Dr. Manning's 5-Minute Weekly Newsletter - October 12, 2025
Superintendent's Message
This is Christiana, one of many high school students who were inducted into the National Honor Society this week. Congratulations!
Click on any of the pictures in this update for additional information.
Another Exceptional Week of Learning at HF!
Our students continue to inspire us with their creativity as they find new and innovative ways to be good citizens while demonstrating kindness and empathy. There are many examples of this throughout the school year, but just this week alone, our students truly outdid themselves. At Harborfields High School, our student athletes recognized Breast Cancer Awareness Month through various fundraising initiatives, including our girls’ soccer program’s Kicks for Cancer Initiative and our girls’ volleyball program’s Dig Pink initiative. Through their efforts, significant funds were raised to support cancer research. Way to go, Tornadoes! I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge and thank the teachers, coaches, and administrators who support our students each day!
There is No Place for Hate in Harborfields Through our districtwide UNITED through Kindness initiative, our staff strive every day to build a school community where everyone feels seen, supported, and valued. This week, our schools reaffirmed their commitment to being No Place for Hate. While each building participated in its own activities, the shared theme was kindness and ensuring our schools are welcoming, safe, and kind places for all. As a reminder, the student-selected acronym UNITED is an abbreviation for the following shared values:
We Are Upstanders
We Are Noble
We Have Integrity
We Are Trustworthy
We Are Empathetic
We Are Dedicated
Together, we continue to make Harborfields a place where kindness connects us all – there is no place for hate in Harborfields!
Board Tour & Recognition
Earlier this week, Ms. Campbell, Dr. DeLorenzo, Ms. Donnelly, and I had the pleasure of accompanying the Board of Education on its annual Board tour. The Board had the opportunity to see our latest upgrades and enhancements firsthand, hear directly from principals, teachers, and students, and observe learning in action across the district. We’re so proud of the exciting progress taking place in our schools and grateful to the Board for their continued dedication to our students and community. As we begin School Board Recognition Week tomorrow, I am especially proud to celebrate our incredible Board of Education. They devote countless hours to ensuring the success of every student, providing thoughtful fiscal and policy oversight, and tirelessly advocating for all children. Their commitment to the Harborfields community is truly unmatched—please join me in recognizing and thanking them this week!
Coaches Appreciation Day
October 6 was National Coaches Appreciation Day! Our coaches go above and beyond every day to make a difference in the lives of our students. No matter what is thrown their way, they handle it all with professionalism and a sense of humor. Coaching isn’t just about wins and losses; it’s about teaching lessons in teamwork, resilience, and character. Thank you for your effort, your patience, and the countless hours you dedicate to helping our athletes grow as competitors and as people. You represent the very best of what Harborfields stands for!
Jamie Medico - Newsday Athlete of the Week Harborfields High School sophomore and varsity soccer player, Jamie Medico, was named Newsday’s Athlete of the Week! Click below to read more! Way to go, Jamie!
Help Support HACO You may not be aware that there are families in our community who are food insecure. You can support these families through the Harborfields Alliance for Community Outreach, also known as HACO. Please help by dropping nonperishable food donations at any of our schools or through donations. Donations can be sent by check (Payable to HACO), mailed to 2 Old Field Road, Greenlawn, NY 11740, or through PayPal (HACOHF) or Zelle (hacohf@gmail.com). Thank you, as always, for your support of our families in need!
Parent Academy: Unlock Artificial Intelligence with Harborfields!
We are inviting all families to join us on Monday, November 3, at 7pm in the High School Auditorium for an engaging and innovative evening with Carl Hooker, an acclaimed educator and author who specializes in making complex technology understandable for parents.
We'll Discuss:
The AI in Their Backpacks: Understanding the tools your child may already be using and how they affect homework, learning, and creativity.
The Power and Pitfalls: Discuss essential topics like safety, digital citizenship, and academic integrity.
Skills for the Future: Get practical advice on the skills students need to truly thrive in tomorrow's AI-driven world.
The District's Vision: Discover how our district is thoughtfully integrating AI literacy into the classroom.
Check This Out - Stadium Lights Promo Video
District architects, H2M, developed a promotional video to showcase the lights on our stadium field. Take a moment to watch the video below and be prepared to be overwhelmed with Tornado Pride!
Reminder - Schools Closed on Monday, October 13
This is a gentle reminder that all schools will be closed tomorrow, October 13, in observance of Columbus Day, as indicated on the school calendar.
Here are some of my favorite moments from this past week:
Harborfields High School:
Last week, 110 outstanding students were inducted into the National Honor Society. NHS members exemplify the organization’s four pillars: scholarship, service, leadership, and character. I had the honor of speaking at the induction ceremony, where I shared my reflections on two of those pillars, leadership and character, qualities these students demonstrate every day as they make a positive impact on the Harborfields High School community. Congratulations to both the new and continuing members! We look forward to seeing the many ways you will continue to lead and serve.
Oldfield Middle School: The newest members of the #oneHFamily spent time together enjoying a pizza lunch and getting to know their OMS buddies. Thanks to the OMS guidance counselors, Mrs. Roemer, Mrs. Fagan, and Ms. McCaffrey, for organizing and welcoming our new entrants!
Thomas J. Lahey Elementary School: Students from the high school’s Spanish Communication class visited TJL and led thoughtful anti-bias lessons on culture and identity. The students loved hearing from high school role models and participating in a fun activity together!
Washington Drive Primary School: Students had a blast learning about fire safety and exploring the fire trucks, courtesy of Greenlawn and Centerport Fire Departments. Special thanks to the local firefighters who protect our community every day!
Board of Education Meeting Preview
The Harborfields Board of Education will hold its next Regular Meeting on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, at Oldfield Middle School. The public portion of this meeting is expected to begin at approximately 7:45 p.m. Doors will open to the public at 7:20 p.m. The public does not need to register in advance to view the meeting remotely. All meetings will be live-streamed on our student-run Tornado News website. The link is also provided on the monthly Public Notice document posted on our website.
The Board of Education welcomes and encourages the public to attend its meetings. The agenda for this meeting is posted on the Board of Education page of our website, along with a brochure describing Board of Education meetings and an informationalletter describing the public comment process.
Highlights of this month’s meeting are as follows:
Students and staff will be recognized for their accomplishments during the Board recognition program.
My Superintendent's Report will include a spotlight on the new playgrounds at TJL and WDPS.
A presentation on our progress on Board of Education Goals and the review of the district's 5-Year Strategic Plan will be provided.
Following the Superintendent’s Report, the Board will act on items included in the agenda. We hope you will be able to join us at this upcoming meeting of the Board of Education.
Thank you for your continued support of our students and our schools!