The School District of South Orange and Maplewood is happy to announce that 3 Columbia High School alumni staff are part of NJ.com’s list of top 99 coaches of all time.Please join us in celebrating Daryl White (Fencing), Gene Chyzowych (Boys Soccer), and Johanna Wright (Girls Basketball).
Through an initial $30,000 combined grant from the Frank and Lydia Bergen Foundation and the Montclair State University Foundation, the Cali School and SOMSD piloted an Arts Institute in South Orange-Maplewood for a second year in a row. The Arts Institute included K-12 during-and-after-school lessons and classes, courses for college credit, and more — all taught by professors (including members of the NY Philharmonic and Metropolitan Opera), as well as graduate students from the school.
This year’s curriculum included an African Drumming program at Seth Boyden, during and after school lessons and masterclasses at the middle and high schools, a jazz ensemble at Columbia High School, and more, reaching over 200 students K-12.
The full story can be viewed by visiting the Montclair University website.
2019 Summer Reading List
This was the third consecutive year Columbia High School participated in the New Jersey State Teen Arts Festival on May 30th, 2019 at Ocean County College.
South Orange Maplewood Schools was the only district from Essex County participating in the New Jersey Teen Arts Festival for the 3 year in a row. Sixteen CHS Visual Art and Photography students had work on display at the festival from May 29th to May 31st. These students are, Christopher Lopez, Desiree Hume, Elliot Dix, Freya Zaccerelli, Iman Zubieta, Jesser Pilato, Jorden Fastov, Laura Rafolo, Lucia Garritano, Miriam Sorkin, Naomi McMechen, Rowan Slater, Shakeelah Gilkes, Tayor Goodson.
In addition, Iman Zubieta, Josie Lally, Eliot Dix and Rowan Slater were selected to be part of the 2019- 2020 NJ State Teen Arts Touring Exhibition.
District involvement in the annual New Jersey Teen Arts Festival was initiated and led by Fine Arts Supervisor James A. Manno who secured participation by coordinating efforts with festival director and by providing student product entries via a digital adjudication process.
Special thanks to this year’s participating teachers Jon Fisher (Photography), Karen Murphy (Visual Art), Nicole Thomas (Visual Art), Alexandra Cappucci (Visual Art).
The 2019 Columbia High School “Hall of Fame” Induction Ceremony will take place on Wed., 6/5 in the CHS Auditorium in two assembly programs from 9:13-10:13 am and 10:17-11:17 am. This year’s inductees are Bisa Butler and Ibtihaj Muhammad.
As many residents of the South Orange-Maplewood community are aware, Columbia High School is a special place! Many CHS graduates have gone on, and continue to go on to do great things in the world – from doctors, to lawyers, to activists, actors, athletes, artists, musicians, producers, designers, the list goes on!
In the mid-1980’s, the CHS “Hall of Fame” Committee was established as part of Student Council, to recognize the vast accomplishments of its graduates. In 1985, the Hall of Fame inducted its first two alumni – Senior U.S. Circuit Judge, Amalya Kearse, and world renown actor, Roy Schneider. Since then, every year, the committee has inducted anywhere from 1-4 former students who had demonstrated academic excellence during their time at CHS, and have gone on to influence the world around them in positively meaningful ways.
On Wed., 6/5, we will induct two more alumni, whom you may know, who have gone on to do great things in South Orange, Maplewood, and beyond!
This special event is open to all CHS students, faculty, staff, and members of the Board of Education. The 2019 CHS Hall of Fame inductees’ names will be made known to CHS students, faculty, staff, and the public the day before the event on Tue., 6/4.
