The mission of Breakthrough Manchester at the Derryfield School is to launch promising Manchester middle school students, particularly those with limited opportunities, on the path to college while inspiring high school and college students to pursue careers in education. The following is an excerpt from a speech by Angela Romilla, a Central High School junior, at Breakthrough Manchester's Back to Summer breakfast on April 20. She attended the program from 2010-2012.
One of the fondest memories I have of Breakthrough was during a bus ride home after a long summer day. Since the bus dropped off students all over Manchester, these rides were often very long. Because of our fatigue and the blazing summer heat, my classmates and I would often get into very strange conversations. On one particularly hot afternoon, one of my classmates asked the entire bus: "Is air free? I mean, we don't have to pay to get it, but we have to work to breathe it in. So is it truly free?"
That single question sparked an argument that went on for the full duration of the bus ride. For every philosophical conjecture there was about the value of air, there were ten demands to shut up and drop the subject entirely. If you were to bring up this subject today to Breakthrough student alumni from 2010, the argument would continue as if it never stopped because we were never able to reach a defined conclusion.
The reason why I bring up this story is to highlight a side of Breakthrough that I often find to be lost in translation: the fun side, where friends are made and weird stuff happens that you never quite forget. I still have been asked many times by friends and family alike why I would want to go to school during the summer for three years. Why sacrifice eighteen weeks worth of summer vacation to work on homework? Why study in the summer when I already had good grades? Why bother coming back after the first year?
To me, Breakthrough is more than just a program. It is a support system. I made one of my closest friends over an egg, some duct tape, and a garbage bag during an engineering project. It made up for the many friends I lost during my discussion about free air.
Joking aside, the best way to get to a person is through their heart. The community at Breakthrough is extremely supportive, and it needs to be. Breakthrough targets high potential students, many of whom will be the first in their family to attend college or achieve a four-year degree. For example: a friend of mine who is now a senior qualifies as a "first generation" student and unfortunately, her family does not support her decision to continue her education. Without the support of her family she is left to fight for her education and navigate a complex system alone. This is a cycle that suffocates ambition and is very hard to break, especially when it feels like the only person who wants to commit is you.
Breakthrough surrounds students with like-minded people who all advocate a college education. Not only that, Breakthrough teaches students to dream big. it is Breakthrough's supportive community that gives them the courage and confidence to strive for goals that seem beyond their reach. The reason why I came back to Breakthrough was because it changed me as a person. It helped me realize the full extent of my academic abilities, and to become more active in the community.
I have applied to multiple honors societies and other programs. Sometimes I get in, and sometimes I don't. Sometimes I reapply, and sometimes I'm given a second chance. The point is not getting accepted all the time; it's letting yourself take a risk, because every shot you don't take is an opportunity missed. Without Breakthrough's support, I would have never even bothered because I would have never believed that I would be capable of anything.
Breakthrough becomes family to many students. I know it has to me. And it is the reason why I find it easier to breathe.
News and announcements for the Manchester School District, SAU 37 in Manchester, NH.
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
FREE Summer food service program sites Open June 10 – September 2
Free breakfast, lunch and dinner will be available to anyone 18 years
and younger at the following locations in Manchester.
The Summer Food Service Program is a community partnership between
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Department of Education
(D.O.E.) and Southern New Hampshire Services (SNHS).
Breakfast Sites:
Elmwood Gardens Apartments 9:00 - 10:00am
Lunch Sites:
Elmwood Gardens Apartments 12:00 – 12:30pm
Center Park Beech Hill
Apartments 12:30 – 1:30pm
Hunts Pool 12:45 - 1:45pm
Rock Rimmon / DuPont Pool 12:45 – 1:45pm
Harriman Park 12:15 – 12:45pm
Dinner Sites:
Sweeney Park 3:30 – 4:00pm
Maple St. Apartments 3:30 – 4:00pm
Adventure / Skateboard Park 4:30 – 5:15pm
Kelly Falls Apartments 4:30 – 5:15pm
Beech Hill Apartments 5:30 – 6:00pm
Beach Street School Park 5:30 – 6:00pm
Monday, April 18, 2016
Central chemistry teacher honored for innovation and inspiration
Ask Central High School’s Jane Raymond the
question she says is a common one she hears from some non-educators, “Are you
teaching these kids anything they can use?,” and the answer is yes.
“Chemistry is everywhere!” said the
teacher, pointing to an old road sign hanging on her classroom wall that warns
of frost heaves. “What causes frost heaves? The physical reactions of freezing
and thawing.”
Raymond, who has been at Central High
School since 1999, likes to bring those kinds of everyday life examples into
her lessons. She says chemistry also helps students learn lifelong
problem-solving skills.
“If an experiment doesn’t go right the
first time, they shouldn’t think ‘Oh, well,’ but instead ‘What can I do next?’”
she said.
Raymond’s students respect and thank
her for what she teaches. Like the young
man several years ago who was inspired to continue studying chemistry in
college because she encouraged him to stick with her class and said he could do
it.
“He invited me to his graduation from
Vanderbilt University,” Raymond said. “I can’t believe he remembered me and
thought I had such an impact.”
As it turns out, several of Raymond’s
former students remember her, and they nominated her for the New England
Institute of Chemists Secondary School Chemistry Teacher Award. Raymond will
receive that award, given to one high school chemistry teacher from each New
England state, during the NEIC awards dinner at Brandeis University on April
21.
Members of NEIC, many of whom teach in
higher education, seek out nominations for the annual award from their
undergraduate and advanced degree students. The award honors teachers who have “encouraged
an interest in the field of chemistry through innovative and inspirational
teaching, improved the image of chemists and chemistry. . .and offered
opportunities to students who might otherwise miss the ‘chemistry’ experience.”
Two University of New Hampshire
chemical engineering students who graduated from Central High School thought
Raymond was an obvious choice for the NEIC award.
“I think Mrs. Raymond was the reason I
looked into chemical engineering because I enjoyed her class so much,” read one
of the nomination submissions. “She was
always enthusiastic about teaching every day and presented the material in an
interesting and enjoyable way,” wrote another.
Indeed, Raymond says enthusiasm is
critical, and she’s always coming up with new ideas to illustrate classroom
lessons or to conduct lab experiments.
“If you love your subject, the kids
feel it and know it.”
But Raymond doesn’t want to take all
the credit for her students’ successes.
“Our whole department is a team,” she
said. “We all work hard together to design our lab lessons and make sure
experiments work.”
Teaching since 1974, Raymond says she
couldn’t be happier since arriving at Central 17 years ago. The dedicated and
knowledgeable faculty, along with the diverse student population make teaching
everything she wants it to be.
“I look forward to coming to school
every single day.”
Gossler Park goes to college!
With support from Granite United Way, Gossler Park has implemented a program called “The Leader in Me,” which emphasizes skills and lifelong habits that are important for growing up to be proactive achievers. Among them, setting goals for higher education.
When Gossler Park’s third grade team of teachers came up with the idea of introducing their students to college, SNHU wanted to make it happen. Representatives from the university’s admission office gave the children an experience close to what any other prospective student would receive, with the goal of inspiring them to strive for greater academic success and see themselves attending SNHU or any other college of their choice.
The students started the day with a welcome from SNHU’s dean of the School of Education, Ray McNulty. He talked about campus buildings, living in dorms and the opportunities to study different subjects. Next on the agenda was the scavenger hunt campus tour.
Led in groups by SNHU students, the third graders were given cards printed with photos of various locations around the university. As they walked the campus, in and out of different buildings, and heard facts about each one, the children checked off the photos they spotted.
For one 8-year-old in Mrs. Whitmore’s class, there was one specific building she was most looking forward to while visiting SNHU.
“Are we going to see the library?” Shelby asked as soon as she got off the bus from Gossler Park. The library was the last stop for Shelby’s tour group, and we just had to capture the look of excitement on her face!
Back at the SNHU Dining Center, the children had a snack, then participated in an activity creating posters that illustrated what college means to them or why they want to go to college.
Since Gossler Park conceptualized this field trip, we hear SNHU is looking to invite other schools to have their own "college discovery" field trip!
Friday, April 15, 2016
Community forum to meet Webster principal finalists
Parents, teachers and interested members of the public will have a chance to meet and hear from the finalists being considered for the top post at Webster Elementary School. The school district is hosting a forum to introduce the two candidates and offer an opportunity for the community to ask questions.
The invited candidates are Benjamin Loi, currently principal of Peterborough Elementary School in New Hampshire since 2010; and Sarah Lynch, currently a building administrator at the School for Exceptional Studies in Lawrence, MA.
Their experience includes curriculum development and working collaboratively with faculty and families. Both Loi and Lynch were classroom teachers earlier in their education careers and have extensive backgrounds at the elementary level. They have expressed a passion for the work they do and a strong desire to continue their careers in Manchester, where both have personal ties.
“Forums like this have proven to be a wonderful way to further involve our families and faculty in selecting the best leader for their school,” said Superintendent Debra Livingston. “It’s also a valuable part of the interview process for the two strongest candidates being considered to meet members of the school community.”
WHAT: Principal finalists community forum
WHERE: Webster Elementary School
2519 Elm Street, Manchester
WHEN: Thursday, April 21, 2016
6:00-7:30 p.m.
Monday, April 11, 2016
Fourth graders experience the magic of music

Components
of Picture This include a string or wind quartet performance by Symphony NH
musicians in Manchester schools. The culmination of these music lessons for
fourth graders was a field trip to Central High School to hear a full Symphony
NH concert. More than 1,000 students – all of Manchester’s fourth graders – attended the performance on April 11.

Central
High School music teacher Ed Doyle was instrumental in coordinating Manchester
schools’ participation in Picture This. He also teaches in several elementary
schools and initiated the program here, as well as arranging for Central to
host the Symphony NH concert.
Picture
This and its related performances are supported through the Frederick Smyth
Institute of Music, NH Charitable Foundation, Norwin S. and Elizabeth N. Bean
Foundation, Cogswell Benevolent Trust, McIninch Foundation, Madelaine von Weber
Trust, and Samuel P. Hunt Foundation. The Frederick Smyth Institute of Music
increased its funding to Symphony NH in order to provide Manchester schools the
opportunity to participate.
In
addition, Makris Welch set up a DonorsChoose.org project page to fund the
transportation costs for the fourth grader classes from all 14 elementary
schools to attend the concert at Central. Along with attracting several
individual donations, Makris Welch’s appeal was the fortunate recipient of the
fundraising site’s “flash funding” day last month when a generous donor, Tim
Ferris, completed the $2,500 goal with one large contribution.
Thursday, April 7, 2016
Hillside is Manchester's third school to be honored by the USDA
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Hillside Middle School cafeteria staff: Head cook Dianna Gosselin, Lisa Voisine, manager Diane Cormier, Judi Jordan, Ruthanne MacDonald, Joanne Allard, Helen Gamelin and Catherine Dupuis |
The U.S. Department of Agriculture
has announced that Hillside Middle School has earned a bronze HealthierUS
School Challenge: Smarter Lunchrooms award. Hillside joins the ranks of an
elite group of schools across the country recognized for excellence in their
integration of health, nutrition and fitness education. Only about 7% of the
nation’s schools have achieved bronze, silver, gold, or gold of distinction
HealthierUS status. About 30 schools in New Hampshire have been recognized;
three of them in Manchester.
The HealthierUS challenge is a key
component of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s
Move! initiative to end childhood
obesity within a generation. Schools participating in the challenge voluntarily
adopt USDA standards for food they serve at their schools, agree to provide
nutrition education, and provide opportunities for physical activity.
Hillside Middle School demonstrates
the award criteria in all areas that promote healthy lifestyle habits. The
physical education curriculum emphasizes lifelong fitness and why physical
activity is important. The middle school life skills class includes nutrition
education and food science in every unit. Students learn to make healthy eating
choices at school and at home. Hillside's cafeteria offers a variety of fruits,
vegetables, snacks and milk along with daily meal choices. Food services staff continually
look for creative ways to make healthy food presentations appealing, including
involving the students in meal preparation.
"We are proud of all of our
schools for the healthy meals they provide to students," said Manchester
School District school food and nutrition director Jim Connors. "This
award recognizes the efforts that go above and beyond to enhance the
integration of the smarter lunchroom with everyday education."
To celebrate Hillside Middle
School's accomplishment, a representative from the USDA presented Connors,
school administrators and staff with a banner and plaque during a school
assembly. Mayor Ted Gatsas and school district superintendent Debra Livingston were
there to offer their congratulations, and the audience watched a “Healthy
Hillside Happenings” video showcasing Hillside’s various exercise and nutrition
initiatives. The celebration wrapped up with three abbreviated student-faculty
basketball games; the staff team won two of them.
Hillside is Manchester’s third
school to receive the USDA’s HealthierUS School Challenge: Smarter Lunchrooms
award. McLaughlin Middle School also achieved bronze status late last fall, and
Beech Street Elementary School was recognized with a silver award in February.
Patriots partner with Manchester Parks and Rec to offer FREE football clinic
Manchester Parks and Recreation,
New England Patriots & the New England Patriots Alumni Club present
Football For You
a free, one-day non-contact football clinic on
Saturday, April 23
at Gill Stadium!
This clinic is open to boys and girls ages 9-14 of all skill levels and
they will be coached by former Patriots players with a focus on leadership, teamwork, and commitment.
To register online visit www.patriotsalumni.com.
Registration on the day of the event starts at 11:30am
with camp starting at 12:30pm.
with camp starting at 12:30pm.
Lunch is at 3pm and camp ends at 3:30pm.
GREAT FREE SESSIONS FOR PARENTS FOR FREE DURING THE EVENT!
SESSIONS ON FITNESS &NUTRITION, SAFETY, AND
BUILDING CHARACTER FOR PARENTS AND YOUNG ATHLETES!
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