Page 8 - OCT2025

Page 8 NEWFOUNDLAKELIFE.COM October 2025 Community
Newfound Regional High School Kicks Off the Year with Leadership, Learning, and Community Connections
The 2025-26 school year is off to a fantastic start across the Newfound Area School District, with students and staff excited to be back in action. At Newfound Regional High School, the focus this year includes a variety of career exploration opportunities designed to help students learn about potential future paths.
The first event on the calendar is NH Construction Career Days,
scheduled for September 25 in New Boston. Up to 30 NRHS students will have the chance to experience all aspects of the construction indus- try through hands-on activities and demonstrations.
NRHS also seeks to connect students with local businesses for job shadowing and career learning experiences throughout the year. Local business owners interested in
partnering with the school can con- tact ayeakel@sau4.org for more in- formation.
Summer Tech Skills
Over the summer, 18 incoming freshmen got a jump start on their high school careers through the school’s Tech Skills for Life enrich- ment course. This hands-on pro- gram, run before the school year
connections between students of all ages while allowing teachers to focus on skill building and mentorship rather than traditional homeroom tasks.
Now, students have opportuni- ties to learn from one another, build friendships across grade levels, and strengthen our sense of commu- nity. It’s all about helping kids feel like they belong while learning re- al-world skills.
Advisories will meet regularly, with activities designed to foster communication, collaboration, and personal growth.
Teacher Recognition: Peter Dumont Honored
The school community is also cel- ebrating the achievements of long- time science teacher Peter Dumont, who was named New Hampshire Bi- ology Teacher of the Year last spring.
Dumont will represent New- found this fall at a professional de- velopment conference in Missouri, where top science educators from around the country will share ideas and resources to bring back to their classrooms.
“It’s a huge honor for Peter and for our school,” said Roberts. “We’re thrilled to see his dedication recog- nized at the state and national level.”
Sports Participation on the Rise
Newfound’s student-athletes are also making headlines. In the most recent NHIAA rankings last spring, the Bears finished tied for fifth in Di- vision III and 11th in the entire state.
Even more impressive, 42% of the student body—about 160 kids— are playing fall sports this year, a sign of the school’s growing emphasis on physical fitness, teamwork, and school spirit.
The school is very proud of how many students are getting involved in sports. Sports help kids stay active, build friendships, and learn the value of dedication and hard work.
Newfound Regional High School’s mix of academics, leader- ship programs, and extracurricular opportunities is shaping an excellent school year in which students, teach- ers, and the entire community are working together to help every Bear thrive.
Peter Dumont
began, helped students earn high school credit while sharpening prac- tical technology skills they’ll use in and out of the classroom.
“It’s a great way to help students feel confident coming into high school,” Principal Jason Robert, said. “They’re learning skills they can apply right away, from digital organization to everyday tech tools.”
Peer Mentoring Program Expands
Just before the first day of school, NRHS launched its Life of a Bear peer mentoring program with 40 student leaders participating in a full day of training. Throughout the year, these students will continue leadership development sessions six times with trained facilitators. Their mission: to mentor younger peers, build executive functioning skills, and help everyone feel connected to the Newfound community.
“We want our students to not only succeed academically but also feel supported socially and emotion- ally,” the school said. “This program empowers older students to be role models and create a positive, inclu- sive environment.”
The program represents a larger push at NRHS to help students de- velop soft skills such as leadership, time management, and teamwork— qualities that will serve them long after graduation.
New Advisory Model Connects Grades 9–12
Another big change this year is the school’s revamped advisory sys- tem. Instead of keeping students grouped by grade level, NRHS has mixed students from grades 9 through 12 into the same advisories.
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