Learn about recent news and upcoming events

Art will be back on the wall at City Hall this summer, with an exhibition of works by City and School District employees, retirees, elected officials, volunteers, and their immediate family members. The 12th annual National Arts Program contest is designed to give artists of ALL skill levels the opportunity to display their work and to compete for cash prizes for up to $400.00! You could also win a continuing art education award, tickets to upcoming SNHU Arena events, and many more exciting prizes. Artists can  register online  or print and fill out this form before June 2, then deliver their pieces to the mayor's office at City Hall June 21, 22 or 23, between the hours of from 9 am and 4 pm. All of the art will be on exhibit at City Hall from Friday, July 7 through Tuesday, August 29. The awards ceremony will be held on Thursday, July 27 at the Manchester City Library on Pine Street, starting at 5:30 pm. A reception will follow on the first floor of City Hall,...

Shauna Webber with Dept of Education Commissioner Frank Edelblut at the Teacher of the Year nomination ceremony The 2018 New Hampshire Teacher of the Year won't be announced until September, but the selection process is underway. Congratulations to Manchester's semi-finalist, Smyth Road Elementary School kindergarten teacher Shauna Webber! The selection process is a rigorous one.  Representatives from the state Teacher of the Year Committee will visit Smyth Road next month to observe Mrs. Webber in class, and interview her, her colleagues, students, parents and supervisors. She will find out in June if she's a finalist.

Manchester Academy’s summer school program is encouraged for students of all abilities in grades 6-12. It helps those who are interested in further enriching themselves academically, and benefits those in need of credit recovery or additional support. Manchester School District Summer School runs Monday through Friday, 8 to 10:40 for block one and 11 to 1:40 for block two. The program will take place at Manchester high School West. Dates: June 20 to July14 and there is no school on Monday, July3rd or Tuesday, July 4th. with the holiday. QUESTIONS? Contact the director: Ms. Hansen-Proulx at aproulx@mansd.org or 624-6356 x1211. Visit http://www.mansd.org/summer-school-2017 for registration forms and more information.

The Board of School Committee last night voted to approve Dr. Vargas's recommendation for a a revised feeder pattern among Manchester’s schools. The new plan determines which middle and high schools a student will attend based on his or her elementary school. It will be implemented for the next school year, starting in September 2017. While the current feeder pattern splits groups of students from some single elementary schools between multiple secondary schools, the changes streamline neighborhood school assignments so that all graduating students from one elementary school move on to the same middle and high schools. Not all elementary schools are impacted by the new feeder pattern, which is illustrated below. The exception to the single feeder school system is Beech Street School, where half the students will attend Southside Middle School and the other half McLaughlin, as they do now. Under the new plan, all former Beech Street students from both of those middle schoo...

SilverTech, a digital marketing and technology company based in Manchester, NH, has offered a $2,500 grant matching challenge to the students of MST's  FIRST Robotics Team 6763. SilverTech will match any gifts, donations, grants and fundraising initiatives that the students secure between April 10 and the end of business day on April 17. “We were very impressed with the students who came to the SilverTech office to present their corporate sponsorship request,” said Nick Soggu, President & CEO of SilverTech. “Through the FIRST robotic competitions, these students are not only learning about applied STEAM programs, they are also developing valuable business skills. Skills like marketing, branding, communicating effectively, and developing a business plan.” “We’ve never had a sponsor put a grant matching challenge in front of us,” said fundraising team lead Alycia Ashby. “But we’ve overcome so many other hurdles this year, I’m confident the team will rise to this challenge...

People’s United Bank has donated one 3D printer to each of three Manchester schools to enhance STEAM education. Webster Elementary School, the Middle School at Parkside, and McLaughlin Middle School will use the printers, together worth $10,000, as valuable tools for more projects that integrate science, technology, engineering, arts and math into everyday learning. “We attended a summit hosted by the New Hampshire Manufacturing Extension Partnership a couple of years ago and were very impressed with the industries represented and the work they do,” said Dianne Mercier, president of People’s United Bank in New Hampshire. “That experience inspired us to think about how we could contribute to education in those fields and, ultimately, a skilled workforce.” To introduce the printer and its capabilities to students, the Middle School at Parkside is hosting an innovation and design contest. Students are invited to submit ideas for a new product or improvement upon an existing object th...

A Central High School science teacher is on a list of 45 Advocates named by The Society for Science & the Public. As an Advocate, Ellen Tourigny will work to expand opportunities for underserved students to compete and succeed in science research competition. A $100,000 grant from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation and a $150,000 grant from Arconic Foundation will help to fund the Advocate program. The Advocate Grant Program seeks to open the door to scientific research for underserved students, many of whom are unaware of or unable to take advantage of science fair competitions. The Society’s Advocates help their students navigate the sometimes complicated processes involved in entering science research competitions. “Science competitions support and nurture a pipeline of talented, science-minded young people. Through the Society for Science & the Public’s Advocate Grant Program we are increasing the diversity of ideas and backgrounds that compose that critical pipeline,” sa...

The Kids Caring for Kids student group at Saint Catherine of Siena School brainstormed, planned, created, and facilitated the distribution of 200 drawstring backpacks filled with goodies to support children in the Manchester School District who are identified as displaced or homeless. Kids Caring for Kids is a project that was suggested by a student to the principal in 2015. John “JJ” Thomas had a dream to give back after the community supported his family when his mother fought and beat breast cancer. John knew that the students at St. Catherine of Siena School would help him to realize the desire to serve others. With the support of a generous grant from the Diocesan Rice Bowl Grant, a donation from Mayor Gatsas, and private donations, the students assembled 200 drawstring backpacks filled with snacks, water bottle, toothbrush and tooth paste, small toys, a book, a craft, and a teddy bear. The packages include a penguin gift tag that was individually colored and designed by the...

The Life of the Little Green Athlete program held a bike drive in partnership with the QC Bike collective. They collected 69 donated bikes that will be refurbished by QC Collective and donated to the Earn a Bike program for eligible 5th graders at Beech Street and Gossler Park elementary students in May, along with a new helmet.  More than 60 CHS students participated in the drive.

Superintendent Bolgen Vargas is considering feedback from community members before making a final redistricting recommendation to the Board of School Committee on Monday, April 10. The proposal will be phase I, after the Board of School Committee voted last November to approve several parameters to guide Dr. Vargas in the redistricting process: ●          Use a phased-in approach that starts with a feeder pattern; ●          Be mindful of budget implications; and ●          Consider external and internal community engagement Parents, teachers and community members have attended a series of ten public forums to ask questions and offer input on a draft proposal that includes a revised feeder pattern among Manchester’s schools. While the current system splits groups of students from some single elementary schools between multiple secondary sc...

The Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce aims to deepen the engagement between the business community and the Manchester School District in 2017. Specifically, the Chamber hopes to better promote the success stories of the Manchester School District happening every day to ensure members of our community have a balanced and informed view of our schools. Recently, the GMCC Education Committee hosted the first in an ongoing series of tours at various schools in Manchester at McLaughlin Middle School. The tour provided business leaders the opportunity to meet school administrators, teachers, students, and learn about the exciting and innovative programs being offered, aimed at improving educational outcomes and introducing students to future workforce opportunities. Read more about the Chamber's visit!

Margaret Reekie, coach; Todd Higgins, director; Ramone Tirado Valez, Central HS; Rebecca Bailey, Memorial HS; Roberta J. Cordano, president of Gallaudet University; Ashley Durham, Memorial HS; Brandon LaJoie, MST; Lori Mclaren, coach; Kathy Vesey, retired  director High school students in Manchester's Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing participated in the 20th Annual East Regional Academic Bowl in Maryland last month. Sponsored by Gallaudet University, the Academic Bowl for Deaf and Hard of Hearing High School students was established with the goal of fostering the pursuit of academic excellence, promoting a spirit of academic competition and sportsmanship, and providing social opportunities for the development of collegiality and lifelong friendships. The four students representing Manchester won five of their nine matches! Ashley Durham, a junior from Memorial, received one of the six "All Star Player" awards.  We are so proud of her and all the players...