ACS is pleased to periodically recognize and congratulate several of its alumni who are making their mark in college, in the working world, and in other endeavors, building on the strong educational and spiritual foundation they received during their years at ACS.  The alumni spotlighted this month are: Kristine Cassell (’85), Kim Clark Eaves (’87), Jonathan Cassell (1996-8th), Ian Wallace (’04), Taylor Hadley (’07), Sterling Breunig (’09), Byron Nelson (’09), Amy Vogel Nelson (’09), Alexa Weintraub Byrd (’09), Ani Karabashian (’12), Dakota Hitchner (’17), Jacob O’Brien (’19), and Ben Noble (’20).  Profiles of these and many more ACS alumni can be found on the “Alumni News” page of the ACS website under the “News and Events” category.

Kristine Cassell (’85) is an elementary teacher at Pilgrim Academy in Egg Harbor City, where she has taught 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade classes since 1994. She earned her BA in elementary education and Bible from Clarks Summit University in 1989. While a senior in college, she did student teaching at ACS and in the fall of 1989 returned to teach 4th grade for one year. Kris then taught 3rd grade for two years at Seaford Christian Academy in Delaware. The following year, she traveled to Santiago, Chile, where she taught 3rd grade at Santiago Christian Academy. Kris returned to the states and taught again for one year at ACS before putting down long-term roots at Pilgrim Academy. For many years, Kris has sung and led children’s church at Chelsea Baptist Church in Atlantic City, where her late father, Rev. Daniel Cassell, served as pastor for 36 years. Kris resides in Galloway with her mother, Pat Cassell, who retired from ACS in 2007 after 29 years of distinguished service as an ACS kindergarten teacher and principal.

Kim Clark Eaves (’87) returned to ACS as a school parent in September 2020 to enroll four of her five children, and in November 2020 was a featured speaker at the 50th anniversary Elementary Chapel. She talked about her passion for helping and serving others, and how that passion led her to become a foster parent. She adopted three of her children after fostering them. Over the past 30 years, Kim has held a variety of positions in the medical field, from working as a radiology tech to practicing and teaching massage therapy. Currently, Kim is working as an entrepreneur in a health and wellness social retail network marketing business.  She resides in Egg Harbor Township and her family worships at Gospel of Grace Ministries.

Jonathan Cassell (1996-8th grade) is a certified public accountant and works at Fitzpatrick, Bongiovanni and Kelly in Linwood, a position he has held since 2015. After graduating from ACS in the 8th grade, he attended high school at Pilgrim Academy. He went on to earn a BS in criminal justice from Cedarville University and a BA in business administration from Stockton University. Jonathan and his wife, Amanda, reside in Egg Harbor Township and have two sons, Mason and Noah. They attend Lakewood Chapel in Mays Landing, where Jonathan’s ACS classmate, Ryan Atkinson, is the lead pastor. Jonathan is also the church treasurer.

Ian Wallace (’04) is the operations manager at Shoemaker Lumber Co. in Ocean City, NJ, a position he has held since 2011. Ian earned a BA in history from Eastern University. He was in the first ACS graduating class to graduate at the new campus in Egg Harbor Township in June 2004. He returned to ACS to serve as the Varsity Boys’ Baseball Coach from 2009-2013. Ian is a deacon at Ocean City Baptist Church and has overseen their adult basketball outreach on Tuesday nights in the winter and spring. One of his favorite life verses is Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Taylor Hadley (’07) is a Physician’s Assistant in Cape May County, NJ, affiliated with Cape Regional Medical Center. After graduating as the valedictorian of the Class of 2007, Taylor continued to excel academically and earned his undergraduate degree from Grove City College. He then attended PA school, where he graduated with Honors in 2017. Taylor and his wife, Kristen, were married in March 2019.

Sterling Breunig (’09) graduated from Liberty University in 2013 and is a manager at Sterling Tackle in Marmora, NJ. He lives in Beesley’s Point and is active at Greentree Church where he is a high school youth leader and youth event planner for students in the 7th-12th grades. He also leads a 5th-6th grade boys’ small group at Greentree. Sterling enjoys playing volleyball and pickleball with friends.

Byron Nelson (’09) became the Boys’ Basketball Head Coach at the Atlantic County Institute of Technology in Mays Landing in 2020 and also teaches health and PE. He graduated from Kean University in 2016 with a BS in communication recreation administration. Prior to working at ACIT, Byron worked at Winslow Township High School and at ACS, as a fitness trainer and running basketball clinics. In 2019, Byron married ACS classmate Amy Vogel Nelson (’09). Amy earned her BA in elementary education from Stockton University in 2013. She returned to ACS in 2015 to serve as the Extended Care Director and then became an elementary teacher. Amy and Byron reside in Northfield and have one son, Cameron.

Alexa Weintraub Byrd (’09) earned a BA in interdisciplinary studies from Coastal Carolina University, with a concentration in education and social work. After college, she and her husband, Torren, put down roots in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Since 2018, Alexa has worked at Bridgewater Academy, a charter elementary school in Horry County, and at Bridge Builders Family and Youth Services as a counselor. Alexa and Torren are active at Ekklesia Christian Church and have two girls, Victoria and Ava.

Ani Karabashian (’12) became a full-time student in the fall of 2020 to pursue a Master’s degree in urban planning from Rutgers University. She is looking to pursue a career in urban planning that focuses on food access and creating healthier communities.  She earned her BA in social work from Gordon College in 2016. After graduation, she took a position with Food Corps NJ and worked as a nutrition educator with K-8 students in the Atlantic City public schools and at the Salvation Army. In 2018, Ani took a new position as a SNAP-ED nutrition educator with the Community FoodBank of NJ, Southern Branch, teaching nutrition classes to adults and children, which included cooking demos. Ani is active with the women’s Bible study group at Beacon Evangelical Free Church and has served as a leader with the middle school youth group. She enjoys gardening, exploring the outdoors, and cooking, and in the winter of 2020-2021 baked and sold Armenian pastries to raise funds for the Armenian Soldier’s Fund in Armenia. She resides in Ventnor.

Dakota (DJ) Hitchner (’17), Jacob O’Brien (’19), and Ben Noble (’20), who are attending Cairn University, were named to the All-Academic Soccer Team of the Colonial States Athletic Conference for the fall 2020 season.  Jacob and Ben were strong contributors to Cairn’s Men’s Soccer Team and DJ has been a leader on the Women’s Soccer Team. All three were also named to the Dean’s List at Cairn. DJ, a senior, and Ben, who is a freshman, are majoring in health and PE, and Jacob is majoring in criminal justice.

Online electronic enrollment for the Atlantic Christian School 2021-2022 school year is now underway for returning families. Email messages about re-enrollment were sent out by Admissions Director Jessica Martin on Friday, 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 on March 1.

“We praise God that we have seen our highest enrollment in school history this year, with many of our grades full with waiting lists,” said Admissions Director Jessica Martin. “It’s important for our current families to re-enroll early to secure their child’s space.”  Current families must pay the Enrollment Fee and submit the B6T Transportation Form by February 28, 2021 to secure their child’s spot in the next grade. After that date, Martin said spots not filled by a current family will become open for a new family.

The tuition rates for the 2021-2022 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 Monday, February 1. The deadline for returning families to submit a Tuition Assistance application is May 1, 2021.

Early Education Student Re-Enrollment Procedure: To re-enroll an Early Education student, please complete the online “Early Education Schedule Form,” which was emailed to families on January 22, and pay the Early Ed Enrollment Fee of $50 per student ($100 per family maximum) by February 19. The enrollment fee has been 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 15. The enrollment fee will increase to $75 after February 19, 2021. Medical forms for 2021-2022 will be sent out at a later date.

CLICK HERE for the online 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 Transportation 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) has been 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 15. 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 2021-2022 Tuition Rates and Fees
CLICK HERE for the 2021-2022 B6T Transportation Form

Students from kindergarten to the 12th grade had the opportunity to present their musical talents in new ways to celebrate the birth of Christ in December as Music Director Tim Rosie adapted to COVID-19 restrictions that sidelined our annual Christmas concerts.

Elementary students in kindergarten to the 3rd grade performed Christmas selections during music classes the week of December 7 and their performances were recorded and then aired as a virtual concert online the week of December 14.  The virtual concert could also be viewed during December on the TV monitor in the school foyer.

The Upper School Choir serenaded students with Christmas carols as they arrived at school in the morning on December 21 and 22 and the Middle School Band performed several selections.  The 13 students who sang in the Upper School Choir are Ashlee Alford, Angela Awad, Annalena DiMaio, Aine Dorsey, Natalia Flores, Lucy Huff, Kylie Jackson, Ava Lombardi, Heather Milstead, Natalie Murphy, Isabella Santos, Alexis Shropshire, and Rachel Whisman. The 7 students who performed with the Middle School Band are Kylie Jackson, Garrett Martin, Natalie Murphy, Rowlee Murphy, Thomas Potenski, Alek Stein, and Nathanael Thompson.

CLICK HERE to enjoy the online K-3rd grade Christmas Concert

CLICK HERE to see one of the performances by the Middle School Choir.