Twenty-two Atlantic Christian School students in the Servant’s Heart Club spread the good news of Christ’s birth while Christmas caroling at the Somers Place Assisted Living on Tuesday, December 10.
ACS parent and club advisor, Jennifer DiMaio, and ACS staff, Patti Scardilli, accompanied the students to this community outreach event.
Medical Assistant students from Atlantic County Institute of Technology assisted School Nurse Carrie Jorgenson this week with the annual health screening of students from grades K-12.
“Annually, we are blessed to have the Medical Assistant students come for four days to assist with student assessments. Together we check grades K-12 for vision, hearing, blood pressure, and in students above age 10, scoliosis. If any of the findings are above or below parameters, we notify parents. This has blessed many students, and it is a joy to see the ACIT students caring for our students,” Mrs. Jorgenson said.
Atlantic Christian School Varsity Basketball teams traveled up to Delaware County Christian School to compete in the 55th Annual DC Invitational Tip-Off Basketball Tournament on Friday and Saturday. On the first day, the girls made a statement against Norfolk Christian as they won in convincing fashion by a score of 73-35.
Cristen Winkel was 72% from the field while scoring 30 points. The boys played against the host, Delaware County Christian School, in a tough matchup that saw Ben Noble and Dan Roland score 13 and 12 points respectively. The boys lost a close game 44-49. After the loss, the boys would be forced to take on The Christian Academy in the consolation game the following day. Going up against a scrappy, quick TCA team that proved to be too much as the boys fell 54-71. The girls team faced off in the Championship game against Delaware County Christian School.
From the tip, the girls took a commanding lead and didn’t look back. By the end of the first quarter the score was 22-10. They eventually won the game by a final of 67-22 to become the first ever DC Invitational Tip-Off Tournament Champions in girls basketball history for Atlantic Christian School.
The performance was capped off by three Juniors scoring in double figures; Sydney Pearson (19), Olivia Chapman (15), and Cristen Winkel (12). A huge congratulations to Senior Ben Noble and Junior Olivia Chapman on being named All-Tournament players and Junior Cristen Winkel named MVP of the tournament.
Last week, twelve ACS high school students attended ACSI’s Leadership Conference called “Re:Purpose” in Washington, D.C. Our students worshipped and learned with close to 1,000 other student leaders from Christian Schools along the Eastern Seaboard. The students learned from 8 different speakers on topics about God’s purpose as it relates to identity, learning, service, work and beauty and how it applies to the students’ present situations as well as their future. They also had an excursion to the Holocaust Museum in D.C.
Each night there were group discussions about how the day’s lessons spoke to them and how to bring these themes back to Atlantic Christian. They have started the process of implementing some of these ideas into the school already. We look forward to seeing how these students lead our student body in the rest of this school year. It was such a great experience, some of the Seniors wish they could attend next year’s conference!
MS/HS Spanish Teacher Mrs. Dena Johnson gave her honors Spanish class students a cooking video project where they will have to teach how to cook a dessert dish using only the Spanish language.
The goals of the project are: to practice giving instructions, appropriate use of commands, and to practice and expand use of numbers, fractions and measurements in Spanish.
Dressed in full chef’s gear and with the help of her husband, Rob, Mrs. Johnson demonstrated how it should be done by cooking Tiramisu in class. The class really enjoyed the presentation and Mrs. Johnson introduced the project in a fun and engaging way.
ACS 5th grade students have been learning about how the earth and its ecosystems develop and change over time and can be impacted by natural phenomenon, such as glaciers and volcanic eruptions, as well as by human activity, such as mining and logging.
The students recently completed a two-week biology project assigned by science teacher Grant Miller in which they built detailed 3-D dioramas showing primary and secondary succession. The dioramas included examples of subtrate, trees, plants, and animals that could be found in developing and changing ecosystems.
Last week, twelve ACS high schoolers attended ACSI’s Leadership Conference called “Re:Purpose” in Washington DC. Our students worshipped and learned with close to 1,000 other student leaders from Christian Schools along the Eastern Seaboard. The students learned from 8 different speakers on topics about God’s purpose as it relates to identity, learning, service, work and beauty and how it applies to the students’ present situations as well as their future. They also had an excursion to the Holocaust Museum in DC. Each night there were group discussions about how the day’s lessons spoke to them and how to bring these themes back to Atlantic Christian. They have started the process of implementing some of these ideas into the school already. We look forward to seeing how these students lead our student body in the rest of this school year. It was such a great experience, some of the Seniors wish they could attend next year’s conference!
Join us this Friday for the Elementary Christmas Concert that will feature performances by the students from K-5th grade.
Immediately following the concert, join us for a time of fellowship while we light the ACS Christmas Tree for the season. Cookies and hot chocolate will be provided and our Take Note Ensemble will lead the caroling.
The Christmas train display by Shoreline Model Railroad Club will also be open from 7:00 – 9:00 PM on Friday, December 6.
ACS students and teachers are almost done decorating their classroom doors for the Christmas Door Decorating Contest.
Photographs of each classroom door will be posted on the ACS Facebook page at 6:00 p.m. tomorrow, December 6 and will close at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, December 13.
The Early Ed classroom door, the Elementary classroom door, and the Middle School/High School classroom door with the most “likes” will each win a special prize to be shared by all the class members.
Make plans now to go to the ACS Facebook page between December 6 and 13 to cast your vote with a “like” for your favorite door. Winners will be announced at the December 20 all-school Christmas Chapel.
We are extending a special invitation to ACS families to attend and join our students in what we know will be a time of blessing and inspiration.
Pastor Ted Winsley, Sr., chaplain to the Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles, will be the featured speaker at our Middle/High School Chapel tomorrow, December 6 which will be from 8:45-9:45 a.m. in the school gym.
Pastor Ted Winsley resides in South Jersey and heads “The Family Church” which is a non-denominational, multi-ethnic Bible-based church located in Voorhees, NJ. He has been the Philadelphia Eagles’ chaplain since 2001 and has played a key role in the spiritual development and team dynamic the Eagles are known for.
ACS ushered in the Christmas season with a touching production of Annie Jr. on November 22 and 23 on the stage in the school gymnasium. The musical classic set during the Christmas season amid the Great Depression tells the story of 11-year-old little orphan Annie, played by 4th grader Vanessa Rallo in her first-ever leading role in a musical.
Vanessa gave a heart-warming performance as Annie, along with 42 talented students (and a dog!) who comprised the cast. Lead roles were played by 10th grader Hunter Jorgenson as Oliver Warbucks, 12th grader Ashleigh Martin as Miss Hannigan, 9th grader Soolim (Sue) Yoon as Grace, 10th grader Asher Dawkins as Rooster, and 12th grader Nell Daeleman as Lily.
Show Director and Producer Amy Culleny said she was so proud of the young and largely novice cast and how hard they worked to achieve a polished production in just 10 short weeks once rehearsals got underway in mid-September.
“The cast worked hard in every rehearsal and it paid off with a great show,” Culleny said. She also thanked ACS parents, friends, and businesses in the community who supported the effort by purchasing tickets, playbill and electronic ads, making it possible to meet and exceed all the production costs.
Culleny said the success of the “Annie Jr.” production was a team effort, thanking a talented crew for their contributions and for ACS parents – Stage Manager Kelly Flynn, Carrie Jorgenson, Arzum Sanchez, and Jessica Martin for supporting the cast and production behind the scenes. Lee Martin was the Music Director and Technical Director who used digital imagery on a large background screen to enhance the setting of each scene. Jennifer, Haley, Havilah, and Caleb Shorten of Sojourn Productions acquired the beautiful costumes and managed the backstage area, and Sean Griffith, also of Sojourn Productions, designed and constructed the set. Robin Shorten ran all of the music and light cues. Culleny would also like to thank Sojourn Productions for graciously donating use of sets, costumes, and props.
After the curtain call and final bows by the cast and crew, the “Annie Jr.” production concluded with a brief sermonette by Musical and Technical Director Lee Martin. He drew parallels between the story of Annie Jr., an orphan who eventually found someone to adopt her, and how God takes care of us as His children.
Pastor Ted Winsley, Sr., chaplain to the Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles, will be the featured speaker at our Middle/High School Chapel on Friday, December 6. He will share stories about his experience with the team and insight into how he helped the players turn adversity into a world championship during the hour-long chapel which will be from 8:45-9:45 a.m. in the school gym.
Pastor Ted Winsley resides in South Jersey and heads “The Family Church” which is a non-denominational, multi-ethnic Bible-based church located in Voorhees, NJ. He has been the Philadelphia Eagles’ chaplain since 2001 and has played a key role in the spiritual development and team dynamic the Eagles are known for.
We are extending a special invitation to ACS families to attend and join our students in what we know will be a time of blessing and inspiration.
Over 500 grandparents visited the ACS campus on Friday, November 22 for our annual Grandparents’ Appreciation Day.
Mrs. Karen Oblen, ACS Chief School Administrator, welcomed the grandparents and PreK4 students started the program with the song “Hosanna.” The chapel program continued with students from elementary through high school praising God through musical presentations, scripture recitation, and prayer.
The keynote speaker, Pastor Kevin Bernat of New Life Assembly and ACS grandparent, shared scriptures and encouraged grandparents to take an active role in ensuring that their grandchildren grow up with the knowledge of Christ. He said “The greatest gift grandparents can give to their grandchildren is knowing Jesus.” He shared the stories of how people were saved due to their grandparent’s prayers. “Do not underestimate the prayers of grandparents,” Pastor Kevin encouraged the crowd. “Grandparents are blessed and a blessing,” he added. He said that he is grateful for a school like Atlantic Christian and its faculty and staff who are investing in each student and training them up in God’s Word. He closed his remarks by praying for our students.
Before the close of the program, the grandparents got a sneak preview of that night’s upcoming show, “Annie Jr.,” with the cast performing one of the lively numbers entitled “Hard Knock Life.” Senior Class President Ian Iaconelli closed the program in prayer.
After the chapel program, the grandparents visited various classrooms where their grandchildren proudly shared examples of their classroom projects and gave them hand-made gifts. The grandparents also had the opportunity to visit the Scholastic Book Fair in the school library and see the Shoreline Model Railroad Club’s model train Christmas display.
School picture retakes for students in grades K-12 will be on Monday, December 2. Students who missed the first Picture Day should pick up a form in the office. Students who would like to have their picture retaken must return their original picture packet on Retake Day. Please remember that the dress code for pictures requires an ACS polo shirt. Gym clothes, ACS hoodies and sports gear are not to be worn.
ACS students and teachers will begin decorating their classroom doors next week for the Christmas season. Classes will compete for prizes with winners to be determined by on-line voting on Facebook.
Photographs of each classroom door will be posted on the ACS Facebook page. Voting will open at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, December 6 and will close at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, December 13.
The Early Ed classroom door, the Elementary classroom door, and the Middle School/High School classroom door with the most “likes” will each win a special prize to be shared by all the class members.
Make plans now to go to the ACS Facebook page between December 6 and 13 to cast your vote with a “like” for your favorite door. Winners will be announced at the December 20 all-school Christmas Chapel.
Dear ACS Family,
As we gather together at Thanksgiving, with so many blessings and opportunities surrounding us, we can sometimes forget that all of these extraordinary blessings come from our great God. Today, I was reminded of this in Colossians 3:15-17, which says, “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
Our God, the one from whom all blessings flow, lavishes us with these gifts freely and generously. What else can I be but overwhelmed with gratitude for all that He has done! So today, I am especially thankful for His love and grace. I am blessed beyond measure to serve in a school where God is glorified. I thank God for my ACS family! I pray each of you has a wonderfully blessed and joy-filled Thanksgiving!
Karen M. Oblen, M.Ed.
Chief School Administrator
We are all set for our Grandparents Day! Tomorrow’s celebration will begin with a coffee social for grandparents at 8:00 a.m. in the gym, followed by an all-school chapel at 9:00 a.m., where students from preschool through high school will participate in praising God through musical presentations and Bible readings. Grandparents will then have the opportunity to spend time with their grandchildren in their classrooms from 11:00 a.m. -12:30 p.m.
Grandparents are also invited to attend the following events tomorrow, November 22:
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR (LIBRARY)
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
CHRISTMAS TRAIN DISPLAY
BY SHORELINE MODEL RAILROAD CLUB (ANNEX BLDG. #2)
10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
TRUTH THAT ROCKS CHRISTIAN BOOK STORE (FOYER)
FRIDAY, 7:00 PM &
SATURDAY, 2:00 PM
ANNIE JR. MUSICAL (ACS GYM)
TICKETS AVAILABLE AT THE FRONT DESK
We hope to see all of our grandparents at ACS on November 22.
Tomorrow, November 22, is the last day of the ACS Scholastic Book Fair!
ACS students, as well as their family members, will have opportunities to visit the ACS Library and shop for books from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm. Lots of great books are still available!
To check out the interactive book flyer or order books online, visit our school’s homepage on the Scholastic website by clicking on the link below:
We love our grandparents and ACS students will show that love on Friday, November 22nd as part of Grandparents Day.
This special annual celebration will begin with a coffee social for grandparents at 8:00 a.m. in the gym, followed by an all-school chapel at 9:00 a.m., where students from preschool through high school will participate in praising God through musical presentations and Bible readings. Grandparents will then have the opportunity to spend time with their grandchildren in their classrooms from 11:00 a.m. -12:30 p.m.
We hope to see all of our grandparents at ACS on November 22.
Elementary students had great start this week with the first session of Move It Monday! Mrs. Jessica Martin directed all the students in a fun and engaging 20-minute fitness workout exercise designed to condition the body and get their minds ready for school.
Mrs. Gail Alford, Elementary Principal and Director of Early Education, was excited to bring back this fun activity. “Every year before standardized testing we would always have a short session in the morning to get moving and wake up the brain. Since we changed the format of our testing we no longer had a set time to do this fun activity. After meeting with Mrs. Martin we decided that the first Monday of every month would be designated as a time to all get 
together and begin our day with movement.”
Students wore their “Be Transformed” class t-shirts with either jeans or ACS PE uniform bottoms for the activity.
Our fall Scholastic Book Fair will be held from Monday, November 18 to Friday, November 22.
All students, as well as their family members, will have opportunities to visit the ACS Library and shop for books throughout the week.
We need volunteers to help make this year’s Book Fair a success! If you would like to volunteer, please CLICK HERE to sign up easily online.
To check out the interactive book flyer or order books online, visit our school’s homepage on the Scholastic website by clicking on the link below:
Atlantic Christian School will show its appreciation to our veterans at an all-school chapel on Friday, November 15, 9:00 am in the gymnasium.
Our keynote speaker this year is Maj. Gen. Mark L. Loeben, USAF, Retired.
Flyers have been sent home with students. Please invite family members and friends who have served or currently serve in the military to attend. There will be reserved seating for our honored guests.
On Saturday, the Atlantic Christian Varsity Soccer teams will be competing in the TSCAC League Championship. The boys’ team will be playing Gloucester County Christian School in the Consolation game at 3:00 pm. The girls’ team will be playing in the Championship game against rival Pilgrim Academy at 5:00 pm. All Saturday games will be held at Glassboro Park, 152 Delsea Drive South, Glassboro, NJ 08208. Tickets for the day are $2 for students, $3 for adults and $10 maximum for a family.
The boys’ team recorded their best record since 2012 and finished in a solid third place in the league. They lost a tough semifinal game 2-0 to Pilgrim on Thursday. They are playing Gloucester County Christian School who they have defeated twice this season already.
The girls’ team was undefeated in the TSCAC Conference for the 5th consecutive year. They have competed in the Championship game for the last 5 years, with a current 3 year winning streak and looking for a “four-peat” on Saturday. In the semi-finals, they easily defeated King’s Christian 6-0 with goals by Chloe Vogel (2), Reyna Lewis, Maddie DeNick, Tiana Purdy-Phillips and Eden Wilson. Goalie Shelby Einwechter had 5 saves.
The TSCAC All-Star Game will be held on Tuesday, November 5th at Calvary Academy at 5:00pm.
ACS honored six senior players on the Varsity Girls’ and Boys’ soccer teams and their parents in a special ceremony on Friday, October 25. The ceremony was held prior to the start of the home games against Gloucester County Christian School. Athletic Director Pam Hitchner introduced the team members and read notes of special thanks to each written by Varsity Boys’ Coach Ben Chapman and Varsity Girls’ Coach Carly Witherow.
The following seniors were honored (pictured from left to right): Mark Rosie, Ian Iaconelli, Ping-yu (Alex) Wang, Dan Roland, Ben Noble, and Emily Kelley.
CLICK HERE to see more Soccer Senior Day photos in our online gallery.