Rob, the most amazing custodian of all time, is showing his support of the Temple Elementary School students and parents.
Please show him how much we appreciate this beautiful gesture by wearing your Tie-Dye shirts on Tuesdays. Feel free to post pictures of your family all decked out for him.
We are so lucky to have someone as special as Rob! He truly cares about our students.
Rob, the most amazing custodian of all time, is showing his support of the Temple Elementary School students and parents.
Please show him how much we appreciate this beautiful gesture by wearing your Tie-Dye shirts on Tuesdays. Feel free to post pictures of your family all decked out for him.
We are so lucky to have someone as special as Rob!
As you may have already heard, this afternoon Governor Sununu enacted a stay-at-home order that extends remote instruction for all schools in the state to May 4th, 2020.
As a District, we had anticipated this possibility and are already working on increasing our capacity to facilitate remote learning for all students.
Please be assured that the present level of service to our communities will continue, including the deliveries of breakfast and lunch to the students who have requested participation in the program.
Tomorrow, we will send out a survey link to gather parent feedback on their students’ experiences with remote learning. This will inform our continued implementation of remote instruction.
The survey will also ask in which areas you, as parents and guardians, need or would like assistance. Based on this information, we will be reaching out to parents, creating guiding documents, and creating tutorials.
In addition, principals will send out an email to share with you grade level-specific details and information on our preparations for the next steps in our remote learning journey.
We recognize that this a very challenging time for you and your families. As a District, our goal is to provide consistency for your children through remote learning opportunities and daily interaction with staff and teachers. We are also working to help and support you as parents as you provide a sense of certainty for your children in these uncertain times.
As always, do not hesitate to contact me with questions, comments, or concerns.
As you may have already heard, this afternoon Governor Sununu enacted a stay-at-home order that extends remote instruction for all schools in the state to May 4th, 2020.
As a District, we had anticipated this possibility and are already working on increasing our capacity to facilitate remote learning for all students.
A Temple parent thought up a way for children to play Bingo on ZOOM with each other.
Here are the instructions, in case you want to create your own Bingo group:
Create a 5x5 grid. Put Bingo on top. The children can pick which numbers they want to put in the letter columns, using the following guidelines:
Under B, choose 5 numbers between 1-15, put the numbers in the 5 boxes. Under I, choose 5 numbers between 16-30, put them in the boxes. Under N in the middle box, put “free space” and then, in the 4 remaining boxes, chooses 4 numbers between 31-45. Under G, choose 5 numbers between 46-60, put them in the boxes. Under O chooses 5 numbers between 61-75, put them in the boxes.
Before the ZOOM-enabled Bingo game began, all the children made their own Bingo cards at home. The parent gave a time, the sign in, called out the numbers, and the fun began!
On what would normally have been a snow day on Tuesday, students and staff were invited to build snowmen as a way to deal with social distancing and to connect through a school-wide, shared activity.
The results were creative, imaginative, and sincere expressions of school spirit. Many of the snowmen featured Cougar sports teams.
Other snow creations took more unusual routes: From the snowman who looks longingly at the driveway to the N95-masked snowman, from the snow woman taking a bubble bath (including a scented candle) to the impressive Maya pyramid that was an entry specific to the Social Studies department, the photo submissions showed off the full spectrum of student and staff creativity.
Check out the photos below, and thank you all for the submissions!
On what would normally have been a snow day on Tuesday, students and staff were invited to build snowmen as a way to deal with social distancing and to connect through a school-wide, shared activity.
The results were creative, imaginative, and sincere expressions of school spirit. Many of the snowmen featured Cougar sports teams.
I would like to begin with an expression of thanks. We have just finished our first week of remote learning which would never have been possible without the support provided by our ConVal communities. Our technology resources have allowed us to gain a head start in our transition to “remote learning.” We are also fortunate that we can rely on a highly effective and dedicated technology team that allows our teachers to focus on instruction.
As our recent transition to remote learning continues to evolve, I would like to share with you some specific observations that we have made about this process, a significant departure from practices to which our students and staff are accustomed.
Your positive comments have fueled staff members, thank you for showing your appreciation for their hard work. We are grateful for the community's recognition that, with very little notice and in a very short time frame, teachers, staff, and administrators put a plan together to continue learning opportunities, make sure children are fed, and found workarounds for almost every barrier.
Any change, particularly a change of this size, demands that we remain patient, understanding, and cognizant of the fact that all of us are new to this. There is a significant learning curve in this transition because we are accustomed to having face-to-face contact and physical proximity as part of our learning experiences.
Another key factor in ensuring the success of this transformative change is to establish consistent routines to maintain a sense of normalcy. We all carry with us a sense of uncertainty which may make it difficult to engage in learning. Once these new routines are established, we will feel a greater sense of comfort and better able to engage in the learning activities that our teachers are facilitating.
Our teachers have made, and will continue to make, every effort to meet each student’s needs because this is what it means to be a teacher. And, as educators, we are open to hearing your feedback regarding how we can do things better. It will be important to continue to communicate and listen to each other with empathy as we are all facing this crisis together.
We have developed a FAQs page that you can access on the website, we are updating this page regularly as we get new questions from students, parents, and staff.
We are aware that some families are struggling with access, and we are actively working on this every day. If you are struggling with this issue, please reach out to the principal of your student’s school. We continue to update the ConVal website with remote learning resources, please visit often.
As you are all aware, this situation continues to evolve from moment to moment! We are committed to updating you regularly.
Please be aware that when I write to you, it is sent through our messenger service to your email, posted on the webpage, then posted on social media sites — specifically in that order. There are times that because of technology issues, Internet speeds, or messaging priority settings, it appears that all three happen simultaneously or that social media is first.
We hope to be back to school in the not-so-distant future, so we encourage you and your students to practice social distancing. If you are looking for resources on social distancing, what it is and what the effects may be, you can find them here.
Please do not hesitate to reach out with questions or feedback.
I would like to begin with an expression of thanks. We have just finished our first week of remote learning which would never have been possible without the support provided by our ConVal communities. Our technology resources have allowed us to gain a head start in our transition to “remote learning.” We are also fortunate that we can rely on a highly effective and dedicated technology team that allows our teachers to focus on instruction.
The ConVal School District maintains a Remote Learning FAQ page where you find answers to commonly asked questions about remote instruction during these extraordinary times.
You may also add any additional question by filling out this form. We will attempt to have your question answered within 24 hours of submission.
The ConVal School District maintains a Remote Learning FAQ page where you find answers to commonly asked questions about remote instruction during these extraordinary times.
You may also add any additional question by filling out this form. We will attempt to have your question answered within 24 hours of submission.
Students at Great Brook Middle School have been busy creating art while remote learning conditions are in place.
Their resourcefulness creating art like Andrew Goldsworthy with nature-found materials and art inspired by Piet Mondrian with T-shirts and socks is absolutely astounding, as are their skills in creating Zentangles.
Students at Great Brook Middle School have been busy creating art while remote learning conditions are in place.
Their resourcefulness creating art like Andrew Goldsworthy with nature-found materials and art inspired by Piet Mondrian with T-shirts and socks is absolutely astounding, as are their skills in creating Zentangles.
On behalf of Athletic Director John Reitnauer, please read the announcement below.
For Immediate Release March 23, 2020
RE: NHIAA Championships
By unanimous vote, the NHIAA Executive Council has enacted a resolution in order to fulfill its duties with regard to the awarding of State Champion and Runner-Up plaques and medals to teams participating in tournaments cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic. Co-Champions will be awarded to the highest-seeded team remaining on each side of the NHIAA Tournament bracket. All other teams remaining in the tournament will be awarded Runner-Up plaques and medals.
...
Boys Basketball — Division II
Basketball Champions - ConVal and Bow Runner-Up - Oyster River, Hollis Brookline, Hanover, Kennett, Pelham, Lebanon
On behalf of Athletic Director John Reitnauer, please read the announcement below.
For Immediate Release March 23, 2020
RE: NHIAA Championships
By unanimous vote, the NHIAA Executive Council has enacted a resolution in order to fulfill its duties with regard to the awarding of State Champion and Runner-Up plaques and medals to teams participating in tournaments cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dear FES Families, We are excited to announce that FES now has its own YouTube channel!
It can be accessed using the link below or by simply searching for Francestown Elementary when you are on the YouTube site. You don’t need to log in to Youtube to view our channel. Since this is a public site, we will not post any pictures or videos of the students or mention them by name. All videos can be found on the Homepage, but if you look under Playlists you will find the videos in categories. Staff members will post read alouds, instructional videos and more. The FES Morning News will begin today and be available Monday through Friday by 8:00am. If students would like to submit a Joke of the Day or a Fun Fact to be shared on the news, please email them to cbradshaw@conval.edu. Thanks for your continued support.
Dear FES Families, We are excited to announce that FES now has its own YouTube channel!
It can be accessed using the link below or by simply searching for Francestown Elementary when you are on the YouTube site. You don’t need to log in to Youtube to view our channel. Since this is a public site,
I hope you are managing during what may be a stressful time. I appreciate your ongoing communication as we navigate this adventure of remote learning and instruction. During the closure, I will be sending a weekly newsletter. My hope is that the letter will provide information regarding student learning, as well as share resources that support you throughout the next few weeks.
By now, you should have had initial contact from your child(ren)’s classroom teacher to set up a schedule for checking in with you and your child. Your child may have even participated in a virtual morning meeting or mini-lesson. I encourage you to reach out to your classroom teacher, the school counselor, or me if you would like additional support such as academic, emotional, or nutritional.
If you would like to have your school age children get food delivery from the district food service during the school closure, please click on this link to sign up Food Service Link. Please know that it may take up to two school days for the delivery of breakfast and lunch to start after signing up. As additional people sign up, the district will need to coordinate delivery with the bus company.
Contact with the school will continue as usual. All calls will be answered during normal school hours. If you need to contact a staff member, you should simply call school (547-2976) or email the appropriate person.
We are required to keep track of students who are ill over the next few weeks. If your child is sick, please call the school and report the illness. Please know Pick Up Patrol has been turned off during the closure.
If you are experiencing technical difficulties, please let me know. More information about troubleshooting technology issues will be sent out from the district soon.
Some of your questions or concerns may be addressed on the Remote Learning FAQs page on the district’s website. If you do not find answers to your questions, you can submit your questions directly through a link on this page, or please reach out to me directly.
I hope you are managing during what may be a stressful time. I appreciate your ongoing communication as we navigate this adventure of remote learning and instruction. During the closure, I will be sending a weekly newsletter. My hope is that the letter will provide information regarding student learning,
Read More:
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[post_content] => Happy Friday! I hope you are managing during what may be a stressful time. I appreciate your ongoing communication as we navigate this adventure of remote learning and instruction...
Check out the latest newsletter to read more about our transition to remote learning.
Happy Friday! I hope you are managing during what may be a stressful time. I appreciate your ongoing communication as we navigate this adventure of remote learning and instruction…
Check out the latest newsletter to read more about our transition to remote learning.
Over the last three days, the ConVal School District delivered approximately 2,900 breakfasts and lunches from the lunch program. Neither snow nor rain kept the buses from making deliveries.
Families all over the district have expressed their gratitude, as the picture clearly shows.
On Friday, school buses also delivered three weeks' worth of food supplies to the families who participate in the "End 68 Hours of Hunger" program.
Over the last three days, the ConVal School District delivered approximately 2,900 breakfasts and lunches from the lunch program. Neither snow nor rain kept the buses from making deliveries.
Families all over the district have expressed their gratitude, as the picture clearly shows.
On Friday, school buses also delivered three weeks’
Students at Pierce School began remote learning on Wednesday, March 18th.
Pierce teachers and staff made sure that our students were provided with many different options to continue their learning during our remote learning adventure!
We hope everyone stays healthy and safe during this time.
Students at Pierce School began remote learning on Wednesday, March 18th.
Pierce teachers and staff made sure that our students were provided with many different options to continue their learning during our remote learning adventure!
We hope everyone stays healthy and safe during this time.
As part of the school building closures due to concerns over the coronavirus (COVID-19), the custodial crews at ConVal High School follow expanded cleaning protocols.
These include enhanced CTF (ceiling-to-floor) cleaning routines with QT-3 Hillyard disinfectant; this involves washing all walls as well as scrubbing table and counter surfaces throughout the building.
Special attention is also being paid to all frequently touched areas, such as water fountains, railings, door handles, and door crash bars.
As part of the school building closures due to concerns over the coronavirus (COVID-19), the custodial crews at ConVal High School follow expanded cleaning protocols.
These include enhanced CTF (ceiling-to-floor) cleaning routines with QT-3 Hillyard disinfectant; this involves washing all walls as well as scrubbing table and counter surfaces throughout the building.
Special attention is also being paid to all frequently touched areas,
ConVal School District: All school buildings are closed. School grounds are also closed to the public; this includes school playgrounds. The District has instituted remote instruction.
State of New Hampshire: Governor Chris Sununu has issued a stay-at-home order; click here for the essential businesses list. For the most current information on COVID-19 cases, see the NH DHHS page.
United States of America: The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have announced travelers from countries with a Level 3 travel alert (China, Iran, South Korea, Italy) are to be advised to stay home and monitor their health for 14 days after returning to the United States.
As of March 12, Level 3 countries include: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City.
As of March 14, the following countries were added to the Level 3 list: Ireland and the United Kingdom.
On March 19, the Department of State advised U.S. citizens to avoid all international travel due to the global impact of COVID-19.
Recommendations to Community:
Cover your mouth when coughing and sneezing
Wash hands frequently
Stay home when sick and avoid contact with sick individuals
Report absence to your child's school
District Response Planning: District administrators and the response team have met several times since March 2, 2020. These meetings have been dedicated to:
Please contact your child's building administrator with any questions or concerns you have regarding COVID-19. Contact information can be found on the ConVal Staff Directory Page.
ConVal School District: All school buildings are closed. School grounds are also closed to the public; this includes school playgrounds. The District has instituted remote instruction.
State of New Hampshire: Governor Chris Sununu has issued a stay-at-home order; click here for the essential businesses list.
The switch to remote learning at ConVal High School is off to a good start. Some minor glitches were reported but, for the most part, things have been going smoothly.
The following was shared by a mother via email with the title: "This is working!"
"My son is online and working with his math teacher. I’m sure you will be handling a ton of emails but I want you to know that his teacher Ms. Hinton was active, engaged and very helpful in the Google Meet. It was his first of the day and she set the tone for a positive experience."
"Please .. please let these educators know that we are thankful for their energy, positivity and it’s working. We appreciate everyone’s time and effort. Thank you!"
The switch to remote learning at ConVal High School is off to a good start. Some minor glitches were reported but, for the most part, things have been going smoothly.
The following was shared by a mother via email with the title: “This is working!”
“My son is online and working with his math teacher.
On March 16, teachers and staff met in small groups in each of their respective schools to participate in a district-wide video conference to launch remote instruction in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation.
Superintendent Dr. Kimberly Rizzo Saunders laid out the agenda for Monday and Tuesday which were devoted to working out issues with the switch to remote instruction. Saunders took questions from each of the participating locations which, in some cases, were split into two or more groups in observance of CDC guidelines.
On Wednesday, remote instruction will begin in earnest and will last through April 3. At that time, the situation will be reassessed before next steps are taken.
On March 16, teachers and staff met in small groups in each of their respective schools to participate in a district-wide video conference to launch remote instruction in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation.
Superintendent Dr. Kimberly Rizzo Saunders laid out the agenda for Monday and Tuesday which were devoted to working out issues with the switch to remote instruction.
On behalf of Athletic Director John Reitnauer, please see the NHIAA press release below.
For Immediate Release
March 16th, 2020
RE: NHIAA Updates
While it was the intention
of the NHIAA to play the remaining games left in the tournaments, given the
guidelines specified by Governor Sununu, the NHDHHS, and the CDC in response to
the escalating public health issue, this plan is no longer feasible. Because of
this, the NHIAA has made the difficult decision to cancel the remainder of the
2020 Winter Tournament events.
We recognize that this
decision will be a disappointment to our student-athletes, coaches, and fans;
yet given the uncertain nature of the weeks to come, we feel that there is no
alternative. The NHIAA shares in the frustrations of our student-athletes, yet
we hope this decision will allow them to move forward and adjust to the new
normal of their educational experience for the next several weeks. A decision will be made later this week on how to best
recognize State Champions in tournaments that were cancelled.
Regarding spring sports, as
Governor Sununu has issued guidance for schools to be closed until April 3rd,
the start of the spring season will be delayed. As of now, the first date to
practice spring sports will be Monday, April 13th, 2020. The first
date to play will be Monday, April 27th, 2020. We will closely
monitor developments with the COVID-19 pandemic and should we need to adjust
these dates, we will do so as necessary. It is our intention to hold open
tournaments at the end of the regular season for each division.
As stated last week, we ask
for everyone’s patience, cooperation, and understanding as we navigate these
uncharted waters. The NHIAA will keep
its member schools updated on any further developments. Thank you for your
understanding and patience as we join the effort to plateau the spread of
COVID-19 in New Hampshire.
On behalf of Athletic Director John Reitnauer, please see the press release from the NHIAA below.
For Immediate Release March 12, 2020 RE: 2020 NHIAA Winter Tournament Events
Relying on the best information available from the New Hampshire Department of Health and the New Hampshire Department of Education, the New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association (NHIAA) has decided to allow the state basketball, hockey tournament, and spirit championships to continue under the following conditions:
Participants in these events will be given four tickets to the games for use by immediate family members.
Only players, coaches, necessary staff, and those with tickets will be allowed to attend.
NHIAA pass will not be honored.
In light of the restricted attendance, every effort is being made to have games livestreamed on the NFHS Network. For more information, go to: https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/associations/nhiaa
During these difficult times, the NHIAA is committed to allowing teams to finish out their seasons. Our students have worked very hard and we owe this to them. Unfortunately, because of this escalating health issue, the NHIAA must limit the number of spectators who are able to attend. We request that anyone exhibiting signs and symptoms of illness refrain from attending.
Our fans and community support are an essential part of the high school experience; however, in light of the recommendations and the conditions existing in our country, we ask for everyone’s patience, cooperation and understanding. Anyone who has purchased tickets online will receive a full refund.
The NHIAA will continue to keep its member schools updated on any further changes.
Contact: Jeffrey Collins Executive Director (603) 228-8671
On behalf of Athletic Director John Reitnauer, please see the press release from the NHIAA below.
For Immediate Release March 12, 2020 RE: 2020 NHIAA Winter Tournament Events
Relying on the best information available from the New Hampshire Department of Health and the New Hampshire Department of Education, the New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association (NHIAA) has decided to allow the state basketball,
I would like to follow up on my email from last night regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation and its potential impact on the ConVal School District.
As you may have heard, some schools have had closures due to the evolving nature of COVID-19. Staff have been working diligently to prepare for the unlikely case that the ConVal District mayhave to close schools.
If this happens, we are prepared to implement remote instruction. Earlier today, the state school board passed an emergency rule change to ED306.18 that will allow schools to use remote learning as a means to deliver instruction to students.
In the event of a closure, ConVal District middle and high school teachers will provide remote instruction via Google Classroom and the students’ district-issued Chromebooks.
What does this mean?
Beginning today and tomorrow, students will bring their district-issued Chromebooks and chargers to and from home daily. This includes students who had previously left their Chromebooks at school.
Students will also need to take home all books and/or additional materials that are required for learning.
If we close, this will apply to all District buildings and staff, except for essential personnel. As a result, staff will not be readily available by phone. Therefore, please communicate via email instead.
If we close, school counselors and nurses will be reaching out to provide support for students with 504 plans.
If we close, special education case managers, service providers, and paraprofessionals will collaborate with classroom teachers to support individual student learning plans.
We realize that these measures may be disruptive. Please be assured that we would take this step out of an abundance of caution and in order to protect the health and well-being of the ConVal community.
Please refer to the district website for further updates. Additional details will be shared as soon as they become available.
Thank you in advance for your flexibility. We appreciate your understanding as we respond to this rapidly evolving situation.
I would like to follow up on my email from last night regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation and its potential impact on the ConVal School District.
As you may have heard, some schools have had closures due to the evolving nature of COVID-19. Staff have been working diligently to prepare for the unlikely case that the ConVal District mayhave to close schools.
As we continue to proactively plan for a possible school closure due to the COVID-19 virus, Classroom teachers, School Counselors, Nurses, Special Education Case Managers, Service Providers and Paraprofessionals have been collaborating to prepare materials and learning menus in reading, writing, math, and unified arts with activities for students to use while home in the event of an extended closure.
These resources will be shared in the coming days via email, teacher websites, and in hard copy sent home with your child; please check their backpacks daily.
Additionally, teachers will send home relevant login information for students to access any online learning platforms they currently use in the event of a closure.
In the event of a closure staff will be available via email to answer questions and provide support for all students, including any students with 504 or Individual Education Plans.
As always our priority is student learning and these resources are intended to provide practice and skill maintenance of previously learned material.
If you have questions or concerns, please reach out to your building principal.
As we continue to proactively plan for a possible school closure due to the COVID-19 virus, Classroom teachers, School Counselors, Nurses, Special Education Case Managers, Service Providers and Paraprofessionals have been collaborating to prepare materials and learning menus in reading, writing, math, and unified arts with activities for students to use while home in the event of an extended closure.
Our 2nd creators of code group is up and running. This has been a successful after school activity for a number of reasons. Student’s accept and partake in some challenging code building activities. They get to see and understand ways to communicate and work with a computer. Our coders are incredible. Their understanding and ability to grasp the concept is a joy to watch. With our own school robots, Dash, Dot, and Walton, our newest robot, students are able to put their knowledge to a hands on test. With the overwhelming amount of interest, we are considering another coding club for later in the spring.
Our 2nd creators of code group is up and running. This has been a successful after school activity for a number of reasons. Student’s accept and partake in some challenging code building activities. They get to see and understand ways to communicate and work with a computer. Our coders are incredible. Their understanding and ability to grasp the concept is a joy to watch.
I want to begin by thanking the District for your continued support of our students, staff, and schools by passing the 2020-2021 District budget. I appreciated hearing from the many parents and community members who reached out today to share thoughts about the budget process and its positive outcome.
Some parents have also reached out to share their concerns about the evolving coronavirus (COVID-19) situation and have asked if the District has additional information to share. Administrators and staff continue to plan for the unlikely case that we have to close schools. This work has included: surveying students and parents about Internet access and making sure that older students can access logins for online learning and instructional programs. We are also creating communications about student and staff expectations should we have to implement remote learning opportunities.
At this time, there has been no indication of exposure in our District schools or communities. We continue to be in contact with local and state health officials to ensure that we have up-to-date information in order to make informed decisions.
We recognize that this is an unprecedented situation for all of us. Please be assured that we are committed to the health and safety of your students, our staff, and our community. I share your concerns on both a personal and professional level.
We will continue to update our website with information at https://convalsd.net/covid-19-coronavirus-information/. In addition, I will continue to communicate directly with you as the need arises. As always, do not hesitate to reach out to me, and I will do my best to be timely in my response.
I want to begin by thanking the District for your continued support of our students, staff, and schools by passing the 2020-2021 District budget. I appreciated hearing from the many parents and community members who reached out today to share thoughts about the budget process and its positive outcome.
As part of the fourth-quarter pilot of E-Hallpass, Mathematics teacher Greg Morris and English teacher Liz Moore demonstrate the use of the system from three different perspectives: the student view, the teacher view, and the admin view.
E-Hallpass is a platform-independent web app that works on all operating systems and devices, including Chromebooks. It allows teachers and administrators to provide hallway permissions to students.
The tool is intended to improve the accountability of students and staff and to enhance student security.
As part of the fourth-quarter pilot of E-Hallpass, Mathematics teacher Greg Morris and English teacher Liz Moore demonstrate the use of the system from three different perspectives: the student view, the teacher view, and the admin view.
E-Hallpass is a platform-independent web app that works on all operating systems and devices, including Chromebooks.
The following are the results of district voting which was held on March 10, 2020 in the ConVal School District towns.
Article 1 Budget: passed (63%)
Article 2 Building Reserve Fund: passed (70%)
Article 3 Athletic Trust Fund: passed (70%)
Article 4 Health Trust Fund: passed (73%)
Article 5 Solar Power: passed (74%)
Article 6 Energy Efficiency Fund: passed (68%)
Article 7 Accept Auditors’
Read More:
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[post_content] => Mud season is upon us. Kids are excited to play but end up with mud from head to toe - sorry!
Check out the latest newsletter to read more about other events at HES.
The ConVal Nordic team finished its regular season this past Wednesday at the Division II State Meet held at the Great Glen Trails Nordic Center at the base of Mount Washington. The skiers braved challenging conditions as sunshine alternated with snow squalls and wind gusts up to fifty miles per hour on the 4 kilometer course.
The team fared very well despite the weather, placing two skiers in the top ten and medaling one skier in the skimeister category. Allison Bull came in 8th overall in the girls classical race, and Jaimini Viles placed 9th in the freestyle (skate) race, earning each a ticket to the Meet of Champions where the top skiers from all four divisions in the state will compete against each other in a skiathlon.
Meanwhile, Logan Burnham’s performance in both the morning classical race and the afternoon skate competition earned him second place overall as a Division II skimeister. Skimeisters compete all season in both downhill and cross country disciplines, and the final place order is determined by combining times from the slalom, giant slalom, freestyle, and classical races in the Alpine and Nordic state meets.
Scoring for ConVal in the boys morning classical race were Viles, captain and senior Rowan Inglis, Avery Pope, Philip Pope, Burnham, and Sam Rousseau. On the girls side, Bull was followed by captain Cami Hendrixson, Eva Calcutt, Abby Hendrixson, Margot Kratzenberg, and Isabel Badrawy. In the afternoon skate competition, Viles led the way followed by Ingliis, Avery Pope, Lewis Carlton, Burnham, and Rousseau. On the girls side, Bull was the first Cougar to cross the finish line, leading Calcutt, Cami Hendrixson, Gwen Inglis, Abby Hendrixson, and Eme Tyler-Wall.
Viles and Bull, also members of the NH U16 team, plan to compete in the Meet of Champions scheduled to be held on Tuesday afternoon March 10, 4 PM, at the Dublin Nordic Center.
The ConVal Nordic team finished its regular season this past Wednesday at the Division II State Meet held at the Great Glen Trails Nordic Center at the base of Mount Washington. The skiers braved challenging conditions as sunshine alternated with snow squalls and wind gusts up to fifty miles per hour on the 4 kilometer course.
Today District administrators have been in contact with both local and state health officials from Monadnock Community Hospital and the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (NHDHHS). Through these offices and based on the most current information from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), we have closely monitored the communities’ status related to the coronavirus (COVID-19).
District administrators and response teams met today and began planning for the potential impact of COVID-19. We have begun short-term and long-term planning related to students, staff, and facilities. This includes maintaining and expanding cleaning protocols, developing plans for students who may need to be out of school for extended periods of time, and creating educational plans in the highly unlikely case of school closures. We have also put together a communications team which will provide daily updates through our district website as well as urgent updates through email or phone calls, if necessary.
In our earlier communications, we provided links to find updated information related to COVID-19. We have developed a webpage where updated information as well as letters and updates specific to the ConVal School District can be found https://convalsd.net/covid-19-coronavirus-information/. I want to assure you that urgent updates will be sent to families via School Messenger.
Out of an abundance of caution for the health and safety of our schools and community, we are having students, that we are aware of, who traveled to affected areas remain home from school for 14 days. Additionally, we have asked staff who have traveled to areas of concern that they remain at home. If your family or your student(s) have traveled to other locations of concern, please contact their building principal. If your student is displaying symptoms, please have them stay home and contact your local healthcare provider.
It bears repeating that the COVID-19 situation is rapidly developing, and therefore new protocols and information may appear daily. For the most up-to-date information, you can also visit:
Today District administrators have been in contact with both local and state health officials from Monadnock Community Hospital and the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (NHDHHS). Through these offices and based on the most current information from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
In response to COVID-19 concerns, we want to share the current ConVal District practices regarding facilities, which are in accordance with guidelines established by the Department of Health and Human Services and the Center for Disease Control.
Air Handling: All schools have HVAC systems that are controlled through a building automation system that routinely exchanges fresh air and monitors air quality.
All door handles, push plates, and flat surfaces are sanitized by custodians and/or building staff using QT-3 cleanser daily and with increased frequency during cold and flu season.
Additional attention to the underside of tables and computer keyboards
Teachers and nurses model proper handwashing techniques on a regular basis
Teachers have access to QT-3 surface cleanser as needed.
In response to COVID-19 concerns, we want to share the current ConVal District practices regarding facilities, which are in accordance with guidelines established by the Department of Health and Human Services and the Center for Disease Control.
Air Handling: All schools have HVAC systems that are controlled through a building automation system that routinely exchanges fresh air and monitors air quality.
Thank you again to those who have reached out regarding the rapidly evolving situation related to COVID-19 (coronavirus). I want to continue to emphasize that, as of the writing of this letter, there are no presumptive or confirmed cases of COVID-19 in New Hampshire. Be assured, as the District receives more information, we will update you as quickly and effectively as possible.
Over the weekend, I have been in contact with The Grand Monadnock Youth Choirs Italy trip coordinator as well as the parents of the talented young singers from ConVal who traveled to Italy to perform. This was not a ConVal sponsored event so communication regarding the trip and the members return needed to be coordinated. The choir did not travel to any areas in Italy that are presently impacted by COVID-19 nor do their members show any symptoms of being in anyway ill. Nonetheless, in conjunction with The Grand Monadnock Youth Choirs, the decision has been made that those that traveled to Italy will remain at home tomorrow to give the School District and The Grand Monadnock Youth Choirs the opportunity to review the latest information and coordinate with State and local health officials.
The ConVal School District continues to follow closely the information being shared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as well as the New Hampshire Bureau of Infectious Disease. As we have new information from these organizations, we will update our plans, procedures, and protocols in the best interest of our communities’ health and safety. Additionally, as we become aware of families, students, and staff who have traveled abroad to any countries under the COVID-19 travel advisory, we will work closely with them related to both attendance and education.
I will send out another update tomorrow when I have additional information. If you have questions or concerns in the meantime, please do not hesitate to reach out either through email, ksaunders@conval.edu or by calling 603-924-3336 ext. 2028.
Thank you again to those who have reached out regarding the rapidly evolving situation related to COVID-19 (coronavirus). I want to continue to emphasize that, as of the writing of this letter, there are no presumptive or confirmed cases of COVID-19 in New Hampshire. Be assured, as the District receives more information, we will update you as quickly and effectively as possible.
I hope that you have had a restful and relaxing week. I want to thank the many parents who have reached out through email or phone to inquire about the District’s plans related to the evolving COVID-19 (coronavirus) situation.
As I begin this letter, I want to remind our community that there are currently no confirmed cases of the virus in New Hampshire. With that said, I recognize that many parents, teachers, staff, and students are concerned about the status of the current outbreak in other parts of the world and how that may impact our schools and community.
This is particularly true as we return from school vacation. We have had no ConVal School District sponsored travel, either within the United States or outside of it. However, we know that some families and students do travel during the break.
While the information that we have at the writing of this letter indicates that the virus is less likely to impact our students’ health than other community members, we believe that we have a responsibility to our entire community to inform them about our current practices, our next steps, and our long-term plans in the unlikely case of a community outbreak of COVID-19.
Let me begin by reassuring you that our staff and school nurses have been carefully watching the situation related to COVID-19. ConVal District nurses have received information and had the opportunity to participate in a webinar early in the outbreak to become informed about the presenting symptoms and the related health issues.
We have continued to practice our heightened cleaning and disinfecting that we do regularly during the flu season. This includes, but is not limited to, the regular wiping down of surfaces and computer keyboards, the consistent cleaning of door handles, the daily cleaning of classrooms and bathrooms, as well as ongoing instruction of students to wash their hands, use tissues, avoid touching face, eyes, and nose, and practice good sneezing and coughing habits (i.e. sneezing or coughing into your sleeve and then wiping your nose and washing your hands). All of these practices will continue, and we will be adding suggested steps from the Bureau of Infectious Disease Control that we recently received.
Following my direct conversations yesterday with both the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (NH DHHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), I received information on what the best next steps would be for schools.
The NH Division of Public Health and the Bureau of Infectious Disease Control has created guidance that we will be implementing. As always, we ask that if your student has a fever that you keep them home from school. As with all illnesses, if you keep your student home because they have a fever and respiratory symptoms, the missed school days will be considered excused absences.
The District will continue tracking information regarding absences and the reasons for these absences and, if requested, may be sharing symptomatic information with healthcare officials. If a student comes to the nurse with a fever or respiratory symptoms, they will be instructed to wear a face mask until they are able to be picked up. Nurses will also inquire about students’ recent travel.
Additionally, nurses will be taking precautions to guard against potential exposure and will be contacting parents of students who present with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 to be taken home. Symptoms according to the CDC include a fever, cough, and shortness of breath.
On Monday morning, I will be meeting with all administrators to discuss plans in the unlikely case of a large community outbreak of COVID-19. This will include planning for educating students who are not in school because of their exposure to COVID-19 and planning for the highly unlikely case of school closure.
I hope that you have had a restful and relaxing week. I want to thank the many parents who have reached out through email or phone to inquire about the District’s plans related to the evolving COVID-19 (coronavirus) situation.
As I begin this letter, I want to remind our community that there are currently no confirmed cases of the virus in New Hampshire.
Keene State College and the New Hampshire Department of Education Bureau of Career Development will be co-sponsoring an “Explore and Discover College Day" for Career and Technical Education (CTE) students at the Keene State campus on Thursday, March 19, 2020.
The event will offer CTE students the opportunity to experience a college campus while learning about preparing for college and how their CTE experience can complement a college education to position them for success in their future careers.
The schedule for the day is expected to include:
Mini-courses—a chance to take one or two short classes with a Keene State College faculty member. Courses will be offered in a variety of disciplines.
An overview of the college admissions process
A workshop on career readiness and professionalism
A campus tour—a chance for students to see all a college can offer beyond academics
Keene State College and the New Hampshire Department of Education Bureau of Career Development will be co-sponsoring an “Explore and Discover College Day” for Career and Technical Education (CTE) students at the Keene State campus on Thursday, March 19, 2020.
The event will offer CTE students the opportunity to experience a college campus while learning about preparing for college and how their CTE experience can complement a college education to position them for success in their future careers.
The ConVal Nordic team traveled to Hanover for its final divisional race of the season before next week’s state championships.
The 5K course wound through woods and open fields with several challenging hills. The skiers found the course enjoyable but wet soft snow made the going strenuous.
Allison Bull led the Cougar girls across the finish line, coming in 8th overall. She was followed by Eva Calcutt, captain Cami Hendrixson, Abby Hendrixson, Margot Kratzenberg, Gwen Inglis, Eme Tyler-Wall, and Isabel Badrawy.
On the boys' side, Jaimini Viles came in 13th overall, followed by Rowan Inglis, Philip Pope, and Avery Pope. The team travels to Great Glen on Wednesday, March 4th, for the Division II Championships.
The ConVal Nordic team traveled to Hanover for its final divisional race of the season before next week’s state championships.
The 5K course wound through woods and open fields with several challenging hills. The skiers found the course enjoyable but wet soft snow made the going strenuous.
Allison Bull led the Cougar girls across the finish line,
On Friday before February break, ConVal High School held a school-wide assembly in the gymnasium that saw the Cougars host Keene High School for the final Unified Basketball game of the season.
With the ConVal Band playing during breaks in the action, students, faculty, and staff cheered on both the ConVal and the Keene High School Unified Basketball teams.
Both teams had terrific scoring stretches throughout the game, with three-point scores and under-the-basket shots. The Cougars, under the leadership of coaches Kevin Carne, Dick Ellingwood, and Gil Morris, came away with a winning score of 69:58 after a buzzer-beating basket by Myles Clough.
All of the ConVal players had an outstanding game. Perhaps most importantly, both teams demonstrated true sportsmanship on many occasions throughout the game.
After the victory celebration, the ATC robotics team gave a presentation of its remote-controlled robots that shot balls and T-shirts into the crowd.
On Friday before February break, ConVal High School held a school-wide assembly in the gymnasium that saw the Cougars host Keene High School for the final Unified Basketball game of the season.
With the ConVal Band playing during breaks in the action, students, faculty, and staff cheered on both the ConVal and the Keene High School Unified Basketball teams.
To celebrate Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month, the Region 14 Applied Technology Center (ATC) welcomed elementary school students from Antrim, Bennington, Dublin, Francestown, Hancock, Peterborough, and Temple.
During the week of February 17, more than 220 students toured classrooms devoted to Business, Careers in Education, Computer Networking, Digital Photo & Video, Engineering, Firefighting & EMT training, Graphic Design, and Manufacturing.
In several locations, students participated in demonstrations and hands-on activities, including robotics, 3D printing, and manufacturing using a CNC router to engrave wooden signs.
On Wednesday, New Hampshire Congresswoman Annie Kuster joined the students and explored with them the diverse program offerings and pathways that are available to ConVal students.
As a special thank you for their visit, Mr. Rothhaus' PES students put together this short video.
To celebrate Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month, the Region 14 Applied Technology Center (ATC) welcomed elementary school students from Antrim, Bennington, Dublin, Francestown, Hancock, Peterborough, and Temple.
During the week of February 17, more than 220 students toured classrooms devoted to Business, Careers in Education, Computer Networking, Digital Photo & Video, Engineering,
GES staff & students enjoyed an indoor “snowball” fight at our whole school morning meeting!
Read More:
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[post_content] => We finally had a full week of school and a busy one at that. We worked hard to complete NWEA testing. In between testing, we had some great learning adventures.
Check out the latest newsletter to read more about other events at HES.
We finally had a full week of school and a busy one at that. We worked hard to complete NWEA testing. In between testing, we had some great learning adventures.
Check out the latest newsletter to read more about other events at HES.
ConVal senior Liam McCall (center) won first place in the District 2 American Legion Oratorical Contest which was held at Post #23 in Milford on Saturday, February 15.
McCall won with a pair of successful speeches, one on the principle of no taxation without representation and the second on an assigned topic, which for McCall was the 20th Amendment.
ConVal High School was represented by three students at the competition which included students from Merrimack and Milford high schools. Garrick Colby spoke on “The Bulwarks of Tyranny” while Daniel McCall, Liam’s younger brother who is a freshman this year, delivered a speech on civil liberties.
The mission of the American Legion Oratorical Contest is to develop a deeper knowledge and appreciation for the U.S. Constitution among high school students. Speaking subjects must be on some aspect of the U.S. Constitution.
The competition is held in two rounds. The first set of speeches involves orations on a constitutional topic and are eight to ten minutes long. In addition, contestants prepare four three- to five-minute speeches on four different constitutional amendments and must be ready to speak on all of them. One of these “assigned topic” speeches is then chosen for presentation at the contest.
With his win at the District 2 American Legion Oratorical Contest, his second in a row, McCall advances to the state-level contest at St Anselm’s College which will be held on March 7.
ConVal senior Liam McCall (center) won first place in the District 2 American Legion Oratorical Contest which was held at Post #23 in Milford on Saturday, February 15.
McCall won with a pair of successful speeches, one on the principle of no taxation without representation and the second on an assigned topic, which for McCall was the 20th Amendment.
Springtime brings new life back to us here in the Northeast — and time to vote on a new school budget. On March 10th, voters in the nine communities of the ConVal School District will vote on the warrant that dictates the school district budget. As we prepare to think about this annual decision, it’s always important to consider what’s at stake.
The nine communities are justly proud of the education that they have been able to provide for families who live in the ConVal District. The administration and school board work hard to look to the future and ensure we are preparing our students to work and thrive, and keep New Hampshire growing and healthy — a state where the children we are educating will be proud to live and raise their own families.
What does it take to ensure these opportunities continue? A good and fair budget, for one, that carefully manages resources raised by taxation against the diverse needs of the nine towns; and most importantly, a belief that we are making an investment in our communities, our families, our children, together. It is not an easy decision for many of us, as it can involve some considerable sacrifice when it comes to the tax bill.
The administration and school board regularly struggle with the complexity of running the district. We want to make sure that your questions are answered. The Budget and Property Committee developed a comprehensive explanation of how the budget is developed, how the budget translates to your tax bill. ”A School Budget Primer: Understanding School Budget Preparation, Methodology and the Impact on Property Taxes” was distributed at the first Deliberative Session on February 4th. The primer also reviews the 2020-21 warrant articles and explains the school board’s position on those articles and can be found on the ConVal website within the Budget Digest Resource page. You can also click the banner at the top of the ConVal School District website which directs you to the budget information.
If you have questions that aren’t answered on the website, please contact your school board representative, whose contact information is available on the website as well. We hope that you will vote “yes” on the operating budget, and the recommended articles.
You will also receive a flyer in the mail that explains the warrant and its articles. It will direct you to the ConVal website for budget information. It is our intention to be as transparent as possible, and provide the information that will help you understand the district operations. You can find all ConVal School District budget information here.
Default budgets are implemented when the proposed operating budget fails to win voter approval. Before you vote, here are some facts to consider about the ConVal budget:
• For the past eight years, ConVal administration and Board have held the operating budget to 1% annual increases, sometimes less than .5%. This was due to a variety of cost-saving measures: changing health insurance plans, cost-sharing the health insurance with district staff, postponing capital improvements (high school parking lot!!!), using trust funds to cover what would normally appear in the budget, staff decreases, redistributing staff responsibilities. Last year was the exception, when a combination of reduced state funding and increased mandatory expenditures increased the operating budget by 1.8%. This year is another increase: 2.23%. This increase in the 2020-21 operating budget is due primarily to the need for long-deferred capital improvements and the second year of the teacher contract — which we support and believe to be necessary and fair.
• At the same time, the administration and Board managed to keep the operating budget increase to a minimum in past years, the budget met its contractual obligations, including transportation, new teacher contracts; continued to ensure student safety and excellence in education the taxpayers count on by implementing security measures, continuing with curriculum review, professional development and implementation, implementation of ever-growing state and federal statutory requirements, and finally, ever-decreasing local state education investment. The state has recently convened an education funding task force, partly due to the will of our legislature, and partly due to several school districts’ lawsuit (one of whom is ConVal). The past year was a single year of some funding relief, which in the ConVal district went back to the nine communities. This should be reflected in your tax bill.
• When you see the difference between the operating budget and the increase in your education property tax — it is primarily due to decreased enrollment due to our local demographics, and the shrinking state funds. What the state chooses not to pay, the local taxpayer must make up. Please consider the budget-cutting that has gone on for the last five years in the interest of keeping your property tax increase to a minimum — and understand the current increases in that light: there are now no more places to cut. The 2.23 % increase in the operating budget reflects the Board and the administration’s effort to keep the district moving forward towards its goals of excellence for every child, and fiscal responsibility.
If the budget fails, we must implement a default budget. When it comes to the default budget, the biggest problem is the lack of places to go to cut. Everything that could be cut, that would not significantly affect the education our district children receive, has been cut in previous years. (This is now the new normal.) The default budget will require $1,422,487 in cuts to the 2020-21 budget.
In anticipation of this possible event, the Board requested the administration to develop a list of possible cuts. The administration offered this list in a series of five tiers: the first tier being the farthest from student impact on education to the closest and most impactful in tier five. The reality is that in order to meet the $1.5 million in cuts, we will have to go deep into tier four, and even some cuts from tier five.
If the default budget must go into place, the Board will work with the administration to identify the list of items selected for cuts from the 2020-2021 budget, and these will be eliminated before the year begins.
We hope you will vote to support the school budget. Thank you.
Springtime brings new life back to us here in the Northeast — and time to vote on a new school budget. On March 10th, voters in the nine communities of the ConVal School District will vote on the warrant that dictates the school district budget.
The ConVal School Store is located in the ConVal Cafeteria and is open during the school year. Visitors can find everything from t-shirts, sweatshirts, sweatpants, winter hats, and jackets.
There is also an online store option that accepts orders for all of our regular apparel items as well as accessories like ConVal-branded caps, hats, and blankets. Click here for special sales on orders placed before March 5, 2020.
The ConVal School Store is located in the ConVal Cafeteria and is open during the school year. Visitors can find everything from t-shirts, sweatshirts, sweatpants, winter hats, and jackets.
There is also an online store option that accepts orders for all of our regular apparel items as well as accessories like ConVal-branded caps, hats, and blankets.
Valentine's day was very special for the students of Temple Elementary School.
The students were treated to a fancy atmosphere to show how much we care about them. Soft music was playing and the lights were low. We hope they felt very special.
Valentine’s day was very special for the students of Temple Elementary School.
The students were treated to a fancy atmosphere to show how much we care about them. Soft music was playing and the lights were low. We hope they felt very special.
On Sunday, February 16, the Region 14 Applied Technology Center held an Open House to showcase its Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs. The Region 14 ATC serves the school districts of ConVal, Jaffrey-Rindge, and Mascenic.
Students and their parents, members of the public — including New Hampshire's Commissioner of Education Frank Edelblut —, ConVal School Board members, and district administrators visited classrooms in the areas of Business, Careers in Education, Computer Networking, Digital Photo & Video, Engineering, Firefighting & EMT training, Graphic Design, and Manufacturing.
Representatives from Keene State College and Nashua Community College were also on hand to explain the Dual Start program and the credits that a student can earn towards an Associate's or Bachelor's Degree through the existing articulation agreements with the Region 14 ATC.
On Sunday, February 16, the Region 14 Applied Technology Center held an Open House to showcase its Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs. The Region 14 ATC serves the school districts of ConVal, Jaffrey-Rindge, and Mascenic.
Students and their parents, members of the public — including New Hampshire’s Commissioner of Education Frank Edelblut —,
On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, ConVal Drama performed The Wolves by Sarah de Lappe. De Lappe was a MacDowell Colony Fellow in the fall of 2019 and visited with students at ConVal in November.
The Wolves takes place in an indoor soccer facility where members of a soccer squad — "The Wolves" — go trough warmup routines and stretching exercises while discussing personal relationships, popular culture topics, politics, and the lives of some of the adults with whom they interact.
Each of the girls is identified only by their jersey number, a reflection of both their intensely cultivated team identity and the incurious anonymity of the high school life that surrounds them. Throughout the play, which takes place over several weeks in the soccer season leading up to the final game, each team member struggles to assert her individuality while also being part of a group.
The Wolves was a finalist for the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, a finalist for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize and the Yale Drama Series Prize, and received the American Playwriting Foundation's inaugural Relentless Award.
On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, ConVal Drama performed The Wolves by Sarah de Lappe. De Lappe was a MacDowell Colony Fellow in the fall of 2019 and visited with students at ConVal in November.
The Wolves takes place in an indoor soccer facility where members of a soccer squad — “The Wolves”
ConVal took the mat last Wednesday against John Stark and White Mountains for senior night.
Seniors Evan Shippee, Theo Cross, and manager Evan Sussman were all honored before the duals.
Evan Shippee performed solidly and racked up two pins to capstone his career at home. Theo Cross had an exciting come-from-behind victory, pinning his opponent after falling behind 13-2.
On Saturday, February 22nd, the Cougars will be in Pelham for the D3 State Tournament. ConVal will have 13 of the 14 weight classes filled and have an outside shot at bringing home some team hardware in a division that is expected to be dominated by perennial powers Bow and Plymouth Regional.
As the SAU 1 administrative team and the ConVal School Board prepare to make important school budget decisions to be voted on at the district meeting this March, a familiar struggle is taking shape. The financial demands placed on local schools to maintain high-quality education plays out as taxpayers worry about affordability.
Why are we facing increasing tax rates to fund our schools at the local level? A driving force is New Hampshire lawmakers are downshifting school costs through unfunded mandates. This issue is the same for all of the 221 towns and 13 cities in New Hampshire. In addition, Federal laws which must be followed compound these costs as Federal grants do not fully cover the requirements necessary for compliance.
An unfunded mandate occurs when a new piece of state or federal legislation requires the school district to perform functions without providing funding, or adequate funding, to facilitate the requirement. The 10th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution leaves the responsibility for public K-12 education with the states. Each school district is administered and financed by the local community along with that district's state government. The New Hampshire Constitution guarantees an “adequate education” for all citizens of the state. The New Hampshire Constitution does not specify who is financially responsible for this guarantee. When the state or federal legislature passes a new law without funding, any increases in cost that result from complying with the unfunded mandate becomes part of the local school budget. Standards and quality of education consequently vary widely from state to state and even district to district. The local district is either supported or limited by its budget. The budget is dictated by what local taxpayers will approve.
Because of the increased awareness in disparity, during the 1960s compelling interest in our nation’s public schools was addressed by the Federal Government through the legislative process creating laws and providing assistance to states and schools through educational grants to enact these laws. Federal Education laws that are most commonly known are the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, Title I, No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and Every Student Succeeds Act (Common Core). These laws authorize federal grants for elementary and secondary school programs for children of low-income families; school library resources, textbooks and other instructional materials; supplemental education centers and services; strengthening state education agencies; education research; and professional development for teachers. While these federal grants provide support for their mandates, they do not cover the entire cost. The remaining cost must be covered by the state and local taxes. As the local school budget is built, all federal mandates must be met.
As far as New Hampshire State Education mandates and the effect they have on the local school budget you need only to turn to the local news to become apprised of the disparity in education funding occurring in New Hampshire and the impact it has on the local tax. Many of the educational laws passed by New Hampshire legislature and changes made to standards that come from the Department of Education are well intended to promote student success, but these laws do not, in many cases, come with any additional funding. An example of a state unfunded mandate is the 2016 New Hampshire K-12 STEM curriculum requirements. The requirements proposed will produce more skilled workers, inspire innovation, increase New Hampshire business growth and affect the New Hampshire economy. There is certainly a valid return on this educational investment. However, only a fraction of the additional funding needed to meet the new State STEM standards was provided to the schools and the result: The local property tax must increase to comply with the New Hampshire K-12 STEM initiative.
The administrators in the ConVal School District work year-round to produce all of the financial data necessary to analyze a “ConVal” education. The administration carefully checks off the right boxes on accounting and compliance reports required by the State and the Federal government to assure accuracy in crafting a fiscally sound budget. Detailed financial analysis is compiled to monitor and evaluate each school building’s expenditures. The focus of the Superintendent and the School Board is the classroom where the critical work happens and where the allocation of funds and resources provides services that affect student performance.
In summary, local schools are required to comply with federal and state-mandated laws. While federal and state laws’ express purposes are to raise achievement for all students and to close the achievement gap, the additional funding needed to translate laws or requirements into a classroom reality is not provided. The looming question as to whether or not the funding is adequate to accomplish the laws’ purpose has become clear and yet the funding issue remains unanswered by Washington lawmakers and the New Hampshire legislature. The growing reality for New Hampshire residents and businesses is that the burden falls on the local tax base to make up the difference. The ConVal School District is compelled to sustain high education standards and build a budget that supports those standards and student success. Residents can be assured that every local tax dollar spent in the ConVal School District is a closely monitored resource invested in a quality education for our students and our future.
For more detailed information on Federal Policy and NEW HAMPSHIRE Policy laws enacted that impact the budget and decision making at the local level please visit:
“Laws & Guidance Overview”, U.S. Department of Education, link
“The Federal Role in Education”, U.S. Department of Education, link
Baron, Kathryn. “Finding a Balance for the Federal Role in Education Policy”, Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, December, 2016, link
“2019 State Education Policy Watchlist”, Education Commission of the States, link
Austin, Donald; Christina, Barrett. “2017 Legislative Summary”, New Hampshire School Boards Association, 2017, link
Zelin, Gerald M.. Glynn, Meghan S. “New State Statutes Regulating Schools”, Drummond Woodsum. Copyright 2018, All rights are expressly reserved. These materials may not be reproduced without prior written permission. link
“How the courts have shaped education funding, and what comes next”, Reaching Higher New Hampshire, March, 2019, link
Duffort, Lola.“Bill to limit unfunded mandates could have unintended effect on special ed” Concord Monitor. March, 2017. link
Leachman, Michael, Masterson, Kathleen, Figeuroa, Eric. “A Punishing Decade for School Funding” Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. November, 2019, link
As the SAU 1 administrative team and the ConVal School Board prepare to make important school budget decisions to be voted on at the district meeting this March, a familiar struggle is taking shape. The financial demands placed on local schools to maintain high-quality education plays out as taxpayers worry about affordability.
Why are we facing increasing tax rates to fund our schools at the local level?
Manufacturing Month 2019 Recap, a February 2020 publication by the New Hampshire Manufacturing Extension Partnership, features the field trip of CTE students to Aerospace and Defense Manufacturer TRM Microwave in Bedford last fall.
On October 17, 2019, ConVal's ATC Center took CTE Manufacturing students on a tour of TRM Microwave, an RF/Microwave design, engineering, and manufacturing company. The field trip was part of the celebration of National Manufacturing Month.
Please see the related web post on the ConVal website here. To read the entire publication, please click here.
Manufacturing Month 2019 Recap, a February 2020 publication by the New Hampshire Manufacturing Extension Partnership, features the field trip of CTE students to Aerospace and Defense Manufacturer TRM Microwave in Bedford last fall.
On October 17, 2019, ConVal’s ATC Center took CTE Manufacturing students on a tour of TRM Microwave,
Students at PES learned a little bit about Vincent Van Gogh in Ms. Compton's art class this week. Following a discussion about one of the world's most recognizable paintings, "The Starry Night", and a little bit about Van Gogh's work, life, and style, students in 3rd and 4th grade got the chance to create paintings using tempera paint.
Students at PES learned a little bit about Vincent Van Gogh in Ms. Compton’s art class this week. Following a discussion about one of the world’s most recognizable paintings, “The Starry Night”, and a little bit about Van Gogh’s work, life, and style, students in 3rd and 4th grade got the chance to create paintings using tempera paint.
The ConVal School Board has taken an important step in advancing the Preschool For All model for the ConVal School District. Currently associated with Antrim Elementary, Greenfield Elementary, and Peterborough Elementary School, the plan is to expand the preschool program in two phases over the next two years.
Phase 1 is planned for the 2020-2021 school year and will extend the existing First Friends programs to a full-day, five-days-a-week program for four-year-olds. During Phase 2, planned for the 2021-2022 school year, the expanded program will provide preschool education to all four-year-olds in the district.
The primary goal of the expansion of the pre-school program is to ensure that all four-year-old children will have access to high-quality early childhood education.
The district-wide focus on equity was also a strong consideration. The goal is to create learning environments and conditions in which all students can learn and succeed, regardless of their geographic location in the district, economic status, or whether or not they have a disability.
For more on the Preschool For All program, please see the handout here.
The ConVal School Board has taken an important step in advancing the Preschool For All model for the ConVal School District. Currently associated with Antrim Elementary, Greenfield Elementary, and Peterborough Elementary School, the plan is to expand the preschool program in two phases over the next two years.
Phase 1 is planned for the 2020-2021 school year and will extend the existing First Friends programs to a full-day,
The ConVal School Counseling Department will host its annual College Planning Night for all juniors and their parents on Wednesday, February 5 at 6:30 pm in the Lucy Hurlin Theatre.
Moira Valenti from the New Hampshire Higher Education Assistance Foundation (NHHEAF) will deliver the presentation.
Selecting colleges and applying for admission can be overwhelming. There are applications to be completed, deadlines to meet, essays to write and policies to understand.
This session is intended to educate the student and family about the college admission process. Topics include: narrowing your list, questions to ask on a college tour, college essay pointers, the application timeline, and the basics of financial aid.
The ConVal School Counseling Department will host its annual College Planning Night for all juniors and their parents on Wednesday, February 5 at 6:30 pm in the Lucy Hurlin Theatre.
Moira Valenti from the New Hampshire Higher Education Assistance Foundation (NHHEAF) will deliver the presentation.
Selecting colleges and applying for admission can be overwhelming.
Freshmen and sophomore students had an opportunity to explore elective courses for the 2020-2021 school year. The event took place during the TASC flex time block in the ConVal cafeteria.
Teachers and upper-level students, who have taken or are currently taking these elective classes, were on hand to talk about the courses and how they enhance learning.
Course registration for the upcoming school begins mid-February, so this was a well-timed event to explore many of the options offered by the following departments: Applied Technology Center, English, Health and Wellness, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Visual and Performing Arts, and World Languages.
Among the electives for the 2020-2021 school year are: 2D Studio Art, 3D Studio Art, AP US History, AP World History, Aesthetics and Ideas, Anatomy & Physiology I, Anatomy & Physiology II, Business, Careers in Education, Ceramics, Chamber Choir, Chemistry, College Composition, Computer Programming/Networking & Robotics, Concert Band, Concert Choir, Creative Writing, Digital Photo & Video, Engineering, Firefighting & EMT, German, Graphic Design, History of Rock and Roll, Human Nature and Storytelling, Instrumental Methods, Interpersonal Communication, Introduction to Guitar, Jazz Band, Manufacturing/Woodshop, Marching Band, Mass Media Communication, Music in Media, Music Theory and Keyboard Playing, Personal Fitness, Philosophy, Psychology, Select Chorus, Spanish, Studio Art Extension ELO, Theatre Arts/Workshop, Western World Heritage, World Religions, and Young Adult Fiction.
Freshmen and sophomore students had an opportunity to explore elective courses for the 2020-2021 school year. The event took place during the TASC flex time block in the ConVal cafeteria.
Teachers and upper-level students, who have taken or are currently taking these elective classes, were on hand to talk about the courses and how they enhance learning.
In a hard-fought contest, ConVal's Unified Basketball Team defeated Fall Mountain with a score of 44-29 in their home opener on Tuesday, February 3.
Scoring was spread throughout the lineup and was highlighted by multiple three-point shots by Parker Nason. "The team worked together and this, combined with the support of our enthusiastic crowd, helped secure the victory," coach Kevin Carne said after the game.
Next, the team travels to Hinsdale on February 12th, followed by a home game against Stevens on February 13th.
In a hard-fought contest, ConVal’s Unified Basketball Team defeated Fall Mountain with a score of 44-29 in their home opener on Tuesday, February 3.
Scoring was spread throughout the lineup and was highlighted by multiple three-point shots by Parker Nason. “The team worked together and this, combined with the support of our enthusiastic crowd,
You are cordially invited to an Open House of the Region 14 Applied Technology Center (ATC) at ConVal Regional High School on Sunday, February 16, 2020, from 1-3 pm.
The Region 14 ATC serves the school districts of ConVal, Jaffrey-Rindge, and Mascenic. Students have the opportunity to participate in career and technology education programs such as:
Automotive Technician
Building Trades
Business
Careers in Education
Computer Networking
Digital Photo and Video
Firefighting and EMT
Graphic Design
Manufacturing (with optional welding component)
Pre-Engineering
Parents and students, learn about the opportunities to help students become career and college-ready.
Industry and employers, connect with our instructors to help us prepare the future members of your workforce.
Community members, experience the amazing things happening in your own backyard!
For questions or to RSVP, please contact ATC Director Jen Kiley at jkiley@conval.edu or 924-3869 ext. 3010.
You are cordially invited to an Open House of the Region 14 Applied Technology Center (ATC) at ConVal Regional High School on Sunday, February 16, 2020, from 1-3 pm.
The Region 14 ATC serves the school districts of ConVal, Jaffrey-Rindge, and Mascenic. Students have the opportunity to participate in career and technology education programs such as:
Each year, staff at DCS seek activities to depict our school motto of DCS Cares. This year, Art Teacher Andy Shultz, took this project on. Using art work created by the students, this school wide project, inspired by DCS teacher Deb Lang, came to life!
Each year, staff at DCS seek activities to depict our school motto of DCS Cares. This year, Art Teacher Andy Shultz, took this project on. Using art work created by the students, this school wide project, inspired by DCS teacher Deb Lang, came to life!
Game Time Light Score Dark Score Winner 1 8:00 GREAT BROOK vs KEENE 2 8:20 MARLBOROUGH vs WINCHESTER 3 8:40 GREAT BROOK vs VILAS 4 9:00 MARLBOROUGH vs KEENE 5 9:20 VILAS vs KEENE 6 9:40 GREAT BROOK vs WINCHESTER 7 10:00 VILAS vs MARLBOROUGH 8 10:20 KEENE vs WINCHESTER 9 10:40 VILAS vs WINCHESTER
10 11:00 GREAT BROOK vs MARLBOROUGH
2020 SOUTH MEADOW BLUE WINTER SLAM GIRLS BRACKET (AFTERNOON)
Game Time Light Score Dark Score Winner 1 12:00 SMS vs CHESTERFIELD 2 12:20 JRMS vs MILFORD 3 12:40 BOYNTON vs WESTMORELAND 4 1:00 CHESTERFIELD vs MILFORD 5 1:20 SMS vs BOYNTON 6 1:40 JRMS vs WESTMORELAND 7 2:00 CHESTERFIELD vs WESTMORELAND 8 2:20 JRMS vs BOYNTON 9 2:40 SMS vs MILFORD 10 3:00 CHESTERFIELD vs BOYNTON 11 3:20 MILFORD vs WESTMORELAND 12 3:40 SMS vs JRMS 13 4:00 CHESTERFIELD vs JRMS 14 4:20 WESTMORELAND vs SMS 15 4:40 BOYNTON vs MILFORD
Tie Breakers: Head to Head, Least Points Allowed in All Games Played.
Boys - Sunday, Feb 2nd
2020 SOUTH MEADOW BLUE WINTER SLAM
BOYS BRACKET (MORNING)
Game Time Light Score Dark Score Winner 1 8:00 WESTMORELAND vs KEENE 2 8:20 BOYNTON vs WINCHESTER 3 8:40 SMS vs GREAT BROOK 4 9:00 WESTMORELAND vs WINCHESTER 5 9:20 KEENE vs GREAT BROOK 6 9:40 BOYNTON vs SMS 7 10:00 WESTMORELAND vs BOYNTON 8 10:20 SMS vs KEENE 9 10:40 GRET BROOK vs WINCHESTER
10 11:00 GREAT BROOK vs WESTMORELAND 11 11:20 WINCHESTER vs SMS 12 11:40 KEENE vs BOYNTON 13 12:00 WESTMORELAND vs SMS 14 12:20 GREAT BROOK vs BOYNTON
15 12:40 WINCHESTER vs KEENE
2020 SOUTH MEADOW BLUE WINTER SLAM BOYS BRACKET (AFTERNOON)
Game Time Light Score Dark Score Winner 1 1:30 JRMS vs SMS 2 1:50 MARLBOROUGH vs H-D 3 2:10 MILFORD vs VILAS 4 2:30 JRMS vs MILFORD 5 2:50 VILAS vs MARLBOROUGH 6 3:10 H-D vs SMS 7 3:30 JRMS vs VILAS 8 3:50 H-D vs MILFORD 9 4:10 SMS vs MARLBOROUGH 10 4:30 JRMS vs H-D 11 4:50 SMS vs VILAS 12 5:10 MARLBOROUGH VS MILFORD
13 5:30 MARLBOROUGH vs JRMS 14 5:50 MILFORD vs SMS 15 6:10 VILAS vs H-D
Tie Breakers: Head to Head, Least Points Allowed in all games played.
Game Time Light Score Dark Score Winner 1 8:00 GREAT BROOK vs KEENE 2 8:20 MARLBOROUGH vs WINCHESTER 3 8:40 GREAT BROOK vs VILAS 4 9:00 MARLBOROUGH vs KEENE 5 9:20 VILAS vs KEENE 6 9:40 GREAT BROOK vs WINCHESTER 7 10:00 VILAS vs MARLBOROUGH 8 10:20 KEENE vs WINCHESTER 9 10:40 VILAS vs WINCHESTER
10 11:00 GREAT BROOK vs MARLBOROUGH
2020 SOUTH MEADOW BLUE WINTER SLAM GIRLS BRACKET (AFTERNOON)
Game Time Light Score Dark Score Winner 1 12:00 SMS vs CHESTERFIELD 2 12:20 JRMS vs MILFORD 3 12:40 BOYNTON vs WESTMORELAND 4 1:00 CHESTERFIELD vs MILFORD 5 1:20 SMS vs BOYNTON 6 1:40 JRMS vs WESTMORELAND 7 2:00 CHESTERFIELD vs WESTMORELAND 8 2:20 JRMS vs BOYNTON 9 2:40 SMS vs MILFORD 10 3:00 CHESTERFIELD vs BOYNTON 11 3:20 MILFORD vs WESTMORELAND 12 3:40 SMS vs JRMS 13 4:00 CHESTERFIELD vs JRMS 14 4:20 WESTMORELAND vs SMS 15 4:40 BOYNTON vs MILFORD
The Library Learning Commons served as the location for ConVal’s Hour of Code TASC event on January 31.
Students scheduled themselves to this opportunity and were free to explore, with the assistance of librarians Rachael Bowman and Ashley Jones, a variety of coding-related activities. They either followed activity-related instructions or were free to experiment with coding on their own.
The Hour of Code started as a one-hour introduction to computer science, to show that anybody can learn the basics, and to broaden participation in the field of computer science.
The coding events have since become a concerted, worldwide effort to celebrate computer science. Last year, more than 130,000 Hour of Code events were conducted in over 180 countries.
The Library Learning Commons served as the location for ConVal’s Hour of Code TASC event on January 31.
Students scheduled themselves to this opportunity and were free to explore, with the assistance of librarians Rachael Bowman and Ashley Jones, a variety of coding-related activities. They either followed activity-related instructions or were free to experiment with coding on their own.
After school on Tuesdays, 3rd and 4th graders are challenged to create, collaborate, build, and problem solve during Lego Club. This week's challenge was to build a floating vessel and see how many pennies it could hold without sinking. Last week, they worked independently first, then with a partner, then in small groups, finally as one big group to create their Lego World.
After school on Tuesdays, 3rd and 4th graders are challenged to create, collaborate, build, and problem solve during Lego Club. This week’s challenge was to build a floating vessel and see how many pennies it could hold without sinking. Last week, they worked independently first, then with a partner, then in small groups, finally as one big group to create their Lego World.
"School Counselors: Helping Build Better Humans" is the theme of this year's National School Counseling Week which is being celebrated during the week of February 3-7, 2020.
National School Counseling Week is sponsored by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) and highlights the tremendous impact school counselors can have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career.
Each day of the week is devoted to a different theme:
Monday: Happy National School Counseling Week
Tuesday: Lend a Helping Hand
Wednesday: Offer Encouragement
Thursday: Show Appreciation
Friday: Be the Change in the World
Thank your school counselor today and take a photo of the day’s theme to share it on Twitter, Facebook and/or Instagram with hashtag #NSCW2020.
For more details, visit the National School Counseling Week page on the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) website.
“School Counselors: Helping Build Better Humans” is the theme of this year’s National School Counseling Week which is being celebrated during the week of February 3-7, 2020.
National School Counseling Week is sponsored by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) and highlights the tremendous impact school counselors can have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career.
On February 4, freshmen and sophomores will be attending an elective fair to learn more about the variety of courses that are offered at ConVal. There are more than 40 electives to choose from.
This fair is important for students to be able to make informed decisions about course selections. Registration begins in mid-February, so this is a great time to explore new options.
Students will come with their homeroom TASC groups to the cafeteria. Teachers and students, who are currently enrolled in the electives, will be available to share information about the courses in the following areas:
On February 4, freshmen and sophomores will be attending an elective fair to learn more about the variety of courses that are offered at ConVal. There are more than 40 electives to choose from.
This fair is important for students to be able to make informed decisions about course selections. Registration begins in mid-February,
On Tuesday, January 28, Superintendent Dr. Kimberly Rizzo Saunders gave a presentation of the proposed 2020-2021 budget to members of the District staff who were gathered at ConVal High School.
Saunders began the presentation by explaining the procedural, financial, and programmatic assumptions on which the proposed budget was based and then addressed the central questions that guided the budget building process at the elementary school, middle school, and high school levels.
Another segment of the presentation was devoted to a preview of the proposed budget by object code. Saunders explained the projected levels of revenues from local, state, and federal sources and the expected expenditures in personnel costs (salaries and benefits), professional and technical services, as well as property and materials expenses.
The final portion of the presentation was devoted to a discussion of the default budget and the cuts that would be triggered if the budget does not get approved by voters at the March meeting. The cuts were grouped into five levels of priority, from those with low impact on core functions and district operations to those that would seriously affect instructional delivery, athletics programs, and co-curriculars.
Staff had the opportunity to ask questions about the proposed budget, the budget building process, and the expected consequences of the default budget.
To view the slide deck of the proposed ConVal 2020-2021 budget, please follow this link.
On Tuesday, January 28, Superintendent Dr. Kimberly Rizzo Saunders gave a presentation of the proposed 2020-2021 budget to members of the District staff who were gathered at ConVal High School.
Saunders began the presentation by explaining the procedural, financial, and programmatic assumptions on which the proposed budget was based and then addressed the central questions that guided the budget building process at the elementary school,
The ConVal School District is pleased to offer after school programming (5th Block) for students interested in enrichment. The courses are Women's & Gender Studies and Yearbook.
Students may earn a half credit per successfully completed class. A successful completion is defined as active participation at 90% or more of class meetings. Please note that failure to successfully complete a class will result in a bill for $50.
Classes will run March 3-May 28. Registration formsmust be returned to the main office by Monday, February 10.
All classes must have a minimum number of students enrolled to run.
The ConVal School District is pleased to offer after school programming (5th Block) for students interested in enrichment. The courses are Women’s & Gender Studies and Yearbook.
Students may earn a half credit per successfully completed class. A successful completion is defined as active participation at 90% or more of class meetings. Please note that failure to successfully complete a class will result in a bill for $50.
Read More:
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[post_content] => Thank you for supporting your children over the past few weeks. It was wonderful to see so many parents, grandparents, siblings and cousins at the NHDI performance.
Check out the latest newsletter to read more about other events at HES.
Thank you for supporting your children over the past few weeks. It was wonderful to see so many parents, grandparents, siblings and cousins at the NHDI performance.
Check out the latest newsletter to read more about other events at HES.
This year student council will not be selling carnations!! They will be selling chocolate roses for $1 from January 21st until February 13. Students can purchase the color of their choice while supplies last. The roses will be delivered on Valentines' Day.
All flowers have been expertly assembled by the Student Council Members and are gorgeous!
This year student council will not be selling carnations!! They will be selling chocolate roses for $1 from January 21st until February 13. Students can purchase the color of their choice while supplies last. The roses will be delivered on Valentines’ Day.
All flowers have been expertly assembled by the Student Council Members and are gorgeous!
At ConVal High School, we strive to create a safe, caring, and academically engaging school climate in which all students feel valued. We will be using a nationally validated school climate survey to measure how students, families, and staff perceive the school climate at ConVal.
The student survey will be given to students on March 16 during homeroom TASC and will take approximately 5-10 minutes. All responses are anonymous and results will only be reported as group responses. Our plan is to reissue the surveys in the future and use the information to assess change.
Written parent/guardian permission is required to give the student survey. If you would like to review the survey, it is available on the school website or upon request in the main office. Please call or email the main office with any questions.
Paper copies of this permission form will be distributed during homeroom TASC on Monday, January 27. All forms, regardless of permission given, should be returned to homeroom TASC teachers by Monday, February 10.
At ConVal High School, we strive to create a safe, caring, and academically engaging school climate in which all students feel valued. We will be using a nationally validated school climate survey to measure how students, families, and staff perceive the school climate at ConVal.
The student survey will be given to students on March 16 during homeroom TASC and will take approximately 5-10 minutes.
The All Shook Up School Edition information is now live. Visit our Google site for details and make sure to visit Cast 98 to sign up for an audition!
All Shook Up is a crowd-pleasing musical that was inspired by and features the songs of Elvis Presley. It’s 1955 and into a square little town, in a square little state, rides a guitar-playing young man who changes everything and everyone he meets in this hip-swiveling, lip-curling musical fantasy that will have you jumping out of your blue suede shoes with such classics as “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Jailhouse Rock,” and “Don’t Be Cruel.”
In addition to the singing and acting roles, there are opportunities for students to participate in lights, sound, costumes, props, sets, etc. While no prior experience is required, please read the ConVal Theatre Arts Expectations.
To help with the planning of student commitments to the production, the performances will be Thursday, April 16 @ 7 pm, Friday, April 17 @ 7 pm, Saturday, April 18 @ 7 pm, Sunday, April 19 @ 2 pm.
The week of January 13, 2020, the Kindergarten students at Temple Elementary School had the wonderful opportunity to learn drumming from a very talented Ms. Shephard.
The week of January 13, 2020, the Kindergarten students at Temple Elementary School had the wonderful opportunity to learn drumming from a very talented Ms. Shephard.
The Harris Center has been joining the third and fourth grade classroom twice a week for the month of January, 2020 to identify and evaluate New Hampshire Mammals.
Thankfully there has been snow so they could get out to identify the animal tracks that are near the school.
They have also been learning about how to identify carnivores, omnivores, and herbivores based on their teeth.
The Harris Center has been joining the third and fourth grade classroom twice a week for the month of January, 2020 to identify and evaluate New Hampshire Mammals.
Thankfully there has been snow so they could get out to identify the animal tracks that are near the school.
They have also been learning about how to identify carnivores,
As part of the budget planning and approval process, the ConVal School Board has created explanatory documents that are designed to inform the public.
The SAU has prepared a Powerpoint presentation which guided the budget hearing presentation on January 7th. This file is available in .pdf form by clicking here.
The ConVal Budget Overview by school board member Alan Edelkind (Dublin) details the fundamentals of school district budgeting:
funding sources (federal, state, local)
categories of expenditures (costs for personnel, professional services, property and maintenance) and
budget reserves.
The document also explains the budget formula and the components that make up the district assessment.
The School Budget Primer by school board member Jim Fredrickson (Sharon) explains the
budget-building process
budget structure
district tax assessment and
warrant articles.
The primer also lays out some of the consequences of going to the default budget.
As part of the budget planning and approval process, the ConVal School Board has created explanatory documents that are designed to inform the public.
The SAU has prepared a Powerpoint presentation which guided the budget hearing presentation on January 7th. This file is available in .pdf form by clicking here.
During the next eight weeks, there’s going to be a lot of activity as the various school boards in the area complete the process associated with getting voter approval for the 2020-21 school year budgets.
The ConVal School District Administration began the process to develop our next budget last summer. The proposed budget was approved by the School Board on January 7th. The Deliberative Session Part I is scheduled for 6:00 pm on February 4th at the ConVal High School gym. Part II (voting) will be conducted on March 10 in the respective Town Halls.
The proposed gross budget is $50,565,103 – a 1.87% increase over the current school year. The School Board website contains a lot of information.
The ongoing challenges associated with minimizing increases in our operating budget and providing a quality education show no signs of abating. These include, but are not limited to, unfunded federal and state mandates, inadequate state funding for education, aging infrastructure, and well-deserved increases in staff salaries and benefits.
Hopefully, the NH state commission looking at education funding that recently started work will come up with some equitable and innovative options to reduce the burden on property taxes.
These challenges are in addition to our slow but steady decline in enrollment – which raises the following perennial questions: why isn’t the budget going down instead of up? How long can the District maintain our current “one high school, two middle schools, and eight elementary schools” model? When is “small too small”? The answers are not easy and are beyond the scope of this article, but the questions remain valid and will continue to be discussed for the foreseeable future. No decisions have been made and no schools have been “targeted”. We’re simply doing our jobs by looking at alternatives in the event we reach the point where we’ll need to bring a proposal to the voters.
Of more immediate concern is the need to address our aging infrastructure. We’re working on a long-range plan that will likely include a proposed infrastructure bond for voter consideration next year and, hopefully, subsequent partial compensation through NH state “Building Aid” for which we recently submitted our application.
The 2020-21 Capital Improvement Plan includes $1.22M worth of projects. We’re proposing several options to fund these: the operating budget ($0.08M) and more aggressive use of our Capital and Athletic Trust Funds ($1.14M). Note: The plan did include a proposed warrant article for additional appropriations (a $0.54M “paving” Warrant Article) but the Board subsequently decided to defer until next year.
The proposed budget also includes an expansion of our current pre-K program at three schools. This will allow additional students to attend and will include an all-day program for 4-year-olds.
There will be a warrant article regarding a new long-term solar power project for installation on the high school property. While the savings expected to be achieved won’t solve the larger District issues mentioned above, voter approval of this project will allow the broader CONVAL community to demonstrate our commitment to the broader global challenge associated with climate change.
The Board and Administration will continue to work to deliver a quality education at reasonable cost. We encourage your participation in both the discussions at the Deliberative Session Part I and in voting on March 10.
Jim Fredrickson Chairman, Budget & Property Committee ConVal School Board
During the next eight weeks, there’s going to be a lot of activity as the various school boards in the area complete the process associated with getting voter approval for the 2020-21 school year budgets.
The ConVal School District Administration began the process to develop our next budget last summer. The proposed budget was approved by the School Board on January 7th.
Thirteen members of the ConVal Nordic team took a break from studying for exams and traveled to Plainfield to compete in their first classic race of the season.
Low snowfall this season prevented the skiers from having any practices in this style of cross country racing so far this season, but the veteran team members did well nevertheless.
Allison Bull led the Cougar girls by securing a place in the top 10 women. She was closely followed by co-captain Cami Hendrixson and Eva Calcutt.
Also crossing the finish line for the Conval women were Abby Hendrixson, Gwen Inglis, Eme Tyler-Wall, Grace Phillips, and Isabel Badrawy. Scoring at the top of the Cougar boy line up was Jaimini Viles, followed by Philip Pope, Avery Pope, and Lewis Carlton.
ConVal will host its home meet this Saturday at the Dublin Nordic Center.
Thirteen members of the ConVal Nordic team took a break from studying for exams and traveled to Plainfield to compete in their first classic race of the season.
Low snowfall this season prevented the skiers from having any practices in this style of cross country racing so far this season, but the veteran team members did well nevertheless.
Perfectly timed for the cold season, students in Dr. Milne's Chemistry class learn about a phenomenon that is called "freezing point depression."
Chemically speaking, freezing point depression involves the intentional decrease of the freezing point of a solvent following the addition of a non-volatile solute. Common examples include salt in water and alcohol in water.
When road crews spread a salt (calcium chloride) on icy roads to melt ice, they help transform water from its frozen, solid state into a more liquid state, rendering roads safer for driving.
Another practical application is windshield washer fluid which benefits from the addition of ethylene glycol to help prevent the dangerous re-freeze of the sprayed fluid on the cold surface of a car's windshield.
Perhaps the most widespread, daily application of the chemistry in freezing point depression is radiator fluid, where antifreeze is added to the cooling system. A solution of 60% antifreeze and 40% water will produce a freeze protection of up to -55˚ C. For best overall performance, a 50% solution is commonly used for engine protection in temperatures between -35˚C and 108˚C.
In a number of lab activities, students added different solutes to pure liquids to ascertain how these solutes would lower the freezing point. They created five test solutions in beakers and set up a "deep chill" bath using dry ice. Using USB-connected Vernier temperature sensors and the Lab Quest data collection system of their Chromebooks, students then recorded data as temperatures dropped and crystallization of the solution could be observed.
The photos below show students during different stages of the experiments.
Perfectly timed for the cold season, students in Dr. Milne’s Chemistry class learn about a phenomenon that is called “freezing point depression.”
Chemically speaking, freezing point depression involves the intentional decrease of the freezing point of a solvent following the addition of a non-volatile solute. Common examples include salt in water and alcohol in water.
An ad hoc student group has been formed at ConVal High School to get students to register to vote. With the help of some parent volunteers, the non-partisan "Get Out The Vote" team seeks to motivate first-time voters to participate in the upcoming New Hampshire primary and presidential election.
For a representative democracy to function, it is essential that government reflect the interests of all of its people, including those who are of high school age. But despite making up a large potential voting bloc in the country today, Generation Z voters are underrepresented at both the state and federal level.
In the coming weeks, the "Get Out The Vote" group will provide information on how to register in any of the nine ConVal School District towns. Look for them in the hallway in front of the cafeteria during lunches.
An ad hoc student group has been formed at ConVal High School to get students to register to vote. With the help of some parent volunteers, the non-partisan “Get Out The Vote” team seeks to motivate first-time voters to participate in the upcoming New Hampshire primary and presidential election.
Make-up exams will be held by arrangement with individual teachers.
Buses will leave school at 11:20 am on a modified late bus schedule. Students who are not part of co-curricular activities or athletics are expected to leave campus at that time.
There will be a regular bus run at 2:20 pm but late buses will not run on exam days.
In keeping with the multiple action steps outlined in the District’s Strategic Plan, the Education Committee has been actively involved in guiding and monitoring the curriculum renewal cycle, program development, instructional practices, and professional development which provide our students with high-quality programs of instruction which promote their individual academic achievement and success and our staff with the professional development needed to enhance their teaching skills. Following are a sampling of some of the areas on which we have focused our attention.
At the high school level, based on a review of the math department courses and requirements, the Board recognized the need to enhance the math offerings, by requiring that all students participate in math classes until they pass both parts of Algebra as a graduation requirement. Support services to enable all students to meet this goal are being developed and implemented.
Following a review of our counseling services and current programs, our administrators and staff look to expand programming of our K-12 school counseling program with one area of focus centered on how we can better support students who have experienced trauma.
At the middle school level, following a review of the educational programs and practices at both buildings, staff and administrators reported out the results of the inquiry groups which had been investigating effective and innovative middle school teaching practices, and issues of equity in the middle school opportunities available in both buildings.
As our declining enrollment impacts our instructional programs at some of our elementary schools, multi-grade classes have been used to address under-enrolled classes; however, the use of multi-age has been investigated and is being piloted at our schools in Dublin and in Francestown. Based on the initial reporting out of their programs, the Board is continuing to explore this approach for its potential benefit to our students.
One of our Board Goals is to institute Universal Preschool in the District. Following a review of current programs and practices and the need for these services, our administrative team and teachers are proposing to expand our current half-day program to a full-time program for four-year-old students in the District. The proposed budget for 2020-21 includes funds to implement Phase I of this new program.
As we look to the future, know that the Education Committee is committed to providing our all our students and professional staff with the educational programs and resources which they need to develop their individual skills and abilities.
In keeping with the multiple action steps outlined in the District’s Strategic Plan, the Education Committee has been actively involved in guiding and monitoring the curriculum renewal cycle, program development, instructional practices, and professional development which provide our students with high-quality programs of instruction which promote their individual academic achievement and success and our staff with the professional development needed to enhance their teaching skills.
Kindergarten wrapped up their weather unit by making "Teddy Bear Weather Books" with Jeannie Connolly from Arts Integration. After learning about the different types of clothing needed for different weather, the students created outfits for their teddy bears to wear on sunny, rainy, windy and snowy days.
Kindergarten wrapped up their weather unit by making “Teddy Bear Weather Books” with Jeannie Connolly from Arts Integration. After learning about the different types of clothing needed for different weather, the students created outfits for their teddy bears to wear on sunny, rainy, windy and snowy days.
A second grade student was recently a guest reader in our First Friends PreSchool class. She is pictured here with the class and the book that she read to them.
A second grade student was recently a guest reader in our First Friends PreSchool class. She is pictured here with the class and the book that she read to them.
The South Meadow School is looking to hire a Baseball Coach for the 2020 Spring Baseball Season. If you are interested contact Tod Silegy, Athletic Director, at SMS at 603-924-7105, as soon as possible. THANK YOU!
The South Meadow School is looking to hire a Baseball Coach for the 2020 Spring Baseball Season. If you are interested contact Tod Silegy, Athletic Director, at SMS at 603-924-7105, as soon as possible. THANK YOU!
ConVal's Rachel Sturges will open this year’s Jaffrey-Rindge Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. commemoration with an original poem on the theme of “Our Beloved Community.”
As a 2019-20 New Hampshire Youth Poet Laureate, Sturges acts as an ambassador to heighten the visibility and value of poetry by and for young people in New Hampshire. She received this honor from the New Hampshire State Council of the Arts in June 2019. In connection with the upcoming event, Rachel has also held a series of poetry workshops with home school and public elementary school students.
The Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. commemoration will feature JerriAnne Boggis as the keynote speaker.
Boggis is the Executive Director of the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire, the founder and director of The Harriet Wilson Project, and the previous Director of Diversity Programs & Community Outreach at the University of New Hampshire. She was named one of 25 Extraordinary Women of Southern New Hampshire by the Nashua Telegraph in 2015, named the 2017 Freedom Fighter by Seacoast NAACP and in 2015, and cited by the New Hampshire Humanities Council as one of the 40 most influential New Hampshirites who have vastly enriched human understanding.
The event will be held at the United Church of Jaffrey located at 54 Main Street on Monday, January 20, 2020. For more details on the program, please see this announcement.
ConVal’s Rachel Sturges will open this year’s Jaffrey-Rindge Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. commemoration with an original poem on the theme of “Our Beloved Community.”
As a 2019-20 New Hampshire Youth Poet Laureate, Sturges acts as an ambassador to heighten the visibility and value of poetry by and for young people in New Hampshire.
The annual budget for the ConVal School District is subject to a two-part approval process.
The Deliberative Session, or District Meeting Part I, is dedicated to discussions and amendments to the proposed budget. The second is the Voting Session that determines whether district voters support or decline the proposed budget.
On Tuesday, February 4th, 2020, the ConVal School Board will conduct the Deliberative Session on its 2020-2021 Budget and Warrant Articles in the ConVal High School Gymnasium, beginning at 6:00 pm. The snow date for this event is Thursday, February 6th, 2020.
The Deliberative Session is conducted for the purpose of discussing, debating, and possibly amending the budget and warrant articles. This session determines the final form of the proposed budget. For example, an appropriation article can be amended from one amount of money to a different amount. Once agreement on all elements of the budget has been reached, the proposal is finalized to appear on the March ballot.
In the second or Voting Session, voters in all nine district towns either endorse or decline the proposed operating budget. Voting by ballot will take place on Tuesday, March 10th, 2020 in each town’s designated polling place.
Should the proposed budget fail in the official ballot referendum on March 10th, a "default budget" will be enacted. While the default budget is typically lower than the proposed budget, it will likely result in position cuts and loss of educational opportunities for students.
To see the annual meeting timeline, please click here. To review the proposed ConVal budget before the Deliberative Session on February 4th, please follow this link.
The annual budget for the ConVal School District is subject to a two-part approval process.
The Deliberative Session, or District Meeting Part I, is dedicated to discussions and amendments to the proposed budget. The second is the Voting Session that determines whether district voters support or decline the proposed budget.
On Tuesday,
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[post_content] => Happy New Year! Boy, we have hit the ground running in 2020. Between preparing for Martin Luther King Day, NHDI and organizing for the Community Supper we are feeling the energy in the school!
Check out the latest newsletter to read more about other events at HES.
Happy New Year! Boy, we have hit the ground running in 2020. Between preparing for Martin Luther King Day, NHDI and organizing for the Community Supper we are feeling the energy in the school!
Check out the latest newsletter to read more about other events at HES.
The mission of the School Board Communication Committee is to:
Create positive, proactive communications that directly aid the district in achieving its strategic plan.
Celebrate the successes of ConVal students, faculty, staff, and initiatives.
Build and improve relationships with stakeholders to solicit support for programs and budget.
Enhance the district’s reputation/standing and promote our “high quality” district.
Promote ongoing, timely communications and create a means for engagement by the communities.
Keep info/conversations positive and ongoing as we look forwardto reimagine a sustainable and fiscally responsible ConVal for the future.
The Communication Committee continues to work towards improving communication among our communities and to find more effective means for meeting our goals on a daily basis. If you have a town newsletter or town/group social media account that you would like the Communication Committee to forward updates when posted on our website, please contact communicationcommittee@conval.edu and we will try to keep you better informed.
The Communication Committee meets as needed.
Agenda and notes can be found on the ConVal website listed under the school board committee archive: agendas and minutes.
Members:
Alan Edelkind Katherine Heck Janine Lesser Niki McGettigan (C) Kristen Reilly
At the January 7th ConVal School Board budget hearing, Superintendent Dr. Kimberly Rizzo Saunders presented the proposed budget for the 2020-2021 school year. The administration and the School Board have been working on the budget for the last several months and have been discussing, refining, and revising it to reach this final proposed version.
The ConVal School District budget is based on a set of assumptions for the next fiscal year which fall into one of three main categories:
Procedural assumptions are those that continue to support the mission, vision, and values of the District. These assumptions include referencing ConVal class size guidelines, annual reviews of Special Education caseloads, and the potential reallocation of existing resources.
Financial assumptions primarily deal with fixed costs. They include items such as collective bargaining agreements, contractual obligations, health insurance costs, utilities, and legal obligations.
Programmatic assumptions deal with curriculum, the continuum of services for identified students, community education programs, as well as technology investments and upgrades.
To get an overview of the proposed ConVal 2020-2021 budget, please follow this link. For a more detailed view of the budget, please click here.
At the January 7th ConVal School Board budget hearing, Superintendent Dr. Kimberly Rizzo Saunders presented the proposed budget for the 2020-2021 school year. The administration and the School Board have been working on the budget for the last several months and have been discussing, refining, and revising it to reach this final proposed version.
The ConVal School District budget is based on a set of assumptions for the next fiscal year which fall into one of three main categories:
Procedural assumptions are those that continue to support the mission,
In Mr. Bills' Graphic Design 1 class, students give advertising agency presentations as part of their career path unit.
The scenario had groups of four students fulfill different jobs of an ad agency: account executive, creative director, layout artist, and copywriter. The fictional company was a hair replacement company with the name of "Hair Apparent."
Each member of the group contributed work to the final presentation which covered the designs of the logo, a business card, letterhead, and stationery. In addition, a print ad had to be created that had to adhere to specific space and content requirements.
After the student presentations, the work was critiqued by fellow students and Mr. Bills provided expert feedback. An overall "account winner" was determined in each of the two Graphic Design 1 classes.
In Mr. Bills’ Graphic Design 1 class, students give advertising agency presentations as part of their career path unit.
The scenario had groups of four students fulfill different jobs of an ad agency: account executive, creative director, layout artist, and copywriter. The fictional company was a hair replacement company with the name of “Hair Apparent.”
The morning before the Winter Break was spent with students moving through crafting rotations. Staff, and PTO put together 12 activities for the students. Students choose how they want to move through the rotations and they are able to make ornaments, cards, wreaths, and many other items. Students love the opportunity to make things for others. It is so wonderful to watch the students enjoy this time and they are all fully engaged for the whole morning. A lovely tradition!
The morning before the Winter Break was spent with students moving through crafting rotations. Staff, and PTO put together 12 activities for the students. Students choose how they want to move through the rotations and they are able to make ornaments, cards, wreaths, and many other items. Students love the opportunity to make things for others.
On the last day before the winter break, ConVal students, teachers, and staff showed off their holiday spirit.
The year's last "Breakfast Before The Blocks" — ConVal's monthly, department-sponsored breakfast in the Library Learning Commons — coincided with "Ugly Sweater Day" during TASC which brought out some very imaginative sweaters this year.
"Ugly Sweater Day" was organized and promoted by the ConVal Student Council.
On the last day before the winter break, ConVal students, teachers, and staff showed off their holiday spirit.
The year’s last “Breakfast Before The Blocks” — ConVal’s monthly, department-sponsored breakfast in the Library Learning Commons — coincided with “Ugly Sweater Day” during TASC which brought out some very imaginative sweaters this year.
There is no time like the holidays to work with children. Even our oldest students get excited about the holiday. While our younger students anticipate the magic associated with the season, many of our oldest students anticipate the break and the additional time spent skiing, snowboarding, or simply spending time with family and friends and, of course, sleeping in.
As I reflect on another calendar year passing, I am able to appreciate how fortunate we are as a community. We have so many things in our District to be proud of, but recently as I was walking through our hallways here at the SAU, I was overcome by the incredible generosity of our District. There were so many donations for families in need that it was difficult to get down the hall! We easily had 500 winter coats, not to mention boots, snow pants, clothes for all ages, and toys and toys and toys and toys. Thank you to all who donated to help our local families provide a wonderful holiday for our students.
Two Super Quick Surveys
Calendar for the 2020-2021 School Year
I would like to ask you to complete this brief survey to give me direct feedback about the school calendar. Just click here to participate. This will enable me to look at some themes and come up with some specific options for the calendar. I will let you know what I learn in my next post!
Communication and Engagement
Last year, I hosted Superintendent Brown Bag Lunches. Unfortunately, attendance was low and while I appreciated and learned a lot from the people I met with, I am hoping that you will complete this quick survey regarding ways that you would like to communicate and engage with the District by clicking here.
Wishing you a peaceful, safe, and joyful holiday season!
There is no time like the holidays to work with children. Even our oldest students get excited about the holiday. While our younger students anticipate the magic associated with the season, many of our oldest students anticipate the break and the additional time spent skiing, snowboarding, or simply spending time with family and friends and,
ConVal’s annual Winter Concert will be performed on Wednesday, December 18, 2019, starting at 6:30 pm in the gymnasium.
Under the joint direction of Brian Moore and Jim Wickham, students have prepared a festive program with diverse musical selections, including “Winter Wind,” “Adam Lay yBounden,” “Christmas Time Is Here,” “Eighth Candle,” “Silent Night,” “Polar Express,” “White Christmas,” “Glow,” “Gaudete” and many more.
The following chorus ensembles will perform: Chamber Choir, The Clef Hangers (girls a cappella), The Moore in Tune (boys a cappella), Select Choir, and Concert Choir. Instrumental pieces will be performed by the Symphonic Band, Jazz Band, and Concert Band.
As is now tradition, the concert will conclude with a Combined Ensemble rendition of a holiday song that invites audience participation.
We hope to see you at the concert! Admission is free. Please make sure to arrive in time to secure a good seat.
ConVal’s annual Winter Concert will be performed on Wednesday, December 18, 2019, starting at 6:30 pm in the gymnasium.
Under the joint direction of Brian Moore and Jim Wickham, students have prepared a festive program with diverse musical selections, including “Winter Wind,” “Adam Lay yBounden,” “Christmas Time Is Here,” “Eighth Candle,” “Silent Night,” “Polar Express,” “White Christmas,” “Glow,” “Gaudete” and many more.
On Monday, December 16, Mr. West's AP English and Ms. Moore's Drama classes had the unique opportunity to work with Hugh Macgregor on scenes from Shakespeare's tragedy Hamlet. By acting out scenes from the play and getting notes on the characters' motivation, students were able to get a deeper understanding of Shakespeare's writings.
McGregor, who is from Great Britain, taught theatre at St. Paul's School until earlier this year and now is the Director of the Parker School of Drama in Concord.
MacGregor is a classically-trained actor with almost two decades of experience as an actor, theatre director, and teacher. He holds a Masters in Advanced Teaching of Shakespeare, a course taught by the Royal Shakespeare Company, and is one of just three graduates with Distinction. He has directed almost 80 productions, including national and international tours, and is a Life Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
MacGregor's theatre workshop was conducted as an in-school field trip in the Lucy Hurlin Theatre during TASC and Block 3.
On Monday, December 16, Mr. West’s AP English and Ms. Moore’s Drama classes had the unique opportunity to work with Hugh Macgregor on scenes from Shakespeare’s tragedy Hamlet. By acting out scenes from the play and getting notes on the characters’ motivation, students were able to get a deeper understanding of Shakespeare’s writings.
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[post_content] => There is so much happy energy in the school. The children are excited for the talent show, holiday celebrations and vacation. Nonetheless, they are working hard in the classrooms.
Check out the latest newsletter to read more about other events at HES.
There is so much happy energy in the school. The children are excited for the talent show, holiday celebrations and vacation. Nonetheless, they are working hard in the classrooms.
Check out the latest newsletter to read more about other events at HES.
GES students come together every Friday for a whole school Morning Meeting followed by a new challenge or game. We work on cooperation and team building.
GES students come together every Friday for a whole school Morning Meeting followed by a new challenge or game. We work on cooperation and team building.
The Library Learning Commons served as the location for ConVal's first-ever Hour of Code event on December 13.
Students, a mix of novice and more experienced coders, scheduled themselves to this special event during TASC. Librarian Ashley Jones introduced a variety of coding-related activities and online tutorials. Students were free to choose and explore any of the activities, with computer teacher Gil Morris serving as a faculty resource.
The Hour of Code started as a one-hour introduction to computer science, to show that anybody can learn the basics, and to broaden participation in the field of computer science.
The coding events have since become a concerted, worldwide effort to celebrate computer science. This year, 132,685 Hour of Code events were registered in over 180 countries.
The Library Learning Commons served as the location for ConVal’s first-ever Hour of Code event on December 13.
Students, a mix of novice and more experienced coders, scheduled themselves to this special event during TASC. Librarian Ashley Jones introduced a variety of coding-related activities and online tutorials. Students were free to choose and explore any of the activities,
Several ConVal students were interviewed by the Keene Sentinel this week. They shared how they are personally engaged in raising mental health and suicide awareness and how they try to inspire students to show greater empathy and kindness to one other at school.
Rosie Crooker (junior), Cruz Dellasanta (senior), and Hannah Doherty (senior) organized the Yellow Tulip Project with the support of the Peterborough Garden Club. The Yellow Tulip Project addresses the stigma surrounding mental illness and seeks to build a community of people who realize that hope happens when youth and community leaders work together.
9th graders Callie Boisvert and Abbey Shumway organized the "Break The Silence" 5K race for suicide prevention. The fundraiser brought in over $1,500 that will be donated to the New Hampshire chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
Senior Catrina Kipka was the driving force behind the plan to bring motivational speaker James Orrigo to ConVal in the spring of 2020. Orrigo performs under the stage name Lad in a Battle and seeks to inspire students to live purposefully through service to others.
You can read the Keene Sentinel article in its entirety here.
Several ConVal students were interviewed by the Keene Sentinel this week. They shared how they are personally engaged in raising mental health and suicide awareness and how they try to inspire students to show greater empathy and kindness to one other at school.
Rosie Crooker (junior), Cruz Dellasanta (senior), and Hannah Doherty (senior) organized the Yellow Tulip Project with the support of the Peterborough Garden Club.
How do you become a better reader? READ, READ, READ, READ, READ!! That's what second graders have been doing! We've had a "Pumpkin Reading Challenge" for the month of November where the students earned a pumpkin for each book or chapter they read. When we reached 120 pumpkins, we had a party! They earned it right before Thanksgiving break, and we played some fun relays and had yummy pumpkin whoopie pies! They are super pumped to keep it going for the month of December!
How do you become a better reader? READ, READ, READ, READ, READ!! That’s what second graders have been doing! We’ve had a “Pumpkin Reading Challenge” for the month of November where the students earned a pumpkin for each book or chapter they read. When we reached 120 pumpkins, we had a party! They earned it right before Thanksgiving break,
FES students love when the snow falls! Students spend 20 minutes in the morning and 30 minutes after lunch playing outside. In the winter, students build snow forts, roll giant snow balls, and jump around in the fresh air. Through this play, students are learning important social-emotional skills and developing their gross motor skills.
FES students love when the snow falls! Students spend 20 minutes in the morning and 30 minutes after lunch playing outside. In the winter, students build snow forts, roll giant snow balls, and jump around in the fresh air. Through this play, students are learning important social-emotional skills and developing their gross motor skills.
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[post_content] => Happy Thanksgiving! I am truly grateful for the wonderful children at HES. I feel so fortunate to be a part of such a supportive and caring community.
Check out the latest newsletter to read more about other events at HES.
"A World of Books" was a huge success at Antrim Elementary on Thursday, December 5th. In collaboration with the AES PTO, the AES staff joined in the festivities by hosting a night of literary fun. Each classroom had a book theme with interesting activities. Guests were excited to make potions in the Harry Potter room, read to therapy dogs in the Elephant & Piggy room, solve puzzles in the mystery room, and exercise around New England. The book fair in the library was equally as exciting as the Italian pizza feast in the multi-purpose room. AES is an enthusiastic learning community!
“A World of Books” was a huge success at Antrim Elementary on Thursday, December 5th. In collaboration with the AES PTO, the AES staff joined in the festivities by hosting a night of literary fun. Each classroom had a book theme with interesting activities. Guests were excited to make potions in the Harry Potter room, read to therapy dogs in the Elephant &
Students participate in a whole school morning meeting every Friday, led by a different grade each month! We played charades today! Can you guess what delicious winter delight she is enjoying?
Students participate in a whole school morning meeting every Friday, led by a different grade each month! We played charades today! Can you guess what delicious winter delight she is enjoying?
ConVal teachers Deb Coyne, Sarah Grossi, Amanda Hinton, and Brock Lambert, together with CTE Director Jen Kiley and Director of School Counseling Kim Chandler, are currently attending Career Tech Vision 19.
This four-day conference in Anaheim, California, is an event for educators, industry representatives and business leaders which provides high-quality professional development and networking opportunities.
From the conference, Grossi tweeted: "Great to meet Rachel Mann, author of The Spaces You’ll Go and The Martians in Your Classroom - STEM in Every Learning Space. Looking forward to joining her on the ACTE New and Related Services Policy Committee."
ConVal teachers Deb Coyne, Sarah Grossi, Amanda Hinton, and Brock Lambert, together with CTE Director Jen Kiley and Director of School Counseling Kim Chandler, are currently attending Career Tech Vision 19.
This four-day conference in Anaheim, California, is an event for educators, industry representatives and business leaders which provides high-quality professional development and networking opportunities.
Did you know that all students in New Hampshire who are enrolled in grades 10-12 are eligible to participate in CTE programs?
This survey link asks questions about your general perception of CTE programs.
CTE courses range from accounting to agriculture, from visual and performing arts to welding, and everything in between (for full details, please see this Career and Technical Education Program grid).
In fact, CTE also supports students down to grade 5 with career exploration activities and resources!
The CTE center that serves students in the Conant, ConVal, and Mascenic school districts is the Region 14 Applied Technology Center. CTE, formerly known as voc-tech, gives students real-world, hands-on experience in a variety of employment fields and offers opportunities for dual credit courses. Industry-recognized credentials can give students an advantage after graduation.
Despite the proven indicators of CTE success – 95 percent of 2017 CTE graduates are employed, in college, or serving in the military – there is always room for enrollment growth, so we hope that you help us improve by taking this survey.
Please choose questions that are appropriate for the way you identify yourself for the survey.
Congratulations to ConVal High School Junior Sarah Hull who has been accepted as a Senate Page for Senator Jeanne Shaheen in Washington, D.C. Hull will head to Washington in late January and will stay in D.C. until June, attending school and working as a Page in the United States Senate.
The Senate Page Program is a great opportunity for high school students to get involved in government service, see the legislative process in action, and experience life in our nation's capital.
Living away from home and attending school with students from around the country allows Pages to experience a myriad of new ideas, perspectives, and issues. As students work with some of the nation's most prominent leaders and witness the political process firsthand, they learn from many interesting and challenging experiences.
There are thirty Page positions available each semester to serve the one hundred Members of the Senate. Because of the number of interested students, the selection process is very competitive.
For more on the Page program, please visit the websites for either Senator Jeanne Shaheen or Senator Maggie Hassan.
Congratulations to ConVal High School Junior Sarah Hull who has been accepted as a Senate Page for Senator Jeanne Shaheen in Washington, D.C. Hull will head to Washington in late January and will stay in D.C. until June, attending school and working as a Page in the United States Senate.
The Senate Page Program is a great opportunity for high school students to get involved in government service,
Temple Elementary School will host our annual movie night on Friday December 13th from 5:30-7:00 pm.
Playing this year is Rudolph. Pre-ordered pizza will be served at 5:30 pm and the movie will begin at 6:00 pm. Please come and enjoy the evening with other Temple families. Be sure to submit your pizza order and payment by Friday, December 6th.
Temple Elementary School will host our annual movie night on Friday December 13th from 5:30-7:00 pm.
Playing this year is Rudolph. Pre-ordered pizza will be served at 5:30 pm and the movie will begin at 6:00 pm. Please come and enjoy the evening with other Temple families. Be sure to submit your pizza order and payment by Friday,
Students returned from the extended Thanksgiving break to a winter wonderland! They enjoyed sledding, building snowmen, and trekking through knee-deep snow during recess.
Students returned from the extended Thanksgiving break to a winter wonderland! They enjoyed sledding, building snowmen, and trekking through knee-deep snow during recess.
Please join the ConVal Drama department for a workshop and audition for the winter play, The Wolves, by Sarah DeLappe.
We will be meeting in the LHT this coming Monday, December 2, from 2:30 pm to late bus, and Tuesday, December 3, from 4-6 pm. You are invited to attend both workshops and audition days, though not required. If you cannot make these times, please email Jason Lambert at jlambert@conval.edu to see if an audition time can be scheduled.
There will be callbacks, Thursday, December 5, 3:00-4:00 pm. The cast list will be posted online by 9 pm, Sunday, December 8, and on the Drama Board before Block 1, Monday, December 9.
Parts of the play are available to read. See Jason Lambert or Jason Lambert’s desk in room 216.
Please wear comfortable clothing and in layers, in case we go outside. And please come ready to have fun, move, play games, improvise, kick a soccer ball, tell a joke, sing, and read short excerpts from the play.
Please join the ConVal Drama department for a workshop and audition for the winter play, The Wolves, by Sarah DeLappe.
We will be meeting in the LHT this coming Monday, December 2, from 2:30 pm to late bus, and Tuesday, December 3, from 4-6 pm. You are invited to attend both workshops and audition days,
Families were invited to share a Harvest Feast with their students. The menu consisted of Roast turkey with turkey gravy, classic bread stuffing, warm dinner roll, peas & apple crisp.
Families were invited to share a Harvest Feast with their students. The menu consisted of Roast turkey with turkey gravy, classic bread stuffing, warm dinner roll, peas & apple crisp.
Francestown residents Kelly Marshall and Nichole DeDecker have been working with two of our classroom teachers to plan our Outdoor Lions Learning (OLL) Time. Once a month, the FES Lions spend the whole morning (from arrival until noon) learning outside. On Thursday November 21, we had our first OLL experience. We began by gathering in a clearing in the woods for all-school Morning Meeting. From there, we split into our OLL multiage teams and rotated through 5 outdoor learning stations. Students measured things in nature, built community by creating mandalas, engaged in woods play, sketched in their science journals, and studied what different NH animals do in the winter. With rosy cheeks and hearty appetites, the students headed back inside to enjoy a wonderful Harvest Feast with families.
Francestown residents Kelly Marshall and Nichole DeDecker have been working with two of our classroom teachers to plan our Outdoor Lions Learning (OLL) Time. Once a month, the FES Lions spend the whole morning (from arrival until noon) learning outside. On Thursday November 21, we had our first OLL experience. We began by gathering in a clearing in the woods for all-school Morning Meeting.
We have experienced some challenging events in our communities recently and our children are hearing things they don't understand.
Join Carol Lunan of The Grapevine and Lesley Moenter of the ConVal School District on Friday, November 22nd, from 6:30 to 8:00 at Antrim Elementary School to discuss how we support and talk to our children during tough times, while dealing with our own responses.
[post_title] => How To Provide Support During Difficult Times
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We have experienced some challenging events in our communities recently and our children are hearing things they don’t understand.
Join Carol Lunan of The Grapevine and Lesley Moenter of the ConVal School District on Friday, November 22nd, from 6:30 to 8:00 at Antrim Elementary School to discuss how we support and talk to our children during tough times,
ConVal Senior Rhett Landers has won the Peterborough Lantern Parade poster design contest for The Children and the Arts organization. Rhett is a student in Mr. Bills’ Graphic Design 1 class.
This year, the Lantern Parade will be held on Saturday, December 7, as part of Peterborough’s Hometown Holiday Weekend.
The Peterborough Lantern Parade was inspired by the festival of lights tradition in England. Last year, over 800 lanterns were made in community art workshops and over 1,000 people participated in the parade, including local musicians and those who had made their own lanterns at home.
This year, the Children and the Arts committee, school art teachers and other volunteers have been working with area schools throughout the fall to create lanterns during art classes to use during the parade.
For a brief video on the lantern-making work, see this short video featuring Terry Reeves.
ConVal Senior Rhett Landers has won the Peterborough Lantern Parade poster design contest for The Children and the Arts organization. Rhett is a student in Mr. Bills’ Graphic Design 1 class.
This year, the Lantern Parade will be held on Saturday, December 7, as part of Peterborough’s Hometown Holiday Weekend.
The Peterborough Lantern Parade was inspired by the festival of lights tradition in England.
4th grade mathematicians work together to solve problems posted around the room- rounding, comparing numbers, using the addition & subtraction algorithms, solving word problems using tape diagrams, & showing our Eagle values of co-operation and grit!
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