Congratulations Class of 2025 North Country Scholars
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Congratulations to the Class of 2025 valedictorians, salutatorians, top honors, and outstanding CTE students honored at the North Country Scholars recognition ceremony held on May 29th. This event, sponsored by NCES and the North Country School Administrators Association, marked the 20th year that the region has celebrated the achievements of the top students in the region’s 12 high schools and 5 career and technical education centers.
Front (l-r): Caleb Brooks - Salutatorian, Colebrook Academy; Shania Richards - Valedictorian, Colebrook Academy; Jacqueleine Champagne - Outstanding CTE Student, North Point Career and Technical Education Center; Jack Heyler - Valedictorian, Kennett High School; Jemma Dimock - Outstanding CTE Student, Mount Washington Valley Career Technical Center; Lily Brungot - Salutatorian, Berlin Middle High School; Carson Rivard - Valedictorian, Berlin Middle High School; Molly Donahue - Salutatorian, Littleton High School; Lila Staley - Salutatorian, WMRHS; Fiona Chau - Valedictorian, Littleton High School, Kiera Therrien - Co-Outstanding CTE Student, Hugh J. Gallen Career and Technical Center; Sarah Jolly - Valedictorian, Lin-Wood Public School; Ava Curato - Co-Outstanding CTE Student, Hugh J. Gallen Career and Techncial Center. Middle: Robert Young - Outstanding CTE Student, Arthur T. Paradice CTC; Liberty Frink - Valedictorian, WMRHS; Janessa Hodge - Top Honors, Pittsburg School; Joseph Cristoforo - Top Honors, Pittsburg; Paige Royer - Outstanding CTE Student, River Bend Career and Technical Center; Risa Gallant - Top Honors, Gorham Middle High School; Lily Kelley - Outstanding CTE Student, Berlin Regional Career and Technical Center; Hubert William Hawkins V - Co-Valedictorian, Profile School; Emily Mitton - Salutatorian, Lisbon Regional School; Cadence Richey - Valedictorian, Lisbon Regional School. Back: Piper Lopashanski - Salutatorian, Kennett High School; Hannah Haynes - Valedictorian, Pittsburg School; Sebastian Restelli - Valedictorian, Woodsville School; Hunter Duval - Salutatorian, Woodsville School; Ayden Corrigan - Top Honors, Gorham Middle High School; Grace Schafermeyer - Co-Valedictorian, Groveton High School; Dylan Simino - Co-Valedictorian, Groveton High School; Wyatt Lawton - Salutatorian, Profile School; Isaac Reeder - Co-Valedictorian, Profile School; Daniel Halloran - Salutatorian, Lin-Wood Public School.
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2025 North Country Champion for Children
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Cindy Burrell was recognized at the North Country regional winner at the NHSAA Champion for Children event on May 21st at the Grappone Conference Center in Concord, NH for her nearly 20 years of volunteerism at Lafayette Regional School and Profile School. She was recognized along with the winners from the four other regions.
Recipient Cindy Burrell (left) with SAU 35 Business Administrator, Toni Butterfield.
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Conscious Discipline for Parents & Caregivers
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 Conscious Discipline is a proven, comprehensive approach that empowers you with skills that create a safe, connected, problem-solving environment for families. In this six-part series, you will be learn the 7 basic skills of Conscious Discipline for turning conflict into cooperation!
Join other parents and caregivers to view and discuss Conscious Discipline videos and clips and learn how to put these skills into practice. This is not the same as the "Building Resilient Schools & Homes" series. Please feel free to register even if you have already completed that series as we will be using different videos and materials.
Facilitator: Chrissy Grant
Cost: None
Who can participate?: Parents and caregivers living in Coos, upper Grafton, and upper Carroll
Location: Online via Zoom
Time/Dates: 9:00-10:30 AM on Wednesdays, July 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 and August 13, 2025
Register (preferably by June 20th): Online or by calling 603-466-5437 (M-F, 8-4 only)
Provided to parents and caregivers in the NCES' service area in partnership with the
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Tobacco-Free School Policies that Work
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 Youth vaping is a growing challenge—and schools are key to the solution. Join Marisa Katz (Public Health Law Center) and Jessica Morton (NH Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program) for a practical session on adopting and implementing the Tobacco-Free Model School Policy for K–12.
Learn how to create policies that support students, reduce suspensions, and prioritize learning. We'll cover policy essentials, evidence-based enforcement strategies, how to handle confiscated vaping products, and tools like the More Good Mornings youth campaign.
Presenters: Marisa Katz and Jessica Morton
Date/Time: Friday, June 6, 2025 from 10:00-11:30 AM
Register: Online
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North Country Principals Meetings Resume
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NCES hosted the regional meeting of North Country principals in May. The guest presenters included FIRST NH, WMSI, North Country Health Consortium, White Mountains Community College, NH Civics, the Design Challenge Network, and the NH Association of School Principals.
To wrap up the meeting, WMSI led a short hands-on activity for participants. We loved the "joy of learning" scene captured below by WMSI's Director of Outreach, Gal Potashnick.
LinWood Principal, Peter Stravali (kneeling), was partnered with Ken St. Hilaire, Senior Mentor for FIRST NH, during a friendly indoor rocket launch design competition. This was the reaction to the winning launch!
NCES will host the principals again in the fall. A special thank you to FIRST NH for sponsoring the breakfast. North Country school interested in any of the FIRST NH K-12 programs (FIRST Lego League, FIRST Tech Challenge, FIRST Robotics Competition) should contact Ken St. Hilaire and inquire about the STEM Equity support/funding at ksthilaire@firstinspires.org.
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Andru Volinsky Book Talk on School Funding
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Farms, Forests, and the Future:
Teaching Sustainable Agriculture
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UNH Cooperative Extension is offering a new professional development opportunity for educators in the field of agroforestry. Starting in September 2025, the first cohort will begin exploring the field of agroforestry through the Farm, Forests, and the Future (FFF) program.
Agroforestry is an agricultural method that pairs ecological and agricultural management practices. FFF is a comprehensive professional and personal development program for formal educators, informal educators, and youth advocates interested in bringing agroforestry principles and ideas into their educational settings.
This PD experience includes in-person workshops, field trips to New England farms, face time with industry professionals and researchers, and a community of educators excited to learn and grow together.
Stipends of $1,200 are available to educators who complete the full program.
Apply and learn more here: https://extension.unh.edu/new-hampshire-4-h/pathways/environmental-science/agroforestry
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LGBTQIA+ Responsive Engagement Training
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In partnership with Dartmouth Health, New Hampshire Outright is offering a series of trainings for parents/ caregivers, educators and other professionals working with LGBTQ+ youth, and allied community members. This training will cover: LGBTQ+ terminology, the "why" of allyship/ the impact on well-being, and strategies to support the LGBTQ+ youth in your life.
Register
For more information contact: NH Outright's Training & Education Director, Jessica Goff (she/her/hers): jessica@seacoastoutright.org.
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Define, Design and Do! Climate Solutions in Your Community
 How can you integrate real-world problem solving, joy, and impactful climate solutions into our schools and communities? Come work and play with NHEEP/VEEP in the White Mountains of NH as they approach these questions together. Along with expertise from VEEP/NHEEP you will gain insights from several of our Youth Climate Leaders, MindSpark Learning, which specializes in problem-based learning to prepare students for the modern workforce, as well as the fabulous cohort of skilled educators like yourself who choose to participate in the program. You will plan a curriculum that cultivates hope and brings students meaningful learning opportunities to tackle relevant climate solutions for their community. Open to all educators, any grade, any subject.
Participants will:
- Figure out how to make climate learning problem-based, hands-on and accessible to all students
- Become comfortable using student-driven learning practices in any subject as modeled through the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
- Find locally relevant, hopeful, solutions-focused learning opportunities related to climate and energy
- Practice finding a pathway to action while navigating specific standards, constraints, and circumstances
Sign up by May 1st to receive early bird pricing and save your district or organization $100 on the course fee. Here’s what some of past participants had to say about the Summer Institute program, and here’s a flyer if you want to help spread the word. Scholarships are available to NH and VT teachers– contact NHEEP/VEEP for more information at info@veep.org.
Register: Online
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Mindful Practices Online SEL Certification
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For more information and to register, contact the sponsoring organization, North Country Health Consortium, SEL School Coordinator, Anne-Marie Gagne, agagne@nchc.org. Space is limited - only 2 seats left as of 6/3/25! Register by July 15th.
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NH Bar Association Teacher PD ~
We the People: The Citizen & the Constitution
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This nationally acclaimed civic education instructional program enhances students’ understanding of the institutions of American constitutional democracy while allowing students to discover the contemporary relevance of the Constitution and Bill of Rights. The primary goal of “We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution” is to promote civic competence and responsibility among the nation’s elementary and secondary students. The design of the instructional program, including the innovative culminating activity, is what makes the program a success.
We the People ~ Two Day Training
For: Grades 4-12
Location: Concord, NH
Dates: Tuesday, August 12 – Wednesday, August 13, 2025
Register: Online
Meets Requirements of NH Civics Education Law
We the People ~ Five Day Training
For: Grades 4-8
Location: Boston, MA
Dates: Sunday, July 20 – Friday, July 25, 2025
Register: Online
More information
Learn more
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BioTrek Program Registration for 2025-26 School Year
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The Education & Workforce Development (EWD) team at ARMI | BioFabUSA is excited to announce that registration is now open for our BioTrek Program offerings for the 2025–2026 school year!
The BioTrek Program Guide outlines a variety of ways to bring biofabrication into your classroom—at no cost to you. These free offerings include:
- Information Sessions to learn about BioTrek programs
- Professional development opportunities including Train the Trainer and 1-day workshops
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AscentED - Tuesday, August 19th 9:30am - 3:30pm
- Lab Exploration - Monday, August 11th
- Cell Needs and "Skin Deep" (Elementary School) - 9:00am - 11:00am
- Stem Cells, Bioreactor Basics, and Ghostly Organ (Middle School) - 11:15am - 1:15pm
- "DIY Bioreactor" and Spinach Decell (High School) - 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Please note that while each lab session is geared toward the grade level indicated, most labs can be adapted for most grades.
- Tech Deep Dive (2 sessions)
- In-Person - Wednesday, August 13th 9:00am - 1:00pm
- Virtual Webinar - Tuesday, August 26th 12:30pm - 4:30pm
To register for trainings, please use the links provided in the Program Guide.
For more information, contact Gabby Mourousas at gmourousas@armiusa.org.
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UNH Tech for Teachers Institute, July 14-25
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The UNH 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.
The Institute will take place July 15-26 on the UNH Durham campus. Upon completion, participants will receive a $1,500 award, CEUs, classroom supplies and ongoing support from UNH faculty and graduate students.
Learn more
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Free books for Coos & Northern Grafton Families through the Dolly Parton Imagination Library
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The New Hampshire Statewide Family Engagement Center (NH-SFEC) is partnering with Whitefield Public Library to bring the Dolly Parton Imagination Library into Coös & Northern Grafton!
If you have a child from 0-5 years old, register them today to receive a free book every month until their 5th birthday! Scan the QR code or visit: https://imaginationlibrary.com/check-availability/
Learn more at https://imaginationlibrary.com/check-availability/
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4 Things to Know About Financial Aid Offers
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Decision Day is approaching for college-bound high school seniors. For most families, financial aid offers from colleges are a key factor in the decision-making process. Here are four things to know about financial aid offers:
- You don’t have to accept federal loans. Most students who complete the FAFSA will qualify for federal student loans, and these will usually be listed on your financial aid award letter; while it’s generally recommended that students maximize federal programs before utilizing alternative financing methods, it’s up to you and your family whether or not to take advantage of these loans.
- Subsidized loans are preferable to unsubsidized loans. Many (though not all) financial aid offers will include both subsidized and unsubsidized federal loans. With a subsidized loan, the government pays the interest during specified periods, such as while you’re in school. With unsubsidized loans, you are responsible for the interest that accumulates during all periods, including while you’re in school.
- Private scholarships can affect your institutional aid. Your net cost is your total cost of attendance minus federal aid and any grants and scholarships awarded you by the school. If there’s a gap between that number and what you can actually afford, private scholarships are a great way to bridge that gap. Just be sure to ask the school whether your scholarships will affect the aid they’re offering you. Some schools apply private scholarships to your need-based aid, meaning it won’t reduce your net cost.
- Work-study doesn’t reduce the billed amount. While included on a financial aid award letter (for eligible students), Federal Work Study funds don’t reduce the billed amount. The amount on the award letter represents the maximum amount a student may earn through work-study during that academic period.
Want more info? Check out Granite Edvance’s step-by-step guide to comparing college financial aid offers, take a deeper dive with their comprehensive Financial Aid Insider, or make a one-on-one appointment.
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NH Bar Association Teacher PD ~
Street Law: Teaching Civics and Law Today
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 A teacher’s edition of the text and a student edition of the text Street Law will be available to each participant. Professional development hours will be provided.
Date/Time: August 15, 2025 from 9:30-7:00 PM
Location: Concord, NH
What to expect:
- Former New Hampshire teacher, lawyer, former Street Law CEO, and Street Law text author Lee Arbetman will lead this day of training.
- Federal Appeals Court Judge Seth Aframe will speak on the topic: Why teach law today?
- Mentor teachers will provide advice on implementation and practical tips for making this curriculum work for all students.
- Teachers will be matched with lawyer partners.
Register: Online
For more information contact Martha Madsen at (603) 715-3259 or email her at mmadsen@nhbar.org.
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Education and career pathways for students
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2025-26 Job Openings at NCES
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NCES Employment Opportunities
For the 2025-2026 school year
- School Psychologist - full-time with primary assignment based in Gorham, NH
- BCBA - full-time, serving multiple districts
- Speech Language Pathologist (full or part-time, not remote)
- Speech Language Assistant (full or part-time, not remote)
- TESOL (part-time or full-time, not remote)
How to apply
Did you know that NCES' full-time employment opportunities include participation the NH Retirement System? That is a great benefit to becoming part of the NCES service provider team!
Every day across New Hampshire, infants and toddlers are learning new skills, but they learn and grow at their own pace. Parents or other caregivers who have concerns about an infant’s or toddler’s development can get coaching and support through the New Hampshire Birth to 3 early intervention program.
Anyone can refer a Family Centered Early Supports & Services.
Learn more at dhhs.nh.gov/BirthTo3 or call 603-271-4488.
North Country Neighbors - Stronger Together
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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