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Dr. Manning's 5-Minute Weekly Update

Posted Date: 02/01/26 (10:00 AM)
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Dr. Manning's 5-Minute Weekly Update | February 1, 2026
 

Superintendent's Message
 
It was a pleasure to attend the open practice for our cheerleaders, who headed down to Orlando this week to compete at Nationals! We wish them good luck and safe travels! 
  
Click on any of the pictures in this newsletter for more information. 

Turning the Calendar to February

The winter cold has certainly been making its presence known, but today we turn the page to a new month and look forward to the many wonderful events and activities ahead. One of our most anticipated events is our Black History Month Celebration, which is almost here! We are so excited for the many student performances and to honor Mr. Shade, who is retiring after 32 years of dedicated service to the district. I hope you can join us on Thursday, February 5th, at 7:00 PM at Harborfields High School. 


Winter Edition of Harborfields Highlights

The Winter edition of Harborfields Highlights will be delivered to all homes in the district later this week! If you can’t wait, click on the picture below to see what we’ve been up to since November! 



Wrestling Success - Steven J. Mally Tournament 

The Harborfields Wrestling team had another great year hosting the Steven Mally Memorial Tournament at Harborfields High School. Please join me in congratulating the 14 student-athletes who placed, including four overall champions! 

  • Will Kim – Champion (126 lbs)

  • Giacomo Terranova – Champion (132 lbs)

  • Chris Palermo – Champion (138 lbs)

  • Jake Loeb – Champion (285 lbs)

  • Christian Rogdakis – Runner-up (103 lbs)

  • Giovanni Terranova – Runner-up (118 lbs)

  • Liam Byrne - 3rd Place (110lbs)

  • Brett Shapiro – 3rd Place (150 lbs)

  • Ralph Burke – 3rd Place (190 lbs)

  • Devin Turer – 4th Place (138 lbs)

  • Oliver Donnelly – 4th Place (157 lbs)

  • Ryan McGay – 4th Place (175 lbs)

  • Trent Rounsavall – 5th Place (215 lbs)

  • Luca DeMaio – 6th Place (110 lbs)



Fencing Team Named Co-League Champions! 
The combined Harborfields/Huntington Fencing team was named co-league champions after finishing the regular season with an impressive 10-3 record! Junior Caelan Bues was a key contributor, finishing the season undefeated with a perfect 30-0! The team will compete in the semifinals on Tuesday, February 3. We are incredibly proud of our student-athletes and look forward to their continued success! 



Coaches vs. Cancer - #HFStrongerTogether

I loved seeing our Harborfields community come together in a powerful way during this year’s Coaches vs. Cancer basketball games. The boys and girls varsity teams hosted separate events while sharing one meaningful purpose—supporting children and families impacted by cancer. We were honored to recognize Ariella and Belle, two incredible young warriors whose strength and resilience inspired everyone in attendance. Thank you to our student-athletes, coaches, families, and community partners for showing what it truly means to stand together in support of one another. We truly are stronger together!



Congratulations - PTA Reflections

Many of our students tapped into their creative side by participating in the PTA Reflections contest across categories such as literature, visual arts, dance and music composition, and photography. Our schools are currently celebrating these accomplishments and recognizing the students who advanced to the Suffolk Region competition and beyond. We are thrilled to share that 22 students are moving on to the New York State level! Congratulations to all of our talented participants. 



Harborfields’ Got Talent 

Save the Date and get ready to purchase your tickets for this year’s Harborfields’ Got Talent program, featuring talented students from across our district who are ready to take the stage on February 28th.

This is a night to:

  • Enjoy an entertaining, feel-good show featuring student talent

  • Support friends and fellow students from across the district

  • Come together as one Harborfields community  

Ticket sales open to everyone on February 4th at 6:00 PM.

All proceeds support scholarships for graduating seniors and help fund programs that benefit students throughout the district. And yes… this year’s show will include a few fun surprises- more to come!




Here are some of my favorite moments from this past week:

Harborfields High School

DSeñora Presti and Señora Cervini accompanied their students to a Ballet Hispánico performance at the Tilles Center, followed by lunch at Tocolo Cantina. The Spanish for Conversation and ENL students used their Spanish language skills with each other and to make new connections. They even ordered their meals in Spanish at the restaurant! The students really enjoyed the performance of a modern interpretation of Carmen and even sang songs in English and Spanish on the bus ride home. 




Oldfield Middle School

Teacher for a Day 2026 was a school-wide success!  Students shadowed teachers, helped lead lessons, and even tackled classroom management–all while wearing matching outfits, of course! Special thanks to the teachers who volunteered and to the OMS Student Government for organizing an awesome day! 

 


Thomas J. Lahey Elementary School
 

Fifth-grade students are diving into the world of the Inca civilization through a hands-on engineering challenge! Working in teams, students are designing, building, and testing Inca-style bridges. 



Washington Drive Primary School

Building a community of belonging in Mrs. Sacks and Mrs. Ortiz’s kindergarten class by exploring what it means to feel safe and included. After reading "A Little Spot of Belonging," students shared how they help others feel welcome and completed the writing response: "I help others feel like they belong by…” 

 
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND SHOUTOUTS


New Date - SEPTA Parent Workshop


SEPTA and the Harborfields PPS Department will provide a special workshop on Wednesday, February 4th at Harborfields High School. The workshop, "Understanding Your Child's CSE: A Parent Prep Session," will feature Harborfields staff who will walk through the reading of your child's IEP and transition planning. SEPTA parents will also discuss the importance of creating and organizing a family CSE binder. Don't miss this!



Congratulations - Spelling Bee Champion!


Congratulations to TJL Spelling Bee Champion, 4th grader Leo Davila. Leo will move on to represent TJL at the regional level! A big round of applause to our runner-up, 5th grader Carly Chatterton, and all of the participants. Each speller showed confidence, determination, and a love of learning as they took the stage! 


 

Each Child. Each Day. One Harborfields Family