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STORIES
Our stories are all about the interesting people, places and things in Maplewood.
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ELECTRONIC AFTERLIFE by Adrianna Donat
One student’s effort to save the environment in SOMA – and the world. We may not be able to live without computers. But how long will...
ellencdonker
Aug 11, 20223 min read


PARENTS GO BACK TO SCHOOL By Malia Rulon Herman
New language program teaches more than just English For a parent in the South Orange-Maplewood School District who was born in the U.S....
ellencdonker
Aug 13, 20215 min read


SOLVING A CONUNDRUM By Sara Courtney
A CHS student collaboration creates a video-game hit When Wesley Sappington got the idea to create a video game, he did what any budding...
ellencdonker
Aug 13, 20216 min read


SAYING GOODBYE TO ONE OF THE BEST By Cassandra Ratkevich
Beloved CHS teacher Jon Campbell retires after 25 years Visitors to Columbia High School, found Jon Campbell’s classroom easy to spot...
ellencdonker
Aug 13, 20215 min read

THE JOBS OF SUMMER By Ellen Donker
They’ll have value past August This summer, my kids gave me a gift: All three of them found employment. I exhaled a big sigh of relief...
ellencdonker
Aug 13, 20213 min read


INTO THE WILD BLUE YONDER By Adrianna Donat
How the SOMA Community Helped One Young Man Find His Wings Stanley Finlayson graduated from Columbia High School this past June. But on...
ellencdonker
Aug 13, 20214 min read


A PLACE FOR SPACING OUT by Ellen Donker
Columbia High School’s astronomical observatory is restored Humanity has long been enthralled with observing the cosmos in an effort to...
ellencdonker
Aug 14, 20204 min read


MAKING WAVES by Kristen Ryan
The CHS boys’ swim team helps to net a strong season For the Columbia High School swim team, time in the water is private, focused and...
ellencdonker
Aug 14, 20204 min read


MARK MURPHY'S MUSIC SCHOOL! LIVE! FROM THE BASEMENT! by Sara Courtney
The shutdown made them bored. The music kept them connected. Just a few months ago, before masks and hand sanitizer and the words “remote...
ellencdonker
Aug 14, 20206 min read


EXCEPTIONAL LEARNERS by Malia Rulon Herman
How one special-ed teacher is making a difference at CHS When Takia Logan took over teaching a small, multiage special education class at...
ellencdonker
Aug 14, 20205 min read


CHS Hall of Fame Members Contribute to Congratulatory Video
CHS Hall of Fame Encourages the Class of 2020 Message from the CHS Hall of Fame Committee: In light of extended school closure and...
ellencdonker
Jun 24, 20201 min read


THE CAMPAIGN MUST GO ON by Ellen Donker
CHS students enter safe driving competition The statistics are startling. Every 11 minutes a teen is involved in a car crash in New...
ellencdonker
Jun 19, 20204 min read


ellencdonker
Jun 19, 20200 min read


TECHNOLOGY IN THE TIME OF CORONAVIRUS by Adrianna Donat
Residents depend on their digital connections more than ever If you had to choose a day when our community made a uniform shift in...
ellencdonker
May 1, 20205 min read


PRESCHOOLERS AT COLUMBIA HIGH SCHOOL? by Ellen Donker, Research by Carol Petrallia
Innovative program groomed future teachers Like most schools, Columbia High School once had a home economics department. But did you know...
ellencdonker
Mar 13, 20203 min read


FUN FOR GRADS, PEACE OF MIND FOR PARENTS by Adrianna Donat
Midnight Madness at CHS The night of graduation is full of mystery and fun for the graduating class at Columbia High School. Seniors...
ellencdonker
May 2, 20192 min read


RECYCLING YOUR CLOTHES CAN MAKE YOU A FAIRY GODMOTHER (or Father) by Adrianna Donat
Welcome to the CHS Pop Up Prom Shop According to a 2015 survey by Visa, the average amount of money spent on prom is $919. That’s a huge...
ellencdonker
May 2, 20194 min read


ASSEMBLY REQUIRED by Adrianna Donat
New Jersey robots get competitive at Columbia High School Photos by Julia Verderosa “Are you ready to RRRROOOOOBOT?!” Maplewood Mayor Vic...
ellencdonker
Apr 30, 20194 min read
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