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 for parents with students in K to 12th grade are next Friday, 
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.
Dozens of students, faculty, staff, and family members gathered for a time of prayer around the ACS flagpole as part of the annual national “
Tumblewheels – PK2-K – $48/month
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.
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.
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.”
Mark your calendar to join us for “Homecoming 2018” to be held on Saturday, October 13.
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.
After-School Band — 4th-12th Grade — Free
Gymnastics – 1st-5th Grade – $80 – 6 sessions