Monday: Teacher and Student Swap Day

Come dressed as your favorite teacher

Tuesday: Jersey Day

Wear your favorite jersey

Wednesday: Camo vs. Flannel Day

Wear your best camo attire or best flannel

Thursday: Neon Day

Wear your brightest colors

Friday: ConVal Colors

Wear your best ConVal blue & gold attire

Students in Cindi Hodgdon's German 4 class recently had the opportunity to participate in an online screening of the award-winning German movie "Erinnerungen einer Vergessenen Kindheit" ("Memories of a Forgotten Childhood").

The short drama film tells the powerful story of a young boy growing up in a household with two addicted parents. It explores the challenges and emotional burdens faced by children in difficult family situations. The film provides a meaningful way to raise awareness among students about resilience, compassion, and empathy. It can be particularly impactful for children who are living in challenging circumstances, delivering a message of hope and strength.

After the viewing, students engaged via Zoom in a question-and-answer session with the producer and cinematographer, Nico Drago. The entire experience was in German. "Our students loved that they were able to use their German outside of the classroom and were proud that they could communicate with a German native speaker about meaningful topics," said Frau Hodgdon after the event.

On Wednesday, September 25, 32 ConVal sophomores, juniors, and seniors traveled to Mount Wachusett Community College in Gardner, MA, to attend the Fall College Fair that was organized by the New England Association for College Admission Counseling (NEACAC). The field trip gave them the opportunity to interact with admissions specialists from nearly 90 colleges located in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, and Rhode Island.

Adar Cohen is a mediator and facilitator. A ConVal graduate (Class of 2000), Cohen holds a Ph.D. in conflict resolution from the University of Dublin and has led solution-oriented conversations in conflict zones from the ethno-nationalist struggles in Northern Ireland to the gang-contested areas in Chicago. He has lectured at Harvard University, the University of Chicago, and, at the invitation of the King of Bhutan, at Sherubste College, the Himalayan Kingdom’s first institution for higher education.

At ConVal High School, Cohen currently works with a group of student leaders on restorative practices that repair harm through dialogue and connection. Restorative practices are designed to build a strong sense of community in schools, to teach interpersonal skills, to repair harm whenever conflict does occur, and to proactively meet students’ needs — including those that result from trauma in or outside of school — so misbehavior is less common.

Cohen will meet with students on three additional occasions in the coming weeks. "We are very excited to work with Adar on this important issue," said Principal Heather McKillop. "Student voice and agency will be significant elements as we move towards creating a restorative community at ConVal High School."

School counselors welcomed parents to Open House at ConVal on Thursday, September 19. After picking up their student's schedule, parents could meet with their child's TASC homeroom teacher and then follow their daily schedule, meeting each classroom teacher in person and learning about the different classes. An estimated 125 families attended the event.

Counselors also encouraged the parents of eligible students to sign up their child for the PSAT. The PSAT is a “practice” SAT test, the college entrance exam that is required for many colleges and universities across the country. In addition to getting practice in taking the test, several scholarships use PSAT scores to determine students for college scholarship awards. 

The deadline to register for the PSAT is Wednesday, September 25. Students can sign up in the School Counseling Office with Mrs. Garthe (cash or check made out to "ConVal Regional High School" in the amount of $18). Fee waivers are available for eligible students; ask your school counselor about fee waivers.

As part of Open House, the ConVal Athletic Department hosted an information night about college athletics in the Lucy Hurlin Theatre. 

The panel included Lily Mandel (ConVal Class of '23) who studies graphic design at Keene State College and plays softball for the Keene Owls.

Also at hand to talk about college athletics were Travis Brent, who in his first season as head coach took the Franklin Pierce University Men's Soccer Team to a National Championship in 2023, and Tom White who is the head baseball coach at Colby Sawyer College. 

The final panelist was Colby-Sawyer's Athletic Director Jeanette McKillop who is responsible for the college's 21 NCAA intercollegiate athletics programs, as well as the hiring, recruitment, and supervision of the athletic department's employees and student workers.

Each panelist provided unique insights on what students can expect as they consider athletics options at the collegiate level.

Avenue A is a program of The Grapevine Family & Community Resource Center. Its mission is to partner with rural teens age 11-19 to build resilience, navigate challenging circumstances, and develop young leaders. 

With the support of over 60 volunteers, Avenue A runs year-round afternoon and evening enrichment programs for teens. For an overview of their fall schedule, which includes a creative writing program for credit at ConVal High School, please click here.

As part of the Open House activities at ConVal High School, Reality Check set up a teenage bedroom to showcase for parents what potential substance abuse indicators by their teens they could encounter. 

Reality Check is an addiction prevention education service located in Jaffrey. For more about their services, please check out their website here.