Cougar News
ConVal High School Happenings - April 3, 2026
Message from Principal McKillop
Good Afternoon, Cougar Nation!
We have officially entered April, and despite yesterday's snow flurries, I remain hopeful that true spring weather is just around the corner! Today marks the end of Quarter 3, and we look forward to kicking off Quarter 4 this Monday. It always amazes me how quickly the school year flies by.
As you can see from the important dates below, there is quite a bit on the horizon, including upcoming field trips and the SATs, which take place during the school day next week. We encourage our students to approach these exams with focus and to give their best effort, as this is a significant opportunity for them to showcase their academic growth and hard work.
If you are planning ahead, please consider joining us on campus for our Spring Musical on the evenings of April 16, 17, or 18. I also encourage you to look through the classroom highlights below for an inside peek at the great work our students are doing. I’m pictured above with a few students practicing their interview skills for Career Communications; I am always grateful for the opportunity to support them on their learning adventures!
Have a wonderful weekend, and as always, GO COUGARS!
Best,
Heather
Students of the Month
The World Language Department would like to announce and congratulate the March Students of the Month. These students exhibit the key qualities of successful language learners. They have a positive attitude, show a willingness to take academic risks, demonstrate perseverance and curiosity, and are successful collaborators. German: Mattie Aubin and Mallory Mason. Spanish: Ashlyn Minckler and Samuel Stacy. Congratulations, all!
CTE Student of the Month
Congratulations to senior Skyla Walton, who earned the CTE Student of the Month award at the Region 14 Applied Technology Center for the month of March. Skyla was nominated by her Careers in Education instructor, Mrs. Grossi, for being "an outstanding Careers in Education II student. In her paired placement in a first-grade classroom, Skyla has gone above and beyond expectations." Through the generosity of the Peterborough Kiwanis Club, Skyla received a prize of $100 for personal use as well as $50 to donate to a nonprofit of her choice. She also has a reserved parking space for the duration of April. Congratulations, Skyla!
Brace Wins Bundestag Scholarship
Congratulations to Sarah Brace who is the recipient of a Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) scholarship. Jointly sponsored by the U.S. and German governments, the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange is a fully funded study abroad program for high school students and recent graduates. Scholarship recipients spend an academic year in Germany. This extended opportunity allows them to learn first-hand about German culture and perspectives through daily life and interactions in the host culture.
Field Trip to SNHU (CTE)
Students interested in construction careers attended Concrete College at SNHU on March 25 to learn the science of creating concrete and building with it. Students learned about concrete testing and how walls are created in the factory and then delivered to the job site.
Field Trip to Empire Beauty School
On Thursday, March 26, 22 students headed to Empire Beauty School in Hooksett to explore the vibrant world of cosmetology. The group got an inside look at professional career paths and learned about Empire’s specialized programs in hair styling, aesthetics, nails, barbering, and lash artistry. It was an inspiring day of discovering where a passion for beauty can lead!
Cultural Conversations: Los Cascarones
TASC Talk About Charlie, The Therapy Dog
For a special TASC presentation on Wednesday, April 1, Shannon Dunning of Peterborough Elementary School talked about their therapy dog Charlie. Charlie was specially trained for the detection of the stress hormone cortisol. The training allows him to identify specific biochemical changes in a person's scent when their cortisol level goes up, which allows him to alert the head staff, who then practice grounding techniques to help regulate students.
Eastern World Heritage
Students in Mr. Heider's Eastern World Heritage class are learning about the spread of Islam. They are analyzing primary and secondary sources in groups to back statements about the reasons why Islam spread so quickly after 632 CE.
English 10
Students in Mrs. Harris's English 10 are exploring the themes of empathy and seeing things from other's perspectives as they read the novel To Kill a Mockingbird. The students are also discussing symbolism and dynamic characters as they approach the end of the novel.
English 11
Students in Liz Moore and Tyler Mudrick’s 11th Grade English class recently took a step back in time to experience the highs and lows of the '20s. To kick off their study of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, this junior English class participated in a Stock Market Simulation. This engaging activity provided our students with a "front-row seat" to the economic forces that shaped the American Dream in the 1920s, setting the perfect stage for their literary analysis of the classic novel.
Intro to Design (CTE)
Students in Intro to Design tested their creativity and iterative design skills by building chairs from cardboard. Guidelines included a seat that was 18-21" high, a required seat and backrest, portability through a 32"wide opening, and the ability to support 160 lbs for at least 5 seconds without breaking. Extra points went to teams whose designs were aesthetically pleasing, were created solely from cardboard, and were comfortable to get into and out of.
Music
In Mr. Trudeau's Intro to Guitar class, students are performing a piece under the direction of Mr. Trudeau. Students have been working individually on the specific piece and now have joined in a whole class performance of the song Zombie by The Cranberries.
Physical Science
On Tuesday March 31st, Physical Science classes visited the Harris Center in Hancock as part of their unit on energy. Students rotated through eight workstations to learn about energy transfers in a building, energy conservation, and choices we make to sustainably heat and power our homes.
Robotics (CTE)
Students in the Robotics class are working on building and coding robots that will travel a table top without falling off. Retired ConVal teacher, Gil Morris, is showing the students how to use limit sensors to detect the table edge and to code the robots to react accordingly.
Science
Students taking science classes enjoyed a unique learning opportunity. For two days, the UNH STEM-MoBILE (STEM Mobile Biofabrication Integrated Lab Experience) visited ConVal. The lab introduces the cutting-edge field of biofabrication to schools across the state and seeks to attract students to the field. The science classes of Angela Bird, Ann Clifton-Waite, Randy Stetzer, and Carol Young benefited from this experience.
Social Studies
In Ms. Montgomery's US History class this week, students immersed themselves in a “classroom museum” dedicated to the work of Jacob Riis and Lewis Hines. The teacher assistants from the ELO program spent hours helping set up the museum. The US History students explored more than 200 photographs chronicling the Gilded Age and selected photos from the “museum” to create a five-photo essay exploring the themes of the unit.
Spanish
Students in Mr. Hargreave's Spanish class were practicing their vocabulary recitation for the quiz on Friday, April 3. The quiz has a listening section, a short translating section, and a multiple-choice section. This is to help them build confidence for the quiz.
Yoga
In Ms. Lima's Yoga class students learn yoga poses, breathing exercises, relaxation and mindfulness techniques to strengthen, align, and balance the body, focus the mind, and soothe and recharge the nervous system. Discussions and reflective writing center on body systems, managing stress and feelings, and the impact of one's behavioral choices, as well as education in health, nutrition, and life skills. Yoga is an elective class and may be taken sophomore, junior or senior year.
April News
Brace yourselves…
April's sneeze-a-thon is coming!
When people have an allergy, their immune system reacts to
harmless things, such as grass pollen, pet dander, or a specific
food. Something that is typically harmless but causes a reaction for some individuals is called an allergen.
Allergy symptoms can vary from person to person and allergen to allergen.
Seasonal or environmental allergy symptoms can include:
running nose, usually with pale or clear mucus
sneezing
coughing
red-watery eyes
itching around the nose, mouth or eyes
Treatments can include:
avoid known allergens
medications
nasal sprays
consult healthcare provider, if needed
Helpful hint: Allergies do not come with a fever!
In Sports
Spring sports are underway. Practices have started and we have been lucky to get outside a couple of times already! With the inconsistent weather in March and April, teams need to be flexible with regard to practice and games where changes could occur due to rain, snow, and field conditions. The best way to stay up to date with team information is through the team Sports You app. Please contact coaches to get access if you haven’t already.
FCVA - April Sign Up's are here!
Volunteering is a great way to support our Student Athletes and help raise money for their programs! It’s also a great way to be a part of our pretty great community and it’s fun!
Let’s go Cougars!!!!
Please click on this link to sign up.
Blood Drive
On Friday, March 27, the National Honor Society and Student Council teamed up to host the Spring Blood Drive in partnership with the American Red Cross. Although delays led to long waits, student and staff donors were incredibly patient and supportive of this important initiative! The Student Council and NHS would like to thank all those who donated or attempted to donate to help save lives. In total, 24 units of blood were collected to help those in the community. Way to go, ConVal!
Spring Formal Dance
The class of 2028 hosted a Spring Formal Dance at the Town Hall in Peterborough. Students danced all night with the help of our DJ, Taylor Montgomery. The photo booth was set up and students took pictures to remember the night. Thank you to the class of 2029 for running a great concession stand! We are already looking forward to next year!
ConVal High School Yearbook Online Orders Now Live
The ConVal High School Yearbook staff members are putting the final touches on this year's edition of the ConVal Yearbook. The book is an annual collection of your stories and your photos from the year. There's nothing else like it to share with your friends today and to hang on to share with your families for years to come! Order your copy by clicking here.
📬 184 Hancock Road, Peterborough, NH 03458
📞 (603) 924-3869 📧 conval.highschool@conval.edu
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