Cougar News

Good Evening, Cougar Nation!

As we approach the holiday break, with just two more school days remaining, I want to pause and reflect on the incredible energy, creativity, and care that have filled ConVal High School over the past weeks. You’ll see snapshots below that capture how vibrant our classrooms, co-curriculars, and learning spaces have been, both on campus and beyond.

One highlight of the week for me was supporting our music program at Wednesday evening’s holiday concert. Our students’ vocal and instrumental talents were on full display, and the joy in the gym was palpable. Thank you to our students and staff who made the evening such a success.

The graphic above was created by our students, and their creativity (and sense of humor) brought a smile to my face. I’m grateful for the joy and care they bring to our community. Truly, the highlight of my days is the time I get to spend with students—whether visiting classrooms, serving as a guest speaker, supporting them at events, or working alongside them to problem-solve. Our students are at the heart of everything we do.

This message is arriving quite a bit later than usual, as I spent the evening celebrating my son’s sixth birthday, a meaningful reminder of the importance of family, community, and being present for one another. Those same values are evident each day at CVHS in the ways our students support one another, engage in their learning, and show care and respect within our school community.

Throughout this season, our students have demonstrated creativity, collaboration, problem-solving, and responsibility across classrooms, clubs, athletics, and off-campus learning experiences.Thank you to our educators, co-curricular advisors, coaches, and students who make these opportunities possible and help foster belonging while preparing our Cougars to contribute positively to the world around them.

I wish you all a very safe, restful, and joyful holiday season. I look forward to welcoming staff and students back in the new year. Our next edition of the Cougar News will arrive on Friday, January 9, 2026.

Have a wonderful holiday break, and as always, GO COUGARS!

Best,

Heather

• December 22 - White Out (Spirit Day)
• December 23 - Holiday Comfy Cozy Day (Spirit Day)
• December 24-January 2 - Holiday Recess (no school)

The World Language Department would like to announce and congratulate the December Students of the Month. These students demonstrate the keys to being successful language learners. They have a positive attitude, a willingness to take academic risks, they show perseverance and curiosity, and they are successful collaborators. German: Amelie Davis and Isabella Morales. Spanish: Berkley Bates and Sydney Borges. Congratulations, all!

With Superintendent Dr. Ann Forrest and Assistant Superintendent Amy Stevenson looking on, students reprised their performances of World Language poems in German and Spanish at the special event in the ConVal library on Tuesday, December 16. The students qualified for the showcase by winning or placing in their respective classroom contests first, which covered all language classes from Level 1 to Level 4. Congratulations to the following students who excelled at the annual World Language Poetry Recitation contest:

• First place German: Haley Samuelson, Megan Millbauer, Audrey Higgins, Noah Regis, Kiran Galbraith
• First place Spanish: Lindsay LaPlante, Jonathan Parker, Gavin Niemela, Greta Stephens, Sydney Borges, Noralie Sysyn
• Second Place German: Selena Woodhouse, Chris Bouyounes, Meagan Bouyounes, Anna Bethel, Caitlyn Fowle
• Second Place Spanish: Berkley Bates, Jenna Bergeron, Hadley Bates, Kaylee Lagasse, Van Stahlin, Sienna MacKay
• Third Place German: Olivia Merzi, Grace Schuneman, Quinn Lake, Brady Clark, Abby Parker
• Third Place Spanish: Samuel Stacy, Kinley Moore, Brayden Boice, Davia Porter, Monty Boulette, Ethan Donaway

Great job to all and we are very proud of you!

Susie Spikol from The Harris Center for Conservation Education visited the Oceanography class to check on the two painted turtle hatchlings that the students are caring for while they grow large enough to be released in the spring. Ms. Spikol presented a slideshow and information about the native turtles and the need to protect them from road mortality, habitat loss and degradation, as well as the increased abundance of predators like raccoons.

ConVal held its annual holiday door decorating contest during the second week of December. 29 TASC homerooms participated in the competition. ESP emerged as the winner with an elaborate 3D scene featuring the arctic prospector Yukon Cornelius and the giant, furry monster Bumble, the abominable snowman, who are featured in the 1964 stop-motion animation TV classic Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

The seven days before holiday break were organized as "Winter Spirit Days." It started on Monday with "Flannel Funday Monday", followed by "New Year, New Me (Dress up for your Dream Job)," "Winter Weather Wednesday," "Ugly Sweater Day," "Football Friday," "White Out Monday," and finally, "Holiday Comfy Cozy Day" on the last day before holiday break. Student and staff participation in the Winter Spirit Days was outstanding this year!

ConVal's Annual Winter Concert took place on December 17 in the evening. The ConVal Choirs, under the direction of Brian Moore, and the ConVal Band, under the direction of Jonny Trudeau, performed a wide repertoire of traditional and modern music. Selections ranged from holiday favorites like "Let It Snow!," "Miss You Most at Christmas Time," and "The Christmas Song" to some more rarely performed pieces. The concert was reprised on Thursday morning for all students during a special assembly.

Students from Great Brook School and South Meadow School visited the Region 14 Applied Technology Center on Friday, December 19. They learned about the different ATC programs, notably Manufacturing, Graphic Communication, and Engineering. During their visit, they were invited to build bookstands, put together a folding book, and learned how to create an LED holiday ornament.

Careers in Education II students are continuing their practicum at Antrim Elementary and Great Brook Middle Schools. Here, senior Mae Hagelberg teaches a math lesson at Great Brook.

Students in Ms. Madden's Intro to Design class tested the engineering and manufacturing projects that will be taught to GBS and SMS students later this week. Students created a Mt. Monadnock book stand, a LED light ornament, and a wave 'bot as they explored CTE programming in the West Wing.

Students in Introduction to Technology tested their truss bridges by applying weight to test strength. Students have been exploring the concepts of structural engineering and built their bridges in teams; designs were based on likelihood to withstand pressure.

Students from Manufacturing I worked hard to complete the 2025 staff ornament, which was designed by a Graphic Design student. The ornaments were cut using the two new laser engravers the Region 14 ATC acquired this year through the Perkins grant.

Working with beakers of copper nitrate (blue) and sodium hydroxide, students in Ms. Johnson's Physical Science class conducted a lab experiment. They recorded the mass of both solutions at the start, then followed the steps on a multi-page scientific procedure sheet, carefully recording their observations, and remeasured the mass at the end. Students had to explain why the experiment was a chemical reaction, not a physical reaction.

Students in Ms. Young's Physics class conducted scientific experiments with catapults on Thursday. As part of their performance assessment, students were required to use their knowledge of vectors, acceleration, and horizontal and vertical motion to predict how their catapult will perform in a new situation. This year, two students earned high honors on this task, hitting the target within 15 cm of the bullseye.

Cold and flu season has begun! We ask for your help in preventing the spread of illness in our school. Please click on the link for more information.

On Monday, December 8, 26 students sat for the ASVAB assessment. Results will become available after the holiday break. A member from the military will come into ConVal to go over the results with each student.

School counselors have wrapped up with delivering the Signs of Suicide lessons to all Health and Wellness classes. Please click on the photo for the parent handout.

• December 22: Alumni panel - hear from former students about their journeys after high school.

Looking ahead to January and February:

• Early January: Career Interest Inventories with school counselors for sophomores.
• Late January: Course Selection Kickoff — presentations to help students choose their classes for next year.
• Thoughout February and March: Course selection meetings with school counselors.
• February 11: Applying to College 101 virtual presentation for juniors and families, hosted by Granite Edvance. Register HERE.

On Saturday, December 13, ConVal hosted the Earlybird Wrestling Tournament. Twenty-three schools from New Hampshire and Vermont participated and over 450 matches took place. Conval fared well, finishing in the top-half of the tournament. Freshman Cougar Lane Williams took home the 1st place medal at 120lbs, while junior Colin Mao finished 3rd at 138lbs.

Our Indoor Track Team is off to a great start. The team competed in its first meet of the season at Phillips Exeter Academy on Saturday, December 13. The boys’ team, which finished as the Division II Runner-Up last year, had a strong showing to open the season. Senior Ross Stephens set a facility and school record in winning the 300 meter run in a time of 35.37 seconds and also finished 3rd in the 55 meters. Walter Stephens finished in 4th place in the 1000 meters. Griffin Schultz finished in 6th place in the 300 meters. In the shot put, Morly Johnson finished 7th, and Bretton Davies finished 9th in the long jump. On the girls’ side, senior Whitney Adair finished 4th in the 600 meters.

Basketball games started this week as well. Both the boys’ and girls’ teams have played at home and on the road to open the season. While both teams have come up short so far, they look to get on track with games on December 19 vs. Bishop Brady. They boys are on the road, while the girls play at home at 6:00. New coaches Jimmy Migneault (boys’ team) and Kevin Proctor (girls’ team) have entered their teams in the 1st Annual Rob Colbert Christmas Invitational at Keene State College. The boys’ open the tournament on December 26 at 12:00 vs. Stevens High School, while the girls play Monadnock on December 27 at 12:30. All games are at Keene State College.

The Unified Basketball Team opened their season this week at Wilton-Lyndeborough on Tuesday, December 16, and came away with a win. Every player scored at least 4 baskets. The team has their home opener on January 8 versus Keene.

ConVal Swimmers have participated in a couple of swim meets- in Nashua, Goffstown, and December 19 at Colby-Sawyer College. Currently the swimmers “piggyback” with Keene High School meaning we follow their schedule, practice with their team, and are coached by the Keene coach. We are thankful for the partnership we have with Keene.

Our Alpine and Nordic Skiers haven’t had a competition yet, but the December snow has allowed them to get on the trails. Their races will start after the holiday break.

ConVal is still accepting applications for varsity softball coach and varsity boys’ soccer coach. If you are interested, or know someone who is, please contact me at lpimental@conval.edu.

On Thursday, December 4, student members of the National Honor Society (NHS) participated in an all-day retreat on leadership, one of the four pillars of the organization. Students explored their leadership styles and engaged in a restorative circle activity centered on Life as a Student Leader. Principal McKillop visited with students as the keynote speaker. She encouraged students to reflect on and develop their leadership legacies.

Seniors who have expressed interest in the American Exchange Project participated in a Secret Santa Exchange with two different high schools in the United States. Two weeks ago, they created bracelets with New Hampshire charms and sent them to students at Blue Earth Area High School in Blue Earth, MN. Last week, they opened a gift package from students at Design Tech High School in Redwood City, CA, containing chocolate and stickers.

During their weekly meeting, members of the National Honor Society worked in small groups to build gingerbread houses. Principal McKillop stopped by to present students with leadership notebooks as gifts. The completed projects were displayed in the library later that day where judges ranked the decorated cookie houses. The winning gingerbread house belonged to Olivia Healey, Hadley Bates, and Megan Millbauer.

Lab Girls+ Life in the Cold

The Grapevine - Winter Happenings

Parenting for Your Child's Love Language

Pajama Party Skate Night

📬 184 Hancock Road, Peterborough, NH 03458

📞 (603) 924-3869 📧 conval.highschool@conval.edu

🌐 cvhs.conval.edu

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