Learn about recent news and upcoming events

The Board of School Committee has approved Susan Matthews as the next principal of Highland-Goffe’s Falls Elementary School. Matthews comes to the Manchester School District from her position as assistant principal at Hooksett Memorial School and will begin her new post on July 1.  As an instructional leader, Matthews has been dedicated to helping students learn and succeed, and to supporting teachers’ professional growth.  She has extensive experience as a classroom teacher and reading specialist, having worked in those capacities in Hudson and Lowell, MA, for nearly 25 years before becoming the language arts coordinator at Mastricola Elementary School in Merrimack. There, she worked to align curriculum, instruction, and assessment in reading and writing.  “I’m looking forward to working with the faculty at Highland-Goffe’s Falls and helping to shape the way students learn in these critical early years,” said Matthews. “It’s wonderful to see that the school has ...

The school district has announced the start and end times for the school day starting in September.  2014-15 STUDENT TIMES Preschool: Start 9 a/11:30a End 12:30 p/3 p Elementary: Start 8:20 a.m. End 2:35 p.m. Middle Schools: Start  7:35 a.m. End 2:00 p.m. High Schools: Start 7:45 a.m. End 2:42 p.m.

The inaugural STEAM Ahead NH class is set to enter Manchester High School West this fall. Read about the latest developments, including very generous  grants  from our friends at the Bean Foundation. Learn more about the innovative new program for Manchester students at  www.steamaheadnh.com.

MSD is proud to be a sponsoring organization of The Incredible Years training series for parents. The 14-week program is FREE and open to caregivers of children ages 5-12. Parents will learn about parent-child relationship building, positive discipline and rewards, as well as social, emotional and academic development.  CLASSES WILL BE HELD EVERY TUESDAY AT BEECH STREET SCHOOL, STARTING JULY 8, 8:30 am-11:00 am. To register, call Erin at 666-5982 ext. 16

While only the annual rate is being projected right now, preliminary data suggest the district has cut its drop-out numbers almost in half. On June 1, 2013 there were 211 students recorded as having dropped out of the four Manchester high schools, compared to this June’s count of 104 students, or 2.22%. Given the strong correlation between the June 2013 numbers and those in the state’s most recent report, the projection appears to be fairly reliable, though fluctuations are anticipated. The New Hampshire Department of Education’s 2012-2013 drop-out statistics indicate the Manchester School District drop-out rate rose from 3.52% annually to 4.22%, compared to the statewide rate increase from 1.26% to 1.29%. The four-year rate in Manchester increased from 13.35% to 15.84%, while the four-year state average rose from 4.95% to 5.06%. “Our drop-out rate is a challenge. During the 2013-14 school year, we worked diligently to reduce the numbers,” said Dr. Debra Livingston, superintendent ...

New Hampshire Healthy Families, a managed care plan under New Hampshire’s Medicaid Care Management program, sponsored a special health-focused art contest through their Adopt-a-School partnership with Parker Varney Elementary School in Manchester, New Hampshire on Wednesday. More than 100 students in the third and fourth grades participated in the art contest by creating individual portraits of their health, while fifth grade students created a large canvas painting representative of New Hampshire, depicting state animals, trees, plants, insects and notable landmarks that will be displayed in the New Hampshire Healthy Families, Bedford, New Hampshire office. “New Hampshire Healthy Families is pleased to partner with Parker Varney Elementary School and proud of the third, fourth, and fifth graders who created these portraits for display in our Bedford office,” said Scott Westover, executive director of New Hampshire Healthy Families. “All of the students showed great creativity and t...

The Manchester School District, in order to comply with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, is convening its annual meeting with representatives of private schools located within the district and with parents of students enrolled in private schools.    The meeting will take place on Thursday, June 19, 2014 from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at the District Offices, located on the second floor at 195 McGregor St. The purpose of the meeting is to consider the needs of students with disabilities who are enrolled in private schools. “Although federal law states that children placed by their parents in private schools have no individual right to special education and related services, the district is required to consult with representatives of all private schools located in the district and with representatives of parents of children with disabilities enrolled in these schools before making final decisions about services that may be offered,” said Karen Burkush, assistan...