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WEEKLY COUGAR NEWS
ConVal High School Happenings - February 19, 2021
Message From Principal McKillop
February is certainly inviting us to use our shovels often as the snow continues to come down!
We were fortunate to give presentations this week to GBS and SMS students regarding course selections for the high school. We also had a presentation for families on Wednesday evening that was followed by a panel of teachers and students who engaged in a webinar question/answer session. We are already excited about the future cougars that will join our ConVal family next fall! Please feel free to reach out to our Director of School Counseling, Mr. Tim Cotreau, if you have any further questions at tcotreau@conval.edu.
On Tuesday night, the School Board approved a return to our hybrid schedule on Thursday, April 8. More information regarding this and how it will impact our cohort calendar will be shared next week with families. Please look for updates via email.
We have extended the material pickup window by adding one additional day. On Monday, February 22, students/families can access the building from 7:00 am- 7:00 pm to pick up materials. During school hours, please ring the bell by the window. If it is after 3:00 pm, please walk up the main entrance to ring the bell and a staff member will assist you. After Monday, you will have to contact classroom teachers or Mr. Bartsch to make arrangements at sbartsch@conval.edu.
Please consider registering below to view LIKE next Wednesday, February 24. LIKE is the second film in our Mental Health Film Trilogy and is an IndieFlix Original documentary about finding a balance in our digital world. Please see more details below that includes information on how to register. There is no cost to attend this virtual opportunity.
As always, please don't hesitate to reach out to school counselors with any questions or concerns. In addition to your teachers and the admin team, they are valuable resources who are here to help.
Have a wonderful weekend and stay safe in the snow,
Heather
Email: conval.highschool@conval.edu
Website: http://cvhs.convalsd.net/
Phone: 603 924-3869
IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES
February 23 — ASVAB Test Gold Cohort Make-Up
February 24 — Mental Health Film Trilogy showcases LIKE at 6:00 pm
March 4 — Open House (virtual) 6:00 pm
March 15-26 — School vacation
April 8 — Students return to the hybrid model
April 13-15 — SATs for 11th Grade (more details as we get closer)
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
The contributions of Black Americans are recognized in many courses at ConVal. As part of Black History Month, our learning community continues to highlight some of these contributions by calling students’ attention to more hidden heroes in our nation’s history, such as “Fannie Lou Hamer, a civil and voting rights activist, and Jesse Leroy Brown, the U.S. Navy’s first black aviator.”
During the month of February, morning announcements will recognize individuals who have enriched our shared American identity. We look forward to sharing these with you on our school’s website as well. In addition, we are highlighting some resources for you to continue the discussion at home.
Consider checking out the offerings the CVHS library has, including Black authors and poets as well as biographies and historical pieces. Once you discover what we have here at school, you may be interested in exploring the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture website. Once there, you can explore the digital collections, view some of the stunning displays, and take advantage of the multimedia pieces.
SNOW DAYS/REMOTE DAYS
The district is trying to balance the needs of all and therefore will be having some traditional snow days and some remote days, our next event would be a traditional snow day.
DISTRIBUTION OF MATERIALS FOR REMOTE STUDENTS
Due to the inclement weather on Friday, we will offer additional time to pick up semester two materials. Students or parents/guardians may pick up materials Monday, February 22, 2021 from 7am to 7pm.
NEW DISTRICT CALENDAR
NEW DISTRICT BLOG
ConVal School District recently launched a brand-new news blog to serve as a hub for the latest updates, information, and news about the district’s schools, students, faculty, events, and accomplishments.
The blog, ConValNews.com is integrated into the schools and District’s Facebook and Twitter accounts and will automatically broadcast news blog content onto these platforms, connecting directly with the district community.
With a clean, user-friendly, and mobile responsive layout, the news blog allows for easy navigation throughout. It can be accessed on computers, cell phones, and tablets. Community members can subscribe and be notified by email when new posts are published.
Parents/guardians, students, staff, and community members should still utilize the district’s main website, Convalsd.net, to access the District-wide calendar of events, contact information, school committee meeting notices and minutes, important documents and notices, and to view general information about the district and its schools.
SCHOOL COUNSELING INFORMATION
Course Selection Appointments
Counselors are currently meeting with students to review and finalize course selections for next year. The counseling office is scheduling students and sharing the schedule of appointments at the end of each week for the following week. This schedule is posted to the Counseling Google Classroom, shared with teachers, and emailed to students who have appointments directly. Students will have the opportunity to join the meeting in person (if their scheduled meeting time falls during an in person week) or through an available virtual link posted on the schedule. Counselors are trying to meet with many students in a condensed amount of time, so to the extent possible we ask that students try to keep their scheduled appointment. If it is absolutely necessary to reschedule, students can reach out to their counselor or our registrar Stacy Whitaker. A separate email will go out to all students explaining the process of meeting with their counselor.
Seniors – Local Scholarship Applications
The 2021 ConVal Scholarship Application, that is used to apply to a wide variety of local scholarship opportunities, is now available in Naviance for all seniors. To access this application students will login to their Naviance account, click Colleges > Scholarship List > Local and Regional Scholarships > 2021 ConVal Regional High School Scholarship Application. The application with the required documents must be submitted electronically to Ms. Whitaker at swhitaker@conval.edu
Teen Dating Violence Prevention – Assessing Relationship Health
To provide the opportunity for any interested students to evaluate the health of their relationships, we will be sharing a link to this Healthy Relationship Quiz (link: https://www.loveisrespect.org/quiz/is-your-relationship-healthy/) via the School Counseling Google Classroom. Additionally, resources were shared with teachers regarding healthy relationships. One such resource was the ‘Cool Not Cool’ Quiz (http://www.coolnotcoolquiz.org/) that TASCs could do as a group to assess acceptable/unacceptable relationship behaviors. School counselors and our Student Support Counselor remain a resource for students navigating challenging relationships.
Plymouth State is Coming to YOU...CONVAL-Virtually!
If you have applied to Plymouth State, are thinking about applying, or just want to find out more information on PSU please join Simon Pierpont, our Plymouth State Admissions Representative, on Thursday, March 4th or 11th from 9:00-1:00 PM. This will be a fantastic opportunity to have all your PSU questions answered!
If you've already applied, Simon will review your application with you live and at the end tell you your admission decision as well as your scholarship!
If you haven't yet applied but would like to, hop on for a little and Simon will help you fill out your application or even answer any questions you may have! i.e. What is a strong essay topic? What do I put in the activity section? etc.
If you are not sure what the future holds for you and haven't started the college search journey no worries! Students can join and chat about all thing's college life related as well as what a day in the life looks like for the average college student!
If any of these sound like you then please join via zoom and we can chat with Simon! As a somewhat recent PSU grad, Simon says the best part of his job is getting to share my love for PSU with students like you.
Interested students should reach out to JoAnn Fletcher (jfletcher@conval.edu or x3204) who can schedule students for a session with Simon.
Mental Health Film Trilogy
Like – Save the date, the second installment of the Mental Health Film Trilogy is scheduled for Wednesday, February 24th at 6:00pm. LIKE is an IndieFlix Original documentary about finding a balance in our digital world. Technology is a tool. It’s here to stay and social platforms are a place to connect, share and care, but what’s really happening? Are we addicted? How do we stop? Where do we start? What do we need to know? By understanding the effects of technology and social media on the brain, on our lives and on our civilization, we can learn how to navigate it more safely together. Here is the link to register for the screening: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_rN5qhkNIT3KJkjyiyZighA
Upward Bound
The Keene State College Upward Bound Programs (UBP) are year round college-preparatory programs designed to prepare students for success in high school and enrollment in college. If you’re college-bound and meet UBP eligibility requirements outlined below, apply today! The application deadline is March 1st for current 9th and 10th graders.
During the school year UBP students meet weekly with an educational counselor to discuss study skills, time management, advising, PSAT/SAT preparation, and college and career exploration. Students and their families receive support throughout the college application and financial aid process. Additionally, students have the opportunity to participate in workshops, field trips, STEM activities, and college visits. The Upward Bound Programs continue to provide all of these services for students virtually this fall.
In the summer students participate in a six week experience at Keene State College. During summer sessions students live in a residence hall and take classes on campus. A diverse number of community activities, events, and clubs are offered for students to engage with. Students also take part in community service and leadership development activities in a supportive environment.
The Upward Bound Programs are funded by the U.S. Department of Education and are FREE for students who from moderate income families and/or may be the first in their family to complete a 4-year college degree. Admission to KSC UBP is based is based on financial eligibility, academic eligibility, and a personal interview. If you are an academically motivated student thinking about college who might benefit from the support of the Upward Bound Programs, please reach out to Emily Bolick at emily.bolick@ksctrioprograms.org or ask your school counselor for more information.
Region 14 - ATC Information
Senior Zack Boyd has the right to be proud about his craft. Boyd entered the Phaze Technology Center program knowing how to spot weld, but not much else. His recent project hints at what he’s capable of: Zack recently designed and built a truck rack. Similar racks, used to protect the rear cab glass against construction materials, can run upwards of several hundred dollars, but Zack’s only invested a small portion of that for supplies. The big investment came in time. Before even starting the build, Zack had to measure the rear of his truck to determine the dimensions and calculate the rise over run so that the sides would be angled as he wanted. He was able to customize the build further in selecting the mesh and paint color.
Zack’s skill in welding has come a long way since entering the program. Instructor, Dan Guillou, joked with Boyd, asking why the welds on the rack were so much better than what he did for classwork. The answer comes down to investment and pride; the care Zack took in the cutting and welds for his project comes from knowing that this is a piece that will be on display for anyone who sees his truck, as well as wanting to protect a piece of his personal property. While there are some elements of spot or tack welding in the project, his new learned skills were necessary for him to complete the finished product.
ATHLETIC INFORMATION/UPDATE
Junior Molly Dishong competed in the State Alpine Skiing Meet of Champions and finished in 5th place. Congratulations Molly. Freshman Sophia Lake will be representing ConVal as an independent swimmer in the Division 2 Swimming and Diving Championships on Sunday. ConVal Nation wishes you good luck, Sophia.
FamilyID will be opened in the next few days for spring sports registration. ConVal’s spring sports proposal will be going to the school board for approval on March 16th. Please check the district, high school, and athletic website for updates.
Please contact Athletic Director John Reitnauer at jreitnauer@conval.edu with any questions.