Thursday, September 28, 2023
What every Raider needs to know today:
Today, Thursday, September 28 is an early release day.
All 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students will be taking the Practice ACT. Testing students should arrive by 7:30 am. Classroom assignments are listed throughout the building. 12th graders will attend a wellness workshop tomorrow. Check your email for information and report time. All students will be released at 11:15 and transportation home will be provided. Grab n Go lunches may be picked up before leaving the building.
All JVS students will be transported to and from school on Thursday, September 28 but JVS students will need to provide their own transportation from CHS to their homes on September 28 and September 29.
There is no school for CHS students on Friday, September 29.
Columbia homecoming weekend: The Columbia homecoming football game is Friday, October 6. The dance is Saturday, October 7 from 7:00-10:00 pm at CHS. If you plan to bring a guest who does not attend Columbia Schools, you must have a guest form completed and approved by Mr. Siftar or Mr. Ward prior to purchasing a ticket. Tickets are $20 pre-sale and $25 at the door and are on sale through October 7th before and after school and during lunch periods. Seniors vote for homecoming court September 25-28th and all students will vote on King/Queen from Oct. 2 through Oct. 5 ballots will be sent on a google form through student emails. King and Queen will be announced at the ceremony on Friday, October 6.
The Cross Country and track teams are selling Columbia Socks. Check out the flier for more information.
Picture Day at CHS was Wednesday, September 20 in the high school gym. It is not too late to order. Click here for the online ordering information.
If you were absent or once received, are not happy with your pictures, picture retake day is Friday, October 20 from 10:30-1:00.
Note: 12th grade students will not be photographed on this day. Picture day for 12th graders for yearbook purposes will be in January. Check out the flier for this exciting new opportunity for Senior mini sessions.
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. Mr. Torbert will be at the JVS to meet with seniors on Thursday, November 9 and will return to take orders at the JVS on November 14 and December 14. Orders may also be placed online at jostens.com.
Back to School forms are OVERDUE on your OneView account and must be completed immediately. Parents/Guardians who have yet to complete received an email on Monday. If you need assistance, please contact Mrs. Kobe in the main office at CHS. Please complete by Friday, September 15.
Chromebook Insurance is available for the 2023-2024 school year. Indicate your choice to purchase insurance on your OneView form. Cash or check payable to CHS may be dropped off in the main office. This optional insurance must be purchased by October 6, after that date it will not be avaiable. Insurance may not be paid on the PaySchools site.
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.
Yearbooks are in! They are available for pickup during regular school hours.
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!
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.
Report Cards: You may access and print a pdf. of your student’s report card in PowerSchool from your child's account.
Attention Parents and Students: 2022-2023 school fees have been assessed to your account. Fee letters were mailed on June 7 with outstanding fees to all home residences. Information on payment and due dates are listed on the fee letter. 2022-2023 school fees are overdue. Please pay to enable students to use school transportation for extracurricular activities.
Immunizations for the Class of 2024: Attention parents: The Ohio Department of Health (ODH), under Ohio Revised Code 3701.13 and 3313.671, requires all students entering the 12th grade to provide written proof that they have received 2 doses of the Meningococcal (meningitis) vaccine. Your child may have already had this vaccine; however, the school may not have proof on file. Please click on the link to see vaccination requirements for school-age children. Click here to view the vaccination letter. PROOF OF VACCINATION were DUE September 11, 2023.
Upcoming Meetings:
Guidance Office News:
Students looking for community service should stop in the guidance office. See Mrs. Hechko.
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:
Girls Basketball Open Gym is Thursday 9/28 from 5-6 pm in the gym.
Reminder to all 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. If tryouts are involved with the sports team, pay-to-participate fees are due once the teams are chosen.
Did You Know? Columbia High School offers gymnastics as a winter sport. Last year we had two girls participate and we'd love to see the program grow!! Our girls practice at the Buckeye Activity Center with Coach Kristin. Coach Kristin would be happy to go over scheduling and tuition details with those who are interested. You can email her at [email protected].
Attention Raider Fans: No air horns or amplified noisemakers are permitted in the stadium or 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!
Attention Athletes: Athletic forms on OneView are now open for the 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) were due on the sports picture day, August 11. 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 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. Check out our job posting board in the main entrance hall at CHS for more employment opportunities.
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Miscellaneous Information:
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.
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.
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