CAHS Family Update

Translate This Newsletter
To read this in another language, tap "TRANSLATE" at the top of the page and select the language from the drop-down menu.
⏰ Important Dates ⏰
Feb. 16: No School
Feb. 17: No School, Professional Development Day
Feb. 19: 6:30 PM, PTA Meeting (zoom)
Feb. 26: 10:15 AM, Silver Wings Basketball Game (Barack Comm. Center)
Feb. 26: Summer Opportunities Fair (at CAHS during lunch mods)
March 11: PSAT/SAT
March 12: 6:00-8:00 PM, IB and General Art Show
March 13: Last day of quarter 3
March 18: No School, Records Day
March 19: 6:30 PM, PTA Meeting (zoom)
March 26: 6:00-8:00 PM, Celebration of Excellence, PTA Event
April 1: Senior Breakfast (more info TBA)
April 2: 30-minute early dismissal
April 3-10: No School, Spring Break
April 16: 6:30 PM, PTA Meeting (zoom)
April 23: 7:00 PM, CAHS Choirs Concert (auditorium)
April 25: Junior/Senior Prom (more details TBA)
May 7: 7:00 Instrumental Music Concert (auditorium)
May 21: 6:30 PM, PTA Meeting (zoom)
May 25: No School, Memorial Day
May 28: Last day of school
May 29: 6:00 PM, Graduation (Convention Center)
📣 Recent Events 📣
Second Quarter Honor Roll
Congratulations to our 373 students on the Quarter 2 Honor Roll! This means that they earned a 3.2 or higher GPA. The PBIS committee rewarded them with a popcorn bar in the senior lounge Friday, Feb. 6 before the early dismissal for the surprise snow!
Bravo to the Cast of The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe!
The cast and crew worked incredibly hard to put together this amazing show under the direction of Ms. Falkowski and Ms. Allison. This also could not have happened without all the incredible support from the theatre families. Check out the digital playbill to see just how many students were involved and enjoy some great photos at the end!
🔆 Announcements 🔆
Senior Photos for Yearbook
Ms. Barkeloo and the yearbook team need senior photo submissions by March 17. Remind your seniors to check recent updates posted in google classroom by Ms. Barkeloo to explain what is needed!
National Honor Society Applications Open for Juniors!
Application for the CAHS chapter of the National Honor Society is now open! The deadline to apply is March 6th, so be sure to apply as soon as possible. A minimum GPA of 3.5 is required for membership.
I Know I Can
BLUEPRINT: COLLEGE & CAREER
For CCS 8th Through 11th Grade Families
March 19
Help your student plan for what comes next by attending one of I Know I Can’s Blueprint: College & Career events. Designed for 8th–11th grade students and their families, this engaging program helps families navigate postsecondary planning with confidence.
This event will be held Thursday, March 19 from 5:00–8:00 p.m. at the Center for Workforce Development at Columbus State Community College. All attendees will enjoy a free dinner, and each family will receive a $25 gift card for participating.
Blueprint: College & Career focuses on key steps for long-term success, including college search and selection, financial aid, and career alignment. Families can attend grade-level and interest-based breakout sessions, allowing them to tailor the experience to their student’s current goals and needs.
DROP IN SENIOR WORKSHOP for 12th Grade Families
March 19
During I Know I Can’s Blueprint: College & Career event (see above), seniors and their families are also invited to take advantage of drop-in workshops offering one-on-one support from I Know I Can advisors. Get personalized help with the FAFSA, college applications, resumes, grants, and scholarships.
Families may drop in anytime between 5:00–8:00 p.m., but advance registration is required.
Alumni Interactive Fundraiser
CAHS Alumni are planning a fun and interactive way to support our school! Any Dungeons and Dragons fans out there? This idea is open to all....beginners, experts, CAHS students, families, alumni, anyone who wants to hang out with the CAHS community.
"The CAHS Education Association is currently working towards hosting a Dungeons & Dragons charity event, to benefit the CAHS student body and Chorale efforts in particular."
Check out this form and sign up to stay in the loop!
Don't Forget to Order Your Yearbook
They are $55 until 2/27 at midnight! SAVE $5 BUY SOON!
2/28- June 2026 they are $60
Save the Date for March 26!
Mark your calendars for a Celebration of Excellence at CAHS! This PTA event will be a fun night of performances, food, a silent auction, and a farewell to staff who are retiring. More details to come!
Students, are you interested in setting up a table to sell or display your crafts and projects at the Evening of Excellence? Please click the button below for the sign-up form!
CCS Graduation Dates and Locations!
Nurse's Corner
Dental Clinic Information
School Smiles will be returning to CAHS in the spring, for 6 month checkup. Dates are coming soon.
If your child missed the first dental clinic, you can still sign them up for a cleaning and check-up by completing the online consent form at www.schoolsmiles.com/student-signup.
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
🧩 Community Building 🧩
Friends of CAHS PTA
Thank you for the donations to make our conference meals a success! It feels good to make the staff feel appreciated, one bag of shredded cheese at a time. 🙂
Help is needed to make our Celebration of Excellence event a success. Donations of items or time are always welcome. Donate a silent auction item for our wishlists OR contact us if you have another item to donate: christyhaynes92@gmail.com or 614-507-5294.
Cooking basket
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2H3YS5AEKXZ6W?ref_=wl_share
Family game night basket:
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/15ZDGTNEZP6FW?ref_=wl_share
Gardening basket:
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3LXK92XFMO3G0?ref_=wl_share
Movie night basket:
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/YLYIM6L6WNY5?ref_=wl_share
Spa day basket:
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/NIFPJWDPQ7AU?ref_=wl_share
Upcoming Meetings
Join us for our February 19 meeting at 6:30pm:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84465733322?pwd=veKhLFn05u5Y6RKcl2YBvL73bYuaFo.1
Meeting ID: 844 6573 3322
Passcode: 315973
Kroger Community Rewards
You can help the Friends of CAHS PTA raise money every time you shop at Kroger! Look for "Friends of Col. Alternative High School PTA" in the Kroger community rewards list of organizations. For more information on how to sign up:
Winter Athletes
Although the hope was to get our winter athletes highlighted much earlier, it is going to end up being an end-of-the-season wrap up. Apologies from the family ambassador for this delay! If you still have winter athlete info to add so we can honor these scholar-athletes for what they've done, please click on the button below.
Spanish WhatsApp Group!
We have a 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. It will be an informal way to connect on school-related topics in Spanish.
🔆 Clubs and Student Leadership Groups 🔆
If students missed Club Day earlier this fall or are still considering getting involved in a club, it is not too late! Click the button below to see all the current club information. There are 23 student-led clubs and 7 staff-led clubs. Some meet during the school day and some meet after school. Several clubs are competing against other school clubs in the district and beyond. Thanks to the many students, staff, and caregivers who are making these clubs a success!
Club Involvement for Evening of Excellence
The PTA is planning a fundraising event Thursday, March 26 from 6-8pm. If your club is interested in having a table at the event to represent the club and/or provide a demonstration of what you do, please contact PTA President, Christy Haynes: christyhaynes92@gmail.com
Community Service Club
The Community Service Club is having a donation drive between February 13-27 to collect items to make blessing bags. Please look over the list of the items needed and consider placing a donation in the boxes by the main office. Questions? Please contact Ms. Falkowski at: mfalkowski@columbus.k12.oh.us
The Pegasus Pantry is currently stocked and ready for donation requests. Please have your student fill out this form if food for the weekends would be helpful! Counselors also have information about the Pegasus Pantry.
Ultimate Frisbee Club
The CAHS Ultimate Windrunners are recruiting new players for the spring season. No experience required and all players are welcome!
League games: Tuesdays starting March 10
City Tournament -- Saturday, May 16
Sign up for the league any time before March 10 -- https://columbusyouthultimate.com/register
🏅CAHS Athletes🏅
⬆️⬆️ Please see the button for the form in the Community Building section of the newsletter to share details about our winter athletes! Thank you! ⬆️⬆️
🍎 District News 🍎
ESL Language Assistance Center
District Calendar for 2025-2026 School Year
Calendar Survey!
You are invited to share feedback on the proposed dates for the upcoming school year calendars for the 2026-2027 AND 2027-2028 school years. We will be accepting input until March 7, 2026.
Summer Opportunities Fair February 21
Busing and School Choice Lottery Changes Beginning in 2026-2027
As part of the District’s overall budget balancing plan to right-size the District's $75 million transportation operation, key changes are being made for the 2026-2027 school year for K-8 students choosing non-100% lottery schools, who do not have specialized needs or are in gifted programs. While the new policy is expected to affect only these students, the change will likely influence where some families choose to send students.
With choice lottery applications and selections happening over the coming months, parents may have new questions and concerns about transportation and School Choice.
Basic information on the lottery will be available online: School Choice/Lottery - Columbus City Schools. Those with specific questions on School Choice can contact the Department of Student Services, at 614-365-7459 or schoolchoice@columbus.k12.oh.us.
Updates on HIGH SCHOOL BUSING:
At this time there will be no changes to High School student busing from current planned operations. While there may be changes based on future Board decisions, there are no major changes for the 2026–27 school year. CCS will work with local partners to continue to analyze options for how to offer the best possible transportation services to high school students.
Updates on MIDDLE AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BUSING:
- Beginning 2026–27 school year, transportation will be provided for:
- Elementary and middle school students attending:
- Their assigned neighborhood school by address, who live more than 2 miles from the school; OR
- Students attending a 100% Lottery School; OR
- Students receiving specialized services or in gifted programs who are placed in a school other than their assigned school by address; OR
- Students displaced from their assigned school by address
If a K-8 student doesn't meet one of these criteria, they aren't eligible for transportation. Families who decide to apply for a choice school through the lottery that is not a 100% choice school should plan alternative transportation. The District understands this change may motivate some parents and students to alter their choice school location and/or return to their assigned neighborhood school by address. In either case, families should review school assignments, check distance, update home address, and plan ahead.
- 100% Lottery Elementary and Middle Schools are:
- Arts Impact Middle School, Africentric ES and MS, Columbus City Prep School for Boys, Columbus City Prep School for Girls, Columbus Spanish Immersion, Duxberry Park, Ecole Kenwood, Indianola K-8, Oakland Park, World Language Middle School
- Non-100% K-8 lottery schools include:
- Middle Schools: Buckeye, Champion, Dominion, Hilltonia, Johnson Park, Linden-McKinley (7th & 8th grade), Medina, Mifflin, Ridgeview, Sherwood, South (7th & 8th grade), Wedgewood, Westmoor, Woodward Park
- Elementary Schools: Alpine, Avalon, Avondale, Berwick, Binns, Burroughs, Cassady, Cedarwood, Clinton, Colerain, Como, Cranbrook, Devonshire, Eakin, East Columbus, East Linden, Eastgate, Easthaven, Fairmoor, Forest Park, Gables, Georgian Heights, Hamilton STEM, Highland, Hubbard, Huy, Indian Springs, Innis, Leawood, Liberty, Lincoln Park, Lindbergh, Linden STEM, Livingston, Maize, North Linden, Northgate, Northtowne, Oakmont, Ohio Avenue, Olde Orchard, Parkmoor, Parsons, Salem, Scottwood, Siebert, Shady Lane, South Mifflin, Southwood, Starling, Stewart, Sullivant, Trevitt, Valley Forge, Valleyview, Watkins, Weinland Park, West Broad, West Mound, Westgate, Windsor STEM, Winterset, and Woodcrest
College Credit Plus Sessions for 2026-2027
CCS Board Meeting Updates
The next school board meeting will be February 17, 2026 at 6:00pm. Click on the button below to see the agenda. Board meetings can be watched live on the CCS Facebook page.
The Columbus Board of Education is seeking community members to serve on its Board committees as part of a renewed focus on collaboration, engagement, and student success.
Committee members play a critical role in advancing the district’s mission to educate the whole child and prepare students to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
If you’re ready to contribute your voice, expertise, and perspective, we invite you to apply. Learn more at ccsoh.us/board-of-education/committees
Owltstanding Teachers Award
Do you know a teacher or staff member that goes above and beyond to further the education of students? Western Governors University (WGU) and Columbus City Schools would like to recognize outstanding teachers and staff by providing a special surprise for selected recipients.
Parents, students, fellow educators, administrators, or community members can nominate a teacher or staff member. Honorees will be selected based on their demonstrated impact in and beyond the classroom. Please use the link below to nominate someone today!
If you have questions email engage@columbus.k12.oh.us.
Weather Cancellations
Click the button for district policy regarding cancellations for weather.
Get the App!
- Download the Infinite Campus PARENT or STUDENT app to your phone.
- Type 'Columbus' when it asks for the district then select CCS and Ohio
Spruce Run Events
🏠 Community News 🏠
Affordable Housing Fair March 7
Health and Rehabilitation Science Camp, June 1-3
The Ohio State University’s School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (HRS) would like to share information about our HRS Summer Camp with CAHS students!
Below is some key information about the camp. It allows high school students to learn about Health Sciences including:
- Athletic Training
- Occupational Therapy
- Physical Therapy
- Recreational Therapy
- Medical Laboratory Sciences
- Health Management Systems and more
- HRS Camp takes place on The Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center Campus.
- This is an entirely FREE camp for three days, June 1st-3rd 2026 from 8am to 5pm each day, with breakfast and lunch provided.
- The application deadline is April 24th. Students can apply through this website (below) or use the QR code/link on the flyer.
After School Studio Art Program in Worthington
Cooley Art Studios in Worthington offers several art courses for students which include: Monthly Art Classes, Young Artists After School Art Classes, and the Urban Classical Art Initiative. These classes are for students age 14 and up. Feel free to contact CAHS Art Teacher Ms. Barkeloo regarding what options may be a good fit: rbarkeloo1464@columbus.k12.oh.us
Immigrant and Refugee Resources to Share
On December 18, Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther was part of a press conference addressing concerns surrounded heightened ICE presence in Columbus. He referred to a helpful website with resources in multiple languages, All of Us. The website shares the words that he spoke as well, "Columbus is proud to be one of the most welcoming and diverse cities in the United States. Our diversity is a core strength that drives our culture, our economy and our future."
Resources in Somali
Munira Abdullahi (state representative for district 9) spoke at a press conference at city hall in December. Our family ambassador spoke with her and found out she is a 2013 CAHS graduate! When she was asked what would be helpful to share with the Somali families in our school community and advocates, she suggested the resources below.
Food Resources
Please share these links to food access with anyone who may need them. Please also share others you are aware of on the PTA Facebook page: Columbus Alternative High School PTA (Friends of CAHS), or send to family ambassador Deborah Showalter: dshowalter1@columbus.k12.oh.us
Columbus Area Food Pantries and Soup Kitchens
A thorough resource put together by Columbus Public Health highlighting resources in all parts of Columbus.
FreshTrak Food Access
Great resource where families can enter their zip code and find the resources within a specific mile radius. It provides hours and days of the banks and resources as well as what the site may require for documentation. It also provides translation of the page in several languages: Spanish, Somali, Russian, Turkish, Arabic, Hindi, Mandarin and Nepali.
Feeding America Network
Here is another website that helps to locate food resources.
CAP4Kids
This is an extensive database of multiple types of support in different parts of Columbus for food, housing, transportation, and more.
Culture Passes with Cbus Metropolitan Library Cards
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.
One Linden Resource Guide
For our CAHS families living in the Linden community, check out this wonderful collection of resources and programs.
Have a CAHS Question?
Ms. Michelle L. Lewis, Head Principal:
Dr. Aaron D. Moore, Associate Principal/Director of Sophomore and Senior Experiences:
Ms. Bryant, Associate Principal/Director of Freshmen and Junior Experiences:
Counselor Ms. Megan Higgins (last names A-D, Seniors A-G): mhiggins@columbus.k12.oh.us
Counselor Dr. Drew Milligan (last names E-Mi): cmilligan4382@columbus.k12.oh.us
Counselor Ms. Victoria Goodwin (last names Mo-Z): vgoodwin@columbus.k12.oh.us
Internship Coordinator Ms. Samantha Smith: ssmith2@columbus.k12.oh.us
Advanced Studies Coordinator Ms. Alice Webb: awebb@columbus.k12.oh.us
Attendance issues-Attendance Secretary Ms. Leslie Stanford: attendance.colalt@columbus.k12.oh.us
or voicemail: 380-997-0237
General CAHS questions-Principal's Secretary Ms. Rhonda Clayborn: rclaybor@columbus.k12.oh.us or (614) 365-6006
Nurse Ms. Tina Peterson: tpeterson@columbus.k12.oh.us
Family Ambassador Ms. Deborah Showalter: dshowalter1@columbus.k12.oh.us
Have a District Question?
Transportation Call Center: 614-365-5074
CCS Technology Help Desk: 614-365-8425
FACTline Email: factline@columbus.k12.oh.usFACTline Phone Number: 614-221-FACT (614-221-3228)
Customer Relations Phone Number: (614)365-8888
Customer Relations Email: customerrelations@columbus.k12.oh.us
Parent Portal/Infinite Campus Help: If you've forgotten your username/password, click on EXISTING USER in the Portal, then click FORGOT USERNAME/PASSWORD, and the information will be sent to the email used to set up the account. If you no longer have access to the email used to set up the account, please send a picture ID, your student's name and date of birth to parentportalaccess@columbus.k12.oh.us
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