Message from Principal McKillop
Good Afternoon, Cougar Nation!
This has been an exceptionally busy week at ConVal High School, both on account of the weather (three winter storms causing one school closing and two delayed openings) and because of the normal disruptions in school routine due to the changeover from first to second semester.
This was also a week busy with celebrations. On Wednesday, we held a special pep rally to celebrate our school community as a core value of our Cougar CARES initiative. In addition, we celebrated the special recognitions of an alum who was featured on WMUR on Thursday and a current senior who won the 2023 DAR Good Citizen Award. We were also pleased to welcome Jill Beaman as a new teacher in our Mathematics Department.
While the second semester has just begun, we are already looking forward to the next school year. Starting on Tuesday, students will begin, in conjunction with their counselors, the process of course selections for 2023-2024, including electives and courses in career and technical education (CTE) that are offered through the Region 14 Applied Technology Center (ATC). There is also a special opportunity for students and parents to participate in focus groups on the Apprenticeship NH program, a workforce initiative of the Community College System of NH (CCSNH) that helps build apprenticeships and pre-apprentice programs in high-demand occupations. Please see the information below on how to take part in these Zoom forums.
As always, there are several items relating to our athletic programs and co-curriculars, including a request by the Friends of ConVal Athletics (FCVA) for volunteers during home games and an appeal for 1980s clothes and props for the upcoming winter production by ConVal Drama. See all details below.
And speaking of athletics, our Unified Basketball team is hosting Goffstown this afternoon, followed by our Girls Basketball team hosting the team from Milford High School; JV will begin at 5:00 pm and Varsity 6:30 pm. I hope to see you there and GO COUGARS!
Best,
Heather
Callie Walton (Class of 2017) Featured On WMUR's NH Chronicle
On January 26, WMUR’s New Hampshire Chronicle featured ConVal graduate Callie Walton (Class of 2017) who is pursuing an acting career. Walton has a leading role (22 episodes) as the character Chloe Riley on the CW network series "In The Dark." The show is about a blind young woman trying to solve her friend’s murder. For the NH Chronicle feature on Callie (6:30 mins), please click here.
Cleveland Receives 2023 DAR Good Citizen Award
The Peterborough Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution announced senior Lydia Cleveland as the winner of the 2023 DAR Good Citizen Award. The DAR Good Citizen program and associated scholarship contest are intended to reward the qualities of good citizenship. Students selected for this award must have the following qualities: dependability, which includes truthfulness, loyalty, and punctuality; service, which includes cooperation, courtesy and consideration of others; leadership, which includes personality, self-control and ability to assume responsibility; and patriotism, which includes unselfish interest in family, school, community, and nation.
Jill Beaman Joins ConVal Math Department
Jill Beaman joined the ConVal Math Department at the beginning of the second semester on Monday. Beaman is a native of Winchester, New Hampshire and holds a Bachelor's Degree from Keene State College as well as a Master's Degree in Education from the University of New England. She is in her ninth year of teaching mathematics. In addition to her teaching expertise, Beaman has experience coaching softball, working with students at the middle school level and the Allyson Barden Division.
Ms. England's Environmental Science
During students' second day in Environmental Science, they were introduced to The Wondering Scientist, Ms. England's blog on all things Environmental Science. Students began crafting their own websites where they will create weekly blogs to explore the topics they will learn in class.
TASC Assembly Focus On Community
The month of January has been dedicated to building our understanding of community. In TASC homerooms students discussed Panorama data that revealed students' sense of belonging and community at ConVal. On Wednesday, the entire student body and staff gathered for a pep rally to celebrate our school community.
ATC Focus Group Invite: Engaging Youth and Parents
ApprenticeshipNH, a workforce initiative of the Community College System of NH (CCSNH), helps build apprenticeships and pre-apprentice programs in high-demand occupations. The program now includes a track for high school students who can “earn while they learn” valuable workforce skills and high school and college credit while being paid for the work they perform. We are looking for feedback from students and parents by conducting statewide, virtual focus groups. Please join us!
Feb. 7 at 6:00 pm: Parents from Cheshire and other counties
Feb. 8 at 6:00 pm: Parents from Hillsborough and other counties
Feb. 15 at 6:00 pm: Students from Cheshire and other counties
Feb. 16 at 6:00 pm: Students from Hillsborough and other counties
Focus group participants receive a $50.00 stipend.
Contact Liz Arcieri at larcieri@ccsnh.edu or Mary Ann Gaschnig at mgaschnig@ccsnh.edu to register to attend!
Course Selection Process Starts For 2023-2024
Next week, the School Counseling team will be holding grade-level meetings about course selection for the 2023-2024 school year in the LHT. Here is the timeline for declaring course preferences:
- January 31-February 2: Course Selection Kickoff, mandatory TASC meetings for grades 9, 10, and 11
- February 2-10: PowerSchool open for student course selection (this could be delayed if there are more snow days this week)
- February 10: Last day for students to select courses in PowerSchool (this could be extended if there are more snow days this week)
- February 13-March 24: Students meet 1:1 with school counselors to finalize course selections in PowerSchool
Students have also the opportunity to explore courses by checking out the Electives Fair online. By clicking on the links to short video presentations and .pdf guides, students can explore the elective course options. Stay tuned for more information via web posts, starting on Tuesday, January 31.
YRBS Survey To Be Conducted February 7, 2023
On February 7, 2023, our school will take part in the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), cosponsored by the NH Departments of Education and Health & Human Services. This voluntary survey asks about the health behaviors of 9th through 12th grade students and will be completed in TASC homerooms. Director of Counseling Terri Drogue shared an email with additional details, including a link to the actual survey questions and a link to an opt-out form.
In a crisis? Text HOME to 741741
You can also reach out by typing @CrisisTextLine on Facebook Messenger.
The service is here for any type of crisis and is available 24/7 for high-quality, text-based mental health support.
A live, trained Crisis Counselor receives the text and responds, all from a secure online platform.
Reach out to get the help you need.
Nurses' Notes
Please find the link to our monthly nurses' newsletter. Please reach out to your school nurse if you have any questions or concerns.
https://www.smore.com/mf3jh-conval-school-nurses-newsletter?ref=email-content#w-3765190189
Upcoming in Athletics and Co-curriculars:
Big News: On February 15, ConVal and Souhegan in a joint effort will host the Claws for a Cause games at ConVal High School. The event will feature a double header match up between the ConVal girls and boy's basketball teams and Souhegan. This event is a fundraising event going to local cause to help build awareness around mental health.
For Boys Ice Hockey Game Times Use the Link Below:
January 27: ConVal Nation Event of the Week - Unified Basketball will host Goffstown. Game will start promptly at 3:30 pm. Come make some noise in the Cave for this high scoring squad.
January 27: ConVal Alpine will be hosting their second race of the year at Crotched Mountain. Race begins at 3:30.
January 27: Girls Basketball will host Milford. JV will begin at 5:00 and Varsity 6:30.
January 28: ConVal Nordic Team will be at Waterville Valley. Race begins at 10:30 am.
January 28: Indoor Track will be traveling to UNH for a 10:00am start.
January 31: Girls Basketball will host Sanborn. JV at 5:00 and Varsity at 6:30.
February 1: Unified Basketball Senior Night vs. Alvirne. Ceremonies begin at 4:00.
February 3: Boys Basketball will host Hollis-Brookline. JV at 5:00 and Varsity at 6:30.
Friends of ConVal Athletics
You may have noticed that concessions have been closed for the last few home games. We can't do it without the help from our volunteers! Please consider volunteering. Choose an available date and position — Concession Volunteer, Crockpot (Chili, Meatballs, Mac & Cheese, etc.), or Pizza Pickup at Peterborough Pizza Barn — and click the green "Sign Up" button. To sign up for a remaining January event, please click here. To sign up for any of the home sports events in February, please click here. Thank you!
ConVal Drama 1980s Clothing and Props Drive
For the ConVal Drama Winter Project, please check your closets for 1980s fashion, roller skates, and other props. Punk, Dweeb, Nerd, Metal Head, and Footloose fashion are all in play. Remember rainbow suspenders, satin letter jackets, Lacoste polo shirts, headbands, and leg warmers? Ripped T-shirts, Drakar Noir, and The Breakfast Club? If you have any of these items to loan, please send them in with your student to leave with Leslie Holcombe, Jason Lambert, or Liz Moore. The drive has been extended to Monday, January 30 and we look forward to getting some additional donations. Thank you in advance!
Lead Test Notification
ConVal High School recently completed testing for lead in drinking water as part of an ongoing effort under NH House Bill 1421 requiring schools to test for lead and to act when lead is at or above 5 parts per billion (ppb). Samples were collected from 157 potential drinking water outlets (e.g., classroom or bathroom faucets, kitchen sinks, and drinking fountains); 19 samples tested at or above the level where action must be taken. Please see this letter from Facilities Director Tim Grossi for further details.
Affordable Connectivity Program
The Federal Communications Commission has announced that 20 of the nation’s internet providers have committed to lowering costs for low-income households to help improve access to high-speed internet for 48 million households nationwide. The Affordable Connectivity Program lowers internet costs for eligible families by up to $30 a month. Parents must sign up on their own. Here are information flyers that promote this offer.