CAHS Family Update
To read this in another language, tap "TRANSLATE" at the top of the page and select the language from the drop-down menu.
Congratulations to one of our humanities teachers for becoming Dr. Wynne this past summer! He received his Doctorate of Education from Ashland University. This is Dr. Wynne's 11th year at CAHS. He has taught many courses here: Government, AP Government, Global Issues, Sociology, Psychology, Economics, IB Psychology, Introduction to the Humanities, and American Humanities.
Marcus McCullough
Miriam Rule, Beatrice Watson, Aviv White
The big ask for community building in this newsletter is.....please fill out the Panorama Survey!
CCS has been using this since the 17/18 school year to gain insight on family-school relationships. Results are processed by school leadership and make an impact on addressing school needs and improving climate. We are trying to reach a new school record of 175 responses. At the writing of this newsletter we are at 30 so please take a few minutes and let us know how you currently see the strengths and weaknesses of our school community!
For those interested in some highlights from the spring, we had 2 categories that jumped up 9 points:
- How much of a sense of belonging does your child feel at his/her school? 63%
- How well do administrators at your child's school create a school environment that helps children learn? 77%
Our need for growth areas are 3 categories that were down 3 points:
- How well do the activities offered at your child's school match his/her interests? 46%
- To what extent do you think that children enjoy going to your child's school? 63%
- How big of a problem is the following issue for becoming involved with your child's current school: the school is not welcoming to parents? 87% (said it was not a big problem, but it had been 90%)
Help is wanted for a host for the upcoming staff meals in November and we're also looking for help with our upcoming fundraising event. Please help with ideas, planning, decorating, etc. If interested, please contact Christy Haynes at christyhaynes92@gmail.com.
Christy Haynes
PTA President
October meeting is October 16 at 6:30PM via Zoom:
Friends of CAHS PTA is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84465733322?pwd=veKhLFn05u5Y6RKcl2YBvL73bYuaFo.1
Meeting ID: 844 6573 3322
Passcode: 315973
We have a new group started for parents and caregivers who speak Spanish as their primary language! Thanks to parent Leticia Luna-Escobar for hosting this one. Feel free to join using the QR code or link and share with others in our community including parents/caregivers of rising freshmen. It will be an informal way to connect on school-related topics in Spanish.
We are very grateful for our hardworking custodians at CAHS, Mr. Thomas, Ms. Howell, and Mr. Crump. They were thanked with a card and gift cards from the staff on October 2.
Important Immunization Clinic Announcement
CAHS and Columbus Public Health are partnering again to host a Flu shot clinic on October 27, 2025, 12-2:30pm. This clinic is for anyone who wants to receive a flu shot.
To sign your child up, please use this link: Sign-up Form or call 380-997-3574 to request a paper consent form.
Nationwide Children's Partnership
We are excited to continue our partnership with Nationwide Children's Hospital (NCH) to provide transportation for students to clinic appointments during the school day. These appointments can include well-checks, sports physicals, work permit physicals, immunizations, asthma follow-ups, blood work, and specialty care referrals. If you would like your child to take advantage of this service, please contact your school nurse at 380-997-3574.
Illness Prevention
To ensure the health and safety of all students and staff, we ask that you please keep your child at home if they are feeling unwell. If your child must attend school while experiencing cold or flu-like symptoms, we strongly encourage them to wear a mask. Per school policy, students with a fever of 100.4°F or higher must remain at home for 24 hours after their fever has subsided. We also ask that you remind your children to wash their hands frequently, as this is the most effective way to prevent the spread of germs.
Thank you for your continued support in maintaining a healthy school environment.
Tina Peterson RN, BSN
School Nurse
Columbus Alternative High School
614-365-6252
Details for picking up last year's yearbook (24-25)
Details for ordering this year's yearbook (25-26)
COSI Contest page 1
COSI Contest page 2
COSI Contest page 3
CAHS Theater Arts Ensemble is planning on presenting the play version of The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe in January! It's not too late to be a part of the cast or crew of this production! Email Ms. Siegel for more info: gsiegel@columbus.k12.oh.us
Resources in English
Resources in Spanish
(See the message below from Debate Club co-captain Charles Smith. In order to begin preparing for a fall competition, this club has already begun meeting.)
The Debate Club meets on Wednesdays and Thursdays after school in Room 109, with meetings ending at 4. Students are encouraged to attend at least one meeting per week if they want to participate. We plan to move the Wednesday meeting time when Internship begins for upperclassmen.
Last year, we sent two teams to a CCS-wide debate competition, placing first and second. This year, we are looking forward to participating again at the district level in both Winter and Spring and in the Ohio Speech and Debate Association (OSDA) competitions. Our first OSDA debate will be in November.
We are thrilled to have welcomed many new members this year and look forward to working with them! Any student interested in joining is welcome and should attend our next meeting.
Charles Smith
CAHS Debate Team Co-Captain
The club is beginning to do weekly park meetups in preparation for the official launch after Club Day.
If you are interested in learning more join the GroupMe chat!
Some of the common questions we are all asked repeatedly by our family and friends and we also are asking ourselves are: "When is the CAHS building closing?" "Where is CAHS moving?"
The Columbus City Schools website now has a link on their homepage called "School Realignment." This describes a three-phase plan for the buildings and schools in the district that are being closed or relocated. Work is happening now for two elementary schools in Phase I that will close at the end of this school year. This is the description for CAHS:
- Phase II (2027-2028): Relocation of Columbus Alternative High School from the McGuffey site.
- Download the Infinite Campus PARENT or STUDENT app to your phone.
- Type 'Columbus' when it asks for the district then select CCS and Ohio
The CAHS Education Foundation is a group of CAHS alumni who have formed a non-profit organization to support the current CAHS students, staff, and families. They have just launched their fall fundraiser through the Honey Baked Ham Company. Click the button below to learn more.
Looking for a fun and educational way to spend your free time? With a Columbus Metropolitan Library card, you can access Culture Passes that grant you free admission to some of central Ohio’s most popular cultural institutions. Whether you're interested in museums, theaters, or other cultural experiences, these passes provide a fantastic opportunity to explore the local arts and culture scene without any cost.
To take advantage of this offer, simply visit your local library for in-person checkout. Culture Passes are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and supplies are limited, so don’t miss your chance! Please note that passes cannot be reserved ahead of time. Visit your library today and see what’s available — it’s the perfect way to discover new adventures around the city while supporting your local library.
For our CAHS families living in the Linden community, check out this wonderful collection of resources and programs.
Columbus Alternative High School
School Year Office Hours
Monday - Friday
7:00 AM - 3:30 PM
Website: https://www.ccsoh.us/CAHS
Location: 2632 McGuffey Rd, Columbus, OH 43211, USA
Phone: (614)365-6006