OneManchester

BRIANNA. It’s a nice name that’s shared by just 16 of the more than 6000 students in the school district -- and two of them (from grades 6 and 12) are featured in today’s newsletter. We also have more school concert photos and our usual comprehensive collection of news and notes. By the way, we send out an early edition of OneManchester every Wednesday night and if you’d like to get it then, click here for a special subscription.

As in, Bailey Auditorium, which on Monday and Tuesday was the site of two Illing concerts and tonight will be home to the "arena concert" sounds of the MHS Modern Band club playing favorites from Green Day, Foo Fighters, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Steve Lacey, and more. On Tuesday, the high school's large ensembles (Chorus, Concert Band, and Orchestra) will be featured in the annual Holiday Concert. Concerts start at 7 and are free.

The photos above were taken at the IMS concerts by Paul Ofria of the District Communications Office; we have lots more on the district Facebook page.

Brianna Rovegno (left) is the first Bennet student invited to serve on the Connecticut Nutmeg Selection Committee that will pick the top 10 books in a variety of genres for Connecticut students to read the following year. An avid reader, she hopes to become an elementary school librarian when she grows up,

Brianna Wallen, a National Honor Society officer and editor in chief of the MHS online newspaper, is also the latest addition to our 'Humans of Manchester' gallery. You'll find that on Facebook and Instagram.

The school district and transportation provider First Student have launched FirstView, a bus tracking and parent communications app for your smartphone or desktop. The app lets you track where your child’s bus is in real-time and has a multi-stop view if you have multiple students on different buses. Click for details.

Attendance Tips

• This is the time of year when winter weather takes a toll on school attendance so please consider these steps to keep your children healthy and in school this winter.

Miss Congleton's first graders at Buckley are sounding out words while Mr. Vernali, who recently was recognized by the Connecticut Art Education Association with its Outstanding Educator Award, works with a third grade art student at Bowers.

• TOY DRIVE: Manchester Public Schools Building & Grounds Dept. is collecting toys for Manchester Children through today, Thursday, Dec. 15. Drop-off info is here.
• CLASS OF 2023 FUNDRAISER: Buy your poinsettias at Woodland Gardens and support Project Graduation. Details are here.
  
• BOARD OF EDUCATION: The next Board of Education meeting will be on Monday, Jan. 9 with the superintendent's proposed 2023-24 budget on the agenda. The meeting will be televised live on the district FB page and you can learn how to participate here.

Thursday, Dec. 15
9 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. -- Red Cross Blood Drive at North United Methodist Church, 300 Parker St.
6:30 p.m. -- Cantica Nativitatis: Six Centuries of Christmas Music at Whiton Library.

7 p.m. -- MHS Modern Band concert at Bailey Auditorium.

Friday, Dec. 16

7 p.m. -- Eric Mintel Quartet - Charlie Brown Holiday Jazz at Cheney Hall.

Saturday, Dec. 17
9 a.m. - noon -- Polish Food Sale at St. John’s Church, 23 Golway St.
9 a.m. - 1 p.m. -- Spruce Street Farmers Market Indoor Holiday Market, 160 Spruce St.
7 - 8 p.m. -- Project Choir One - Christmas Concert at Emanuel Lutheran Church, 60 Church St.

Sunday, Dec. 18
9 a.m. and noon -- Pet photos with Chuckles and Santa at the Lutz, 247 South Main St.

Monday, Dec. 19
10:30 - 11:15 a.m. -- Make Snow program for ages 2-5 at Whiton Library.
6:30 p.m. -- Paper Christmas Tree Craft for adults at Mary Cheney Library.

Tuesday, Dec. 20
3:30 - 7 p.m. -- Join Manchester YSB and the Manchester Police Dept. for bowling and laser tag at Hall of Fame Lanes, 748 Silver Lane, East Hartford. Dinner and transportation provided.

7 p.m. -- MHS Holiday Concert features Chorus, Concert Band, and Orchestra playing a wide variety of music. Come early to enjoy some pre-concert string music. Bonus tunes will be provided by the bass quartet and Santa Band.

Wednesday, Dec. 21
3:30 p.m. -- R.E.A.D. to a Dog for preschool - grade 4 at Mary Cheney Library - Wednesdays through Dec 31.
6 p.m. -- Candle Making With All Love Candles at Whiton Library.

• CAST children’s theatre has performances of ‘The Grunch’ tonight and Friday at Buckley School. Click here for details.

• Wickham Park’s 40th Annual Santa’s workshop runs through Dec. 23.
  

• The Manchester Public School’s Holiday Concerts are underway and you can click the link for the full schedule.

• Manchester’s Leaf Collection program is winding down in Area II and you can follow the progress on this status map (through Dec. 11), and for more details on the program, click here.

• Join the Town Troubadour Bill Ludwig on Thursday, Dec 22 for a Holiday Sing-A-Long starting at 629 Main St.

• YSB has several fun events planned for kids during the holiday break - a skating party at South Windsor Arena on Dec. 28, a trampoline park (Dec. 29) and a taco party on Dec. 30 - the latter two at 63 Linden St.

• The Coast Guard Academy’s ‘Guardian Big Band’ will be at Manchester High on Jan. 26.

The 8th Utilities, which provides a fire department and sewer service in the north side of Manchester, may be merging with the town. Read about it in the JI.

Also:

• Manchester Historical Society: A couple of free history walks (Great Lawn and Cheney Railroad) are on tap in January…The December television show brings you up to date on ’Pioneer Parachute, Then and Now’…Read a few anecdotes from a Dec. 1937 Manchester Herald and take a closer look at the 1880 map of South Manchester.
• Manchester Adult & Continuing Education: A new trimester has started but it’s not too late to sign up for classes…Win a free pizza for every month in 2023 - that’s 12 pizzas from 12 local restaurants…Are you an artist looking to show your work? There are several opportunities waiting for you in the new year…there’s Foodshare and low-cost wi-fi info as well.
• The latest Manchester Matters has important towns news and an event calendar, plus info on how to obtain free masks and a story on solar installations at seven municipal buildings. Click here to subscribe.

• The defending DIII state champion Newington Hockey Coop hockey team is hosting a Holiday Skate fundraiser this Saturday, Dec. 17 from 8:30-10 p.m. at Newington Ice Arena. The team is made up with players from Newington, Berlin, Manchester and Cromwell -- and for more info, contact Jen Ranger at jenranger@comcast.net
  

  
  

• The MHS boys basketball team opens its season tonight at Bristol Central and will host Cheney Tech Friday night starting at 6:30 p.m. Click here for the complete 2022-23 MHS athletics schedule.

Next Wednesday marks the first day of winter (and the shortest day of the year) but the winter sports season for the MHS girls arrived Tuesday.

That's Tiara Tyson (left) and Elise Ryan in action against Bristol Eastern.

• NOTE: OneManchester is compiled by Paul Ofria of 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, anything, that you think people would want to know about, please let us know. Photos, fliers, links, tips, whatever -- please share with Paul at pofria@mpspride.org.