Bell to Bell, No Cell — This is the new rule on cell phone use by 6th to 12th grade students during the school day. Students will be able to use their cell phones during the breaks between classes and during lunch, but will not be allowed on their phones during class. Cell phones can be a serious distraction in the classroom and negatively impact learning. Our goal with this new rule is to help our students reach their full learning potential in the classroom.
Snack Break — ACS is adding a new “Snack Break” for 6th-12th grade students from 10:08 to 10:18 am. The daily morning break will give our Upper School students a chance to fuel up with a healthy snack, take a mental break to recharge, and then return to class with renewed energy and focus.
Thank you to everyone who donated blood at our American Cross Blood Drive on August 2 and helped make the event a success. One unit/pint of blood can help save 3 lives. Our blood drive collected 26 units of blood — which will touch the lives of 78 area hospital patients. We plan to hold another blood drive in January 2019. Look for more details that will be posted in the “Cougar Current,” on our school website, and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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ACS also gave a warm send-off to eleven faculty/staff members who are leaving ACS to pursue other endeavors, several moving out of the area, and two taking new positions as pastors. “We love you and want you to know how much we appreciate all you have sacrificed to do God’s work here at ACS,” said Oblen, who presented the departing employees with personalized ACS sweat-shirts as one of their parting gifts. Oblen also gave special recognition to preschool teacher Karan Erlandson, who is retiring after 15 years of service. Earlier that day during the Early Education Promotion Program, Early and Elementary Education Director Gail Alford (pictured at right) also thanked and recognized Erlandson for “how she poured the love of Jesus into each of her students.”
Congratulations to seniors Samantha Rhodes and Amy Pi for being chosen as the 1st and 2nd place winners in the Cape Atlantic Soil Conservation District’s 2018 Poster Contest in the 10th-12th grade division. The students created their posters in March as part of an assignment in Miss Stonelake’s environmental science class, focusing on the importance of protecting and enhancing our natural resources. Stonelake presented Samantha with her 1st place certificate and a $50 gift card from the District during the Baccalaureate program on June 4 at Greate Bay Country Club. This year’s theme for the poster design was “Watersheds: Our Water, Our Home.”
11th grader Joshua Mizrahi received one of two Honorable Mention awards and a $250 scholarship in the southern New Jersey “Diverse Minds Writing Challenge” sponsored by B’nai B’rith International and Atlantic City Electric. The writing challenge, in its 12th year, asked high school students to write and illustrate a children’s book that tells a story of tolerance, diversity, or inclusion. Josh received the special recognition for his book, entitled “Who You Are,” at an award ceremony for the top 10 finalists on June 5 in the regional headquarters of Atlantic City Electric. Josh attended the ceremony with his parents, David and Mee Oak Mizrahi, AP language composition teacher Tori Novack, and Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen. “We are so proud of Josh and the excellent creative effort he put into his children’s book as well as the important message in his story of learning to embrace our strengths and weaknesses,” Oblen said. Pictured with Josh at the ceremony are: Susan Coan, Region Vice President of Atlantic City Electric, an Exelon Company (left), and Mark D. Olshan, B’nai B’rith International Associate Executive Vice President (right).
Six other ACS players were named TSCAC All-Stars. On the Varsity Baseball team — junior and co-captain catcher Elijah Chapman; junior and co-captain shortstop and pitcher Solomon Griffith, who had four hits including a double and triple in the championship game; and sophomore 1st baseman Dan Roland, who had two hits, two runs, and two RBIs on Saturday. On the Varsity Softball team — freshman catcher Olivia Chapman, who was 2 for 3 with two doubles and two RBIs in the consolation game; freshman at 1st base Sydney Pearson who led ACS in the consolation game going 3 for 4 with two doubles and an RBI; and senior Samantha Rhodes, who struck out 12 as the winning pitchers on Saturday.
Alumnus Tony Polcini (’89) opened the program by sharing a few memories from his years at ACS and advised the graduates to put their God-given gifts and abilities to good use. “God will place so many opportunities before you; love them and embrace them as ACS has loved and embraced each one of you,” Polcini said.
Salutatorian Steven Chirinos, 18, of Egg Harbor Township (on left in photo) reflected on the strong friendships he has made, favorite memories like the senior trip to Disney World, and the impact that ACS teachers have made. He gave a special thank you to calculus teacher, Mrs. Spiker, for her “love and dedication to teaching.” Chirinos was one of 7 students in the class who had attended ACS since kindergarten. “It is my hope that we can all look back at our years at ACS and have no regrets, that we can look back and see why God placed us here and how ACS helped us grow closer to Him,” Chirinos said. Chirinos will be attending Rowan University, where he is the recipient of the Merit Scholarship and will be majoring in computer science.
Commencement keynote speaker and high school Bible teacher Charlie Moore opened his remarks with an original twist, playing the guitar and singing a humorous, satirical song that he wrote incorporating favorite memories with the graduates. He followed up in his remarks pointing out that the single most important memory that each of the graduates should take with them is their knowledge of the gospel and the saving work of Jesus Christ. “If you remember nothing else from high school, remember that Jesus Christ can give you the power to get through every single day,” Moore said. He also emphasized the importance of making wise choices as they move on to college, some in the local region and others to California, Oregon, Washington, and Japan. “Wherever you go, the new friendships that you make will have a great influence on you,” Moore said. “I urge you to surround yourself with friends who prize Jesus Christ above all else.”
11th grade pitcher and shortstop Solomon Griffith got his 100th career hit during the semi-final playoff game on Tuesday, May 29. ACS celebrated with balloons and a time of recognition for Solomon and his parents, Gary and Sharon Griffith. Solomon reached the milestone in his first at bat, hitting a double for an RBI, and went on to pitch the entire game for the win over Cumberland Christian. Solomon’s contributions as a power hitter with a .681 batting average as well as his strength on the mound, with 5 wins, 0 losses, 31 strikeouts, and a 1.29 earned run average, have been an important part of the Cougars’ success this season. Congratulations, Solomon. We’re proud of your commitment and leadership throughout your ACS baseball career.