Cougar News

Good Afternoon, Cougar Nation!

It was nice to welcome some warmer temperatures and host some home games this week. Thanks to a group of students who approached administration about a new idea to celebrate the SATS, we hosted an ice cream social to celebrate our students that participated in testing. Thanks to our parents/guardians that donated all of the fun and tasty toppings and to school counseling and all of the proctors for their support! I am pictured below with the parents that came in to help scoop during the event! Please see the stories below highlighting some student achievements and some of the things happening in our classrooms. Outside of the classrooms, some students have attended field trips to further their learning off campus. Last night I attended our spring musical Catch Me If You Can, and there were certainly some impressive vocals! There are still two more showings tonight and tomorrow, so please consider attending either one at 7:00 pm here at the high school. Next week is our last week of school prior to the April vacation. The next edition of our newsletter will be in your newletter two weeks after we return from break.

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

Best,
Heather

• April 17: Spring Musical Performance - 7:00 - 8:30 pm
• April 18: Bring Back the Trades Skills Expo Field Trip
• April 18: Spring Musical Performance - 7:00 - 8:30 pm
• April 23: Field Trip to the Boston Symphony Orchestra
• April 24-May 1: Spanish Department Field Trip to Portugal and Spain
• April 27-May 1: Spring Recess (no school)
• May 5-8: AP Exams
• May 7: "I Decided"/Lifelong Learning Day
• May 9: Prom at Hidden Hills -7:00 - 10:00 pm

On April 6, several ConVal High School students were recognized by the New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association (NHIAA) and the New Hampshire Athletic Directors Association (NHADA) at the Capitol Center for the Arts in Concord. Each year, the NHIAA and the NHADA recognize New Hampshire high school seniors for excellence in academics, athletics, and community service. Eligible seniors must maintain a B+ or better GPA, letter in at least two varsity sports, and act as positive role models.

Brielle Proctor and Ema Richardson placed 2nd in the New Hampshire Educators Rising Competition Pre-K Children’s Literature Divisioncwith their interactive Pre-K children’s book "Under the Deep Blue Sea." With their high ranking, Brielle and Ema qualified for Educators Rising Nationals and will be competing with their book in Portland, Oregon, on June 20-23, 2026. Congratulations!

Students in Frau Concannon's German 1 class and Frau Hodgdon's AP German course held a video call with Dietmar Schultke who grew up in East Germany and served as an East German Border Guard, trained to prevent escapes over the Berlin Wall. A 1988 Bruce Springsteen concert in East Berlin had a profound effect on him, eventually leading to his freedom in West Berlin as well as visits and work opportunities in the United States.

On Tuesday April 14, 41 current and former psychology students took a field trip to the Illusions Museum in Boston. Students most enjoyed the spinning vortex tunnel illusion! After finishing the museum, students had time to explore Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market on a sunny spring day before returning to ConVal.

German Teachers Liz Concannon and Cindi Hodgdon welcomed special guests from the Goethe Institut Boston into their classrooms. Nina, an intern from Berlin, presented to AP German and German 3 about Easter traditions. The classes were fascinated to discover how many customs are shared between the two cultures. German 1 students have been busy learning and memorizing children's poems. Shirin, an intern from Heidelberg, provided cultural context about the text and the authors behind the poems they are learning.

Students in Frau Hodgdon's Deutsch 3 class met in the library to see excerpts of the German movie Nordwand (North Face). Based on a true story, this is a suspenseful adventure film about a competition to climb the most dangerous rock face in the Alps. Set in 1936, as Nazi propaganda urges the nation's Alpinists to conquer the unclimbed north face of the Swiss massif, the Eiger, reluctant German climbers undertake their daring ascent. Students were watching the film as the culmination of their winter sports unit.

Students in Introduction to Technology are learning about the principles of bridge design through constructing models of various real-life bridges. Here senior Lydia Brening poses with her model of the Piscataqua Bridge that spans from New Hampshire to Maine.

To wrap up their unit on poetry, Ms. Holcombe‘s creative writing class participated in an escape room challenge. Ms. Holcombe was inspired to do an escape room with her studentsby a workshop given by Frau Hodgdon and Ms. Rushford during the teachers’ professional development days in March.

ATC teachers and students attended Conant High School's Career Day on April 8 to share with Conant students the different career paths they could pursue as part of CTE programming. Here students from Mrs. Grossi's Careers in Education program pose as they prepare to share their experiences with Conant students. Teaching Assistants from Digital Photo & Video also attended to share their photo & video portfolios with the students.

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

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!

A group of 10th and 11th graders visited Keene State College and River Valley Community College in Keene on Wednesday, April 15. The field trip was organized by the School Counseling Department.

Sixteen 10th and 11th grade students attended a field trip to MWCC in Gardner, MA to learn about a nearby, affordable option for post-secondary education. MWCC Offers programs in automotive technology, veterinary technician, nursing, business, criminal justice, liberal arts, and STEM, alongside adult education (GED/ESOL) and non-credit workforce training.

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

May: Mental Health Awareness Month.

May: AP Exams during the first two weeks of May.

May 29: Field trip to NEACAC Spring College Fair @ Franklin Pierce University -permission slips available in the counseling office.

Throughout the month of May, School Counseling in collaboration with HOPE Squad and Break the Stigma, will be hosting various activities to raise awareness about mental health.

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.

NEACAC Spring College Fair @ Franklin Pierce University - May 29.

School counseling will be delivering the Signs of Suicide (SOS) curriculum in all Health and Wellness 1 classes on May 6 & 7, helping students recognize and respond to important mental health signs.

You can 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

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

Spring is in full swing! This week all of our teams were in action. The varsity boys’ lacrosse team kicked off their season with a 8-3 win over Trinity on April 15. The girls’ lacrosse team has played a couple of home games to start their season. The baseball and softball teams lost a couple of 1 run games to John Stark in their season openers. The unified track team traveled to Keene on April 16 for their first meet of the season to compete with Keene, Hanover, John Stark, and Hillsborough-Deering. Our boys’ and girls’ team kicked off their season on April 15 at Milford. Senior Ross Stephens continues breaking school records! Following up his record-breaking indoor season, Stephens broke the school record in the 400 meters in the opening meet. Highlights from the meet were junior Morly Johnson winning the shot put, senior Whitney Adair winning the 800 meters, and the 4 x 400 meter team of Stephens, Griffin Schultz, Walter Stephens and Bretton Davies winning that event. The tennis teams have played a few matches at Adam’s Park, and on the road. The boys’ team secured their first win in a couple of years over Coe-Brown, and the girls’ team defeated Manchester West yesterday.

For the most updated athletics’ schedule, please go to our website at https://convalathletics.org/.

Attention seniors: as we are heading into May, you may be making decisions regarding your plans for next year. If you know you are going to participate in college athletics, please let us know where you are going and what you will be playing. We are planning on hosting a celebratory "signing day” in early June, but we need to know who is playing. The purpose of the event is to recognize your athletic career at ConVal and to congratulate you for continuing to compete in college. Please let Mr. Pimental know your post-ConVal athletic plans.

ConVal’s first Unified track meet of the season took place on April 16 at Keene High School with teams from John Stark, Hanover, and Hillsboro-Deering. Competing for ConVal were Eve Antonellis, Avery Hebert, Brennan White, and Odin Zaino. Brennan took first in his heat for the 100m. They all competed in the 100m and 200m dash, the long jump, and the shot put. They finished the meet by running the 4x100m relay right before the skies opened up with a downpour. Next up for ConVal is the meet on Tuesday, April 21, at Alvirne High School in Hudson.

The ConVal Boys Lacrosse team participated in the annual “Playing for a Purpose” Lacrosse Jamboree held in Manchester on April 4. The ConVal Boys Lacrosse team proudly raised $300 for the Dartmouth Hitchcock "Friends Fighting Cancer" Campaign in support of cancer awareness and research.

As part of the event, the team wore yellow to honor individuals and families affected by bone cancer. The fundraiser was dedicated to raising both funds and awareness for a disease that impacts countless lives in the local community and beyond.

Players took the field not only for competition, but with a deeper purpose: to support those currently battling cancer, celebrate survivors, and remember those who have been lost. The teams gathered during the Jamboree to take turns reading out the names of family and friends affected by cancer. The ConVal Team names were read by team Captains Brayden Boice and Henry Taylor. A moment of silence followed the reading of the names. Funds raised will go toward cancer research and awareness initiatives, helping to advance treatment efforts and provide hope for those affected.

The ConVal Boys Lacrosse team extends its sincere thanks to everyone who donated, supported, and stood alongside them in this effort.

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.

Students in the German and Spanish Clubs took their cultural studies beyond the classroom and onto the streets of Manchester for an International Food Crawl. Students were adventurous and visited 6 different restaurants representing different cultures and continents, including the spices of Thailand and India, to the vibrant dishes of Greece, Mexico, and the African-Caribbean. The trip concluded with a classic American stop at Ben and Jerry's.

Tickets will be on sale during lunches the week of April 20 and the week of May 4, cost is $60.00. Cash or check is accepted. Please make checks payable to The ConVal Class of 2026.

The Elm Street bridge in Peterborough will be closed for the remainder of the school year. If students need to ride the bus to Elm Street or the Community Center they will need to ride bus 25.

Monadnock Job & Career Fair

Harris Center-Lab Girls+

📬 184 Hancock Road, Peterborough, NH 03458

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

🌐 cvhs.conval.edu

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