Louise Collins: 2021 Champion for Children
for the State of New Hampshire
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Congratulations to Louise Collins of Groveton, NH for being recognized as the 2021 Champion for Children for the State of New Hampshire. Louise (third from left), was presented with the North Country award by SAU 58 Superintendent, Dr. Ronna Cadarette (second from left). As the 2021 Champion for Children for the North Country region, Louise was among 5 nominees for the statewide recognition. The statewide award was presented by Commissioner Edelblut.
The award program is sponsored by the NH School Administrators Association to highlight and recognize NH citizens who have given distinguished public service to benefit children. Louise Collins is a local business owner who has served as a coach for many years and currently serves as the chairperson of the Northumberland School Board.
Also recognized at this year's ceremony were the 2020 awardees. For the North Country region, Shirley Nickles was the 2020 Champion for Children. Shirley is the founder of the Griffin Donald Kenison Memorial Fund to support local sports programming for youth in the Groveton area. A member of the Kenison family, Kristie Kension (fourth from left) accepted the award on Shirley's behalf. Also attending the ceremony was Kelley Brown (first from left).
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Dr. Laurie Brodeur recognized as 2021 NH School Psychologist of the Year
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 Dr. Laurie Brodeur, School Psychologist for Berlin Public Schools, grew up in Berlin, graduating from Berlin High School in 1980. She returned to the community in 1990 to carry on her family's roots and traditions. She was nominated for the 2021 NH School Psychologist of the Year because of the tremendous positive impact she has had on Berlin youth.
In June, as part of the ED'ies awards ceremony, Dr. Brodeur will be honored as the NH School Psychologist of the Year by the NH Association of School Psychologists.
When asked what this recognition meant to her, Laurie humbly replied, "This is an award for the Berlin Community that helped shape me, encourage me, and supports a world view that our village matters". Congratulations to Dr. Brodeur and Berlin School District.
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Groveton 6th Graders Compete Nationally
with Project Soapbox Speeches
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Earlier this year, Ms. Langkau’s 6th grade Social Studies classes at Groveton Middle School completed Project Soapbox, a civics-focused public speaking competition facilitated by the Mikva Challenge. Groveton’s 6th graders were asked, "What is the biggest issue facing your community?" and then researched a pressing topic to prepare and deliver a speech in response to the question.
Two Groveton students, Brooke Gagnon and Delainey Park, were ranked in the top 12 speeches across the state and were featured in a statewide virtual showcase event in April. Their speeches were submitted to the national level to be evaluated by judges along with hundreds of other impressive speeches from around the country. Delainey Parks was selected as one of the top 12 in the entire nation for her speech about body shaming. Congratulations to all of Ms. Langkau's students and their successes in developing speeches for Project Soapbox 2021.
Learn more
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North Country Education Services and the North Country School Administrators Association recognize the valedictorians, salutatorians, and outstanding Career and Technical Education students from the North Country’s twelve high schools each year. Click the video link above for a slideshow of the Class of 2021 North Country Scholars.
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SAU 3 Superintendent Julie King:
2021 Sylvia Evans Citizenship Honoree
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Ken Gordon, CEO of Coos County Family Health Services, presenting Julie King, Superintendent of Berlin Public Schools, with the 2021 Sylvia Evans Citizenship Award.
The award has been given out annually since 1981 to honor the extraordinary, often unrecognized contributions that women have made to the families of our region.
Congratulations to Superintendent Julie King!
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Sandy Fitzmorris: 2021 STEM Teacher of the Year
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 Congratulations to Sandy Fitzmorris (third from left), technology teacher at the Milan Village School, for being selected as the winner of the 2021 Science Technology Engineering and Math award by the New Hampshire Society of Professional Engineers. Robert Rotier (left) presented the award on March 14th. Also pictured are David Backer, SAU 20 Superintendent of Schools and Principal Amy Huter.
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Lafayette Regional School, Blue Ribbon Schools Awardee
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The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program for 2020 recognize 367 schools and Lafayette Regional was one of three schools receiving the award in New Hampshire. The recognition is based on a school's overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups.
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Louise Tillotson Teaching Fellowships
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The Louise Tillotson Teaching Fellowship program strives to raise public awareness about the value of excellence in education and to retain good teachers in New Hampshire’s North Country and in Essex County, VT. In 2006, self-made businesswoman, Louise Tillotson, established the Louise Tillotson Fellowship Fund through the NH Charitable Foundation. She had great confidence in the fact that a strong education system would boost the economy as whole.
Congratulations to the
2021 Louise Tillotson Teaching Fellowship recipients:
Tina Mooney
Kindergarten Teacher, Whitefield Elementary School
Eugene Reid
Building Construction and Restoration Carpentry Instructor, Canaan Schools, VT
Martina Macakova
World Languages Instructor, White Mountains Regional High School
The 2020 recipients were announced after the last issue of NCES News was published at the end of the last school year. These educators also faced the exceptional challenge of quickly transitioning to teaching remotely for the last three months of the school year, as the COVID-19 pandemic closed schools. In recognition of their accomplishments, congratulations to the 2020 Louise Tillotson Teaching Fellowship recipients as well.
Patti Dugan-Henriksen, Middle School Science Teacher, Groveton High School, Groveton.
Erica Hicks, Math Teacher, White Mountains Regional High School, Whitefield.
Keri Wade, Science Teacher, Gorham Middle High School, Gorham.
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WMRHS Culinary Team Places 1st at NH ProStart Invitational
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At the New Hampshire ProStart Invitationals, students are given the opportunity to put their skills to the ultimate test. During this intense culinary competition, participating teams demonstrate their creative abilities through the preparation of a three-course meal in 60 minutes, using only two butane burners, and all without access to running water or electricity.
Congratulations to the culinary team at White Mountains Regional High School for their first place finish.
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Groveton Middle Schoolers Garner Top Honors in Fish Art Contest
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Patti Dugan-Henriksen's school students from Groveton Middle School entered this year's Wildlife Forever's Fish Art Contest. For the Grades 7-9 category for the State of New Hampshire, Wyatt Reynolds took first place in the state for his art work of the Brook Trout (left drawing) and Gage Collins placed second for his artwork of the Brook Trout (right drawing). Gage also received first honors in the writing competition.
The Fish Art Contest was inspired in 1997 by a 5th grader’s homework assignment and has grown into an international competition introducing young people to the wonders of fish, the joy of fishing and the importance of aquatic conservation. The Fish Art Contest uses art, science and creative writing to foster connections to the outdoors and inspire the next generation of stewards.
Learn more
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North Country Young Inventors Qualify for US Nationals!
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White Mountain Science, Inc. (WMSI) proudly announces their three students' award winning projects from the Northern New England Invention Convention that was held virtually in early May! Students in grades K-12 from all across New England, including WMSI's Mobile Invent Lab, participated in the Young Inventors' Program® during this past school year to learn about innovation and develop an invention of their own. Those who were nominated from their local Invention Fairs were able to compete at the regional, Northern New England Invention Convention.
Congratulations to WMSI's Mobile Invent Lab Young Inventors:
- Glen Lucas, Grade 2, with "The Swivel 360" -- Ignite the Spark Award, Best in Grade 2nd Place
- Kaden Foster, Grade 5, with "Autoboomatic" -- Best in Grade 3rd Place, Home Improvement Award
- Connor Webb, Grade 6, with "Trampoline Chair" -- Health & Wellness Award
All three students are US National Finalists and have qualified for the US Nationals!
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North Country Seniors Place 1st & 2nd
in Welding Competition
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Congratulations to Gorham High School senior, Wyatt Deblois, and Berlin High School senior, Tyler Rousseau, on placing first and second at the New Hampshire State Welding Skills Contest in Manchester on Friday, May 21. Both are students at the Berlin Regional Career and Technical Center.
Pictured: Steve Chasse of SL Chasse; Wyatt Deblois; Tyler Rousseau, Addison Kady, Portsmouth High School (third place); Charles Carter, President of the American Institute of Steel Construction; and Hollie Noveletsky of Novel Iron Works.
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SAU 35 System of Care Award
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White Mountains School Administrative Unit #35 is a recipient of the New Hampshire Department of Education System of Care (SOC) Grant. This is a four year one million dollar grant awarded from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services – Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Center for Mental Health Issues. The focus will be on improving the mental health outcomes for children and youth, birth through age 21, and their families in SAU #35. The System of Care grant will support a sustainable infrastructure and services that are required as part of the Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children and their Families Program (also known as the Children’s Mental Health Initiative or CMHI).
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$100K Fitness Center Awarded to a North Country School
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On May 26, 2021, Governor Chris Sununu and the National Foundation for Governors' Fitness Councils announced that the Groveton School (Groveton, NH), Londonderry Middle School (Londonderry, NH), and Portsmouth Middle School (Portsmouth, NH), will each receive a new $100,000 state-of-the-art fitness center as part of the Foundation's Don't Quit! campaign. The National Foundation for Governors’ Fitness Councils (NFGFC) seeks to encourage and reward innovation in the field of youth fitness by awarding fitness centers to schools that use new and unique methods to promote student physical activity and wellness
Read more from the Governor's Press Release
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North Country Education Services is participating in NH Gives on June 8 & 9, 2021. If you have participated in professional development or other activities sponsored by NCES, please consider making a donation to the organization. Beginning at 5:00 PM on Tuesday, June 8th, visit NCES' NH Gives page to show your support for the work we do for students, teachers, and schools. NCES believes that strong schools are essential for vibrant communities. As a nonprofit dedicated to collaborating with northern NH public schools, please help us continue this work.
Make Your Gift Go Further!
The NH Charitable Foundation is providing more than $300,000 in matching funds during the 24-hour event. This is a great way to make your gift go further.
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Conscious Discipline - Interest for next school year???
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 NCES and the North Country Partnership for SEL Practices seeks to determine the interest in Conscious Discipline's Building Resilient Schools and Homes e-course for the 2021-2022 school year. Through online videos by Dr. Becky Bailey, this comprehensive program combines, social-emotional learning, discipline, and classroom management for transformational results.
We envision offering the asynchronous 10-session course supplemented by online synchronous grade-level specific learning communities. Participants would engage in the approximately one-hour e-course each month on their own time and then come together with colleagues online once a month for a facilitated one-hour discussion around that month's content.
For staff at NCES member districts, we anticipate this will be offered to you free of charge. We need to determine if there is sufficient interest and/or if there should be multiple grade level facilitators to right-size the cohorts. If you are potentially interested, please add your name, grade-level, school, and email address to this interest form. You will not be obligated to register if this comes to fruition, but expressing your interest will help us with the planning.
If you may be interested in serving as one of the grade-level facilitators (a stipended role), please email lori@ncedservices for more information.
You can learn more about the e-course and Dr. Bailey by visiting the Conscious Discipline website.
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Summer Learning Opportunities for Students!
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WMSI is offering both in-person and remote camps this summer with programs serving ages ranging from 5 through 13. Please share these programs with your students. Scholarships are available.
To learn more about the offerings, as well as the safety guidelines for the in-person camps, visit https://www.whitemountainscience.org/wmsi-camps.
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2021 VEEP/NHEEP Summer Institute:
Local Connections to Energy and Climate!
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 This year’s program explores local connections to energy & climate through a
place-based lens, including close-to-home
field trips and opportunities to
generate community partnerships.
Virtual Program Dates: August 9, 10, and 12 with each day’s online session lasting no more than 3 hours.
Before & After: Participants may expect some asynchronous work prior to and between virtual sessions. After the conclusion of the synchronous program, our participants may then collaborate with NHEEP educators to bring to fruition custom curricula.
Credit: Through the program participants earn PD hours and may also enroll for 1 graduate credit. The registration deadline is July 26. Scholarship funds are available if cost is a barrier.
Contact Nial Rele, Nial@veep.org with questions.
Learn more and/or register
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 The New Hampshire Historical Society presents a professional development opportunity for upper elementary educators focusing on civics instruction and the foundational principles of American government.
Learn about the history and role of the state and national governments, all while exploring ready-made lesson plans, projects, and activities you can introduce to your students in the coming school year.
The workshop includes instruction on "Moose on the Loose: Social Studies for Granite State Kids," the new online statewide curriculum that is being adopted all over New Hampshire. "Moose on the Loose" integrates high-quality social studies instruction with English language arts, math, and science requirements.
This workshop will be offered in both an in-person and virtual format. The in-person workshop will take place on August 5, and the virtual workshop will take place on August 12.
Attendees will receive stipends of $25 and CEU credits for the workshop. Participants of this workshop must be public or private school educators in New Hampshire.
Learn more
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 Learn more about the state you love! The New Hampshire Historical Society presents the New Hampshire History Institute for upper elementary educators.
This boot camp in New Hampshire history will include sessions on the Abenaki, early colonial settlement, American Revolution, tourism, immigration, and civics; age-appropriate social studies and ELA methodology; and an introduction to "Moose on the Loose: Social Studies for Granite State Kids" the new state social studies curriculum for upper elementary grades, created by the New Hampshire Historical Society. "Moose on the Loose" integrates high-quality social studies instruction with English language arts, math, and science requirements.
This workshop will be offered in both an in-person and virtual format. The in-person workshop will take place August 2-4, and the virtual workshop will take place August 9-11.
Attendees will receive a stipend of $125 and CEU credits for the three-day workshop. Participants of this workshop must be public or private school educators in New Hampshire.
Learn more
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UNH Tech Camp for Grades 5-12
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UNH Tech Camp was founded more than a decade ago to inspire middle and high school
students (grades 5-12) through collaborative, hands-on activities that bring science, technology, engineering and mathematics to life. Tech Camp is open to all levels of experience — an inquisitive mind and sense of adventure are all that are required to enroll!
This summer, Tech Camp is offering free online sessions for grades 5-12 that explore a range
of STEM-related subject areas — from computer coding and robotics to forensic science and
structural engineering — through a dynamic, project-based learning format that emphasizes
creative thinking and problem solving.
Learn more
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UNH Tech for Teachers Institute
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The Tech for Teachers Institute is a dynamic, paid professional development program open to middle and high school teachers from across all STEM subject areas. The focus of the program is two-fold: Building knowledge of an emerging technology — this year regenerative medicine and biofabrication — and the transformation of instructional practice through project-based learning (PBL).
Tech for Teachers is open to both school-based teams and individuals. Upon completion, participants will receive a $1,500 award, CEUs, classroom supplies and ongoing support from UNH faculty and graduate students. Space is limited this year to six participants.
Learn more
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Celebrating the North Country Scholars Class of 2021
Berlin High School
Valedictorian
Kyra Woodward
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 Berlin High School
Kelly McCormick
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 Berlin Regional Career & Technical Center
Outstanding CTE Student
Alyssa Delafontaine
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 Colebrook Academy Valedictorian
Allison Herres
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 Colebrook Academy
Co-Salutatorian
Jordan Brooks
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 Colebrook Academy
Co-Salutatorian Bryn Pearson
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 Gorham High School
Valedictorian
Libby Fortin
________________________
 Gorham High School Salutatorian
Jocelyn Paradis
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 Groveton High School
Valedictorian
Amanda Newman
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 Groveton High School Salutatorian
Colby Stinson
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Kenneth High School
Valedictorian
Kathryn Hawkes
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 Kenneth High School Salutatorian
Ava Jarell
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 Mount Washington Valley
Career Technical CenterOutstanding CTE Student
Cayleigh Mohla
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 Mount Washington Valley
Career Technical Center
Outstanding CTE Student
Grace Ruddy
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 Lin-Wood School
Valedictorian
Anthony Vecchione
________________________
 Lin-Wood SchoolSalutatorian
Alyvia Drapeau
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 Lisbon Regional School Valedictorian
Aiden Jesseman
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 Lisbon Regional School Salutatorian
Rachel Strout
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 Littleton High School Valedictorian
Christian DeMoras
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 Littleton High School Salutatorian Riley Johnson
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 Hugh J. Gallen Career and Technical Center
Outstanding CTE Student
Morgan Linnell
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 Pittsburg SchoolValedictorian
Ashley Bolton
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 Pittsburg School Salutatorian
Brittany Hicks
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 Profile High School Valedictorian
Elizabeth Lawton
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 Profile High School Salutatorian
Max Ritter
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 White Mountains Regional High SchoolValedictorian
Kaleb Casner
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 White Mountains Regional High SchoolSalutatorian
Jonathan Dean
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 Arthur T. Paradice Regional Career & Technical Center Outstanding CTE Student
Haley Lincoln
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 Woodsville High School Valedictorian
Olivia Sarkis
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 Woodsville High School Salutatorian
Emily Prest
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 River Bend Career and Technical CenterOutstanding CTE Student
Graci Kaiser
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The North Country Scholars program recognizes the valedictorian and salutatorian from each northern New Hampshire high school, as well as an outstanding student from each of the region's career and technical education (CTE) centers. The year 2021 marks the 16th anniversary of this regional celebration sponsored by North Country Education Services and the North Country School Administrators Association.
The NH Charitable Foundation and The Foundation for NH Community Colleges are giving NH’s 2021 graduating high school class a head start on their college career with a free three-credit course this fall at any of NH’s seven community colleges.
Learn more
North Country Partnership for SEL Practices
Follow NCP4SEL on Facebook for more tips, resources, and announcements.
Job Openings in North Country Schools
There are several dozen openings in school districts throughout northern NH. TeachNorth is your one stop spot to find links to current job postings.
- New services in adult education
- Online assessments for HiSet preparation
- In-person and live-online math tutoring (9th grade level and up. Available to college students as well)
Call 752-1927 or email gthebergecoosals@myfairpoint.net for more information.
Opening for a part-time HiSet Examiner for the Coos AEL location. Call the office for details.
Support the mission of NCES
Your tax deductible donation will support NCES' mission. NCES collaborates with public schools and community partners to support excellent and equitable educational opportunities throughout the North Country.
NCES seeks exceptional educational experiences and realized potential for all students.
NCES believes that thriving schools are at the heart of vibrant communities!
The core values of NCES:
Contact Information
North Country Education Services
300 Gorham Hill Road
Gorham, NH 03581
ncedservices.org
603-466-5437
nces@ncedservices.org
NCES is an equal opportunity employer and provider.
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