Weekly Cougar News
ConVal High School Happenings - January 15, 2021
Message From Principal McKillop
We are excited to welcome back students to our school next week! Blue Cohort students will join us in person on Tuesday, January 19; Gold Cohort students will recommence on Monday, January 25. We are excited to keep engaging with our remote students as well.
As a reminder for those joining us back on our physical campus this month, please make sure you are wearing your mask, washing your hands, and watching your distance. We will continue to model this as a staff as we are all in this together. We will continue the daily screening procedures we had in place when you return to the building. We kindly ask that you stay home if you are not feeling well.
Please continue to read all of the important information below. One of the exciting pieces of information below highlights four of our students who have been accepted to the New England Music Festival this year! As you will see, there are many exciting things happening and offerings on the horizon.
Please see a very brief video message from me here.
As you will see above, I am holding a frame with the quote "we can do hard things" on it. This has become a motto for me this year. We CAN do hard things. We can, we are, and we will!
Best,
Heather
Email: conval.highschool@conval.edu
Website: http://cvhs.convalsd.net/
Phone: 603 924-3869
Important Upcoming Dates
January 18, 2021 - No school in observance of the MLK holiday
January 20, 2021 - Blue Cohort in-person semester assessment
January 21, 2021 - Blue Cohort in-person semester assessment
January 21, 2021 - Junior College Night @ 6:30 pm (virtual)
January 27, 2021 - Gold Cohort in-person semester assessment
January 28, 2021 - Gold Cohort in-person semester assessment
January 28, 2021 - Course Selection Evening Info Session for Parents (virtual)
February - Course Selection (more details as we get closer)
April 13-15, 2021 - SATs for 11th Grade (more details as we get closer)
For the Blue and Gold Cohort calendar that covers January-June 2021, please click here.
For the monthly schedule of events, please click here.
School Counseling Information
Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) Test
ConVal High School will be offering students (grades 10-12) the opportunity to take the ASVAB test on Tuesday, February 9th (Gold Cohort) and Tuesday, February 16th (Blue Cohort). This is an aptitude test that takes approximately 3 hours, and provides students with insight into career fields that might be a good fit based on their skills. While the test is administered by the military, students do not need to have an interest in joining the military to take it and the report that students receive can be applied broadly as students explore career interests and pathways. For students interested in the military, the military branches use these test scores to determine eligibility for various military roles and the scores students earn can be valid for up to two years if they decide to enlist. There is no cost to take the test. To sign up, please use the following form: https://forms.gle/q6yjHeWgHRv65CYq6. Sign ups are due by Monday, February 1st. More info can be found on the ASVAB website (https://www.asvabprogram.com/), check in with your counselor if you have more questions.
College Planning Night for Juniors
On Thursday, January 21st at 6:30 pm, we will be hosting a virtual college planning night for 11th grade students and parents. We will be joined by Moira Valenti from the New Hampshire Higher Education Assistance Foundation (NHHEAF) who will deliver the presentation in partnership with the school counseling staff. This session is intended to educate the student and family about the college admission process and while we’re gearing it for high school juniors and parents/guardians, all high school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors and their families are welcome to attend. Topics include: narrowing your list, questions to ask on a college tour, college essay pointers, the application timeline and the basics of financial aid. To register for the webinar, please use the following link: https://www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_yw1CEFuSRuyaqr7szjVc1w
Course Selection Virtual Parent/Guardian Info Session
On Thursday, January 28th at 6:30 pm, the counseling department will be offering a virtual parent night regarding course selection. The session is intended to provide parents an overview of the course selection process, help provide an understanding of options available to students so that parents feel equipped to support their student in making decisions that will support their post-secondary goals. The session is intended for parents/guardians, course selection will be formally rolled out to current 9-11th grade students on February 5th. The link to attend the parent info session on the 28th is: https://zoom.us/j/95839670630?pwd=a0xBcXNGRWQ1U1FadFpjcGdLcEZIZz09.
Seniors – Find Your Fit
The University System of New Hampshire (UNH, Plymouth State University, Keene State) are hosting several virtual events throughout the Spring in hopes of connecting with students and families. The goal of these is events to help students see themselves on any of our campuses next fall despite COVID-19. They’ll have a student from each of the campuses to share their experiences living and learning amidst the virus and how everyone in their communities has been able to carry on while keeping each other safe. The sessions will be from 6:30 to 7:30 on the following dates:
- Wednesday, January 20
- Wednesday, February 17
- Wednesday, March 17
- Wednesday, April 21
- Wednesday, May 19
If you are a senior considering applying to or attending one of these colleges, please consider attending. Use the following link to pre-register for one of the events: https://ksc.secure.force.com/admission/targetX_eventsb__events#/list?type=Special%20Event
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.
Avenue A
Our friends at Avenue A are working hard to support students and families during these times. We’ve included a flyer regarding an event that they’re offering for parents to discuss strategies to support student mental health needs. Additionally, we’ve included their January calendar with a variety of virtual options for students to connect with their peers.
ATC Information/News
ATC Laptop Returns
Students in Computer Programming or Networking with Mr. Morris, Engineering with Ms. Fabianski, Digital Photo with Mr. Levesque, and Graphic Design with Mrs. Cahoon need to return their ATC issued laptops the week of January 25-29. All laptops should be free of stickers and should be returned in the sleeves they were issued with, along with the power cord. Any students who do not return their laptops by January 29 will be issued a bill, per the terms of the laptop contract. If there are any questions regarding this, please contact Mrs. Kiley at jkiley@conval.edu.
Region 12 ATC Application Information
Is your student interested in taking part in one of the many exciting career and technical education programs offered at the Region 14 Applied Technology Center next year? It’s almost time to register! Students who are interested in registering for an ATC class should speak with their school counselors during enrollment; in addition, students should complete either the pen & paper or electronic application. The focus of enrolling students in ATC classes is to ensure the right students are enrolled in the right programs for the right reasons. Because of this, several programs require students to interview with the program instructor and/or the CTE director to discuss career path options and program requirements. Questions? Feel free to contact Mrs. Kiley.
ATC Welding Students @ Work
Senior Zach Boyd is learning more than how to simply do basic welds at the Phaze Welding Technology Center. Boyd, who is enrolled in the welding class as the third part of the manufacturing program, recently had the opportunity to work with the CNC plasma cutter learning how to create shelves from ⅛” steel and recycled barn wood. The project starts with a file template on the computer, which can be modified according to the student’s or customer’s wants. That file is then sent to the CNC plasma cutter, which cuts the metal according to the design. Once cut, the metal is then shaped and attached to the recycled barn wood, ready to be hung. These shelves and other projects completed on the CNC plasma machine are available for purchase.
Boyd is also working on a portable sawmill, which, when finished, will be available for use in the community. Zach shared that he “loves the program. You gain benefits and skills not learned in books. You get to work on real projects instead of writing about them.” He appreciates that he is learning by doing and that he can learn from his mistakes because it’s easy to see how a miscalculation or shortcut can result in problems.
Please click here to view a video and see the photos below.
Students To Represent ConVal At New England Music Festival
Congratulations to the following four students who have been accepted to the New England Music Festival this year:
- Kaylee Calistro (Band-Trumpet)
- Austin Sloan (Band-Alto Sax)
- Abby Theberge (Chorus-Soprano)
- Emeline Tyler-Wall (Band-Bass Clarinet)
The Concert Festival will take place from March 11-13 this year. “Typically, we would attend a New England high school for those three days and have rehearsals with an esteemed music director,” noted Band Director Jim Wickham and Chorus Director Brian Moore. “However, due to COVID, we are unsure of the format of the festival at this time.”
The process for acceptance to the Festival included individually practicing and working up a solo selection of the students’ choice to performance level. Students then recorded it and submitted it for review. The adjudicators are typically college professors for the students’ instrument and voice.
The New England Music Festival Association (NEMFA) is dedicated to offering high school musicians from across New England the opportunity to pursue musical excellence. Through solo festivals, ensemble festivals, and concert festivals, NEMFA seeks to instill in each student a lifelong interest in music as a basic human experience.
Athletic Update
On Tuesday, January 12, the ConVal School Board approved the recommendation of the COVID-19 Monitoring Team to move to the Green Phase of the ConVal Reopening Plan.
This move allows for reinstituting in-person learning on January 19, 2021, and to restart ConVal High School’s winter athletic programs, with varsity teams participating in a competitive, limited, regional NHIAA sanctioned schedule. During this time, members of the Blue and Gold Cohorts will be allowed to combine and form teams.
Any ConVal High School athlete who participates will be required to sign a COVID-19 waiver and they, as well as siblings or household members, would be required to learn/work remotely until after their final competition and a 14-day quarantine before they can return to in-person learning.
The following timeline will be used to restart ConVal’s winter sports schedule:
- 1/14/21-1/17/21 – Team conditioning and practice sessions; coaches will be in contact with their athletes regarding tryout/practice dates and times.
- 1/18/21 – First date to play games.
This plan will be re-evaluated prior to and during these dates to determine if COVID-19 cases have increased in the region.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact John Reitnauer at jreitnauer@conval.edu.
Co-Curricular Club Update/News
Class of 2022 Fundraiser