French Hall, the site of the Manchester School District’s new Welcome Center, will be filled with the sounds of families, performances and student productions soon enough. On Thursday, however, the halls reverberated with the gentle tappings of a hammer. Ed Doyle, director of fine arts for the district and director of the Central High School Band, was busy hanging works by artists of all ages in corridors and stairways.
Not quite the same as overseeing a performance of ‘Pictures at an Exhibition,’ but Doyle placed every piece with a smile. “It’s an honor to be able to work here, help students in the center of town and have their work displayed,” Doyle said. “I’m also really excited for the performance opportunities in this building.
“I think the possibilities are endless.” The city’s new Welcome Center officially debuted last week, hosting a school board retreat and Superintendent of Schools Jennifer Chmiel’s annual State of the Manchester School District speech. The purpose of the year-round hub for community engagement is to make all aspects of education more effective and accessible for students and to help them thrive academically, physically, socially and emotionally, offering one-stop shopping where “families can go and know we want their children in our district,” Chmiel said.
“Excited isn’t even a word I can use,” said Chmiel. “I just can’t believe we’re here. The team that helped me build this, I will forever be indebted to them — and they’re loving the building, they’re loving the vision.
” Located at 148 Concord St., the center features two administrative assistants, a social worker, rotating district administrators, multi-language liaisons, an attendance coordinator, a homeless liaison/parent-involvement coordinator, a community schools hub, a fine arts director, food services assistance, and space for community partner organizations like GEAR UP 2.0 and Manchester Proud.
The center provides: Support and orientation for families new to the school district. A central place for community services and information. Assistance with school registration.
Screening for English language proficiency. Evaluation for transfer transcripts, including international. Classroom space for programming.
Office space for confidential conversations. Large open spaces for professional development and family engagement events. The school board has approved a three-year lease agreement for the building with New England College.
The district pays $100,000 per year, at $8,333 per month. School officials have secured funding for the Family Welcome Center for the next seven years, Chmiel said. “French Hall has been a cultural landmark for over a century,” New England College President Wayne F.
Lesperance said. “Emma Blood French’s original vision was that the building be used to advance the arts and education in Manchester. In addition to our Art at French community programs, NEC is thrilled to partner with (the school district) to provide Manchester students and families with a hub that will better connect them with the community and better facilitate their education.
” The new Family Welcome Center is a larger version of a similar one established at Manchester High School Central last year. The Central center will continue. Additional support services include: Help with navigating the student information system.
Guidance on high school pathways, career and college opportunities, as well as volunteer opportunities, and social and emotional resources. A multilingual liaison team. District orientation for policies and procedures.
Access to meal services. School ID services. Processing for address and information changes.
Support for students experiencing homelessness. There’s also a “Compass Room,” a home for donated school supplies like pencils and backpacks that will be given to families. “To have “To have a place that families can be welcomed to the district and have all their needs taken care of in one spot, instead of having to go across the district, is amazing,” said Lauren Boisvert, director of communications for Manchester Proud.
“Not only do we welcome families and get them registered and signed up for free and reduced lunch, we can give them supplies and really welcome them and make sure they have a successful school year. “It’s a dedicated space to welcome new families to the district, not in a little office in the corner of a school but in an amazing, beautiful building where there’s so many extra things — that’s what the district deserves and what families deserve.”.
