Superintendent's Message
I hope this correspondence finds you and your loved ones well. As we reflect on this unprecedented first month of school, I would be remiss to not recognize the herculean (if not heroic) effort of our teachers and administrators to make our virtual start a success. We also want to recognize and thank our students and parents for your patience, trust, and support as we travel on this journey together.
Please be aware that we as District leaders meet daily to review our current circumstances and discuss how we can improve the learning experience for our students and teachers. Although we are thoroughly immersed in ensuring the success of virtual learning (it has become all-encompassing), we are indeed still moving forward expeditiously preparing with a goal of returning to our school buildings as soon as it is safely possible.
Educationally Yours,
Dr. Ronald G. Taylor
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Three Columbia High students named National Merit Scholarship SemifinalistThe South Orange and Maplewood School District Board of Education is pleased to announce the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) has announced the names of approximately 16,000 semifinalists in the annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Among the academically talented HS students named are three seniors from Columbia High School: Matthew D. Krause, Daniel J. Palumbo, and Julia A. Vitale. All three will have an opportunity to continue to the 2021 National Merit® Scholarship Program competition. The nationwide pool of semifinalists, representing less than 1% of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state. | Former Seth Boyden Student, Elisha Blake-Wasden Raises $1K and Curates Books for Students A former Seth Boyden student, Elisha Blake-Wasden, and current SOMS eighth-grader, raised over $1,000 to purchase books for Seth Boyden students who participated in the summer Rising Stars program. He carefully curated the books, inserted them in canvas packs, and tied them off with a note of well-wishes from one reader to another. He and His Mom delivered them to Seth Boyden where they are soon to be distributed to Rising Star Readers. | CHS's Newspaper Wins First Place from the American Scholastic Press AssociationColumbia High School’s newspaper, The Columbian, has earned the first place award in an annual competition held by the American Scholastic Press Association for the sixth year in a row. The national competition is open to any and all student-run newspapers from across the country. Entries are critiqued on journalistic content, journalistic decision-making, visual layout and design, photography, illustration, and overall editing. Columbia High School’s (CHS) newspaper team tallied enough points in each category to earn themselves a first-place position for the sixth year in a row. Read more. |
Three Columbia High students named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist
The South Orange and Maplewood School District Board of Education is pleased to announce the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) has announced the names of approximately 16,000 semifinalists in the annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Among the academically talented HS students named are three seniors from Columbia High School: Matthew D. Krause, Daniel J. Palumbo, and Julia A. Vitale. All three will have an opportunity to continue to the 2021 National Merit® Scholarship Program competition. The nationwide pool of semifinalists, representing less than 1% of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state.
Former Seth Boyden Student, Elisha Blake-Wasden Raises $1K and Curates Books for Students
CHS's Newspaper Wins First Place from the American Scholastic Press Association
Columbia High School’s newspaper, The Columbian, has earned the first place award in an annual competition held by the American Scholastic Press Association for the sixth year in a row. The national competition is open to any and all student-run newspapers from across the country. Entries are critiqued on journalistic content, journalistic decision-making, visual layout and design, photography, illustration, and overall editing. Columbia High School’s (CHS) newspaper team tallied enough points in each category to earn themselves a first-place position for the sixth year in a row. Read more.
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Parent/Guardian Virtual Instruction "Best Practices" The Parent/Guardian Virtual Learning Best Practices” will help to guide families in the virtual learning setting. Following these best practices will ensure that teachers are able to teach students effectively in a safe environment; and will provide all students with the comfort and safety to express themselves freely with their instructors and peers during their live instruction. Please click here to download and view the document. | Elementary Social Work Counseling Program OfferingsThe Elementary School Social Work Program offers counseling services for students at each of South Orange and Maplewood School District's elementary schools. The program offers remote individual and small group counseling with a social work intern. Its aim is to remove barriers to success and to provide students with the social/ emotional support necessary for them to get the most out of their school experience. For more information click here. | Fall 2020 Food Support Programs & InformationLearn more about Fall 2020 food support programs for the District. This fall, the District's lunch program continues and is open to all students with pick-up times from Monday - Friday | 12:15pm - 2:45pm (please note the time is subject to change) at CHS and Seth Boyden Elementary School. Additional information on pantry distribution with local partners, CHS Cougar Cares and SOMA Shares can be found on the District website in English, Spanish & Haitian Creole: https://bit.ly/2RwXSRm |
Parent/Guardian Virtual Instruction "Best Practices"
Elementary Social Work Counseling Program Offerings
The Elementary School Social Work Program offers counseling services for students at each of South Orange and Maplewood School District's elementary schools. The program offers remote individual and small group counseling with a social work intern. Its aim is to remove barriers to success and to provide students with the social/ emotional support necessary for them to get the most out of their school experience. For more information click here.
Fall 2020 Food Support Programs & Information
Learn more about Fall 2020 food support programs for the District. This fall, the District's lunch program continues and is open to all students with pick-up times from Monday - Friday | 12:15pm - 2:45pm (please note the time is subject to change) at CHS and Seth Boyden Elementary School. Additional information on pantry distribution with local partners, CHS Cougar Cares and SOMA Shares can be found on the District website in English, Spanish & Haitian Creole: https://bit.ly/2RwXSRm
The School District of South Orange & Maplewood
