Weekly Cougar News
ConVal High School Happenings - February 5, 2021
Message From Principal McKillop
We are officially one week into our second semester. This is a fresh new start for everyone. Please remember that our staff is happy to support you with any questions you may have or assist in finding ways to support your students' respective goals. Please reach out to your school counselor, teacher, or any member of our staff if we can help.
This week also marked the start of Black History Month. We are excited to recognize and honor this important month as a school community. Please see more detailed information below.
Grades will be accessible on the portal through PowerSchool on February 9. If you have any questions on how to access that information or have general questions about PowerSchool, please contact Stacy Whitaker, our registrar, at swhitaker@conval.edu.
Please also be sure to note below the pickup times for semester two materials for remote only students. There are many other helpful pieces of information below.
I wish you all a wonderful weekend!
Heather
Email: conval.highschool@conval.edu
Website: http://cvhs.convalsd.net/
Phone: 603 924-3869
Important Upcoming Dates
February 9 — Grades are accessible on the PowerSchool portal
February 9 — ASVAB Test Gold Cohort
February 16 — ASVAB Test Blue Cohort
February 17 — Parent/Guardian Night for Rising 9th Grade Students
March 15-26 — School vacation
April 13-15 — SATs for 11th Grade (more details as we get closer)
Black History Month
The contributions of Black Americans are recognized as part of many courses at ConVal.
During Black History Month, our community will highlight some of these contributions by calling students’ attention to 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.
In the weeks of February 8-19, morning announcements will recognize individuals who have enriched our shared American identity. We look forward to also sharing these with you via email and on our school’s website.
In addition, we are highlighting some resources available if interested. This week, consider checking out the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire, which recognized places and spaces in NH that are important parts of Black History. Please see also Profiles in Perseverance, which commemorates individuals who may not make it into history books but who made significant contributions to our shared culture.
Material Distribution for Semester two
February 1-10 teachers will use online materials, as applicable for all students (remote and in-person).
In-person students on our hybrid plan will collect materials in-person in their respective classes by their teachers.
For remote only students, the following applies:
February 11 and 18: After school hours will be available on these Thursdays until 7:00pm for remote only students to collect materials.
February 12 and 19: Remote students may pick up their materials on either of these Fridays during school hours.
After February 19, materials that are not collected by students will be moved to the Lucy Hurlin Theater, where department chairs will coordinate next steps. Any student who did not receive materials will need to contact the classroom teacher.
Please contact Mr. Bartsch, Dean of Students, at sbartsch@conval.edu if you have any questions about this process.
Counseling Information
Semester 2 Add/Drop Window
A quick reminder the window to add/drop a course closes Friday, Feb. 12th. Students that need to change a course on their schedule should reach out to their counselor as soon as possible if they want to make a change.
Course Selection
School counselors presented course selection information to students in TASC on Friday. Students will need to review course selection options, discuss options with parents/guardians, and select courses by next Friday, Feb. 12th through the online system. Parents/guardians are receiving a separate email with additional information to support their student through the course selection process.
Destination College
Registration is now open for Destination College, presented by the NH Higher Education Assistance Foundation in partnership with Plymouth State University. The NHHEAF Network’s signature event, scheduled for Saturday March 20th, is designed to help high school juniors and their families prepare for entry into college. This annual statewide college planning convention is held each spring through the collaborative efforts of The NHHEAF Network and New Hampshire colleges and universities. All of the day's events are FREE to students and parents.
Attendees will have access to a variety of free college planning workshops, learn tips about the college application process from a student keynote speaker, have the opportunity to participate in scholarship raffles, and attend a college fair. Join us at Destination College 2021 and jumpstart your college planning experience! Registration is required in advance. Visit: https://www.nhheaf.org/destination-college.asp
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. The link for the film will be available as the date gets closer.
Teen Dating Violence – Facts and Resources
February is Teen Dating Violence Prevention Month, and will continue to be an area of focus in the school counseling communications this month. This week, we wanted to share this Fact Sheet (flyer) from Futures Without Violence. The fact sheet highlights some of the realities we know teens face. For parents/guardians, we’re sharing this Parent’s Guide to Teen Dating Violence (link: http://stoprelationshipabuse.org/professionals/parents-guide-to-teen-dating-violence/). Navigating relationships can be extremely challenging for teens, and our counselors are available to support students. Additionally, it is important to be aware of resources available in the community for anyone experiencing interrelationship violence. Locally, Monadnock Center for Violence Prevention operates a 24/7 Crisis Hotline (1-888-511-MCVP [6287]) where callers can remain anonymous if they choose. Additionally, Love is Respect operates a text line that can be accessed by texting LOVEIS to 22522.
Talking About Relationships
Todd Bennett, our student support counselor, and Jacqueline Roland at Avenue A are teaming up to offer students the opportunity to talk about relationships on Mon. Feb. 15th, from 7-8pm. This will be an opportunity for teens to share their thoughts on relationships, the differences between healthy and unhealthy relationships, the meaning of consent, and advice that teens would share with friends that are in a relationship. This is an Avenue A event, and will be held virtually. Students would need to register in advance by emailing avenuea@grapevinenh.org. For more information, check in with Todd Bennett! tbennett@conval.edu
Athletic Update
Our winter athletes have been practicing and competitions have begun. Our Nordic and Alpine Ski teams have each participated in three meets, and our Girls Ice Hockey team played two games against Kingswood last week. The Boys Basketball team is off to a good start and our Girls Basketball team played their first game of the season at Souhegan on Friday. The Indoor Track team continues to meet by cohort in skills and drills activities and the Wrestling team is involved in remote training and clinic activities.
Region 14 ATC Information
Firefighting 1 Program
Students in the Firefighting I program recently had the opportunity to work with the Jaws of Life while conducting a drill to remove people from a car. Students also used tools to remove the windshield to better extract the individuals. As you can see in the last photo, the result was a car that had it’s top removed like a can, clearly demonstrating that the students were proficient in using these industry grade tools to perform the tasks.
Careers in Education 1
Congratulations to Mrs. Grossi’s Careers in Education 1 students, who recently earned their CPR certifications for CPR / AED / First-Aid for Adult/Child/Infant/Choking. The students can list this industry-recognized credential on their resumes, making them more employable in the education field. Well done!
Running Start Information
The Running Start registration portal for Semester 2 classes, DualEnroll.com, is now open! March 1 is the deadline to register, and no late registrations will be accepted. If your student is enrolled in any of the classes below, please make sure to register. These college credits from the Community College System of NH (CCSNH) are available to your student at no cost to you, through both the Governor’s STEM scholarship and the support of the ConVal School Board.
If you have any questions regarding the process or Running Start as a whole, you can contact Jennifer Kiley at jkiley@conval.edu or support@dualenroll.com
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REQUESTING TRANSCRIPT FOR RUNNING START
If your student took a Running Start class during Semester 1 and earned a C or better, you can request a transcript from either Manchester Community College (engineering courses) or Nashua Community College (all other Running Start courses). This transcript can be included in college applications. You may request a free transcript after each semester a Running Start course is completed!
Yearbook Information
Order Yearbook:
The ConVal yearbook is on sale now! Copies are going fast, please visit this link to secure your copy today: https://jostensyearbooks.com/?REF=A05055200
Place a Yearbook Ad:
Yearbook recognition ads are a great way for parents, families and friends to commemorate student achievements and important milestones. In addition, revenues from recognition ads help our school to create a better yearbook. To purchase your ad online, follow this link: https://jostensyearbooks.com/?REF=A05055200 . All ad orders must be placed online by 02/11/2021