time -- that's all part of being a good digital citizen. At Illing Middle School, students (supported by staff members shown above) have created posters that demonstrate how AI can be used responsibly and creatively.

In case you missed it, here's the letter that Superintendent Matt Geary sent to the MPS community on Monday, reviewing recent physical, technological, and operational safety improvements around the district.

There is a Community Town Hall on Safety and Security scheduled for next Wednesday (Oct. 28) at 6 p.m. in Room 293 at Manchester High School to discuss measures in greater detail and answer questions.

The next Board of Ed meeting is Monday (Oct. 26) at Bennet Academy and the agenda includes an update on Humanities PK - 12. You can watch the meeting here and for the upcoming meeting schedule, click here .

Four representatives of the school district -- moderator Dr. Itza Martinez, Normaliz Acosta-Setaram, Jason Pepin and student Loreanth Jiminez-Torres -- were the panelists at a ‘Leyendas de la Comunidad’ event at the community college last night.

Broadcast journalists at MHS are back at it, having released the school year's first edition of their news magazine. Stories include an interview with Ashley Perez, the new Athletics and Activities Director. Click here to watch. Also, the annual Broadcast Bingo fundraiser will be held Nov. 21 and all the details are here.

MHS Project Graduation is doing its first fundraiser --- a 'Double Good' Popcorn campaign that runs for just one week starting this Sunday (Oct. 25). Click here for information.

• Manchester Symphony Orchestra and Chorale’s first show of the 2026-27 season will take place on Oct. 30 at Bailey Auditorium. Click here for the full schedule.

• Daylight Savings Time ends at 2 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 1.

• Manchester’s Leaf Collection Program starts Nov. 9.

• ‘The Prom’ runs at Cheney Hall from Nov. 6 -22. Click here for times and ticket info.

• Second Congregational Church’s New England Country Fair returns on Nov. 7.

• 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.

Aviana Major, Kendal Herman and Peyton Wilkins (above, left to right) contributed to the Illing girls soccer team's 6-2 win over East Hartford Middle School last Thursday.

• The MHS boys soccer team (6-5-3) beat Glastonbury for the first time in many years by a score of 3-2 last Friday, and will finish the regular season with home games on Friday and Monday.

• The Illing soccer teams are holding an online apparel fundraiser until Oct. 23. Click here for details.

• Over 7K runners have registered for this year's Manchester Road Race. Click here for details.
• Registration for the Little Manchester Road Race begins (and may very well end) on Sunday Nov. 1. Limited to 1,000 runners, the event fills up quickly. Click here for the flier.
• Park's U.S. Taekwondo has a special offer through Nov. 6.

Twice a month, the high school sends a Red Hawk Update to staff, students and families -- and dominating the most recent issue were pictures from the Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration held at the school last Friday. To see that RHU edition 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.