ConVal students raise money at holiday craft fair

ConVal High School student organizations provided food to hundreds of holiday shoppers at the school’s holiday craft fair on Saturday, raising funds for competitions and trips around the world.

Members of the Class of 2026 was busy all day making fresh grilled cheese sandwiches and refilling the  “mac-and-cheese bar” in the snack kitchen. Down the hall in the little gym, student groups organized a food court. ConVal’s Educators Rising group offered homemade baked goods and treats. 

“These kids have been baking all week. They worked until late last night. They were here first thing in the morning, and they’re working all day. They’re incredible workers, very organized; they did this all, ” said Sara Grossi, the faculty leader of ConVal’s  Educators Rising, a co-curricular group of future educators which supports careers in education.

The group is raising money to attend a conference in Washington, D.C., in which future educators compete in challenges, including creating children’s books and “TED Talks,” along with debating ethical dilemmas in education. Students in ConVal’s  Educators Rising group volunteer at the Dublin preschool and have previously attended competitions at Plymouth State.

The program is part of the school’s Applied Technology Center, which includes classes in teacher education, business, engineering, graphic and website design, digital video and photography, computer programming and woodworking. 

ConVal’s cheer  and spirit squad offered chips and hot buffalo dip as well as fruit and beverages. The team is raising money to go to regional or national cheer competitions. At the music department table, Music department mother Crystal Blanchette said the students were raising funds for the department’s annual trip to Disney, where the ConVal marching band has performed in past years. 

Environmental science students Amanda Bergeron, Heidi Bell and Sophia Judd were assembling chicken Caesar salads at the Belize 2024 table. 

“This is a fundraiser for our trip to Belize in February 2024,” said Heidi Bell. “We’ll be traveling to the rainforest, interacting with wildlife and studying the habitat and the environment, then we’re going to the coast, where we will snorkel and look at the health of the coral reef and the impacts of pollution. We’re also going to get a chance to experience the culture and meet local people. Our project supports students who are interested in careers in environmental science.” 

“This is the trip of a lifetime. Last year they go to go to Costa Rica and everyone said  it was amazing, and we’re so excited,” said Bergeron.

Information about the trip and the fundraiser, which will be led by science department chair Carol Young, can be found at @Belize2024 on Instagram.