Students in the National Honor Society have launched the Bowls of Hope Canned Food Drive to collect canned soup for the Community Food Bank. Collection boxes are in the school foyer and next to the second floor office of the Upper School Principal starting Tuesday, January 16. The canned food drive will continue to the night of the February 3 Bowls of Hope event.

The Bowls of Hope Soup-Tasting Benefit on February 3 will also include a Silent Auction and each classroom from PreK4 to the 8th grade is being asked to collect items for a gift basket that has a specific theme. The collection deadline is Monday, January 29. Parents who are interested in donating a basket or item from a home consulting business such as Avon, Pampered Chef, Tupperware, etc. should contact Event Coordinator Jessica Martin at 609-653-1199, ext. 314 or jmartin@acseht.org.

The 5th ACS Bowls of Hope Soup-Tasting Benefit is just two weeks away!  In addition to signature soups from over a dozen restaurants, there will be live music and a Silent Auction at the event on Saturday, February 3, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. in the school gym. Recent additions to the restaurant lineup include Academy of Culinary Arts, La PizzaTega, O’Donnell’s Pour House, Sofia Restaurant, The Windjammer, and JR’s Fresh Market, which has also signed on as an Bowls of Hope  Sponsor.

Ticket prices for Bowls of Hope are: Adults-$20; Students-$10; Children (6-10)-$5; Under 5-Free. Tickets can be purchased in the ACS school office, from any ACS high school student, at the door that night, or online. CLICK HERE to purchase tickets online.  Also be sure to visit and share the Bowls of Hope Facebook Event Page!

KARATE WITH SENSEI MORAGNE

The next session of Karate with Sensei Brian Moragne will begin Tuesday, January 30.  This 10-class session is open to students in PreK4 through 12th grade who will be taught self-image, humility, manners, kindness, and respect along with basic self defense, marshal arts and fitness skills. Classes meet from 3:15-4:00 PM each Tuesday and Thursday through March 1. The cost for this activiy is $90 per student.

DRAMA CLUB LED BY SOJOURN PRODUCTIONS

Students in grades 1 – 8 are invited to join the new Drama Club led by Sojourn Production’s Miss Amy Culleny.  Students will learn the basics of acting and have the opportunity to be in a live stage performance on Friday March 15 along with the ACS Band and Chorale.

Classes meet on Tuesdays from 3:15-4:00 PM, January 30-March 12.  The cost is $85 per student.

A group of ACS high school students and staff will be traveling to Houston, Texas over Spring Break to help churches, schools and families who are still recovering from the effects of Hurricane Harvey.  There are still spots available on this trip, and students in need of service hours are encouraged to sign up.  The total cost of this missions project is $900 per student. Those interested in particpating should see Mr. Genter as soon as possible.

Few things are more important in a school setting than safety and security.  That’s why ACS is pleased to announce the addition of three security guards to our staff family.

Mr. Curtis Dull (above left) is a former U.S. Marine who served in Vietnam before a 28-year career with the Ocean City Police Department. Dull, who has a Bachelor’s in criminal justice from Stockton University, was happily retired when he heard about the opening for security guards at ACS. Now he’s back on duty at what he calls, “the most wonderful place on earth,” greeting students, parents, and staff each morning and helping them start each day with a smile and a sense of security.

Mr. Bob Myers (above center) is a 28-year veteran of the Atlantic City Police Department, retiring in 2013 at the rank of Captain. He holds two degrees in criminal justice – a Bachelor’s from Glassboro State College (now Rowan University) as well as a Master’s from St. Joseph’s University. Myers, a regular substitute teacher at Mainland High School, says he especially enjoys “the family atmosphere” at ACS where he watches over the campus in the afternoons and for evening activities.

Mr. John Lee (above right) is a U.S. Navy veteran who served three years on a nuclear submarine. Following his military service, Lee spent 21 years as a patrolman with the Atlantic City Police Department and 15 years as a security supervisor with the Federal Aviation Administration. In addition to his career experience, Lee is also a licensed private detective and a certified Emergency Medical Technician. On the job at ACS, he says he “feels the Holy Spirit in the joy of the students and staff.”

When you see these men on the job, be sure to thank them for their service… and thank God for providing them to keep our campus safe and secure!

Winners of the annual Christmas Door Decorating Contest were announced in the all-school Christmas Chapel on Friday, December 22.  Based on a combination Facebook “reactions” and paper ballots cast at the Christmas concerts, three classes were awarded first place blue ribbons to display on there winning doors.

The first place winner in the Upper School was Mr. Dixon’s 7th grade homeroom class with its elaborate gingerbread house (above left) that spanned their classroom and an adjacent office. The first place winner in the Elementary Division was Mrs. McCarthy’s 3rd grade class (above center), and Mrs. Erlandson’s PreK3 class (above right) took first place in the Early Education division. Each winning class will enjoy an ice cream party in celebration of their hard work and victory.

Honorable Mention awards were also given for “Punniest Doors” (Mrs. Dice with “Feliz Navidog” and Mr. McKinnon with “Glad Tie-dings”), “Most Class Participation” (Mrs. Capito’s 3rd grade class and Mrs. Hopwood’s 6th grade homeroom class), “Best Presentation of Jesus” (Miss Price’s Kindergarten class), and “Teacher Appearing On the Most Doors” (Mr. Laskow).

In addition to the beautiful and creative doors throughout the building, also spotted in the ACS hallways this holiday season was custodian Jay Rivera’s Christmas Cleaning cart (right) complete with twinkling lights and merry music.

The halls have come alive with colorful Christmas characters as classes from PreK to 12th Grade have decorated their doors for the holiday season. Snowmen and angels, elves and the Grinch, gingerbread men and the Baby Jesus all give the building a festive feel as students and teachers vie for the title of “Best Door.”

High School English teacher Tori Novack not only decorated her door but also turned it into an academic exercise for her students. With a twist on “The 12 Days of Christmas,” students were challenged to identify twelve classic pieces of literature from clues on the door.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas as ACS students and teachers have begun decorating their classroom doors for the holiday season. Classes are competing for prizes with winners to be determined by on-line voting on Facebook and in-person voting at the Early Ed and Elementary Christmas Concerts on December 15.

On-line voting will open at 8:00 p.m. on Monday, December 11 with photos of each classroom door posted on the ACS Facebook page. Vote by “liking” the picture of your favorite door. Online voting will close at 8:00 p.m. on Monday, December 18.

Family members and friends will also be able to view the doors in person at our Early Ed (9:30 a.m.) and Elementary (6:30 p.m.) Christmas Concerts on December 15 and cast paper ballots for their favorites.

The Early Ed/Elementary classroom door and the Upper School classroom door with the highest combined total of Facebook “likes” and paper ballots will each win a special prize to be shared by all the class members. Winners will be announced at the December 22 all-school Christmas Chapel.

The Parent-Teacher Fellowship is offering a special one-week sale of newly-designed ACS Spirit Wear from now until Friday, December 15,  with sizes available for the whole family.

ACS hoodies in green or gray and long-sleeved are available for purchase for students in grades K-12 and adults. The hoodies are $30 each.

ACS “Cougar Cubs” crew-neck sweatshirts in green or gray and long-sleeved are available for preschool students for $22 each.

Order forms have been sent home with preschool and elementary  students and emailed to Upper School parents/guardians. Order forms will also be available at the Early Ed and Elementary Christmas Concerts on December 15.  The deadline for placing an order is Friday, December 15. Completed orders will arrive in mid-January. Proceeds from the sale of the sweatshirts will benefit the Parent-Teacher Fellowship.

Miss Ciara and Miss Joelle combined classes for a Hot Chocolate Party in PreK-2 last week. The 2-year-olds were learning about the letter “H,” so to finish up a fun week of activities, the teachers decided to celebrate with a party to help the students remember that “H is for Hot Chocolate!” The student had fun drinking hot chocolate together, eating a snack, and singing several Christmas songs.

Twenty-three elementary students in the Servant’s Heart Club spread the good news of Christ’s birth while Christmas caroling at the Linwood Care Center on Tuesday, December 5. The residents enjoyed listening to the sweet songs of hope and also received angel ornaments as Christmas gifts from the students. ACS parents Jennifer DiMaio (club advisor), Patti Scardilli, and Eric Tardif accompanied the students to this community outreach event.

The second grade students in Ms. Vogel’s and Mrs. Williams’ classes competed in a Spelling Bee this week. Each class battled it out separately and then sent its top three finishers to the final round. Representing Ms. Vogel’s class were Leila Alobeidy, Gabriel Capito, and Liam Larkin. They faced off against Matthew Coates, Jason Remlein, and Colton Carney from Mrs. Williams’ class. Leila Alobeidy finished in first place, taking home the gold medal, with Matthew Coates earning the  silver, and Colton Carney earning the bronze.
Class competitions are great warm-ups for the all-school Spelling Bee next spring that will determine the ACS representative to the Scripps South Jersey Regional Spelling Bee on March 3, 2018.

From blue jeans and flannel shirts to bandanas and cowboy hats, students went “Wild West” on Wednesday, November 8. The $1 donation Dress Down Day also included cowboy games and music in anticipation of next week’s Scholastic Book Fair. The money raised will go to help schools impacted by the recent hurricanes replace books and materials lost in the storms. CLICK HERE to see additional photos from our Wild West Dress Down Day posted on the ACS Facebook page.

Students in PreK3 to the 5th grade will visit the Wild West-themed Book Fair in the school library on Monday and Tuesday to create their “wish lists.” Family members can join students and purchase books at the Fair on Wednesday, November 15 from 1:30-5:30 p.m., and  on Friday, November 17 from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. (after the Grandparents Day chapel). Middle school and high school students can visit the Fair and purchase books throughout the week during lunch periods and study halls. Book orders can also be placed by filling out the form to be sent home with students or online at: http://www.scholastic.com/bf/atlanticchrsch1.

CLICK HERE for more information on how to order books or volunteer at the Fair.

The second session of Little Mozarts, an after-school music program for PreK4 through 1st grade students, will begin this Tuesday, November 7.  Through six sessions of singing, dancing, and interactive play, students will be introduced to the essential elements of music.  Taught by ACS faculty member Mrs. Stephanie Rosie, classes will meet from 3:15-4:00 p.m. on Tuesdays until December 12.  The cost is $65 per student. Registration forms were sent home with students and are also available in the school office.

The Scholastic Book Fair rides into ACS on Monday, November 13 for a week of Wild West-themed reading fun. Students in PreK3 to the 5^th grade will visit the Fair in the school library on Monday and Tuesday to create their “wish lists.” Family members can join students and purchase books at the Fair from 1:30-5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 15 and from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. (after the Grandparents Day chapel) on Friday, November 17.  Middle school and high school students can visit the Fair and purchase books throughout the week during lunch periods and study halls.  (Please note that the Fair will be closed on Thursday,  November 16 for order processing.)  Book orders can also be placed by filling out the form to be sent home with students or online at http://www.scholastic.com/bf/atlanticchrsch1 .

ACS will once again participate in the Scholastic “All for Books” campaign in which each Book Fair order can be rounded up to the nearest dollar for a charitable cause. This year, all proceeds from this simple fundraiser will be given to schools affected by the recent hurricanes to help replenish books and supplies lost in the storms.  Another added bonus to this year’s Fair will be a visit from the Truth that Rocks Christian Bookstore on Friday, November 17. Truth that Rocks will bring a selection of Christian books that can be purchased on-site by students or family members.

The Book Fair is also a great place to volunteer.  From helping students find books to processing orders to working the check-out line, there’s something for everyone to do.  To add your name to the volunteer list, simply go to http://www.scholastic.com/bf/atlanticchrsch1.

As part of a unit on Community Helpers, our Pre-K3 and Pre-K4 classes enjoyed a visit on Tuesday, October 24 from Atlantic County Utilities Authority workers and a recycling truck.  The students cheered as the truck rolled up to the school campus and then listened intently as the truck driver,  “Mr. Mike,” explained how recycling paper, cardboard, glass and plastic helps our community.  The ACUA mascot, “Super Can,” made an appearance and the children were given the opportunity to climb inside the cab of the large truck. CLICK HERE for more photos of the ACUA visit that are posted on the ACS Facebook page.

ACS is pleased to welcome two new staff members — Jill Miller, director of our After-Care Program, and Jay Rivera, school custodian. They are both making their impact on our students and school families working outside the regular classroom, but with the same focus of making ACS a place where God’s love shines through.

Miller’s job begins after the 3:00 pm bell in the Multi-Purpose Room, where she greets students from kindergarten to the 8th grade who stay after-school. The After-Care program provides the  students with a place to complete their homework, make new friends, spend time outdoors on the playground, and enjoy games, puzzles, and activities in the computer lab. After earning her Bachelor’s degree in Education from Cabrini College and teaching for three years in the Somers Point School District, Miller took some time off to be a stay-at-home mom.  Now, going back to work in the Christian education field she notes, “God’s hand is in everything.  I’ve always worked with children, and I’m so at peace with this job.”  Miller goes on to say, “I love seeing how the kids encourage each other while playing games and how the different age groups spend time together.” Miller and her husband John attend Coastal Christian Church and have three children – Mikayala, who attended ACS and recently graduated from the University of Delaware; Marley, a senior at Mainland Regional High School; and Marissa, a seventh grader at Jordan Road School in Somers Point.

For four years, Jay Rivera drove a bus for ACS.  He loved picking up and dropping off students, but always felt like he was, quite literally, on the outside looking in.  His desire to be a full-time, in-the-building employee of ACS was fulfilled this past summer when the position of custodian became available.  After five years running his own business – Heavenly Cleaners – and working on ACS projects with Clayton Industries, Rivera was the perfect fit for the job. Now, whether it’s cleaning the doors or buffing the floors, his passion for ACS and serving God shines through.  “I do all my work unto the Lord,” Rivera said.  “It’s a joy to come to work each day!”  Rivera and his wife Melanie attend New Life Assembly and have four adopted children, all enrolled at ACS: Arianna (5^th), Bryanna (PK4), Elijah (4^th) and Xavier (2^nd).