Every month the South Orange – Maplewood Board of Education recognizes students and members of staff for outstanding achievements and awards during the monthly public board meetings. The following people were recognized for their work during the meeting on January 30, 2017.
Columbia High School Math Teacher, Mr. Mark Richman, published a book, “How to Help Your Child Succeed on the SAT/ACT.” Mr. Richman will also be presenting a workshop to the Association of Math Teacher of New Jersey entitled, “Just Let Me Survive Today – Workshop for Math Class Motivation.”
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Taking note of New Jersey’s record of excellence and achievement in public education, Gov. Chris Christie proclaimed January 2017 as School Board Recognition Month. The governor also paid tribute to the “countless hours – with no compensation” that New Jersey’s local board of education members devote “to the oversight and advancement of our children’s education.”
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Five Columbia High School Students were selected as members of the 2016-17 North Jersey Area Honor Band. Three of the students, Gillian Basedow on French horn, Louise Kern-Kensler on trombone & Peter Henderson on traps percussion were accepted as members of the Area Symphonic Band. Students Liana Greenberg on contral-alto clarinet and Adam Friedman-Brown on French horn were selected as members of the Area Wind Ensemble. Mr. Peter Bauer is the Director of Bands.
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The Columbia High School art and literary magazine, Guildscript, received a First Place Award from the American Scholastic Press Association for Top-Scoring Magazine for 2016! The annual magazine received high marks in creativity, organization, and presentation. The Association stated that the Guildscript exhibited “superior efforts of talented and creative editors, writers, artists, photographers, layout/graphic designers, staff members and advisors!” The 2016 Guildscript student leaders were
Editor In Chief: Abigail Merelman Managing
Editor: Hannah Ratner
Writer’s Group Leaders: Eleanor Engelhard, Talia Bar Yaacov, Rosie Patton
Art Editor: Jacob Paul
Photo Editor: Jared Kofsky
Design Editor: Alex Rafkin
The 2016 Guildscript Advisors are Ms. Lauralee Lubrano, and CHS Art Teacher, Ms. Cindy Malhotra.
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Columbia High School sophomore, Allison “Allie” Kofsky has been selected as the sophomore ambassador to represent Columbia High School at the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY) New Jersey State Leadership Development Seminar in June at Kean University. Elizabeth “Elly” Ragone is the alternate. HOBY is an organization dedicated to ‘training and nurturing the young leaders of tomorrow” and the Leadership Seminar is “designed to help high school sophomores develop their leadership talents and become effective, ethical leaders in their home, school, and community.” Outstanding sophomore representatives are chosen based on demonstrated leadership potential.
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Supervisor of Health, Physical Education and Nursing Services, Ms. Judy LoBianco, is the recipient of the 2017 Honor Award for the National Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE America), which she will receive at the Annual Convention in March 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. Ms. Lobianco was also chosen for the Honor Award for 2017 on behalf of the SHAPE America Eastern District. Ms. LoBianco is currently serving on the SHAPE America board of directors and has been nominated for President; the election results will be announced on March 18, 2017.
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Maplewood Middle School Health and PE Teacher Ms. Karen Bonanno will be presenting at the 2017 Annual Convention of the New Jersey Association for Health, PE, Recreation and Dance in February in Long Branch, NJ. Her topic is Party Line Dances for K-12 Physical Education.
