Region 14 Applied Technology Center teacher Sarah Grossi presented at the Career Tech Vision Conference in Nashville earlier today. The conference was organized by the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE).

Grossi's workshop, "Practicum Paired Placements in Your Grow-Your-Own Education Programs," explained the various ways that Teacher Preparation and Early Childhood Education instructors can place their students in paired placements in early childhood, elementary, and middle school classrooms for hands-on training.

It explored how practicum experiences can be embedded in classrooms across ages and grade levels, how they can be implemented with specialists such as speech therapists and occupational therapists, and how they can benefit subject areas like family and consumer science, art, music, and physical education.

Attendees learned about the effectiveness of paired placements and how these placements allow students to create and implement effective lessons.

Central to the presentation was also a discussion of collaboration strategies with school directors, administration, and cooperating teachers, with the goal of building high-quality grow-your-own (GYO) and CTE Education and training programs.

The workshop was one of three presentations that Grossi delivered at the conference.

Congratulations to the following students who placed in the annual World Language Poetry Recitation contest.

• First place German: Haley Samuelson, Megan Millbauer, Audrey Higgins, Noah Regis, Kiran Galbraith
• First place Spanish: Lindsay LaPlante, Jonathan Parker, Gavin Niemela, Greta Stephens, Sydney Borges, Noralie Sysyn
• Second Place German: Selena Woodhouse, Chris Bouyounes, Meagan Bouyounes, Anna Bethel, Caitlyn Fowle
• Second Place Spanish: Berkley Bates, Jenna Bergeron, Hadley Bates, Kaylee Lagasse, Van Stahlin, Sienna MacKay
• Third Place German: Olivia Merzi, Grace Schuneman, Quinn Lake, Brady Clark, Abby Parker
• Third Place Spanish: Samuel Stacy, Kinley Moore, Brayden Boice, Davia Porter, Monty Boulette, Ethan Donaway

Great job to all and we are very proud of you!

Students in Andria Johnson's Physical Science class conducted a lab in which they observed chemical changes in mixed solutions.

Working with beakers containing solutions of copper nitrate (blue) and sodium hydroxide, students recorded the mass of both solutions before the experiment, then followed the steps on a multi-page scientific procedure sheet. During the lab, they carefully recorded their observations and then remeasured the mass.

In their lab report, students had to explain why the experiment was a chemical reaction, not a physical reaction, and answered the question, with mass data as proof, if mass was conserved in the reaction.

On Thursday, December 4, student members of the National Honor Society (NHS) participated in an all-day retreat. The event was designed around leadership, as it serves as one of the four pillars for the organization.

During the retreat, students explored their leadership styles and engaged in a restorative circle activity centered on Life as a Student Leader.

Principal McKillop visited with students as the keynote speaker. She encouraged students to develop their leadership legacy.

In the afternoon, students enjoyed bagels from the Bagel Mill and engaged in various discussions about future initiatives for the rest of the year to help the school community engage in service and leadership.

To read the latest edition of the Cougar News by Principal Heather McKillop, please click here.

The Block 2 co-taught A/B schedule classes, Pre-Algebra and English 9, faced off in a lively game of Thanksgiving Family Feud to kick off Thanksgiving break on Tuesday.

Mr. Mudrick and Mr. Derby served as the hosts. They rotated through several teams, asking Thanksgiving-related questions, such as the foods that make up a typical Thanksgiving meal, types of pies served as desserts, the names of the original colonies, and the football teams that often play on Thanksgiving.

It took 12 rounds to crown a winner, but in the end, the team of Bella Disalvio, Celsie Fessenden, Hailey Guertin, and Christian Villar-Natividad emerged victorious!

The World Language Department would like to announce and congratulate the November World Language Students of the Month.

These students demonstrate the keys to being successful language learners. They have a positive attitude, a willingness to take academic risks, they show perseverance and curiosity, and they are successful collaborators.

German: Payton Taranto and Gavin Lyons. Spanish: Maisie Michaud and Gwyneth Moritz.

Congratulations, all!

The Annual Holiday Crafts Fair at ConVal High School on November 22 brought together dozens of exhibitors, craftsmen, artists, and local businesses. The event, which is traditionally held in the ConVal Gym, expanded into the Mini Gym, the main hallway in the link, and even the parking lot this year.

"This year's Holiday Crafts Fair was an amazing event," said Gretchen Lima, one of the advisors for the Class of 2026 whose members organized the fair. "It was a great community gathering, and we had a wonderful turnout of both vendors and attendees."