OneManchester

Red Hawk Grad Walks are a win-win tradition, as seniors enjoy returning to old hallways while elementary students get an up-close look at what they aspire to be. On Tuesday, two busloads of MHS seniors visited Verplanck, Keeney, Waddell and Highland, with more visits scheduled for today. Graduation is set for next Wednesday on the football field, with Thursday as a rain date.

Note:

• Shaelan is one of six seniors who will be presenting at the high school's annual Science Research Symposium, which is tonight at 5 p.m. in the cafeteria. The others are Warda Iqbal, Aine Corbett-Cousins, Grace Golas, Malala Naeem and Joe Christopher. Click to see the flier.

These seniors were honored at the MEA Scholarship Breakfast on Tuesday. Mercury Goulet (second from left) was the winner of the David Maloney Future Educator Scholarship.

Just a reminder that Project Graduation is being held on Tuesday (yes, the night before graduation). Students should have turned in their Sonny's Place waivers and permission forms by now -- so if anyone is still holding on to theirs, please get it in immediately. Also, if any parents are interested, there are still yard signs for sale for $25; contact manchesterhsprojectgradution@gmail.org to order one.

The 2026 FOX61 Student News Awards winners were revealed last night and MHS won three categories:

• Noelia Diaz won the CHESLA Education Award for her story “Lack of Diversity in Educators”
• Noelia, Alex Joshi-Staples and Jasmine Michaud won the Best in Student News Feature Award for their story on “Opportunity Works”
• Aaron Belcher, Ben Stokes and Elvin (EJ) Perez won the Not Just a Game Award for their story “Problems and Addictions with Teen Gambling”

Pictured from left to right are Jasmine Michaud, Alexandria Joshi-Staples, Noelia Diaz, Ben Stokes, Aaron Belcher and Elvin (EJ) Perez.

TO HELP US IMPROVE each of our school communities, the district is conducting a series of school climate surveys. Responses are anonymous and they are used by our School Climate Teams to identify improvement goals for next school year.

• Parents and guardians: Please complete one unique survey response for each school building where you have a child or children enrolled. (If you have more than one child enrolled at the same school, please complete a single survey for that school.) Here's the link.
• Also: We also have a survey for students in grades 4-12 that is taken in school -- but under the law, parents may request that their student not take part. Parent/guardians, if you do not want your child to take the survey please email your child’s principal directly or district communication director Jim Farrell at jfarrell@mpspride.org.

MHS ‘future teacher’ interns who have been helping out at Waddell this school year were recognized and thanked at an Eagle’s Nest assembly on Tuesday.

• The next regular BoE meeting is Monday (June 8) at Lincoln Center and will include recognition of the district Teacher of the Year. The meeting will be preceded at 5:45 p.m. by another budget workshop.

• The last day of class 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 register by visiting the registration page on the MPS website. If you have any questions please contact the Welcome Center at 860-645-6041 or email mfrison@mpspride.org.

The latest (and last of the school-year) edition of the high school's award winning newsmagazine 'The Pulse' leads off with a look at the Red Hawk flag football team (more on them below) and also features Senior Goodbyes, advice for freshman and much more. Click to watch.

Bennet Academy fifth-graders Shayaan Ahmed (left) and Noah Baldassario were winners in the Lieutenant Governor’s Computing Challenge -- a statewide coding and computer science competition. For more information click here.

A free concert Saturday night in Center Memorial Park is among the biggest events during two weeks of programming designed to do what the banner above says, which is Celebrate Manchester. The band Cover 2 Cover will be performing starting at 6:30 p.m., capping a day that also includes a town-wide tag sale.

Other events of note:

• Today at 5:30 p.m. -- The Sculpture Project Statue of Emily Cheney Neville unveiling at Center Memorial Park.
• Next Saturday (June 13) -- The Families in Motion 250 Walkathon (9-11 a.m.) at Center Springs Park.
• Next Sunday (June 14) -- Art in the Park from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Center Memorial Park.

For more information check out the ‘Celebrate Manchester’ flier by clicking here.

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Celebrate Manchester events that have already taken place include last night's busy double-header on Spruce Street, where dignitaries (and lots of kids) gathered at the new Eastside Plaza for a ribbon-cutting ceremony while just steps away it was opening night day for the Eastside (formerly Spruce Street) Farmers Market .

The Roots and Culture Lab is sponsoring a Manchester Block Party at the Eastside Plaza on Saturday, June 27 from 3-9 p.m. For information click here.

Also:

• Summer camps run from June 29 through August 7 and you'll find more info here.

• The 2026 Manchester Now Summer publication is now live. Check out the Department of Leisure, Family & Recreation's slate of upcoming programs, special events, services, and much more! Follow their Facebook or Instagram pages for more.

Manchester High's flag football team routed Windsor 26-0 last Sunday to win a second consecutive

flag football state championship. One day earlier, five Red Hawk student-athletes were winners at the Class LL track meet including Samiya Eady in both the 100 and 200, Harper Shirley in both the 1600 and 3200, and Iyanna Sheets in the triple jump. The 4 X 400 relay team of Mariah Johnson, Myah-Nicole Johnson, Eady and Sheets also won a LL championship, and all the athletes mentioned will be competing in the state open meet in New Britain on Saturday.

Jayden Strickland, a member of the MHS Class of 2027 who in March lost his courageous battle with cancer, was a member of the Red Hawk soccer team, and a game between students and alumni will be played on Friday, June 19 at 6 p.m. with proceeds benefiting the family. Click for more.

• Parks US Taekwondo has a special summer trial offer and also a summer camp starting June 19. Click for the flier.
• PAL 3-on-3 Friday night basketball for players 5-18 will be starting up on June 19 at Charter Oak Park. Click for registration information and details.
• Registration is open for Manchester Knights programs -- basketball, cheer, football and now flag football for girls. Contact number: 860.4232.0803 or visit manchesterknightsCT on fb.
• Manchester Soccer Club is holding tryouts at Veterans Memorial Field on Hillstown Road over the next two weeks. Click here for more info and here for the MSC website.
• COERVER SOCCER will run two summer sessions at East Catholic in July. Click here for more info.
  

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The cafeteria at Manchester High was the setting Monday night for the 10th Annual Alliance/ESL Celebrating Success ‘Immigrant Stories’ event. “Many of you have traveled long journeys to be here,” read the program -- and that was quite literally true, as the students and families receiving recognition hailed from Peru, Ghana, Thailand, Brazil, Pakistan and beyond. Click here for more pictures.

Adult Education graduation will be held at Bailey Auditorium on Thursday, June 18 at 6 p.m.

• 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.