Cougar News

Good Evening, Cougar Nation!

Our campus continues to be filled with energy and purpose, with so many opportunities for students and our community to engage and connect. I’m continually grateful for the enthusiasm and care that make ConVal such a vibrant place. That spirit of care was especially visible this week as members of our administrative team and I delivered Cougar CARES awards to students- moments that brought smiles, applause, and genuine pride across classrooms. Earlier in the week, more than 100 students participated in the PSAT. A heartfelt thank you to our school counseling team and all the staff who helped ensure the day ran smoothly and supported students throughout the testing process.

Be sure to check out the classroom highlights below. While we try to spotlight a variety of activities each week, teaching and learning remain at the heart of everything we do. I am fortunate to observe creative, engaging examples of student learning taking place across our classrooms, learning spaces, courts, fields, and community. I also want to extend congratulations to our student-athletes who celebrated their senior games this week. We are proud of all our seniors for the way they have represented ConVal with pride, effort, and heart.

As we approach the final week of October, please consider marking your calendars for The SpongeBob Musical: Youth Edition on November 7 and/or 8. Our students have been rehearsing, and I can’t wait to attend a performance with my sons!

Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend, and as always, GO COUGARS!

Best,

Heather

• October 29 - PSAT Makeups
• October 30 - End of Quarter 1
• October 30 - School Picture Retake Day
• October 31 - Fall Blood Drive - Hosted by NHS
• November 3 - Envirothon Field Trip
• November 4 - Belize 2026 Family Meeting at 6:30 pm
• November 6 - Apply NH Event
• November 7 - Fall Jr. Musical Performance at 6:00 pm
• November 8 - Fall Jr. Musical Performances at 2:00 pm and 6:00 pm

Mrs. Bowman and Mrs. Mudrick met with interested seniors during TASC on Friday to talk about the American Exchange Project. The American Exchange Program is a fully-funded, two-week adventure for students that takes place the summer after they graduate. During Travel Week, seniors go to a region of the United States very different from New Hampshire and get to immerse themselves in that community's way of life. During Hometown Week, our participating students help plan and host visiting seniors from all over the country and get to show off our community.

Retake day is for new students and staff members, transfer students, or for anyone who may have missed the initial picture day. Additionally, our photographers from Geskus welcome anyone who is unhappy with the way their original picture turned out and would like to give it another try. Retake photos automatically replace original photos in school services and yearbook.

If a student chooses to retake their photo, please have them return the original picture package to the photographer on picture day. We will replace it at no additional cost.

Students in AP World History: Modern are researching for their mock trial on Mongols. Students will play witnesses to the atrocities and negative impact of the Mongols or witnesses to the greatness and positive impact of the Mongols. Led by lawyers on each side, students will put the Mongols on trial to determine if they are guilty of crimes against humanity.

Mr. Stetzer’s biology students are studying energy flow through ecosystems and ecological biodiversity. With the help of John Benjamin from the Harris Center, students went into the woods to find plants, fungi, and animals. This was a collaborative assignment with Mr. Levesque’s photography classes, where the students were to document the biodiversity of the forest through photographs. The bio students will then use the photographs to create field guides to document the forest diversity.

Mrs. Moore's English 9 class participated in a culminating mock trial determining whether George Milton from John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men" was guilty of manslaughter or 1st degree murder of Lennie Smalls. Students researched legal statutes from California, where the novel took place, and took on roles including opening statements, witness questioning, and closing statements. The trial was presided over by a super-fan of the novel, Mr. Mudrick.

On Fridays in Health and Wellness, Mr. Benham's, Ms. Lima's, and Mr. Gagne's class get together for "Flex Friday". Students may get a choice of playing a variety of games, going to the fitness center to work out, or making up any missed Health and Wellness assignments. This week, indoor kickball seemed to be a popular activity.

Students in Ms. Leonard's Western World History class recently went to recruit people to their respective ancient civilizations. They created a slide presentation with historically accurate information on the "5 Traits of Civilization": advanced cities, specialized workers, complex institutions, record keeping, and advanced technology. They then tried to recruit others, either peers or staff, using logical arguments to persuade them to join their civilization.

Students in Woodworking are hard at work creating boxes! This project allows students to demonstrate tool fluency, measurement skills, and knowledge of angles. It is a foundation level project as it is completed by duplication rather than through reading blueprints, as later projects will.

Students in Careers in Education II traveled to Windy Hill Orchard in Greenville as a student organized and facilitated field trip. Students designed the field trip following an in-class assignment focused on designing educational field trips that align with curriculum as well as state competencies.

Students enrolled in the following classes have the opportunity to earn college credit through Nashua Community College this semester:

• AP U.S. History
• Careers in Education I & II
• College Composition
• Digital Photo Video I
• Digital Photo II
• Environmental Science
• Human Growth and Development
• Introduction to Business

These credits are available at no cost through a combination of support from the State of NH and the ConVal School District. Many questions can be answered by reviewing the attached documents or by contacting Jennifer Kiley (jkiley@conval.edu) or Michelle Grimm (ecncc@ccsnh.edu). Registration closes November 7, so don't delay! Please click on this link for more information. Early college information session.

Are you interested in career pathways that are not offered through the Region 14 Applied Technology Center? Students in grades 9-11 are invited to attend the Milford Applied Technology Center's CTE Discovery Day on Friday, November 14 to learn more about the CTE programs they offer, including carpentry, culinary arts, health science occupations, and pre-engineering. Interested students should complete this form AND return a signed permission slip (available in the main office) by October 31 to attend. Questions? Please see Mrs. Kiley or email jkiley@conval.edu.

The Kiwanis Club of Peterborough is continuing to generously support the Region 14 Applied Technology Center CTE Student of the Month this school year. Every month, students are nominated by their CTE teachers for demonstrating work readiness skills and a willingness to engage with their communities. Through the financial support of the Kiwanis Club, award recipients receive a $150 prize, with $100 going to the student and $50 going to a nonprofit of the student's choice, in addition to other benefits. Please consider supporting the Kiwanis Club of Peterborough at one of their upcoming yard sales!

Bring Back the Trades awards monthly scholarships during the school calendar year to students from across the United States who are attending post-secondary education in the Skilled Trades. Monthly scholarships of $1,500 are awarded each month and sent directly to the secondary school the award recipient is attending. Applying is easy! Click here, write a short essay or share a short video (8 MB or less in size) explaining why you deserve the scholarship.

• October - 1:1 meetings with school counselors for seniors
• October/November - Small group meetings with school counselors and freshman
• October 29 - PSAT make up exam

• October 31 - College Access Convention field trip for 10th graders @ Keene State College
• November 6 - ApplyNH Event

In case you missed the presentation, you can watch the presentation HERE Passcode: b#79kn%3 What is FAFSA?: FAFSA is the free application for federal student aid.

Who should fill out the FAFSA?: All college-bound seniors and one parent need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form to be eligible for federal student aid such as federal grants, work-study funds, and loans.

Check in Naviance to see when college admissions representatives are visiting CVHS. This is a fabulous way for students to sit down with a rep from a college and ask questions. We host numerous colleges and universities.

School counselors are also offering Common App help sessions during TASC once a week in October. You will be able to book to school counseling for TASC on October 30. Common app help sessions will take place in room 417, across from the library.

When: Thursday, November 6

Time: 8:00 am to 12:30 pm

Where: CVHS Room 41

What: This is an opportunity at CVHS for students to apply for free to any NH school and receive help with any college application from college admissions counselors. Every student who participates in this event is entered for the chance to win a $500 scholarship.

Sign up in school counseling

The ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) is a FREE, multiple-choice test that measures aptitude and knowledge for career paths in the military and other vocational fields. It assesses verbal, math, and technical skills, with different subtests focusing on areas like word knowledge, arithmetic reasoning, general science, and electronics. Scores are used to determine eligibility for military service and to match individuals with suitable military occupational specialties.

You do not need to be interested in the military, and participation in the military is NOT required to take the ASVAB. It is also used as a career aptitude test.

When: Monday, December 8, 2025

Time: 8:00 am - 11:00 am

Where: ConVal High School

Sign up in school counseling

A representative from the NH Job Corps is going to visit ConVal on November 14, to provide information to interested students. Please see College visits in Naviance to sign up.

Job Corps is a free, federally-funded, residential or non-residential career training and education program for eligible young people aged 16 to 24, offering high school completion, career technical training, and employment assistance with the goal of helping students become self-sufficient. The program provides free room and board (for residential students), meals, basic medical care, and a living allowance in addition to job training and academic support.

Who: Silas Baker

When: Friday November 14

Time: 8:30 am - 9:00 am

Where: Room 417 (across from the library)

Sign up in Naviance under "College Visits" or by reaching out to your school counselor.

** We are also going on a field trip to tour Job Corp on Friday, December 5.

Permission Slips in the School Counseling Office

We are into the final weeks of the fall season which means “Senior Games” and playoffs. Friday, October 17, the field hockey team congratulated and thanked their 8 seniors. This week, boys’ and girls’ soccer wrapped up their regular season and held their “senior games” under the lights. Seven girls and three boys played their last soccer games for ConVal. Friday, October 24 at 6:00 PM, the volleyball team plays their last game of the regular season and will congratulate and recognize their four seniors. We hope you can join us! The football team also plays at home tonight (kickoff at 7:00 PM) vs. Milford. Friday, October 31, is the last football game of the season and it will be “senior night” for the football and cheerleading team.

While the regular season is wrapping up, a couple of teams are waiting to see how the Division 2 standings end up in preparation for the playoffs. The volleyball team and the boys’ soccer team look like they are playoff contenders. Across the state, teams are completing their regular season this weekend, and official playoff pairings are expected Monday, October 27. Be on the lookout!

Registration for winter and spring sports is open! Please go to our athletic website to register!

NCAA Eligibility: Student athletes looking to play college sports at the Division I or Division II level must register with the NCAA. To do so, please check out the NCAA Eligibility Center by clicking 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 the link to sign up.

Halloween Party at Avenue A

Nashua Community College Open House

Milford CTE Discovery Day

Ugly Sweater Skate Night

📬 184 Hancock Road, Peterborough, NH 03458

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

🌐 cvhs.conval.edu

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