ACS 4th grade students have been learning about the history and culture of the Lenape Indian tribes, one of the early inhabitants of New Jersey, and recently created models of the longhouses where they lived. The longhouses are now on display in the hallway outside the 4th grade classrooms.
The students used tree bark and other materials to cover the longhouse roofs. Several models also incorporated fire pits. In addition to building the longhouse models, the students were required to write essays describing details about the longhouses.
In her essay, 4th grader Mia Gaffney wrote that the longhouses were built by tying young trees to the frame, “trees young enough to bend and shape.” 4th grader Malani Christmon noted that 20 or more people could live in a longhouse and that “some longhouses had two stories used for sleeping and storage.” 4th grader Rafael Patiag wrote that a lot of fires were placed in the longhouse and were used for heating, cooking, and light. “There were holes at the top of the longhouse for the smoke to go out,” Patiag wrote. In his essay, 4th grader Ben Kelley wrote that one way to measure the length of a longhouse was by the number of fire pits. “A longhouse is about ten to twelve campfires long,” Kelley wrote.
Faculty members Eric Tardif and Rebecca Jackson said the students did a great job compiling their facts about the Lenape longhouses and building their models. The unit was part of the 4th grade social studies curriculum, which includes studying about the history of the state of New Jersey.
ACS recognized and honored forward Olivia Chapman, a 4-year member of the Varsity Girls’ Basketball team, for pulling down 500 rebounds during her high school career with a special ceremony during the January 30 home game in the ACS gym. Olivia grabbed her 500th rebound in the first two minutes of the game against Veritas Christian Academy.
“I have been coaching Olivia for the past three years and I believe she is one of the most naturally, God-gifted athletes to play for our girls’ program,” Breunig said. Olivia has been a starter on the ACS Varsity Girls’ team for the past three years. She has led the team in rebounds for the past two years and usually leads the team in steals each game.
Kathy Reinheimer first came to ACS as a parent to enroll her daughters, Heather and Holly, in elementary school in 1973, just two years after ACS opened its doors in the Parish House at St. John’s By the Sea Reformed Episcopal Church in Ventnor, New Jersey. Nearly 40 years later, Mrs. Reinheimer returned to ACS, coming out of retirement as a public school librarian and volunteering for the past nine years to help expand and modernize the ACS school library.
Thank you to our school family and friends who participated in the Boscov’s “Friends Helping Friends” charitable shopping event in October 2020, which resulted in donations to the ACS Annual Fund and the ACS Missions Club.
The application period is now open for students interested in being accepted into the National Honor Society and the National Junior Honor Society. The application packets can be downloaded from the ACS website under the “Academics” tab and also obtained from NHS advisor Mrs. Coates and Guidance Counselor Mrs. Ragland.
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: Kristine Cassell (’85), Kim Clark Eaves (’87), Jonathan Cassell (1996-8th), Ian Wallace (’04), Taylor Hadley (’07), Sterling Breunig (’09), Byron Nelson (’09), Amy Vogel Nelson (’09), Alexa Weintraub Byrd (’09), Ani Karabashian (’12), Dakota Hitchner (’17), Jacob O’Brien (’19), and Ben Noble (’20). Profiles of these and many more ACS alumni can be found on the “Alumni News” page of the ACS website under the “News and Events” category.
Kim Clark Eaves (’87) returned to ACS as a school parent in September 2020 to enroll four of her five children, and in November 2020 was a featured speaker at the 50th anniversary Elementary Chapel. She talked about her passion for helping and serving others, and how that passion led her to become a foster parent. She adopted three of her children after fostering them. Over the past 30 years, Kim has held a variety of positions in the medical field, from working as a radiology tech to practicing and teaching massage therapy. Currently, Kim is working as an entrepreneur in a health and wellness social retail network marketing business. She resides in Egg Harbor Township and her family worships at Gospel of Grace Ministries.
Ian Wallace (’04) is the operations manager at Shoemaker Lumber Co. in Ocean City, NJ, a position he has held since 2011. Ian earned a BA in history from Eastern University. He was in the first ACS graduating class to graduate at the new campus in Egg Harbor Township in June 2004. He returned to ACS to serve as the Varsity Boys’ Baseball Coach from 2009-2013. Ian is a deacon at Ocean City Baptist Church and has overseen their adult basketball outreach on Tuesday nights in the winter and spring. One of his favorite life verses is Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Byron Nelson (’09) became the Boys’ Basketball Head Coach at the Atlantic County Institute of Technology in Mays Landing in 2020 and also teaches health and PE. 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 have one son, Cameron.
Alexa Weintraub Byrd (’09) earned a BA in interdisciplinary studies from Coastal Carolina University, with a concentration in education and social work. After college, she and her husband, Torren, put down roots in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Since 2018, Alexa has worked at Bridgewater Academy, a charter elementary school in Horry County, and at Bridge Builders Family and Youth Services as a counselor. Alexa and Torren are active at Ekklesia Christian Church and have two girls, Victoria and Ava.
Ani Karabashian (’12) became a full-time student in the fall of 2020 to pursue a Master’s degree in urban planning from Rutgers University. She is looking to pursue a career in urban planning that focuses on food access and creating healthier communities. She earned her BA in social work from Gordon College in 2016. After graduation, she took a position with Food Corps NJ and worked as a nutrition educator with K-8 students in the Atlantic City public schools and at the Salvation Army. In 2018, Ani took a new position as a SNAP-ED nutrition educator with the Community FoodBank of NJ, Southern Branch, teaching nutrition classes to adults and children, which included cooking demos. Ani is active with the women’s Bible study group at Beacon Evangelical Free Church and has served as a leader with the middle school youth group. She enjoys gardening, exploring the outdoors, and cooking, and in the winter of 2020-2021 baked and sold Armenian pastries to raise funds for the Armenian Soldier’s Fund in Armenia. She resides in Ventnor.
An exciting winter sports season is underway as high school and middle school basketball and cheer teams showed off their skills at several games during the week of January 25. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, no spectators are allowed in the stands, but fans can watch the games live on YouTube.
Next week is the kick-off of our annual Bowls of Hope Soup Fundraiser. To ensure the health and safety of our school family and friends, the Bowls of Hope will not be held this year as an in-person Soup Cook-Off in our gym. Instead, this year’s fundraiser will be in the form of a “Super Soup Coupon Card” that can be purchased and used to to receive a free soup, with a minimum purchase, at 15 participating local restaurants from February 1 to May 31, 2021.
The Student Council is leading a school-wide Food Drive in February in conjunction with the Bowls of Hope Soup Fundraiser. Brown paper grocery bags donated by the English Creek ShopRite will be sent home with students the week of February 1 to fill with non-perishable food items that will be donated to the Community FoodBank of NJ, Southern Branch.
Students from kindergarten to the 12th grade are being challenged to create an original video to promote the Bowls of Hope Soup Fundraiser. The contest offers VISA gift card prizes for the top three entries and those winning videos will be posted on ACS social media during the month of February.
Online electronic enrollment for the Atlantic Christian School 2021-2022 school year is now underway for returning families. Email messages about re-enrollment were sent out by Admissions Director Jessica Martin on Friday, January 22. ACS families with students currently enrolled are being given an exclusive period of time from January 22 until 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.
Atlantic Christian School is pleased to offer needs-based Tuition Assistance Grants for the 2021-2022 school year to families with children enrolling in kindergarten through the 12th grade and the online application process opens on Monday, February 1 on the ACS website. The deadline to apply is May 1.
ACS recognized and honored senior forward Sydney Pearson, a member of the Varsity Girls’ Basketball team, for scoring 1,000 points during her high school career with a special presentation during the January 26 home game in the ACS gym. Pearson scored her 1,000th point with a layup in the first quarter of the first conference game of the season against Calvary Academy.
Athletic Director Pam Hitchner presented Sydney with a special commemorative game ball. Sydney’s parents, Doug and Lori Pearson, and Varsity Girls’ Basketball Coach Kaylee Breunig, posed for photos with Sydney.
The students in Mrs. Meza’s 2nd grade classes have been learning about the late civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and his contributions to America. The class recently completed a reflective art and writing project inspired by his memorable “I Have a Dream” speech to a crowd of some 250,000 people at the 1963 March on Washington.
Students from elementary to high school had an opportunity to express their creativity in several Christmas holiday activities on the last day of school in December.
Congratulations to the 17 middle school and high school 
Our popular Intramural Basketball Program for boys and girls in the 2nd to 8th grades will begin on Saturday, January 23 and Friday, January 15 is the last day to register for the program.