25-26 CHS HSA Fundraiser | Donate Today!

Our No Frills Fundraiser is just that – our biggest and only major fundraiser of the year. It’s All Heart, No Hassle.

Our fundraising is simple and easy: Donate what you can to fund much-needed financial support for our annual HSA budget. Your donation contributes to Cougar Cares, Midnight Madness, campus beautification projects, staff appreciation events, class celebrations, and so much more!

► LEARN MORE & DONATE TODAY

BTS Supply Drive | October 9th

Can you help Cougar Cares stock our CHS classrooms with these most-requested supplies? Simply bring with you to Back To School Night on Thursday 10/9 and drop in the donation bins at the main entrance!

• NEW! gently used or new scientific calculators

• college-ruled paper
• pens and pencils
• hand sanitizer (small size, please)
• disinfecting wipes
• tissues
• lip balm
• nut-free granola bars
• mini bottled water

Thank you for looking out for our CHS community!

Questions? cougarcares@columbiahsa.com

BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT | OCTOBER 9TH

Parents, can you make it to your next class in four minutes?! Find out at Back to School Night!

Meet teachers, gain insight into what your teen will be learning over the year ahead, and tour freshly renovated spaces, like the library and Alumni Commons. Refresh your CHS merch, reconnect with friends and neighbors, and marvel at how grown up our kids are these days. Our CHS Community is amazing!

Thursday 10/9 @ 6:30pm

Free & Reduced Lunch Applications | Due October 17th

Free and Reduced Lunch: It's not just lunch! You may qualify for assistance with summer school, prom tickets, graduation fees, and more. Application packets are available in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole. See if your family qualifies ... apply today!

Applications can be submitted all year long, but to avoid a gap in coverage, previously qualified families must submit their 2025-2026 application by Friday 10/17.

If you would like to pick up a paper application or have questions, please stop by the Cougar Cares info table at CHS Back to School Night this Thursday 10/9 at 6:30pm.

Questions? imoody@somsd.k12.nj.us

Giving Closet | Fall Restock

Can you help CHS Counseling and Cougar Cares restock the CHS Giving Closet? Three easy ways to help CHS students:

SHIP Order from the Cougar Cares Wish List.

DONATE Help fund Cougar Cares' work.

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

Our current biggest needs are:

• Mini bottled water (only the little ones, please)

• Clothing: new socks, new underwear, new/very gently worn t-shirts, gym shorts, sweats, and leggings (full length, please)

• Snacks: cereal variety-packs, rice krispie treats, chewy fruit snacks

• Personal Care: lip balm, deodorant, body wipes

CHS PARENT NIGHTS | TUESDAYS THIS FALL

This fall, spend the evening with CHS counselors and administrators to learn more about the year ahead for each grade. Meetings will be on Tuesdays at 7pm via WebEx.

Missed a meeting? Presentation slides and meeting recordings are available on the CHS Counseling Center site.

Senior Portraits | October 20-22

Class of 2026!
To have a photo in the 2026 yearbook and graduation ceremony, Seniors must sit for a FREE portrait session with Lors Photography.

There is no obligation to purchase prints. For Seniors who missed the summer sessions, Lors will be be back at CHS in October. See the flyer for important details and to sign up for a time slot.

• Monday 10/20, 2:30-9:00pm

• Tuesday 10/21, 2:30-9:00pm

• Wednesday 10/22, 2:30pm-9:00pm

► More info + schedule a session

New Traffic Plan | Starting September 2nd

There's a new traffic plan on the streets around CHS on school days during drop-off and pick-up!

Parker Ave is open to traffic both directions, but student drop-offs along Parker Ave are prohibited. Sections of Kensington, North, Academy, and Beach are one-way before and after school.

Principal Sanchez walks us through it in this short video, but it's also a good idea to familiarize yourself with the full plan.

Cougar Cares | Summer Thanks!

A big thank you from Cougar Cares! We're so grateful for our amazing community who delivered an abundance of water, snacks, and fruit to our CHS students attending summer school.

Between no breakfast or lunch service and hot days coupled with long hours of learning, our students (and teachers and staff on behalf of the students) TRULY appreciated your donations.

A special thank you to MEND Hunger Relief Network for fresh fruit every week and to Morrow Church Women for donating a pizza party on the last day for all of our students (their third year of donating!).

It takes a village, and you all truly made a difference this summer for our kids!

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.