MAPLEWOOD, NJ — On Oct. 14, the Harlem String Quartet visited Columbia High School via an artist-in-residence program curated by the John J. Cali School of Music at Montclair State University. The Harlem String Quartet is the Cali School’s new quartet-in-residence, introducing composer-in-residence Jessie Montgomery and inaugurating a new weekly residency program that will include […]
MAPLEWOOD, NJ — The board of trustees at the Achieve Foundation, a nonprofit organization promoting high-quality education that prepares South Orange–Maplewood School District students for the future, has announced the recipients of its fall 2021 education grant awards. Local SOMA educators will receive $66,000 in grants that fund 34 varied projects and programs to support […]
WEST ORANGE, NJ — The eighth annual West Orange High School Marching Band Invitational, held on Oct. 9 in Suriano Stadium at WOHS, entertained crowds throughout the day as Class A, AA, AAA and AAAA bands performed. The invitational welcomed bands in the New Jersey Marching Band Directors Association circuit, sending the competition season into […]
MAPLEWOOD, NJ — In a recent video and letter home, Columbia High School Principal Frank Sanchez discussed three recent acts of vandalism in a boys bathroom at the school. The video was released Sept. 30 and the letter was sent to the CHS community on Oct. 1. “We reminded students that according to the code […]
MAPLEWOOD / SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — The members of the Columbia High School marching band didn’t even wear their uniforms last year. The fall 2020 season was different from usual, the COVID-19 pandemic still upending what a normal school year looked like even six months after lockdown began in March. So the planned marching band […]
SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD, NJ — The South Orange–Maplewood School District, through a partnership with MediMobile, will be offering weekly, voluntary COVID-19 testing at Columbia High School’s gymnasium parking lot on Valley Street. Testing is open to all district staff and students, the SOMA community, and any Essex County resident. We encourage staff, students and […]
SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD, NJ — After his contract was not renewed at the end of the 2020-2021 school year, former Columbia High School choir director Desmond Moulton requested a Donaldson hearing, which allows nontenured teachers to make their case before the Board of Education. The South Orange–Maplewood BOE did not take action at the […]
MAPLEWOOD, NJ — South Orange–Maplewood Superintendent of Schools Ronald G. Taylor announced July 7 that — after many conversations and assessments of the current security infrastructure at the Underhill facility with our Maplewood Township officials, Maplewood Police Chief Jimmy DeVaul, Board of Education President Thair Joshua and Columbia High School Principal Frank Sanchez — the […]
MAPLEWOOD / SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — A year after the COVID-19 pandemic forced graduation to be a virtual celebration, Columbia High School was able to send the Class of 2021 off into their futures in person, holding this year’s ceremony at Yogi Berra Stadium on the campus of Montclair State University. CHS seniors finally got […]
MAPLEWOOD / SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — The Columbia High School Scholarship Fund has had its most successful year ever despite the challenges of COVID-19. The fund’s friends and supporters, new and old, opened their hearts, allowing the fund to award $200,000 in scholarships to 125 graduating students and CHS alumni. The grants can be used […]