Learn about recent news and upcoming events

Super Bowl Champion and New England Patriots Safety Duron Harmon and New Hampshire dairy farmer Stewart Yeaton visited Hallsville Elementary School in Manchester to get students excited about school breakfast as part of the school’s Fuel Up to Play 60 program and the New Hampshire School Breakfast Challenge, which was launched in October 2013 to help promote school breakfast. Hallsville School's student wellness committee poses with Pat the Patriot, Duron Harmon and  dairy farmer Stewart Yeaton Fuel Up to Play 60 is the nation’s largest in-school wellness program and has launched a “Fuel Greatness” campaign to mobilize communities to take action and advocate for, and implement, alternative breakfast options in school districts nationwide. Funding for this program is provided by New England Dairy & Food Council and the dairy farmers of New Hampshire and New England. "School breakfast fuels greatness in our students, giving them the power to be successful throu...

Boston Celtics forward/center Kelly Olynyk, former player Leon Powe, mascot “Lucky” the Leprechaun, along with Southern New Hampshire University vice president of marketing and student recruitment Gregg Mazzola, superintendent of schools Debra Livingston, and Mayor Ted Gatsas, were on hand today with students of Hillside Middle School to unveil a state-of-the art technology lab. Dr. Livingston and her team huddle during the scavenger hunt Partnering to support education, the Celtics and SNHU purchased 30 new, 13-inch Chromebook laptops and a 60-inch TV for the lab, as well as a Chromecast streaming player. Additionally, the Celtics and SNHU have completely renovated the room -- with new furniture, paint and wall graphics. During the event, students used their new computers to complete an online scavenger hunt, where they researched facts about the Celtics, SNHU, Leon Powe, Boston and Manchester. Later, the students and their special gue...

Want to read about all the good news our students and staff want you to know? Read the March edition of MSD Messages !

Manchester police have received reports of a man in a car asking school-aged kids if they need a ride. Three such incidents occurred last week in different areas of the city after school while students walked home. The driver and car descriptions varied.  While police and schools are being vigilant, we want to bring these incidents to parents' attention so that they, too, can be aware and remind their children about important safety precautions. • If your children walk home from school, please review the safest route and point out where they can go if they are confronted with trouble.   • Encourage your child to walk with friends – kids are safer in groups. • Make sure your child knows his or her address and phone number and knows how to reach you in case of an emergency. • Tell your children it is okay to say no to an adult in a dangerous situation, to yell, and to run away. • If he or she is approached by a stranger, your child should report it to you o...

The student registration page of our web site has been updated with detailed information about registering new students in the Manchester School District. The required forms are available on that page to be downloaded and filled out. Kindergarten and first grade registration for the 2015-16 school year begins on April 6. The scheduled dates and times for each elementary school are listed online .

Manchester School District is looking to enhance its pool of substitute faculty and staff. Substitutes for classroom teachers, paraprofessionals and administrative assistants are needed regularly when there are unexpected absences. 
 A degree is not required, but people who have earned at least 48 college credits may qualify to be substitute teachers in the Manchester School District.
  Please call 624-6300 and dial 0 to ask Pam for an application packet.  
 

Manchester schools once again are supporting efforts to shine a light on autism education. That's why we are observing National Autism Awareness Month, starting with World Autism Awareness Day on April 2. Show your support on that day and all month long by wearing light blue. Please visit  www.autismspeaks.org/liub  for more information about the global effort.

Eight Manchester School of Technology students have qualified to attend the SkillsUSA Championship competition in Louisville, KY. They received gold medals at the 2015 SkillsUSA NH spring leadership conference. The MST team also won Most Spirited CTE School at this weekend's awards ceremony. The SkillsUSA Championships in June is the showcase for the best career and technical students in the nation. In 2014, there were nearly 6,000 contestants in 98 separate events! Congratu lations to all of our Manchester state winners for their accomplishments and hard work! Digital Cinema Production GOLD, Justin Farley & Christopher Manseau Cosmetology GOLD, Leanna Geiger SILVER, Sabrina Rousseau Long Hair Design SILVER, Cassandra Farias Customer Service GOLD, Natalie Henrique Esthetics GOLD, Breannah Picard & Caitlin Handy BRONZE, Taitum Keough & Kelsee Jacobs Extemporaneous Speech GOLD, Alexandra Curran SILVER, Meghan Belanger Job Demonstration Open GO...

Another large financial gift from one of its most valuable community partners is giving Weston Elementary a boost in technology resources. The owners of a local Dunkin’ Donuts presented Weston students and staff with a check for $36,000 , which will equip all classrooms with virtual interactive white boards and data projectors.  Another portion of the new funds will buy additional IPads, Chromebooks and programming to set up blended learning labs in each classroom.  This is the fourth school year that the Scrivanos family, owners of the Dunkin’ Donuts on Hanover Street, has stepped forward with a generous contribution to Weston. Last June, the school received $15,000 to purchase 25 classroom media centers, which include a television monitor, Chromebook and Chromecast streaming device. For 2012-13, $10,000 paid for personal books for students and 16 new computers for the school. In 2011, $25,000 from the Scrivanoses covered the cost of books and 35 iPads with apps. “W...

Established in 1972 by the Secretary of the Navy, the Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps unit at Manchester High School West is celebrating more than 42 years of "can do" performance. NJROTC helps to develop strong and informed leaders for the future. The program's goal is to instill pride in our country, the Navy and the cadets as individuals. It encourages civic responsibility through participation in programs, projects and services within the school and local community. More than 2,500 hours of community service has been recorded so far this school year! Today's inspection was conducted by Commander David Kenney and Chief Stanley Hannum. The morning's activities began early with a personnel inspection, which includes uniform, personal appearance and Navy knowledge. The inspection continued with a public ceremony that included remarks, a drill team performance, presentation of awards and a change in command for the 2015-16 school year. Congratulatio...

Manchester School District was notified today that students at Beech Street and McDonough elementary schools and Central High School who started the computer-based Smarter Balanced assessment on March 16 took the incorrect versions of the assessment because of an error by the Smarter Balanced vendor in providing a clear assessment selection process.  Our students took practice assessments. By yesterday afternoon, the vendor became aware of the issue, which also affected other schools in the state, and changed the way the selection process looks on the screen. The New Hampshire Department of Education has assured Manchester School District that our three schools administered the assessment properly based on the information available at the time the test began. The same third graders at McDonough took the correct Smarter Balanced assessment today. Central High School and Beech Street will reschedule the correct version of the assessment for yesterday’s groups of students.

Current high school sophomores in Manchester are invited to participate in an exciting two-year program at the Technology & Innovation Academy at SEE Science Center. Students can complete college courses at no cost and  receive credits from Manchester Community College their junior and senior years of high school. In addition, students in this program also visit various technology companies to see first-hand what projects and opportunities studying computer science will provide them. For more information, please email Dr. Ali Rafieymehr at arafieymehr@dyn.com

Congratulations to the West High Theatre Knights for advancing from the  New Hampshire Educational Theatre Guild  Regional Drama Festival competition to the state competition with their performance of "Story Theatre"!  The cast won the Ensemble Acting award, a Best Production award, and student Nick Cochran was recognized for Excellence in Costume Design.  The Theatre Knights will perform at the 2015 NHETG State Drama Festival at Sanborn Regional High School on Friday and Saturday, March 27 & 28. If you'd like to see this award-winning production for yourself, "Story Theatre" takes the stage at West next month!

When: Saturday, March 28th Where: Jewett Street School Time: 12 pm-3 pm Cost: $5 per person Sample a variety of chowders and chilis made by the the parents, students, and staff of both Hallsville and Jewett Street elementary schools.  Your $5 entry will get you all the chili and chowder samples you can eat, drinks, and other snacks.  There will be awards handed out for the best chili and chowder at the end of the event.  All proceeds will go back to the schools to help fund student activities.  All are welcome to enjoy some good food, great company, and to support our schools!

Congratulations to Central High School senior Elizabeth Lavoie for placing seventh in the nation in the VFW's Voice of Democracy essay competition! After winning first place in New Hampshire last month, Liz traveled to Washington, D.C. to compete with other state finalists. Her essay about "Why Veterans are Important to Our Nation's History and Future" is thoughtful and moving.

Subject: Parent Information on Smarter Balanced Assessment March 9, 2015 Dear Parent/Guardian: The Manchester School District is required by state and federal law to administer the Smarter Balanced Assessment.  It will take place starting March 16, 2015 and must be completed by June 5, 2015.  Students in grades 3-8 and grade 11 are scheduled to take the assessment. It has come to the attention of the Manchester School District Board of School Committee that some parents object to the administration of the test and intend to keep their student from school when the test will be administered.  While the Manchester School District is prohibited from encouraging nonparticipation in the Smarter Balanced Assessment process, rather than keeping student home from school during the administration of the testing, upon written or emailed notification by the parent/guardian the student will be relocated and provided alternative programming during the applicable test...

Initial results of the Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) math and reading assessments at eight elementary schools show students are making progress in their learning. The Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) assessment is intended to indicate what each student knows, is ready to learn, and is projected to achieve. Teachers also can use the information from the assessments to focus instruction where students are struggling. Bakersville, Beech Street, Gossler Park, Hallsville, Wilson, McDonough, Northwest and Parker-Varney elementary schools were selected to participate in MAP assessments based on their status as priority schools in the district. Priority schools receive federal School Improvement Grant funding. The assessments in math and reading were given to students in grades one through five last fall and again this winter. In every grade, the total number of students at those eight schools who performed at or above the national norm increased. The chart below reveals th...

Manchester's elementary schools will be accepting registrations for kindergarten and new first grade students next month. The dates and times for children and parents to register in person at each school are listed below. No appointment is necessary.  Evening registration times will be available at Parker-Varney and Weston for the whole district.  Please watch this page for the required forms that will be available for download. Filling them out before your registration day will save you time. Bakersville 4/7/2015 8:30 - 11:30 12:00 - 2:30 Beech Street 4/15/2015 8:30 -11:30 12:00  - 2:30 Gossler Park 4/9/2015 8:30-11:30 12:00-2:30 Green Acres 4/9/2015 9:00 - 11:30 12:00 - 2:30 Hallsville 4/10/2015 8:30-11:00 12:00-2:30 Highland-Goffe’s Falls 4/10/2015 9:00-12:00 12:30-2:15 Jewett 4/6/2015 8:30-11:30 12:00-2:30 McDonough 4/10/2015 8:30-11:30 12:00-2:30 Northwest 4/7/2015 8:30-11:30 12:00-2:30 Parker-Varney 4/9/2015 9-11am ...

  Fourth graders at Jewett Street Elementary School today showed off what they’re learning in an interactive demonstration of FIRST ® Junior STEAM Ahead. During lessons that apply math, language arts and science concepts, students develop an innovative solution to a current world problem, design, build, and program robots using LEGO® MINDSTORMS® EV3 and other LEGO elements, and apply a set of   values   that incorporate teamwork, respect, and discovery. FIRST Junior STEAM Ahead is enhancing science and math curriculum in Manchester like never before. “We are raising the bar when it comes to learning opportunities in our schools,” said Mayor Ted Gatsas. “A program like FIRST Junior STEAM Ahead helps some of our youngest students meet 21 st century expectations and get started on the road to creating a talented workforce for the many businesses and industry cities like Manchester offers.” Jewett Street is one of three schools participating in FIRST ® LEGO ®...