Articles by: Carole Karabashian

ACS Students Celebrate Black History Month

Throughout February, ACS students are participating in a variety of special activities for Black History Month. A new, daily quiz contest was launched this Monday, February 10 during morning announcements with students being told a fact about an influential African American and being able to win a prize by being the first to find their principal and correctly identify that person.

The quiz contest is continuing to the end of February and a total of 13 African Americans will have been highlighted. Six students in elementary through high school were this week’s contest winners: 5th grader Julian Calloway, 9th grader Jake DeNick, 9th grader Hunter Jorgenson, 3rd grader Nora Sawaid, 7th grader Ruth Oke, and 9th grader Caleb Vogel. The winners are receiving a dress down pass as the prize. This week’s questions and answers were:

  • Question: Who was the first African American woman to travel into space? Answer: Mae Carol Jemison;
  • Question: Now an NFL quarterback, this African American initially played college football and college baseball at Texas Tech University. Answer: Patrick Lavon Mahomes II;
  • Question: This African American inventor is best known for being awarded a patent for automatically opening and closing elevator doors. Answer: Alexander Miles;
  • Question: This African American woman was the 66th U.S. Secretary of State, under the administration of President George W. Bush. Answer: Condoleezza Rice.

A short biography and a photo of the 13 African Americans featured in the contest are being hung in the school hallway near the Multi-Purpose Room. Hallway bulletin boards in other hallways are also decorated in honor of historically significant African Americans like Harriet Tubman and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Classroom lessons and projects are also highlighting the historical contributions of African Americans as well as the social accomplishments of those who led the civil rights movement. 

A hallway bulletin board in our Early Education/Elementary first floor hallway decorated for Black History Month with a quote by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Spirit Week Kicks Off Feb. 7, Fun Activities Planned for Next Week

A pep rally on Friday, February 7, with ACS students and staff dressed in our green-and-white school colors, kicked off a series of fun activities planned for Spirit Week next week. Our high school basketball teams will be playing their last regular season games next week before the playoffs, and our Athletic Department has planned a number of fun activities for our students and staff, with a different theme each day.

Here’s the lineup of activities planned for Spirit Week:

Marvel Monday – Students may come to school dressed as their favorite Marvel superhero or wearing their favorite Marvel gear.

Team Attire Tuesday – Students may wear their favorite Pro sports team attire.  May include jerseys, sweatshirts and T-shirts etc.

Western Wednesday – Come dressed in your favorite western wear.

Tropical Thursday – Wear your Hawaiian shirts, leis and beautiful flowers in your hair for this fun spirit day.  No bathing suits, shorts, or flip flops.

No ripped jeans or leggings as pants are allowed on any day. If you have elementary PE class on any of the days, you need to wear sneakers so you can participate in gym class. Any students choosing not to participate should come to school in their regular school uniform.

Gregory’s Restaurant Wins Golden Spoon Award at 2020 Bowls of Hope Soup Cook-Off Benefit

Over 450 people came out on Saturday, February 1 to sample a variety of delicious soups and choose their favorite at our 7th annual Bowls of Hope Soup Cook-Off. Congratulations to Gregory’s Restaurant and Bar in Somers Point for taking first place in the People’s Choice Golden Spoon Award for the second year in a row, serving up a shrimp and crab roasted corn chowder. The Gregory’s family is also part of the ACS family and everyone gathered on stage to receive their award.

Sal’s Coal-Fired Pizza in Somers Point took 2nd place for the second year in a row, serving a tortellini soup. The Atlantic City Rescue Mission Kitchen finished in 3rd place with its broccoli and cheddar soup, the first time the Rescue Mission has placed in the contest. Congratulations to 2011 ACS alumnus Dara Heston, who headed up the Mission’s culinary team.

Thank you to everyone who bought a ticket, donated to be an Event Sponsor, or brought cans of soup and other non-perishable items for the Community FoodBank of New Jersey. The Bowls of Hope showcased some of the best restaurants in and around Atlantic County serving up their specialty soups. Our high school students had the great experience of helping serve some of the soups and working behind the scenes with set-up, clean-up, selling tickets, and more.

Thirty-five elementary and middle school students presented 16 entertaining acts throughout the evening, showcasing their God-given talents and abilities. Students sang, danced, played the violin, and even performed while riding hover boards. Faculty member Amy Parker and senior Ashleigh Martin served as the Talent Show emcees.

We would like to thank and recognize the 20 chefs and restaurants who donated soup and helped make our event a success. Please join us in thanking them by patronizing these establishments. Our 20 participating restaurants and chefs were: Academy of Culinary Arts; Atlantic City Rescue Mission Kitchen; Bahay Kubo; Barrels; Bonterra Market; Carluccio’s; Charlie’s Bar & Restaurant; Eat Clean Organization; Gregory’s Restaurant & Bar; La Cucina Ristorante; Maurizio’s Pizzeria; Romanelli’s On the Greene; Sal’s Coal Fired Pizza; Sofia Restaurant; Steve and Cookies Restaurant; Tacocat; Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall; The Cheese Board; The Local’s Spot; and Whisk Bakery and Cafe.

We would also like to thank and recognize our generous Bowls of Hope Sponsors: American Church Group of NJ; B.F. Mazzeo Fruits and Produce; Clayton’s Self Storage; Edward Jones Investments, Jason Kiefer, Financial Advisor; Formica Brothers Bakery; H.S. Restoration and Cleaning Service; Klingert Family Chiropractic; Olympic Physical Therapy; and SERVPRO of Egg Harbor/Ventnor City.

CLICK HERE to read more exciting details and see photos of our Bowls of Hope as reported in the Press of Atlantic City’s February 1 article. Hope to see everyone back again next year!

Varsity Basketball Player Ben Noble Honored for Scoring 1,000th Career Point

ACS recognized and honored senior guard Ben Noble, a member of the Varsity Boys’ Basketball team, for achieving the significant milestone of scoring 1,000 points during his high school career with a special presentation during a home game on Friday, January 31 in the ACS gym. Noble scored his 1,000th point before a record-breaking crowd by sinking a foul shot in the 4th quarter of the conference game against King’s Christian School.

After Ben sank his foul shot, the enthusiastic crowd, which had been informed that he was close to reaching the record, threw streamers and rushed the court to congratulate him. Ben is now just the 8th ACS Varsity Boys’ basketball player in school history to reach this significant milestone.

Athletic Director Pam Hitchner presented Ben with a special commemorative game ball. Ben’s parents, 9th grade sister, Paige, and other family members were invited to join Ben court-side to be recognized for their contributions to Ben’s success.

ACS went on to win that game 72-44, with Ben scoring 16 points in the game. This year, Ben has averaged 16 points a game, 4 assists, and 3 steals. Led by head coach Dan Carney, the ACS Boys’ Basketball team, who is undefeated in the Tri-State Christian Athletic Conference, will play again at home on Monday, Feb. 10 against Open Door. Ben and other senior players and their parents will be recognized and honored on Tuesday, Feb. 11 at our home games against Gloucester County Christian School. Go Cougars!

Bowls of Hope Food Drive Collects 1,021 Pounds of Food For Community FoodBank

Our Bowls of Hope Food Drive was a huge success! Thanks to the generosity of our school families and friends, ACS collected a whopping 1,021 pounds worth of canned soups, vegetables, beans, tuna fish, and other non-perishable food items to donate to the Community FoodBank of NJ, Southern Branch. ACS middle school and high school Student Council members helped pack up the donated items and loaded them onto a Food Bank truck on Thursday, February 6.

Colette Kraus, Food Sourcing Manager for the Community FoodBank, thanked ACS for the donation which she said “will help many in our community who need our assistance.”

The donations came in throughout the month of January, with the school-wide Food Drive concluding the night of the Bowls of Hope Soup Cook-Off on February 1. Many people who attended the Bowls of Hope brought canned goods and other non-perishables to donate to the Food Drive, which this year collected three times more than last year’s drive.

Varsity Cheer Squad Fires Up ACS Basketball Fans

A talented, high-energy 15-member cheerleading squad has been getting ACS fans fired up at home basketball games since early January. The squad will be cheering at three more games before the basketball season concludes — at this Friday’s JV and Varsity Girls’ games against Winslow; at the senior game on February 11; and at the semi-final playoff game on February 20. Come on out and cheer our Cougars on to victory!

The middle school and high school students on the squad, co-coached by staff members Kelly Flynn and Morgan Gibson, started practicing in November to learn nearly 50 chants, cheers, and half-time routines and to develop their tumbling, stunts, and pyramids.

“I love the way this squad really works together,” said Mrs. Flynn. “They help and support each other and not just when they’re cheering, but they’re building great relationships for life.” In addition to practicing or cheering at a game three to four days a week, the squad has also enjoyed their time together at team dinners and Bible studies.

The squad is led by two captains — 9th grader Lauren Kent and 8th grader Haven Sanchez. The other members of the squad are: Angelina Alexis, Isabell Alford, Ava Barberio, Leah Boyer, Victoria Dade, Rebecca DiMaio, Adrienna Foo, Grace Johnson, Paityn Kates, Autumn Loo, Savannah Schwenker, Makayla Tomlinson, and Stephanie Valdes.

Intramural Cheer Squad Makes Its Debut

Our largest-ever intramural cheerleading squad made its debut at our “White Out” home basketball game on January 31 before a capacity crowd in the ACS gym in Egg Harbor Township. The squad will lead cheers and do a half-time routine at two more upcoming home games — the senior game on Tuesday, Feb. 11 and the semi-final playoff game on Thursday, Feb. 20.

The 26-member squad of elementary girls from kindergarten to 5th grade, led for the fifth year by Coach Morgan Gibson, has been practicing weekly since late November, learning the chants and practicing tumbling and stunting.

“We’re so excited to see the growth in this intramural program since it began five years ago,” said coach Gibson. “This is the largest and most experienced squad we’ve ever had. Our 5th graders are the leaders and they have learned so much. We know they’re ready to move on next year to the Varsity squad.”

ACS Participating in Coaches vs. Cancer Campaign

ACS and other Christian schools in the Tri-State Christian Athletic Conference are combining their efforts to support families dealing with cancer with a “Coaches vs. Cancer” campaign. Donations and gate fees collected at the February 3 middle school and high school basketball home games and at the Tuesday, February 11 home JV and Varsity games against Gloucester County Christian School will be donated to the TSCAC campaign.

Special T-shirts are being worn by ACS basketball players and cheerleaders at these games to support the cause. Income from the sale of the T-shirts is also being donated to the campaign.

Athletic Director Pam Hitchner said the funds collected this year will go to two families who have family members undergoing cancer treatment. One family is affiliated with Calvary Academy. The other recipient will be Kevin Weeks and his family. Mr. Weeks, who resides in Egg Harbor Township, is 31 years old and has six children. He is related to two members of the ACS Varsity basketball team, Aaron and Sam Glancey.

4th Graders Move Up to High School for Geometry Lesson with Chromebooks

Our 4th grade students, with Google Chromebooks in hand, moved up into Mr. Carney’s high school math classroom on Wednesday, January 29 to get a special lesson on coordinate pairs and graphing as part of their unit on geometry.

“We thought it would be a unique and exciting experience for our students to learn about the fundamentals of geometry from our high school math teacher, especially using the technology resources that he uses with his own students,” said 4th grade teacher Mrs. Hoover. “The students had so much fun!” She and 4th grade teacher Mr. Tardif were on hand to advise and assist the students as they used their Chromebooks during the lesson. Mr. Carney’s son, Colton, is also in Mr. Tardif’s class.

Mr. Carney began by having the students use graph paper to draw the x-axis and y-axis lines and then divide the paper into four quadrants.  He gave described how to find the coordinate pairs of a given point placed on the graph and then had the students log into the Chromebooks and begin typing the coordinate pair for the given point. 

Mrs. Hoover said the students soon learned how to arrive at the correct answer.  Mr. Carney ended the lesson with having the students write their own coordinate pairs to form two eyes on a graph that already had a smile mouth showing. 


ACS Announces Bowls of Hope Student Video Contest Winners

The top three winners of the 1st annual Bowls of Hope Student Video Contest were recognized and awarded gift cards during our MS/HS Chapel on Friday, January 31. The students who submitted the winning entries are, from left — 11th grader Haoshen (Katherine) Kong, 2nd place; 12th grader Mark Rosie, 1st place; and 6th grader Paityn Kates, 3rd place.

The winners were introduced by Upper School Principal Meg McHale and their videos promoting the Bowls of Hope Soup Cook-Off were shown to the students, who applauded and cheered for each video and the students who created them.

To meet the video contest guidelines, each video encouraged people to attend the Cook-Off because it is an event focused on giving back to the community and helping those in need. The proceeds of the Bowls of Hope will go to ACS and the Atlantic City Rescue Mission. The videos also encouraged those who attend to bring canned goods or other non-perishables to donate to the Bowls of Hope Food Drive to benefit the Community FoodBank of NJ, Southern Branch.

The student videos are being posted on Atlantic Christian School’s social media sites on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter and will also be shown during the Bowls of Hope on Saturday night.

CLICK HERE to view the 1st place Bowls of Hope video by Mark Rosie.

CLICK HERE to view the 2nd place Bowls of Hope video by Katherine Kong.

CLICK HERE to view the 3rd place Bowls of Hope video by Paityn Kates.

Application Process for Tuition Assistance Grants Opens Feb. 1

Atlantic Christian School is pleased to offer needs-based Tuition Assistance Grants for the 2020-2021 school year to families with children enrolling in kindergarten through the 12th grade and the online application process opens on Saturday, February 1 on the ACS website. The deadline to apply is May 1.  We praise God for the donations that have made it possible to fund this program that gives families with financial need access to a quality Christian education at ACS.

The tuition grants are being made possible through designated gifts from the John F. Fuoco Testamentary Trust, the John C. Allen Charitable Trust, and other donors. In addition to the tuition grants, ACS is also providing a tuition discount to families with multiple K-12 children enrolled. For the 2020-2021 school year,  a $1,000 multi-child tuition discount will be applied to the tuition rate for the second oldest child enrolled and to the tuition rate of each additional child after that.

Families must be current on their account to be eligible for tuition assistance grants. FACTS Grant and Aid Assessment will conduct the financial need analysis for ACS.  Families applying for tuition assistance must complete a FACTS application and submit the necessary supporting documentation to FACTS Grant & Aid Assessment.  There is a non-refundable $35.00 application fee.

Tuition assistance on a needs-basis will only be awarded to returning families who have completed re-enrollment and paid the registration fee by the May 1 deadline. Applications from new families will be considered on a rolling basis throughout the enrollment period.

CLICK HERE to apply for Tuition Assistance Grants for the 2020-2021 school year.

Great Gifts Up for Bid in Bowls of Hope Silent Auction

Tickets to Ocean City’s Castaway Cove, Pampered Chef cookware, Thirty-One Gifts bags, gift cards to local restaurants, fitness equipment for your home gym, board games and snacks for family fun nights — these are just some of the great items that will be up for bid at Atlantic Christian School’s Bowls of Hope Silent Auction on Saturday night. Come out and find something special for you and your family and support ACS educational programs with your donation.

There will be 24 Gift Baskets in the Silent Auction. The baskets were created by our PreK4 to 8th grade classrooms and are filled to the brim with items donated by our school families. Thank you so much for your generosity.

There’s something for everyone in the Silent Auction. There’s a gift basket for crafters, baskets for newborn babies, a basket for book lovers and for those who have a green thumb. If you like chocolate or ice cream there are definitely baskets for you. The Silent Auction bidding will begin when the doors open at 6 p.m. for the Bowls of Hope. Bidding will end at 7:45 p.m.

Winning bidders will be able to pay by cash, check, or credit card. Charitable gift receipts will be mailed to winners after the event. There will be a charitable tax deduction for the amount of a winning purchase price that exceeds the fair market value of a gift basket.

Bowls of Hope Soup Cook-Off One Day Away, Evening Includes Student Talent Show

Our popular Bowls of Hope Soup Cook-Off is just one day away — on Saturday, February 1 — from 6-8 p.m. in the school gym. Come out and sample delicious signature soups and be entertained by 34 of our elementary and middle school students as they sing, dance, and play instruments in our Talent Show. ACS high school students will also be volunteering at the event, serving up soup and greeting families and friends.

We are grateful to the 20 restaurants and chefs donating soup and to our 9 Bowls of Hope Sponsors — American Church Group of NJ; B.F. Mazzeo Fruits & Produce; Clayton’s Self Storage; Edward Jones Investments, Jason Kiefer Financial Advisor; Formica Bros. Bakery; H.S. Restoration & Cleaning Service; Klingert Family Chiropractic; Olympic Physical Therapy; and SERVPRO of Egg Harbor/Ventnor City. All proceeds from sponsorships, ticket sales, and donations will benefit the school’s educational programs and the Atlantic City Rescue Mission.

Don’t forget to bring a can of soup or other nonperishable with you to donate to our canned drive that will benefit the Community Food Bank of NJ, Southern Branch.  Join us for a fun evening of good food and fellowship and help support our school and two great community organizations!

CLICK HERE to purchase tickets online on the ACS website. Online ticket sales will close at noon on Saturday. Tickets will be available for purchase at the door. Ticket prices are: $20 for Adults, $10 for Students, and $5 for Children 6-10 years of age. Children 5 and under are free.

20 Soups to Be Featured in Bowls of Hope Soup Cook-Off

The excitement is growing for our Bowls of Hope Soup Cook-Off on Saturday, February 1, with 20 restaurants and chefs on board to participate and compete for the “People’s Choice Golden Spoon Award.” The latest restaurants to sign up are Bahay Kubo, Barrels, Bonterra Market, Carluccio’s, Charlie’s, TacocaT, and The Cheese Board. For one ticket price, attendees will enjoy tasting a variety of hot, delicious soups and can vote for their favorite to receive the “People’s Choice Golden Spoon Award.” Bread, beverages, and desserts will also be provided. The evening will also include a Student Talent Show and a Silent Auction.

CLICK HERE to purchase tickets.

FM 94.3 and various radio shows on WOND AM 1400 are helping ACS promote the event and doing ticket give-aways, including “Off the Press with Scott Cronick,” “Shore Local Live,” and “Joe’s Table for Two.”

On Tuesday, January 21, ACS Development and Communications Director Carole Karabashian, and ACS parent Amanda Wyzen-Gregory and ACS grandparent Greg Gregory of Gregory’s Restaurant in Somers Point, were the featured guests on “Off the Press with Scott Cronick” show. Gregory’s Restaurant was the 2019 recipient of the Bowls of Hope Golden Spoon Award for its shrimp and lobster bisque.

Mrs. Karabashian appeared on Friday, January 24 from 7:00-7:30 p.m. on “Shore Local Live” and on Saturday, January 25 on “Joe’s Table for Two” from 10 a.m.-1 p.m., joined by Chef Nicole of Eat Clean Organization, who will be participating in the Bowls of Hope with a coconut lobster bisque.

The prices of the Bowls of Hope tickets, which are considered a charitable, tax-deductible gift, are: Adults-$20; Students-$10; Children (6-10)-$5; Children under 5-Free. Tickets can be purchased online and in the ACS school office. Tickets will also be sold at the door that night.

The themes for the auction gift baskets include “Football Party,” “Baker’s Delight,” and “Family Game Night,” and “Ice Cream Social” donated by our PreK4-8th grade classes. Parents, please note that the collection deadline for all Silent Auction baskets has been extended to Monday, January 27.

Re-Enrollment for 2020-2021 School Year Now Underway

Online electronic enrollment for the Atlantic Christian School 2020-2021 school year is now underway for returning families. Email messages about re-enrollment were sent out by the Admissions Director on Wednesday, January 22. ACS families with students currently enrolled are being given an exclusive period of time from January 22 until February 19 to secure their child’s space for next year, ahead of the open enrollment period for new families, which will begin after that.

The tuition rates for the 2020-2021 school year were recently approved by the school’s Board of Directors. The new rates are posted on the school’s website under the Admissions tab. ACS families seeking needs-based Tuition Assistance may submit an application online on the school’s website starting on next Saturday, February 1.  The deadline for returning families to submit a Tuition Assistance application is May 1, 2020.

Early Education Student Re-enrollment Procedure: To re-enroll an Early Education student, please complete the online “Early Education Schedule Form” and pay the Early Ed enrollment fee of $50 per student ($100 per family maximum) by February 19. The enrollment fee will be billed to all annual and semi-annual payers by February 19. Families making monthly payments through FACTS will have their enrollment fees automatically deducted on February 19.  The enrollment fee will increase to $75 after February 19, 2020.  Medical forms for 2020-2021 will be sent out at a later date.

CLICK HERE for the Early Education Schedule Form

K-12 Student Re-enrollment Procedure: To secure your child’s space in grades K-12, please complete and return the fillable PDF “B6T Transportation Form” and pay the $50 Enrollment Fee by Wednesday, February 19. This B6T Transporation Form may be returned to the school office by email, FAX (609-653-1435), mail, or hand-delivery. A signature on the B6T form is still required by the school districts. If you are unable to create a digital signature, please print the form and sign it manually.  The enrollment fee of $50 per student ($100 per family maximum) will be billed to all annual and semi-annual payers and is due by February 19. Families making monthly payments through FACTS will have their enrollment fees automatically deducted on February 19. The enrollment fee will increase to $75 after February 19. Medical forms will be sent out at a later date.

Please contact Mrs. Jessica Martin, Director of Admissions, with any questions at jmartin@acseht.org or 609-653-1199, ext. 314.

CLICK HERE for the 2020-2021 Tuition Rates and Fees
CLICK HERE for the 2020-2021 B6T Transportation From

Pastor Appreciation Day — February 12

We love our pastors! Atlantic Christian School students and their families worship at over 100 churches across South Jersey and each year we set aside a day to recognize and thank the important role that pastors and others working in church ministry play in the lives of our students. This year, Pastor Appreciation Day will be held on Wednesday, February 12.

The day’s activities will begin with a breakfast for the pastors, with Pastor Mike Bult of Mainland Baptist Church in Galloway as the featured speaker. After breakfast, the pastors and ministry leaders will attend our student-led All-School Chapel at 10 a.m. in the gym, where students from preschool to high school will show their appreciation for their pastors through choral, instrumental, and oral presentations. Invitations have been mailed to pastors at their churches. We are asking pastors to please RSVP to Mrs. PJ Santos, Assistant Director of Development and Communication, at 609-653-1199, ext. 302 or to psantos@acseht.org.

Red Cross Blood Drive at ACS – February 12

Donate blood and help save a life. Make an appointment today to donate blood at the American Red Cross Blood Drive at Atlantic Christian School on Wednesday, February 12 from 3:00-8:00 p.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room. Since 2008, ACS has hosted American Red Cross blood drives to help meet the urgent needs of patients at hospitals in Atlantic Coutny and our surrounding community. To donate, please make an appointment on the Red Cross website. Any questions? Contact high school faculty member and Student Council Advisor Dave Genter at dgenter@acseht.org.

To make an appointment, go to: www.redcrossblood.org
Use Sponsor Code: atlanticchristiansch

Middle School Basketball Teams Off to a Great Start

Atlantic Christian School’s Middle School Girls’ and Boys’ basketball teams are off to a great start in the Atlantic Cape Junior High League, both with strong winning records at this half-way point in the season.

“Both teams have a lot of talented players who can defend and score and they’re doing very well,” said Athletic Director Pam Hitchner. “One highlight in the season so far has been beating Saint Joseph Regional School at their home court in Somers Point. They always have good teams and this is the first time in several years that both of our teams have beat them.”

The MS Girls’ team, led by Grant Miller in his second year has head coach, is undefeated in the Atlantic Cape League with a 6-0 record, and is 6-2 overall. The two losses came in early December at the start of the season when ACS played in the Dixie Howe Tournament in Ocean City. The MS Boys’ team, under second year head coach Lee Martin, has a 5-1 record in the Atlantic Cape League and is 7-2 overall. The team won 2 out of 3 games in the Dixie Howe Tournament.

Support ACS By Shopping With Xspero

If you could give to Atlantic Christian School without paying more, what would you do? When you use Xspero to shop local merchants in our community, 20% of your purchase goes directly to ACS without costing you more! Download the Xspero app on your mobile phone today and help raise funds through your normal spending.

A number of Atlantic County businesses have been added to the Xspero network in recent weeks, including Atlantic City Sub Shops, Cordivari’s Restaurant, Ernest & Son Sub Shop, La Cucina Ristorante, Naomi’s Cafe, Pets Plus, Sal’s Coal Fired Pizza, Stir It Up, TacocaT, and Your Chiropractor. New merchants are being added weekly so check back often to see if there are any more restaurants or shops in your area.

Yard signs promoting Xspero went up in various locations on the ACS campus this week. Representatives of Xspero will also be at the Bowls of Hope Soup Cook-Off on Saturday, February 1 to answer any questions and encourage ACS families and friends to support ACS by using the Xspero app.

New Life Assembly Pastor Treats ACS Students to Free Frosties

New Life Assembly Pastor Jon Serbin – “The Frosty Guy.”

New Life Assembly Pastor Jonathan Serbin has a unique way of building relationships with students at ACS and other area schools — he visits them at school during lunch and hands out free Frosties from Wendy’s. Pastor Jon, also known as PJ, stopped by ACS during lunch on Thursday, January 16 to hand out vanilla and chocolate Frosties to 6th to 12th grade students and to just spend time talking with them.

Affectionately known by ACS students as “The Frosty Guy,” Pastor Jon started his generous gesture about two years ago. He now hands out free Wendy’s Frosties about twice a month to students at ACS as well as other area schools, including students in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Clubs at the Egg Harbor Township and Mainland High Schools.

“The reason I do this is because students don’t care about what you know until they know that you care,” Pastor Jon said. “One of the best ways to show that you care is to spend money on them and handing out Frosties gives me an opportunity to speak into their lives.” Pastor Jon began serving on staff at New Life Assembly of Egg Harbor Township in 2013 as the Youth Pastor. During 2017, Pastor Jon was transitioned into the Next Generation Pastoral role and now oversees birth through college age. He is a graduate of Valley Forge Christian College with a Bachelor’s in youth ministry and a minor in counseling.

ACS looks forward to thanking and honoring Pastor Jon and other area pastors and ministry leaders for the important role they play in our students’ lives at our upcoming Pastor Appreciation Day on February 12.

Employee Spotlight – Teachers’ Aides Serving in Early Ed, K Classrooms

New to the ACS staff this year as full-time teachers’ aides are, from left, Mrs. Kristin Scull, Mrs. Ashley Vaccaro, and Miss Sarah Getty.

Every day is an adventure — that’s how three of our teachers’ aides describe their work day, smiling as they describe the joys and challenges of working with our youngest students in our Early Education and kindergarten classes. Mrs. Kristin Scull, Mrs. Ashley Vaccaro, and Miss Sarah Getty, pictured from left to right, all began last September as full-time aides and at this half-way point in the school year they are grateful and excited to be a part of the ACS family.

Vaccaro, an aide to kindergarten teacher Hayley Price, first came to ACS as a school parent, enrolling her now 6th grade son, Austin, in kindergarten seven years ago. Her son, Asher, is now also enrolled in PreK4. “As a parent, I saw how everyone here was part of a family and it was inspiring to me; I wanted to be a part of that,” Vaccaro said. She holds a BA in elementary education from Liberty University and is certified in special education and early childhood development. Prior to joining the ACS staff, she worked in the Northfield Community School as a special ed para-professional. She attends Fusion Church and helps with preschool care on Sundays.

Getty, who is an aide in Mrs. Nicole Warriner’s PreK2 class, said she has always loved being with children, and gained valuable experience helping for many years with Kids Club, VBS, and children’s Sunday School at Faith Bible Baptist Church in Egg Harbor Township. “The favorite part of my job is seeing the excitement the children have whenever they learn something new,” Getty said. “Little accomplishments make they happy, like when I teach a child how to put on their shoes and socks, they get so excited when they are able to do it on their own.” 

Scull, who has three adult children and three grandchildren, enjoys loving on our youngest students as an aide in Mrs. Chambers’ PreK1 Infant classroom. “Every day is an adventure and it’s never boring,” Scull said. “I love working with children at this age because they grow so much and you can have such a big impact on them.” Scull attends Fusion Church, where she is part of the media production team, runs small groups, and teachers in kids’ church.

Servant’s Heart Club Makes Sandwiches for Atlantic City Rescue Mission

Elementary students in our Servant’s Heart Club made some 50 peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches at its January meeting for the Atlantic City Rescue Mission to distribute to the homeless in our community.

The 2nd-5th grade students made the sandwiches during their monthly after-school meeting on January 7 and the sandwiches were delivered to the mission this week by Club Advisor and school parent Jennifer DiMaio. The students also colored Bible verses with an encouraging message on flyers that were attached to the sandwich bags.

Mrs. DiMaio said the club’s February project will be to create Valentine’s Day care packages for children in the Ronald McDonald House. Twenty-one students participate in the after-school club and additional students are welcome to join at any time.

Varsity Basketball Player Landon Shivers Honored for Grabbing 500 Rebounds

ACS recognized and honored junior forward Landon Shivers, a member of the Varsity Boys’ Basketball team, for achieving the significant milestone of pulling down 500 rebounds with a special presentation on Friday, January 10 in the ACS gym before the home game against Baptist Regional School.

Athletic Director Pam Hitchner presented Landon with a special commemorative game ball. Cougars Head Coach Dan Carney and Landon’s parents, Scott and Heather Shivers, were invited to join Landon court-side to be recognized for their contributions to Landon’s success.

The 6-foot, 9-inch Landon pulled down his 500th rebound on December 30 during the Doane Academy Tournament. He becomes one of just 12 basketball players in school history to reach this milestone during their high school career and his name will be added to a school banner hanging in the gym.

In Friday’s game, ACS beat Baptist Regional School 75-42, and Landon grabbed 14 rebounds and had two steals.

Varsity Basketball Teams Undefeated in TSCAC With Second Half of Season Ahead

The Varsity Boys’ and Girls’ Basketball teams are off to a stellar start, with undefeated records of 5-0 in the Tri-State Christian Athletic Conference (TSCAC) and five weeks left in the second half of the season. “Both teams are doing great and playing better each time they’re on the court,” said Athletic Director Pam Hitchner. “We’re also very pleased with the enthusiasm of our school families and friends who are filling the bleachers at our home games and helping energize our players.”

The Lady Cougars, led by Kaylee Breunig in her 3rd year as head coach, started the season strong, winning the Delco Christian Tip-Off Basketball Tournament on December 7, with high-scoring guard Cristen Winkel receiving the tournament MVP award, both firsts in school history. The Girls’ team played well again in the December 27-28 Boardwalk Classic in Wildwood, losing to Absegami High School and then beating Cedar Creek High School.

The Varsity Boys’ team also got off to a great start in December at the Doane Academy Tournament, winning 2 out of 3 games and placing third in the tournament. Dan Carney is in his 4th year as head coach, assisted by Drew Carney, Ben Chapman, and Paul Jones.

The ACS teams have a challenging schedule, playing teams both in the TSCAC and in the Cape Atlantic League. The Varsity Girls currently have a 3-1 record against area high schools in the Cape Atlantic League and will face ACIT, Egg Harbor Township, Pleasantville, and Winslow Township in upcoming games. The Varsity Boys’ are 1-1 in games against Cape Atlantic League teams, and will be playing Cedar Creek at home on February 3.

Student Council Kicks Off Bowls of Hope Food Drive

Student Council members kicked off the Bowls of Hope Food Drive this week, making presentations to students in various classrooms on Tuesday morning and distributing brown grocery bags to take home for families to begin collecting canned soup and other non-perishable food for the Community FoodBank of NJ, Southern Branch. Please return the Food Drive bags to ACS by Friday, January 31, or bring them with you to the Bowls of Hope event.

Six hundred brown grocery bags were donated by the English Creek ShopRite to use for our Food Drive. Collection boxes for donations are now located in the school foyer and next to the offices of our Elementary and Upper School Principals. We are encouraging every family to participate in our Food Drive to give a helping hand to those in need in our community. Thank you for your participation.