Post Tagged with: "Atlantic Christian School"

New Mock Trial Team Makes Strong Showing in First Season of Competition, Gains Valuable Experience

The newly-formed ACS Mock Trial Team faced off against teams from Mainland High School and Egg Harbor Township High School on February 3 and 10, and while the ACS team lost both matches, they received high marks and praise from judges and coaches who were impressed with their performance as a first-year team. ACS was one of nine high schools in Atlantic County to compete in the first two rounds of the Vincent J. Apruzzese High School Mock Trial Competition, which is sponsored in cooperation with the New Jersey State Bar Association and New Jersey’s county bar associations.

“We are very proud of our team,” said teacher coach Rhapsody Hahn-Chaney. “We put up a really good fight in both matches, and both the judges and other team coaches were very surprised at how well we did as a first-year team.” Hahn-Chaney noted that ACS competed against the two strongest teams in the county. Mainland has won at the state level several times and Egg Harbor Township has won the county.

“Our team is young and the students are excited that they have established a name for ACS in the Mock Trial Competition,” said Hahn-Chaney.  “Every member of this year’s team is planning to return next year and they are encouraging their friends to join as well.”  Hahn-Chaney said she also plans to offer Mock Trial as a high school elective class in the fall of 2022, which will continue building the program and give more students an opportunity to get involved.

“Participating in mock trial has so many benefits for our students — it increases critical thinking skills, sharpens public speaking skills, and creates an understanding of the American criminal justice system,” Hahn-Chaney said. “The elective class in the fall is open to any student, whether or not they choose to join the ACS Mock Trial team.”

The six members of this year’s team were, from left: 11th grader Jason Herrera; 10th grader Ryleigh Martin; 11th grader Evan Power; 9th grader Joshua Kinch; 9th grader James Papanikolauo; and 10th grader Vera Huff. Also pictured is teacher coach Rhapsody Hahn-Chaney.  Robin Tolg, Esq. served as the Attorney Coach and ACS alumni parent Gary Griffith, Esq. served as a team mentor. Griffith is a former mock trial attorney-coach and has also served as a mock trial judge at the college level.

The team has been meeting after school three to four days a week since late November to learn about the criminal case of the State of Metropolitan vs. Perry Jordan.  Because of the small size of the team, the team members switched off to play the different roles of lawyers and witnesses. Herrera served as the time-keeper. A team typically consists of 10 members plus alternates.

Both matches took place virtually, rather than in a courtroom, due to the COVID pandemic.  ACS team members were located in the ACS computer lab and in the school library, where they participated via Zoom using laptops. The parents of team members and various teachers gathered in a nearby classroom to remotely watch the proceedings, which each lasted over three hours.

In the February 3 match against Mainland High School, ACS played the side of the defense representing the defendant. In the February 10 match against Egg Harbor Township High School, ACS switched sides to be the prosecution representing the state.

 

ACS Students Spreading Love to Seniors in Care Facilities for Valentine’s Day

ACS elementary students spent two weeks in February creating hand-made cards to bring some love and cheer to senior citizens in local nursing home and assisted living facilities on Valentine’s Day. Nearly 40 students who are part of the after-school Servant’s Heart Club made dozens of cards at their monthly meeting on February 1. Another some 90 students in kindergarten, first, and 3rd grade classes created colorful cards with encouraging messages as a special art project later in the month.

Mrs. Jennifer DiMaio, the Servant’s Heart Club advisor, said the Valentine’s Day cards created by the club members are being given to residents of the Somers Place Assisted Living Community in Egg Harbor Township.  ACS grandparent Suzanne Carney plans to deliver the cards created by the elementary classes to seniors living at Autumn Lake Healthcare in Ocean View, the Linwood Care Center, and the North Cape Center in North Cape May.

“These cards will bring smiles on the faces of the residents in these facilities and really make them feel special on Valentine’s Day,” Mrs. Carney said.

 

We’ve Got Talent, Yes We Do! – Student Performers Shine at Feb. 5 Bowls of Hope Talent Show

We’ve got talent, yes we do! ACS students from elementary to high school entertained the audience at the Bowls of Hope Soup Cook-Off Benefit on February 5 as they sang, played the piano, did sign language and choreography to worship songs, danced, and even played the violin while riding a hoverboard as part of the Student Talent Show.

“We’re proud of every student for sharing their God-given talents with us and for putting in the time and effort to do their best,” said Event Coordinator Christian Delacruz, who oversaw the auditions for the Talent Show. “It takes a lot of courage to perform on stage in front of hundreds of people, but our students took up the challenge and did a really good job.”

Pictured above left, doing sign language and singing to “The Goodness of God,” are 4th graders, from left: Raquel Crespo, Maddy Schoonejongen, and Ryleigh Gregas. Below are photo highlights of our other talented student performers.  Photo credit: Gail Crafton, AC Photo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bowls of Hope Super Soup Coupon Card on Sale Until February 28, Enjoy Soups at 10 Local Restaurants

If you enjoyed the soups served at the Bowls of Hope Soup Cook-Off Benefit on February 5, you can continue enjoying them this winter and spring by purchasing a Bowls of Hope Super Soup Coupon Card and also help raise more funds for the ACS Annual Fund. The card, which is being sold for $20, entitles you to a free cup of soup, generally with a minimum purchase, from 10 area restaurants. The card will be on sale until Monday, February 28 and will be valid until May 31, 2022 for take-out or eat-in orders.

Several restaurants on the card were unable to attend the Soup Cook-Off in person, but chose to support ACS by being on the Coupon Card. The 1o participating restaurants are:  Bahay Kubo; Gregory’s Restaurant & Bar; La Cucina Ristorante; La Tia Peruvian Cuisine; Maurizio’s Express EHT; Sana & Sadia’s Cafe; Sofia Restaurant; Stir It Up; Velo Cafe; and Windjammer Diner Bar & Grille.

By purchasing a Super Soup Coupon Card you are supporting our school’s educational programs and the local restaurants in our community who understand the value of a Christian education. Purchase a card for yourself and give some as a gift to family and friends.

CLICK HERE to purchase a card online or it can be purchased in the school office.

This year’s Bowls of Hope sponsors are also featured on the Coupon Card: the American Church Group of New Jersey; B.F. Mazzeo Fruits and Produce; Chick-fil-A Fire Road; Elder Pest Control; Formica Bros. Bakery; Fortress Financial; HS Restoration and Cleaning Service; Klingert Family Chiropractic Center; Olympic Physical Therapy; and Texas Roadhouse, Egg Harbor Township.

 

Four Seniors, Parents Honored for Their Commitment to Varsity Basketball Program

It was a special night for four seniors and their parents on Friday, February 4 as ACS honored and thanked them for their commitment and contributions to the Varsity Basketball Program.  Three senior boys’ basketball players were introduced by Varsity Boys’ Basketball Coach Drew Carney and presented with flowers and Athletic Director Pam Hitchner introduced the Athletic Department’s sports photographer and home basketball game gate supervisor.

The four seniors and their parents were recognized and thanked before the start of the Varsity Boys’ Basketball home game against King’s Christian School. The seniors were: forward Asher Dawkins, a first-year player; guard Aaron Glancey, a 4-year player; Devin Tridente, a 3-year player; and Mia Liggins, sports photographer and home game gate supervisor.

Carney described Glancey “as the rock of the team who keeps everyone calm and steady on the court.”  In his comments about Tridente, Carney challenged him to “take the same work ethic you have on the basketball court and apply it to every aspect of your life.”

In his introduction to Dawkins, who joined the team for the first time this season, Carney said he had enjoyed seeing his growth over the years. “He’s become someone that we can rely on in the heat of the moment, and he’s finally seeing the fruits of his work in school and on the basketball court,” Carney said.

Hitchner thanked Liggins for her dedication to the team as the sports photographer and gate supervisor.  “We love our loyal and dependable Mia,” Hitchner said.

 

ACS Retires Basketball Jersey of 2010 Alumnus Jodi Kelley Crane, First 1,000-Point Scorer on Varsity Girls’ Team

The ACS Athletic Department recognized and honored 2010 alumnus Jodi Kelley Crane in a special ceremony on Friday, February 4 to retire her #5 Varsity Girls’ Basketball jersey. Athletic Director Pam Hitchner praised Jodi for her outstanding contribution to the Varsity Girls’ Basketball Program from 2007 to 2010 and for becoming the first player on the Varsity Girls’ basketball team to score 1,000 points. The ceremony was held after the Varsity Girls’ home game against King’s Christian School.

Hitchner, who coached Jodi when she played on the Varsity Girls’ Basketball team, noted that her nickname on the court was “Machine Gun Kelley,” for her rapid fire ability to sink the ball in the basket, especially from the 3-point range.

Jodi’s parents, siblings, nieces, and many other family members were on hand to celebrate with Jodi on this special occasion. Two of Jodi’s former teammates — ACS Varsity Girls’ coach Kaylee Breunig (’12) and former Assistant Varsity Girls’ coach Maryah Coleman (’11) — also congratulated her and posed for a photo.

Hitchner said Jodi is only the second ACS basketball player to have their jersey retired.  In 2007, ACS retired the #10 jersey of Varsity Boys’ Basketball player Billy Robinson (’87), 20 years after he made his mark as an extraordinary high school basketball player in both New Jersey and the nation. In his junior year, Billy led the nation in scoring with 39.8 points per game and went on to score 2,695 points by the end of his senior year at ACS.  Billy is now in his 13th season as head coach of Milligan University’s Men’s Basketball program.

Hitchner said there are plans to hang a new banner in the ACS gym to recognize the two players and their jerseys, and in the future, any player who scores over 2,000 points will have their jersey retired.  Photo credit: Mia Liggins.

 

We’re Hiring! Now Accepting Applications for New Teachers

We’re hiring! ACS is now seeking qualified individuals to fill a number of teaching positions, including a full-time preschool teacher with a July 1 start date for our Early Education Center, and elementary and high school teachers for the 2022-2023 school year.

The positions we are seeking to fill are:

– Preschool Teacher – July 1, 2022 start date (full-time, 12-month)

For the 2022-2023 School Year :

– Lower Elementary School Teacher (full-time, 10-month)
– Upper Elementary School Teacher (full-time, 10-month)
– High School Business Teacher (full-time, 10-month)

ACS is a great fit for you if you are passionate about Christian education and want to be part of a loving, nurturing environment where students can discover and develop their God-given gifts and talents.

CLICK HERE for more information and to apply.  Also, please SHARE our Facebook posts about these job openings with your contacts. Thank you.

12th Grader Amber Ramos Featured in Kickoff of 2022 Senior Spotlight Series

The future plans and goals of the Class of 2022, as well as other interesting facts about each student and their advice for the underclassmen, are part of a “Senior Spotlight” series of articles that kicked off on Tuesday, February 8 featuring 12th grader Amber Ramos. A new weekly spotlight article on each of our 21 seniors will appear each Tuesday from now until June 2022 on the ACS social media pages and will also be on a “Senior Class Spotlight” page on the ACS website.

Senior Amber Ramos

This is the third year ACS has published this Senior Spotlight series, which was created by Admissions Director Jessica Martin in the spring of 2020.

“The idea for the Senior Spotlight developed during COVID while school was closed and we wanted to have a way to celebrate our seniors and their accomplishments,” said Martin, who is overseeing the series. “We had an excellent response to the series and decided to continue doing it annually.”

Martin said each student submits his or her responses to a series of questions that are part of the spotlight.  “The spotlight is a great way for our school families and friends in the community to learn about the character and heart of our students and the wide range of interests, talents, and abilities that they have developed during their years at ACS,” Martin said.

CLICK HERE to read the first Senior Spotlight article on Amber Ramos.

Bowls of Hope Soup Cook-Off Just One Week Away on Saturday, Feb. 5; Buy Your Tickets Online or at the Door

Our 2022 Bowls of Hope Soup Cook-Off Benefit is just one week away — on Saturday, February 5, 2022 — from 6:00-8:00 p.m. in the school gym. An exciting line-up of restaurants and chefs are competing in the cook-off and ACS students will be entertaining the crowd with a lively Student Talent Show. All proceeds will benefit Atlantic Christian and the Atlantic City Rescue Mission.

Tickets can be purchased at the door or online at: acseht.org/bowlsofhope/tickets. Tickets prices are $20 for adults, $10 for students, and $5 for children aged 6-10 year old. Children five and under are free.  ACS is also selling $20 Super Soup Coupon Cards that can be used from February to May to enjoy a free serving of soup with a minimum purchase from the outstanding restaurants participating in our Cook-Off. The Coupon Cards can be purchased online or at the Bowls of Hope Soup Cook-Off.

For one ticket price, attendees at the Cook-Off can sample signature soups and vote for their favorite. The top vote-getter will be presented with the “Golden Spoon People’s Choice Award” during the evening. Some of the restaurants and chefs competing in the Cook-Off will include: the Atlantic City Rescue Mission Kitchen, Bahay Kubo, Carluccio’s, The Cheese Board, Gregory’s Restaurant and Bar, Maurizio’s Express EHT, Sana & Sadia’s Mediterranean Cafe, Sal’s Cafe, Sofia’s of Margate, Stir It Up, and Windjammer.  The ticket price also includes crusty rolls donated by Formica Brothers Bakery, beverages, and desserts.

ACS Event Coordinator Christian Delacruz will be promoting the Bowls of Hope on the morning of February 5 as a guest on “Joe’s Table for Two” radio show on WOND 1400 AM, from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. The show’s host, Chef Joseph Massaglia, will once again be our celebrity soup judge at the Bowls of Hope and will select his favorite to receive the “Chef’s Super Soup Award.”  Also appearing as a guest on the show will be Chef Donny of Sal’s Cafe, a past Golden Spoon People’s Choice Award Winner who will be entering a soup in the Bowls of Hope  Soup Cook-Off.

We also appreciate and thank our nine generous Bowls of Hope Sponsors who are helping us reach our goal of raising $10,000 from this fundraiser.  Our Bowls of Hope sponsors are: the American Church Group of NJ; B.F. Mazzeo Fruit & Produce; Chick-fil-A Fire Road; Elder Pest Control; Fortress Financial; HS Restoration and Cleaning Service; Klingert Family Chiropractic Center; Olympic Physical Therapy; and Texas Roadhouse EHT.  In the final 15 days leading up to the Cook-Off, each of our sponsors is being featured on the ACS Facebook and Instagram pages as a special way to say thank-you for supporting ACS and Christian education.

Everyone attending the Bowls of Hope is also being asked to bring a can of soup or other non-perishable for the final day of our Bowls of Hope Food Drive to benefit the Community FoodBank of NJ, Southern Branch.

Re-Enrollment Underway for 2022-2023 School Year; Exclusive Time Period for Current Family Re-Enrollment Ends Feb. 19

Online electronic enrollment for the Atlantic Christian School 2022-2023 school year is now underway for returning families. Email messages about re-enrollment were sent out by Admissions Director Jessica Martin on Tuesday, January 25. ACS families with students currently enrolled are being given an exclusive period of time from January 25 to 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, 2022.

“Our enrollment this year has continued to increase to record levels and we thank God that more and more families are choosing a Christian education for their children,” said Admissions Director Jessica Martin. “It’s important for our current families to re-enroll early to secure their child’s space for next year.”  Current families must pay the $50 Enrollment Fee and submit the B6T Transportation Form by Saturday, February 19, 2022 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. Martin also emphasized that current families who will be enrolling additional children for the first time should contact her before March 1 for additional instructions.

The tuition rates for the 2022-2023 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 can submit an application online on the school’s website starting on Tuesday, February 1. The deadline for returning families to submit a Tuition Assistance application is May 1, 2022.

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 by Mrs. Martin on January 25, 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, 2022. Medical forms for 2022-2023 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 2022-2023 Tuition Rates and Fees

CLICK HERE for the 2022-2023 B6T Transportation Form

Donate to the ACS Food Drive by Friday, Feb. 4 or at the Feb. 5 Bowls of Hope Event

Donations of canned soup, vegetables, and other non-perishable food have been steadily coming in for our Bowls of Hope Food Drive and we are grateful for the generosity of our school families. Students in Mrs. Correa’s PreK3 class had fun this week putting their donations into their class collection tub. Next week is the last week to bring in your food items or you can bring them with you to the Bowls of Hope Soup Cook-Off on Saturday,  February 5.

All donations with non-expired labels will be donated to the Community FoodBank of NJ, Southern Branch. Student Council Advisor Dave Genter said he hopes ACS can set a new food drive record by collecting enough food to surpass last year’s record of 4 tons.

The Student Council will also be awarding a pizza party to the class that collects the most amount of food by weight. Genter will be overseeing Student Council members who will be weighing the contents of every classroom collection bin at the end of next week.

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.

Thank you for your participation.

Register to Donate at Feb. 9 Red Cross Blood Drive at ACS; Donors Will Receive $10 Amazon Gift Card

Donate blood at our Red Cross Blood Drive on Wednesday, February 9, 2022 from 3:00-8:00 p.m. and help save lives.  Due to a special partnership between the Red Cross and Amazon.com, all donors will receive a $10 Amazon.com Gift Card via email.  Our goal is to collect 47 or more donations, and each donation provides enough blood for two individuals.

To make an appointment to donate, go to 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. A donor must be 16 years of age or older.  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, there is a serious national blood shortage and there is a low blood supply of all blood types.

The time to donate is now. Your participation will make a difference.

ACS Making Plans for Pastor Appreciation Day — Thursday, February 17

We love our pastors! Atlantic Christian School students and their families worship at over 100 churches across southern New Jersey and each year we set aside a day to recognize and thank the important role that pastors and others working in church ministry play in the lives of our students. This year, Pastor Appreciation Day will be held on Thursday, February 17, 2022.

The day’s activities will begin with a breakfast buffet from 8:00-9:00 a.m. for the pastors, joined by student representatives from various grades. Pastor Tony Montemurro of Calvary Chapel Gateway will be the featured breakfast speaker.

After breakfast, the pastors and ministry leaders are invited to attend our student-led All-School Chapel from 9:00-10 a.m. where our students will show their appreciation for their pastors through choral, instrumental, and oral presentations.

Invitations have been mailed to over 100 churches and we encourage our students and their families to also speak talk their pastors and ministry leaders when you see them at church over the next few weeks and invite them to attend.

Pastors and ministry leaders should RSVP to Event Coordinator Christian Delacruz at 609-653-1199, ext. 302 or to cdelacruz@acseht.org.

Three New Water Bottle Filling Stations Purchased with Donations, Installed to Benefit ACS Students, Staff

Students from elementary to high school are lining up to fill their water bottles with healthy, refreshing filtered water from three new water bottle filling stations that were recently installed on the first and second floors of the main school building. The purchase of the new filling stations was made possible by a grant from the AtlantiCare Healthy Schools, Healthy Children program combined with a gift from an anonymous donor.

ACS facilities staff member Bill Smallwood finished installing the filling stations on January 25, which also have a regular water fountain in the front.  One filling station is located near the elementary bathrooms and the rear bus entrance of the school building. The 4th graders pictured above filling up their water bottles during lunch are, from left, Isabelle Kiefer, Joey Kinch, and Brennan Meyer. On the second floor, 7th graders Kalee Tardif (left) and Zion Dawkins (right) used the filling station near the Music Room, (pictured below right), while 11th graders Cruz Lewis, left, and Jake DeNick, right, filled up at the new station near the high school stairwell (pictured below left).

“We are very grateful for the support from AtlantiCare and a generous donor that made the purchase of these filling stations possible,” said Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen. “We now have water filling stations at every location in the school building, replacing all of our basic water fountains. We know this helps provide a healthy learning environment for our students and staff.”  Oblen also said studies have shown that water bottle filling stations encourage everyone to drink more water and also have a positive impact on the environment, reducing the usage of disposable plastic water bottles.

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 now been used to fill close to 103,000 water bottles.

We’ve Got Spirit, Yes We Do — Spirit Week Ends With White-Out Day for Games vs. Pilgrim Academy

Students and staff showed off their school pride for Spirit Week from January 18-21, dressing-down each day with various themes, culminating with White-Out Day on Friday, January 21 to get fired up for the Varsity home games against Pilgrim Academy.  The excitement paid off with a four-victory sweep for the ACS Cougars’ JV and Varsity Basketball Teams.

The ACS gym was awash in white shirts and balloons for the games. Athletic Director Pam Hitchner, who organized Spirit Week, had special white t-shirts made for the basketball players, coaches, and cheerleaders to wear with the words “Defend the Den” printed in green on the front.

The ACS Varsity Girls’ went on to beat Pilgrim handily by a score of 32-18. 11th grader Paige Noble led the team with 9 points. 10th-grader Becca Kelley had 7 points, and 11th grader Maddie DeNick had 6 points and 10 rebounds. 10th grader Evangelina Kim excelled on defense, grabbing 5 steals, and also scored 6 points.

In the final game of the evening, the ACS Varsity Boys’ team won a close, hard fought battle against Pilgrim, with a final score of 45-42. 11th grade guard Sam Glancey (#23) led the boys with 19 points.

With these wins under their belt, both ACS teams posted winning records as of January 21. The Varsity Boys were 9-6 overall, and 3-1 in the Tri-State Christian Athletic Conference (TSCAC) and the Varsity Girls’ were 10-5 overall, and 4-0 in the TSCAC.

Another four weeks of games remain in the season, with the TSCAC championship games scheduled for Saturday, February 26. Come on out and support our Cougars. The schedule for home and away games can be found on the athletic calendars on the ACS website and on the ACS  Family App. Photo credits: Mia Liggins, ACS Yearbook Staff.

 

ACS Cougar Classic Golf Tournament — Thursday, May 5, 2022; Dinner, Silent Auction Part of Event

Back by popular demand, we are pleased to announce that ACS will be holding its Cougar Classic Golf Tournament on Thursday, May 5, 2022 at Greate Bay Country Club in Somers Point, where last year’s Golf Tournament was held. Please mark your calendar to participate in our Tournament and invite family members, business associates, and friends to join you for a fun day out on the links. An Awards Dinner and Silent Auction will also be held in the evening after the Tournament.

To help us in the planning process, please CLICK HERE if you are interested in participating in the Golf Tournament as a Golfer or Sponsor. More details will be provided in the coming weeks. Anyone interested in being part of the Silent Auction Committee, please contact PJ Santos at psantos@acseht.org.

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.