Cougar News

Good Afternoon, Cougar Nation!

Today marks the first day of spring... though here in New England, the weather often keeps us guessing, even as the season begins!

I would like to recognize all of our talented music students who participated in the district band and choral concerts these past two weeks. It was a joy to share our gym with members of our Cougar community—both present and future!

March is known as Music in Our Schools Month, and is also widely recognized as National Reading Month. Across our district’s elementary schools, there are many wonderful activities taking place to celebrate and inspire a love of reading. I was fortunate to visit all of our elementary schools this month as a guest reader and was inspired to invite students from each school to help me introduce the district band and choral concerts. I was so impressed by their courage and spirit!

As you’ll see in the news items below, there is a great deal of exciting activity happening at ConVal High School, including a group of seniors who have learned where, after graduation, they will travel as part of the American Exchange Project, a national exchange program.

As we step into a season of renewal and fresh starts, I encourage our students to embrace new opportunities and stay energized as we approach the final stretch of the school year. With quarter 4 just a few weeks away, let’s propel ourselves into the final quarter on a strong note.

Have a wonderful weekend, and as always, GO COUGARS!

Best,
Heather

• March 21: Spring Formal Dance - 7:00 - 10:00 pm
• March 25: Concrete College Tour Field Trip
• March 26: Empire Beauty School Field Trip
• March 27: NHS Blood Drive
• March 31: Harris Center Field Trip
• April 3: End of Quarter 3

Ms. Koshar is a new addition to our Special Education Team. Welcome to ConVal, Ms. Koshar!

Students in Digital Photo & Video and Graphic Design traveled to UNH Manchester on March 11 to connect with faculty in the Communication Arts major and learn about their program. Students participated in activities like storyboarding and foley sounds design.

In the summer right after graduation, the American Exchange Project gives newly graduated high school seniors the chance to participate in a unique exchange that allows them to spend one week discovering a new American town and a second week rediscovering their own with students from other states. The ConVal students who will participate in the school's first-ever cohort of the American Exchange Project this summer learned Wednesday night what their respective travel destinations will be.

On Friday, March 13, several ConVal High School band ensembles contributed to the Annual District Band Concert under the direction of musical director Jonny Trudeau. The ConVal Concert Band combined combined with 7th and 8th Grade Bands for a rousing rendition of John Powell's "How To Train Your Dragon" in an arrangement by Sean O'Loughlin. The Jazz Band and Concert Band played the final two numbers of the evening: "My Favorite Things" by Oscar Hammerstein and Richard Rodgers and "Nevermore" by Brian Balmages. Congratulations to all on a great band talent showcase!

On Tuesday, March 17, ConVal High School students enjoyed a special in-house field trip experience that involved learning about and interacting with a variety of reptiles in the library. Students were fascinated by the animals on display, which included a Burmese python, an African green python, a rat snake, a bearded dragon lizard, a Russian tortoise, centipedes, and Madagascan cock roaches. Interested students were invited to hold and handle the animals, which they learned had very different personalities.

On Wednesday, March 18, several ConVal High School chorus ensembles contributed to the Annual District Choral Concert under the direction of chorus director Brian Moore. The Chamber Choir performed the evening's first selection, "Catch and Release" by Jocelyn Hagen. Jake Runestad's "Nyon Nyon" allowed the members of ConVal Select Choir to showcase their musical talents. The Trouble Clefs a cappella ensemble picked up the pace with "Happier" in an arrangement by Jacob Narverud. And the Concert Choir performed the penultimate song, the technically challenging "From the Underground" by Dan Wiebe. Congratulations to all the student performers on a great concert!

In her Eastern World Heritage class, Ms. Leonard explains the "Boots Theory." Coined by the author Terry Pratchett in Men at Arms, the Boots Theory explains that being poor is actually expensive: Lower-income individuals spend more money over time by buying cheap, low-quality goods that require frequent replacement. Those with greater financial means can actually save money by purchasing high-quality, more durable items.

Students in Digital Photo & Video and Woodworking had the opportunity to learn from each other during the annual pics and pens lessons, led by Mr. Levesque and Mr. Sudell. During this unit, Photo students have the opportunity to create their own pens using the wood lathes, and Woodworking students have the opportunity to photograph their peers using industry standard equipment. The project is very successful and has led to many students registering for classes they might not otherwise have considered!

Learn about the building blocks of construction--CONCRETE! Tour the Mobile concrete Technology Center, check out live demonstrations and up-close precast elements, and learn how mix designs drive performance. The trip is Wednesday, March 26; the bus will leave ConVal at 8 and return by 12. Fill out this Form to sign-up, and see the main office for permission slips.

ConVal High School's Seal of Biliteracy Coordinator is Frau Hodgdon. Please contact her at chodgdon@conval.edu.

National Nutrition Month® is an annual campaign established in 1973 by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. During the month of March, everyone is invited to learn about making informed food choices and developing healthy/beneficial eating and physical activity habits. Why is nutrition so important to our students? Nutrition is a critical part of health and development. Better nutrition is related to improved health overall, stronger immune systems, lower risk of non-communicable diseases (such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease), and longevity. Most importantly HEALTHY CHILDREN LEARN BETTER!

https://www.eatright.org/ is a fantastic website with a wealth of knowledge where you can learn more about food, health, fitness and even recipes to use in your day to day!

Please click on the links below for more healthy tips:

Eating Right on a Budget

20 Health Tips

20 Ways to Enjoy More Fruits & Vegetables.

• March: Counselors meet 1:1 with all students to review credits, graduation requirements, and course requests.

• March -April: ConVal scholarship application is open in Naviance - deadline to submit: April 8.

• March 26: Field trip to Empire Beauty School - permission slips are in the office
  

• April 8: All Juniors take the school day SAT with essay.

• April 17: Field trip to Mount Wachusett Community College - permission slips are in the counseling office.
  

• April & May: Signs of Suicide Lessons in Health and Wellness classes.
  

The State of New Hampshire requires all juniors to take the SAT with Essay during the school day. This assessment will be administered at ConVal on Wednesday, April 8.

All students are required to complete a digital readiness check on their chromebooks prior to the exam. All juniors will be booked to the LHT during TASC to complete the readiness check, and must arrive with a fully charged chromebook. View the CollegeBoard website for more information about what to expect on test day. Students are encouraged to prepare for the exam by completing practice tests and review activities available through Khan Academy and the College Board. Additional information about the SAT can be found at collegeboard.org.

Seniors: Now is the time to begin exploring ways to pay for your postsecondary education. The ConVal Scholarship Application will open in February and is due by April 8. The application can be found in Naviance under colleges/scholarship search.

ConVal is fortunate to have a generous and supportive community that donates thousands of dollars each year to help graduating seniors pursue their future goals. Last year alone, over $140,000 in scholarships was awarded to ConVal students to support their next steps after graduation.

The NH Charitable Foundation is another scholarship organization available to ConVal Seniors to apply. The New Hampshire Charitable Foundation is the largest provider of private scholarships in New Hampshire, awarding close to $8 million to nearly 2,000 students each year.

The NH Charitable Application opens for students applying for the Fall 2027 school year on January 30. The deadline to submit your application is Friday, April 10. For more information click HERE

School Counselors are offering a series of opportunities on Tuesdays during TASC, including selecting courses, preparing for college, applying for scholarships, and SAT prep time. We will meet in Room 417, across from the Library.

The School Counseling Department would like to share a college planning presentation with you to help you and your child begin thinking about and preparing for the future.

College Planning Presentation

In case you missed it, view the Applying to College 101 presentation from Granite Edvance at the link below.

https://graniteedvance.zoom.us/rec/share/aJpt3rjtu1gwcaqTlq8kUKAUs5D4OBAY8Lv_PIuTskTk9XJN9yjwrVJ1Zx6Sm8aM.iQBhNGtg5ybY50SY?startTime=1770850950000

Passcode: EU1A9^8n

Interested in a career in cosmetology? Join us for a tour of Empire Beauty School in Hooksett, NH, on Thursday, March 26. Permission slips are available in the school counseling office.

Interested in pursuing a 2 year degree or trade certification? Mount Wachusett Community College, located in Gardner, MA has a lot of wonderful programs, including Automotive Technology, Arts, Computer Science, and Veterinary Technology, among many others Check out their site here.

Join us on Friday, April 17 for a tour of MWCC and info session. Permission slips are available in the school counseling office.

School counseling will be delivering the Signs of Suicide (SOS) curriculum in all Health and Wellness 2 classes on April 13 & 14, and all Health and Wellness 1 classes on May 6 & 7, helping students recognize and respond to important mental health signs. Please click on this link to access the SOS for Parents & Caregivers handout.

Spring season is upon us. Tryouts and practices start on Monday, March 23, with most teams indoors to start the year. Next week’s schedule is as follows:

Indoor Track- 2:30

Girls’ Tennis- Contact Coach MacEachran at cvhsgirlstennis@conval.edu

Boys’ Tennis- Contact Coach Fernald at rfernald@conval.edu

Girls’ Lacrosse- 2:30-400

Softball- 4:00-5:30

Baseball- 5:30-7:00

Boys’ Lacrosse- 7:00-9:00

Unified Track- TBD

Athletic registration is required. For more information, check out our website at https://convalathletics.org/.

The ConVal community is incredibly proud of our student-athletes who recently competed in the Special Olympics New Hampshire Winter Games at Waterville Valley Resort. Demonstrating remarkable skill and sportsmanship, Eve Antonellis and Oiden Zaino represented the school in the 15-meter, 25-meter, and 50-meter snowshoe races. Taking on the longer distances, athletes CJ Anderson, Amelia Blanchette, Avery Hebert, Brennan White, Josiah Wisenburn, and Mariah Woodhouse showcased their endurance in the 50-meter, 100-meter, and 200-meter events. A special highlight of the games was the outstanding performance of Noah Cooper, who secured gold medals in all three of his events. Beyond the competition, the students had a wonderful time forging new friendships with fellow athletes from across the state, making it a truly memorable experience for everyone involved."

On Friday, March 13, members of the National Honor Society at ConVal High School visited all classrooms at Peterborough Elementary School. The NHS students read their favorite childhood book to the students, followed by an activity related to the story. The visit had originally been planned during the first week of March in celebration of Read Across America, but was postponed due to the snowy weather. This visit is one of the National Honor Society students' favorite activities each year!

On the evening of Friday March 13, the Interact Club of ConVal hosted a chili cook off and served mini hot dogs to make your own chili dogs. The event raised $165 for the Peterborough Dog Park Initiative. There were 6 contestants and many attendees to weigh in on the top 3 best chilis.

Peterborough Dog Park Initiative members Paola and Sully and Molly and Milo are pictured with the Interact Club members.

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.

Fishing Derby

Monadnock Job & Career Fair

📬 184 Hancock Road, Peterborough, NH 03458

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

🌐 cvhs.conval.edu

gps 42.9099171, -71.9407079 (map)