FTMHS NewsFLASH
Florence Twp. Memorial High School

NewsFLASH - October 2026
A Message from Mr. Cogan
Building Community, Showing Respect, Making Good Choices
October is a wonderful time to build on the positive momentum we established in September. Our school community is settling into the rhythm of the year, and I continue to be impressed by the energy, effort, and spirit our staff and students bring each day.
This month gives us many opportunities to celebrate who we are as a school and, just as importantly, to think about the kind of community we want to create together. Our Spirit Week will give us a chance to have some fun, show our school pride, and bring us together. Our Week of Respect will remind us that kindness, inclusion, and treating others with dignity are not just themes for one week—they are expectations we should carry with us every day. During Red Ribbon Week, we will reinforce the importance of making healthy, responsible choices and looking out for ourselves and one another.
As we move through the school year, I encourage every student to continue taking ownership of their experience. Come to school, be present, give your best effort, participate, encourage others, and make choices that move you closer to your goals. Small choices, made consistently, can have a big impact.
To our families, thank you for continuing to partner with us. Your encouragement and support at home make a meaningful difference in helping our students develop the habits, confidence, and character they need to succeed.
Let’s make October a month filled with school spirit, respect, connection, and positive choices. When we each do our part, we strengthen our entire school community.
Let’s keep the momentum going and make it another great month to be part of our school!
Important Things to Know This Month...
September Highlights
Thursday, October 1, 2026
- Future Flashes Night from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Senior Portrait Make-Up Day from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 3, 2026
- Homecoming Dance from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Monday, October 5, 2026
- Progress reports will be available after 2 p.m. on Genesis.
Friday, October 9, 2026
- No School for Students; Professional Development Day for Staff.
Monday, October 12, 2026
- School Closed--Celebrate Columbus Day.
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
- Financial Aid Workshop, Presenter: Dionne L. Hallback from TCNJ at 6 p.m.
Thursday, October 22, 2026
- Make-Up Picture Day for Grades 9-11.
Wednesday, October 28, 2026
- NHS Induction Ceremony at 6 p.m.
- PSAT for Grades 10 and 11.
For all school events, activities, athletics, meetings and schedule details, please visit the school website and district calendar.
The Golden Apple Award recognizes and celebrates the exceptional contributions of staff. Each month, one individual from each school will be honored for their excellence and dedication to the school community. Nominations are submitted by colleagues who have witnessed the nominee's positive impact. Congratulations to our September Golden Apple Awardee.
Congratulations to Mrs. CarriEve Birnbohm!
Mrs. Birnbohm With Her Astronomy Class
Character Education Program
Word of the Month for September is "Friendliness."
Every month, students will be recognized for the fine job they have done in bringing the word of the month to life. Students are nominated by our school staff. The Character Education Word of the Month for September was "Friendliness." We will communicate the rest of our character education traits to you over the course of the school year. The Character Education "Word of the Month" for October is "Respect."
Let’s work together to get our students to focus on why each trait matters! We need all our students to see that they can help others through their positive words and actions.
The "Word of the Month" for September was "Friendliness."
Here are the students of the month for September:
Bikramjeet Aujla, Ethyn Belgrave, Justin Borota, Brandon Day, Alyson Franta, Alanah Gravener, Ayden Roe-Nair and John Turner.
Grit and Gratitude Awards
With this program, one student from each grade level will be selected for the “Grit & Gratitude Award” each month. It is for students who try their best, show resilience, and express appreciation to those who help them. Our September "Grit and Gratitude" recipients were:
Grade 9: Subhaan Muhammad
"Subhaan is an incredibly hard worker, no matter what challenges may come his way. He is always the first to raise his hand and participate in class. He also asks for work ahead of time, so that he can try it on his own first. His positive attitude contributes to his resilient nature."
Nominated by: Ms. Sharma
Grade 10: Renata Colandrea
"Renata demonstrates hard work and a positive attitude in English II."
Nominated by: Mr. Brown
Grade 11: Ethan Johnson
"Ethan has a wonderful attitude in CP Physics. When things do not go his way, he takes it in stride!"
Nominated by: Mrs. Birnbohm
Grade 12: Stephanie Amoah
"Stephanie is a pleasure in AP Physics class and takes all needed feedback seriously while maintaining a positive attitude."
Nominated by: Mrs. Birnbohm
Perfect Attendance Program
We are excited to announce the launch of a new Perfect Attendance Program for the upcoming school year!
Each month, we will recognize students who demonstrate excellent attendance. Any student who is present at school every school day of the month will be eligible to have their name entered into our Perfect Attendance “Hat.”
At the end of each month, three lucky students will be randomly selected from the hat to receive a special reward, generously sponsored by our wonderful Parents Organization!
We are excited to recognize and celebrate our students for their commitment to being present and ready to learn each day. We look forward to celebrating our students throughout the school year!
We are proud to share that 234 of our students had perfect attendance for the month of September! Three lucky winners were selected from that list of students, and they are:
Justin Borota - Gr. 9
Lily Muchowski--Gr. 10
JaDore Williams--Gr. 9
Flashes in Action
Spirit Week Kick Off Event
Powder Puff Game
Decorating the Canned Forts
Senior Canned Fort
Junior Canned Fort
Sophomore Canned Fort
Freshmen Canned Fort
Hallway Decorations
Great way to spend a Saturday morning.
Working together and having a great time.
Everything looks great!
Homecoming Court
Juniors and Seniors
Freshmen and Sophomores
Marching Band Competition on September 30, 2026
Inside FTMHS
Guidance Department
Mrs. Duffy and Mr. Varga, invite you to visit the Counseling Department website, which is accessible from the high school main page. There you will find useful information and links for academic support, mental health resources, college planning and research, post-secondary financial aid, etc.
College Info Packets can be found in the Class of 2027 Google Classroom and on our counseling department website.The Senior Brag Sheet, located in your English class Google Classroom, should be filled out prior to requesting teacher recommendation letters. It also serves as an automatic entry for certain scholarships offered by local organizations. The counselors are visiting senior English classes and meeting with seniors individually to talk with them about post-high school planning.
We're excited to welcome College Admissions Representatives to our school throughout the fall. Click here to see which colleges will be visiting and when. Interested 11th and 12th graders should contact their counselors prior to the meeting to receive a Securely appointment to attend. Be sure to check back regularly as we're continuously adding new visits to the schedule!
The Burlington County School Counselors Association College Fair is at the RCBC-Mt. Laurel Campus on October 29, 2026, at 6 p.m. Over 60 colleges will be represented. All grades 9-12 are welcome! More info and RSVP here: https://rcbc.edu/collegefair