The Manning Minute
November 8, 2026
A Message from our Principal
Dear Manning Families,
First of all, thanks to those of you who were able to attend our Lucky Mustangs Casino Night, and/or contributed to help make this night and our fall fundraiser a success. We have an incredible community here at Manning. A special thanks to our PTA for organizing another successful event!
Our NJHS is also continuing to collect food for the BGoldN food pantry until November 11th. No donation is too small. We appreciate it!
As we get deeper into the school year, students and families can sometimes begin to feel the weight of Manning’s academic expectations and workload. As you know, Manning is an option school, and our programming and academic structures are intentionally different from those of a traditional neighborhood school. Rigorous academics have been a foundational tenet of Manning since its inception, and we believe in challenging students beyond what might typically be expected at the middle school level. Families who choose Manning are often seeking exactly that level of academic challenge, and we take that responsibility seriously.
At the same time, it's important to remember that middle school is a safe place to learn, take risks, make mistakes, and grow. It is okay if students don't earn all As and Bs during their middle school years. In fact, learning to work hard, persevere through challenges, respond to feedback, and discover who they are as learners are all important parts of the middle school experience. Our goal isn't simply to help students earn good grades; it's to help them develop the skills, confidence, and resilience they will need for continued success.
I recently came across this article about parenting students through less-than-stellar grades and thought it offered some helpful considerations for supporting your student at home. Middle school can be a challenging time, and parenting isn't always easy! When we work together as a school and family community, maintain high expectations, and ensure students have the support they need when they struggle, we create an environment where they can take risks, learn from their experiences, and ultimately thrive.
A few additional reminders and updates…
Just a reminder that our prospective family information night is coming up next week, Thursday, November 12. If you know of anyone looking for a middle school home, encourage them to attend our information night. Detailed information about this night is available on our website.
With the busyness of November, we have decided to cancel our November Coffee with the Principal event, which was scheduled for Friday, November 20. Please join us for our next event scheduled for Friday, January 29.
As we head into the final stretch of the semester, with only six school weeks remaining, things are certainly getting busy at Manning. Winter performances, MAP testing, and final exams are just around the corner. As always, please take a moment to review our family calendar for important dates and details.
In partnership,
Matt
- Manning Information Night for Prospective Families- November 12, 5:30-7:30
- PTA meeting- November 16, 8:30
- PTA Turkey Hunt- November 16-20
- Parent Partnership- November 19, 5-6
- Thanksgiving Break- November 23-27
- Open Enrollment for 27/28- December 1
- Math MAP- December 3-4
- ELA MAP- December 8-9
Food Drive November 3-11
We are asking each grade level to bring specific items, so they have a balance of nutritious food available. In addition, we are asking all grade levels to donate diapers, wipes, and hygiene items like toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, deodorant, shampoo/conditioner, dish soap, and laundry soap.
Please donate non-expired items only!
6th Grade: Canned Goods: chicken/tuna/beef/salmon, canned fruits, veggies, canned soup, chili, broth, canned and dried beans like pinto, navy, kidney, and refried beans
7th Grade: Pantry items that last: Flour, sugar, rice, cooking oil/olive oil, spices and sauces, pasta and sauce, boxed mac and cheese, peanut butter, jelly
8th Grade: Healthy after-school snacks and Breakfast items: Oatmeal, Cereal, Fruit snacks, granola bars, applesauce packets, boxed mixes like pancake or cornmeal, Goldfish crackers, graham crackers (or even regular crackers--like saltines or Cheez-Its, etc.)
Thank you for supporting this great cause! Donations can be left in the bins by the front office or to Mrs. Laniel in room N110.
For other ways to help see the QR codes below or you can use the website: https://www.coloradogives.org/organization/BGOLDN
Manning needs tissue donations from November through the end of the school year. The school tends to run low on tissues during the winter, so please bring donations anytime. Your donations are sincerely appreciated.
The Jeffco Middle School Battle of the Books has begun. We will be having an informational meeting on Tuesday, November 3rd. Please reach out to Sarah Hammershaimb with any questions. You can find more information in the following links:
Sarah Hammershaimb (she/her)
Digital Teacher Librarian
The Manning School of Academics and Arts
UPCOMING DATES
November 16 - PTA General Meeting 8:30am-9:30am
December 9 - Spirit Night at Chic-Fil-A 3:30pm-8pm
Big Thank You to Our Community, Volunteers, Sponsors, and Donors! | Our third annual Lucky Mustangs Casino Night on Friday was a huge success thanks to all of YOU! It took a lot of time, work, and generosity to pull this off, so thank you to all who volunteered, donated, sponsored, bid, and came out for the fun! An extra special shout-out to the amazing team of volunteers who made this possible: Ashley Palubinski, Judy Lancy, Carolyn Chase and all of our Room Parents!
Thank You to Our Sponsors! | A huge thank you to our Manning sponsors! Check out what our sponsors can do for you:
Personal Achievement Martial Arts
Wish Your Student “Happy Birthday” on Manning’s Marquee | Your student’s birthday message will rotate throughout the day of your choice. Please request messages 2 WEEKS prior to your selected date. Cost is $20 with all funds going back to Manning. Request here!
Questions? Email manningmiddlepta@gmail.com
Auditions for Sound of Music at GHS!
Hello from Golden High School!
Auditions for our Spring Musical, Sound of Music are right around the corner and this year we need some younger performers! We are so excited to start this partnership, one we hope will span across the elementary schools all the way through our senior class!
Event Details:
- Event Name: Golden Elks Hoop Shoot
- Date: Thursday, November 12, 2026
- Time: 3:45 PM – 6:30 PM
- Location: Bell Middle School Gym (Golden, CO)
- Cost: Completely Free
- Eligibility: Boys and girls ages 8 to 13 (divided into age groups: 8–9, 10–11, and 12–13)
Click here for flyer
This local contest is the official starting point for the competition. Winners from our local event can advance through District, State, and Regional rounds, culminating in the National Finals in Chicago. Ultimately, six national champions will have their names and photos permanently displayed in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Beyond the competition, the program highlights the value of hard work and perseverance.
The 8th Grade Showcase Event that highlights all the programs we have to offer incoming families and encourage those families to stay in the Wheat Ridge articulation area. Wheat Ridge offers big school opportunities at a small school size.
Lakewood High School Shadowing
Experience the daily schedule and atmosphere of Lakewood High School by shadowing a student. Click here to sign up!
Lakewood High School Showcase Night
We invite all 8th graders to our Lakewood Highschool Showcase Night on Thursday, November 18 starting at 6:00 pm.
Manning School of Academics & Arts
The vision of The Manning School of Academics and Arts is to challenge all students to work to their highest potential and encourage student responsibility as they develop intellectually, socially, physically, emotionally and creatively.
Email: Matthew.Hilbert@jeffco.k12.co.us
Website: https://manningschool.jeffcopublicschools.org/
Location: 13200 West 32nd Avenue, Golden, CO, USA
Phone: 303-982-6340
Facebook: facebook.com/manningschooljeffco/