On Tuesday, ConVal High School hosted a community supper and film showcase to celebrate students with learning differences.

Dinner was in the ConVal Cafe, followed by presentations in the Lucy Hurlin Theater. 

The project began in October with seniors Gabby Ramsden and Emma Rodenhiser as a project in Deb Coyne’s business management class at the Region 14 Applied Technology Career Center, and blossomed into an idea for a dinner to applaud students with learning differences.

“Out of 15 years of teaching, no one had the idea before,” Coyne said.

The purpose of the event was to show unity within the district, give voice to those with learning disabilities and raise awareness for students with special needs. Grand Monadnock Rotary Club provided $400 of funding.

“Being the try-hard, honor students we are, we are not going to let this stay a project,” Ramsden said. “We wanted to bring this to life.”

The film festival was R.J. Woodin’s project with digital video and photo teacher Lance Levesque at the ATC. Levesque came up with the idea for a film fest to bring awareness for students with disabilities and brought it to Woodin, who took the idea and ran with it.

Woodin called the event “a really huge step forward for kids with special needs,” and a way “to speak not through words, but through a camera lens.”

In addition to Coyne and Levesque, ATC teachers Sarah Grossi and Jes Madden and math teacher Sam Winslow were part of planning and organizing the event.