CULTIVATE COLUMBIA | JUNE 7

Help the CHS HSA Beautification Team clean up the front of the school in time for Prom!

Volunteers will be weeding, planting, and picking up trash and debris from around the front of the school. Bring your gardening gloves and any other gardening tools you have. We will provide the trash bags.

This event is RAIN OR SHINE!

Students and parents are welcome

RSVP here, please

MIDNIGHT MADNESS | Lawn Signs are Ready!

Senior Sign orders are in!
And, even better, our CHS community contributed so generously to the Sign Fund that we were able to order a personalized Class of 2026 lawn sign for every single Senior.

Seniors, please stop by the CHS Cafeteria during P9 until 3:30pm on Wednesday 5/27, Thursday 5/28, or Friday 5/29 to pick up your sign. The last pick-up day will be Saturday 5/30, 10am-1pm in front of the school.

MIDNIGHT MADNESS | TIX ON SALE!

Midnight Madness — a CHS tradition for over 35 years — takes the Senior class on a mystery overnight experience right after graduation on June 17th. The destination is top secret and won't be revealed until the Class of 2026 arrives at the venue.

Registration is now open! Tickets are $95 per student.

Every CHS Senior is welcome, regardless of ability to pay. Please consider sponsoring a student ... it's easy to donate on the registration page. If you need financial assistance, you can request it while registering.

► Register (and donate) here

Questions? midnightmadness@columbiahsa.com

More About Midnight Madness

IMPORTANT DATES | CLASS OF 2026

5/27-30 Senior Lawn Sign Pick Up, Cafeteria @ P9-3:30pm

6/2 Senior Recognition Night (by invitation), Auditorium @ 7pm

6/5 MapSO Lavender Graduation, Auditorium @ 7pm (register by 5/28)

6/9 Senior Prom, Red Carpet Opens @ 3:30pm

6/15 & 6/16 Rehearsal, Auditorium @ 8-10am

6/16 Graduation Tickets Distributed (after rehearsal, FIVE per family)

6/16 Senior Clap Outs, SOMSD Elementary Schools @ 11am (Delia Bolden only @ 11:35am)

6/17 CHS Class of 2026 Graduation, Codey Arena @ 6pm

6/17 Midnight Madness, Check In @ 8:30pm (more info + tickets)

► 2026 CHS Graduation Letter (April 2026)

MIDNIGHT MADNESS | SPONSORS NEEDED

Do you own a local business or know someone who does? Midnight Madness is seeking local business and individual sponsors for this year's event.

Midnight Madness is a milestone event for the Class of 2026 but it can't happen without community support. Whether you have your own business, can connect us with a local business owner, or want to show your support for the Class of 2026 as a family, sponsorships — for as little as $125 and upwards to $2,500 — play a vital role in ensuring EVERY senior can attend this overnight adventure.

You can help by signing up yourself or asking your local connections to join as a sponsor!

► Learn more about supporting Midnight Madness as a Sponsor

April is Alcohol Awareness Month. As a substance-free event, Midnight Madness is a partner of the Maplewood/South Orange Municipal Alliance, a group working to keep our towns healthy and free of drug and alcohol abuse. If you are questioning your substance use, self-assessment is an essential first step.

GIVING CLOSET | SPRING REFRESH

Spring weather is here, and a change in season always means we see more students visiting the CHS Giving Closet. Supplies are rapidly dwindling — can you help restock the closet?

• Deodorant

• T-shirts and shorts. All sizes, all genders. New or like-new, please.

• Chewy granola bars and trail mix packets

• Maxi pads and tampons

Three easy ways to help:

Order online. Direct to CHS! Order from the Cougar Cares Wish List.

Donate. We're happy to do the shopping for you! Help fund Cougar Cares' work.

Shop and drop. Purchase locally and email cougarcares@columbiahsa.com for drop-off locations.

Thank you for supporting CHS students!

Questions? cougarcares@columbiahsa.com

YOUR HSA IN ACTION | APRIL APPRECIATION

We had the best time celebrating everyone who helps make the circle of support complete at CHS at our "Spring Forward" Staff Appreciation Breakfast on April 10th.

The HSA provided bagels, pastries, granola bars, fruit, yogurt, and smoothies. And our amazing CHS families really came through with donations for pencils, pens, markers, sticky notes, hand sanitizer, tissues, vitamin C packets, gum, mints, hand lotion, and more!
Everyone left refreshed, restocked, and ready to tackle the last quarter of the school year.

Thank you for donating and volunteering ... your support made this event extra special! The next appreciation event — our annual Spring Luncheon — is in early May. Details soon! ❤️

Thank you for sharing the love with our CHS Staff!

CLUBS & SPORTS

There's something for everyone at CHS! An incredible number of clubs and activities and sports are available to students. Students should check daily Canvas announcements for info on time/location of club meetings.

Questions? Please reach out to Ms. Winstead, Director of Athletics and Student Activities at swinstea@somsd.k12.nj.us

Daily Canvas Emails

One of the best ways to stay up-to-the-minute about CHS info is Mr. Sanchez's daily Canvas announcements delivered straight to your inbox. Not getting those emails? Follow our handy guide to update notification settings in your Canvas account.

SIGN UP FOR OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER!

Everything our CHS families need to know for the week ahead (and beyond)! Delivered straight to your inbox every Monday morning.

You will be prompted to log in. If you already have a Membership Toolkit account with an SOMSD school or another organization, you can use the same log-in here.