Do you want to help your tweens and teenagers make smart decisions about their use of technology and social media?

ACS is hosting a special free viewing of Kirk Cameron’s “Connect” film on Friday, November 2 to put a spotlight on the challenges facing families in a social media world and to encourage safe and healthy social media habits. The film was released in movie theaters earlier this year. The educational “Connect” film experience will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. in the ACS gym.

“We want to help children, adults, and families make smart decisions about their online life and activities using social media,” said Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen. “This film will be an eye-opener about the many dangers and pitfalls of living in a 24-7 social media world.” Oblen noted that the amount of time children spend in front of some kind of screen has dramatically risen over the last 20 years. Research reported by Common Sense Media shows that teenagers are now spending an average of 6-1/2 hours daily in front of a screen, as compared to 2-1/2 hours in 1995.

“We are very excited to be bringing this important film to our area to benefit the children and families in our community,” Oblen said. A guided group discussion and Q&A session will be held after the showing of the 90-minute movie. Adults and children 14 and older are welcome to attend. Admission is free and refreshments will be available. A love offering will also be taken. Childcare will  be available by RSVP only for children ages 2 and older.

For additional information and to RSVP for childcare, please contact Event Coordinator Jessica Martin at 609-653-1199, ext. 314 or at jmartin@acseht.org.

The votes are in and 28 middle school and high school students have been elected to the 2018-2019 Student Council. Faculty Advisor Dave Genter said the students, who are holding various positions as class officers, will help plan school and community service activities, strive to enrich the spiritual atmosphere of the school, and raise money for their senior trip.

12th Grade Officers –Rose Shaw, President; Solomon Griffith, Vice President; Rebekah Darragh, Secrectary/Treasurer; Lola Oguntuase, Chaplin

11th Grade Officers — Ian Iaconelli, President; Emily Elgersma, Vice President; Ashleigh Martin, Secretary/Treasurer; Ben Noble, Chaplin

10th Grade Officers — Sydney Pearson, President; Chloe Vogel, Vice President; Jeremiah Engle, Secretary/Treasurer; JJ Jacoby, Chaplin

9th Grade Officers — Elizabeth Alford, President; Quinn Schrag, Vice President; Mia Liggins, Secretary/Treasurer; Josh Guevara, Chaplin

8th Grade Officers — Cruz Lewis, President; Daniella Ajayi, Vice President; Reyna Lewis, Secretary/Treasurer; Thomas Ellison, Jr., Chaplin

7th Grade Officers — Rebecca Kelley, President; Kendall Murphy, Vice President; Haven Sanchez, Secretary/Treasurer; Kim Evangelina, Chaplin

6th Grade Officers — Autumn Loo, President; Rebecca DiMaio, Vice President; Taylor Murphy, Secretary/Treasurer; Bailey Boggs, Chaplin

The ACS gym was a sea of green and white Friday afternoon as students from the 3rd to the 12th grades gathered for a Pep Rally to promote school spirit before Saturday’s Homecoming soccer games.  Students sporting green hair and green paint and glitter on their clothes and faces cheered for their favorites as members of the middle school and high school boys’ and girls’ soccer teams competed in a variety of entertaining games, including a hula-hoop relay, tug of war, and TP the Coach.

The Varsity Boys’ Soccer Team earned the most points in the games  and received a gift certificate to Tony P’s House of Pies in Ocean City. 8th grader Moges Johnson, a member of the Middle School Boys’ Soccer Team, won the soccer ball foot juggling contest and received a $25 gift card to Buffalo Wild Wings. Come out on Saturday and cheer on our Cougars to victory at the Homecoming Games! New start times for the games are noon for the Varsity Girls and 1:45 pm for the Varsity Boys.

Atlantic Christian will hold a special time of group prayer around the school’s flagpole as we participate in the annual national “See You At the Pole” event on Wednesday, September 26. Family and friends are welcome to join our students, faculty, and staff from 7:45-8:15 a.m. as we pray for our school, our local community, and our nation.

Next Tuesday, September 25, is our Middle School and High School Back-to-School Night. We hope to see all of our parents who have students in grades 6-12 come out for this very informative inter-active event that will begin at 6:30 pm in the school‘s gymnasium and will end at 8 pm.

The evening will begin with a general assembly where important information will be presented about upcoming school events, athletics, clubs, after-school enrichment classes, fundraising and volunteer opportunities, and more. Parents will then get to walk in their student’s shoes – following his/her class schedule, visiting different classrooms, meeting the teachers, and hearing a synopsis of the class goals.

This past Tuesday, we had a great turnout of some 120 parents for our Elementary Back-to-School Night, where they got better acquainted with our teachers and learned more about the specific educational goals at each grade level from kindergarten to the 5th grade. The evening began in the gym with an overview of school events and programs from Elementary Principal Gail Alford and other school staff. Parents then made their way to the classrooms to meet the teachers. Parents enjoyed sitting at their child’s desk and discovering heart-warming notes or artwork that their child had created especially for them.

Middle school and high school students will be participating next week in our annual Spiritual Emphasis Retreat on September 27 and 28 and permission slips and a check for the $20 Retreat Fee are due this coming Monday, September 24. Upper School Principal Meg McHale emailed parents on September 18 about the retreat and the student permission slip was an attachment.

The featured retreat speaker will be Michael Bult, founder and president of Mastermind Leadership Studio and a certified leadership coach and trainer with the John Maxwell Team. He is also the administrator at Mainland Baptist Church in Galloway. Bult will be leading inter-active workshops with our students focused on identifying their God-given talents and skills, the importance of showing kindness and compassion to others, the lessons that can be learned from failure, and much more. Leading praise and worship over the two-day retreat will be Matt Glancey, leader of student ministries at Coastal Christian Church in Ocean City.

A variety of retreat activities will be held on the school campus, in Cape May, and at the Sleepy Hollow Family Campground in Egg Harbor Township. Some of the retreat activities planned include an Amazing Race team competition, a lip sync contest, a dolphin watch cruise, a workshop on creating a mosaic with Glazed Over Studios, and giant knocker-ball soccer.

The 8th grade players on our Middle School Boys’ and Girls’ Soccer Teams did a great job serving as baggers for customers at the ShopRite Store in Somers Point on Saturday, September 15 and raised $1,200 for our athletic program. The 8th grade players on our Middle School Boys’ and Girls’ Soccer Teams did a great job serving as baggers for customers at the ShopRite Store in Somers Point on Saturday, September 15 and raised $1,200 for our athletic program. ACS Athletic Director Pam Hitchner said she was grateful to ShopRite for providing this service-oriented fundraising opportunity and to the many shoppers who tipped our student athletes as they bagged in two-hour shifts from 10 am and 4 pm.

The Parent-Teacher Fellowship served up a tasty lunch on Thursday for faculty and staff that featured a variety of sandwiches, salads, fruit, and desserts. Thank you to all the parents who donated a food item or helped with lunch set-up, serving, and clean-up. The PTF-sponsored “Thank-You” lunches will continue to be held throughout the school year on the third Thursday of each month.  If you are interested in providing a food item or helping serve at the next lunch on October 18, please CLICK HERE to sign up online or contact PTF President Terry Vogel at 609-226-4383.

Cast selections for Elf the Musical, Jr. will be announced early next week. Show Director Amy Culleny was thrilled to see over 30 students from elementary to high school come out for the auditions on Thursday.  Everyone did a great job. Weekly rehearsals will begin on Wednesday, September 12 from 4:30-7:30 pm.

Join other ACS parents to pray weekly for our students, faculty, staff, and board members. This vital ministry meets  on Tuesday mornings from 8:45-9:45 a.m. in Room 209. Please go to the school office for a Visitor’s Pass before going to Room 209.  Prayer Group contacts are school parents Sharon Griffith (609-214-2136) and Lina Lomangino (609-517-1818).

Middle School ShopRite Bagging
Saturday, September 15, 10 am-4 pm