Community Involvement

Friends of Manual High School is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to support the academic achievement and overall experience of students at Manual. Friends of Manual was started a decade ago by a group of alumni committed to public education in Denver. This dedicated group finds ways to positively connect with their Alma matter.

In Memory of Mr. Al Schegelberger-

Thunderbolt Family: it’s with a broken heart we announce one of our most treasured alumni and school historian has passed. Mr. Al Schegelberger, MHS ‘60 has passed on April 6, 2020. His bright smile and stories of manual history will be sorely missed. A tribute will be planned by the Friends of Manual. Please share your memories on their fb page or via email.

For more information regarding the history of Manual High School or to donate, please contact http://www.friendsofmanual.org/.

Manual Council an elected group of actively engaged parents, teachers, administrators, and community members who provide feedback on major school decisions regarding programming, school climate, academic performance, and budgets. The Manual Council meets monthly and ensures fidelity to the school mission and vision, as outlined in the Unified Improvement Plan.

For more information, please contact:

Serina Montoya, CO-Chair School Social worker
Phone 303.423.6751
Email: serina_montoya@dpsk12.net

VISION:

Manual Students engaged in the Reading Partners Program will increase their love of reading and improve their skills to make meaning from multiple texts.

PROGRAM:

• Together, student and volunteers will choose reading material based on student interest
• Student and volunteers will meet weekly during class time to engage in reading and discussion of chosen texts.
• Students and volunteers will have opportunities to write about and share readings with a larger group.
• Volunteers will receive training and support throughout the year. Volunteers are reading partners, providing modeling and practice for how one constructs meaning while reading.
• Progress will be tracked based upon student and volunteer surveys, state and district assessments and increased time of student reading. This program is part of a school-wide effort to increase reading across the curriculum.

OUTCOMES:

1. Dramatically increase reading confidence and skill of Manual High School students.
2. Build student reading fluency and comprehension.
3. Build relationships between Manual High School and the community.
4. Increase the amount of relevant complex text available to students.

For more information please contact:
Julie Malek
Program Coordinator
julie_malek@dpsk12.net
303-918-9345

The Food Pantry at Manual Market was established in 2017 and has seen overwhelming support from our alumni community, our greater Whittier community and staff and students at Manual.

We aimed to begin a movement on campus where the Whole Child can be cared for and students and their families benefit from nutritious meals and snacks.

Highlighted in a 2018 Article in Capitol Hill Life, our Pantry at Manual started with a small vision by our school nurse who saw a large need.  She found herself assessing students for health conditions, which could solved with proper nutrition.  The nurse reached out for help from Friends of Manual and donations in time and money from community members began to pour in. Food For Thought, a local non-profit with ties to other food banks at DPS schools, provided multiple donations of food throughout the first year.

We are excited to begin a new year with your support. Please email Lucy Roberts – the school nurse at lucy_roberts@dpsk12.net if you can help this year in any way.

Areas of need are:

• Food donations
• Financial support
• Volunteer time to help organize Food Pantry
• Trucks to drive and pick up donation

Location: School Nurse Office in Clinic