ACS teachers worked hard preparing their classrooms to be a warm, loving, and welcoming place for their students as the school year got underway on September 8. In late August, teachers and staff attended In-Service training and workshops where they had an opportunity to get acquainted, review school policies and procedures, and focus on this year’s spiritual development theme — “Deeply Rooted” — based on Jeremiah 17:7-8.
Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen welcomed and introduced the 17 new employees who have joined the ACS faculty/staff this year (pictured below left). The new employees are: Boys’ PE teacher Joshua Clark; 5th grade teacher Kaitlin D’aquilante; Spanish teacher Minelva Guevara; 2nd grade teacher Kristen Hockenberry; 3rd grade teacher Genevieve Huff; High School Bible teacher Pastor Urick Lewis; 2nd grade teacher Nayda Lorick; 1st grade teacher Lauren McCartney; 6th grade teacher Taylor McCreight; 3rd grade teacher Melissa Myers; Early Education Aide and Middle School/High School cooking teacher Jessica Shoemaker; Middle School Language Arts teacher Linda Stiteler; High School Bible, History, and Language Arts teacher Robin Tolg; Early Education Aide Michelle Wheeler; 4th grade teacher Kimberly Wroniuk; Event Coordinator Joshua Zimmer; and Elementary Music Teacher Juliana Zimmer. Oblen also introduced another nine faculty and staff members who transferred to new positions this year (pictured below right).
Members of the Parent-Teacher Fellowship provided a tasty taco-themed lunch on Monday. On Tuesday, members of the Board of Directors donated and served breakfast and Board member Pastor Chaz Wyckoff of Friendship Bible Church delivered the devotion focused on Romans 14:1-4. Pastor Wyckoff urged the faculty and staff to strive for unity as part of the one body of Christ and to seek to glorify God in everything they do.
Each In-Service session began with worship led by Business Administrator Kelly Flynn, faculty member Amy Parker, Director of Choral and Instrumental Music Tim Rosie, and Facilities Director Bill Smallwood. On Tuesday, Shawn Hyland of the Family Policy Alliance of NJ also gave an informative presentation on the status of legislation and curriculum in New Jersey that is infringing on religious beliefs and the Christian worldview and is promoting various political ideologies.
We’re ready for an exciting year of growing and learning.
