OneManchester

STUDENTS AND STAFF are encouraged to wear their favorite sports attire today as part of a district-wide benefit for Jayden Strickland, a member of the Class of 2027 who last month lost his courageous battle with cancer. Jayden attended Manchester Public Schools since kindergarten and created deep and lasting relationships with many members of our school community. Donations will be collected in each building.

Illing's spring musical is Xanadu Jr., which is set in the 1980s and tells the story of Kira, a beautiful Greek muse who descends from the heavens of Mt. Olympus and lands in Venice Beach, California, where she falls in love with struggling artist named Sonny, who is creating the first Roller Disco. It's a blast, and there are three productions -- tonight, Friday and Saturday. Show time is 7 p.m. each night and there's more info here.

Also, if you scroll all the way down, we have one more photo from yesterday's dress rehearsal at Bailey Auditorium.

The MPS Special Education Department is hosting its first Resource Night for Parents. It's tonight from 5-8 at Mahoney Rec and will bring together parents and experts for a fun, informative evening in support of students in our district with specialized needs. Attendees can look forward to a raffle drawing for a local grocery store gift card, a personalized T-shirt giveaway designed by MTC students, and a vendor-hosted bouncy house for families. Click here for more information.

Manchester High teacher Chelsea Schonvisky has been named Connecticut's recipient of the Patricia Behring Teacher of the Year Award for the Senior (high school) Division. She will be Connecticut's representative for National History Day Teacher of the Year. The award is for teachers who demonstrate a commitment to engaging students in historical study through the innovative use of primary sources as well as implementation of active learning strategies to foster historical thinking skills.

Also of note:

• The next Board of Education meeting is Monday (April 27) at Waddell, with budget workshops scheduled for April 30 and May 7 (both Thursdays at Lincoln Center).

• Graduation is set for Wednesday June 10 (with a rain date of June 11) and the last day of class for everyone else is Thursday, June 18 (with an emergency early-release schedule for students that day).
• Graduation for Manchester Regional Academy is on June 16 and for Adult Education on June 18.

Kindergarten registration continues, and parents/guardians of children whose fifth birthday falls on or before Sept. 1 may begin the registration by visiting the registration page on the MPS website.

• If parents/guardians of children who turn five between Sept. 2 and Dec. 31 feel their child may be ready for kindergarten, they may request a kindergarten readiness screener for a possible placement in kindergarten by contacting the Deputy Superintendent at 860-647-3447. The kindergarten readiness screener will only be given in May and June.
• If you have any questions please contact the Manchester Public Schools Welcome Center at 860-645-6041 or email mfrison@mpspride.org.

Registration is open for a summer STEAM camp for students who will be entering Grades 1–6 in the fall. It's run by the Manchester Adult and Continuing Education Department and there's more information here.

Spring Sewing Series: Manchester Adult & Continuing Education will be hosting a Drop-In Sewing Series taught by professional seamstress, Ms Ashley Parker. Click here for details.

And Don't Forget Project Graduation:

• Yard Flocking is back: Three days for $25. Click here for instructions.
• Order your Class of '26 yard sign by clicking here.

Friday, April 24
8 - 9 a.m. -- Open Networking Event at GMCC, 20 Hartford Rd.
5 - 7:30 p.m. -- Sketch Social at WORK_SPACE, 903 Main St.

Saturday, April 25
10 a.m. - 2 p.m. -- Women’s Self Defense Workshop at 20 Hartford Rd.
8:30 a.m. -- First Aid & CPR Classes at Fire Station #2, 75 Center St.
9 a.m. - 1 p.m. -- Manchester Land Trust Earth Day Cleanup starting at Center Springs Park.
9:45 a.m. - 3 p.m. -- World Tai Chi & Qigong Day at Wickham Park.
5 p.m. -- Psychic Medium Rebecca Anne LoCicero at Wickham Park.

Sunday, April 26
Noon - 3 p.m. -- Wickham Park’s Bridal Open House at Wickham Park.

Monday, April 27
7 p.m. -- BoE meeting at Waddell Elementary School.

Wednesday, April 29
5:30 - 8 p.m. -- Strengthening Families Program at YSB, 63 Linden St.

ALSO:

• The Illing spring musical is XANADU Jr. and will take place Thursday, Friday and Saturday at Bailey Auditorium.

• ‘Once on this Island - the musical’ runs on the weekends at Cheney Hall through Sunday.

• 'Rebuilding Together Manchester' is happening throughout the town on Saturday. Click here to learn more.

• ‘The BUC Stops Here’ disc golf tournament takes place May 2 at Wickham Park.

• Unitarian Universalist Society East’s May Fair plans ‘Fun for Everyone” on May 2.

• The Blue Angels are holding a bingo fundraiser at the Army & Navy Club on May 3 to help children in need. Click here for details.

• The Manchester Land Conservation Trust’s Annual Dinner will be held at Urban Lodge on May 19 with a presentation by Master Beekeeper Kent Schwendy. Click here for more info.

• The Spruce Street Farmers Market is officially rebranding as the Eastside Farmers Market and will return for the season on June 3. Click here for details.

• The Manchester Landtrust’s semi-annual ‘Giant Tag Sale’ runs from June 5 - 13 at 330 Bush Hill Rd.

Further Down the Road

• The Off-Main Experience in Manchester kicks off at Purnell Place on June 18 and runs monthly in July, August and September. Click here for dates and times.

• Cruisin’ on Main Street is back for its 25th year on Aug. 2

• The Silk City Fest returns to Purnell Place on Aug. 22. Stay tuned for details.

Also:

• Ultimate Frisbee Clinic at Mt. Nebo on Saturday.
• Color Dash: Color Run! at 448 Tolland Tpke. on May 9.
• Summer camps run from June 29 through August 7 and you find more info here.

Follow their Facebook or Instagram pages for more.

... Then you'll want to check out this video that reviews opportunities with the town's rec department.

Yesterday was Earth Day, and the town used the occasion to recycle a video that looks at the local food scrap drop-off program.

Also:

Manchester Public Library recently shared on its Facebook page a time-lapse video showing construction of its the new main building, which is expected to open in the summer..

Liam Sendi won his heat and tied for 8th place in a field of 29 in the 200-meter event on Tuesday at MHS. Below are Noelia Diaz (4) and Harper Shirley (2) running in the 3200 while across town on Tuesday afternoon Reo Palma and the MHS golf team were competing at Manchester Country Club.

We have more photos on the OneManchester Sport Facebook page.

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Wear your favorite sport team attire today (Thursday, April 23) for a benefit in honor of Jayden Srickland.

Also:

• Manchester Knights Spring Football and Cheer programs are are under way on Wednesday nights at Martin School. Click here for more info.
• Manchester Soccer Club has several spring programs to choose from and you can learn more and register here.
• Tylon Smith Jr.'s instructional basketball training for boys and girls runs on Wednesdays through May 20 at Bowers School. Click here for details.
• U. S. TaeKwonDo has summer programs in June, July and August. Click here for info.

For the cast of Xanadu Jr., tonight's the night! (And there are performances on Friday and Saturday, too!)

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.