Dr. Manning's 5-Minute Weekly Update

Posted Date: 11/01/26 (10:00 AM)

Dr. Manning's 5-Minute Weekly Newsletter - November 1, 2026

Superintendent's Message

Please join me in wishing our high school Cook Manager, Ms. Filomena Piscitelli, a very Happy Birthday! The entire high school staff and students celebrated her this week. She has been proudly serving Harborfields students since 1978!

Happy Birthday, Filomena!

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

Appreciating Our Time Together!

This weekend, we turn the clocks back as daylight savings time ends. While the days will feel short, the energy in our buildings will remain strong, fueled by the creativity, learning, and connection happening every day. I hope you will join the rest of our community at our many school events in the coming weeks ahead!

HHS Senior Uses Language to Build Bridges Across Cultures
I invite you to read a wonderful article by clicking on the image below that was published in the Times of Huntington-Northport featuring HHS senior Vincenza Czekaj, who will soon travel to Puerto Rico as part of the Puerto Rican/Hispanic Youth Leadership Institute (PRHYLI). Enzie is one of just seven students statewide named an Outstanding Delegate and selected for this experience! The article explores the important role language and culture have played in shaping her identity, her interests, and the path she is taking today. Congratulations to Enzie (pictured on the right) on this exciting opportunity and well-deserved recognition!

Postseason Pride - Way To Go Tornadoes!

Girls Field Hockey - County Champions

Congratulations to the Girls Varsity Field Hockey team on being named the Class B Suffolk County Champions! They have advanced to the Long Island Championship, which will be held on Tuesday at Adelphi University!

Girls Soccer - Advanced to County Championships

Congratulations to the Girls Varsity Soccer team, who have advanced to the County finals, which is being held today at 11:00 a.m. at West Islip.

Featured Artists - Nightmare on Main Street
Harborfields High School students Tess Carey and Kayla Tsai were selected to showcase their original artwork in the Huntington Art Council's Nightmare on Main Street exhibit! Now in its 15th year, the annual exhibit features artwork by middle school and high school students inspired by folklore, mythical creatures, and the lessons behind their stories. Both students brought thought-provoking concepts to life through their art. The exhibit is open through November 15. Stop by to experience these incredible works of art and see the creativity of our student artists firsthand!

Please Help - Thanksgiving Food Drive

All of our schools are collecting food for HACO’s Thanksgiving food drive. The collection runs through Tuesday, November 17th, and the food collected will be distributed to families in need. Please contact your child’s teacher or principal if you have any questions. Thank you in advance for your support!

Reminder - Schools Closed for Students on November 3rd

This is a gentle reminder that all schools will be closed for students on Tuesday, November 3, for Superintendent’s Conference Day.

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

Harborfields High School

Hundreds of kids and their families enjoyed trick-or-treating at the high school's annual Safe Halloween event, presented by the HF Interact Club! The costumes were magical, and the candy was overflowing! After exploring all there was to offer outside, you could enter the spooky walk... if you dared! Special thanks to all the clubs who participated and the volunteers who made the event so memorable for the entire community!

Oldfield Middle School

Thank you to all of the families who decorated their trunks to participate in the annual OMS Trunk or Treat event. It was wonderful walking around and seeing the creativity and excitement in our students. Click on the picture below to see for yourself. Special thanks to Mrs. Leone and Dr. Zenyuh who made the event such a success!

Thomas J. Lahey Elementary School

TJL was thrilled to welcome Mrs. Zagaja from OMS and her four-legged friend, Fenway, to Ms. O’Toole’s class for a special lesson in kindness, compassion, and giving back! Through Mrs. Zagaja’s inspiring volunteer work with the Guide Dog Foundation, our TJL students learned the importance of paying it forward and how even the smallest acts of kindness can make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

Washington Drive Primary School

Students at Washington Drive have been growing their knowledge of hydroponic gardening, and they recently added a little creativity to the experience. Each grade held a contest to name its tower, and the winners were some fun and fitting choices: Grow-Nado for second grade, The Sprout Squad for first grade, and Grow with the Flow for kindergarten.

Announcements & Shoutouts

Social Justice Ambassadors

Students from Harborfields High School’s Social Justice Ambassadors Club joined with students from all across the Town of Huntington to participate in a day of learning and collaboration. The students heard from guest speakers and participated in many different activities to learn about how they can serve as leaders in promoting kindness and empathy in their school community. I had the pleasure of visiting the program and seeing firsthand the positive impact the day had on our students. A big thank you to Ms. DaSilva for her outstanding work as the advisor of this club!

Harborfields Field Hockey Raises $6,000 for Breast Cancer Awareness Month
During every game in October, members of Harborfields Field Hockey encouraged family, friends, and fans to choose a set donation or pledge $1 or more per corner. If Harborfields scored on a corner, the donation for that corner would DOUBLE! At the conclusion of their final October game, the athletes had 70 corners and 13 goals and raised $6,000 for Ribbons Rising, a local breast cancer foundation.

Many other teams, including Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Gymnastics, and Boys Soccer, have also raised awareness and funds for important causes. We are so proud of all students who’ve made it their mission to help those affected by cancer. Keep up the amazing work.

Each Child. Each Day. One Harborfields Family.