Dear Columbia Central High School Families,
I hope this letter finds you well and that your summer has been filled with moments of rest and
joy. As we prepare to launch the 2025–2026 school year, I am thrilled to welcome back our
returning families and extend a warm greeting to those who are new to our school community.
This year, we are embracing a school-wide focus on positivity, kindness, and academic
excellence—values that are at the heart of everything we do. We believe that when students
feel supported and respected, they are empowered to achieve their personal best both in and
out of the classroom. Together, as partners in your child’s education, we look forward to making
this school year one of growth, achievement, and lasting positive impact.
Rich Okoniewski, Principal
Important Dates to Remember
Open House August 19, 6:00 - 7:30 pm
First Day of School August 20; Half-day; dismissal at 11 am
School Picture Day September 11
Homecoming Week September 29 - October 3
(A full list of events can be found on our website
(www.myeagles.org/o/columbia-central-sr-high-school)
Early Release Wednesdays - The Columbia School District will have early release Wednesdays
for the 25-26 school year. Jr./Sr. High School students will be released at 11 am. The purpose of
the early release days is professional development for district staff.
We have several changes taking place for the upcoming school year. First, I want to introduce
you to our newly hired staff. We are excited to have awesome people become a part of our
team!
Steve Doerr Junior High Math
Lorena Perales Spanish I
Alyssa Ballesteros Junior High Special Education
Buffi Gudakunst 8th Grade Science
Megan Paterson 7th Grade Science
Tyler Holtz High School Assistant Principal
We also have staff who have had their roles change for this upcoming school year. Athletic
Director Ryan Hackworth will also be the Dean of Students for the Junior High. Ryan’s
responsibilities will be discipline and supervision. Travis Cushman will be teaching high school
Science, and Kristina Timbrook will be teaching Algebra II.
The biggest change to our school year is a new daily schedule. We are going from a
seven-period day to a six-period day. This schedule adjustment is designed to create a more
focused, purposeful, and supportive school day. Here are the new schedules for the High
School and Junior High School:
High School Schedule Junior High Schedule
1st Hour 7:45 - 8:40 am 1st Hour 7:45 - 8:40 am
2nd Hour 8:44 - 9:39 am 2nd Hour 8:44 - 9:39 am
3rd Hour 9:34 - 10:38 am 3rd Hour 9:34 - 10:38 am
Advisory 10:42 - 11:12 am Lunch 10:38 - 11:04 am
A Lunch 11:12 - 11:38 am Advisory 11:08 - 11:38 am
A 4th Hour 11:42 am - 12:37 pm 4th Hour 11:42 am - 12:47 pm
B 4th Hour 11:16 am - 12:11 pm 5th Hour 12:41 - 1:36 pm
B Lunch 12:11 - 12:37 pm 6th Hour 1:40 - 2:35 pm
5th Hour 12:41 - 1:36 pm
6th Hour 1:40 - 2:35 pm
As part of the six-period schedule, an Advisory period will meet each day of the week. The
increase in the number of days is to accommodate the needs for supporting the whole child.
The weekly schedule for Advisory will be as follows:
Monday Time to Thrive - academic focus day
Tuesday Prep for Success - SAT prep through Khan Academy and career prep through
Xello.
Wednesday Wellness Wednesday - social emotional learning through the Character Strong
curriculum and other activities.
Thursday Time to Thrive - academic focus day.
Friday Eagle Involvement - club and organizational meetings
Counseling News
Schedules will be available for viewing on Powerschool on Thursday, August 14.
The deadline for scheduling changes will be Thursday, August 28.
Juniors, watch for PSAT/NMSQT testing information.
Open House - Don’t Miss it!
Join us for the Open House on August 19 from 6:00 - 7:30 pm as we kick off the new school
year! Families will have the opportunity to meet teachers, tour the building, and get important
information for the year ahead. Most importantly, we will have food trucks!
During Open House:
● Student schedules will be available for pick-up
● High school students can complete Chromebook registration
● 7th Grade ( 6:15 - 6:45 pm) and Freshman Orientation (7:00 - 7:30 pm) sessions in
the auditorium will help our newest students feel prepared and confident for their first
day.
We’re excited to welcome everyone back and look forward to seeing you there!
Student Expectations
As we start the new school year, we want to remind students and families of a few key
expectations that will be addressed to help everyone stay focused and ready to learn:
● Dress Code: Students should dress appropriately for a learning environment. General
Clothing Guidelines: Tops must have straps or sleeves and must cover the entire torso
from armpit to armpit. Shorts must fully cover the buttocks while sitting or standing.
Clothing must not contain images, logos, or messages that are: Obscene, lewd, or
sexually explicit.
● Cell Phones: Phones must be silenced and put away during class time unless used with
the teacher's permission for educational purposes.
● Tardies: Being on time matters! Students are expected to be in class when the bell
rings. Repeated tardiness will result in consequences.
We appreciate your support in helping us create a respectful, safe, and distraction-free school
environment!
Chromebook Update
As we begin the new school year, we want to inform families of an important update regarding
our Chromebook program:
● Junior High (Grades 7–8) will no longer be participating in a 1:1 Chromebook program.
Instead, Chromebook sets will be available in each classroom for student use during the
school day. This was a collaborative decision to increase student engagement in the
classroom.
● High School (Grades 9–12) will continue with the 1:1 Chromebook model.
As we begin this new school year, let’s remember that every day is an opportunity to learn,
grow, and make a positive impact. Together, as students, staff, families, and community, we will
create an environment where every student can succeed and feel proud to be part of Columbia
Central High School. We’re excited for the journey ahead—let’s make it a great year!
