Kindergarten students at Manchester Elementary School made aprons to celebrate their lunch ladies on School Lunch Hero Day. MES appreciates your hard work and dedication to nourishing our school!

Dillsboro and Manchester Elementary Schools joined together for STEM Enrichment Day! This exciting day of hands-on learning exposed students to career opportunities and studies in science, technology, engineering, and math. Activities included a petting zoo, marble race track engineering, paper making, binary code crafts, and so much more. DES and MES would like to thank the Aurora Lion’s Club and Manchester Township Trustees for sponsoring this event, as well as our outstanding presenters and community members that made today possible for our students.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month! Since 1949, the month of May has been designated as Mental Health Awareness Month. During this time, we are reminded that our mental health is essential and those living with mental health symptoms are deserving of care, understanding, compassion, and pathways to hope, healing, recovery, and fulfillment. Here at Manchester we have been raising awareness all month long with a few activities. Here at MES, we have a bulletin board available ...to all students where they can “take what they need and give what they can” by writing inspiring messages on Post-Its. This interactive bulletin board allows for students and school staff to “take” kind reminders to improve mood and attitude, as well as share with others what they could possibly “give” to improve their day. Students and Staff are encouraged to display the reminders where they are needed; on desks, in lockers/cubbies, in agendas or folders, or even at home. It is touching to watch students think of their peers and teachers when using the board. Another activity that was done with the entire student body, as well as school staff was our pinwheel garden. Pinwheels were provided to students and staff to “plant” in our garden out front of the school. The pinwheel is a childhood symbol, representing a time when things were simple and natural. With Mental Health Awareness Month that is the energy we wanted to bring to our students and staff at MES. It is a daily reminder to those who attend or visit our school that our students and staff are cared for, their success is important, and their company is enjoyed and valued. Watching them in the wind is so relaxing! Lastly, we decided to take a school wide photo wearing the color green to show our unity and support in bringing awareness during May. Green signifies new life, new growth, and new beginnings, which is perfect for the month of May. With Mental Health Awareness Month, it is important to remember new beginnings are possible. Thank you to Kelsey Barrett, CMHC School Based Facilitator, for organizing all the activities.