Cougar News
ConVal High School Happenings - December 5, 2025
Message from Principal McKillop
Good Afternoon, Cougar Nation!
I hope everyone enjoyed a peaceful Thanksgiving. It’s hard to believe we’ve already wrapped up our first full week of December—one that included our first snow day and a delayed opening! With more holidays quickly approaching and less than three weeks of school before our holiday recess, there is so much happening in our classrooms, across our campus, and throughout our community.
Below you will find highlights, along with updates from School Counseling, Athletics and Co-Curriculars, Community Connections, and other important information. I encourage you to take a look at the table of contents to preview what’s included.
Please also mark your calendars for our Winter Concert on Wednesday, December 17, held in the gymnasium. This evening performance will showcase our instrumental and choral ensembles. Our students have been working hard in rehearsal and are excited to share the gift of music with all who are able to attend.
Finally, I look forward to seeing some members of our community at the Lantern Parade in downtown Peterborough on Saturday evening at 6:00 pm. If you plan to attend, be sure to bundle up...it looks like it will be chilly!
Have a wonderful weekend, and as always, GO COUGARS!
Best,
Heather
CTE Student of the Month
Michael was nominated by his Digital Photo & Video instructor, Lance Levesque, for excelling in all the career readiness skills but especially for his perseverance, positive attitude, and always coming prepared with the mindset to learn and be successful. Mr. Levesque shared that “Mikey shows up each day with a smile and gets right to work checking in cameras from the night before then gets cameras ready to be handed out. Mikey works with students to be the best that they can be. Mikey will even come during TASC to help and support his students when the need arises. He is always an active part of each class assisting others. Mikey has also volunteered his time to yearbook where he has taken photos for yearbook groups and varied events at school. Students respect Mikey for his leadership skills and his kind and caring nature.” The Kiwanis Club of Peterborough has generously decided to honor our CTE Students of the Month this year with a $150 award, $100 of which goes directly to the student and $50 which will be donated to a nonprofit of the student’s choice.
World Language Department
The World Language Department would like to announce and congratulate the November 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: Payton Taranto and Gavin Lyons. Spanish: Maisie Michaud and Gwyneth Moritz. Congratulations, all!
Currier Museum Field Trip
On Friday, November 21, students from the Visual Arts Department and the CTE Program embarked on a field trip to the Currier Museum of Art in Manchester. During their visit, students spent time engaging with the museum's collection, which spans both modern and historical artworks. They actively sketched various pieces, honing their observational skills and expanding their visual vocabulary. A highlight of the day was the assignment to choose one piece of artwork that held a direct connection or relevance to the work they are currently creating in their respective classes. Students posed for a photograph with their chosen artwork, documenting the personal connections they made between the museum's collection and their own artistic journey.
Holiday Crafts Fair A Success
The Annual Holiday Crafts Fair at ConVal High School on November 22. The event, which is traditionally held in the ConVal Gym, expanded this year also into the Mini Gym, the main hallway in the link, and even the parking lot. The Fair was organized by the Class of 2026 as a fundraiser toward their prom and senior trip and brought together several dozen artists, craftsmen, exhibitors, and local businesses. The event netted about $1,800.
Thanksgiving Family Feud
With Mr. Derby and Mr. Mudrick acting as co-hosts, the Block 2 Pre-Algebra and English 9 A/B schedule classes faced off in a friendly game of Thanksgiving Family Feud before break. Several teams competed answering questions about Thanksgiving, such as the foods that make up a typical Thanksgiving meal, the names of the original colonies, and the football teams that often play on Thanksgiving Day. It took 12 lively rounds to crown a winner.
Algebra I Part I
Students in Algebra I Part I have been looking at the point-slope form of linear equations. Today they learned how to convert from point-slope to slope-intercept form. The two students were demonstrating on the board how to do the conversion.
Culinary Arts (CTE)
ConVal students have the opportunity to participate in CTE programming outside of our region, including the Culinary Arts program at Milford. There students learn the science of cooking and baking, taking part in all elements of preparation and clean up. Student work is served to the community through school events and the Windows on West restaurant.
English-American Cultural Studies
Students in Mr. Lambert's English 11 American Cultural Studies class circle up and share examples of social commentary they have experienced recently in media, art, or literature. Students also consider the dynamics of direct and indirect commentary, bias, and individual expression, analysis, and interpretation.
Intro to Technology (CTE)
Students in Intro to Technology are exploring robotics by putting together basic Vex machines that will utilize a close attachment to pick up and move objects. Once students have gained proficiency with building and coding the robots, they will move on to more complex tasks, and students who enjoy the process may expand their knowledge with the semester long Robotics course in Semester 2.
Manufacturing I (CTE)
Students in Manufacturing I are learning about the basics of metal lathes, starting with understanding the parts and how to clean and maintain them. Manufacturing students learn how to use manufacturing processes and principles using a variety of medium, including wood, metal, and plastic.
Signs of Suicide Lessons
In the first weeks of December, our school counselors have been busy delivering Signs of Suicide Prevention lessons during Health and Wellness classes. These important sessions help students recognize warning signs and learn how to seek help — a vital step in keeping our community safe and supported. For parents, we’ve shared a helpful Mindwise Parent Handout to guide conversations at home.
ASVAB Testing - Grades 10, 11 and 12 (ages 16+)
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
Wrestling Tournament
On Tuesday, November 25, the wrestling team held an intrasquad meet in front of families and fans prior to the Thanksgiving Recess. This was in preparation for the upcoming season. The wrestling team opens their season on Wednesday, December 10, at 6:00 PM in Plymouth.
Sports
Next week the winter season officially begins. There are several games on tap, starting Wednesday night with the Wrestling Team heading up to Plymouth to open the season. On Friday, December 12, basketball tips off with the Girls’ Varsity hosting Plymouth at 6:00 PM and the Boys’ JV and Varsity Team on the road at Plymouth at 4:30 and 6:00, respectively; the Swim Team has a meet at Colby-Sawyer College. Saturday, December 13, is a big day here at ConVal with the annual Early Bird Wrestling Tournament starting at 9:00 AM and our Indoor Track Team is on the road for a 1:00 meet at Phillips Exeter. The Ski Teams and the Unified Basketball Team kicks off their seasons the following week. For more athletic information including schedules, please visit our website at convalathletics.org.
If you take in a game or meet this winter, you will notice some new coaches on the sidelines. Please welcome: Craig Fraley (Alpine Skiing), Jim Migneault (Boys’ Varsity Basketball), Kenny Williams (Wrestling), and welcome back Kevin Proctor (Girls’ Basketball).
This week, the All-State Football Teams were released, and ConVal was well represented! Congratulations to:
Max Erickson, 1st Team, Defensive Back
Mikey Gonzalez, 1st Team, Offensive Line
Henry Hartwell, 1st Team, Linebacker
Wetu Selby, 1st Team Offense, Athlete
Liam Kimball, 2nd Team, Offensive Line
Gabe Michaud, 2nd Team, Linebacker
FCVA - December Sign Up's are here
Please join us for FCVA’s next monthly meeting on Monday, December 8, at 6:30pm in room 651. We look forward to seeing you there!
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! Now it's on to the winter season, with plenty of opportunities to sign up for volunteer hours at this SignUp Genius link. Let’s go Cougars!!!!
📬 184 Hancock Road, Peterborough, NH 03458
📞 (603) 924-3869 📧 conval.highschool@conval.edu
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