Learn about recent news and upcoming events

Mayor Ted Gatsas, Dr.Debra Livington and Ray McNulty of SNHU at the announcement of 1,000 Mentors Superintendent Debra Livingston has announced a partnership with Southern New Hampshire University and the National Center for Competency-Based Learning to launch the 1,000 Mentors program for high school students in Manchester. The initiative aims to connect community members, businesses and organizations directly with the schools, expanding the number of ways students can earn academic credit outside of school.      “Collaboration is essential for growing the extended learning opportunities we currently offer our students,” said Dr. Livingston. “We’re excited to work with organizations that support the concept of competency-based learning and want to help us reach our goals.” Fred Bramante talks about the value of mentorships and how 1,000 Mentors will benefit Manchester's students Founded by Fred Bramante, a former chairman of the New Hampshire Board of...

Barnes & Noble Holiday Book Drive Once again the Barnes & Noble Annual Holiday Book Drive will benefit the Manchester School District! Last year Barnes & Noble collected and distributed over 3500 books to schools in the district. This year they'd like to expand that number to 4200 books! Please consider adding a requested book to your basket when making your book purchases at Barnes & Noble. A table will be set up in the cash wrap line near the registers with bookmarks designating books that schools have selected. The books will be collected and distributed weekly. Printed wish lists can also be found at Customer Service and in the Children's Department.

A recent donation from Dunkin’ Donuts is giving teachers a new way to enhance learning at Weston Elementary School. With $15,000, the school purchased 25 classroom media centers, which include a television monitor, Chromebook and Chromecast streaming device.   This is the third school year that Dunkin’ Donuts has stepped forward with a large financial contribution to Weston. For 2012-13, $10,000 paid for personal books for students and 16 new computers for the school. In 2011, $25,000 covered the cost of books and 35 iPads with apps. “Dunkin’ Donuts has been a wonderful community partner for our school,” said Liz MacDonald, principal of Weston Elementary School. “We are grateful for the company’s generosity and the opportunities for learning the donations have given our students.”  The new media center technology allows an entire class to view whatever is displayed on the Chromebook screen. During a science lesson, for instance, the students or teacher can quickly loo...

A generous donation from Dunkin’ Donuts has given teachers a new way to enhance learning at Weston Elementary School in Manchester. With $15,000, the school purchased 25 classroom media centers, which include a television monitor, Chromebook and Chromecast streaming device.  The technology allows an entire class to view whatever is displayed on the Chromebook screen. During a science lesson, for instance, the students or teacher can look up a photo online for all to see on the large monitor.  To thank Dunkin’ Donuts for its contribution to education, staff from Weston will set up a media center at the Hanover Street Dunkin’ Donuts location. You’re invited to see how it works and hear how teachers are using the technology to make a difference in learning every day at the school directly across the street from the store. WHAT: Chromecast media center demonstration WHERE: Dunkin’ Donuts             1037 Hanover Street, Manchester WH...

On Friday, June 6, Manchester Mayor Ted Gatsas, AutoFair New  Hampshire President Andy Crews, Manchester Schools Superintendent Dr. Debra Livingston, NTB Bank  VP/Retail Market Manager Dallas Lagerquist and New Hampshire Fisher Cats President Rick Brenner  will take the field at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium and award one Manchester High School student with  the 2014 “Make the Grade” grand prize, a 2013 Ford Focus.    “Make The Grade” is a public-private partnership between the City of Manchester, AutoFair, the Fisher  Cats, NTB Bank, and Comcast Spotlight, formed to recognize academic achievements of  Manchester students and enhance community commitment from corporate partners.    The “Make The Grade” Program will award a brand new 2013 Ford Focus to a junior or senior high school  student who has achieved academic excellence by making the Honor Roll, High Honors, or Principals List  in the first, second, or third ...

Manchester schools love opportunities to partner with community organizations to enhance students' learning. Read about Henry Wilson Elementary School's  planting project !

The Central Runs Road Race is an annual event sponsored by the Central High School student council. Each year the student body votes to decide which organization shall receive the funds raised. This year's proceeds will benefit the Children's Hospital at Dartmouth.

The Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce is now accepting applications for next year's  Education Leadership  class! The program builds positive community relationships between Manchester schools and businesses.Educator Leadership is designed to recognize and nurture mutually beneficial relationships between educators and diverse sectors of the local business community. The program creates closer alignment between business and education so that educators walk away with practical applications and a stronger understanding of where industry sectors are going and the knowledge necessary to better prepare students for careers in high growth industries.  Directed by a Steering Committee, Educator Leadership begins in October with a total of 7 sessions held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in October, November, January, February, March, April and May. Each session focuses on a new industry with presentations by business leaders through lectures and discussions during on-site visits. ...

Read books, come to programs, win prizes!  Summer reading and activity programs for the Manchester City Library and the West Manchester Community Library will be taking place this summer! Elementary Programs include Family Matinees, Story Time, Make & Take Crafts and much more.  Teen programs include Teen Movie Nights, Minecraft, Wii, and Craft Activities. Dates and times with program activity locations please view or download full program fliers at  http://www.mansd.org/summer-reading-2014 .

Mayor Ted Gatsas has announced the City of Manchester’s 9th Annual Art Show put on in partnership with the National Arts Program. The program is a wonderful opportunity for all of us to enjoy the talents of one another. What’s even more exciting is this opportunity is open to the family members of city employees, retirees, volunteers, and elected officials. We are fortunate that The National Arts Program provides award money giving us the ability to compete for cash prizes and the city also is securing fun prizes from local vendors including 2 Circus tickets, 2 tickets to Austin Mahone, 4 Fisher Cats tickets, 2 Palace Theatre tickets, $25 to E&R cleaners, restaurant gift cards, art classes and much more!! All participants are eligible to win prizes regardless of skill level! Register  online  by Friday, June 6 – so don’t wait!   For more information please contact Vicki Ferraro in the mayor's office: vferraro@manchesternh.gov or 624-6500.

The New Hampshire Department of Education will continue funding to provide a high-quality after school program for five more years in nine Manchester schools. Bakersville, Gossler Park, Hallsville, McDonough, and Parker-Varney elementary schools, along with Hillside, McLaughlin, Parkside, and Southside middle schools are included in the  21st  Century Community Learning Centers  (21st CCLC) grant award totaling about $3.2 million over five years, beginning July 1, 2014.  “The 21st Century program is just one way our schools make sure Manchester students reach their full potential academically, personally and socially,” said Mayor Ted Gatsas. “We are committed to giving as many students access to the opportunity as possible.”    In the highly competitive grant-writing process, Manchester School District applied for renewal of funding for eight existing 21st CCLC sites, and for funds that will establish a new site at Parker-Varney Elementary School. ...

Boston Celtics Forward Jared Sullinger joined students of McLaughlin Middle School as the team and Southern New Hampshire University revealed a state-of-the-art computer lab. The lab, completely subsidized by the Boston Celtics and SNHU education partnership, marks one in a series of labs of its kind. “ People around the world are keeping up with advances in technology, but so many of our schools right here in the U.S. don't have the resources to help kids stay current and be successful as they move on in their educational careers,” Sullinger said. “Through the SNHU partnership, we can find ways to change that, and thecomputer labs are a great start.” In renovating the computer lab, the Celtics and SNHU purchased 30 new Chromebooks. A seldom-used classroom was repainted and decorated with new furniture as well as Celtics wall graphics. The room is now a modern, bright and inviting environment for the sixth, seventh and eighth graders to work and study. “We’re grateful for...

Thinking about college can be overwhelming. There are applications to be completed, deadlines to meet, essays to write, and finances to understand. Central High School is hosting a presentation from the New Hampshire Higher Education Assistance Foundation Network to help 11th grade students and their families better understand the college admission process. The session is scheduled for April 16 at 6:00 pm in the Central High School library. Topics include: narrowing your list, questions to ask on a college tour, college essay pointers, the application timeline and the basics of financial aid.

Barnes & Noble on South Willow St. in Manchester is hosting a  book fair on Friday, April 11 from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm,  to benefit Highland-Goffe’s Falls Elementary School. People have the chance to purchase books specifically selected by HGF teachers from the "wish list" table. Those books will go to classroom libraries. In addition, a percentage of other purchases go toward HGF literacy programs.  Children’s activities will begin at 3:30.  Local children’s author Maryann Cocca-Leffler will be there at 4:00 pm to talk to students about writing and sign her books. Based on her book, “Mr. Tanen’s Ties," kids can enter a tie-coloring contest throughout the day.

The UNH STEM Discovery Lab was created in response to the growing need for STEM educated graduates. The STEM Discovery Lab is a challenging, hands-on learning community where K-12 students and their teachers engage in the authentic integration of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and language arts through a research-based curriculum. READ MORE!

Parker-Varney Elementary School students were wowed by today's performance by  Amazing Hero Art's Rob Surette . In under an hour, Rob painted a portrait of Abraham Lincoln, one of American history's greatest heroes, as he inspired the kids with the message that they can be great, too. Now the school has a beautiful painting to hang on the wall to remind them of it!  Parker-Varney's School Improvement Grant funds made the show possible.

More children entering first grade and who need reading and writing support prior to the start of the new school year will have the opportunity to participate in the Manchester School District Ready for Success summer program, thanks to a grant awarded by the Norwin S. and Elizabeth N. Bean Foundation. Previously focused on students who attend Manchester’s Title I schools, which receive state and federal financial assistance to meet the needs of educationally at-risk students, Ready for Success is now available to incoming first graders from all 14 elementary schools. “Children in Manchester come to school from a variety of early education or home settings, and bring with them different levels of skills and readiness,” said Beth Shea, Ready for Success program coordinator, who also is a veteran kindergarten teacher at Northwest Elementary School. “Since 2004, Ready for Success has worked to give a boost in literacy during the summer to the students who will benefit from it.”...

The district's Middle School Innovation Team is seeking input from students, teachers, parents and community members about the middle school education experience in Manchester.  Please take the  online survey  for the opportunity to provide your thoughts and perspective on middle school priorities.  Middle school students across the city will take the survey in school this month.  The deadline for submitting your response is March 31.  Thank you for your participation!

Tim Harris's unique approach to customer service has earned him national attention. He can now add motivational speaker to his resume. He  shared his story  with students at McLaughlin Middle School on Tuesday.

Members First Credit Union is currently accepting applications for several scholarships available to to graduating high school seniors or currently enrolled college students. The  John S. Walsh Memorial Scholarship  may be awarded to the child of a current or retired Manchester School District employee. The application is attached below, and you can also learn more the other scholarships available,  online .