Weekly Cougar News
ConVal High School Happenings - May 14, 2021
Message From Principal McKillop
We continue to celebrate mental health awareness month here at ConVal. This week some classes have embarked on the mental health wellness walk that counselor Rebecca Dunn helped create. As you can see in the photo behind me, each day more and more yellow tulips are blooming.
I was very grateful to be invited to a girls lacrosse practice last Tuesday. I had a great time leading drills and was appreciative to interact with students in a different capacity. I plan to keep my stick in my office in case I am able to join the team outside again in the future!
Next Monday ConVal will be hosting a career fair outside on our campus. We will have 18 employers here on-site who are ready to share more information with our students.
This weekend I look forward to visiting the Children and The Arts Festival in Putnam park and other areas of downtown Peterborough. I am excited to see artwork from students in district schools on display. If you see me there, please don't hesitate to say hello.
A BIG congratulations to our German I students who achieved national recognition on the National German Exam. We had five students who earned awards. Herzliche Glückwünsche an alle!
Here's to a wonderful weekend for all,
Heather
Email: conval.highschool@conval.edu
Website: http://cvhs.convalsd.net/
Location: 184 Hancock Road, Peterborough, NH, USA
Phone: (603) 924-3869
Upcoming Important Dates
May 14-June 3, 2021 - AP Testing Window
May 17, 2021 - Job Fair 9:30 -10:30 (Rain date May 18, 2021)
May 19, 2021 - NH Statewide Assessment Testing (Science, 11th Graders only)
May 19 and 20, 2021 - NWEA Testing (Mathematics, Reading, 9th and 10th Graders only)
May 26, 2021 - Spring Arts Festival 6:00 pm (Rain date June 1, 2021)
May 27, 2021 - World Language Honor Society Induction (Virtual - 6:00 pm)
June 2, 2021 - Underclassman Awards (Virtual - 6:30 pm)
June 9, 2021 - Senior Scholarship and Awards Night (6:00 pm)
June 11, 2021 - Graduation (6:00 pm)
June 17, 2021 - Last day of school for students
NWEA and NHSAS Testing
As a reminder, NWEA and NHSAS testing will take place next week.
9th and 10th graders will take the Reading NWEA on Wednesday, May 19, and the Math NWEA on Thursday, May 20.
11th graders will take the NHSAS Science test on Wednesday, May 19.
Students will need to take the tests on their school-issued Chromebooks, so please remember to bring them fully charged! We will follow an alternative testing bell schedule on those days.
Career Fair
ConVal is hosting a career fair this coming Monday, May 17, from 9:30-11 am. 18 employers will be on site for this outdoor event, sharing information about full-time, part-time, and seasonal opportunities. Teachers are signing up to bring their classes through the event and students who are interested but whose teacher hasn’t arranged to attend can ask their teacher for a pass to go check it out. This is a great opportunity for seniors looking for full-time work, and for underclassmen seeking part-time or seasonal work this summer.
SCHOOL COUNSELING INFORMATION
Senior Scholarship and Awards Night
ConVal will be hosting the Senior Scholarship and Awards Night on Wednesday, June 9, at 6:30 pm. Invitations for the event are anticipated to be sent out next week. This is an outdoor event. Due to its proximity to graduation, there will not be a rain date for the event. Instead, if the event is canceled due to weather, students will be recognized via a virtual ‘event’ that will go live at the same time on the high school website.
Underclassman Awards
ConVal will be recognizing 9th-11th graders via a virtual underclassmen awards event that will go live on the high school website on Wed. June 2nd at 6:30 pm. Students that are recognized will be able to pick up their award either in class the following day, or in the school counseling office. We will notify students and families ahead of time if they will be receiving a recognition so they can be sure to tune in!
Mental Health Podcast
There is a ton of media out there regarding mental health. Specifically, there are a number of great podcasts out there, but specifically, we wanted to focus on two really good ones that emphasize mental health and wellbeing.
The Happiness Lab
The Happiness Lab (link: https://www.happinesslab.fm/) is hosted by a Yale Ph.D. professor, Dr. Laurie Santos, who teaches an overwhelmingly popular course at Yale on the Science of Happiness (that is also available for free, to anyone, online). The podcast provides strategies for healthy practices and habits that are scientifically proven to improve overall mental wellbeing. The other one, the Positive Psychology Podcast (link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/positive-psychology-podcast-bringing-science-happiness/id912190084), similarly highlights scientifically proven strategies that promote wellbeing. These are but a few of many outstanding podcast resources out there available through a number of different channels via the web, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and others.
Region 14/ATC Program Information
Introduction to Business
Athletic Information
Athletics
It is hard to believe that there are only two weeks left in the spring sports regular season. Just a reminder that all spring sports schedules can be found at ConVal Athletics. Please remember that only immediate household members are allowed to attend our home games. Spectators are required to wear a mask, participate in a COVID screening, and stay socially distant. The bleachers will be open for events on the Stadium Field, and please bring a lawn chair to watch games on the softball and baseball fields.
College Letters of Intent signings
Congratulations to Seniors Nicole Bell and Austin Sloan who have signed Letters of Intent to play athletics at the collegiate level next year. Nicole will play soccer at Misercordia University and Austin will continue his baseball career at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.
Future Cougars
The baseball and softball teams from Great Brook School and South Meadow School will play games on the high school fields on May 18 and 26 at 3:00 pm. Both schools will compete in a track and field meet on the Stadium Field Track on May 20 at 4:00 pm. Good luck to all of our future Cougars in these events.
Athletic Honors
Congratulations to softball player Lily Mandel and lacrosse players Griffin Filaski and Ronan McNamara for being named Kenne Sentinel Players of the Week. Brady Carpentiere, Austin Knight, and Sam Scheinblum have been named NH Hardball High School Peak Performers for their play against Pelham on May 11th. Congratulations Brady, Austin, and Sam.
If you have any questions, please contact athletic director John Reitnauer at jreitnauer@conval.edu.
Mental Health Wellness Walk
ConVal Students Screen "Angst"
The ConVal School District has been fortunate to be involved in the viewings of three movies as part of a mental health trilogy. Following the community viewings for Upstanders in October and the documentary Like in February, Angst was the final film in the mental health trilogy that was shown last Friday during TASC.
Angst addressed academic and social stress as well as the uncertainties and fears that many have experienced particularly this past year during the pandemic. The documentary featured World Champion swimmer Michael Phelps, regular teenagers, and experts in the field of anxiety management.
Students Achieve At The National German Exam
German teachers Liz Concannon and Cindi Hodgdon are proud to announce the results of the National German Exam Level 1. Congratulations and certificates are going out to the following students:
Gold Award – Jennifer Hopkins
Bronze Award – Ally Larson
Achievement Award – Kai Flynn
Achievement Award – Miles Higgins
Achievement Award – Abbey Shumway
The test results are exceptional for several reasons. “The test writers did not adapt the test at all this year to consider the impact of COVID-19 on instruction. It was the normal exam,” Hodgdon noted. “Second, related to the pandemic, circumstances had prevented us from covering the normal German 1 curriculum. But most remarkably, students took part in the exam in a new semester when they did not even have German on their schedule.” Given these circumstances, the positive test outcomes take on a special meaning.
Dr. Milne's AP Biology Class
Dr. Milne’s AP Biology students studied in the Library on Wednesday in preparation for Friday’s College Board Exam.
Mr. Moore's Music in Media Class
On Thursday, Mr. Moore’s Music in Media class analyzed the music in The Godfather’s baptism scene.
Social Studies Projects Develop Digital Research And Writing Skills
For their class projects, students learn to use multi-modal communication skills to demonstrate their knowledge. Students practice digital research and writing, such as this website that was created by one of the students in Mr. Leonard's class.
The website consists of different pages that examine, among other topics, how ancient Egyptian technology influences modern water management techniques, how ancient Greek culture is still reflected in today's alliance-building and military strategies, and what we can learn from ancient Mayan civilizations about dealing with drought conditions.
"Writing for the web is one of the skills that will serve the students well in their future, and it is up to us to provide them with opportunities to hone these skills," Mr. Leonard said.
Principal McKillop Leads Girls Lacrosse Practice
On the stadium field last Tuesday, she had a great time leading drills with members of the varsity and junior varsity squads. "I was honored to be invited to come out and coach. It was nice to grab my stick, lace up my sneakers, and get out on the field to help teach a game that has always been a passion of mine," McKillop said.
"Our student athletes are amazing and were very receptive to some new drills. I look forward to helping out again in the future."
Nothing has been confirmed yet but there is a strong suspicion that Principal McKillop may be returning to practice one day next week to coach again!
Thank You To All Who Contributed To Teacher Appreciation Week!
During Teacher Appreciation Week many students expressed their thanks to the educators at ConVal Regional High School in personal notes, emails, and other communications.
Last Friday, student organizations like the National Honors Society provided pizza and treats for lunch. Teachers and paraprofessionals could also take advantage of a free car wash that was held in the drop-off loop near the gym.
Thank you to everyone who made Teacher Appreciation Week such a great success!
2021 Children and The Arts Festival
Students from several ConVal elementary schools created drawings based on their own memories. ConVal High School students used these drawings as inspiration for their own artworks. Some chose to simply color the drawings in keeping the original intact while others reimagined a whole new artwork inspired by the original.
Below see the images created by both the elementary and high school students. The top portion of each image is the drawing that was created by the elementary students and the bottom portion is created by the high school students in Mrs. Mitschmyer's 2D and 3D classes.
Please click here for all important information regarding the 2021 Children and The Arts Festival.