Welcome Back!  We  Missed You!

We are thrilled to welcome our Explorers back home! There is so much excitement and positive energy in our school community. We are excited to get this school year started! Our vibrant community of Marist educators are eager to make this a rewarding and successful year for our young men. 

Together we will continue Forging Greatness!  Adelante!

The Year of L'Hermitage  
This year we celebrate the 200th Anniversary of L'Hermitage, the site of the first General House of the Marist Brothers built in France by Saint Marcellin Champagnat and the early brothers.  It is a powerful Marist symbol representing family spirit and community. The Year of  L'Hermitage is an opportunity for each one of us to continue to build on our Marist Mission with a new generation of Marists.

During the week of August 12th, we welcomed each class individually to review protocol and establish expectations.  The sessions also served as opportunities for our Explorers to develop relationships within our Marist community and strengthen the bonds of brotherhood.

We Are Marist Freshman Retreat
The “We Are Marist Freshman Retreat” took place over three days and provided the class of 2028 with opportunities for fun activities, social interaction, group sharing and prayer. The class was introduced to the Marist way of life through the Marist charism that began with our founder Saint Marcellin Champagnat.  We are already seeing our freshmen begin to build the bonds of brotherhood.  Thank you to our student leaders and Mr. G. Gonzalez, Mrs. E. Alegret, Ms. K. Alegret, Dr.  Burrus, Br. Dittus, Mr. E. Gonzalez, Mr. Grant, Mr. Jesurun, and Mr. Rivero.

Campus Ministry Retreat Leaders Preparation  
Mr. Gerardo Gonzalez and the Campus Ministry Retreat Leaders gathered in the days before the ‘We Are Marist Freshman Retreat’ to pray and prepare for the special activities that would be experienced by our class of 2028.  Thank you Mrs. E. Alegret, Br. Dittus, and Mr. Jesurun.

Welcome New Teachers & Staff
This year, we welcomed 15 new faculty and staff members to our Columbus family. They are pictured with longtime Columbus teacher Mr. Andy Chacon '91, who leads the La Valla Program for Marist educators. During the first weeks of August, they were immersed in our Marist mission, identity, and charism. Welcome to our Columbus, Marist Family! Neil Berkman (Math), Christopher Garcia (Permanent Sub), Alex Jesurun (Theology/Campus Ministry), Stephanie Fernandez (Desmond Family Success Center), Vivian Viscovich (Desmond Family Success Center), Stephanie Echazabal (College & Career Counseling), Alicia Balado (Business), Jada Brinson (History), Gabriel Barbeite (Theology), Jennifer Botten (Finance Dept.), Amicel Mesas (Receptionist), Rosie Napoles (Externship & Internships Program), Oliver Echevarria (Permanent Sub), Alejandro Levy (History), Randall Evans (Social Studies)

Faculty & Staff Service Retreat – In the Spirt of L’Hermitage
This year our Faculty & Staff Start of School Retreat was a service day that brought groups of us together to help our community through several nonprofit organizations.  The day ended back at Columbus for group sharing and a closing prayer. We thank Br. Al, our Director of Service Learning, for organizing the activities which were a great way to celebrate the Year of L'Hermitage. 

Welcome New Parents
Welcome to all the new parents who have joined the Columbus family!  During our New Parents Reception, our parents met fellow parents and members of the administration and faculty.  Special thanks to Mr. Marinelli and Ms. Tellechea.

Columbus Passed Reaccreditation with High Praise
Columbus was awarded accredited status by the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI), the Northwest Accreditation Commission (NWAC) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School improvement (SACS CASI) and conferred by the Cognia Global Commission on June 27^th.  These three regional agencies provided us with a highly regarded accreditation that is recognized worldwide. Throughout the process, we were complimented on many aspects of our school.  “Columbus students exemplify faith based on service, scholarship defined by excellence and brotherhood that demonstrates generosity and a caring spirit…there is a connectivity that is rarely seen and deeply embedded in all action for the entire school community.”  Congratulations to our entire school community for this great achievement.

Below is a link to an article that discusses the importance for us all to foster a growth mindset in highschoolers.  We urge you to read it. By encouraging our students to accept leadership roles on campus, begin to define their career aspirations, and take ownership of their academic journey, we give them a competitive edge. At Columbus we are blessed to provide state of the art resources and facilities, an excellent faculty, and a competitive environment that will help them to achieve their goals. Let's inspire our Explorers to take advantage of these resources. GROWTH MINDSET ARTICLE

Christopher Columbus High School was named the winner of the 2004 Floyd E. Lay Sunshine Cup Boys All-Sports Award (Class 7A) and the Miami Herald Boys Major Sports Award.  These awards signify that Columbus has the best athletic program for boys in Miami-Dade County and in the state of Florida. Congratulations to our Athletic Director Mr. McKeon and to our student-athletes and coaches.

CCNN Live students have been credited as directors and producers on a documentary now streaming on Amazon Prime.  The powerful and inspiring documentary is Live Like Bella: A Story of Faith, Hope, and Love, the story of the daughter of Columbus alum Raymond Rodriguez Torres. This is the first time that a movie created by Columbus students has been listed on a streaming platform.  Thank you Mr. Delgado, Ms. Rodriguez, Mrs. Insua and Mr. Busatto.  VIEW DOCUMENTARY

Call to Prayer at the Freshman Football Game for the Faithfully Departed - Roy Hallak and Jayko Giron 
Coach Jorge Garrigo invited all present at the Freshman Football game vs. Archbishop Coleman Carroll High School to start the evening in  prayer. Led by Mr. Gerardo González, '89, Director of Campus Ministry, the prayer was dedicated for the safety of the players and the intentions of all those gathered and for the repose of the soul of Roy Hallak '97 and CCHS football parent, for CCHS  parent Jayko Giron, and for all the faithfully departed members of the Columbus and ACC communities.  Pictured alongside Mr. Gonzalez is Mrs. Amabert Villar-Hallak, Jayden Villar, '28, and Logan Joseph Hallak. This was a very special moment and the team went on to win the game over ACC  with a score of 37-14. 

Varsity Football Won Season Opener Against Southridge
The varsity football team also won their season opening game against the Southridge Spartans with a 17-14 win.  Congratulations to Coach Dunn and team. 

Golf Team Kicks Off Season
The Columbus golf team is off to a great start this season, placing 2nd at the annual American Heritage Invitational, finishing 10th out of 20 teams (2nd in FL) at the Ping National Invitational, and placing 3rd out of 14 teams at the Biltmore Golf Course Tournament.  Congrats to Coach Marinelli and team!

Sixteen students spent a week learning about the migrant situation at our nation’s border at El Paso.   Their most impactful experiences were interacting with the migrants and hearing their stories. Thank you to Br. Al, Mrs. Aycart, and Mrs. Vinson for accompanying our young men on this powerful and eye-opening journey. 

We held a dedication ceremony for our newly renovated athletic facility, thanks to the support and generosity of Tony Gonzalez '86 and Joaquin Gonzalez '97. These distinguished alumni have been vital to the Columbus community, and their lasting legacy continues to inspire our Explorers.  Special thanks to Mr. Ramos, and Mrs. Marti.  View Facility Showcase Video

Yearbookpalooza Summer Training Workshop
Francisco Rivero '25, and Brian Bech '26 attended Yearbookpalooza’s “Turn It Up” Summer Training Workshop, representing Columbus well. Thank you Mrs. Essig.

Columbus Lanyards Made From Recycled Plastic
At this year’s picture day, the entire student body, faculty and staff received their new IDs on a very special lanyard, the first of its kind.  This year’s lanyard was the first Columbus item made from recycled plastic collected on campus through our new  recycling circular economy program.  The plastic water bottles used to make the lanyards were collected at our Earth Day Rally earlier this year.  One plastic water bottle went into making each lanyard.  Remember to always dispose of your plastic water bottles in the designated bins around campus. Remember to Recycle!

Marist Youth Leadership Camp
Campus Ministry Retreat Leaders participated at the Marist Youth Leadership Camp at Esopus, NY. The camp provides an introduction to the Marist Family and what it means to be Marist, develop leadership skills, and create a sense of community among the young Marist leaders of our Province and region. Thanks to Br. Dittus and Mr. E. Gonzalez for leading the Columbus delegation.

Senior Sven Stumbauer completed an internship with Congressman Carlos Giménez ’72 in Washington D.C. and was awarded a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition for his outstanding and invaluable service. He also attended the Student Leadership Program at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Institute in Simi Valley, California, and devoted over  30 hours to service project which benefits the children of the Miami Lighthouse of the Blind.

Andres Vergara '26 attended the National Student Leadership Conference (NSLC) Medicine and Health Care Program at Duke University. He was able to collaborate with his peers from around the country who are interested in the field of medicine and learn from leading professionals in the field.  It  was a valuable experience that will help him on his career journey.

Congratulations Br. Dittus on his Renewal of Vows
Congratulations to Br. Robert Dittus (Columbus Theology Instructor and Campus Minister) on your renewal of Vows as Marist Brother during the Liturgy for the Marist Youth Leadership Camp at Esopus.

 

We are pleased to announce that Mrs. Christina Insua has joined our administration as  Dean of Faculty, replacing Mrs. Chomat who retired from the position in the last school year. Mrs. Insua has served Columbus for over 20 years as an invaluable member of our English Department and has been instrumental in guiding programs such as CCNN Live, SAC, C-Tech,  and as a moderator of Honor Societies.

Congratulations to Danny Areces '16, our Track and Cross-Country coach, on being named the Miami Herald Track Coach of the Year and Co-Florida Dairy Farmers Coach of the Year! Coach Areces, your commitment to excellence and leadership is inspiring!

College Fair Coming to Columbus on Sep. 10
We are excited to host our Annual College Fair on September 10th from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. in the Columbus Cafe & Gym. It is an excellent opportunity to connect with institutions nationwide and learn about their offerings.  To help students maximize their time with college representatives, all CCHS students have already been pre-registered using their CCHS email.  If parents would like to obtain a barcode for themselves they should register before the fair at www.StriveFair.com.

Upcoming October Events to Remember:
10/4:  Fall Pep Rally (12:30 – 2:30pm, Gym)
10/6:  Mother & Son Mass & Breakfast for Freshmen/Sophomores (9:00am; Gym/Café)
10/11:  Walk-a-thon (7:45am – 11:00am; Tropical Park)
10/12:  Fred Foyo Brew Fest (4:00pm; Field)
10/14:  Columbus Day Holiday (No School)
10/20:    Mother & Son Mass & Breakfast for Juniors/Seniors (9:00am; Gym/Café)
10/23:   PSAT for Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors; NO SCHOOL FOR SENIORS
10/24:  Homecoming Football Game (7:00pm, Tropical Park)
10/25:  Career Day (7:45am – 12:00pm; various locations)
10/25:  Homecoming Dance (7:00pm; JW Marriot Marquis)
10/27:  Father & Son Mass/Breakfast (9:00am; Gym/Café)

Marist Youth Group meets every Tuesday at 7:30pm in the Columbus Chapel.