Post Tagged with: "ACS"

Next Week: Parent-Teacher Conferences – Jan. 21-23

Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held Tuesday-Thursday, January 21-23. 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.

Conferences are mandatory for families of K-5th grade students and optional for families of 6th-12th grade students and of Early Education students.

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

Be Part of the Team Planning the May 1 Legacy Gala With Mandisa

Interested in helping plan and promote the upcoming May 1 ACS Legacy Gala with keynote speaker and performer Mandisa? You’re invited to come out to our first Legacy Gala Committee Meeting on Wednesday, January 29 at 6:30 p.m. in the school library. We need your help with contacting area businesses to be Gala sponsors, advertisers, and Silent Auction donors. We also need volunteers to spread the news about the Gala to our local churches by distributing Gala flyers and posters. And we need volunteers to help the day of the Gala with auction set-up, greeting, and much more. The bigger our Gala team, the more people we can reach about supporting this exciting event for our region.

If you can attend the Gala Committee Meeting, or would like to be involved but cannot attend the meeting, please email PJ Santos, Assistant Director of Development and Communication, at psantos@acseht.org or call 609-653-1199 ext. 302. This is a great opportunity to tell people about the positive impact that Atlantic Christian is having in the lives of our children and to ask them to support our school.

Employee Spotlight – Mrs. Arzum Sanchez

Mrs. Arzum Sanchez, ACS Human Resources/Accounts Payable Manager

As the Human Resources/Accounts Payable Manager, Mrs. Arzum Sanchez knows every ACS employee by their first name and is always ready to answer a question about health insurance plans and other employee benefits. But in addition to fulfilling her tasks in the school’s Business Office, Mrs. Sanchez is a dedicated volunteer. Most recently, she served as the back stage manager of the school’s “Annie, Jr.” musical production, overseeing nearly 40 students during the after-school rehearsals and performances.

“I’m very passionate about serving others and giving of your time and talents to bless others,” Mrs. Sanchez said. Outside of ACS, she volunteers at Fresh Start Church, where she has attended for the past 13 years, and helps with fundraising efforts for KW Cares, a community give-back project of Keller Williams realty.

Prior to coming to ACS in November 2017, Mrs. Sanchez was working full-time as an investor/realtor with the Keller Williams Atlantic Shore office in Northfield. She still actively works in her real estate business, by appointment at night and on weekends. “I really just love working in real estate and helping people successfully make one of the most important financial transactions of their lives,” Mrs. Sanchez said.

Mrs. Sanchez, who is a native of Atlantic City, holds a BA in business from Stockton University and is also taking graduate courses when her busy schedule permits. She and her husband, Pablo, live in Egg Harbor Township and have four children — Elijah (26), Alexys (24), ACS 8th grader Haven, and ACS 7th grader Jayden. She is also a proud grandmother to 22-month-old Victoria.

“I’m so happy that my children are at ACS,” Mrs. Sanchez said. “I used to drive by the school and pray that our children could come here and God answered my prayers.”

ACS Teachers Receive Awards for 1st Place Finish in AtlantiCare Student Video Contest

Three ACS teachers were presented with award certificates and cash prizes totaling $250 during Elementary Chapel on Friday, January 10 for original videos created by their students that tied for the Grand Prize in the 2019 AtlantiCare 2019 Winter Wellness Video Contest. The winning teachers were, pictured from left to right — Mrs. Laura McCarthy, Class 2B; Mrs. Bethany Kiefer, Class 5B, and Mr. Grant Miller, Class 5A.

The AtlantiCare Healthy Schools, Healthy Children program sponsored the video contest in the fall of 2019 for the more than 100 public and private schools in and around Atlantic, Cape May, and Ocean Counties that participate in the program.

In the ACS 5th grade student video, entitled “Healthier,” the students re-created a popular song with their own lyrics and showed different ways to be healthy during the winter months.

Mrs. McCarthy’s 2nd grade class submitted the video “Get Healthier,” where students shared tips on what to eat and different exercises that will help improve your body and mind.

Winning videos will be featured on AtlantiCare’s Facebook page  in the upcoming weeks.  Please share the videos on social media to encourage your family and friends to get healthier this year!

New 2nd Floor Water Bottle Filling Station Blesses Upper School Students, Staff

Middle school and high school students and staff are lining up to fill their water bottles with healthy, refreshing filtered water from the school’s second new water bottle filling station, located on the 2nd floor of the school building near the bathrooms. The purchase of the new filling station was made possible by a donation from ACS parents Dr. Salaam and Lauren Alobeidy.

The Elkay filling station, which also has a regular water fountain in the front, was installed on January 3 by ACS parent and licensed plumber Phil Kates, and has already been used by our middle school and high school students and staff to fill over 160 water bottles. Pictured filling up their bottles in between classes are, from left, ACS high school seniors Emily Kelley, Ben Noble, and Dan Roland.

“We are very grateful for the generosity from our school families who support our efforts to provide a healthy learning environment for our students and staff,” said Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen. Oblen said the new filling station encourages everyone to drink more water and also has a positive impact on the environment, reducing the usage of disposable plastic water bottles. ACS is also grateful to Lowe’s in Egg Harbor Township for providing discounted pricing on the machine.

ACS installed its first water bottle filling station in the 1st floor Multi-Purpose Room in the spring of 2018. It was purchased with a grant from the AtlantiCare Healthy Schools, Healthy Children program. That filling station has been used to fill now close to 52,000 water bottles.

ACS Awarded $1,000 AtlantiCare Healthy Schools Grant

ACS was recently awarded a $1,000 grant from the AtlantiCare Healthy Schools, Healthy Children program to support educational programs focused on nutrition and physical activity. Additional funding of up to $300 was also approved for CPR training for ACS staff.

The grant check was presented to ACS faculty members at an AtlantiCare workshop on Wednesday, January 8 held at the Atlantic City campus of Stockton University. Pictured at the workshop, from left, are 5th grade teacher Bethany Kiefer, 4th grade teacher Eric Tardif, and high school science teacher Dave Genter. The workshop provided valuable school garden and greenhouse educational training and materials.

Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen said ACS will use the grant funds to purchase new equipment and supplies for the school garden and greenhouse, and new equipment for physical education classes and elementary recess activities.

“We are very grateful for the generous support from the AtlantiCare Foundation that helps us continue providing our students with an outstanding educational experience,” Oblen said. “Our students at every grade level enjoy the hands-on learning in the school garden and greenhouse and we are also excited to be purchasing new PE and recess equipment for this spring with these funds.”

Oblen said ACS will continue to offer an after-school Garden Club this spring, led by faculty members Tardif and Kiefer. ACS is also considering adding a Junior Master Gardeners program as an after-school club.



Sign Up Online for Parent-Teacher Conferences – Jan. 21-23

Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held Tuesday-Thursday, January 21-23. 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.

Conferences are mandatory for families of K-5th grade students and optional for families of 6th-12th grade students and of Early Education students.

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

School-Wide Food Drive to Kick Off Jan. 13; Ends at Bowls of Hope Soup Cook-Off

A school-wide Bowls of Hope Food Drive will kick-off on Monday, January 13 to benefit the Community Food Bank of NJ, Southern Branch. Paper bags donated by the English Creek ShopRite are being sent home with students on Monday to fill with non-perishable food items and return to ACS by Friday, January 31.

A Bowls of Hope Ticket/Sponsorship Order Reply Form is also attached to the Food Drive donation bags. Parents who purchase tickets or choose to be an Event Sponsor for the Bowls of Hope Soup Cook-Off and attend the event may also bring their donation bag that night.

To raise awareness about the Food Drive and the Bowls of Hope Soup Cook-Off, students in the 6th-12th grades have been challenged to create an original video to promote these events. The new “Bowls of Hope Video Contest,” with cash prizes for the top three entries, was announced during Upper School Chapel on Friday, January 10. The contest will end in just one week – on Friday, January 17. The winning video will be posted on ACS social media and the top three videos will be shown during the Bowls of Hope event. CLICK HERE for the Video Contest Information Sheet.

We are looking forward to seeing our school families and friends in the community at the Bowls of Hope. Tickets and sponsorships for the Bowls of Hope Soup Cook-Off can be purchased online at  — www.acseht.org/bowls-of-hope or at the door. CLICK HERE to purchase tickets/sponsorships.

Ticket holders and sponsors will enjoy tasting a variety of delicious soups prepared and donated by local restaurants and can vote for their favorite soup. Soup, bread, beverage, and dessert are included in the ticket price and there will also be an ACS student Talent Show and a Silent Auction. High school students will also be involved in volunteering at this event — doing set up, greeting, workers as food servers, and helping with clean-up. 

If you have any questions, please contact our Asst. Director of Development and Communication, PJ Santos, at (609) 653-1199, ext. 302, or at psantos@acseht.org.

Showcase Your Talents at Bowls of Hope – Auditions Jan. 16

We are looking for students who are willing to share their God-given talents and perform at the Talent Show to be held during the Bowls of Hope Soup Cook-Off on Saturday, February 1 in the ACS gym.  Auditions for the Talent Show will be next Thursday, January 16, starting at 3:15 p.m. Please sign up at the ACS Front Desk by Tuesday, January 14.

Save the Date: March 28 – Christian Skate Night

Join us on March 28 for Christian Skate Night, hosted by the ACS Freshman Class. The event is from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m at Young’s Skating Center (763 Park Road, Mays Landing).

ACS families and friends are welcome to attend. Tickets will be available for purchase at the ACS front desk starting next week. All proceeds to benefit the Freshman Class.

ACS School Family Invited to Monday, January 6 Prayer Meeting

ACS parents, guardians, faculty, staff, and students are invited to come together for a prayer meeting before the start of school on Monday, January 6 from 7:45-8:15 a.m. in the school library. This new prayer meeting will be held monthly. The first prayer meeting, led by ACS Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen, was held in December. Please join us as we pray for our school and current issues in our community, state, and country that are impacting Christian families and Christian education.

ACS parents and guardians are also welcome to attend the “Parents in Prayer” group that meets weekly on Tuesdays from 8:45-9:45 a.m. in Room 223. Please go to the school office for a Visitor’s Pass before going to Room 223. This prayer group is led by alumni parent Sharon Griffith. Any questions, please contact Sharon at 609-214-2136.

Mark Your Calendar for February 1 Bowls of Hope Soup Cook-Off Benefit

Mark your calendar for the 7th ACS Bowls of Hope Soup Cook-Off Benefit to be held on Saturday, February 1, 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, a Silent Auction, 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 information about the Bowls of Hope will be sent to the parents and guardians of high school students next week. Information about Silent Auction Classroom Baskets that our PreK4-8th grade classes will be creating for the Silent Auction will also be sent home next week.

The Bowls of Hope will 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 next week and continue through the night of the Bowls of Hope to benefit the Community FoodBank.

Tickets and Event Sponsorships will be available for purchase starting on Friday, January 10, in the ACS school office, from any ACS high school student, or online. Tickets will also be sold at the door that night.

ACS Opens Two New Indoor Playrooms for Preschool Students

Our preschool students have two new, exciting indoor playrooms to enjoy during the cold winter months, made possible through a large donation of play equipment and the efforts of ACS facilities staff and volunteers, who finished setting up the rooms in December.

On the morning of Friday, January 3, faculty member Jennifer Kelley took her PreK4 class to the new playrooms, which are located in one of the Annex Buildings facing the school parking lot. In one playroom, designed to be an open space to run and play games, the students spent time with PE teacher Kaylee Breunig. They played “Tails,” a fun tag game with scarfs, and developed their motor skills and coordination as they caught, threw, spiked, and kicked multi-colored balloons.

In the second playroom, the children enjoyed exploring a wood playhouse, riding the Step2 toddler roller coaster, serving up make-believe ice cream and vegetables at an Ice Cream Cart and a Farmer’s Market, and climbing and sliding on a large jungle gym. The playroom also features a giant-sized dollhouse and table and chairs. We are grateful to the English family for donating many of the items in the playroom last summer. Their young children, Jack and Addisyn, attended ACS before they moved to Alabama.

“We’re thrilled to be able to give our youngest students age-appropriate, creative, and safe places to run and play during the winter months,” said Early Ed and Elementary Principal Gail Alford. “The kids love it.”

How ACS Informs Families About Winter Weather Closures

As the winter season gets underway, we want to be sure that parents and guardians are aware of our communication guidelines in the event that school is cancelled. As a general rule, if the Egg Harbor Township public schools are closed, ACS will be closed. The decision to close school is usually made by 5:30 a.m. and will then be communicated to parents and guardians in a variety of ways, as follows:

  • An automated phone message will be sent to all parents’/guardian’s home phone numbers or to the cell number listed as the primary contact in Renweb;
  • Posting on the ACS Website home page;
  • Posting on the ACS Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter feeds;
  • Media notifications — ACS notifies 6-ABC TV and NBC-10 TV stations, who will include ACS in their closure announcements.

Join Us for May 1 Legacy Gala — An Evening with Christian Recording Artist Mandisa

GRAMMY® winner, American Idol Season 5 finalist, and Christian recording artist Mandisa will sing and share words of encouragement and truth for people facing life’s challenges as the featured keynote speaker at the ACS Legacy Gala 2020 on Friday, May 1 at the Ocean City Tabernacle. General ticket sales will begin on Monday, March 2. Sponsorship information will be available soon. Please mark your calendar to attend this special evening to benefit Atlantic Christian School and invite your family and friends to join you as well.

With more than 1 million records sold, Mandisa released her first album, “True Beauty,” in July 2007. After spending several years struggling with depression, Mandisa returned to writing and recording such potent songs as “Prove Me Wrong,” “I’m Still Here (The Best is Yet to Come),” and Unfinished.” Her fifth album, “Out of the Dark,” was released in May 2017 and was No. 1 on Billboard’s Christian and Gospel Chart and Top 20 on the Billboard Album’s Chart.

As Mandisa started working on the “Out of the Dark” album, she said God started lifting her out of the pit of depression. “My hope is that people will be on this journey with me,” Mandisa said. “When I began, I was in a really dark place, but where I am today is so much better and so much lighter. He pulled me out of the dark! I’m hoping that the same way that God is restoring me, that He will restore those who listen to it (the album).”

In the fall of 2019, Mandisa headlined the “Girls Night Live Tour” with guests Blanca and Riley Clemmons. She also co-hosted the K-LOVE Fan Awards with Matthew West in June 2019.

Tickets Now Available! Christian Skate Night – Saturday, January 11

The ACS Junior Class is hosting a Christian Skate Night skating party on Saturday, January 11, 2020 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Young’s Skating Center (763 Park Road, Mays Landing). ACS families and friends are welcome to attend. Tickets are now available for purchase at the ACS front desk for $8. Maximum price for an immediate family will be $20. Tickets will also be sold for $10 at the door. Skate rental is an additional cost. All proceeds will benefit the Junior Class fund for its Senior Trip.

Showcase Your Talents at Bowls of Hope

We are looking for students who are willing to share their God-given talents and perform at Talent Show to be held during the Bowls of Hope Soup Cook-Off.  Auditions for the Talent Show will be on Thursday, January 16, starting at 3:15 p.m. Please sign up at the ACS Front Desk by January 14.

2019 Race for Education Raises $36,000; Student, Class Prizes Awarded at Jan. 3 Chapel

The final results are in and the Race for Education raised $36,000 for our Annual Fund, exceeding our goal by 33% and raising $11,000 more than last year’s Race. Thank you to all our donors, student and teacher participants, and volunteers for making our 2019 race a success.

4th grader Liam Larkin, pictured above, was recognized during our January 3rd Elementary Chapel for being the Student Grand Prize Winner, raising $2,080 through gifts from his sponsors. Mrs. Hoover’s 4th grade class, pictured below, was recognized as the Early Ed/Elementary Class Grand Prize Winner for raising $4,004, the most in donations overall.

Student Grand Prize Winner Larkin is pictured with Assistant Director of Development and Communication, Mrs. PJ Santos, and Chief School Administrator, Mrs. Karen Oblen. Larkin received a special certificate redeemable for an Apple Watch Series 3, Beats Wireless Headphones or 4 Theme Park Tickets.

Mrs. Hoover’s class is receiving an outing to either the Get Air Trampoline Park or the Playland Castaway Cove as their prize. Mrs. Coates’ 6th grade class received the Middle School Class Grand Prize for raising $3,016. The students are receiving an outing to the Get Air Trampoline Park as their prize.

Additional prizes were also awarded for class, student, and teacher/staff participation:

Dress Down Day or Snack Pass Prize
Awarded to students who brought in 10 or more address labels. Teachers will distributed the passes on Monday to the winning students in their classrooms. This year, 218 students turned in at least 10 or more labels.

Teacher Prizes for Class Participation

$50 Gift Certificate
A $50 gift certificate to use toward purchasing classroom supplies or equipment was awarded to the following teachers who had at least 75% of their students turn in 10 or more address labels:
• 1A – Mrs. Mindy Capito
• 2A – Ms. Amy Williams
• 3 – Mrs. Karen Fosbenner
• 4A – Mrs. Sherree Hoover
• 5A – Mr. Grant Miller
• 5B – Mrs. Bethany Kiefer
• 6A – Mrs. Sara Coates

$100 Gift Certificate
A $100 gift certificate to use toward purchasing classroom supplies or equipment was awarded to the following teachers who had 100% of their students turn in 10 or more address:
• KA – Ms. Hayley Price
• 2B – Mrs. Laura McCarthy
• 4B – Mr. Eric Tardif

Teacher Gift Certificates
The following teachers submitted labels and raised money through their sponsors. During chapel, these teachers received gift certificates equal to  the value of the total amount that they raised to use for classroom supplies or equipment:
• $1,145.00 – Ms. Amy Williams (02A)
• $375.00 – Mrs. Bethany Kiefer (05B)
• $250.00 – Ms. Hayley Price (KA)
• $175.00 – Melinda Capito (01A)

Five Below $10 Gift Card Prize
The one student in each class that had the most sponsors received a Five Below $10 Gift Card. Those students recognized during chapel on Friday were:
• PK3A – Bennett Smith
• PK3B – Kannon Cummings
• PK4A – Brooklyn Smith
• PK4B – Jadyn Piccinio
• KA – Madeleine Sawyer
• KB – Nathan Frye
• 1A – Selah Melody
• 1B – Alana Rosie
• 2A – Jonathan Ireland
• 2B – Gabriella Santos
• 3 – Peyton Hiller
• 4A – Liam Larkin
• 4B –Matthew Schlundt
• 5A – Thomas Potenski
• 5B – Garrett Martin
• 6A – Paityn Kates
• 6B – Calvin Costello
• 7A – Aine Dorsey
• 7B – Seth Philips
• 8 – Zachary Fosbenner

Lap Winners
The boy and girl in each class that ran the most laps during the Race received a certificate of achievement and a Race Baton courtesy of Chick-fil-A. The class lap winners were:

  • PK3A 9 Laps – Colton Costello
  • PK3A 9 Laps – Bennett Smith
  • PK3A 8 Laps – Annabelle Frye
  • PK3A 8 Laps – Gia Jacobus
  • PK3A 8 Laps – Skylar Moyer
  • PK3B 6 Laps – Kannon Cummings
  • PK3B 6 Laps – Ben Mail
  • PK3B 6 Laps – Kinsley Meyer
  • PK3B 6 Laps – Alysha Bien-Aime
  • PK3B 6 Laps – Audrey Gray
  • PK3B 6 Laps – Rosalie Nhan
  • PK3B 6 Laps – Roselyn Vega
  • PK4A 14 Laps – Jayce Bird
  • PK4A 9 Laps – Addison Figueroa
  • PK4A 9 Laps – Abigail Hornbaker
  • PK4A 9 Laps – Brooklynn Smith
  • PK4B 17 Laps – Jayden Bien-Aime
  • PK4B 12 Laps – Annalise Gaffney
  • KA 18 Laps – Barrett Woods
  • KA 13 Laps – Alba Reed
  • KB 14 Laps – Joshua Alford
  • KB 14 Laps – Brady Dye
  • KB 13 Laps – Emma Dunson
  • 1A 18 Laps – Hunter Cross
  • 1A 18 Laps – Jackson Schwenker
  • 1A 15 Laps – Devyn Piccinino
  • 1B 19 Laps – Jayden Bird
  • 1B 12 Laps – Caitlin Doucett
  • 2A 22 Laps – Jeremy Morillo
  • 2A 19 Laps – Eve Gibbs
  • 2B 22 Laps – Anthem Correa
  • 2B 17 Laps – Gabriella Santos
  • 3 23 Laps – Gabriel Hudec
  • 3 13 Laps – Mia Flores
  • 3 13 Laps – Mia Gaffney
  • 4A 22 Laps – Liam Larkin
  • 4A 22 Laps – Elliot Norris
  • 4A 18 Laps – Raquel Mitchell
  • 4A 18 Laps – Chelsie Richards
  • 4B 25 Laps – Jason Remlein
  • 4B 22 Laps – Zoey Holmstrom
  • 5A 31 Laps – Ethan Costello
  • 5A 25 Laps – Kalee Tardif
  • 5B 20 Laps – Micah D’Anna
  • 5B 20 Laps – Caedyn Hahn-Chaney
  • 5B 20 Laps – Jason Kelley
  • 5B 20 Laps – Nathanael Thompson
  • 5B 21 Laps – Keira Frontino
  • 6A 21 Laps – John Cook
  • 6A 21 Laps – Paityn Kates
  • 6B 28 Laps – Calvin Costello
  • 6B 17 Laps – Stephanie Valdes
  • 7A 16 Laps – Judah Dawkins
  • 7A 23 Laps – Isabell Alford
  • 7B 21 Laps – Adam Schlundt
  • 7B 13 Laps – Grace Johnson
  • 8 28 Laps – Michaela Schlemo
  • 8 15 Laps – Gary Wyckoff

2019 Christmas Door Decorating Contest Winners Announced

Winners of the annual Christmas Door Decorating Contest were announced during the all-school Christmas Chapel on Friday, December 20. Thirty-five doors, including a few bulletin boards and hallway walls, were creatively decorated by students from preschool to the 12th grade, with some assistance from their teachers. This year’s doors all have been decorated to reflect the name of a Christmas song.  Photos of the doors were then posted on the ACS Facebook page and close to 1,400 votes were cast from December 6-13  by family and friends, who voted by posting a “like or love” on the photos of their choosing.  The winners were selected based on the combined number of  Facebook votes received and points earned from a faculty/staff panel that judged the doors based on the amount of student participation, theme song representation, and the most original and creative design. The three winning classes were awarded first place blue ribbons to display on their winning doors and will each receive an ice cream party in January.

The first place winner in the Upper School (6th-12th grade) division was Mrs. Flath’s 11th grade class, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”  The first place winner in the Elementary division was Mrs. Nelson’s 1st grade class, featuring photos of students with red noses to reflect their Christmas song theme, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”  The first place winner in the Early Education division was Mrs. Correa’s PK2 class, with the Christmas song theme, “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer.”

Four Honorable Mention awards were also given to various  classes.  The “People’s Choice” Award for receiving the most votes on Facebook (152) went to Mrs. Correa’s PK2 Class. Mr. Dickson’s 7th grade class received the “All In” Award for the most student participation. Mrs. McCarthy’s 2nd grade class received the “Be Transformed” Award for best representing the Christmas song they have chosen for their door.  Miss Williams’ 2nd grade class received the “Creative Genius Award” for the originality and creativeness of their door decoration.

The winning first place and honorable mention doors can also be seen on the ACS Facebook page.

Students, Faculty, Staff Celebrate Christ’s Birth at All School Christmas Chapel

Our annual all-school Christmas Chapel on Friday, December 20 brought students from preschool to 12th grade and all faculty and staff together for a joyous celebration of Christ’s birth.  The chapel opened with students from PK3 and PK4 singing “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” followed by prayer offered by Elementary Principal and Director of Early Education, Mrs. Gail Alford.  Mrs. Amy Nelson’s 1st grade class came next with a skit depicting the story of Jesus Christ’s birth.

Worship time continued with Mrs. Morgan Gibson’s American Sign Language class performance of “Noel.”  The 5th grade worship team got everyone on their feet to sing and move to “Born is the King” and It’s Christmas Time.”

Guest speaker Cindy S. Brumbaugh shared her testimony and introduced the story behind her three children’s books: “Charlie the Wiener Wonder Dog”, “Charlie the Wiener Wonder Dog and the Lost Woobie” and “Tea with Benny and the Honeybee”.  Cindy also shared scriptures and with Christ’s birth, reminded everyone about God’s love and to open our hearts and minds to the wonderful gift of Christ’s salvation.

Some lighter moments in chapel included the popular and much anticipated Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest, with the assembly voting by acclamation for their favorites from among teachers and students representing each class. After several rounds of voting, 3rd grade class teacher, Mr. Eric Tardif,  was declared the winner.  The winners of the Christmas Door Decorating Contest were also announced.

The  program concluded with the Atlantic Christian School’s humorous version of the “12 Days of Christmas” performed by the staff and faculty.  Upper School Vice Principal Drew Carney wished everyone a Merry Christmas and gave the closing prayer.

CLICK HERE FOR PHOTO GALLERY

A Christmas Reflection By Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen

I am filled with hope this Christmas season. But lately, as I watch the news and focus on what is going on around me, I confess I sometimes feel otherwise. Everywhere we look, it seems humanity is in crisis. This can cause us to become fearful or afraid. It’s at these times that I go to what I call my “But God” Scriptures. One of the verses that comforts me the most is from Lamentations 3:21-23 which says: “But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

You see, with God there is hope. In fact, hope is what Christmas is all about.  Some 2,000 years ago, God sent His one and only Son, Jesus, to earth that we might have hope, redemption, and eternal life.  This was God’s gift to mankind. Born in a stable in Bethlehem, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, became the hope of the world. Everything in the whole world changed in that moment.  Jesus Christ our Savior is born; our Lord has come. When we focus and trust in our Lord, all is well. I pray that you have a very Merry Christmas and a joyous, hope-filled New Year.

Sixth Grader Paityn Nicole Kates Gets 2nd Place Award on Veterans Day Essay

Congratulations to 6th grader Paityn Nicole Kates on on her 2nd Place winning essay, “What Veterans Day Means to America.”

Egg Harbor Township Mayor Paul Hodson publicly recognized Paityn at the December 18th Township Committee Meeting. Paityn read her essay  and received a certificate for her outstanding accomplishment. Paityn’s family and ACS Upper School Principal Meg McHale attended the event.

Every year, Egg Harbor Township Veteran’s Advisory Board sponsors an essay question for students in the township. Paityn’s essay was submitted to ACS Middle School Language Arts teacher Mrs. Caitie Lee, who then forwarded the essay to the township.

Second Grade Class Blesses Facilities Custodian Mr. Juan Perez

Christmas will be a bit brighter for ACS Facilities Custodian Mr. Juan Perez and family thanks to the efforts of students in Mrs. Laura McCarthy’s 2nd grade class.

This week, the students in Mrs. McCarthy’s class ended a month-long service project and presented  “Mr. Juan,” as he is lovingly called by the students, with a monetary gift.  The students also made handmade encouragement cards to give him.

“We were brainstorming in class about this time of year and how it is a time to bless others with kindness and gifts! After talking it over, the class decided to bless our janitor, Mr. Juan Perez. Juan works so hard and always has a smile on his face. His job can be a thankless one, and we want to help him feel appreciated this Christmas season.” Mrs. McCarthy wanted to instill in the class what a sacrifice is, what it means to put others before ourselves. “And for those two reasons we have a Savior and a Christmas!,” she added.

Mrs. McCarthy gave the students a service project where they were to  “work” and earn money to give to Mr. Juan by doing chores for their parents.

“It is such a blessing!  I was very surprised by Mrs. McCarthy’s class and it’s humbling that they picked me.” Mr. Juan shared.

Mr. Juan has been with ACS for almost two years.  He lives in Absecon, NJ  with his wife, Debora and their six children.

Alumni Came Out to Play Basketball, Volleyball

Over 30 ACS alumni turned out to play basketball, volleyball, and enjoy food and fellowship together on Tuesday, December 17 in the ACS gym. Former ACS boys’ basketball team members formed two teams that played against each other in a fast-paced and competitive game. The former ACS  girls’ basketball players played against our Varsity girls and displayed a lot of energy and talent.

Two alumni, DJ Hitchner (’17) and Francis Johnson (’18), who play on their college basketball teams joined the event. Additional alumni came out to play open volleyball following the two basketball games. Thank you to Athletic Director Pam Hitchner for organizing the fun event and to Mrs. Terry Vogel for running the Cougar Den throughout the evening.