Worries persist that coaches will be let go from CHS

No decision yet, final choice to be made in February

SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD, NJ — South Orange-Maplewood residents are concerned about the positions of Columbia High School varsity baseball coaches Joseph Fischetti and Matthew Becht, following an email sent by the team’s booster club president to parents of returning players, in which he mentions that Superintendent of Schools John Ramos Sr. may not recommend […]

SOMSD shuts down CHS pool to protect students

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — South Orange-Maplewood Superintendent of Schools John Ramos Sr. sent the following letter, in part, to the Columbia High School community on Sept. 1: “We are suspending the use of the Columbia High School pool, effective immediately. We cannot use the pool in its current state without compromising the safety of our students […]

Cougar Prep graduates 23 students from high school readiness program

Cougar Prep graduates 23 students from high school readiness program

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Twenty-three teenagers and their parents gathered Thursday, July 28, at Columbia High School to graduate from Cougar Prep, a four-week high school readiness program for incoming freshmen. Cougar Prep is a collaboration between the South Orange-Maplewood School District and The Loft, managed by FAMILYConnections, preparing rising eighth-graders for the transition from middle […]

With HIB report completed, those involved wait for next step

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — The independent investigator hired by the South Orange-Maplewood School District to look into allegations of bullying against the Columbia High School baseball coaching staff submitted his final report during an executive session of the Board of Education at its special meeting July 7. District spokeswoman Suzanne Turner confirmed to the News-Record that […]

Results of harassment investigation demanded

Former CHS baseball player claims that he was bullied by his coaches

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — The father of a former Columbia High School baseball player, who has long said his son was repeatedly bullied by his coaches, is now demanding to know why the results of the special Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying investigation into the coaching staff have still not been reported roughly four months after they […]

CHS sees changing of the guards for Student Council

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Harrison Woods, right, Columbia High School’s three-time class president and senior Student Council president for the Class of 2016, hands over the gavel to Samori Etienne, left. Etienne will take over as Columbia High School’s 105th CHS Student Council president in the fall. “It has been a great honor to have been […]

Bass Foundation donates scholarship money, laptops to CHS seniors

Bass Foundation donates scholarship money, laptops to CHS seniors

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — The Bass Foundation recently made a donation of $15,000 in college scholarships and 10 laptops to underprivileged graduating high school seniors from Columbia High School in Maplewood. Pictured, Bass Foundation’s N.J. founder and President Tommy Bass, third from left, congratulates the recipients from Columbia High School. The Bass Foundation, established in 1992, […]

Essex County high school teens learn that love shouldn’t hurt

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Does your teenager know the warning signs of an abusive relationship? One in three teens experience verbal or physical abuse from a dating partner. This statistic is the reason that “safe dating” education is now required by law in New Jersey. Participating Essex County high schools — Columbia High School in […]

All-star athlete makes up strong side at Columbia High School

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — While graduation is a time to celebrate accomplishments and look toward our students’ bright futures, it can also be bittersweet. For instance, Columbia High School will be losing one of its most dedicated student-athletes: Jasmine Keegan. The Maplewood resident has lettered in three CHS sports — volleyball, basketball and track and field […]