The school board unanimously approved the request for two field trips during a regular meeting Tuesday evening.

The first was an approval for ConVal High School students in conjunction with Conant High School Interact Club to fly to Nicaragua in April 2017.

Students on the trip will support the construction of a house with an outside stove for a family in an impoverished area.

Before approving the request, a school board member reminded the room that Nicaragua currently has a travel advisory in place.

The U.S. Department of State is warning travelers about increased government scrutiny of foreigners’, new requirements for volunteer groups and the potential for demonstrations during the upcoming election season in Nicaragua. The alert expires on Nov. 30.

“We never want to take our students into danger,” Superintendent Kimberly Saunders said.

She said if the advisory remains in place, the board will revisit the topic.

“If the travel advisory is still going on that would be an active conversation between myself, the high school principal and the trip advisor,” Saunders said.

Airline tickets have not been purchased yet, but the trip advisor said when that happens they will also buy travel insurance in case scheduling changes need to be made.

The school board also approved a field trip request for South Meadow School eighth grade students to travel by bus to see America’s historical sites.

They will see Independence Hall, the Gettysburg Battlefield, and many places in Washington D.C.

Another proposed trip to Ecuador has been cancelled due to a lack of participation.

An announcement was also made to the board that Robin Croteau’s spring oceanography class won an honorable mention award in the film category of the 2016 Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Student Contest.

The entire class collaborated on an animated short film, entitled “Hello Me, Goodbye Sea,” which contained all-original illustrations and text.

The submission stood out among more than 1,200 high school entries submitted from around the world.

Bow Seat works to inspire the next generation of ocean caretakers through education and engagement with the arts, science, and advocacy.

As honorable mention winners, the oceanography class are recipients of a cash award.