Post Tagged with: "ACS"

High School Students in Child Development Class Receive Training to Earn CPR Certification

The students in Mrs. Parker’s high school Child Development class received hands-on training in CPR the week of January 10-14 from instructors from Public Safety Training of South Jersey. The students will earn their Heart Saver CPR certification in time for the start of this second semester, when they will gain experience serving as aides in the ACS Early Education Center.

The Child Development class, which meets four days a week and is a year-long class, is part of an Education Concentration that is offered to high school juniors and seniors seeking to gain training and experience in a specific career track. The class meets four days a week and is a one-year-class. Other concentrations offered include Business, Health and Medicine, Ministry, and Technology.

“I’m really enjoying being able to teach this specialized class that gives our high school students an opportunity to explore a specific  career interest,” said Mrs. Parker. “Getting CPR-certified is a valuable skill that our students will have under their belt that will enable them to work with children.”

Parker said other topics covered in the class include infant care, parenting styles, and learning how children grow and learn. In the second semester, the students will be observing and assisting as aides in the Early Education Center, creating and implementing activities for the children, who range in age from 18 months to four years old.

 

 

 

ACIT Students Teach ACS Elementary Students About Importance of Dental Hygiene

Sixteen high school students from the Atlantic County Institute of Technology (ACIT) visited various elementary classrooms on Tuesday, January 25 to teach students about the importance of dental hygiene, an educational visit facilitated by school nurse Carrie Jorgenson.

Jorgenson said the ACIT students gave 20-minutes presentations on dental hygiene to every class from kindergarten to the 4th grade. “Our students loved the presentations that included using puppets with teeth,” Jorgenson said. “It was very effective and fun.”  Each ACS student also received an oral hygiene kit that included a toothbrush and toothpaste.

Two ACIT teachers, Gaby Coslop and Jessica Crompton, accompanied the team of students, who are part of the ACIT Dental Assistant Concentration.

 

ACS to Hold In-Person Bowls of Hope Soup Cook-Off on Saturday, Feb. 5; Tickets & Sponsorships Now on Sale

ACS parents, families, and friends are invited to attend our 9th ACS Bowls of Hope Soup Cook-Off Benefit to be held as an in-person event on Saturday, February 5, 2022 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. in the school gym. Some 20 restaurants and chefs are expected to serve up their signature soups. Come out for an enjoyable evening of good food and fellowship. All proceeds will benefit Atlantic Christian and the Atlantic City Rescue Mission.  ACS students will also entertain the crowd with a Talent Show.

In addition to selling tickets to the Cook-Off, ACS is also selling Super Soup Coupon Cards for $20 each in January and February. With the Coupon Card, you can receive a free soup, with a minimum purchase, for take-out or eat-in orders at up to 15 local restaurants from February 1 to May 31, 2022.

Some of the restaurants already signed up for the Cook-Off are: Carluccio’s, La Cucina Ristorante, Maurizio’s Express EHT, Sal’s Cafe, Sofia Restaurant, and Gregory’s Restaurant & Bar, which has won several past Bowls of Hope People’s Choice and Super Soup Chef’s Choice Awards. Chef Joseph Massaglia, host of Joe’s Table for Two radio show and owner of Mama Mia’s Ristorante Bin Marmora, will be attending the event to serve as our celebrity soup judge.

Several businesses are already on board as Sponsors — B.F. Mazzeo Fruit & Produce; Elder Pest Control; Fortress Financial; HS Restoration & Cleaning Service; Olympic Physical Therapy, and Texas Roadhouse. Additional sponsors are welcome for a donation of $400 and sponsors will receive 4 complimentary adult tickets to the Bowls of Hope and a variety of advertising benefits. Rolls, beverages, and delicious home-made desserts will also be provided.

Everyone attending the Bowls of Hope is also being asked to bring in a can of soup or other non-perishable to donate to the Community FoodBank of NJ, Southern Branch. It’s all about giving back to our community!

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 5 and under are free. Tickets and sponsorships can be purchased in the ACS school office or online at — acseht.org/bowlsofhope/tickets. Tickets and Super Soup Coupon Cards will also be sold at the door that night.

Fun Activities Planned for Spirit Week – Jan. 18-21

A series of fun activities for students and staff, including themed dress-down days. are planned for Spirit Week next week — January 18-21, culminating with a “White-Out Day” on Friday, when ACS Varsity basketball teams will play Pilgrim Academy at home. Students dressed in all white at the games will get free admission.

Athletic Director Pam Hitchner, who has organized Spirit Week, wants to see every student and staff member show their school spirit by participating in the Spirit Week activities. She said students who are best dressed according to each day’s theme will be selected during lunch for prizes.

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.

The chart below lists the lineup of activities planned for Spirit Week:

 

ACS Donates Over 300 Hats to Ellie’s Hats Charity to Benefit Children Receiving Cancer Treatment

ACS collected over 300 hats during a December Hat Drive that were donated to the non-profit, Ellie’s Hats, on January 6.  Members of the Student Council, who organized the hat drive, presented Shanice Beltran, an Ambassador for Ellie’s Hats, with three big boxes filled with hats that will be donated to children undergoing cancer treatment. Beltan plans to deliver the hats sometime this month to the Pediatric Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia specialty care unit of hematology and oncology in Voorhees.

“I am so grateful to see the outcome of this hat drive,” said Beltran, who is also an ACS parent and works in the ACS Early Education Center. “These hats are going to be a blessing to so many kids. I never expected to receive such a large number of  hats.” Beltran’s daughter, Emma, underwent cancer treatment for a tumor in her kidney in 2018 and received hats to wear from the Maryland-based Ellie’s Hats, during her treatment.

“When children are going through chemo and experiencing hair loss, having a hat to wear gives them some comfort and helps them not think about the ugly side of cancer,” Beltran said. She said the children at the Voorhees clinic will get to choose which of the donated hats they would like to have, helping them reflect their creative and expressive side.

ACS families with students from kindergarten to the 12th grade donated to the Hat Drive, which ran from November 29 to December 20. Student Council Advisor Dave Genter said a total of 306 new hats were collected, in sizes ranging from babies to teenagers.

“The Student Council members were excited to organize this hat drive for Ellie’s Hats and we’re very pleased with the enthusiastic response from our school families,” Genter said.

 

Early Education Center Families Donate Toys to Bless Children in Atlantic County for Three Kings Day Event

Barbie dolls, LEGOs, puzzles, and toy cars were among some 90 toys that were donated by Atlantic Christian School on January 6 to the Hispanic Association of Atlantic County for their “Three Kings Day” event on January 8. Thank you to our generous Early Education Center families who donated the toys to our December Toy Drive to support this charitable event.

Children from across Atlantic County attended the Three Kings Day celebration, held at St. Michael Church in Atlantic City, and were blessed with the gifts of toys donated by ACS and several other area organizations and businesses.

Bert Lopez, President of the Hispanic Association of Atlantic County, thanked ACS Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen for the donation when he came to ACS to pick up the toys.

Sign Up Online for Parent-Teacher Conferences – Jan. 25-27; Sign-Up Site Closes Tuesday, Jan. 18

Parents and guardians can sign up now for our winter Parent-Teacher Conferences that will be held Tuesday-Thursday, January 25-27.  Twenty-minute time slots are available from 6:00-8:00 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday, and from 1:00-5:00 p.m. on Wednesday. The sign-up site will close on January 18 at 6 p.m., at which point any parent/guardian who has not signed up will be assigned a time to meet with their child’s teacher.

Conferences are mandatory for families of K-5th grade students and optional for Early Education students. Conferences are also optional for families of 6th-12th grade students, but are recommended if your child is not performing well academically (a grade of 70 or below in any subject).

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, only two (2) adults are allowed to attend; children are not allowed to attend. Masks will be required at all times while in the school building.

For more details about the conferences, please check the January 11 email from Gail Alford (for EE-5th grade) and the January 10 email from Educational Support Specialist Sue DeNick (for 6th-12th grade).

Please select the appropriate grade-level link below to sign up online:

Early Education — CLICK HERE to schedule a conference
Grades K-5 — CLICK HERE to schedule a conference
Grades 6-12 — CLICK HERE to schedule a conference

Varsity Basketball Teams Shine at Cairn University Basketball Tournament During Christmas Break

Congratulations to our Varsity Boys’ Basketball team for winning first place at a Christmas Basketball Tournament hosted by Cairn University on December 29 and 30, beating Faith Christian Academy of Sellersville, PA in the championship round in overtime play. The Varsity Girls’ team also advanced to the championship game, but lost to Faith Christian Academy of Sellersville, finishing in second place.

12th grader Aaron Glancey and 11th grader Caleb Vogel were named to the All-Tournament Boys’ team, with Vogel also being named the Tournament Boys’ MVP. 10th grader Evangelina Kim was named to the All Tournament Girls’ team.

“We’re proud of the way both teams played,” said Athletic Director Pam Hitchner. “The tournament gave us an opportunity to compete against teams from other states that are not part of our conference and see how we match up.”   The four schools who competed in the tournament were: Atlantic Christian School, Faith Christian Academy (Sellersville, PA); Faith Christian Academy (Martinsburg, WV); and Lancaster County Christian School (Lancaster, PA).

As of mid-January, the Tri-State Christian Athletic Conference (TSCAC) basketball season is just getting underway. The Varsity Boys’ team has an overall record of 5-5 and is 1-1 in the TSCAC and the Varsity Girls’ team is 6-5 overall and 2-0 in the TSCAC.

Please check the Athletic Calendar on the ACS website or the Family App for the schedule of upcoming games and come on out to cheer for our Cougars.  Photo credits: Ruby Lewis.

 

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 Friday morning and distributing white plastic 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, February 4, or bring them with you to the February 5 Bowls of Hope event. Families can also bring donations to ACS during Parent-Teacher Conferences to be held the last week of January.

Student Council is running a contest for the Food Drive. The class that collects the most amount of food by weight will win a pizza party.  Last year, ACS set a new food drive record, collecting over 4 tons of food. Let’s beat that record this year!

Here are some important guidelines for the Food Drive:

  • Please check the food labels and do not donate any food with expired labels; they cannot be donated to the FoodBank.
  • Please be sure to write your child’s name and teacher’s name on any bag you send in with donated food. This will make sure your donation gets to your child’s class and can be part of the overall amount that each class is collecting.

Over 1,000 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 in the hallways next to each classroom.

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.

Students to Perform at Bowls of Hope Talent Show — Auditions on Thursday, Jan. 20

Students from kindergarten to the 12th grade are invited to audition for the Bowls of Hope Talent Show, to be held during the Bowls of Hope Soup Cook-Off on Saturday, February 5.  Talent Show auditions will be on Thursday, January 2o, from 3:15-5:00 p.m. in the Music Room. The sign-up form for the auditions is in the school office and students will receive a specific audition time slot.

The act cannot be more than 3 minutes long. If music is part of the act, students must be sure to bring a track or sheet music to the audition.

If a student needs a different audition time, please contact Event Coordinator Christian Delacruz to discuss an alternate time. Delacruz can be reached at cdelacruze@acseht.org or 609-653-1199, ext. 302.

 

 

Student Video Contest to Promote Bowls of Hope Soup Cook-Off

Students in the 6th to 12th grades are being challenged to create an original video to promote the Bowls of Hope Soup Cook-Off. The contest offers VISA gift card prizes for the top three entries and the winning videos will be posted on ACS social media in January and early February and shown at the Bowls of Hope Soup Cook-Off on February 5.

Information about the contest was sent to parents, students, and staff in an email from Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen on January 13. An information flyer with details about the contest  is posted below.

The video should not be more than 2 minutes and 30 seconds long and must be submitted by Friday, January 29, 2022.

Video entries should be uploaded to:  http://bit.ly/bowlsofhopevideo

 

Red Cross Blood Drive at ACS – Wednesday, Feb. 9 – Register to Donate

Give the gift of blood and help save a life. The Red Cross is reporting that it is experiencing the worst blood shortage in over a decade. Make an appointment to donate blood at the American Red Cross Blood Drive on Wednesday, February 9, 2022 from 3:00-8:00 p.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room. Our goal is to collect 47 or more donations.

All donors will have their temperature checked prior to admittance to the blood drive. ACS has hosted American Red Cross blood drives since 2008 to help meet the urgent needs of patients at hospitals in our community.  According to the Red Cross, the current low blood supply levels have forced some hospitals to defer patients from major surgery, including organ transplants.

CLICK HERE to make an appointment to donate blood on the Red Cross website — RedCrossBlood.org — and enter the sponsor code “atlanticchristiansch” OR call 1-800-REDCROSS.   You can also scan the QR Code on the flyer image below to make an appointment on the Red Cross website. A donor must be 16 years of age or older.

Classroom Cameo: 8th Graders Build Roller Coaster Models for Integrated Science Class

Students in Miss Stonelake’s 8th grade integrated science class designed and built large models of roller coasters as part of a month-long class project that concluded with classroom presentations on  December 21 and 22, which was also Christmas Pajama Dress Down Day. The students worked individually and in groups, both in class and at home, using household materials to complete their unique designs, some of which spanned nearly 4 feet high and 4 feet wide.

Stonelake said the project helped the middle school students apply what they had learned about energy conversion, friction, and the law of conservation of energy. The students were required to name and decorate their coasters and include hills, loops, and a vehicle that could travel through the entire coaster without stopping. Stonelake said every roller coaster highlighted in this article achieved the necessary requirements.

Pictured above with Miss Stonelake are Amelia D’Anna (left) and Mikalya Cubbage (right), with their roller coaster named “Tropical Coaster.” Other roller coasters with the students who designed and built them are pictured below.

 

Kindergartners Make Christmas Thank-You Gifts for Mail Carriers

The students in Mrs. Reilly’s kindergarten class wanted to give back to their community helpers, and who better to appreciate during this time of year than mail carriers? The students wrote “thank you” letters during class on December 23, the last day before Christmas break, and created hot chocolate gifts for their mail carriers to enjoy after a long day of work.

The students put their thank-you letters inside a tall hot drink cup, with hot cocoa packets, and a big candy cane. Over the Christmas holiday, the students left their gifts inside their mailboxes at home.  When their mail carrier delivered their mail, they saw the gift inside the mailbox to thank them for their hard work.

Elementary Principal Gail Alford said this kindergarten project was part of a school-wide focus on creating a heart of service among our students. During each school year, every elementary class is required to do at least one service project.

 

Students, Staff Gather to Worship the Newborn King at All-School Christmas Chapel on Dec. 23

Students and staff gathered to worship and celebrate the birth of Jesus at an all-school Christmas Chapel on December 23. Students from preschool to the 12th grade participated in the chapel program with drama, vocal, and instrumental presentations. Event Coordinator and high school Bible teacher Christian Delacruz encouraged everyone in his chapel message to be thankful for the best Christmas gift of all — the gift of grace, love, and eternal life made possible through the birth, death, and resurrection of Christ.

Event Coordinator Christian Delacruz presented the chapel message.

Gail Alford, the Elementary Principal and Early Education Director, opened the chapel with prayer and then introduced Mrs. Meza’s 2nd grade class, who presented a dramatic skit about four words that embodied the Christmas story — sacrifice, seek, shout, and share. Mrs. Meza challenged everyone to take the opportunity during this Christmas season to share the salvation message rooted in the Christmas story with family and friends.

The PreK3 and PreK4 classes then took to the stage to joyously sing and dance to “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”

The PreK3 and PreK4 classes sang and danced to “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”

An Upper School Instrumental Worship Ensemble performed two Christmas songs, featuring 12th grade brothers Hyeonjin (Isaac) Choi and Hyeonbin (Joseph) Choi on violin, 8th grader Rowlee Murphy on cello, and 12th grader Haley Whedbee on flute.

CLICK HERE to view a video of the Upper School Instrumental Worship Ensemble’s performance.

The 5th grade Worship Team got everyone on their feet to sing and dance along with them as they performed “Feeling Like Christmas” and “Born is the King.” The Middle School and High School Worship Teams followed suit, as they encouraged the students and staff to sing along as they performed “Carol of the Bells” and several other Christmas carols.

CLICK HERE to view a video of the Middle School and High School Worship Teams performing  one of their carols during the Christmas Chapel.

There were several light-hearted moments during the chapel. The winners of the 6th-12th grade Christmas Door Decorating Contest and the K-5th grade Christmas Tree Decorating Contest were announced. Mrs. Flath’s 9th grade class won the Christmas Door Decorating contest, that included decorating several doors and adjacent walls with a Charlie Brown theme.  The elementary Christmas Tree Decorating Contest focused on a Christmas Around the World theme and Mrs. McCarthy’s 3rd grade class won with a tree decorated as Christmastime in the tropics.

A group of faculty and staff closed the chapel with a surprise song-and-dance routine.

The audience also participated in an Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest, cheering loudly as they voted for their favorite students to win first place. The winner from the 6th to 12th grade classes was 12th grader Mia Liggins and the K-5th grade winner was kindergartner Felicity Macpherson.  The chapel concluded with a surprise — a song-and-dance routine performed by an energetic group of faculty and staff.

 

 

10th Grader Ryleigh Martin Wins ACS Christmas Card Design Contest

Congratulations to 10th grader Ryleigh Martin for winning first place in the ACS Christmas Card Art Design Contest. Her original art design is being featured on the cover of our school’s 2021 Christmas card that was recently mailed to several thousand families, friends, and supporters.

In addition to Ryleigh, four other students were recognized for their outstanding designs: 2nd place – Sophia Capito (7th grade); 3rd place – Hazel Burgan (8th grade); 4th place – Paige Noble (11th grade); and 5th place – Angela Eggie (12th grade).

Fifty-four cover art designs were submitted for the contest. Students from the 6th-12th grades worked for a month on their designs during art classes taught by Sherry Mirakian and Patti Scardilli, including Middle School Art Studio, Middle School Mixed Media, 9th Grade Art Appreciation, and High School Mixed Media.

On December 2, a faculty-staff panel of judges selected the top 5 designs and the winners were announced and  presented with award ribbons during Upper School Chapel on December 9.

Ryleigh’s card design, done with colored pencils, pen, and gel pens on card stock, features a family gathered in their living room, with a Christmas tree nearby, and the father reading to his children from the Bible.  The scripture verse from John 1:14 that is part of the design reads — “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.”

“This is the fifth year that we have held this Christmas card art contest and we had more students participate than ever before,” Mirakian said. “The contest gives our talented students the opportunity to use their God-given artistic abilities to create a design that has a visual impact and shares a Biblical message about the birth of Christ.”

The  top five Christmas card designs along with nearly 50 other card designs are on display through the end of January on a large bulletin board in the main school hallway adjacent next to the Multi-Purpose Room.

 

Elementary Students Present “Beneath a Shining Star” Musical as Part of Dec. 16 Christmas Concert

Students from kindergarten to the third grade took center stage to share the story of the Biblical events that led up to the birth of Jesus at their Christmas concert on December 16. After the opening prayer by Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen, the kindergarten students performed “Jingle Bell Rock” and “Jingle Bells.” The concert program then transitioned to a presentation of the children’s musical — “Beneath a Shining Star.”

As the scenes of the musical unfolded, the story of Jesus’ birth was told by 1st to 3rd grade students through skits and songs, with various students playing the roles of Joseph, Mary, the inn keeper, shepherds, angels, the wisemen, and a townsperson from Bethlehem.  One student played the role of stage manager, weaving the various scenes together.

Within each scene, the students performed a number of songs including “I’m Booked Up,” which featured 2nd graders Jeremiah Diaz, Callie Gibson, and Bright Otong as soloists, “God Will See Us Through,” “Let’s All Go To Bethlehem,” “What Is This New Star,” and “Sing To the Newborn King.”

At the conclusion of the musical, during the collection of the Teacher-Staff Love Offering, the Elementary Sign Language Club presented a moving rendition of “The Goodness of God.” The concert ended with the audience joining the students in a lively Christmas carol sing-along.  Elementary Principal and Early Education Director Gail Alford closed the concert in prayer.

The students who played various speaking roles during the musical were: Jayden Bird (stage manager), Lucian Kizuka (Joseph); Grace Petrinic (Mary); Lillian Breitweiser, Nova Ciappina, and Alba Reed (angels); Nathan Frye and Kennedy Jackson (wisemen); Caitlin Doucett, Charlee Mitchell, and Ceci Tormey (shepherds), and Julia DiMaio (townsperson).

Congratulations to the show’s music directors Julie Zimmer and Tim Rosie, and sign language club advisor Jessica Martin for an outstanding program that celebrated the true meaning of Christmas — the birth of Jesus, the promised Messiah and savior of the world.

CLICK HERE to view a highlight video of the K-3 Christmas Concert which is posted on the ACS YouTube Channel.

CLICK HERE to view a Photo Galley of the K-3 Christmas Concert on the ACS website.

 

 

 

Early Education Students Present a Merry, Joyous Christmas Concert

The jingle-jangle of bells rang out to open the Early Education Christmas Concert on December 17, getting family members and friends in the Christmas spirit.  The program featured ACS preschool-aged students dressed in their best Christmas outfits singing songs that celebrated the birth of Jesus, interspersed with an interactive reading of the Christmas story by Early Education Director and Elementary Principal Gail Alford.

The concert began with Mrs. Genter’s toddlers performing “Jingle Bells,” followed by six preschool classes from PreK2 to PreK4 singing and doing choreography to a variety of Christmas songs, including “Lights on the Tree,” “Angels Sing,” “Glorious Night,” “Do You Hear What I Hear,” “The Best Gift, and “Baby Jesus, We Love You.”

Between each class performance, Mrs. Alford gathered for a special story time at the front of the stage to read the Christmas story aloud as several students from Mrs. Kelley’s and Mrs. Bird’s PreK4 classes listened and asked questions. The students who were part of the story time were: HazelMarie Black, River Finnegan, Jaxon Fiorilo, Lucas Keaney, Michael Lombardi, Wesley Myers, Lily Platt, Moriah Ragland, Teagan Raughley, Zoe McNulty, Roman Siu, and Hunter VanHenninga (from Mrs. Bird’s class); and Robert O’Donoghue, Brielle Sabulao, Jackson Sawatzke, Julian Walder, and Johannah Wilson (from Mrs. Kelley’s class).

School parent and pastor Lee Martin presented a Christmas message to the hundreds of parents, grandparents, other family members, and friends in the audience, reminding them that the best gift ever given was Jesus and the eternal life that comes through Him.  The PreK3 and PreK4 students closed the concert with an enthusiastic rendition of “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”

Thank you to the outstanding team of Early Education teachers and aides, who did a great job preparing our students for the concert — Robin Genter and her aides, Chanta Fernandez and Jessica Shoemaker (PK2); Ruby Lewis and her aide, Sandra Readding (PK2); Cookie Chambers and her aide, Michelle Wheller (PK2); Brittany Correa and her aide Karissa Costello (PK3); Alyda McKee and her aide, Ruth Valdes (PK3); Jennifer Kelley and her aide, Yomayra Gaffney (PK4); and Teresa Bird and her aide, Ashley Gonzalez.

CLICK HERE to view a photo gallery of the concert on our ACS website.

CLICK HERE to view a highlights video of the concert that is posted on Atlantic Christian School’s YouTube page.

 

Mrs. McCarthy’s 3rd Grade Class Blesses ACS Staff Member with Surprise Christmas Gift

The students in Mrs. McCarthy’s 3rd grade class surprised ACS Event Coordinator Christian Delacruz on December 23 with a special Christmas gift — a poster full of hand-written letters thanking him for his dedication and hard work serving the students and staff and an envelope filled with $300 in cash.

“We had a class discussion in November about doing a service project to bless someone at Christmas who works at the school and sometimes goes unnoticed, but deserves appreciation for all they do,” said Mrs. McCarthy. “I wanted the students to learn about what the word “sacrifice” means — to put others before ourselves.”  The class voted and selected Mr. Delacruz and then the students had a month to do chores at home to earn money to give as a Christmas gift.

In the students’ letters to Delacruz, they thanked him for all his efforts to make the Race for Education and the One Christmas Night Festival a success. They also talked about the valuable lesson they learned about sacrificing by giving up their personal time to do chores to be a blessing to someone else. The students described the various chores they did, including setting the table, doing dishes, and cleaning their bedroom.

When he was presented with the poster and envelope of cash, Delacruz could only say — “This is such a blessing. Thank you so much. I’m shocked. I’m speechless.”

Delacruz joined the ACS staff in February 2020 to work on the facilities team. This September, he began teaching two high school Bible classes — Biblical Leadership and Bible Study No Excuses — and leading a chapel COMPASS group. He moved into the position of Event Coordinator in mid-October. Delacruz and his wife, Cristina, have three children and his son, CJ, is an ACS 6th grader. They live in Egg Harbor Township.

This is the second time that Mrs. McCarthy’s class has given a surprise Christmas gift to an ACS staff member. The last recipient was ACS custodian Juan Perez in December 2019.

 

Middle School Basketball Season Gets Off to an Early Start

The Middle School basketball season got off to an early start this month as the boys’ and girls’ teams competed in the Dixie Howell Jr. High Basketball Tournament in Ocean City from December 10-15, with only a few practices under their belts. The regular season for Middle School basketball kicks off in January, with the first games to be played at home against King’s Christian School on Wednesday, January 5. Come on out and cheer for our Cougars! Please note that Atlantic Cape Junior High League rules this season require that masks must be worn by spectators at all games, whether at home or away.

In the Dixie Howell Tournament, sponsored by the Ocean City PBA Local 61, the Middle School Boys’ team won one game and lost one game and advanced to play in the Tournament’s Boys’ Consolation game, where they lost to Upper Township 38-20. The Middle School Girls’ team lost its first two games and did not advance to the final round.

One player from each team was named to the All-Tournament Team — Caden Kim on the Boys’ team and Skyler Shivers on the Girls’ team.

Check the ACS Middle School Athletic Calendar on the ACS website or ACS app for upcoming game information.

The 14 members of the Middle School Boys’ Basketball Team are: Johnny Cook, Calvin Costello, Ethan Costello, Micah D’Anna, Zion Dawkins, Jude Gibbs, Caden Hahn-Chaney, Xavier Johnson, Jason Kelley, Caden Kim, David O’Donnell, Justice Settles, Luca Sullivan, and Jeriko Thomas. ACS PE teacher Josh Clark is in his first year as head coach, assisted by ACS parents Jenna Cook and Charlie Costello.

The 15 members of the Middle School Girls’ Basketball Team are: Alexis Andujar, Angela Awad, Sophia Costello, Mikayla Cubbage, Gianna Flynn, Lucy Huff, Gracie Leon, Grace Lushina, Malena Meyer, Solia Pecou, Nina Purdy, Skyler Shivers, Kalee Tardif, Shelby Tomlinson, and Anyae Welch. Faculty member and ACS alumnus Grant Miller (’07) is in his third year as head coach, assisted by his wife and faculty member, Minelva Miller.

ACS is grateful to Linwood Community Church for providing their gym as a place for our Middle School Girls’ team to practice after school and to Greentree Church for providing practice space in their gym for our Middle School Boys’ team.

We’re looking forward to an exciting season. Go Cougars!

 

Mark Your Calendar for In-Person Bowls of Hope Soup Cook-Off Benefit on Feb. 5, 2022

Mark your calendar for our 9th ACS Bowls of Hope Soup Cook-Off Benefit to be held on Saturday, February 5, 2022 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. in the school gym. You won’t want to miss this enjoyable and entertaining evening of good food, fellowship, a student Talent Show, and a canned food drive — all to benefit ACS, the Atlantic City Rescue Mission, and the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, Southern Branch.

The Bowls of Hope benefit and canned food drive will be spearheaded by our high school students, giving them an opportunity to support ACS and bless our local community by selling tickets to the event, volunteering during the Bowls of Hope, and encouraging family and friends to donate to the canned food drive. An email with more information about the Bowls of Hope will be sent to the parents and guardians of high school students in early January.

The Bowls of Hope will seek to feature some 20 area restaurants and chefs serving up their signature soups. For one ticket price, those attending will have the opportunity to sample the soups and vote for their favorite. The canned food drive will kick off in January and continue through the night of the Bowls of Hope to benefit the Community FoodBank.

Tickets and Event Sponsorships are available for purchase.  For a gift of $400 an individual, business, or nonprofit can be an Event Sponsor. Event Sponsors will receive four complimentary tickets and will be recognized on a large banner at the entrance to the event, listed in the event program, and thanked during program announcements at the event.

CLICK HERE to be an Event Sponsor or to purchase tickets.

Check Out Our Winter 2022 After-School Classes

The winter 2022 schedule of After-School Classes is finalized and there is something for everyone. To promote the benefits of health and exercise, there are classes for karate and gymnastics which start during the third week of January. There is also a new Mock Trial Team for high school students that will be preparing for February competition.

The After-School program will continue to offer Art Studio for 1st-5th graders, Beginning and Intermediate Band for 4th-5th graders, Worship Team for 5th graders, and the Servant’s Heart Club for 2nd-5th graders.

Coach Kaylee Breunig and the Varsity Girls’ basketball players will be leading an intramural basketball clinic for boys and girls from the 2nd-8th grades on Saturdays, starting January 8. The last day to register for intramural basketball is January 7, 2022.

Please check the schedule for the start dates and any class fees.  The class schedule, class descriptions, and registration flyers were sent home with elementary students on December 23 and can also be downloaded from the ACS Website located under the “Programs” tab.

CLICK HERE to see the winter schedule of after-school classes and to download the registration forms.

Take A Bow! — ACS 12th Grader Isaac Choi Gets Perfect Score of 800 on SAT Math Section

Thursday, November 18 started off like any other day for 12th grader Hyeonjin Choi, an 18-year-old South Korean international student at ACS, who his teachers and classmates know as Isaac. He had a bowl of Chips Ahoy cereal and some rice for breakfast, talked with his twin brother, Hyeonbin  (Joseph), about their plans for the day, and caught the bus for school. But when he got to school and was sitting with friends in homeroom, he decided to check the College Board website to see if the results of his October 28 SAT test were released and that’s when his day took a dramatic turn — he learned he had scored an 800 on the math section of the SAT – a perfect score.

It was Isaac’s goal to get a perfect score on the SAT math section. He took the SAT for the first time on October 2 and scored a 780. “I was really disappointed with the results of the first test and I knew I could do better,” Isaac said. “I made a few small mistakes and I knew I could correct them.” He decided to take the SAT again a few weeks later and his efforts paid off.

Isaac is now busy applying to various colleges, and his #1 choice is NYU.  Other schools on the list are Cornell University, Stephen’s Institute of Technology, the University of Maryland, and Virginia Tech. He plans to major in computer science and his dream job is to become an app designer.

12th grade Isaac Choi, pictured in the center, playing the violin at the all-school Christmas Chapel on December 23, as part of the Upper School Instrumental Worship Ensemble.

Isaac has attended ACS since 2019, when he enrolled in the 10th grade. He said he did well in math in South Korea, but really started liking math after coming to ACS. “I have enjoyed the teaching style of my math teachers at ACS — Mrs. Wilson and Mr. Carney,” Isaac said. “They really helped me understand the method behind solving equations and made sure that I understood every step.”  His commitment to study and work hard has resulted in straight A’s in all his math classes at ACS, including Honors Algebra 2, Honor Geometry, Pre Calculus, and AP Calculus.

When he’s not studying, Isaac enjoys going on YouTube and watching videos about the latest IT developments and products. He also enjoys playing the violin and this year is in the ACS Upper School Instrumental Worship Ensemble.

Congratulations, Isaac. We can’t wait to see the plans that God has for your life.

 

Classroom Cameo: Students Build Models of Bridges, Rollercoasters, and More in New Middle School STEM Class

The 17 students in Mrs. Melody’s STEM class, a new Middle School elective offered this fall, built models of bridges and rollercoasters in December as they learned the fundamentals of structural engineering.  The students have been working in teams since September, learning how to apply mathematical and scientific concepts to real life, hands-on projects.

“The students have been very excited and engaged in their projects,” Mrs. Melody said. “In our unit on structural engineering, they learned about kinetic and potential energy and the cause and effect when energy is transferred.” Students on one team used a kit to build a suspension bridge. Below at right is a photo of that bridge, with the students who built it, from left: Billy Winkel, Elliott Parker, Josiah Christmon, Raquel Mitchell, and Colton Carney.  Another team, pictured below left, built a roller coaster from the kit. The members of that team, from left, were: Autumn Loo, Liam Larkin, Steven Nixon, and David O’Donnell.

Earlier in the semester, the students worked on several other projects during class. For a unit on robotics, students built a soccer goalkeeper, a forklift, and a printer.  In a unit on programming, the students used a computer to program a virtual rover landing on Mars, using the Gizmo online simulation lab.

Melody said the STEM class, which meets three times a week, will be offered as a Middle School elective next semester.

 

 

Students Learn How to Decorate Cookies for Christmas in Middle School Cooking Class

The students in Mrs. Lewis’ Middle School Cooking Class got a head start on baking for Christmas when they learned how to decorate cookies in their December 16 class.  For Mrs. Lewis, it’s all about sharing her love of cooking with the students and teaching them the fundamentals so they gain confidence and be creative.

During the class, the students crushed candy canes to make peppermint dust, learned how to melt chocolate over a double-boiler, carefully dipped store-bought cookies into the melted chocolate, and then decorated them with sprinkles and the crushed peppermint.

“In this class we learned that sometimes baking can be semi-homemade,” Lewis said. “If you don’t have a lot of time, there are short cuts that you can use and still have a delicious and attractive dessert.”

In addition to decorating Christmas cookies, other cooking class projects have included making gingerbread houses, making pumpkin pie and fancy mashed potatoes for Thanksgiving, learning how to cook eggs several ways, and making salads using lettuce, kale, cucumbers, and peppers grown in the ACS school garden.

The Middle School Cooking Class meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays and is a semester-long class. Lewis also teaches a high school elective cooking class.