If you want to keep track of policy changes, never miss an upcoming event, find scholarships and student opportunities or even remember who’s celebrating a birthday, you don’t scroll TikTok; you check your inbox. That’s where The Cougar Chronicle lives: Cherry Hill High School East’s weekly guide to everything that matters.
Introduced by Principal Mr. Daniel Finkle in September 2024, The Cougar Chronicle is typically sent to students every Friday and seeks to keep students updated through a central source for essential school information. Since then, it has emerged as a reliable guide for students to manage deadlines, academic requirements and opportunities while helping them stay organized and aware of what’s happening at East.
Morning announcements, now held at the end of first period instead of beginning, are largely ineffective, with students still finishing assignments, noisily packing up or getting ready to leave for their next class. Paper flyers on the C-wing second-floor bulletin board and in the guidance office still exist, but few students have time to stop in the hallways or walk to A-wing to read them. With outdated information, East’s websites for activities and guidance are hard to navigate, discouraging students from using them.
The Cougar Chronicle, unlike the aforementioned means of providing information and resources, stands out by delivering bite-sized, actionable information directly to Outlook — a platform students already check frequently alongside Google Classroom — in a clear and straightforward format that makes staying informed easy.
Want to make sure you don’t get tripped up by attendance rules? The Friday, Sept. 26 edition outlined early dismissal procedures and consequences for lackluster attendance. Looking for scholarships and student opportunities? The Friday, Sept. 26 edition highlighted awards and competitions, including the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation and the Rowan University Writing Arts Department high school writing contest. Hoping to solidify your spot for the senior trip? The Friday, Oct. 3 edition included instructions for Class of 2026 students on deposits for the trip. Hoping to demonstrate your school spirit? The Friday, Oct. 3 edition previewed the East versus Cherry Hill High School West football matchup on Thursday, Oct. 9.
Eschewing the nebulous nature of announcements, flyers and outdated websites, The Cougar Chronicle consolidates the full breadth of East life into a single, organized source, ensuring students never miss a beat in policy updates, academics, athletics or additional opportunities. Above all, The Cougar Chronicle lists student birthdays. Believe it or not, a seemingly small gesture like this can make a student’s day — and it’s meaningful that the principal takes the time to acknowledge every student’s birthday, even emailing staff on theirs, too.
The Cougar Chronicle has proven itself to serve as an imperative lifeline for students navigating the complexities of East. Its clear and comprehensive coverage ensures that students stay informed and engaged across every facet of East life. With Finkle’s resignation, it is crucial that Interim Principal Mrs. Leslie Walker and, eventually, the full-time principal, recognize the irreplaceable value of this weekly communication. To maintain transparency and genuinely support student success, East administration must preserve a weekly student newsletter, providing students with a continuous, reliable source for all of the vital happenings in their school community.
