Tuesday, December 5, 2023
What every Raider needs to know today:
Hungry for something delicious tonight? Class of 2027 is having a Chipotle fundraiser today, Tuesday, December 5th from 5-9pm at the Pearl Rd. location. ORDER ONLINE FOR PICKUP USING CODE KQMD39F OR SHOW THIS FLIER IN RESTAURANT. Thank you for your part in ensuring a safe and successful afterprom for the class of 27.
Congratulations to our band and choir on their enjoyable concert last night! It certainly puts everyone in the holiday mood. Great job!
We welcome our Columbia Senior citizens and grandparents to Key Club's biannual senior citizens breakfast on Wednesday, December 6 at 8:30 am. Please be kind and courteous to our visitors in the building tomorrow.
Congratulations to Sophia Crowe and Merrill Edleman who have been honored as the November Senior Students of the Month. Watch for their pictures and bios in the Rural Urban.
MAPS testing is this week. Tomorrow, Wednesday, Dec. 6: Biology classes and Thursday, Dec. 7 Algebra 1, Algebra 2 and Geometry. First period begins at 9:03 each day and we will follow an adjusted bell schedule . Check the schedule to make sure you are not late for class. Check the classroom assignments for testing outside
the main and guidance offices and hallways.
December Spirit Days: All staff and students are encouraged to participate in December Spirit Days. Check out the the calendar, plan your wardrobe, and have the opportunity to win daily prizes as well as earn points for your house. Show your December spirit as we move toward the holiday break.
NHS Food Drive boxes will be placed in all Friday Raider Rally Groups today, December 1st. Collections of non-perishable food items will take place through Friday, December 15th. Each collected non-perishable food item will count for House Points and the Friday Rally Group that collects the most items will receive donuts. Regardless of when you bring in items, only place them in your Friday Raider Rally Teacher’s collection box. Students will come around at the end of the day throughout the next two weeks to collect any donated items. See Mr. Maykut if you have any questions!
Join us for our Spring Musical The Addams Family: School Edition. All High Schoolers are welcome to audition in the month of December. The first part of our audition process is our individual vocal & acting auditions on December 6th. You can sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4AACA82CA3F5C16-46364575-spring#/No prior experience is necessary, see Ms. Dzielski if you need any help throughout the audition process. Check out the flier for more information. You won't want to miss this outrageously fun show!
The PBIS House Hallway Competition must be completed by December 5. Seniors Citizens from our biannual breakfast will judge the hallways on December 6, and the administration staff will judge the doors. The top 3 Holiday/Winter Doors will win a hot chocolate bar on December 17.For the Hallways: 1st place receives 200 house points and donuts on December 8. 2nd place house hallway-150 points. 3rd place house hallway-100 points. 4th place house hallway-50 points. Good luck!
Toys for Tots: Help us fill our Toys for Tots box with a new toy by December 8 and put a smile on a child’s face.
Tickets for the Student Council Winter Ball are on sale beginning Tuesday, December 5 and can be purchased on Mondays & Fridays during 2nd Period and Tuesdays and Thursdays during Lunch. The dance takes place on Saturday, January 20 from 8-10pm. Tickets are $10 presale. Tickets will be on sale until break and once we return. Prices will increase when we return from break. Check out the flier here. Guest forms for the Winter Ball are available here as well as in the main office. These must be returned and approved prior to a guest ticket purchase.
Current School fees for the 2023-2024 school year have been assessed to all student accounts and fee letters will be mailed home the week of November 13. You may pay fees on the PaySchools website or bring cash or check to the high school office. All current school year fees as well as any past fees were due October 30 for students to use school transportation for extracurricular activities. If you require a fee payment plan, please contact Mrs. Kobe at 440-236-5001 or [email protected].
Reminder to all winter athletes: You must have a valid physical prior to the start of your mandatory practices, as well as have your OneView online forms completed one week prior to your first mandatory practice! Check with Trainer Adam to make sure your physical is current. School fees must be paid in full before using school transportation to away sites. PAY TO PARTICIPATE IS DUE BY YOUR ASSIGNED PICTURE DAY. If tryouts are involved with the sports team, pay-to-participate fees are due once the teams are chosen.
Winter sports: Important information and picture day: Click on the picture order form or place your order online . You may still order for 48 hours and then online ordering will close for approximately two weeks to process. After that period, online ordering will reopen. Photo questions can be directed to Cavanaugh photography at 440.973.4390.
Raider Esports is recruiting for the upcoming Winter season. If you are interested in representing the school in Fortnite, Overwatch, Rocket League, Super Smash Brothers, Mario Kart or Chess; contact Mr Reynolds for information on how to sign up.
Sophomores and Seniors: If you missed the order date for caps/gowns/senior items and rings, mail your order to the address on the form in your packet. Orders may also be placed online at jostens.com. Jostens will return to take orders at the JVS on December 14.
Do you have a great photo from a Columbia activity or event that you think would be great in the 2024 yearbook? Upload it to this link for possible inclusion in the 2024 yearbook! This link requires a username. Columbia's is 0FVLV9kSyeqrrDeEhsJeqBg.
Upcoming Meetings:
LEADERS CLUB: Thursday, December 7 from 3-4pm in the cafeteria for ornament decorating.
Guidance Office News:
College Now representative, Jamie Vega Hamilton will visit Columbia High School throughout the school year. Click here to book an appointment for assistance with all college, financial aid and scholarship information.
Report Cards: You may access and print a pdf. of your student’s report card in PowerSchool from your child's account.
Early Release and Late Arrival forms must be completed if you would like to participate in this privilege. The GPA requirement is a minimum of 2.0. Turn in completed forms to the guidance office prior to the day you would like to begin using this privilege.
All students who are enrolled in CCP classes off campus as well as high school classes during the school year may complete a permission slip to leave the high school when they are not scheduled in a class. These slips must be signed by a parent and returned to the guidance office. Students will not be permitted to leave during the school day without this signed acknowledgment from a parent or guardian.
Community Service - All students need to have 20 hours of community service completed and verification forms turned in to the Guidance office. Summer community service does count for this graduation requirement. Please email Mrs. Hechko at [email protected] if you have any questions.
Sports News:
Attention Athletes: Athletic forms on OneView are now open for the winter 2023-2024 athletic seasons. You may access your OneView account from the high school home page. Forms must be completed prior to your child participating in 2023-2024 athletic programs. All sections of your child's OneView account and current physicals are uploaded no later than one week before the season begins. If you are unable to upload your child's physical form, all hard copies must be handed to Trainer Adam by the deadline above. Students will be denied participation in any practice or scrimmage if the online forms are not completed by the deadline. All athletes must have a valid physical by the first day of practice. Go to the OneView portal on our website to complete. Please note, that you will be prompted to upload your child’s current physical form. Please upload the physical in PDF format. All pages must be scanned as one document and then uploaded. If you are unable to upload the physical form, please bring it to the main office and we will scan and upload it for you. The hard copy of your child’s current physical form must be on file or submitted to your child’s coach/director no later than the first official day of practice. Instructions on completion of the forms are available here. OHSAA sports physicals are valid for one calendar year. If you experience difficulty, you may email Mrs. Kobe at [email protected] or Trainer Adam at [email protected] with the physical or drop it off at the office or with Trainer Adam.
Pay to participate fees of $150 per sport per season (fall, winter, and spring) are due on the sports picture day each season. There is an option to pay the athletic participation fee through the PayForIt system or bring cash or a check to the main office. If paying online, please forward your receipt with the team/activity your child is participating into Beth Kobe at [email protected] to verify payment and update our records. There is a family cap of $300 per season. Past due academic fees are due before athletes can board any school transportation to away sights. You may request a payment plan by contacting Beth Kobe at 440-236-5001 or by email request to the email above. Please pay these fees asap, they are now overdue.
Athletic Season passes are available for purchase in the main office for home athletic events. Senior Citizen Passes may be picked up in the High School's main office as well. Again this year, the senior citizen pass will admit senior citizens to all LC8 home and away events, as well as all Columbia home games. Senior citizens should pick up a pass so they can use it at the LC8 away games. Passes are good for those 62 years old and older.
Attention Raider Fans: No amplified noise makers or air horns are permitted in the gym.
Important Notice for Family and Fans supporting CLSD events! Columbia Local Schools will use online ticketing for all onsite events at the stadium through the TicketSpicket platform. Buying tickets online will save you time getting into the event! Cash sales will be accepted at the gates for any CLSD events that require paid tickets. Event passes may be purchased in the high school office for HS events; middle school office for middle school events as well and senior citizen passes. These are not available at the gate. Review this informational letter from Mr. Ward with details to purchase and pass details.
Hey Students! Stop in the main office and buy your 5-event student athletic pass for only $20. This can be used at any home athletic event throughout the school year. If you buy your ticket online you pay $7.85 per ticket. The five-event pass will save you a total of $19.25 over the admission of five events.
Is your wardrobe ready for our current sports season? Looking for some new RaiderWear? Check out Columbia Athletic Boosters' newest styles! Go to our link and follow the directions on ordering your gear. Go Raiders!
Athletic Booster membership forms and information are available and online. Please consider joining and help support 7th-12th grade CLSD athletics.
Community Service:
Graduation requirement of community service hours. The community service log form is available in the offices at CHS and from Mrs. Meadows at LCJVS as well as on the website. Turn in log forms to Mrs. Hechko as they are completed. All students are required to complete this graduation requirement of 20 hours. Students should attempt to complete 5 hours per school year. Hours completed over the summer are eligible for use as required hours for graduation.
Employment Opportunities:
LIFEGUARD AND WSI POSITIONS AVAILABLE: Attention students ages 15 and older! Get a head start in your future medical, Police, Fire, or EMS career by working as a Lifeguard. The Strongsville Rec is in need of certified lifeguards. Their starting pay rate is at $14/hr with opportunities to earn up to $16/hr. Please visit the Strongsville Rec Center’s website at www.strongsville.org/departments/human-resources or call 440-580-3260 for more information and check out the flier here. Chalet Toboggan chutes are now hiring at the Strongsville Mill Stream Run Reservation: See the posting here and at the jobs board at CHS.
Check out our job posting board in the main entrance hall at CHS for more employment opportunities.
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Miscellaneous Information:
Congratulations to Delaney Friscone and Isaac Ciryak who have been chosen as Senior Students of the Month for October. Watch for their pictures and bios displayed in the showcase in the front hall at CHS and in an upcoming edition of the Rural Urban. Congratulations Delaney and Isaac.
Parking Permit applications: New applications are now available for the 2023-2024 school year. Please read the information provided before turning in your application. Completed applications may be dropped off or emailed to Mrs. Kobe at [email protected]. A copy of your driver's license and proof of insurance must be submitted with the application. Payment and/or proof of payment must be presented to pick up the permit during regular school hours. The fee of $30 for a full year may be paid by cash, check, or on the PayForIt site under optional fees.
Seniors: If you have completed your parking permit application and paid, you may paint your spot! Get all the details here and happy designing! ****Prior-year permits are no longer valid.
Chromebook Insurance is no longer available for purchase for the 2023-2024 school year.
Yearbooks are in! They are available for pickup during regular school hours.
Reminder for students and parents leaving CHS by vehicle: Drivers, if you are turning left (traveling west) onto 82, please exit through White Hall’s parking lot to West River Road and proceed to the light. DO NOT take a left when exiting by the Methodist Church.
Attention Students: Only in season athletes will have access to leave practice bags in the school locker rooms before the tardy bell each morning. All school related materials need to be in your lockers in the hallways of CHS. No other students are to be in the locker rooms for any reason during the school day.
Families may add monies to their PaySchools (PayForIt) account to cover meal costs and extras for their children. See the user guide here for setting up an account and for frequently asked questions. The 2023-2024 school year Application for Free and Reduced Meals can now be accessed and filled out. If you would like to submit an application, you may download the form here. Please make sure all past school fees and lunch charges have been paid, as the release of transcripts and diplomas are held for unpaid fees. School transportation for extracurricular activities will also be denied. If you would like to set up a payment plan, please contact Mrs. Kobe in the main office at 440-236-5001. You may pay your school fees through the PaySchoolsCentral system online through the school’s website. You may also pay in the main office with cash, check, or credit card in the main office at CHS.
Columbia High School issued Chromebooks and chargers: Students are responsible for keeping Chromebooks in good working order. If you have a damaged Chromebook that is not working properly, bring it to the main office for repair. If you have lost or damaged your charger, you are responsible for replacing it. They are available on Amazon. Make sure you check the model name before ordering a replacement.
School transportation to home residences for CHS students and JVS students is available in the afternoon. JVS students are provided with transportation to and from the JVS. The morning JVS bus leaves the High School at 6:50 am sharp. Any day that Columbia High School has an early release or a professional development day, there will be no transportation home from the High School on these days. Please check the school calendar to the right on our home page.
Attention Parents: Please take a moment to read the CLSD attendance policy. Please call in absences on the high school main line at 440-236-5001 and ask for Mrs. Boetticher, attendance secretary. For more information, please click here and scroll down to the attendance section.
Power School Information: Access PowerSchool from the HS website. If you are using the mobile app the district code is ZZGS.
If your child is a new student attending Columbia High School, online registration must be completed on our OneView link. Click on our enrollment/registration tab on the left of this page for complete information.
-- All academic fees, fines, lunch charges, and the return of any CLSD property, including textbooks and uniforms, must be taken care of before diplomas and/or transcripts are released. Please make sure all debts are paid asap. Pay on your PayForIt account online or bring money or a check payable to CHS to the main office.
School Meals for the 2023-2024School Year: As of August 2023, the federal government will no longer subsidize meals for ALL students. Meal prices for the 2022-2023 school year are:
- Student Breakfast $2.00
- Student Lunch $3.50
- Milk $0.55
*** Freshmen will take the 9th grade version of the Pre ACT test . Freshmen will tour the college fair in the gym upon completion of the test.
*** Sophomores will take the 10th grade Pre ACT, and will tour the college fair folowing upon completion of the test.
*** Juniors will take the PSAT/NMSQT and will be dimissed at 11:15. Scores on the PSAT/NMSQT test may qualify juniors for the National Merit Scholarship contest.
*** Seniors have an 8:15 arrival time and start the day with our recent graduates panel discussion in the cafeteria. Seniors will then attend the college, career and military fair in the gym. Seniors will be dismissed after the college fair and will have the remainder of the day to complete community service or to take a college visit.
MAPS testing takes place this week: Tuesday, Dec. 5: English classes, Wednesday, Dec. 6: Biology classes and Thursday, Dec. 7 Algebra 1, Algebra 2 and Geometry. First period begins at 9:03 each day and we will follow an adjusted schedule.