Post Tagged with: "Atlantic Christian School"

Harvest Festival and Race for Education – Two Fun Events in One Day

In conjunction with the Race for Education, students in PreK3 to 5th grade will enjoy a variety of activities for our annual Harvest Festival and can order a special Hot Dog Lunch. There will be worship, games, songs, crafts, tractor rides, and much more. We are asking parents to help us make the day a success by contributing $1 per student and donating either a bag of snack crackers (if your student is in Early Ed) or candy (if your student is in elementary).

The Parent-Teacher Fellowship is offering its popular “Hot Diggity Dog Lunch” for $3. The meal includes a hot dog, chips, and a drink. Additional hot dogs can be purchased for $1.50 each. Information about the Harvest Festival and the order form for the Hot Diggity Dog Lunch will be sent home next week. Anyone interested in volunteering to help with the Race for Education or the Harvest Festival activities, please contact Event Coordinator Jessica Martin at 609-653-1199, ext. 314 or jmartin@acseht.org.

Race for Ed Sponsor Label Contest Winners Announced

Students who submitted the most Race for Education sponsor mailing labels were presented with special prizes today during chapel. Top honors and a $25 Buffalo Wild Wings gift card went to 4th grader  Mackenzie Flynn (pictured below left), who turned in 82 labels. Kindergartner Alana Rosie (pictured below right) came in second place with 63 address labels.

Fifth Graders Lead Worship in Weekly PreK-5th Chapels

Two 5th grade Worship Teams enthusiastically led worship this Friday in both the Early Ed-Kindergarten chapel and the 1st-5th grade chapels. The two teams began rehearsing in August to be ready to lead worship at the first chapel of the school year in September and each week thereafter. 

“This is the second consecutive year that we have formed two worship teams,” said faculty member Teresa Bird, who is in her fifth year directing the effort. “The students are so excited to lead worship and they are doing a great job.” Over the course of the school year, the students will learn the lyrics and music of up to 30 worship songs, which they will then teach to their fellow students. They also learn lively choreography to present with each of the songs.

The 13 members of this year’s teams, who meet weekly after school to practice, are pictured below.  Pictured below left, which is the team that leads elementary chapel, are (from left): Anyae Welch, Sophia Costello, Angela Awad, Gabriella Goodwin, Mrs. Bird, Lydia McCarthy, Victoria Dade, and Gianna Flynn. Pictured below right, which is the team that leads Early Ed-K chapel, are (from left): Mikayla Cubbage, Jade Thompson, Stephanie Valdes, Mrs. Bird, Hazel Burgan, Ava Barberio, and Amelia D’Anna.

Let the Recycling Begin — ACS to Compete in “Recycle Bowl” from October 15-November 15

Students in 6th to 12th grade are leading a school-wide effort to participate in the Recycle Bowl, a national contest that promotes recycling in schools. To inform and excite students about the importance of recycling, middle school students made presentations in elementary classrooms during the first week of October.  The students created eye-catching posters that are now hanging in various classrooms to remind students and staff to recycle. On Friday, October 12, a video promoting recycling that was created by ACS high school students was shown during chapel to kick off the start of the Recycle Bowl contest on Monday. The contest will end on November 15 and ACS will be competing against other schools in the region and across the country for prizes.

Students will be collecting bags filled with recycled items from classrooms, offices, and the lunchroom each week, weighing them, and recording the results as part of the contest. Middle school science teacher Celine Melody and high school science teachers Dave Genter and Rebecca Stonelake are overseeing the effort. Let the recycling begin!

Soccer Senior Day – October 16

ACS will honor the senior members of our Boys’ and Girls’ Varsity Soccer Teams on Tuesday, October 16 at 3:45 p.m. outdoors near the soccer fields, just prior to our home games against Gloucester County Christian School. Parents or guardians of senior players are invited to attend and are asked to be part of the recognition ceremony. The games against Gloucester will start at 4:00 p.m., immediately following the senior recognition ceremony.

Learning is Lots of Fun at Storybook Land

Our kindergarten classes enjoyed a fun-filled day at Storybook Land on Wednesday, October 10, a favorite annual fall field trip. They rode the nursery-rhyme themed rides, went on a hayride, and picked and decorated pumpkins. Students have been learning that stories are made up of characters, and so they spent the day identifying characters from favorite stories who were in the park. Thank you to kindergarten teachers Hayley Price and Julie Reilly, their aides, and our parent chaperones for helping make great memories with our students.

4th Graders Sample Healthy Quinoa Salad in Live AtlantiCare Cooking Demo

Our 4th grade students were treated to a live cooking demo on Friday, October 5 by Chef Marci Lutsky of The Happy Heart Corner, who prepared a healthy quinoa salad featuring the fall harvest fruits of apples and pears.  Throughout the demo, Chef Marci interacted with the students, including having them use their math skills to help her measure the ingredients for the salad dressing. The demo was sponsored by the AtlantiCare Healthy Schools, Healthy Children program, of which ACS is a participating member school.

Mrs. Valerie Behrens of Impact Harvest also spoke to the students about “My Plate” and how fruits, vegetables, and whole grains are part of a healthy diet. The presentation was a good introduction for the students as they learned more about My Plate during science lessons in Mrs. Hoover’s and Mr. Tardif’s classes this week.

The students enjoyed sampling the salad and some even went back for seconds.  They were also excited to receive a special gift bag filled with fresh red and green bell peppers from Impact Harvest’s greenhouse in Buena.

ACS Showing Kirk Cameron’s ‘Connect’ Film Nov. 2, Post-Film Discussion to Put Spotlight on Impact of Social Media

Do you want to help your tweens and teenagers make smart decisions about their use of technology and social media?

Come out to Atlantic Christian School on Friday, November 2 from 7 to 9 p.m. for a special free viewing of Kirk Cameron’s “Connect” film, which was released in movie theaters earlier this year. This film will be an eye-opener for teenagers and adults about the impact of social media on our culture and our daily lives.

Guided group discussion will follow the showing of the 90-minute movie. Adults and children 14 and older are welcome to attend.

Admission is free and refreshments will be available. A love offering will also be taken. The school building and parking lot are handicap-accessible.

Childcare will also be available by RSVP only for children ages 2 and older at a rate of $5 per child.

For additional information and to RSVP for childcare, please contact Event Coordinator Jessica Martin at 609-653-1199, ext. 314 or at jmartin@acseht.org.

Homecoming Just One Week Away – Friday, June 12 is Green & White Day, Pep Rally

Homecoming is just one week away — on Saturday, October 13 — and we will have a Green-and-White Day and Pep Rally the day before, on Friday, to show our support for our team. Students may wear green and white clothing with jeans to school that day.

Homecoming is a full day of events, starting with Open Volleyball outdoors for our alumni, families, and friends from 11 am-1 pm. At 1 pm, both our high school boys’ and girls’ soccer teams will face off against King’s Christian School. The Homecoming Court will be presented at half-time on the boys’ game field.

The Homecoming Dance for high school will be held that evening from 6:30-9:00 pm in the ACS gym. Tickets are $10 each. Permission slips are needed to attend and can be obtained from the school office, Mr. Monroe, or Ms. Stonelake.  

High School Students Receive Chromebooks; Portable K-8 Classroom Sets Available Soon

ACS high school students each received a new Chromebook this week as part of a new one-to-one Chromebook initiative to help students master the use of technology and be trained for success in college and the workplace. Portable classroom sets of Chromebooks will also be available for use by elementary and middle school classes by the end of the month.

“We are very excited about giving our students the tools and training in technology that they need to be prepared for college and their future careers,” said Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen. She said donations of over $40,000 enabled ACS to purchase 130 Chromebooks to launch this new initiative.

Prior to the start of this school year, teachers received training in how to integrate the use of the Chromebooks in the classroom and additional teacher and student training will continue this fall.

ACS has taken a series of steps over the past several years to increase technology training, including equipping two computer labs and adding technology-related classes. This year, web design and digital photography were added as new high school electives.

For the 2019-2020 school year, Oblen said ACS will be offering several specialized educational tracks for students when they enter high school, including tracks in computer science, education, business, and pre-med. Dual enrollment to obtain college credits will also be in place.

The enhanced technology offerings are building on a well-established program that begins with 3-year-olds in preschool and continues in elementary through high school. Oblen said one of the successful programs being used is called Education City, software tailored for children from PreK3 to the 8th grade. Middle school students attend computer classes in a lab twice a week, where they learn internet research skills, graphic design, how to make presentations, and other technology-related skills.

Parent-Teacher Conferences To Be Held Friday, October 19

Parent-Teacher Conferences for parents with students in K to 12th grade are next Friday, October 19, from 1:00-6:00 p.m. A Parent-Teacher conference is not mandatory, but is recommended if your child is not performing well academically (a grade of 70 or below in any subject) or is having trouble acclimating to the new school year. To schedule a conference, a new on-line scheduling tool is to be used:

If your student is in grades K-5 —  CLICK HERE to schedule a conference.

If your student is in grades 6-12 — CLICK HERE to schedule a conference

Servant’s Heart Club Begins Monthly Meetings, Helps Students Bless Others

The 2018-19 Servant’s Heart Club met for the first time after school on Tuesday, October 2. Nearly 20 students in 2nd to 5th grades gathered with volunteer leader and ACS parent Jennifer DiMaio to begin another season of blessing others in creative ways. This year’s first project included making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to be distributed by the Atlantic City Rescue Mission. Club members assembled the sandwiches and then packaged them in plastic bags decorated with hand-colored Bible verse cards.

The Servant’s Heart Club is just one of many offerings in the ACS After School Program. Students can participate in a variety of activities and classes like art, band, gymnastics, karate, and more.

CLICK HERE FOR PROGRAM LIST AND DESCRIPTIONS

 

Meet Our New Preschool Teachers

The ACS Early Education Department is excited to welcome back three of its own in new roles this year. Joanne VanAcker (left),  Brittany Correa (center), and Nicole Warriner (right) are all former ACS Early Ed aides who have moved up to be classroom teachers after completing their Child Development Associate certification earlier in 2018.

VanAcker (PreK3) is a former daycare director who teaches Sunday school at New Life Assembly. She and her husband, Jamie, have three children who attend ACS. “I am so excited to be a teacher at ACS,” she said. “It is so rewarding to watch the 3-year-olds blossom throughout the year. I love seeing the children’s faces when they learn something new or fall in love with a new book we have read in class.”

Correa (PreK2) attended Masters Commission ministry school and serves in the children’s programs at Praise Tabernacle. She and her husband, Damien, have three children who attend ACS. “My vision is to give young children an opportunity to be in a safe, loving environment and develop an excitement for learning,” she said.

Warriner (PreK2) comes from a background of helping others in tough situations. Serving in the U.S. Army and the Salvation Army, she was a first responder during both Hurricane Irene and Hurricane Sandy. As a member at Mainland Baptist Church, she ministers in Kids Club, nursery, and special events. She and her husband, Jason, have three children who attend ACS. With enthusiasm and motivation shining through, she said, “I love watching the kids grow and learn new things even at the young age of 2! My goal is to continue my education, get my bachelor’s degree, and see where God leads me at ACS.”

PTF Collecting Box Tops for Education – Collection Deadline Oct. 15

The Parent Teacher Fellowship is collecting Box Tops for Education as one of their school fundraisers.The funds raised from this simple and easy fundraiser will be used to purchase school equipment. Be sure to  place your Box Top labels in a ziploc bag and write your child’s name and grade on the bag.The collection deadline is: Monday, October 15.  PTF will be collecting all Box Tops from classroom teachers and the school office.

Upper School Students “All In” at Spiritual Emphasis Retreat

The 2018-2019 school theme, “ALL IN,” took center stage for two days as students in middle and high school participated in the annual Spiritual Emphasis Retreat on Thursday and Friday, September 27 and 28. From chapel sessions to class competitions, grades six through twelve engaged heart, soul, mind, and strength for an event full of spiritual impact and memorable fun.

Guest speaker Mike Bult shared powerful leadership principles from God’s Word, challenging students to embrace who God has made them to be and make a difference in the lives of others. Bult, a member of the John Maxwell Leadership Group and Administrator at Mainland Baptist Church, told students, “Leadership is influence. You can all be leaders – for good or bad – because you all can have influence on others.” Combining biblical teaching from Mark 2 with video testimony from Life Without Limbs founder Nick Vujicic, Bult presented five choices students must make to become positive leaders: “Have an attitude of Gratitude. Live a life of purpose. Be positive. Love yourself. Dream big, set a goal, and do it!”

Chapel sessions also included “compass group” breakout times during which students discussed what they were learning with one another and teacher-coaches. Musical worship was led by Matt Glancey from Coastal Christian Church who was joined at various times by ACS faculty members Zach Monroe and Jaron Beadle as well as his sister Naomi Glancey, a 2018 ACS grad, and Coastal’s worship director Pete Magazzu.

On Thursday, high school students traveled to Cape May for a two-hour dolphin watch cruise under beautiful blue skies. Middle school students stayed on campus, some participating in Knockerball while others enjoyed a paint party led by ACS art teacher Sherry Mirakian. Class competitions included banner making, a class cheer, and the annual favorite lip-sync battle featuring famous songs from movies like “We Go Together” from Grease and “Everything Is Awesome” from the Lego Movie. Students also ran “The Amazing Race,” completing challenges such as creating a tin foil Statue of Liberty and plugging holes in a water basket with bubble gum. When the final tallies were in, this year’s winning teams were seventh grade and eleventh grade.

 

CLICK HERE FOR THE PHOTO GALLERY

ACS Family Unites in Prayer at “See You At the Pole”

Dozens of students, faculty, staff, and family members gathered for a time of prayer around the ACS flagpole as part of the annual national “See You At the Pole” event on Wednesday, September 26. The morning began with singing led by High School Bible teacher Zach Monroe. Students and adults then took turns leading out in prayer as the the group lifted up our school, community, and nation.

More After School Classes Starting – Servant’s Heart Club & Tumblewheels

Servant’s Heart Club – 2nd-5th Grade – $25

Meets first Tuesday of each month – 3:15-4:00 pm

Develop a love for serving God and blessing others in our community by working cooperatively on creative, hands-on projects. Club is open to ACS and non-ACS students.

 

 

Tumblewheels – PK2-K – $48/month

Thursdays, beginning Oct. 4 – 3:15-4:00pm

Tumble Wheels is a non-competitive mobile gym facility program that travels to ACS in a full-size school bus that has been converted into a gymnasium. Children will learn safe activities on the equipment while developing their self-image through tumbling, music, physical education, motor/movement, social skills, safety, personal care, and encouragement. Class is open to ACS and non-ACS students.  Click Here to register online.

 

CLICK HERE FOR PROGRAM LIST AND DESCRIPTIONS

Kindergarten Students Celebrate Johnny Appleseed Day and Apple Day

Our kindergarten classes celebrated Johnny Appleseed Day and Apple Day this week. In Miss Price’s class, the students made applesauce, painted apple trees, enjoyed apple math, and made an apple book. The students in Mrs. Reilly’s class explored apples with all of their senses and graphed the results of a taste test. What a great way to kick off the fall season!

Recycled Art Is Theme of K-12 Art Program – Plastic Creamer Bottles, Bottle Caps Needed Materials

Recycled art is the theme of this year’s K-12th grade art program.  To start off the year, several elementary classes will be creating 3-D people sculptures using plastic creamer bottles. High school students in Art I and Art Workshop will be creating mosaic art out of plastic bottle caps.

Art teacher Sherry Mirakian is asking students and parents to save and send in these items over the next three weeks to assist with the completion of these projects.  There are recycling containers outside of the 1st floor Art Room where these items can be dropped off.

Mrs. Mirakian said she will be collecting different recyclable items in November and over the rest of the year, including such items as plastic bottles, toilet paper rolls, cardboard, wire, egg cartons, and plastic grocery bags. Notices of items needed will be sent home with elementary students. Thank you for your participation.

Elf the Musical, Jr. Playbill Ads Now on Sale

Playbill ads for the upcoming ACS production of  “Elf the Musical Jr.” are now available for purchase. Purchase a spot in the playbill to advertise your business or to congratulate your favorite cast member.

Ads must be submitted online (click on button below),  except for Pride Lines from an ACS student to a cast member, which can be purchased with a form in the school office. ACS students get a 50% discounted price of $5 for a Pride Line.

Ad prices range from $25 for a quarter-page to $150 for the Inside Cover of the playbill. Student Pride Line Order Forms will be available in the school office on Monday, October 1.  All Pride Lines and other playbill ads must be submitted by no later than Tuesday, October 31.

CLICK HERE to purchase a playbill ad.

Elf the Musical Jr. — The Elves Need Shoes!

We are in need of several pairs of black jazz dance shoes, like those pictured to the left, for cast members in the upcoming ACS production of Elf the Musical, Jr. Sizes needed range from children’s size 12 through ladies size 7. If anyone in the ACS family has a pair they could donate or loan, it would be very helpful as we try to keep the cost of the show as low as possible. If you or someone you know can help, please contact the school office.

Fresh Start Youth Pastor Challenges ACS Students to Go “All In” for Following God’s Plan For Their Lives

On September 21, Pastor Urick Lewis, the Youth Pastor at Fresh Start Church, challenged our 6th to 12th grade students during Friday chapel to go “all in” for following God’s plan for their lives. Teaching from Numbers chapter 13, Lewis used the example of the 12 spies in Canaan to remind students in middle school and high school that God’s instructions often come with obstacles, but always result in victory if we trust and obey. “When things get tough, we’re tempted to think, ‘I did not sign up for this’ and give up,” he said. “But if we trust God, it will all work out in the end.”

 

 

Join Us for Homecoming 2018 — Saturday, October 13

Mark your calendar to join us for “Homecoming 2018” to be held on Saturday, October 13.

The Homecoming festivities will get underway with Open Volleyball outdoors for our alumni, families, and friends from 11 am-1 pm.

At 1 pm,  both our high school boys’ and girls’ soccer teams will face off against King’s Christian School. At half-time, the Homecoming King, Queen, and Court will be recognized and honored in a presentation on the boys’ game field. There will be lots of great food to enjoy throughout the day, including hamburgers, hot dogs, and pizza, with the proceeds benefiting our athletic programs.

Come on out for a fun family day to cheer our Cougars on to victory. The annual Homecoming Dance for high school students will be held in the ACS Gym from 6:30-9:00 pm. More details to follow.

Eat Wings, Raise Funds for ACS at Mays Landing Buffalo Wild Wings — Friday, Oct. 12

ACS families, faculty, staff, and friends are invited to ACS Spirit Day at Buffalo Wild Wings in Mays Landing on Friday, October 12. Eat wings and help raise funds for ACS Athletics. The Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant, located at 4311 Black Horse Pike, will donate 10% of the total bill of any customer who presents our special yellow fundraising ticket anytime between 11 am and 11:30 pm on October 12. Take-out orders are also eligible.  We will also be celebrating the recent installation in the restaurant of an ACS high school basketball jersey, joining a pantheon of jerseys from other area high schools that hang on the walls of the restaurant.

Please spread the word about this exciting fundraiser to benefit ACS athletics and take a photo with the ACS jersey.

CLICK HERE to get 3 special yellow printable fundraiser tickets to present when you order your meal  — one for yourself and two others to give to family and friends. Tickets are also available in the school office.

 

More After-School Classes Available — Gymnastics Starts Friday, Sept. 28

After-School Band — 4th-12th Grade — Free
M-F, 3:15-4 pm (beginners); Tu-Th, 3:15-4 pm (intermediate)

Improve your band skills! This class includes two levels: beginner (Mondays & Wednesdays, 3:15-4:00 pm) and intermediate (Tuesdays & Thursdays, 3:15-4:00 pm). Approval from Mr. Beadle is needed to join the intermediate class.

 

Gymnastics – 1st-5th Grade – $80 – 6 sessions
Fridays, Sept. 28; Oct. 5, 12, 26; Nov. 2 & 30 – 3:15-4:00 pm

Learn the basics of gymnastics and build your skills each week. This 6-session class led by Blake’s Gymnastics is designed to enhance your love for movement and make fitness a fun activity.