January 2025
"The secret of getting ahead is getting started."
Student Achievement
CHS Athletes of the Week - Click here for the complete 2024-2025 list. Student athletes are nominated based on Leadership/Sportsmanship , Skill, Improvement, and/or Work Ethic: Ella Grady - Basketball and Louis Kruk - Wrestling
Tree of Life Mural Design Winner: Brooke Santos
On January 4, 2024, Governor Phil Murphy signed a bill, S3330/A5015, which requires school districts to provide grief instruction as part of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education. Across Cranford School District, our goal is to respond to the topics of grief and loss as a “Grief Informed School” in many different ways, in and out of the classroom. For students, this began in November, to correspond with National Children’s Grief Awareness Day on November 21, 2024. Cranford High School solicited the assistance of students in the creation of a “Tree of Life” mural. This mural symbolizes our commitment to our Full Value principles: “Care for Self and Others” and “Let Go and Move On.” Additionally, this mural aims to further the conversation about the role loss plays in our social and emotional development, highlighting how we can grow together as a community in a safe and nurturing environment. After voting in homeroom, 10th grade student Brooke Santos' design for a Tree of Life was selected by the student body for a new, original, mural at CHS. Congratulations!
Cranford Dialogue
Cranford Dialogue publishes multimodal content that fosters spirit and pride in all members of the Cranford High School community; student-driven content reflects the diverse beliefs, interests, passions, and skills found amongst the individuals and groups that make up our community. Dialogue seeks to be the intersection that celebrates these with the world.
National Merit Special Scholarship Winner, Molly Parker!!
Please join the CHS Administration in congratulating Molly Parker. She's received the very esteemed award of a National Merit Special Scholarship Winner. Molly is one of only 700 students in the entire country who received this honor!
Please feel free to share this in your Weekly Newsletters. It has been shared with our SEL Facilitators and counselors. This will be a living document updated with new links and documents of information and our school celebrations of themed weeks. In addition this also highlights our Family Academy Nights. 24-25 District SEL Calendar
Prevention Links
- Cranford High School Counseling Department is excited to present a monthly series of workshops in conjunction with NJ4S Prevention Links aimed at helping parents and guardians navigate the process of being a parent in today's world. Our next workshop will be virtual on Wednesday, October 9th at 7PM workshop and will be focused on "Parenting Styles: Navigating Parenting with Care and Confidence”. Please Click Here for Detail.
SAT Prep Courses at CHS! Please click here for the pricing and schedules for the SAT Prep Courses offered at CHS!
Gratitude Grams
Supports the Class of 2028 by purchasing Gratitude Grams!! Purchase using the linked form: Grams Here!!
Click here for Principal's Welcome Letter 2024-2025!!
Community Partner Memberships - Please join the CHS community partners, support and sign up today! Click the links below: PTSA Friends of the Performing Arts Booster Club
The CHS Program of Studies has been prepared to acquaint Cranford High School students and their parents with the many course offerings that are available at the high school. Committed to academic excellence and advancement in all areas, we are continuing to work on the proactive growth model that stresses fulfillment of goals. Please review pages 19-21 to become familiar with the CHS CTE Academy Programs.
To review all of the important CHS protocols, policies and programs click on the Student Handbooklink.
Gaggle - Please click this LINK to view the Gaggle website and click HERE to view a short video to better understand how Gaggle works.
Facebook - Follow Mr. Cantagallo on Facebook
Sincerely,
Mark Cantagallo
Principal
Safety Protocols
- Environmentally safe and allergy free disinfectant will be used by both staff and students to wipe down desks between classes. Students may also bring wipes to use as long as they are environmentally friendly and allergen free
- Sanitizing stations will be available in all classrooms and in the hallways, offices and bathrooms. Students may bring sanitizers for themselves
- Handwashing
- Students should wash hands for at least 20 seconds at regular intervals, including before eating, after using the bathroom, and after blowing their nose/coughing/sneezing. Students will use alcohol-based hand sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol) if washing with soap and water is not possible
- Lunch- Recess will take place in grades Prek-5.
- Extra-Curricular Activities and Clubs- We are committed to running these opportunities as close to normal as possible, in accordance with current guidelines and orders.
Fresh Updates
Freshman Passport
This program is intended to encourage positive academic and social activities for 9th grade students during the day, particularly during the lunch block.
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.
Schedules and Events
2024-25 Rotate/Drop and Bell Schedules
You can also use the helpful Period Notifier to keep track of the schedules (including during half-days, delayed openings, homerooms, and midterm/finals).
Tye Die Order Form for Class of (2028).
CHS Annual Winter Art Exhibition - January 16, 6:30-8:00, CHS Library - All Levels of Art will be featured including: Graphic Design, Photography, Crafts, Art 1&2, Drawing, AP Art
Open Mic Night - Friday, January 17, $10, 7:00 p.m. CHS Library
GO COUGARS!!! This week's Athletic Schedule Come out and support our fall athletes!! Click here for this week's games schedule.
The Madrigal Choir’s Holiday Album Is On the Way!
By: Christopher Uglialoro, Class of '26 - During the winter break, Cranford High School Madrigal Choir members, old and new, gathered to record an album of their traditional holiday songs, in celebration of CHS Choir Director Anthony Rafaniello’s twentieth year in Cranford. Madrigal classics such as “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen,” “Chanukah, O Chanukah,” “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” and “Auld Lang Syne” will be available to audiences to play at home next holiday season. Aside from being a potential fundraising opportunity for the choir, this Madrigal reunion recording was a testament to the community that Mr. Rafaniello has built in his twenty years at the high school. With over 70 current and former students participating, representing every graduating class from 2006 to 2026, generations of students were compelled to step away from their busy lives during the holiday season and to contribute to this special project. Enjoy this reel linked below, created by Adrianna Pizzuta ‘25, of footage from the recording session on Friday, December 27th, featuring current and former Madrigal Choir members.
Cranford High School Named to Advanced Placement School Honor Roll!!
College Board announced that Cranford High School (CHS) has been named to the 2024 Advanced Placement Program (AP) School Honor Roll, earning “Gold with Access”. Cranford is one of four comprehensive public high schools in the state to earn this recognition. Click here for the full article from Tapinto.
Class of 2025 Senior Events!
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.
Spring Lacrosse RegistrationRegistration is currently open for Spring Lacrosse with the Cranford Lacrosse Club! Teams are currently forming now for Grades 1st-8th grade for Boys and Girls. Registration closes on December 31st and spaces are limited so don't delay! Register here:
Open Lunch:- 9th Grade Students do not have Open Lunch but can earn it during their 10th grade year
- 10th Grade Students "in good standing" have Open Lunch on Tuesday and Thursday
- 11th Grade Students "in good standing" have Open Lunch on Monday, Wednesday and Friday
- "in good standing" for 10th and 11th grade students will be explained at their grade level assemblies the first week of school. Then a letter and form will be sent to parents explaining the requirements related to behavior, attendance, and achievement similar to the 12th grade requirements.
Other Information
Important lunch/food service 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; the West End bike racks have been removed.
- A Delayed Opening at CHS will start at 9:30 AM.
- If you or anyone you know is interested in being a Lunchroom Assistant at CHS (10:30 AM - 12:30 PM) or another school in the district, please reach out to me or visit the application site: HERE.
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.
Links
In addition, important information can be found on the right navigation as well as below. I encourage you to take a few moments to review the following documents, and please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have.
- Family Life and HIV/AIDS Curriculum and Grade 9, 11 and 12
- Student Handbook 2024-2025
- Student Handbook 2024-2025
- Policy 5600: Student Discipline/Code of Conduct
- Regulation 5600: Student Discipline/Code of Conduct
- Academic Integrity Procedures
- Cranford High School Office Phone Numbers
- Family Life and HIV/AIDS Curriculum and Grade 9, 11 and 12
- ADAPT-Alchohol 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.