There is a tremendous amount of pride in our school for providing a nurturing, joyful, and educationally rich environment for our students each day.

The families of the Manomet Elementary School (MES) community deeply value its range of rich and lasting traditions, many of which span decades. It is not uncommon to see second or third generation students join our school community with family members sharing special stories and memories about specific events in which they participated, and now look forward to experiencing once again as parents. Continuity has been present within the MES staff as well. Presently, 22 of the 24 certificated staff members who work full-time at MES have at least seven years of experience. Over the past 96 years, there have been just five building principals.

The MES community is one in which generosity and outreach are very much a part of who we are. Staff coordinate monthly collections of funding and items in support of a variety of local causes. Through our Annual Turkey Trot, students donate food items each November to stock our local food pantry. Staff members and families demonstrate an overwhelming level of generosity each December as we ensure that our families with greatest needs have presents to enjoy. During “Sock-tober”, we work to bolster the supply of socks within local homeless shelters. One of our greatest sources of pride is when students who have moved on to secondary school come back to lead charitable giving drives for our students. Through our Annual Faculty Feast event, families come to our school and enjoy a spaghetti and meatball supper served to them by our staff. This event raises funds for scholarships in memory of two MES staff members to benefit graduating high school seniors who previously attended our school.

Our students regularly take advantage of the many opportunities at MES to demonstrate their passion and talent within the Performing Arts. For the past 15 years, we have sought out community partnerships to help fund annual after-school theater workshop programs. Over 50 of our fourth and fifth grade students participate in an intensive theater experience that culminates with live performances of a selected musical after eight weeks of rehearsals. We have expanded this work to include another theater workshop offered to over 35 of our third grade students annually. During the school day each week, students have the opportunity to participate in chorus, as well as either band or orchestra instrumental lessons. These musical talents are on display beyond the walls of our school when students travel to perform for infirmed patients at several local nursing homes, as well as to sing the National Anthem prior to professional sporting events. In less structured ways, students display their talents on-stage at our Annual Talent Show, as well as during our longest standing event of over 50 years, the Annual Sing-Along.

The Manomet Elementary School community has a reputation for its passion and pursuit of outstanding achievement within the areas of science, technology, and engineering. While far surpassing the performance of state averages on an annual basis for two decades, MES students have regularly performed within the top 2%-15% in Massachusetts on state assessments for Science and Technology/Engineering. These outcomes are the result of an experiential approach to teaching and learning in science that permeates our work throughout the school building and beyond. Students excel at solving challenges associated with their Robotics Club. An inquiry-based approach to teaching science is an increasing area of emphasis. Our students have opportunities to benefit from local surroundings with walking field trips to explore the Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences and White Horse Beach.

Another constant at MES over the years has been the unwavering support from the Manomet Home and School Association (MHSA) for our students. This organization of parent volunteers enriches our school in many different ways. We count on their funding support to fill in any gaps during difficult budgetary times. They also work to provide enrichment experiences for our students. Schoolwide assemblies are enhanced by many of the workshops and presenters they fund to share diverse skills and perspectives with our students. Their ability to lead fundraising for major enhancements is also very much appreciated. Projects such as our stage curtains and lighting, as well as our new school playground were funded by the MHSA at a total cost of over $100,000. Even more beneficial than funds raised by the MHSA, the sense of community and spirit they build through their many events deeply enhances the school environment for our students. Students form fond, lasting memories of events such as Playful Engineers, Ice Cream Social, Spring Dance Party, Escape Room Event, Annual Book Fair, and Grade 5 vs. Staff Basketball Game.