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Harborfields Central School District

Each Child. Each Day. One Harborfields Family.

Dr. Manning's 5-Minute Weekly Update

Posted Date: 05/17/26 (10:00 AM)
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Dr. Manning's 5-Minute Weekly Newsletter - May 17, 2026

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Superintendent's Message 

Students in the 5th and 6th grade chorus, orchestra, and band participated in the Harborfields Music Festival this Friday.  They started their day with a clinic provided by a guest conductor and then headed to Adventureland to celebrate an amazing year of accomplishments.  We are so proud of their hard work and dedication!  

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

The Budget Vote and Board Election Is Here!

This Tuesday, May 19th, the polls for the Budget Vote and Board Election will be open from 2:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. at Oldfield Middle School, located at 2 Old Field Road, Greenlawn. 

Information related to the Budget Vote and Board Election, including presentations, the budget newsletter, tax calculator, and the financial plan, may be found on our website.  Click here for Board of Education candidate information.



I encourage all residents to participate in the upcoming budget and board election this Tuesday! 


No Place for Hate Gold Star Designation

We are thrilled to share that all four schools, Washington Drive Primary School, Thomas J. Lahey Elementary School, Oldfield Middle School, and Harborfields High School, earned the No Place for Hate Gold Star designation for the 2025-26 school year! This designation recognizes the commitment of each school to create a space where everyone feels seen, supported, and valued. Congratulations and keep up this important work! 


From Harborfields student to award-winning Harborfields teacher!

Please join me in congratulating Harborfields alumnus and high school science teacher Mr. Mike Pinto, who was selected as the High School Science Teacher of the Year from the Suffolk section of the Science Teachers Association of New York! This prestigious award recognizes Mr. Pinto as being at the forefront of science education and honors his ability to inspire both students and colleagues to reach higher goals and achievements. Congratulations, Mr. Pinto - your dedication, passion for teaching, and commitment to excellence make this recognition truly well deserved!


Important Notice - Schools Open - May 26th

As indicated on the school calendar and shared in previous correspondence, schools will be open for students and staff on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, due to the use of two emergency closing days. Please mark your calendars accordingly.  




Superintendent Spotlight Series - Advanced Placement Seminar
The Board of Education set as one of its goals this year to "Prepare students for success in postsecondary education and the evolving global workforce by building upon K-12 programming opportunities that allow students to apply their critical thinking, reading, and writing skills to interdisciplinary research projects." One shining example of our work to meet this goal has been the implementation of the Advanced Placement Capstone Program, consisting of two required courses, AP Seminar and AP Research.  As you will see in the video below from the May 12, 2026, Board of Education meeting, our students are doing phenomenal college-level work under the guidance of our outstanding teachers.  Prepare to be impressed! 

  


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

Harborfields High School 

Harborfields High School senior Julia Ann Downey is a 2026 Western Suffolk Counselors' Association scholarship recipient! Julia, who plans to attend Clemson University this fall, was selected for her strong commitment to volunteerism. Her school counselor, Mrs. Lucera, nominated her because of the positive impact she has made in the Harborfields community through volunteering, demonstrating leadership, and inspiring her peers to get involved as well! 


 

Oldfield Middle School

Students took a giant leap out of the classroom and into the cinema to catch Project Hail Mary! From calculating complex orbits and seeing Kepler’s Laws in action, to diving into the science of spectroscopy and the thrilling search for extraterrestrial life, OMS students saw exactly how the concepts they study solve "out-of-this-world" problems.  


 

Thomas J. Lahey Elementary School

The TJL Tornado News Crew had an amazing opportunity to visit HHS and collaborate with the HHS Tornado News Team! Students worked side-by-side with the high school team, learning about broadcasting, teamwork, and what it takes to create a live news production. It was such an unbelievable experience and a wonderful example of Harborfields students learning and growing together across all grade levels. 

Washington Drive Primary School

Character counts! Students in Mrs. Owen/Mrs. Rodgers and Mrs. Dowd's classes put on a heartwarming show to remind others how someone's character shines through their everyday actions. 


Announcements & Shoutouts

Building Community Connections

Kudos to Mr. Mercurio’s 4th-grade class, who recently embarked on an exciting project focused on strengthening community connections through the power of persuasive writing.


Over the past several weeks, students researched local businesses and wrote heartfelt, persuasive letters to restaurants throughout the Huntington, Greenlawn, and Northport communities explaining why these establishments are such meaningful and positive additions to our town. Students highlighted the restaurants’ welcoming atmospheres, delicious food, hardworking staff, and the important role local businesses play in bringing communities together.


What began as a classroom writing assignment quickly turned into a memorable real-world learning experience. Many of the featured restaurants proudly displayed student letters inside their establishments, responded to students on social media, and even surprised several students with gift cards and personal messages of appreciation.


The excitement generated by this project has been incredible for our students. Seeing their writing celebrated publicly has reinforced the importance of communication, kindness, and civic engagement while showing students that their voices truly matter within the community.

 


Each Child. Each Day. One Harborfields Family.