CelebratED 2025: A Party with a Purpose

Change is good—and this year, the Manchester community showed just how ready it was to embrace it. CelebratED 2025 transformed Victory Park into a joyful, bustling hub of connection, support, and celebration.

Music filled the air as more than 80 community partners came together to cheer on our students and families. Nearly 20 hairstylists volunteered their time and talent, giving 118 students fresh haircuts so they could head back to school with confidence. In just 90 minutes, 550 backpacks were distributed—so many that we ran out as families eagerly lined up. Students had the chance to tour a school bus, explore STEM learning, and choose from 659 books distributed by the Bookmobile. They also climbed aboard fire trucks, visited the Dental Van for resources, and connected with even more hands-on experiences throughout the park.

CelebratED has always been more than fun—it’s been about celebrating our students and community. This year, we did that and more. Families left not only with supplies, haircuts, and books, but also with the sense of being supported by a community that believes in them.

All of this—and so much more—took place in just three short hours on a warm Thursday evening. Victory Park was filled with families, laughter, and a powerful sense of pride.

CelebratED 2025 was truly a party with a purpose—helping students feel ready, excited, and equipped to start the new school year. The pictures tell the story best, but for those who were there, the feeling was unmistakable: there was magic in the air.