HS Newsletter - October 3rd

Monday, October 6th, is our “Frost Valley Forms” submission due date.  We need to get our head count in and finalize our Frost Valley plan, which includes a beautiful stay in the Catskills, surrounded by nature, while we embark on an CHS adventure filled with outdoor activities during our three-day stay (Weds-Fri, October 15th-17th).  Here is the link to the required paperwork and a “WHAT TO BRING” checklist (Frost Valley Forms).   All signed forms and a $300 check payable to Craig School need to be in by October 6th.  Another highlight of our trip is the Frost Valley Store. Here is a link for a preview and some early shopping if you choose https://www.shopfrostvalley.org/ 

For the handful of students who are unable to attend, we will need a formal outreach from parents. They will be assigned Google Classroom work during the trip. Any Frost Valley questions, let Mr. Furlong know (NFurlong@craigschool.org).

CHS at Frost Valley 2006

Also, next Friday, October 10th, at 7 PM, we will be testing our PARENT OUTREACH PHONE SYSTEM. This is our primary communication tool to announce any change in school status (late opening, early dismissal, school closing), so we thought we should give it a test run to make sure we have all the right contact numbers in place before the word “snow” becomes part of any future winter conversations.  If you do not receive the call on Friday night, please email Mrs. Mershimer at DMershimer@craigschool.org and let her know that you did not get the call and what number we should make sure is in our system.  She will make those updates.  

Here is to a great week, 

Dr. Cap

THIS WEEK

Monday, October 6th 

CHS Guest College Visitors Series: Champlain College (12:15 PM)

Wednesday, October 8th 

Cross Country Practice (3-4:30 PM)

Thursday, October 9th           

12 PM CLOSE: Faculty Forum 

Friday, October 10th 

College Campus Experience: FDU Field Trip

TEST CALL Parent Outreach System (7 PM)

Saturday, October 11th

CHS XC-Octoberfest 5K (Lincoln Park, 9 AM)

NEXT WEEK

Monday, October 13th 

SCHOOL CLOSED: Columbus Day 

Tuesday, October 14th 

CHS Guest College Visitors Series: Montserrat College of Art (12:15 PM)

CHS XC at Winston Prep (3:15-4 PM, Whippany)

Wednesday-Friday, October 15th-17th 

Frost Valley Trip (9 AM departure WEDS, 3:30 PM Return FRI)

Friday, October 17th 

CHS Lunch Delivery NOVEMBER ORDERING Window OPENS  (www.myfooddays.com) 

Saturday, October 18th 

CHS XC-Hammond Homebound Hustle 5K (Greystone Park, Morris Plains, 10 AM) 

THE WEEKS AFTER THAT 

Tuesday, October 21st  

Cross Country Practice (3-4:30 PM)

Thursday, October 24th

1st Trimester Progress Reports (Live on the Craig Parent Portal) 

Cross Country Practice (3-4:30 PM)

Sunday, October 26th 

CHS XC-Strides for Education 5K (Morris Plains, 9AM) 

Monday, October 27th 

CHS Lunch Delivery NOVEMBER ORDERING Window CLOSES   (www.myfooddays.com) 

Thursday, October 30th

Annual CHS “Great Pumpkin” Entries Due 

Friday, October 31st

Annual CHS Halloween Bash: “Great Pumpkin” Winners Announced and Halloween Costume Contest 

College Lunch Visit with Champlain College on Monday, October 6th: Our next college admissions counselor to join us for our College Visitor Series will be from Champlain College! Founded back in 1878, Champlain is located in Burlington, VT. It is home to approximately 3000 undergraduate students and offers a 1:12 student-to-faculty ratio. Some top majors include cybersecurity, computer forensics, business administration, game & interactive media design, digital arts, accounting, and marketing.  It is also ranked as a Top 10 school in the country for game design! (Princeton Review)

Students who love the outdoors will thrive at Champlain. They offer hiking, skiing, and other wilderness activities. The city of Burlington is a vibrant college town nestled along the shores of Lake Champlain and considered one of the best college towns in America. Champlain College offers support services through the Office of Accessibility, where students can work with staff members on all of their accommodations. Champlain recently launched a varsity esports program, and they offer club and intramural sports in activities like volleyball, basketball, and ice hockey.  One of our recent Craig Alums just graduated from Champlain a few months ago! Students can join us for the lunch and learn in Room 103 on Monday.  

College Campus Tour This Friday, Fairleigh Dickinson University:  Next Friday, Oct 10th, our students will be taking a road trip down 287 to visit FDU as a component of our Post-Secondary Program at CHS.  Our students will have the opportunity to tour the campus and meet with various FDU specialists, including a rep from their highly regarded regional learning center.  And if that wasn’t enough, we will also be meeting with a couple of CHS grads who are smack dab in the middle of their freshmen year at FDU!  Our day will wrap up with lunch in the student center and then back to CHS by 1pm.  Below are pics from last year's College Adventures at Caldwell University. 

Last Year's Caldwell University Tour, April 2025

A Warm Thank You from PACS:  We loved meeting and chatting with so many new and returning Craig families at Back to School Night and the Open Meeting! What a wonderful, supportive community we have. Our PACS community thrives because of everyone’s involvement—no matter how big or small.

Many parents have already expressed interest in volunteering and getting involved. If you haven’t yet, please send in your membership form and click the Volunteer Interest button below to let us know how you might like to help. Even if you’re not sure or have limited time, letting us know still helps us plan—events are coming up quickly and we truly need parent support!

If you have any questions about volunteering, please reach out to our HS Liaison, Allison Tyler, at pacshs@craigschool.org.

Volunteer Interest Form Button
Membership Form Link

Together, we can make this a fantastic year for our Craig community!!

SAVE THE DATES-CHS Afterschool Art Studio Starts up WEDS, Oct 22nd: We are excited to announce that we are putting out the call to all Craig High School artists and starting back up our Afterschool Art Studio.  This 4-week after-school program is open to all students who enjoy making art, being creative, and working in the Craig High Art Studio.  

Our student artists will be introduced to a special fall-themed art project, and when finished, are encouraged to focus their art energy on any art project they choose with the materials they prefer. Drawing, painting, sculpting, sewing, printing.  The sky is truly the limit! Our open studio series will meet on Wednesdays starting October 22nd from 3:15- 4:15 PM.  They will then meet the following Wednesdays:  October 22 and 29, and November 5 and 12.  Pick-up will be at the first-floor middle doors. Interested students should see Ms. Steinel (HSteinel@craigschool.org).  

CHS Team Ready for 1st 5K of the Season:  Next Saturday, October 11th, the Badgers XC team will be back where it all began, the Lincoln Park 5K (now called the Octoberfest 5K).  This was one of the first races that the first official CHS Cross Country Team ran back in 2006, and has run in every year since minus a COVID year or two.  

Blast from the past! CHS XC Team at Lincoln Park 2018

Another cool race fact, the race takes us right by the original CHS building on Comly Road!  And according to Coach Crum, the timing of our first race couldn’t be more perfect. We are expecting perfect fall running weather for the flattest 5K you will ever run, so if any parents or family members would like to join us, you can register at Lincoln Park OCTOBERFEST 5K.  They also have a two-mile walk as an option.  The starting line is at the Lincoln Park Train Station, which is located at the juncture of Main Street and Comly Road.  Runners can pick up their race packets starting at 8:30 AM, with race time at 9 AM.  For any race or practice questions, you can contact CHS Cross Country coach Ms. Crum at JCrum@craigschool.org 

Save the Date!

 Badger Bowling Fundraising Event 

 Saturday, January 24, 2026
12:00–2:00 PM | Boonton Lanes, Boonton, NJ

Shake off the winter chill and join us for an afternoon of fun, food, and fundraising to support The Craig School!  Mark your calendars, more information to follow!