With lunch space at Columbia High School at a premium — and following on their recent renovation of the CHS teachers’ and custodians’ lounges — the CHS Cougar Boosters are taking on a new project that aims to ease the lunch crunch and create a welcoming outdoor gathering space for the entire school community.
The Boosters are taking on the school’s underused and overgrown courtyard, with plans to transform it into a functional outdoor space where students can eat lunch, gather with friends, and enjoy some fresh air during the school day.
“Our primary goal is to create additional lunch seating for students during good weather, helping to ease the demand for indoor lunch space,” said CHS Boosters President Cathy Clammer. “But the possibilities extend well beyond lunchtime! The courtyard is directly connected to the CHS auditorium, so we’re also excited about the potential for families to use the space during intermissions at school musicals, concerts, and other performances, weather permitting. It could also serve as a gathering space for teachers and other school and community events.”
Work is already underway, said Clammer. Earlier this month, Booster volunteers spent a Saturday clearing overgrown landscaping, pruning trees, and weeding. “Our plans include removing the old pond, installing a gravel or pebble ground cover, and adding outdoor tables and seating to create a comfortable, inviting space students will actually want to use.”
To help pay for it all, the Boosters are hosting a “Back to School with the Boosters” Community Fundraiser – October 22 at St. James’s Gate Publick House in Maplewood from 6:30–9:30 p.m.
The event is FREE and open to the community and will include appetizers, a complimentary drink ticket courtesy of the Boosters for the first 50 guests, drink specials, football squares, and Thursday Night Football. The Boosters will raise funds by asking guests to consider making an optional donation toward the courtyard renovation. “It’s a chance for CHS parents, alumni, and community members to get together, have some fun, and support a project that will directly benefit students,” said Clammer.
Those who can’t make the event, can donate here.
“Every contribution, big or small, will help us purchase the materials, tables, and supplies needed to bring this space to life,” said Clammer.
Donate to the CHS Courtyard Renovation:
https://chscougarboosters.org/
