OneManchester Archive
FINALLY! The wait is over for members of the Class of 2026! Surrounded by family, friends, school staff and community members, they last night heard poignant and inspirational speeches, received their hard-earned diplomas and then posed for lots of celebratory pictures -- and we have it covered in this week’s photo-packed newsletter.
Thursday June 4, 2026
Red Hawk Grad Walks are a win-win tradition, as seniors enjoy returning to old hallways while elementary students get an up-close look at what they aspire to be. On Tuesday, two busloads of MHS seniors visited Verplanck, Keeney, Waddell and Highland, with more visits scheduled for today. Graduation is set for next Wednesday on the football field, with Thursday as a rain date.
WHAT IS IT with all the weekend rain we’ve had this month? Hopefully we will close out May on a dry note and then enjoy a beautiful start to what will be a busy June. Saturday’s highlights include a family-friendly Cheney Rail Trail hike and also Public Works Day events at 321 Olcott St., and our newsletter calendar has the details. We also this week have coverage of yearbook distribution and Food Truck Wars at MHS, a look ahead to changes on Spruce Street and much more.
MEMORIAL DAY is as early as possible this year. Because the holiday always falls on the last Monday of May, the earliest possible date is May 25 (like this year) and the latest is May 31 (like next year). So enjoy it! The unofficial start of summer won't come this early again until 2037, when current first-graders will graduate. As for this week’s newsletter we have pictures from the high school's annual FACTS Prevention Walk, the Parents as Partners graduation, the Bennet robotics team and much more.
WITH GRADUATION less than a month away, we continue our celebration of members of the Class of ‘26 at Manchester High -- and in today’s newsletter you’ll meet three more impressive Red Hawk seniors. We also have coverage of Bowers’ artists whose work was displayed at the State Capitol, a calendar featuring lots to do on what will be a warm weekend, and a reminder for parents about our School Climate Surveys.
STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics and those disciplines were the focus of a special showcase at Verplanck Elementary School last night. We have it covered in this week’s newsletter, along with the story of the Roberts twins -- sophomore sisters at MHS who are doing great things in their classes and elsewhere. We also have photos from Red Hawk tennis and golf, a look back at Rebuilding Together and a reminder that tomorrow marks the first day of the last full month of the school year!
'JUNIOR MUSICALS ' are adaptations of Broadway hits and other such Disney classics that are shortened for younger performers, and tonight Illing Middle School presents its latest -- Xanadu Jr., a fun and colorful production about a Greek muse who descends from the heavens to help a struggling artist open a Roller Disco. We have more in today’s newsletter, which also includes a busy calendar featuring a Special Education parent resource night, Rebuilding Together and an ultimate frisbee clinic. And don't forget to wear sports attire today for a fundraiser in memory of Jayden Strickland.
THE DAYS LEADING UP to the April break have been busy, as juniors at MHS are getting the chance to do practice job interviews, third-graders visited the high school to learn about instrumental music options, spring sports moved into high gear and the Red Hawks hired a new football coach. We have all that and more in this week’s newsletter, as well as extended calendar --- as our next newsletter won't be published until April 23rd.
IN A WORLD that seems increasingly angry and fragmented, anything that promises to connect people and build trust is welcome, which is why we want to call attention to something happening at the Youth Service Bureau this weekend. It's a free baby-sitting course that will teach teenagers (13-18) how to safely and responsibly care for children and infants. How nice! We have details in today's newsletter and much more including news about high-achieving broadcast journalism and culinary students from MHS.
FOUR DAY WEEKENDS are pretty rare, but twice already in this calendar year we’ve had snow storms so big that it took a second day just to dig out -- and we still have three more weeks of winter! (The vernal equinox happens on March 20 at 10:46 a.m.) Better weather is surely coming and things will be heating up in our schools, too. As for this week’s newsletter, we have the results of the annual Black Joy Poetry Contest, photos from Gov. Lamont's visit to MHS, and more.
VALENTINE'S DAY falls on a Saturday this year, so tomorrow will be extra-special in our schools, with flowers and cards and maybe even some candy lifting people’s spirits -- which will already be elevated because we are heading into the Presidents Day recess. Our newsletter this week includes photos from a special Roots & Culture event at Waddell Elementary, a note about upcoming kindergarten registration, and a reminder that Ramadan begins at sundown next Tuesday.
FOR THE 41ST YEAR, Manchester will gather to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. -- and recognize more than 40 students who uphold his values of racial and social justice, equity and equality, and the fight against racial oppression. The event is Tuesday night at 6 at Bailey Auditorium. There’s more information in this week’s newsletter and we will have photos to share afterward -- on the district Facebook page and also in the next OneManchester.
![12/12/24]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1734455620/mpsprideorg/lngtiuxrm0cvstkz1h50/Screenshot2024-12-17at121322PM.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1734455620/mpsprideorg/lngtiuxrm0cvstkz1h50/Screenshot2024-12-17at121322PM.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1734455620/mpsprideorg/lngtiuxrm0cvstkz1h50/Screenshot2024-12-17at121322PM.png","width":518}])
![12/5/24]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1733431227/mpsprideorg/dyzh12ame7zad7brou99/Screenshot2024-12-05at34014PM.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1733431227/mpsprideorg/dyzh12ame7zad7brou99/Screenshot2024-12-05at34014PM.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1733431227/mpsprideorg/dyzh12ame7zad7brou99/Screenshot2024-12-05at34014PM.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1733431227/mpsprideorg/dyzh12ame7zad7brou99/Screenshot2024-12-05at34014PM.png","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1733431227/mpsprideorg/dyzh12ame7zad7brou99/Screenshot2024-12-05at34014PM.png","width":1240}])
![11/21/24]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1732213205/mpsprideorg/vzrmii0k2tk1j1zwuqir/Screenshot2024-11-21at11949PM.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1732213205/mpsprideorg/vzrmii0k2tk1j1zwuqir/Screenshot2024-11-21at11949PM.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1732213205/mpsprideorg/vzrmii0k2tk1j1zwuqir/Screenshot2024-11-21at11949PM.png","width":519}])
![11/14/24]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1732111593/mpsprideorg/ofjyhnhemqs6yceasrf7/Screenshot2024-11-20at90620AM.png","width":210}])
![11/7/24]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1731089990/mpsprideorg/janhmro0czranvfohgff/Screenshot2024-11-08at11855PM.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1731089990/mpsprideorg/janhmro0czranvfohgff/Screenshot2024-11-08at11855PM.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1731089990/mpsprideorg/janhmro0czranvfohgff/Screenshot2024-11-08at11855PM.png","width":588}])
![10/31/24]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1730922792/mpsprideorg/ud7cx54pfava34ft1ncf/Screenshot2024-11-06at25300PM.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1730922792/mpsprideorg/ud7cx54pfava34ft1ncf/Screenshot2024-11-06at25300PM.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1730922792/mpsprideorg/ud7cx54pfava34ft1ncf/Screenshot2024-11-06at25300PM.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1730922792/mpsprideorg/ud7cx54pfava34ft1ncf/Screenshot2024-11-06at25300PM.png","width":1036}])
![Two students in parade]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1727370777/mpsprideorg/nzigepxtimegchvd3e8f/OneMan_092624.jpg","width":224}])
![The wall that heals]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1727369501/mpsprideorg/bdxgfpxjauraiobrjtdp/OneMan_091924.jpg","width":224}])
![MHS Band Students Group Image]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1727369037/mpsprideorg/iagbxpjah4rswoolovj0/OneMan_091224.jpg","width":224}])
![In front are Jasmine Brown and Janna Turnquest and behind them (from left) are Selina Santos, Trey Brown, Latasha Easterling-Turnquest, Michael Broome and Destiny Arroyo. Latasha is the district's Chief of Family Partnership & Student Engagement]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1726162201/mpsprideorg/dy9hbz4mvuziq90wjzsz/OneMan_090524.jpg","width":224}])
![Two MHS Students at desk]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1716310131/mpsprideorg/viq1dyrlybwei7wt6huq/OneMan_050924.jpg","width":224}])
![student with fire extinguisher]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1716309156/mpsprideorg/artmvc8jewdjzquglrvn/OneMan_050224.jpg","width":224}])
![Two IMS students acting on stage]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1716308723/mpsprideorg/d64bqmd5bfaduqk2ryns/OneMan_042524.jpg","width":224}])
![Parents and Student]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1713542172/mpsprideorg/btrq9iozz29n397lfyse/OneMan_041824.jpg","width":224}])
![Students during back history month]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1712079565/mpsprideorg/g38o2slwlib33c2sjcdq/OneMan_032824.jpg","width":224}])
![03/21/24]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1712079321/mpsprideorg/oooeqx6kxht2l2nj4v2z/OneMan_032124.jpg","width":224}])
![03/14/24]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1712078966/mpsprideorg/aq1ol1w20s2bp0pqxx2c/OneMan_031424.jpg","width":224}])
![Governor Ned LaMont at Illing]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1709819845/mpsprideorg/w4gfeu44yekrnm2h5sit/OneMan_030724.jpg","width":224}])
![Student Holding Book]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1709819501/mpsprideorg/ahgsadqidpztzma99mhu/OneMan_022924.jpg","width":224}])
![Students Playing Basketball]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1708617008/mpsprideorg/yrqyqn2fvyjno3eidnzs/OneMan_022224.jpg","width":224}])
![Kids Holding Cake]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1708616663/mpsprideorg/uzkj1powmenbtmd1stlx/OneMan_021524.jpg","width":224}])
![MHS Student]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1707401377/mpsprideorg/ezaz4zr9vkl3ig1ranoy/OneMan_020824.jpg","width":224}])
![Three students on stage]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1706809016/mpsprideorg/edzvghsjckhgnd00o0kh/OneMan_020124.jpg","width":224}])
![students holding trophy]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1706636369/mpsprideorg/pow8smj48t2cfonjvfwx/OneMan_012524.jpg","width":224}])
![Teacher holding book]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1705685839/mpsprideorg/vfkrooiugdma6x4l718e/OneMan_011824.jpg","width":224}])
![students playing music]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1705080502/mpsprideorg/jvbdeixuo93axoage2ij/OneMan_011124.jpg","width":224}])
![Picture of a street]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1704825574/mpsprideorg/ves53giwz77fueb17ocl/DBStreet.jpg","width":224}])
![Picture of a street]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1704825696/mpsprideorg/cukhoadvexzjcftlawwo/KREG-5.jpg","width":224}])
![High School Sign]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1704392642/mpsprideorg/wr4kfeg4ryyqr6ujygrr/OneMan_010424.jpg","width":224}])
![Girls playing basketball]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1703184749/mpsprideorg/pwnpbh6v4munb4psfydh/OneMan_122123.jpg","width":224}])
![One Manchester Icon]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1702562903/mpsprideorg/osbavlxyzj4opvxvkotm/OneMan_121423.jpg","width":224}])
![One Manchester Icon]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1702302605/mpsprideorg/nagcnzraxglhauvwwvrj/OneMan_120723.jpg","width":224}])
![football player]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1701458708/mpsprideorg/bbbbpzj4giuvocfiewvb/OneMan_113023.jpg","width":224}])
![Little Manchester Road Race Start Line]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1701107024/mpsprideorg/dodnpusdu9zklrqvhnnx/OneMan_112323.jpg","width":224}])
![Bold Big Bright Sign]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1700499861/mpsprideorg/w8hhgnndphsjeov8ecsc/OneMan_111623.jpg","width":224}])
![One Manchester Generic Image]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1700075196/mpsprideorg/utrpoxr50jqslzzwmzmi/OneMan_110923.jpg","width":224}])
![One Manchester Generic Image]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1700075198/mpsprideorg/bgdyhxwquhcehbo6yazv/OneMan_101923.jpg","width":224}])
![One Manchester Generic Image]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1700075196/mpsprideorg/eujegnhi4ihvhtbc2yxr/OneMan_110223.jpg","width":224}])
![One Manchester Generic Image]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1700075196/mpsprideorg/ldnqhcxuww9ikplfquph/OneMan_102623.jpg","width":224}])