Join us for the last ACS Spirit Day of this school year at Texas Roadhouse in Egg Harbor Township on Wednesday, May 25 from 4 p.m. to closing. All proceeds will benefit ACS Athletics.
Spirit Day is being held during the final week of the Varsity Baseball/Softball Season and a student pep rally will be held earlier in the day. The Tri-State Christian Athletic Conference championship finals will be held on Saturday, May 28, hosted by ACS.
At Texas Roadhouse in Egg Harbor Township, you will enjoy hand-cut steaks, fall-off-the-bone ribs, made-from-scratch sides, and fresh-baked bread. Please mention “Atlantic Christian School” when you order.
The restaurant is located at 6801 E. Black Horse Pike in Egg Harbor Township. Hope to see you there!
We love our grandparents! Join us on Friday, May 20 as our students take the opportunity to show their love and appreciation to the special grandparents in their lives. Activities will include a student-led Appreciation Chapel and classroom visits. Invitations were mailed to grandparents in mid-April. To enable our staff and teachers to plan for the event, we are asking that grandparents please RSVP by Monday, May 16 to let us know that you will be attending.
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: John (Tony) Polcini (’89), Byron Nelson (’09), Amy Nelson (’09), Ethan Hoover (’13), Solomon Griffith (’19), and Ashleigh Martin (’20). Profiles of many more ACS alumni can be found on the “Alumni News” page of the ACS website under “News and Events.”
John (Tony) Polcini (’89) is dipping his toe into the political arena for the first time, running for an at-large position on the Ocean City Council in the upcoming May 10, 2022 election. He is running with incumbents Peter Madden and Karen Bergman, and all three have the support of incumbent Mayor Jay Gillian. Tony is a lifelong resident of Ocean City and owner of the former Tony P’s House of Pie on the Ocean City Boardwalk, which closed in 2019. He first learned the pizzeria business working for many years under Frank and Kay Manco of Manco & Manco Pizza. Tony has also worked as a patient advocate at Shore Medical Center in Somers Point and is currently a salesman for a paper supply company in Vineland. Tony credits his father, Dominick Polcini, with teaching him the importance of having a strong work ethic. In a March 3, 2022 Ocean City Sentinel article, Tony said he is taking a “family-first approach to community politics” and that he “knows that speaking from the perspective of family values as a voice on council will hopefully help keep the people of Ocean City in the forefront of those who make the decisions.” Tony and his wife, Jennifer, have two sons, and have been long-time active members of Mission Point Church in Somers Point.
Byron Nelson (’09) recently completed his third year as the Boys’ Basketball Head Coach at the Atlantic County Institute of Technology in Mays Landing with a very successful winning season, finishing 15-9 overall and in 2nd place in the Cape Atlantic League with a 10-5 record. Byron has also continued to teach health and PE at ACIT. 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 worship at Coastal Christian in Ocean City. They have one son, Cameron, and are expecting a second son in August 2022.
Ethan Hoover (’13) is the creative director at Coastal Christian in Ocean City, overseeing video and audio production. In January 2022, he launched the “Rechurched” podcast with Coastal Christian teaching pastor Matt Maher. Ethan also just tied the knot on April 29, 2022, marrying Sage Thomas. He graduated from Regent University in 2017 with a BS in business marketing. Ethan and his brother, Blair, are co-owners of Hoover Collective, a company they started in 2018 that offers web design services. In 2018, Ethan also founded Driftr Media LLC, a media company that specializes in creating visuals for social campaigns and brands. Ethan also uses his creative talents working for OverWear, a south Jersey non-profit that creates and distributes an inspirational clothing line.
Solomon Griffith (’19) is a junior at Ursinus College in Pennsylvania, majoring in history and education. A stand-out shortstop on the ACS Varsity Baseball team, Solly was the first baseball player in school history to get 100 hits during his high school career, a milestone that is heralded on a school banner that hangs in the ACS gym. Solly received a scholarship in 2019 to attend Ursinus and play on the Men’s Baseball Team. Since his freshman year, Solly has played first base and second base and this year has batted third in the lineup. In this 2022 season, he has had a .340 batting average and had 14 RBIs. Solly starts every game and is a leader on this year’s team, which has a lot of young players. When he returns home to Ocean City this summer, you will likely find Solly working at Dockside Restaurant. Solly worships with his family at First Presbyterian Church in Ocean City.
Ashleigh Martin (’20) is a sophomore at Anderson University in South Carolina, majoring in musical theatre. She was recently chosen to work in this summer of 2022 as an actor for Generate by YM360, a ministry organization that runs Christian camps for high school students across the U.S. Ashleigh will be traveling to work at camps on different Christian college campuses in Alabama, Georgia, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Texas. During her first two years at Anderson, Ashleigh has been in the cast of two campus musicals — “Xanadu” and “Guys and Dolls.” Ashleigh also works for the school’s Admissions Department as a college ambassador, giving tours of the Arts Department, and works in the box office in the university’s Rainey Fine Arts Center. During breaks when Ashleigh comes home to Mays Landing, she can be seen back at ACS working as a substitute teacher. Ashleigh received a Presidential Fellows full tuition scholarship to Anderson, and has maintained a 4.0 GPA and made the Dean’s List every semester. She attends New Spring Church in Anderson and is involved as an actor in a church project to create videos for their children’s ministry.
Our Cougar Classic Golf Tournament is six days away and with 99 golfers now registered the entire, beautiful course at Greate Bay Country Club in Somers Point will be open only to ACS Tournament golfers on May 5. Donations from restaurants, spas, and entertainment venues, and get-away vacation packages will be part of the Golf Tournament Silent Auction and the auction will incorporate online bidding, allowing ACS families and friends to bid on items whether or not they are able to attend the auction in person.
Jesus is Alive! — ACS students and staff gathered on April 14 for an all-school Easter Chapel to celebrate the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, who died for the sins of the world and rose victorious to bring salvation and eternal life to mankind. Various student groups raised their voices in praise and worship with songs that joyfully told the story of the hope of salvation in Christ.
High school Bible teacher Urick Lewis presented a thoughtful message on the importance of having a humble heart of gratitude for the gift of salvation made by possible by Christ’s death and resurrection. “Christ took our place on the cross and we did not deserve it. He paid the ultimate price for us,” Lewis said. He taught from Luke 23:39-43 and contrasted the attitudes of the criminals who were crucified with Jesus — one who had a spirit of insult and entitlement, and the other who had a spirit of indebtedness. “Entitlement is the trap door to your destruction,” Lewis said, “but indebtedness is the open door to your destiny.”
Thirty-three students will be serving as the hands and feet of Jesus when they participate in two short-term missions trips over the Easter vacation. One group of 21 high school students will be serving in North Carolina and a group of 12 middle school students will be serving in Coatesville, Pennsylvania. Please pray that these missions teams will be salt and light as they serve God on these trips and thank you to the family members, friends, and churches who donated to support their volunteer efforts.
High school Bible teacher Christian Delacruz was the guest speaker and focused his message on 2 Peter 1:3-4. He challenged the students to grow in their knowledge of Christ above all else and that “by believing in Christ we are given everything we need for eternal life and to live in a godly way.”
The ACS Cheer Team won first place at THE ONE Cheer and Dance Finals in the Junior High Intermediate Division held April 2-3 in Virginia Beach, Virginia — a victory that made school history and created life-long memories for the middle school and high school cheerleaders on the team and their dedicated coaches.
Over 140 middle school students enjoyed a lively evening of appetizers, desserts, a scavenger hunt, games, and line dancing on April 14 in the ACS Gym. A special candy table, donut wall, cupcake tower, and photo booth made the evening both fun and memorable.
The Varsity Baseball and Softball seasons are underway with the Varsity Softball team winning its first four Tri-State Christian Athletic Conference games and the Varsity Boys’ team posting a 1-1 record in the conference before the Easter break.
The ACS Sophomore Class is hosting a Christian Skate Night skating party on Saturday, May 21, 2022 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Young’s Skating Center at 763 Park Road in Mays Landing. ACS families and friends are welcome to attend. All proceeds will benefit the Sophomore Class.
Give the gift of blood and help save a life. Make an appointment to donate blood at the American Red Cross Blood Drive at ACS on Thursday, May 19, 2022 from 3:30-8:30 p.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room. Our goal is to collect 47 or more donations. Donors will receive a $10 e-gift card to a merchant of their choice and will automatically be entered to win a new travel trailer camper that sleeps eight, courtesy of Suburban Propane.
Students in Mrs. Wilson’s geometry classes recently completed a project applying their knowledge of the Pythagorean Theorem to create spiral artwork that is on display on a second floor bulletin board.
Twenty-seven students from middle school to high school were recognized for outstanding achievement in the areas of scholarship, leadership, Christian character, and service in separate induction ceremonies in March for the National Junior Honor Society and the National Honor Society.
ACS inducted 17 middle school students into the National Junior Honor Society at a March 24 ceremony in the school gymnasium. It was the largest group of inductees since ACS established its chapter of the NJHS in 2012. Middle school teacher Amy Parker, the chapter advisor, and Upper School Principal Meg McHale welcomed over 100 family members and guests and congratulated the inductees for their significant achievements.
Some 180 fathers and daughters gathered in the ACS gym on March 12 for dinner, dancing, and games at the annual Butterfly Ball. Dressed in gowns and fancy dresses, many color-coordinated with their escorts, girls in kindergarten through 5th grade enjoyed the special evening hosted by the Senior Class and faculty advisors Drew Carney and Gina Wilson.
After-school gymnastics classes led by Blake’s Gymnastics for PreK and elementary students kicked off last week — the first offerings in our action-packed and enriching schedule of Spring After-School Classes. The majority of the classes will start during the first and second weeks of April, with something for students from preschool to high school, including Intramural Cheerleading, Flag Football, Garden Club, Intro to Sign Language, Soccer, Crochet, Private Voice, Band, and Piano Lessons, and more.
A new Track Club for students in grades 6-12 is launching this week, with 45 students expected to gather for the first after-school practice on Wednesday, March 30. Athletic Director Pam Hitchner, who is heading up the club, said ACS athletes will be competing in at least four track meets that are scheduled for this spring, including the Mid-Atlantic Christian School Association track meet on April 26 and 27 at Messiah University in Pennsylvania.
“Our goal is to introduce another sport at ACS and give our students who have gifts and talents in different areas a chance to develop and grow those abilities,” Hitchner said. PE teacher Josh Clark and faculty member Drew Carney, who has experience as a distance runner, will be assisting Hitchner in training the athletes in the club. ACS parent Harold Scott is also donating a javelin and will be training students for competition.
The ACS Cheerleading Team is heading to THE ONE FINALS cheer competition in Virginia Beach, Virginia to be held April 1-3 and they are grateful to the many school families and friends who participated in King Pin Bowling Night or purchased bags of Chef Steve’s popcorn, baked goods, and walking tacos that helped raise over $5,000 in funds needed to underwrite their competition expenses.
Three ACS 8th grade basketball players were selected in mid-March to be on the South Jersey Future Stars Teams for Atlantic County. These talented and hard-working athletes — Gianna Flynn, Caden Kim, and Jericho Thomas — played in showcase games on March 19 and were then chosen to be part of a select squad that advanced to play against Future Stars Cape May/Cumberland boys’ and girls’ teams on March 25 in Whitesboro.
Students in the 11th and 12th grades received hands-on training in self defense using jiu-jitsu as part of a new, two-week PE unit in March on health and safety, led by Stephen McGee, owner of 609 Jiu-Jitsu and Fitness in Egg Harbor Township.
A photo featuring ACS 5th grader Gaebriel Hahn-Chaney sporting a thick green mustache after sampling a healthy fruit and spinach smoothie during lunch in early May was recently selected as a winner in the AtlantiCare Healthy Schools, Healthy Children “Green Mustache Day” photo contest. Gaebriel received an award certificate from AtlantiCare Healthy Schools, Healthy Children and a $50 VISA card to be used by his teacher, Ms. Lorick, to support a health and wellness activity for his class.
