Weekly Cougar News
ConVal High School Happenings - February 26, 2021
MESSAGE FROM PRINCIPAL MCKILLOP
As we wrap up the month of February, we look forward to the first few weeks of March prior to our school vacation.
As I shared last week, the School Board approved a return to our hybrid schedule after the March break on April 8. We are waiting to hear more about how Governor Sununu's emergency order #85 may impact our high school programming before we share any updates to our calendar. As soon as we learn more information we will share it with students and families.
Next Thursday, March 4, we will host a second semester virtual open house. The night will kick off at 6:00 pm. I shared an email yesterday, and have re-shared the information in this newsletter as well. We hope to virtually see as many families as possible. If you aren't able to attend, please feel free to reach out to your student's teacher(s) if you would like to connect about the class or have any questions.
Finally, as a point of pride, congratulations to three of our ConVal students for earning awards on the National German Exam, Level two!
Have a wonderful weekend,
Heather
Email: conval.highschool@conval.edu
Website: http://cvhs.convalsd.net/
Phone: 603 924-3869
IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES
March 4 — Virtual Open House (6:00 pm)
March 15-26 — School vacation
April 8 — Students return to the hybrid model
April 14, 2021 — SATs for 11th Grade (more details as we get closer)
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
During the month of February, our ConVal community has enjoyed hearing about the many contributions Black Americans to our shared identity and history as Americans. As we wrap up the month, consider checking out Story Corps celebration of the stories of Black Americans. In addition to listening to already recorded stories, our community has the opportunity to contribute stories from our own area and Monadnock residents! To continue along the literary lines, the Poetry Foundation is also offering several examples of different media, such as podcasts, recordings, and articles that celebrate the many pieces of literature that capture the struggles, triumphs, and everyday life of Black Americans. Many pieces will be familiar, such as I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, while others may be lesser known but still emotionally evocative.
SECOND SEMESTER VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE- THURSDAY MARCH 4
We are excited to offer a virtual opportunity for parents and guardians to meet with their student’s second semester teachers on the evening of Thursday, March 4, 2021. Each block will meet for 10 minutes via a Zoom link. If you plan on using a mobile device, please be sure to download the Zoom app in advance. You will need to know your student's schedule and teachers' names in order to join the correct meeting.
How to access your student’s schedule:
1. Please ask your student. All you need is the teacher's name for each block.
2. Check the Parent or Student Portal on PowerSchool. You can see the schedule by clicking “my schedule” on the left hand side.
3. Contact your student’s school counselor or Stacy Whitaker (Registrar) at swhitaker@conval.edu if you need any assistance.
The Evening’s Schedule:
SCHEDULE
WELCOME: 6:00 - 6:05
Principal McKillop
Block 1: 6:10 - 6:20
Block 2: 6:25 - 6:35
Block 3: 6:40 - 6:50
Block 4: 6:55 - 7:05
TASC: 7:10 - 7:20
A note from the counseling department...
The school counseling department will provide an opportunity for parents to communicate with counselors about course selection if appointments during typical school hours do not work. Please email your student’s counselor by 2:30 (March 4th) to schedule a time. Counselor emails are available on the linked PDF.
By clicking here you will find the schedule for the evening and each teachers meeting link by simply clicking their respective name.
We look forward to hopefully "seeing" many parents/guardians next Thursday, March 4!
REGION 14 - ATC
"Pictures and Pens" Photo meets Woodshop day. Mr. Levesque's photo students not only took pictures of students in the woodshop; they joined in on the fun of woodworking! Mr. Ewing instructed photo students Angel St. Pierre and Perrine Holmberg on how to make a pen.
Nick Squatrito shows off cutting board make in Woodworking
Engineering students create a prototype of COVID PPE
SNOW DAYS/REMOTE DAYS
SCHOOL COUNSELING INFORMATION/UPDATE
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
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.
Plymouth State Instant Admissions: 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.
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
Virtual College Fairs
For students interested in exploring college options, NEACAC and NACAC will be hosting regional (New England) and national virtual college fairs, respectively, this spring. NEACAC (New England) Virtual Fair Dates are March 14th, April 14th and May 17th – more information, and the link to register can be found here: https://www.neacac.org/virtual-spring-college-fair-student---school-counselor-registration-2021. NACAC (National) Virtual Fair Dates are March 21st and May 2nd – more information and the link to register can be found here: https://virtualcollegefairs.org/events
RUNNING START - DEADLINE
March 1 is the deadline to register for Running Start, 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 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!
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
CONGRATUALTIONS TO OUR GERMAN STUDENTS
The National German Exam provides an excellent opportunity to highlight student success. In a regular year, about 22,000 students take the exam across the US. This year, because of COVID-19, only 8,000 students took the exam, and the majority of schools offering the exam this year were German-language schools, so the ConVal winners this year really stood out with their abilities. Gratuliere!
Congratulations to the following students for winning awards in the National German Exam, Level 2. Considering all of the changes to our schedule the last 12 months, this is an amazing accomplishment!Silver - Eva McCullough
Bronze - Lydia Cleveland
Achievement - Donny Sweeney
NEW DISTRICT CALENDAR
ATHLETIC UPDATE/INFORMATION
Molly Dishong has been named to the 2021 NH Alpine Ski Team, and Sophia Lake finished in 9th and 6th place in her events at the Division 2 Swimming and Diving Championships. Congratulations Molly and Sophia.
The Cougar’s Nordic team traveled once again to Lebanon for their final season race before next week’s State Divisional Championships. Co-captain Eva Calcutt led the Cougars, maintaining her consistent top performance on the team. She was followed across the finish line by Gwen Inglis, Eme Tyler-Wall, Laura Phillips, and Grace Phillips. The team will head to Great Glen Trails in Gorham on Wednesday, March 3, for their Divisional Championships. Good luck!!
Our boys and girls basketball teams have qualified to play in the Division 2 Basketball Tournaments again this season. The boys will play at John Stark on Monday March 1st, and the girls will play Lebanon on Friday March 5th. Best of luck to both teams!
As our winter sports season comes to a close, it's time to begin thinking about spring sports registration. Athletes can be registered on FamilyID beginning March 1st, and the spring sports proposal will be discussed at the school board meeting on March 16th.
AP BIOLOGY CLASS
Dr. Moira Milne’s AP Biology students recently carried out an animal behavior experiment with flightless fruit flies. The photo on the left, taken by a student, shows the microscopic details of one of the specimens. After anesthetizing the fruit flies with dry ice (made in the chemistry lab from carbon dioxide), the students placed them in the center of a choice chamber. When the fruit lies woke up, they moved towards their preferred substance. The photo on the right shows a trial comparing diluted red wine to the control, water. Unexpectedly, the majority migrated to the water side of the chamber, indicating that they preferred that over the wine.
CLASS OF 2022 FUNDRAISER
CONVAL STUDENT COUNCIL IS SPONSORING A COLLECTION DRIVE
The ConVal Student Council is holding an "Items Drive" for the Keene Free Store. The Keene Free Store is part of the New Hampshire Mutual Relief Fund (NHMARE) and you will find multiple ConVal students that are active volunteers at the Free Store. The items being collected for the drive are specific as the items requested are for specific people and their needs. The freestore has an abundance of clothing but is in need of these other items like flashlights, batteries, duck tape, rope, and tents. These items can be used and donated, or new!
You will find donation boxes on a table in the Link where you drop off your items if you are in person or remote until March vacation. The items are being collected by class to give each class some points going into Spirit Week (April 12 - 15). If you have any questions, contact the Student Council President, Max Shumway (shumw219ll@cvsd.me).
Thank you for your support, ConVal!