KHS Blackbird Beacon

October 20: Fall combined ensemble concert, 7pm

October 22: Voter Registration Event during lunches; National Honor Society Induction, 6pm

October 27: photo retake day (morning) AND Senior group photo (10am)

November 3: Workshop day, no school for students

November 4: NH Apply Day

November 10: Financial Aid 101, 6pm

November 11: Veteran's Day, no school

November 12 and 13: Fall Musical, 7pm

There will be a parent/guardian informational meeting for winter sports teams on Monday, November 2 at 6pm in the KHS main gym. Coaches for all winter teams will be present to answer questions and provide information regarding tryouts.

First day of tryouts - Winter 2026-2027:

Bowling, Swimming, Wrestling - Monday, Nov. 16

Gymnastics, Alpine Ski - Monday, Nov. 23

Basketball, Ice Hockey, Indoor Track, Cheer - Monday, Nov. 30

E-Sports, Nordic Ski - Monday, Dec. 7

During lunches on Thursday, October 22, the City of Keene's voter registration clerk will be at Keene High School. Students who are 18 or older can register to vote.

Students, you will need to bring sufficient identification with you in order to register. See the guide below to help you. If you don't have a copy of your birth certificate handy, ask Ms. Hines in school counseling - we may have one in your student file!

PLEASE NOTE: Keene residents will have a representative available. Our voter registration contact is working hard to have representatives from other area towns available as well, but their availability is not confirmed as of this publication date.

Students from the Life After High School and Life Skills classes helped our school nurse with a program for staff focused on helping to find ways to drink more water.

Hands-on student helpers carefully chopped fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs to craft custom quart-sized jars of fruit-infused water. Together, they prepared and delivered these vibrant, refreshing beverages to nearly three dozen participating staff members.

The initiative was met with enthusiastic praise throughout the building, with staff sharing feedback such as: “They looked—and were—very refreshing!”, “Simply fabulous!”, and “The fruit jar was awesome!” Thank you to our dedicated students and nurse for bringing such a thoughtful and revitalizing project to our school!

Mrs. Foley's Biology class constructed the glucose molecule to better understand its role in photosynthesis and cellular respiration.

Keene High welcomed four students from Germany in October. The exchange students paired up with their Blackbird buddies and got to experience a typical day in an American high school.

Keene High School brought six teams to the NH Soil Judging Contest that was held at UNH's Kingman Farm in Madbury, NH. Keene's best teams placed first, second, and fourth out of eighteen total teams. There were sixty-four individual students competing. Students were scored both individually and as part of their team.

Scotty Hartshorne earned the highest score out of the sixty-four students and his team also came in first place. We have not had this happen in over a decade, so it was a special day for Keene High School in this competition.

Congratulations to Scotty, and to all of the Keene High participants!

When new technology emerges, people often forget the older innovations that paved the way for progress. However, Richard Wilson (Class of ‘65) and Sharon Wilson (Class of ‘68), have preserved their collection of vintage technology—both inherited and acquired—to share with our school community. Their extraordinary items span the entire history of human innovation, starting with prehistoric handaxes. Staff and students recently visited the library to explore "The Latest Technology" exhibit, which featured artifacts predating Keene's oldest residents.

The collection offered a fascinating look back at how everyday devices have evolved:

• Communication: Visitors saw an early 1919 telephone featuring a classic handset and cradle, alongside a Motorola bag phone from the 1980s.

• Computing & Writing: Highlights included a 1928 Royal P typewriter, a famous 1965 Addiator calculating device, and the 24.5-pound Osborne 1 from the 1980s, recognized as the first commercially successful portable computer.

A standout piece was the 1910 electric toaster. The next time you make a toaster strudel, keep in mind that the appliance you use traces its roots back to an invention created over a century ago. It is not too late for you to come to the library and appreciate this gift that the Wilsons have loaned us.

On Wednesday, October 7th, all of our biology classes headed out into Ladies Wildwood Park for a hands-on BioBlitz!

What’s a BioBlitz? It’s a fast-paced survey where students work alongside local volunteers and naturalists from the Harris Center to document as many local species as possible to get a snapshot of our local biodiversity. Measuring biodiversity is the critical first step to understanding, protecting, and managing our local ecosystems.

Grade 9 represents a significant transition, bringing higher academic expectations and new social dynamics. As school counselors, our goal is to support our students every step of the way to ensure a smooth, successful adjustment to high school.

Our transition support began last spring with individual advising sessions for incoming 8th graders to review schedules and address early questions. Building on that foundation, we are currently hosting our two-part Freshmen 101 series. These workshops cover essential topics, including behavior expectations, school resources, healthy sleep habits, digital wellness, extracurricular engagement, and the long-term impact of academic performance.

In our next session, 9th graders will participate in a student panel, offering them the chance to ask current juniors and seniors for firsthand advice on navigating Keene High School. Following this, counselors will hold individual check-ins in November to review first-quarter academic progress and discuss how students are adapting to high school life.

To our grade 9 parents and guardians, we extend a warm welcome to Keene High School! We are delighted to partner with you during this exciting new chapter and look forward to supporting your student’s success.

Paula Secall attended Keene High School in 2016-2017 as an exchange student from Barcelona, Spain. She recently returned to visit Profesora Caffrey’s Spanish II classes alongside her partner, Ignacio. The pair discussed secondary and higher education in Spain, Catalan traditions and activities, holidays, and regional cuisine, as well as the differences between the spoken languages Catalan and Spanish. Students ended the visit with a bilingual Q&A session in both English and Spanish. Qué bueno!

Do you need help filling out the financial aid form for colleges? Join us on Tuesday, November 10th from 6 - 7PM in the LGIA.

Families will learn how to navigate the federal financial aid process and the FAFSA. We’ll explore what types of additional aid are available and review scholarship searches. We’ll also highlight the importance of meeting deadlines.

Financial aid and scholarships can help make college more affordable. You might qualify for grants, federal loans, merit or athletic scholarships, need-based scholarships, work-study, or other programs that can help with college costs.

Financial aid is a process, and it’s important to stay on top of it so you don’t miss out. Learn the steps to take before, during, and after college .

The KHS Counseling Department and health classes will be doing Signs of Suicide (SOS) programming in Health and Wellness classes 11/4 and 11/5.

The SOS (Signs of Suicide) program is an evidence-based, universal mental health and suicide prevention program for middle and high school students. It teaches students to identify warning signs of depression and suicide in themselves and their peers, and encourages them to seek help using the ACT acronym: Acknowledge, Care, Tell.

Interested in becoming a student mentor for new students? Please contact Ms. Hines in Counseling (phines@sau29.org). Duties include giving a tour of the school, explaining school life, house offices, lunches, and the hall pass system, etc.

We love seeing our students thriving in the classroom, but sometimes life throws a curveball (sometimes literally!). To provide the best care possible and ensure your student is safe, comfortable, and ready to learn, we need to stay in the loop regarding any changes in your child’s health.

If your child experiences any of the following, please connect with us before sending them back to school:

• New Mobility Aids: Using crutches, a knee scooter, a walking boot, or a wheelchair? Have a cast or splint? Let us know so we can arrange elevator access, grant extra passing time between classes, and create a seamless safety plan. (Note: A doctor’s note is required.)

• Medication Updates: Starting a new daily medication or needing "as-needed" relief kept on hand at school. (Note: All prescription and over-the-counter medications require specific authorization forms.)

• Recent Surgeries or Procedures: Even if your child feels ready to dive back into full gear, please share any activity restrictions or wound care needs so we can care for them properly.

• New Diagnoses or Allergies: Sharing new health updates or allergies ensures our nursing staff has an up-to-date complete health profile to keep your child safe.

• Returning to Physical Activities: If your student needed gym or sports modifications due to an injury or illness, we’ll just need a follow-up medical clearance note from their doctor before they jump back in.

We are always happy to answer questions and partner with you! Sharing medical documentation from your healthcare provider helps us set up accommodations quickly and smoothly. Reach out anytime by phone at (603) 357-9040 or by email at banglis@sau29.org or cfrederiksen@sau29.org.

On October 13, KHS hosted a Safe Driving Assembly by Think Fast Interactive for Grades 11 and 12. It was an interactive game show style assembly.

by: Ezekiel Ariz

For some students, the future seems planned out from the moment they step into the doors of their high school. For Scarlett Miller, it took a little more time to figure out what she wanted, and that is a part of what makes her story so meaningful!

As a 9th grader, Scarlett thought she wanted to study journalism. Over time, she realized it wasn't the right fit for her. She said with a laugh, "I'm too opinionated!" Early on, she also was unsure if she wanted to go to college or continue to play sports after high school.

As Scarlett got older, she explored different interests via clubs such Interact and Empowering Kids Club, and also various classes, such as AP Environmental Science and Women's Literature. More recently, she's been drawn toward public health, particularly how global warming can affect human health.

Field Hockey and Unified Sports have also been a big part of Scarlett’s high school experience. With field hockey playoffs starting, she is excited to see where the season takes her before she graduates.

Ultimately, Scarlett committed to University of Albany with a Public Health major, and she has signed for field hockey.

For underclassmen, Scarlett’s journey is a reminder that you do not need to have everything figured out the moment you start high school. You might change your mind about what you want to study, discover new interests or new friends, or take a path you never expected. That is okay! Scarlett's story illustrates that high school is not about having your whole future planned. It is about giving yourself the chance to figure out who you are and where you want to go.

What stands out the most after a brief interview with KHS Senior Geno Sanchez is his remarkable warmth and kindness. This theme came up in his responses a number of times.

Starting last year, Geno has been running an interoffice mail route here at the high school. With a school this size, the offices are grateful to have someone taking on this task. When asked what he likes about doing the mail route, he said it’s fun helping others. As he is delivering the mail, he also looks for opportunities to assist students in the hall if they need directions or anything else.

This year, Geno has served as a mentor for other students interested in learning the interoffice mail route. He says he’s always helping others because he finds that doing so makes them willing to help you back, and also, it just brings happiness.

Geno’s favorite class right now is Biology with Ms. Morse, because a lot of the work is hands on. Last week, Geno, along with all the other Biology students, participated in the Bio Blitz that was hosted by the Harrisville Center. They identified leaves from various trees and found some small critters. Geno said his favorite part about the experience was just being in the woods – he found it very relaxing.

Gino is in the Robotics Club. He is currently building a robot that collects golf balls. He’s hoping the club gets to go to a competition later in the year, so he can see other robots.

When asked what advice he has for underclassmen, Geno said, “Always be kind. If someone is feeling down, ask them what’s wrong and help comfort them.”

Keene High is grateful to Geno for his contributions to the school, and so happy to have him as an ambassador for kindness!

All representative visits will meet in the Library unless otherwise noted. Students need to sign-up in the Counseling Office with Ms. Hines!

University of Maine 10/16/2026 10:30 am

University of Rhode Island, RI 10/19/2026 10:30 am

Husson University, ME 10/19/2026 1:00 pm

Clarkson University, NY 10/20/2026 10:15 am

Fitchburg State University, MA 10/22/2026 10:30 am

St. Lawrence University, NY 10/23/2026 9:30 am

Wheaton College, MA 10/26/2026 10:45 am
Southern NH University, NH 10/26/2026 12:00 pm

U Mass, Lowell 10/27/2026 10:30 am

Montserrat College of Art 10/28/2026 10:30 am

Merrimack College, MA 10/28/2026 1:30 pm

Vermont State University 10/29/2026 10:30 am

Mass. College of Liberal Arts 10/30/2026 11:30 am

Mt. Wachusett, MA 11/06/2026 10:15 am

St. Paul’s School, NH 11/10/2026 10:15 am

Rivier University, NH 11/16/2026 10:15 am

Keene High welcomed some new faculty members this year - we are proud to introduce three of them in this edition of the Beacon!

For our new choral teacher, Ms. Hervieux, music has been a part of her life for as long as she can remember, starting with piano lessons at just three years old.

Along the way, the teachers who inspired her helped shape the kind of educator she wanted to become, and now she gets to create those same meaningful experiences for her students at KHS. Whether she is helping a choir find its sound or taking students on “field trips” to sing into an echoey stairwell, she believes that making music is about much more than hitting the right notes and rhythms; it is all about listening to one another, working together, and sharing something special that no one could create just by themselves!

This love for music carries into her personal life, too, from the classical works by Chopin and Debussy, Liszt’s Liebestraum no. 3, to jazz with funky baselines. Although…her musical interest might have some competition when it comes to her love for Thai food!

When Ms. Hervieux isn't teaching or making music, she enjoys spending time with her friends, visiting her sisters, and getting outside to enjoy fairs and several festivities. Her move back to New England from Virginia was about more than returning to familiar weather and good food, it also meant being closer to family and all about finding a community where she can feel welcomed, something she says she has found here in KHS thanks to the kindness and support of her students and peers. As she settles into this new chapter, she looks forward to watching her various ensembles grow and sharing plenty of laughter, fun, and unforgettable concerts throughout the year. The KHS community is excited to welcome Ms. Hervieux and looks forward to all the memories the following years will bring her!

For Mrs. Antos, Math has always come naturally. During her early high school years, her PreCalc teacher, Mr. Austin, helped her realize that being a Math teacher was a wonderful possibility for her in the future. One time a substitute teacher left Mr. Austin a note that said, “have Tricia teach the students." Looking back now, she realizes her passion for teaching showed even in her early years of high school.

Now, Mrs. Antos hopes to give her own students those same moments of confidence, especially when a difficult concept finally clicks and they realize that they can do something they once thought impossible! She knows math can be frustrating, too, and reminds her students that struggling does not mean they should just give up -- sometimes all it takes is a break, a little help, a deep breath, and another try.

Outside of school, Mrs. Antos keeps busy with her three older children and a house full of animals, including three rabbits, four guinea pigs, a chinchilla, and… twenty chickens! If you want to know just how many pets that is to keep track of - YOU do the math!

Mrs. Antos also believes that every student learns differently, which is why she is always willing to explain a concept in a new way until it clicks to a student’s mind. After joining KHS, she found herself drawn to the welcoming community and is especially excited to work with the supportive math department. We are so happy to welcome Mrs. Antos to KHS and look forward to the many many new things her students will learn from her, both inside and outside of the classroom.

After spending decades working with children, Mrs. Hunter is bringing her experience and love for teaching to a new group of students at KHS and the Cheshire Career Center.

Her passion for education started with her ultimate role model in first grade, Mrs. Weeks, where she got inspired by her to one day also become a teacher or a similar path. Since then, she has worked in elementary schools, preschools, child care centers, and even college classrooms, but working with high school students is a new adventure she is especially excited about. When asked what her favorite thing about working with children is, she replied, “It is how they view the world, where even the smallest discoveries can become exciting moments, and their honesty can lead to some pretty memorable conversations." She jokes that one way she knows she has made a connection with a child is when she gets invited to their birthday party!

Outside of school, Mrs. Hunter enjoys spending time with her husband and extended family, as well as her two adorable labradoodles! She also loves listening to true crime podcasts and watching shows with the same genre. After retiring from the field about a year ago, she never expected to find another opportunity quite like this one, but the chance to return into an early childhood education while helping students discover their own paths felt too good to pass up. We are so excited to welcome Mrs. Hunter to KHS and CCC and look forward to her to embark this new journey of hers with the help of the students and the KHS community.

Students paid $3 for a long strip of duct tape.... that they used to tape Athletics Director Mr. Atkins to the wall!

You're a good sport, Mr. Atkins!

Thank you for directing your Hannaford Helps money toward Keene High School! We will receive $735.00 as a result of coupons you directed our way!