Programs at the Manning
In addition to in-school enrichment such as art, gym, science, and library, the Manning provides students with extra-curricular activities through the support of community members, caregivers, and outside organizations.
Do you have a special skill or affiliation with an institution that can enrich our students? Please contact Mr. Silva or reach out to the Manning SPC to talk about ways to get involved, from a one-time event to regular volunteering!
Boston Music Project:
Before-School and In-School Music
Manning Elementary has proudly partnered with Boston Music Project (BMP) for a before school strings program. BMP also offers comprehensive music education and social-emotional learning (SEL) programs during school for 2025-2026, enriching the entire school community.
They understand the challenges of balancing work, school schedules, rush hour, and the complexities of Boston's busing system. BMP is there to help ease that burden. Parents can focus on their work, confident that their children are in a safe, engaging environment during out-of-school hours, both before and after class.
Boston Music Project has a team of dedicated and trained teaching artists serve as both educators and role models, leading instrumental lessons and SEL activities that foster cooperation and character development.
To register for the next session of the Before School Strings Program, click here. The program runs 5 days a week from 8:00 - 9:15 am.
Birthday Book
Student/staff birthdays at the Manning are celebrated with the Birthday Book Program. This tradition was created by Ms. Cahill and continues on lovingly by our current librarian Ms. Vasquez. The Manning Birthday Book Program is sponsored by Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital.
Each month the school has a Birthday Book Assembly where we acknowledge each student or staff member’s birthday in that particular month (August is celebrated in September and July is celebrated with our June birthdays). Every student/staff member receives a hardcover book that is donated to our school library by the Faulkner Hospital in their honor. These books are hand picked according to reading level and interests of the children. Each book has a bookplate inside the front cover with the child’s name, birth date, and the year they received it. During the Assembly each student goes up on stage to receive their book, birthday pencil, and a birthday certificate.
The Birthday Book Program is a special tradition here at the Manning, allowing us to both recognize student birthdays and connect children to books and our library in a meaningful way.
YMCA Before/After School Care
The Manning has partnered with the YMCA of Greater Boston to provide before and after school care for children ages 5 and older.
Math Club
The Manning offers math club for students in grades 5th & 6th after school. This club is organized and run by parent volunteers who are vested in keeping math fun and engaging by having them explore math in new ways.
Math club is from 4:15 - 5 pm on Mondays. Please contact Ms. Council at jcouncil@bostonpublicschools.org to sign up.
BOPN
The Manning is blessed with access to woods behind the school and the Arnold Arboretum down the street. To take advantage of these resources, we have partnered with the Boston Outdoor Preschool Network (BOPN) to offer Forest Days to its K0/K1 class. Forest Days is a growing movement to encourage public school students spend more time outdoors with nature.
The K0/K1 class spends one morning per week exploring nature with guidance from BOPN's outdoor educators, their classroom teachers, and family volunteers. We hope to expand this program to other grades in the future.
Girls on the Run
Girls on the Run has fun, evidence-based programs that inspire participants to recognize their inner strength, increase their level of physical activity, imagine their possibilities, and confidently stand up for themselves and others.
Girls starting in Grade 3 and older can participate - practices are held after school and culminates with a 5k race.