CHS Weekly Update

The Cranford Athletic Department would like to congratulate the following seniors on being selected to represent Cranford High School as the 2025 Scholar Athletes. The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Scholar Athlete Award is presented to Ellie Semple. The Union County Interscholastic Athletic Conference Scholar Athlete Award recipients are Josh Ketschke & Isabella Alvarez~Gomez.

CHS February "Students of the Month" - Nominated based on Leadership and/or Achievement and/or Improvement and/or Service are:

9th grade: Emma Andre and Allison Schiffl;

10th grade: Meghan Battiloro and Liam Terry;

11th grade: Sophia Lledo and Finn Moran, and

12th grade: Mia Rossetti and Eleanor Semple

Every year, member teachers of New Jersey Association of Teachers of Japanese (NJATJ) are invited to nominate students for the Japanese Language and Culture Award. A select number of students throughout New Jersey have been named to receive this award in recognition of their hard work, achievement, and interest in learning the language and culture of Japan.

This year, nine Cranford High School students were awarded with NJATJ's (NJ Association of Teachers of Japanese) Japanese Language and Culture Study Award. Students were honored at Seton Hall University on Friday, March 28th, 2025. Nominated by Fisco-sensei, Miyamoto-sensei, and Wingate-sensei, this year’s honored CHS students are: Ethan Beard (senior), Achilles Budsock (junior), Luz Fernandez (senior), Sebastian Gosier (junior), Ava Kolibas (junior), Mackenzie Mannix (senior), Sofia Monroy (junior), Megan Moritz (junior), Bianca Romero (senior)

The CHS Japanese Program was proud to feature a special student presentation as part of this year's Award Ceremony cultural highlights. Brooke Pawelko, a senior and recipient of the 2024 NJATJ Japanese Language and Culture Study Award, delivered a presentation titled “Traditional Jobs in Japan and Their Place in the Modern World.” In her talk, Brooke spoke of her own inspirations for studying Japanese, as well as the future of cultural industries geisha and tea leaf picking: Brooke Pawelko, Presentation: “Traditional Jobs in Japan and Their Place in the Modern World”.

The CHS Japanese Club Dance Team also made their debut, performing the Sōran Bushi, a traditional but upbeat Japanese sea shanty that is said to have been first sung by the fishermen of Hokkaido. The dance during Soran Bushi depicts ocean waves, fishermen dragging in nets, pulling ropes, and lifting luggage over their shoulders. Members of this year’s CHS Japanese Club Dance Team who performed at Seton Hall on Friday, March 28th, 2025 are: Ethan Beard, Liam Cznadel, Elan Head, Charise Melvin DaSilva (Japanese Club Dance Team President), Mel Solondz, Ava Solondz, Izzy Teo and Charles Wallin

Come out and support Cougar Spring Athletes! Click here for this week's game schedule

Class of 2025 Seniors and Parents: Click here for the PG newsletter to be connected to all of the info and updates for Project Graduation!

Teachers are the unsung heroes who ignite a lifelong love for learning, nurture potential, and shape the leaders of tomorrow. Their impact extends far beyond the classroom, influencing character, values, and dreams. America's Favorite Teacher celebrates these mentors for unlocking the full potential of their students and inspiring brighter futures for generations to come.

One of CHS' own. Mr. Frank Vito has made it to the top 5! Please join his peers in voting for him to become America’s Favorite Teacher while supporting a great cause! Cast your daily vote here today!

Cranford High School Counseling Department is excited to continue our monthly series of workshops in conjunction with NJ4S Prevention Links aimed at helping parents and guardians navigate the process of being a parent/guardian in today's world.

Wednesday, April 9th at 7PM, the virtual meeting (a repeat) will be focused on Substance Use in Youth: What Parents Need to Know. The reality is substance use by our youth can be scary, but talking about it doesn’t have to be. Join us for a conversation on youth substance use. Learn recent statistics, signs, and what to do if your child is using substances. Local resources for further support will be shared. Please sign up using this link- https://forms.gle/fuJsNZ6bEMMskwGEA

The Class of 2027 will be hosting our first ever Pickleball Tournament for all CHS students on Thursday April 24th from 7pm-10pm. Register to play in pairs of two to compete to be the CHS Pickleball Champion. Prizes will be awarded to winners.

Dear Parents, Guardians, and Students,

Wow - Senior year is here! We appreciate all of your time, energy and effort during our fundraiser events and would love to keep the momentum going during the 2024-2025 school year! Please click here for a list of Senior Events.

CLASS OF 2025 FAMILIES: The FAFSA is scheduled to be available from the state of NJ beginning December 1, 2024. Completing the FAFSA is now a NJ state graduation requirement. Follow these directions to complete a form in Powerschool indicating if you're completing the FAFSA. You may also waive tracking data through the completion of this form. Any questions, please contact Mrs. Burfeindt, Director of School Counseling.

CHS PTSA Meeting Dates

All meetings @ 7 pm CHS library or Zoom

• May 21st - in person (elect new officers)

• June 4th - Zoom

Join the CHS PTSA today

PTSA Board for the 2024/2025 School Year

Kathleen Bruns - Meyers: President

Jillian Sofield: VP of Hospitality

Suzana Carvalho: VP of Membership

Angelina Griffith: Treasurer

Lexi Kiriakatis: Secretary

Join the CHS PTSA today:

This program is intended to encourage positive academic and social activities for 9th grade students during the day, particularly during the lunch block. Please click here for a letter from Mr. Good, Assistant Principal outlining the program.

Goal: Motivate students to engage in positive academic and social activities in order to earn Open Lunch as a 10th grader while building excellent habits to reach their full potential.

We are asking parents to review the Stopit parent/guardian letter and for students to review the Stopit student flyer the student flyer is a PDF so doesn't have your individual school sign up codes on it, but they are listed below and are also listed at the end of the HIB student video.

Here is the HIB student video (approx 5 mins) which will be shown to all students grades 4 through 12. The end of the video also includes information about Stopit and how to sign up.

Cranford High School: CHS01

Back To School SEL Tips for Families

24-25 District SEL Calendar

Important lunch/food service information:

• Pomptonian Food Service Information

• Why Pre-Order Lunch?

• Allergy Information

• All parents/visitors will need to enter and exit from the main door. Please ring the bell, state your name and purpose for the visit and have your ID ready.

• Lockers and Locker rooms

• Students will receive locker assignments and combinations on the first day of school.

• All students are assigned a locker with a combination lock to secure their school supplies. Due to security reasons, only school issued locks may be used on lockers, and this lock should be kept throughout high school and returned upon graduation. Students are expected to keep the lockers neat and clean. Students will be responsible for damages and may be assessed the cost of repair. Any damage to lockers should be reported immediately. Loss of a lock will result in a ten dollar replacement fee.

• Updates:

• Students that ride their bike should lock them up next to the “Bridge” for safety reasons and for upgraded parking the West End bike racks were removed.

• A Delayed Opening at CHS will start at 9:30am

• If you, or if you know anyone that is interested in being a Lunchroom Assistant at CHS (10:30am-12:30am) or another school in the district, please reach out to me or visit the application site: Click Here or visit: https://www.applitrack.com/cranford/onlineapp/default.aspx?Category=Support+Staff

I encourage you to take a few moments to review the following documents, and please feel free to contact CHS Administration with any questions you may have.

1. Student Handbook 2024-2025 which includes, but is not limited to, information regarding Administrative regulations, graduation requirements, credit Assignments, board of education policies, academic integrity procedures, midterm/final exam procedures, Cranford High School Office phone numbers.

2. Family Life and HIV/AIDS Curriculum and Grade 9, 11 and 12

3. ADAPT-Alcohol/Drug Assistance Program for Teens - REMINDER-a student may be entered into the ADAPT Program based on the criteria below in addition to the possession or use of drugs or alcohol.

1. Referral by a student’s parent for smoking, and/or the use of tobacco, nicotine, vaping devices or other products and devices related to smoking or the use of tobacco.

2. A student is in possession of or is caught in the act of smoking or using tobacco, nicotine, vaping devices or other products related to the use of tobacco.

3. Cranford Police Department-Memorandum of Agreement notification

Surveillance Cameras

Cranford High School has security cameras inside the building and around the perimeter of our school to ensure the safety of all staff, students, and visitors and to safeguard our facility from vandalism and theft. Cameras will be used in locations as deemed appropriate by the administration. Video recordings will be reviewed if there is evidence that a violation of board policies, administrative regulations, building rules, or laws has occurred.

I hope that this information is helpful to you. Please do not hesitate to call us if you need further assistance.

We look forward to having a fantastic year! Go Cougars!

What is the CFEE (Cranford Fund for Educational Excellence)?

Started nearly 30 years ago by members of the community interested in supporting innovative educational initiatives in the Cranford Schools, the Cranford Fund for Educational Excellence has awarded more than $325,000 in supplemental funding for educational grants that empower our teachers and impact our students. These grants support ideas that are aligned with the goals and focus areas of the district schools, but are outside the scope of the regular school budget. Please click here for details.

Please join the CHS community partners, support and sign up today! Click the links below:

PTSA

Friends of the Performing Arts

Booster Club

Cranford HS is an amazing place with talented students, teachers and staff. Here we foster an educational environment that promotes opportunity for all.

Email: cantagallo@cranfordschools.org
Website: http://chs.cranfordschools.org/index.shtml
Location: 201 West End Place, Cranford, NJ, USA
Phone: 908-709-6272
Facebook: CranfordPrincipal