2025-2026 WRAP UP!
6/30/2026 5:19 pm
We made it! Back to school, homecoming, homework, sports and activities, testing, finals, prom, "rising" a grade, graduation, and the all-night fun for CHS Seniors of Midnight Madness ... the 2025-2026 school year is a wrap!
The CHS HSA is proud to have worked closely with CHS families, administration, counselors, class advisors, and students to create, coordinate, and fund activities and events that supported and celebrated our students, staff, and faculty.
A huge thank you to everyone in our Columbia High School, Maplewood, and South Orange communities who offered generous donations, contributions, time commitments, and sponsorships to the HSA throughout the year. We could not have done it without you!
Before we fully dive into summer vacation, we're taking a quick look back at some of the things the HSA accomplished this year. It was a busy one!
• The HSA welcomed ALL district faculty and staff with a Back to School Breakfast the day before school started. All year long, the Hospitality Team shared our appreciation for our CHS staff, administration, and teachers with Back to School Night snacks and school supplies, Holiday Cookies, Holiday Brunch, Spring Forward supply restock and breakfast, a May Appreciation Lunch, and an ice cream party in June.
• Cougar Cares worked closely with CHS Counseling to support the CHS Giving Closet, stock always-available snacks, offer period products, and provide emergency gift cards and long weekend/holiday care packages. The Homecoming and Prom Pop-Up Shops offered free formalwear and accessories to all CHS students and middle school students. For Seniors, Cougar Cares helped provide financial assistance for yearbooks, caps and gowns, and prom tickets.
• Midnight Madness knocked it out of the park this year with an overnight adventure at Iron Peak Sports Center for the Class of 2026. By offering fundraising opportunities like flocking, CHS merch through Cougar Shop, and personalized lawn signs for all seniors, the Midnight Madness team made this incredible CHS tradition accessible to all seniors.
• Our Class Parent Reps worked with class advisors and student councils to elevate the CHS experience with events like Homecoming, Senior Prom Red Carpet, and Sophomore and Freshman Field Days and other activities!
• HSA volunteers also supported Programming and Events for students and families, including free, optional SAT/ACT Diagnostic Testing, Grads Return information sessions, College and Career Night, Senior Clap-Outs, Senior Recognition Night, StuCo Tournament concessions, and the Graduation Ceremony.
• The Communications Team kept our CHS community always in the know with weekly newsletters, email alerts, focus blasts, and social media posts. They kept track of every meeting, event, deadline, and parent due date so you didn't have to!
• Our school is more beautiful inside and out thanks to the Beautification Team's enhancements to the Commons area with large planters and plants, completion of the cafeteria mural, teacher bathrooms glow-ups, and a major clean-up that included fresh flowers at the CHS doorstep ahead of Prom Red Carpet. They'll be back this summer to paint student bathrooms!
• Behind the scenes, our Special Education and Climate and Culture Board Members advocated for accessibility, equity, and safety. Our HSA Treasurers, Records and Recording Secretaries, Technology Director, Community Engagement leads, and Fundraising committee dedicated many hours and their expertise to keep us organized, fiscally sound and responsible, and technologically up-to-date.
Again, we are grateful to everyone who stepped up as an HSA Board Member, and for everyone who volunteered their time, donated money, and signed up for snacks, food, and supplies; for everyone who saw a need and said, "HOW CAN I HELP?" None of this could happen without you.
THANK YOU FOR AN INCREDIBLE YEAR!
~ Kai DuBose & Jane Buchanan,
2025-2026 CHS HSA Presidents
