Cougar News

Good Afternoon, Cougar Nation!

From the moment the week began, our building was buzzing with energy well into the evenings. On Thursday evening, we were thrilled to open our doors to families of current grade 8 students. Department leaders shared highlights of our academic programs, families were introduced to members our administrative team, and Mr. Pimental provided an overview of our co-curricular offerings and athletics. The evening concluded with an optional tour of the building, giving families a firsthand look at what awaits them at ConVal High School.

Immediately following, we welcomed families for our Second Semester Open House. Classrooms were alive with conversation, community partners were on site, and the delicious food available for purchase added to the warm, welcoming atmosphere. It was wonderful to see so many connections being made between home and school.

Today, though shorter than usual, ended on a high note with our staff vs. Unified Basketball game. The energy in the gym was incredible, and it was a joyful way to head into February break. Even though I coached the staff, I am proud to report that our student Unified Basketball team remains undefeated!

We also have exciting news to celebrate: our students earned an incredible 47 Scholastic Art Awards. This achievement speaks volumes about the talent, creativity, and dedication of our young artists. Please read more below about this remarkable accomplishment.

ConVal will host the Division 3 Wrestling State Championship this Sunday. If you’re looking to come out and cheer on the Cougars, our doors will open at 8:00 am—we would love to see you there!

As we head into February break, I hope each of you finds time to rest, recharge, and enjoy time with family and friends. We look forward to welcoming everyone back in March, ready to continue the great work ahead.

Have a wonderful vacation week, and GO COUGARS!

Best,

Heather

~

• February 21-March 1 - Belize Trip
• February 23-27 - Winter Recess
• March 4 - ASVAB Testing
• March 4 - National Honor Society Field Trip
• March 6 - School Connect
• March 9 & 10 - No School - All Staff PD Days
• March 11 - UNH Manchester Field Trip (CTE)

The World Language Department would like to announce and congratulate the February Students of the Month. These students exhibit the key qualities of successful language learners. They have a positive attitude, show a willingness to take academic risks, demonstrate perseverance and curiosity, and are successful collaborators. German: Harleigh Brown and Chris Bouyounes. Spanish: Abby Wilmot and Nora Eliopoulos. Congratulations, all!

ConVal students once again proved themselves outstanding at the Annual Scholastic Arts Awards in spring 2026. Students garnered a total of 47 awards in the categories of ceramics & glass, mixed media, photography, and sculpture. With its more than 100 year tradition, the Scholastic Art Awards is the longest-running, most prestigious program for creative teens in the United States, celebrating student achievement in 29 art and writing categories. Open to grades 7-12, Scholastic Arts has served as a launching pad for artists like Andy Warhol and writers like Sylvia Plath, offering scholarships, exhibitions, and national recognition. For the annual competition, all student submissions are adjudicated on originality, technical skill, and personal voice. This happens first at the regional level, which results in Gold Key, Silver Key, and Honorable Mention awards. Selected works may then be selected to proceed to the next stage at the national level.

Brielle Proctor and Ema Richardson placed in the top five at the NH Educators Rising Competition that was held on February 13 at the Seacoast Center of Technology in Exeter. They placed with their Pre-K interactive children’s literature book, Our Deep Blue Sea. Their top-five finish qualifies them to compete at Educators Rising Nationals in Portland, Oregon, June 20–23. They will learn their official placement at the NH Educators Rising Conference on April 10, at Plymouth State University. Congratulations Brielle and Ema!

A community forum, sponsored by the ConVal School Board, was held on Wednesday, February 18. For just over an hour, members of the school board and the district administration presented on a variety of topics that will come before voters in March. Chief among them were the budget and several warrant articles, including one on open enrollment and one on Francestown's re-proposed withdrawal from the ConVal cooperative school district. In the photo, Business Manager Neal Cass gives a detailed explanation of the proposed budget, including the district assessment. After the presentation, audience members and online viewers engaged in an hour-long question-and-answer period with school board members and administrators. The YouTube video of the community forum, including the Q&A session, can be accessed here.

Parents met with the School Counseling team in the Link to ask questions and get directions before heading their students' classrooms. The evening did not follow a traditional bell schedule but instead was self-guided, giving families the opportunity to meet their students' teachers on an individual basis.Members of the National Honor Society were available to assist families throughout the event in navigating the building to find the classrooms and with refreshments. Reality Check presented a mock teen bedroom display, a hands-on exhibit designed for parents, caregivers, and educators to identify over 70+ potential warning signs of risky behavior, substance abuse, and mental health challenges in adolescents. In addition, Avenue A provided information about their programs for youths to build resilience, navigate challenging circumstances, and develop young leaders. With the support of over 60 volunteers, Avenue A runs year-round afternoon and evening enrichment programs for teens that are popular among ConVal students.

The evening began with introductions of the administrative team: Principal Heather McKillop, Assistant Principals Rick Simoneau and Erik Thibault, the Director of the Region 14 Applied Technology Center Jen Kiley, Special Education Administrator Amelia Joseph, and the Director of Athletics and Co-Curriculars Larry Pimental.

Each of the Department Chairs for Career and Technical Education; English; Health and Wellness; Library, Integration, and Technology Servcies (LITS); Mathematics; Science; Social Studies; Special Education; Visual and Performing Arts; and World Languages gave a brief overview of their respective programs before turning the presentation back to School Counseling.

The school counselors spoke about the transition to high school and the course selection options for freshman students. Larry Pimental spoke about the many athletic teams that cover three sports seasons as well as the co-curricular opportunities offered at ConVal. Jen Kiley and Lance Levesque spoke to the Career and Technical Education opportunities offered at the Region 14 ATC at ConVal and addressed the remote campus CTE programs that are being offered at Mascenic High School in New Ipswich and Conant High School in Jaffrey. The evening ended with an overview of the graduation requirements for the Class of 2030, ConVal's 4x4 block schedule, the documentation requirements for new student registration, and an opportunity for parents to have their questions answered. If you could not attend the session in person, the slide deck of the presentation is available here.

Over 150 8th graders from GBS and SMS visited the Region 14 Applied Technology Center on February 13 to learn about CTE programs that they can participate in when they come to ConVal. CTE teachers led them through a variety of activities to introduce them to the diverse career paths we offer.

Congratulations to the company of Kodachrome (One-Act Version) which had three successful shows on February 12, 13, and 14! Audiences laughed and cried as they followed the lives of the residents of Colchester, CT, on their journeys of love and loss in this heartwarming play inspired by Our Town, which was of course inspired by our very own town of Peterborough. Thank you to all who came out to support this show! We hope to see you at the next ConVal Performing Arts production in April!

Hope Week 2026 was a big success! The goal of Hope Week was to spread awareness about reducing stigma around mental health and raise the profile of ConVal High School's Hope Squad through events such as Hope Root Beer Floats at lunch and friendship bracelet making during TASC. Hope Squad advisors and members served approximately 450 root beer floats, and students wrote positive affirmations in order to receive their free treat. Those will be compiled into a bulletin board for the whole community to enjoy. Throughout Hope Week, students were able to learn about Hope Squad members, meet new friends, and elevate positivity throughout the school.

Students in the Automotive Technology 2 class are working on a variety of projects right now, including customer oil changes and inspections, changing struts, and rebuilding engines. Many of these students are already working in the field and plan to stay in the industry post-graduation.

Students in Woodworking are hard at work creating their first project, a basic box with sliding lid. Students use the saw stop and chop saw to create the boxes and were tasked with getting all pieces cut from a board foot to minimize waste.

Students in the welding extended learning opportunity at Phase Welding Technology Center are building a 2 yard bear proof dumpster, which was designed in the program. Students are eligible to take welding with permission of the ATC director after completing the Automotive, Construction Trades, or Manufacturing programs.

Students in Robotics are hard at work building their first robot, the Vex SpeedBot. Once students have built the base robot, they will progress through coding it to do simple tasks before adding more hardware to their designs.

Are you interested in a career in the communication arts, like photography, videography, graphic design, or public relations? Come and check out the campus of UNH Manchester and meet the faculty and current students, plus tour the communication arts production studios and have some fun with our green screen. Lunch is provided, application fee waivers will be available to all attendees, and you will be entered to win a gift certificate to Aroma Joe's. The trip is Wednesday, March 11; the bus will leave ConVal at 8 and return by 1. See the main office for permission slips.

Please sign up for the trip using this Google Form.

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.

• February: ConVal Scholarship Application Opens - deadline to submit: April 8

• February: Healthy Relationships Month.
  

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

• March 4: ASVAB Test Administration

• 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.

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.

Conval is administering another round of the ASVAB Assessment on Wednesday, March 4th.

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: Wednesday, March 4, 2026

Time: 8:00 am - 11:00 am

Where: ConVal High School

Sign up in school counseling - A permission form is required and available HERE

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.

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 $100,000 in scholarships was awarded to ConVal students to support their next steps after graduation. Check Naviance in February for the ConVal Scholarship Application.

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

With the help of ConVal alum Jason Bergeron (class of 2021), School Counselors are offering a series of opportunities on Tuesdays during TASC related to selecting courses, preparing for college, and SAT prep time. We will meet in Room 417, across from the Library.

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

The end of the winter season is upon us. Several teams will complete their season in the next week or so.

Tonight (weather permitting), the boys’ basketball teams are hosting Pelham. This will be the “Senior Game” for the boys’ team and the Winter Spirit Team! JV basketball is at 5:00, and the varsity “Senior Game” is at 6:30. The girls’ “Senior Game” is scheduled for Friday, 2/27 vs. Kennett. Tipoff is 6:00 PM.

Sunday, 2/22, we are hosting the Division 3 Wrestling State Championship with wrestlers hitting the mat at 8:00 AM. Several of our wrestlers will be participating. This is the state meet and there is an admission fee: $10.00 for adults, $7.00 for students and seniors.

There are games scheduled during the winter break. The varsity basketball teams are playing a varsity double-header at Souhegan on Tuesday, 2/24. The boys tipoff at 5:30, followed by the girls at 7:00. The JV basketball team is hosting Souhegan on Tuesday at 4:00.

The Meet of Champions for wrestling is being held on Saturday, 2/28 at Pinkerton Academy. Hopefully some of our wrestlers will be competing.

Our Indoor Track team completed their season on a high note. At the state championship meet the boys team finished 3rd in the state, and a couple school records were set. Senior Ross Stephens broke the school record (which he already held), and the 21 year old state record in the 300 meters, winning with the fastest New Hampshire high school time ever: a blazing 34.73 in winning the race. Junior Griffin Schultz finished 3rd in the 300m in D2 with the 4th fastest time in the state (all divisions) this year. The boys 4 x 200 team of Stephens, Schultz, Brenton Davies, and Marcus Jordan broke the school record in that event. The New England Interscholastic Indoor Track and Field Championships will be on Saturday, 2/28 at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston. Stephens and Schultz both qualified to be amongst the fastest in NE.

Spring season will be upon us in a few short weeks. The season officially starts March 23, 2026. All participants must be registered to try out. To register, please go to the ConVal Athletics webpage to do so. Speaking of spring sports, we will be holding a Spring Sports Meeting for all spring athletes and families on Thursday, March 19 beginning at 6:00 pm in the gym. This is an opportunity for players and parents to meet the spring coaches and here about the upcoming season.

Coaching update:

On Tuesday night, the school board approved the nominations of our boys tennis and softball coaches: The Board approved the nomination of Russ Fernald as the varsity boys’ tennis head coach for the 2026 season. Mr. Fernald brings a wealth of tennis experience: he was a 4 year tennis player for ConVal, a two year tennis player at Hobart College, a tennis instructor for 18 summers in Vermont, a coach at ConVal High School (boys and girls), and a social studies teacher and the tennis coach in Texas high schools for 13 seasons before returning to NH . He continues to compete in USTA league tennis at Monadnock Indoor Tennis Club.

The Board also approved the nomination of Jim Coppo as the varsity softball head coach for the 2026 season. Coach Coppo was the Cougars' head coach from 1997-2014, leading the team to five state Division II Final Fours, including 2013 when the Cougars won the Division II State Championship. After his time at ConVal, Coach Coppo went on to be the head coach at Monadnock High School and Keene High School. Coppo ran the NE Ravens baseball and NE Diamond Devils softball youth programs, including taking the 2013 14U NE Ravens to the National Championship game before falling in extra innings. His team was recognized with the AAU National Sportsmanship Award. Coppo also coached adult softball teams including one that played the USA Women’s National Team at Olympic Stadium in Columbus, Georgia prior to the 1996 Olympic Game, as well as winning Women’s Major national championships in 1996 and 1997. Please join me in welcoming Coach Fernald and Coach Coppo back to the ConVal family!

We are still accepting applications for the boys’ varsity soccer coach for the 2026 season. Interested applicants can contact Larry Pimental at lpimental@conval.edu.

Despite the shortened day on Friday, February 20, the regular season undefeated ConVal Unified Basketball team took on teachers and staff for a last game before February break.With the enthusiastic support of the students in the bleachers, Unified fought hard against the very capable adult squad but eventually remained victorious with a final score of 62-42.Congratulations, Unified players, on an undefeated season!

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.

📬 184 Hancock Road, Peterborough, NH 03458

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

🌐 cvhs.conval.edu

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