High School Newsletter

March is here, and with March comes a few awesome Craig Community happenings.  First up, we have our annual READ ACROSS AMERICA day at CHS.  It is the nation's largest celebration of reading, where schools across the country drop what they're doing at a designated time, and everyone reads!  It is traditionally celebrated on Dr. Suess’s birthday, which is Monday, March 2nd, but we figured a Friday celebration made more sense. We are asking each of our families to help us celebrate (and motivate our HS’ers) by sending in cookies and baked goods for this Friday.  We will have a full hot chocolate and cookie bar with a little help from you! 

And then the big one, the ANNUAL CRAIG SCHOOL CHILI THROWDOWN.  It is being held on our Montville campus on SUNDAY, MARCH 15th. We have put the call out to you, our families, for our Chili Chefs.  Can’t have a Chili Throwdown without Chilis, so please consider entering your family's chili, represent CHS, and taking home some Chili Gold! 

You can register your chili at Chili Chefs 2026.   And what would a Chili Throwdown be without people to eat that chili? Throw in some piñatas, a nacho and dessert table, some indoor soccer, and you have all of the makings of a great event!

All of our families and friends are welcome to RSVP at As always, appreciate all of your Craig Community Support.

Let's Go Badgers!   

Dr. Cap

THIS WEEK AT CHS

3/2, Monday: ESPORTS (3-4:30PM, Room 107)

3/3, Tuesday: Afterschool Volley Ball (3-4:30PM, CHS Gym) 

3/4, Wednesday: CHS Spring Open House (9AM, Room 103) 

3/4, Wednesday: Afterschool Art Workshop (3-4:30PM, CHS Art Studio)

3/6, Friday: READ ACROSS AMERICA at CHS (Pajama Day, Cookie and Hot Chocolate Bar)! 

3/6, Friday: Twilight Skiing at St. Peter's (Info in REMINDERS)

3/9, Sunday: Daylight Saving Time (Spring Forward)

THE WEEK AFTER THAT

3/10, Tuesday: Afterschool Volley Ball (3-4:30 PM, CHS Gym)

3/11, Wednesday: ESPORTS League Play (3-4:30 PM, Room 107)

3/11, Wednesday: Afterschool Art Workshop (3-4:30 PM, CHS Art Studio)

3/12, Thursday: National Pi Day (really 3.14 but unfortunately, that's a Saturday)

3/13, Friday: St. Patty’s Day (special lunch courtesy of Ms. Jahn) 

3/15, Sunday: Craig Chili Throwdown (12-2PM, CHS Campus in Montville)

THE REST OF MARCH

3/16-3/20, Monday-Friday: 12 PM DISMISSALS: Trimester Exams/Parent-Teacher Conferences/Faculty Forums 

3/24, HOME-Tuesday: Afterschool Volley Ball-CRAIG CUP  (3-4:30PM, CHS Gym)

3/25 Wednesday: Afterschool Art Workshop (3-4:30PM, CHS Art Studio)

3/25, Wednesday: ESPORTS League Play (3-4:30PM, Room 107)

3/26, AWAY-Thursday: Afterschool Volley Ball-CRAIG CUP (3-4:30PM, Mt. Lakes) 

3/30, Monday: SCHOOL CLOSED: Start of Spring Break!

CHS Vermont College Road Trip Adventure Recap (February 20–22)

Our CHS winter college road trip to Vermont was an unforgettable weekend filled with campus exploration, new experiences, and plenty of fun along the way. Over three days, CHS students got a real taste of college life while exploring the beauty of Vermont.

Friday – The Adventure Began

The group started the day with regular drop-off at CHS and departed during 1st period.  After battling a winter storm that added a few hours to their first stop, they arrived at Landmark College in Putney.  Their Landmark exploration began with a guided campus tour followed by lunch in their student center.  They wrapped up their visit with some time in the student rec center. 

During their time at Landmark,  our students were introduced to academic programs, learned about student life, gained insight into what makes Landmark so unique, and had the opportunity to see a smaller college campus environment up close.  

After the campus visit, they traveled to Burlington and checked into their Airbnb, which served as our home base for the rest of the weekend.

Saturday – College Immersion at Champlain College 

Our group spent the next day on the campus of Champlain College attending their Winter Open House.  Students participated in campus tours, visited residence halls, explored facilities connected to their potential majors and interests, attended information sessions, and had lunch in the dining hall alongside current Champlain students. They had the chance to meet faculty members, speak with current students, and ask questions about academics, internships, and campus life.  After the day on the Champlain Campus, students headed to downtown Burlington for dinner and some local exploration. 

To get out ahead of the winter storm that awaited them back in NJ, our CHS crew hit the road early Sunday morning and grabbed breakfast and a full loaf of bread at Panera along the way. By 1 PM, they were pulling into the CHS lots.  Thanks to Mr. Furlong and Ms. Schmitt, our road trip crew returned from Vermont safe and sound with new insights, great memories, and a clearer vision of college possibilities. 

Head of School for the Day

Gideon G. (4-S) recently stepped into leadership as our “Head of School for the Day,” an experience he won at the  Craig Badger Bowl-a-Rama Auction.

He kicked off the morning by picking up donuts for the CHS seniors and leading a planning meeting, thoughtfully working through ideas and logistics like a true leader. Embracing his Head of School duties, Gideon even surprised a few friends with a quick trip to the diner. Later, he stopped by Ms. Schmitt’s pickleball club to pick up team shirts, keeping school spirit front and center.

It was clear that both Gideon and Ms. Schmitt had a ball!

Throughout the day, Gideon visited classrooms across campus, handing out Badger cards and connecting with students and faculty. He capped off his leadership experience with a Zoom meeting alongside Craig School Board President Mr. Maciejewski, gaining insight into the partnership between school leadership and the Board of Trustees.

Gideon embraced every moment with confidence, enthusiasm, and pride, making the day truly unforgettable!  We are so proud of you, Gideon!

CALLING ALL CHILI CHEFS-The Craig School Chili Throwdown (Sunday, March 15th)

We have crowned quite a few Chili Champs in the past 20 years, but it has been a few years since a CHS Family has taken home the coveted GOLDEN SPOON.  Let's change that this year! On Sunday, MARCH 15th, the best Chilis in the Craig Community will be converging at CHS from 12-2 PM, so we are looking for our Craig Families to break out that family chili recipe and put it to the test.

We are looking for Mild to Spicy, traditional to one-of-a-kind.  We are also looking to crown a student champ in our “Master Chef Junior” category!  You can use the following link to register your Chili (Chili Chefs 2026). 

All you need is a Crock Pot, a Ladle, and a great name for your family chili! 

Any questions, email Mr. Furlong at NFurlong@craigschool.org 

Read Across America Celebration at CHS-Cookie and Hot Chocolate Bar

CHS will be celebrating Read Across America this Friday, March 6, with a pajama Spirit Day, some quiet reading, a Dr. Seuss writing workshop, and a hot chocolate bar. But what is hot chocolate without cookies?  That’s where you come in!  

We are asking our parents to send in their favorite cookies (store-bought or baked) or any baked goods for that matter, and we will add them to our Cookie table for our kids.  All baked goods can be sent starting  this Monday, March 2nd, through Friday morning, March 6th. 

Join the PACS Board for 2026–2027 

Serving on the PACS Board for 2026–2027 is a wonderful way to deepen your connection to the Craig School community and play a direct role in shaping the events and experiences that make our school so special. 

PACS (the Parent Association of The Craig School) is an all-volunteer, parent-run organization dedicated to enhancing our children’s educational experience, fostering community, and supporting faculty through enriching activities and celebrations throughout the year—from social events and spirit traditions to teacher appreciation and family gatherings. If you’re passionate about sharing ideas, strengthening community, and helping plan meaningful programs, we’d love to hear from you! Reach out with interest or questions to

Craig Alumni Connections-Lexi CHS Class of 2014

A few very exciting things came out of our recent Craig Community Bowl-a-Rama. In addition to bringing our current Craig Community together and raising a few dollars, it also allowed us to reconnect with some of our Craig Alums.

One of our silent auction items was a Dinner with Dr. Cap and Mr. Furlong in the town of their choice. The winning bidder was CHS Class of 2014 and Craig Middle School graduate, Lexi, and her town of choice was Ridgewood!

It was an evening of reminiscing about Craig MS and HS past and sharing current Craig updates while we dined at Park West Tavern.  It was great to catch up with Lexi and her dad.  

NAHS Volunteers at Renaissance Nursing Home in Lincoln Park

We are incredibly proud of our National Art Honor Society (NAHS) members who participated in a recent community service visit to the Renaissance Nursing Home in Lincoln Park. During their visit, students had the opportunity to meet residents and bring a little extra joy to our senior neighbors.

Led by Ms. Steinel and Dr. Skerker, our NAHS students led an art workshop for the Renaissance residents to create beautiful mosaic snow globes. Throw in some meaningful conversations, shared stories, and even a few Super Bowl predictions, and what we ended up with is a perfect day.

Thank you to our NAHS members and the CHS community for supporting this wonderful experience. We look forward to continuing our partnership with the amazing staff and residents at Renaissance and returning in the spring for future community service opportunities.

Afterschool Volleyball Starts Up This Week

Our March volleyball starts up this Tuesday, March 3rd.  It is open to all CHS students of all volleyball levels. 

REGISTRATION OPEN-CHS Summer Program 2026 (Mt. Lakes Campus)

The Craig High School Summer Academic Program will be held at< our MOUNTAIN LAKES campus <during July (July 6-July 30, Mon-Thurs 9 am-12 pm).  For more information on our summer program, visit our website High School <tab. To register for the morning and/or afternoon program, REGISTER CHS Summer Program 2026). 

Any summer questions, reach out to our Director of Admissions, Kate Tartaglia, at <KTartaglia@craigschool.org< <