Bennet Academy Highlights Manchester's Fall Recreation Services

With the school year back in full swing, the Manchester Parks and Recreation Department is ready to begin its fourth year of after school activities at

Starting on Oct. 3, Bennet ROCKS (Recreation on Campus for Kids) will open its doors to students at the sixth grade academy on Main Street. ROCKS is anything but your average after school program, offering a wide variety of activities including a Living Well fitness program, Center For Service Learning community service group, and intramurals for sports, games, and dance.

“With the programs we have at Bennet, kids are living well with tons of choices without even having to go anywhere, and that is pretty much unheard of in this state,” says Shannon Blenis, who has helped run the Bennet after school programs since its inception in 2008.

Operated in connection with Manchester Parks and Recreation, the sites are assisted by many premier summer camp directors and employees. The youthful staff makes the activities even more attractive to the sixth grade students, considering many of them have never had access to on-site after school events before.

“The best part is we are able to provide services for different personalities," Blenis said. "Dodgeball is going to attract a different person than community service, and we have it all available without leaving the site.”

This session of ROCKS will be active through December, and then a new one will start up from January through the end of the school year.

In addition, Bennet will once again offer night hours this fall, Monday through Friday after ROCKS from 6-9 p.m. This includes organized games for kids in the East Side Gym such as floor hockey, knockout, and indoor soccer, to complement an activity room featuring arts and crafts and a Wii hooked up to a big screen projector.

Simultaneous to these activities is drop-in basketball at the Cone Gym, featuring full and half court pickup basketball. The programs are designed so if they wish, players can drop off their kids or siblings at the East Side recreation center for their programs, then head across the quad for a few hours of open gym basketball.  

“We definitely wish to emphasize convenience,” adds Blenis.

On Saturdays, Bennet is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and offers Netflix choice movies in the activity room in addition to the usual activities.

The Mahoney Rec Center at Washington School also opens this week, and adds an additional option for weeknight and weekend basketball.

A facility pass is required for admission to rec center events, as well as proof of residency. Once purchased, the pass allows unlimited free trips to recreation areas across town. Other information on Bennet, Mahoney, and the Community Y Rec Centers can be found at recreation.townofmanchester.org. ROCKS information is available at rocks.townofmanchester.org.