Weekly Cougar News
ConVal High School Happenings - October 30, 2020
Message From Principal McKillop
I hope this message finds everyone healthy. We have completed the last week of school in October and look forward to a new month ahead. Starting next week, all classes will be inside.
Our Superintendent, Dr. Saunders, sent out an email to families on Wednesday that shared details regarding the enhancements to the HVAC systems in all of our school buildings. We are grateful that we had the opportunity to experience outdoor learning throughout the first few months of school. Our students and teachers did a fantastic job adjusting to the outdoor environment.
Yesterday, students in the gold cohort had the opportunity to have a school picture taken outside. Students who participate with us remotely also had the opportunity to join us outside on campus for a picture. Next Thursday, November 5th, students in the blue cohort will have the same opportunity. Please see more information here.
Today, students in the 9th and 10th grades participated remotely in the NWEA Reading Assessment. Next Friday, November 6th the same group of students will participate remotely in the Math Assessment. Please see more information about this below.
We look forward to seeing you at our Open House next week! The event will start at 6:20 with a virtual meet-and-greet, followed by live presentations by your student's classroom teachers. For a detailed Open House schedule, please click here.
Location: 184 Hancock Road, Peterborough, NH, USA
Phone: 603-924-3869
UPCOMING IMPORTANT DATES:
- Thursday, November 5, 2020- Virtual open house (begins at 6:20pm)
- Thursday, November 5, 2020 - Blue Cohort Picture Day (see below for more information)
- Friday, November 6, 2020 - 9th and 10th grade only will be taking the NWEA Math test (REMOTELY) from 10:30 am - 12:30 pm (see the link below)
IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM MR. BARTSCH, DEAN OF STUDENTS
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Due to the staggered start of this school year, we have discovered that the collection of required paperwork — often referred to as the "first day packet" —has not produced the expected levels of return.
Please check your student's backpack or other locations in your home for this important paperwork and have your student turn it in at the main office when their cohort is in session. If you have a fully remote student, please mail in the paperwork or drop it off at the side window during regular school hours.
To accelerate the process and make it easier for you, we are also offering this Google form which allows you to acknowledge notifications for the 2020-2021 Student Handbook, the 2020-2021 Blended Learning Handbook, and COVID-19 Home Screening Protocol. The same form also allows you to give permissions for photos/videos and for your student's participation in non-academic surveys.
If you fill out this form electronically, you do not need to send back the paper copies for the items listed above.
Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
Steve Bartsch
Dean of Students
NWEA TESTING INFORMATION
Freshman and sophomore students took the Northwest Evaluation Assessment (NWEA) Reading test today and will take the Math test on Friday, November 6 from 10:30 am until 12:30 pm. Testing makeups for those who were absent or did not finish will take place on Friday, November 13 at 10:30 am.
SCHOOL PICTURE INFORMATION
School pictures for all the Gold Cohort students including remote students took place yesterday, October 29, 2020. Please see the schedule below for the Blue Cohort students:
- 8:00 am – 12:00 noon - All Blue Cohort Students
- 12:00 noon – 2:00 pm - Remote Students designated in the Blue Cohort; this
includes students who live in Antrim, Bennington, Francestown, Greenfield, Hancock, and Tuition Students.
Remote students must provide their own transportation and come during their scheduled time. Students will only be allowed to enter the designated outdoor photo area. After their photo has been taken, students must leave the premises.
COUNSELING INFORMATION
Nov. 5th Open House: Counselor Appointments
The counseling staff will be available by appointment from 6:30-7:30 on the evening of the Open House. Appointments will be 15 min., so while the time is limited our hope is that parents that need the opportunity to connect with their student’s school counselor outside of the traditional work day will have some ability to do that. Meetings will be virtual, and counselors will share a link for the virtual meeting. To schedule an appointment, email them directly by Thursday. Nov. 5th at 2pm. Here is the contact info for your convenience:
Rebecca Dunn, School Counselor: rdunn@conval.edu
Dan Record, School Counselor: drecord@conval.edu
JoAnn Fletcher, School Counselor: jfletcher@conval.edu
Todd Bennett, Student Support Counselor: tbennett@conval.edu
Michael Hightower, 504 Interventionist: mhightower@conval.edu
Tim Cotreau, School Counseling Director: tcotreau@conval.edu
College Deadlines
The November 1st and November 15th Early Action/Early Decision college deadlines are quickly approaching. Seniors, please make sure that your Naviance account accurately reflects the schools that you’re intending to apply to. As a reminder, students should be requesting transcripts and recommendation letters 4 weeks prior to their deadlines in order to provide enough time for teachers and counselors to thoughtfully prepare your recommendation and submit your materials.
NACAC Virtual College Fairs
There is an upcoming NACAC Virtual College Fairs that provide the opportunities for students and families to hear live from college admission representatives. The upcoming fair is on Sunday, November 15, from 1-3. Sign up here: https://neacac.swoogo.com/NEACACVirtual
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 December 1, 2020 for current 11th, 10th, and 9th grade students.
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 from moderate-income families and/or the first in their family to complete a 4-year college degree. Admission to KSC UBP 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 Linsey Edmunds at linsey.edmunds@ksctrioprograms.org or ask your school counselor for more information.
RUNNING START INFORMATION
The Running Start registration portal, DualEnroll.com, is now open. The deadline to register is November 6, so 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.
Students will be watching a short video in their Running Start approved classes regarding how to register and then start the process by logging in at https://ccsnh.dualenroll.com/login There is also a parent/guardian video for more information available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gh4xW3dOYk0 Once your student has started the registration process, parents & guardians will receive an email to approve the registration (only if the student is under 18).
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
CLASS OF 2024 FUNDRAISER
The CVHS Class of 2024 is looking forward to holding many amazing activities & events over our four years at ConVal. Please help us reach our goals by supporting us with the purchase of a CVHS mask! You can order online and have them shipped to your home or to the school. Plans are in the works for personalizing the masks in a physically distanced way. If you’re interested in purchasing a mask, please go to our Custom Ink site. Thank you!