Our school photographer has uploaded Saturday's Commencement Pictures to the Barksdale Group Portal where they can be accessed and downloaded for free:

• Go to the site by clicking here: www.pictureportal.org or copy and paste this address into your Chrome browser. Be sure to bookmark this for easy use in the future. Google Chrome is the required browser to run this site, when logging in if you do not have Chrome you can safely download it from the link on the login page.
• Click on Photo Events on the left menu. Find the event from the recently photographed picture day.
• Click the Download Pictures icon (2nd icon) to see the images. There you can select the images you would only like to download or click the Download All button on the top right hand corner.
• If you do not have your login information, on the login screen you can click the "Forgot Password? Click here" link to have your password reset and emailed to you.

Please note that event images are processed through an automated system and are not manually screened before being provided to you. We advise you to carefully review the images before sharing or distributing them.

On Saturday, June 14, ConVal High School celebrated the 153 members of the Class of 2025 with its 54th commencement ceremony. Due to the rain, the event had to be held inside the MacGuire Gymnasium.

After welcoming students, families, members of the ConVal School Board and the Superintendent’s Office, faculty, school administrators, and staff, Principal Heather McKillop asked for a moment of silence to commemorate two students and a staff member who passed away during the school year. Her speech then traced the achievements of the Class of 2025, with each year expressing a theme for their growth.

The Valedictorian Speech was given by Isabelle Jobin, who expressed gratitude for the education that she had received at ConVal and the financial support from the ConVal communities that made it possible. Abigail Rodenhiser delivered the Salutatorian Speech and emphasized the growth that each and every member of the Class of 2025 has shown while at ConVal. Grace O’Brien was the student speaker who remarked how important it was to live in the moment and to appreciate how the influence of those around us is truly a gift.

Alexis Harris presented the Faculty and Staff Award to Kendrick Edwards who had been selected as the senior who in the collective opinion of the ConVal faculty and staff, best represents — in practice and intent — spirit, unselfishness, service, leadership, and accomplishment.

The Message to Seniors was delivered by Sherry Nixon who served as the attendance secretary at ConVal for the past two years and is retiring after serving the district for 31 years in a variety of roles. To the laughter of the audience, she reminisced that the excuses she heard of why students "were late, why they had to leave early, and why they were out of class" were the same excuses that she had used when she "went to high school in the dark ages."

After the diplomas and pins were jointly presented by Principal Heather McKillop and Superintendent Dr. Ann Forrest, the Farewell Address was delivered by Class President Liam Lambert who challenged his fellow graduates to "be bold, stay kind, and never forget that we have the power to shape the world around us."

Congratulations, Class of 2025, you will go on to do great things!

The ConVal High School graduation will be live-streamed on YouTube on Saturday, June 14, starting at 10:00 am. To follow the event, go to www.youtube.com/c/ConValEvents and click on the "2025 June 14 ConVal High School Graduation" link.

Scholarship Awards Night at ConVal High School on June 11 was marked by exceptional generosity. More than $175,000 was awarded to seniors who are preparing for their post-secondary education pathways.

The single biggest donor this year was the Dollars for Scholars Foundation, which awarded a total of $90,000 to recipients. The Grimshaw-Gudewicz Scholarships totaled $15,000 for nine students, and the Dr. James W. Jameson Scholarships amounted to $14,000 for six awardees. Several scholarships were given in memory of students who passed away recently, including Timothy Donaruma and Angel St. Pierre.

Thank you to all the individual donors, families, businesses, and community partners who made this year's Scholarship Awards Night such a success!

Earlier this morning, ConVal High School honored the achievements of its students with the Annual Academic and Athletics Awards ceremony.

Abigail Rodenhiser was announced as this year's Salutatorian while Isabelle Jobin was named as the Valedictorian of the ConVal Class of 2025.

More than 100 awards and recognitions were handed out during the ceremony. For a list of awards and award recipients, please click here. For a slideshow of the students in alphabetical order and their respective awards, please click here.

Congratulations to sophomore Kierra DeLoria who is the recipient of a Certificate of Merit with High Honors in recognition of Excellence in Science and Mathematics, issued by the Society of Women Engineers (SWE).

Since the Region 14 Applied Technology Center at ConVal currently does not offer an engineering track, DeLoria has been enrolled in a year-long Engineering Design class at the Applied Technology Center at Milford High School where she received the Certificate. This summer, she plans to complete an internship at Evari Thermal, a manufacturer of advanced compressor components, located in Peterborough.

The Society of Women Engineers is an international educational and service organization. Founded in 1950 and headquartered in the New York City, the Society is a major advocate for women in engeering and technology. SWE has over 47,000 members in nearly 100 professional sections, 300 collegiate sections, and 60 global affiliate groups throughout the world.

ConVal High School held a Senior Class Meeting & Picnic on Stadium Field on Monday, June 9.

The senior class advisors and graduation advisors took this opportunity to review the various tasks that, apart from completing senior finals, have to be accomplished before graduation on Saturday.

The list includes attending marching practices, returning all school- and district-issued materials like sports uniforms, books, and laptops, turning in their senior checkout lists, picking up their graduation robes, honor stoles, and senior cords, and attending the upcoming athletics, academic achievement, and scholarship awards.

The Class of 2025 took time to remember Damien Cronan and Tim Donaruma, two classmates who had died in separate traffic accidents during the past year. Butterflies were released in their honor at the end of the commemoration ceremony.

The Class meeting concluded with a picnic and a chance to mingle with senior class TASC homeroom mentors and administrators.

Peer mentors conducted school tours for 8th grade students from South Meadow School and Great Brook School today.

Step-Up Day is an annual tradition at ConVal that introduces middle school students to the high school and allows them to make early connections with guidance counselors, administrators, teachers, and high school peer mentors.

We look forward to welcoming the members of the ConVal Class of 2029 in the fall!