New CAHS Announcements - November 30,2012

To all CAHS Parents:

We are enforcing the CCS District mandate that no outside food be brought into the schoolday other than what is provided by the school cafeteria and vending programs and what a student has for themselves in a packed lunch! Please do not send in any cupcakes, cakes or cookies for a child's birthday or other recognition. They will not be able to share and we would hate for the baked goodies to be confiscated!

This is in response to the State Law that is in effect, new this year. As we are becoming more aware of the childhood obesity epidemic and student food allergy issues, please help us transition to the new law. (Ohio House Bill 1)

Thank you for your cooperation!

Freshmen/Sophomore parents:

The PLAN and EXPLORE ( pre-ACT assessment) results are in!

Plan to attend, with your student if possible, a meeting on Tuesday, December 4, 6:00pm. You will receive your student's results and an explanation.

Junior Parents:

PSAT (pre-SAT) results are not yet in, but will be coming soon and will be explained to your student during English classes by Dr. Reid. Check in the next couple of weeks to see if they have received the information!

All CAHS Parents:

It is recruiting season! If you know of anyone interested in looking for a High School. Please pass this information along:

Tours being conducted every Thursday at 8am, call main office to register. (In January, Tuesdays as well)

CAHS Showcase is Thursday, December 13, 6-8pm. 8th grade families should come to see us in action! There will be science demonstrations in our newly renovated science labs. Also, there will be student performances by our Visual Arts: Technology, Vocal and Instrumental music, Theater and Art displays! Demonstrations by our other departments: Math, Humanities and Foreign Language and Parent-to-Parent Q & A time!

Selective Admissions Applications are coming out the beginning of December and are due back December 18th! See your Middle school Counselor for details and to see if you qualify.

The regular Lottery Applications will be available January 7th in all schools, and due back January 31st!

Heather McMullen
CAHS Parent Consultant

Theatre Department Thanks PTA

CAHS is Fox 28 "Cool School"

February 27, 2009 - Good Day Columbus' Johnny DiLoretto visits the spirited Cool School of the Week, Columbus Alternative High School.

The CAHS orchestra, the CAHS Chess Team, and the In-the-Know Team were highlighted in these clips which aired on Fox 28 News Friday (Feb. 27) morning.

http://www.wtte28.com/newsroom/gdc/cool_schools/vid_38.shtml

http://www.wtte28.com/newsroom/gdc/cool_schools/vid_37.shtml

Columbus Monthly - Top Public Schools

CAHS was highlighted in the 2009 March issue of The Columbus Monthly as one of the Top Public Schools, and was the only Columbus Public High School mentioned in this article by April Johnston.


http://docs.google.com/fileview?id=F.006fcaa6-2874-4b71-8e7c-d4aa41f0696e&hl=en

Notes from CAHS Alumni Panel November 24, 2008

Friends of CAHS invited seven CAHS Alumni to discuss how their CAHS experience made a difference in their lives. The alumni were from the class of '96 or '97.

Alicia Thomas
Robert Eskridge
Tres Johnson
Doug Hoke
Molly Workman
Jennifer Wray
Paul Edgar

Observations:

Each Alumni who participated clearly had, and continues to have, a love for CAHS and what the school has given to each of them. Their enthusiasm and gratitude was infectious and inspiring! Each member credits CAHS for having an impact on their individual successes – both professionally and personally.

Suggestions given by Alumni:

*Prepare yourself for upcoming college coursework by

1. Taking the humanities courses seriously! These courses provided a good foundation for critical thinking and a more broad perspective with learning for some. This is a good preparation for a liberal arts track in college.
2. Take as many credits in foreign languages as you can fit in.
3. Take as many advanced courses as possible! Push yourself while you’re young. Take the course over a full school year in high school rather than a 10-15 week course in college (one Alum said her AP Literature class earned her college credit later on).
4. Take as many courses as you can in Applied Sciences/harder sciences.
5. Avoid “coasting” through your high school years. This can cause you to fail later in college courses. Appreciate the opportunities that CAHS gives you! Utilize them!
6. “Learn to fail gracefully” while in high school. If you earn lower scores now for those tougher courses, you will benefit later in college from having the experience.
7. Extra-curricular courses are also important! One Alum stated that her experience in taking theater at CAHS led to a career in theater later on. Another Alum stated she received a scholarship in music, thanks to her participation in the music program at CAHS. She used this to help her procure a degree in science at that college.
8. Study EXTRA hard for the entrance exams into college!! Take time out of your summers to do whatever necessary to prepare for these exams. It can result in being accepted into colleges when your grades have not met their criteria.
9. Take all of the college entrance exams available to you (SAT II, etc.).
10. Ignore peer pressure to ‘coast’ through high school. Whether kids are ‘cool’ or not, socialize with kids who hold high ideals and want to go to college.

*Suggestions for Internships:

Plan these at CAHS wisely! Make the most of them for yourself. Gain the best possible experiences for a college track. Good internships may not necessarily be in the same field as what you hope to study in college. Utilize OSU to help you determine the most valuable internship plan for yourself. Call the research department at OSU and arrange a meeting with a professor. They are willing to meet with high school kids for internship planning. The statehouse also has good internships that proved useful in a variety of ways for the Alumni panel.

*Scholarship Suggestions:

Find as many opportunities for scholarships as you possibly can!! There are many out there – look beyond what is recommended by your guidance counselor. Have your parents help you find them if possible. Some Alumni members had all of their college expenses paid by scholarships – even their graduate college expenses. Be proactive!!

*Suggestions for CAHS parents:

Don’t assume your child is studying enough. Check on their progress! The panel all agreed that even though they scoffed at parental interest, they truly appreciated it when their parents took an interest in what they were studying. Read the books your child is reading – ask them questions about what they’ve read. Discuss topics together that they study. Your interest in their academic endeavors has a bigger impact than you may realize!

Friends of CAHS recognized in Fall Play

An awesome set with many doors (that all worked), two floors, and stairs.

The note on the back cover reads: "We also have to sincerely thank the Friends of CAHS who generously donated funds to buy us a new table saw and other tools. We are still in awe of it, and as you can see, we put it to good use!"

Many students learned set design skills under the guidance of parent Steve Montague.

NEW SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS SELECTED

Media May Contact:
Karla Warren (614) 995-3867
Scott Blake (614) 995-3867

For Immediate Release Tuesday, October 14, 2008

State Board of Education selects next state superintendent of public instruction

Columbus – This afternoon, the State Board of Education unanimously voted to appoint Deborah Delisle as the next state superintendent of public instruction.“I deeply appreciate the opportunity to work with the State Board on the selection of Deborah as our next state superintendent of public instruction,” said Governor Ted Strickland. “I believe Deborah is exactly the right person for the job at the right time. I look forward to working with her to accomplish our shared goal of building a world-class education system for Ohio students.”

Deborah Delisle replaces Susan Tave Zelman, who has served as state superintendent since 1999. Zelman announced her resignation earlier this year and will start Nov. 3 as the senior vice president of education at the Corporation for Public Broadcasting in Washington, D.C.

“I am confident that Deborah will continue our strong reforms of the past decade and bring a new vision that will elevate our education system to one of world prominence,” said State Board President Jennifer L. Sheets. “We were looking for an individual that would bring together stakeholders and advocate for public education. I am certain Deborah brings the right skills and experience to lead Ohio’s education system.”

In June the State Board hired Hudepohl & Associates, a Columbus based executive search firm, to manage the search. The State Board interviewed five candidates for the position. In addition to members of the State Board, Governor Strickland’s chief of staff John Haseley and State Senator Joy Padgett served as members of the Board’s search committee.

“I am honored to be selected as state superintendent of public instruction,” said Deborah Delisle. “I am excited to jump right in and work with the State Board, governor, legislature, our districts and the many other education stakeholders to ensure our students are prepared for success in today’s global economy.”

As state superintendent, Delisle will lead and supervise the state’s elementary and secondary education system; oversee the Ohio Department of Education (ODE); administer licensing of Ohio’s early childhood through high school educators; serve as the State Board’s secretary; and manage relationships with key stakeholders, such as the governor, state legislature, chancellor of Ohio’s university system and local school districts. Delisle will start no later than Dec. 1, 2008 with an annual salary of $194,500, an option of a car allowance of $550 per month or use of a State vehicle and up to $7,500 relocation assistance for reasonable and customary expenses to facilitate her relocation to central Ohio.

Since 2003, Delisle has been the superintendent of the Cleveland Heights-University Heights School District. She previously held the position of associate superintendent for educational services at the Cleveland Heights-University Heights School District. As superintendent, Delisle implemented the district’s One to One Teaching and Learning with Technology program, which by 2012 will provide all students and teachers in grades 6 through 12 with a laptop computer for wireless learning. The program is in its pilot year this school year and recently distributed laptops to all students in the Monticello Middle School. Delisle also has partnered with two neighboring school districts to establish an International Academy, which will provide a bilingual program of English and Mandarin Chinese, and led the transformation of the Cleveland Heights High School into five small schools.

Delisle is a member of many educational associations and committees, including ODE’s International Education Advisory Committee and the Buckeye Association of School Administrators’ State Report Card Committee. She serves on the Executive Board for the Midwest Regional Lab of Learning Point Associates, Minority Student Achievement Network’s Governing Board, the Greater Cleveland Schools Superintendents Association’s Executive Board and has held the positions of Treasurer and President-Elect on the Ohio Schools’ Council.

In 2008, eSchool News named Delisle one of 10 Tech Savvy Superintendents in the nation, and she was selected as one of America’s Top Twenty Educators by Learning Magazine.

Prior to joining the Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District, Delisle held the positions of director of academic services, director of curriculum/professional development and elementary school principal in the West Geauga School District; language arts specialist in the Orange School District; and coordinator of the K-12 gifted/enrichment program in the Shaker Heights School District. She has also taught graduate level courses at Kent State University, Ursuline College, University of Northern Colorado and Simon Fraser University.

Delisle conducted her post-graduate work at Kent State University and Ashland University in administration and curriculum development. She received her Bachelor’s degree from Springfield College in Massachusetts and a Master’s degree in Special Education from Kent State University.

A "Thank You" from Rachel Yang

I'm writing to thank you and those parents who have been so supportive in my work and life here.
When I see the students "having fun" in learning Chinese, when I see how much trust they have in me, I think those are the reasons good enough for me to make every effort to help the students learn, I think those are something great enough for me to overcome the loneliness, homesickness or any difficulty I may meet here.
But when Mr Dodrill told me he got a bike for me the second day he asked you for help, when Mr Dodrill handed me the gift card, I view it a great honor and encouragement, I know I'm taken care of by many more people than I'm aware of.
Thank you again and I'll try my best to live up to your expectation.
Best ragards!

Yours sincerely,
Rachel Yang

A Message from Dr. Harris: "Reading, Writing and Referendums"

On August 6, 2008, Dr. Harris addressed the members and guests of the Columbus Metropolitan Club. She delivered a message regarding the progress of the Columbus City Schools and new programs instituted, including, but not limited to, the IB Program started at CAHS, expanded alternative magnet programs, the estabishment of the Virtual High School, partnerships with DeVry and other local colleges, and mentoring by local businesses.

She discussed her vision for the future, and her strategy for moving forward first with the passage of the levy and then without passage of the levy. Passage of the levy would bring more theme based schools including four more college preparatory schools, smaller class sizes, stricter math & science requirements to meet state standards, safer schools, an upgrade in textbooks and computers, newer busses, and finally the extra hour in the school day which was previously cut. Without the levy, $30,000,000 more would need to be cut from the budget which would severely impact the students future and the economic future.

Click on the link to hear her message in its entirety:
http://www.columbusmetroclub.org/Default.aspx?pageId=182168

A Farewell Message from Tammy Sensibaugh

I just wanted to thank the Friends of CAHS for all the years of support in the classroom. Also, for all of the wonderful things you do for CAHS both in and out of the classroom. It was an honor and a privilege to teach your children. Do not give up on the fight for CAHS. I believe "squeaky wheels get oiled". You are the reason why downtown has added 50 academic/ gifted -talented slots to the lottery this year. Keep up the great work! I will miss the friendships I have made with both the parents and the students. I wish all of you and your children nothing but the best life has to offer. Thank you! I will miss you!

Tammy Sensibaugh,
CAHS Health & Biology Teacher

"MEET THE NEW CAHS PRINCIPAL NIGHT" A SUCCESS!

On July 10th, 2008 at 6:00 pm the CAHS community of staff, students and parents welcomed the new CAHS principal, Dr. Dixon, to the school and bid adios to the former CAHS principal, Ms. Powell. We also welcomed a new vice-principal, Mr. Qualls, formerly of Independence High School and said good-bye to Vice-Principal Dr. "O" Osemwengie. Superintendent Gene Harris introduced Dr. Talisa Dixon to more than 100 members of the CAHS community. Dr. Dixon was formerly a principal at Brookhaven High School in Columbus City Schools. She has been an educator in the Columbus City School District for 7 years. She came from Akron where she taught in the city schools and earned her masters and doctorate in education. Dr. Dixon is a proponent of strong college preparatory programs and we are eager to have a leader who values strong academic programs. Welcome to CAHS, Dr. Dixon and Mr. Qualls!

To learn more about Dr. Dixon, read the Article "The Ohio High School Transformation Initiative: Champion of Change" posted on the KnowledgeWorks Foundation website: http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dfsjmrtr_2f76g36ch

View the "Northland News" article about "Meet the Principal Night" at CAHS: http://docs.google.com/fileview?id=F.7502f96d-a719-4f8c-b862-4a94a492f921&hl=en

FRESHMEN SUMMER READING-- TUTORING

JULY 24, 2008, 4pm-7pm

FRESHMEN SUMMER READING
TUTORING BY UPPERCLASSMEN AT LOCAL LIBRARIES:

Downtown library
Livingston library
Hilltop library
Karl Road library
Whetstone library

CAHS students will be wearing CAHS honor roll t-shirts.

Parents Night Sept. 19, 2006

Written by Stevan Walkowski

Wednesday, 20 September 2006

The Parents night on Tuesday Sept 19 was a great success! After opening introductions by the administration, faculty and PTA, parents were excused from the auditorium to join their student's schedule and meet their teachers. Emails were exchanged, expectations were stated, and grading schedules were discussed.

Parent to Parent Mentoring

Friends of CAHS is beginning a Parent to Parent mentoring program. Incoming parents who request a mentor will be paired with a current CAHS parent of an upper class student. Mentors will inform their mentees of upcoming CAHS events. They will also be available to answer questions and help quide their mentees about adjustment to CAHS and ways to help students succeed at CAHS. Please consider either being a mentor or a mentee. CAHS works because of parent support and the more parents are involved, the more students succeed. Call Anne at 235-2809 or by email at annelhoke@yahoo.com.