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Harborfields Central School District

Each Child. Each Day. One Harborfields Family.

Dr. Manning's 5-Minute Weekly Update

Posted Date: 03/22/26 (10:00 AM)



Dr. Manning's 5-Minute Weekly Newsletter - March 22, 2026

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Superintendent's Message 

I had the great fortune of visiting Washington Drive Primary School on St. Patrick’s Day.  Students had great fun setting their leprechaun traps. Although the leprechaun clearly visited many classrooms and left his mark, we weren’t able to catch him this year! 

Thank you to all of our teachers, administrators, and staff who made St. Patrick's Day so fun and enjoyable for our students!

Click on any of the pictures in this update for additional information. 
 

Celebrating Women’s History Month

This month, we recognize Women’s History Month, an opportunity to honor the countless contributions of women throughout our society. In education, a profession shaped and sustained largely by women, their impact is both profound and enduring. Across our district, women serve in every role, guiding, inspiring, and supporting our students each day. Women comprise a majority of our school board, a majority of our administrators, and a majority of our teachers and teaching assistants.  Their dedication, compassion, and expertise are foundational to the strength of our schools, and I am proud to join our community in recognizing and celebrating their contributions. Thank you to all of the women who make Harborfields a great place to live, learn, and work! 

 


Student Work Makes The Magazine Cover!

Brynn Gerde is creating quite the buzz! Her original piece, "Life of a Bee," has been selected for the cover of Arts Cultural Magazine's spring edition! A truly outstanding honor! And the talent doesn't stop there... flip to page 18 of the magazine to find another Harborfields artist, Chloe Goettinger, whose work is also featured! 



Unified Champion School - Board of Education Recognition

Please join us in congratulating the members and coaches of our Unified Sports teams who were recognized at this month's Board of Education meeting, as part of the Board Recognition Program. The recognition came after Harborfields High School was named a New York State Unified Sports Champion School by the Special Olympics. Way to go Tornadoes! 


World Down Syndrome Day

March 21 is recognized as World Down Syndrome Day. Last week, students and staff throughout the district showed their support by wearing colorful socks and blue and yellow clothing. TJL students created unique artwork to highlight the beauty within our differences! 


HHS Theater Spring Production Preview

The Harborfields Theatre Co. proudly presents Chicago! Don’t miss your chance to see our students shine on stage in this year’s spring production on March 26, March 27, and March 28 at 7 PM at Harborfields High School. Special dessert reception and performance for seniors on March 25 at 5 PM!



Summer HACEF & Booster Club Camps

Spring may have just started, but summer is already on our minds. Registration is officially open for the HACEF & Booster Club Camps. 


2026-2027 School Budget Development Process

The budget development process for the 2026-2027 school year is well underway. The Third Budget Presentation was provided during last Wednesday’s Regular Board of Education meeting.  As always, we encourage residents to stay engaged in this process by attending meetings, reviewing budget information posted on our website, and contacting the district with any questions or feedback. Thank you! 


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

Harborfields High School 

The World Language Department concluded a successful week with a student-led festival. Spanish and Italian students stepped up as teachers today—sharing the maps, facts, and foods that define their cultural backgrounds. A huge gracias and grazie to our student volunteers and the World Language Department for making this happen.


 

Oldfield Middle School

Sixth-grade students visited the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City. They had an amazing time and learned a great deal seeing the exhibits and workshops! Thank you to Mrs. Leone and Dr. Zenyuh for organizing the trip!

 

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Thomas J. Lahey Elementary School

Turns out learning an instrument isn’t so easy… but it sure is fun! Just ask the parents who attended Fourth Grade Parent Band Night at TJL! The informative program included information about what students have been up to, a teaching portion courtesy of high school students, and concluded with parents performing a brief concert for their children. A truly memorable night for families and student musicians alike! 

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Washington Drive Primary School

Washington Drive turned green for St. Patrick’s Day. Whether it was a bagpipe player at drop-off, classroom crafts, or creating leprechaun traps in the Makerspace, it was a day filled with lots of learning and fun! Click the image below to hear the St. Patrick’s Day broadcast, courtesy of the Little Tornadoes.

 

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Announcements & Shoutouts

Booster Club - Thank You! 


Anyone who has visited the fields at Harborfields High School has certainly seen the beautiful branding.  You may not be aware that this transformative effort has been fully supported by the Harborfields Booster Club.  We thank the Booster Club volunteers for their tireless efforts to support our students throughout the district. 


I want to give a special shoutout to the boys' varsity lacrosse team and everyone who volunteered their time to help the Booster Club during their annual banner-hanging day! The areas around the fields look great and are filled with Tornado pride. I can’t wait to cheer on our spring sports teams! 




Each Child. Each Day. One Harborfields Family.