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Weekly Announcements

HHS Principal's Weekly, September 15, 2023

Message from the Principal

Hello All, 
 
A new year is underway and tonight is the beginning of the High Holidays for the Jewish religion. In that spirit and since we are a community of many different faiths, I wanted to be explicit about our position surrounding religious observances as the school year gets under way.
 
As I stated last year, we are a public entity that is expected to uphold the laws of our country. As many of you know, our first amendment states that:
 
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…”
 
In order to honor the free exercise part of this clause, we recognize that we have many people of many different faiths in our school community and in order to ensure that we are respecting the spirit of our Constitution in regards to religious practices, our Council passed the following motion on 5/3/23 and it was approved by our Administration on 5/15/23:
 
At Hanover High school, staff members will work to accommodate students if the observance of a major religious holiday interferes with a student's academic work. If a student is unable to attend a class, participate in a test or quiz, be present for a presentation, or complete an assignment on a specific day because of the observance of a religious holiday, the student will be allowed one week from their return to make up assignments due on the holiday or the day following. Students will notify their teachers at least 48 hours prior through school email or in person of the religious observances that conflict with their classes. We recommend and hope that staff would be given a reasonable extension for grading when occurring over holidays. 
 
I would like to recognize that Hanover High School staff have been accommodating for religious observances for years and this motion wanted to make our position clear and available to the community. 
 
Here is a resource that lists the religious holidays for a number of faiths:
 
We understand that this is not exhaustive and students need to inform teachers if there is an observance they are not aware of that impacts the student. 
 
We expect that this will go smoothly as teachers accommodate requests all the time, but if you or your family have questions or concerns please reach out to your counselor for support. 
 
Julie Stevenson

School News and Information
 

Counseling Department Updates

We loved meeting our ninth grade families during Tuesday’s parent night! Our 10-12 counselors were able to connect with all seniors on Wednesday to review essential to-dos in the college application process. All seniors should now have CommonApp accounts! 

Upcoming Counseling Department Dates & Events

  • Last day to drop a semester 1 or yearlong course: Wednesday, September 27
  • School Day PSAT (no school for 9th, 10th, and 12 graders): Wednesday, October 11 

Seniors & families only:

  • Senior Family College Application Night: Wednesday, September 27 6-7 PM on Zoom

    • School counselors will review the college application process. Topics include: student, caregiver, and counselor roles, the components of the college application, navigating the SCOIR and CommonApp platforms, and important dates and deadlines.  
      Here is the overview of the College Application Process for the class of 2024.

  • Deadlines to add/move your colleges into the “Applying” column in SCOIR: 
    **Not sure what this means? Ask your senior! (Spoiler: this is how students inform us of the schools to which they are applying, so that we may send their required HHS materials.)

    • Applications due November 1: Weds, October 11
    • Applications due November 15: Weds, October 25
    • Applications due December 1: Fri, November 10
    • Applications due December 15: Mon, November 20
    • Applications due January 1-5: Fri, December 8

Upcoming College Visits - Check SCOIR for times

Monday September 18

  • Brandeis University
  • Vermont State University
  • Saint Anselm College

Tuesday September 19

  • Oberlin College
  • Dalhousie University

Wednesday September 20

  • Roanoke College
  • Dickinson College
  • Eckerd College
  • Hult International Business School
  • Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Thursday September 21

  • University of Southern California
  • Tufts University

Friday September 22

  • Claremont McKenna College
  • College of the Holy Cross
  • Saint Michael’s College
  • Springfield College
  • Miami University (Oxford)

Local high school students and health teachers

 are invited to a free evening of *pizza* and *discussion on Social Courage* led by local sexuality educator Cindy Pierce. Thursday September 21st 6:45-8:30pm 9 Hanover Street Lebanon, NH (entrance off of the mall above

the Women's Health Resource Center). Content Warning: Some of the topics Cindy will discuss are graphic in nature. This will be a frank discussion. Pre-registration required here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfzzwSdkAesKk9JmxikIRp7dzWlJFK1W0giLrTdxu6HocbHiA/viewform?usp=sf_link

FREE Saturday HVAC101 Classes 

this Fall at Manchester Community College

Classes run on Saturdays from 10/28 – 12/16 and are offered at two different times.

The classes are free and all textbooks and materials are free. You’ll receive three college credits when you complete the course.   Check out the HVAC Program videos!

Contact Edward Curran ecurran@ccsnh.edu for more information or see your counselor if you have any questions.

Youth In Action!

September is Hunger Action Month and Youth In Action is working to help out. Starting September 18th there will be four boxes in the atrium to gather non-perishable foods for the Haven and LISTEN food pantries. Here is a Valley News article describing the increased need for food in the Upper Valley. Each grade will have their own donation box in the atrium of the high school. Please bring in cans and other nonperishable food items to help out your class and support those in need.

Here is a link to the monthly Youth In Action activity and sign up sheet. There will typically be between 3-6 volunteer opportunities, September is a little light because we are just getting up and running. 

The Youth in Action bulletin board, outside the library, will be updated soon with information about your leadership committee and some of our regular volunteer opportunities. If you know of any other volunteer activities that could be fun for us to participate in, or if you would like to join the email list, please reach out to myself or one of the leadership team.

Thanks,

Hannah Levinger- Youth In Action Director

Vermont’s Youth Environmental Summit

is looking for youth in grades 8-12 to serve as YES Ambassadors. The deadline to apply is next Thursday, September 21. Learn more.

And check out these other amazing opportunities!!

VTeen 4-H Science Pathways Cafes , Youth Environmental Summit, TRY for the Environment, VTeen Leadership Weekend, Vermont Science Olympiad

Interested in volunteering in our schools?  

Want to know what volunteer opportunities are currently available? 

If you answered 'yes' to either of the above questions, please take 2 minutes to fill out our Volunteer Opportunities form!  Our district Coordinator of Volunteers will use this database to reach out to interested individuals throughout the year.  Filling out this form allows us to tailor messages to activities you may be interested in assisting with.  

Thanks in advance!

Howe Library Teen Advisory Board

The Howe Library is looking for teens to join our Teen Advisory Board!

The Teen Advisory Board (TAB) is a great opportunity to get involved in the community and make an impact!

In TAB, you’ll help decide what kind of programs we should hold, give important feedback on the design of the teen spaces, and give your input on the displays and resources available for young adults in the library.

TAB is a great way to gain leadership experience and to hone your decision-making skills while earning volunteer hours.

We know that everyone has busy schedules.

We anticipate a 1-hour TAB meeting each month and will send scheduling polls to find the time that works for the most members.

TAB is open to teens in the Howe Library community in grades 8-12.

Please complete this form if you are interested in joining or reach out to The Howe Library’s Teen Services Librarian, Kim Baker, with any questions.

Note: Physical copies of this form are also available at the Howe Library and at Hanover High School Library.

COME HELP US CELEBRATE 

the outdoor mural created by the Hanover High School Art Club located outside of the Hanover Rec center on September 21 at 11:00.  Music and information about the Appalachian Trail and efforts to generate enthusiasm for our town’s role in getting hikers through to the end.  Student leaders Claire Kull (2024) and Lauren Hall (a 2023 graduate) helped design and create the mural alongside various students and citizens from the community.

person on the mural walkway

Healthy Notes from HHS Health Office…

What else…covid! SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is most certainly around not just in the Upper Valley, but all over New England and well beyond. Even though “the pandemic” has technically been declared “over,” the reality is that COVID-19, as well as regular colds, early flus, strep, and all sorts of random acts of virus remain circulating all around us. If you, or your child, or someone else in your family are feeling symptoms of “a cold” including sore/scratchy throat, aches, headache, runny nose, fever, coughing, etc. PLEASE DO NOT SEND YOUR CHILD TO SCHOOL. Instead, test for a covid infection. If it is negative, please test again the following morning before they come to school. If you, yourself, have an infection, assume others in your house will follow suit and follow the CDC protocols. CDC Covid Guidelines.  

Hanover High School's NEBP team successfully launched a balloon to 94,000 ft. this past Saturday. Above is the photo of the team after the launch. Below is a visual representation of the balloon's vertical and horizontal movement. 

group posing outdoors

visual representation of the balloon's vertical and horizontal movement. 

photo of Hanover High School