Last week, twelve ACS high schoolers attended ACSI’s Leadership Conference called “Re:Purpose” in Washington DC. Our students worshipped and learned with close to 1,000 other student leaders from Christian Schools along the Eastern Seaboard. The students learned from 8 different speakers on topics about God’s purpose as it relates to identity, learning, service, work and beauty and how it applies to the students’ present situations as well as their future. They also had an excursion to the Holocaust Museum in DC. Each night there were group discussions about how the day’s lessons spoke to them and how to bring these themes back to Atlantic Christian. They have started the process of implementing some of these ideas into the school already. We look forward to seeing how these students lead our student body in the rest of this school year. It was such a great experience, some of the Seniors wish they could attend next year’s conference!
Post Tagged with: "Atlantic County"
Inviting All ACS Alumni, Families to Winter Alumni Event — December 17
Join Us for the Elementary Concert & Tree Lighting This Friday, 6:30 pm
Join us this Friday for the Elementary Christmas Concert that will feature performances by the students from K-5th grade.
Immediately following the concert, join us for a time of fellowship while we light the ACS Christmas Tree for the season. Cookies and hot chocolate will be provided and our Take Note Ensemble will lead the caroling.
The Christmas train display by Shoreline Model Railroad Club will also be open from 7:00 – 9:00 PM on Friday, December 6.
Christmas Door Decorating Contest – Vote for Your Favorites on Facebook Starting Tomorrow!
ACS students and teachers are almost done decorating their classroom doors for the Christmas Door Decorating Contest.
Photographs of each classroom door will be posted on the ACS Facebook page at 6:00 p.m. tomorrow, December 6 and will close at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, December 13.
The Early Ed classroom door, the Elementary classroom door, and the Middle School/High School classroom door with the most “likes” will each win a special prize to be shared by all the class members.
Make plans now to go to the ACS Facebook page between December 6 and 13 to cast your vote with a “like” for your favorite door. Winners will be announced at the December 20 all-school Christmas Chapel.
ACS Special Chapel with Pastor Ted Winsley, Chaplain to Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles
We are extending a special invitation to ACS families to attend and join our students in what we know will be a time of blessing and inspiration.
Pastor Ted Winsley, Sr., chaplain to the Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles, will be the featured speaker at our Middle/High School Chapel tomorrow, December 6 which will be from 8:45-9:45 a.m. in the school gym.
Pastor Ted Winsley resides in South Jersey and heads “The Family Church” which is a non-denominational, multi-ethnic Bible-based church located in Voorhees, NJ. He has been the Philadelphia Eagles’ chaplain since 2001 and has played a key role in the spiritual development and team dynamic the Eagles are known for.
ACS Kicks Off the Christmas Season With a Touching Production of Annie Jr.
ACS ushered in the Christmas season with a touching production of Annie Jr. on November 22 and 23 on the stage in the school gymnasium. The musical classic set during the Christmas season amid the Great Depression tells the story of 11-year-old little orphan Annie, played by 4th grader Vanessa Rallo in her first-ever leading role in a musical.
Vanessa gave a heart-warming performance as Annie, along with 42 talented students (and a dog!) who comprised the cast. Lead roles were played by 10th grader Hunter Jorgenson as Oliver Warbucks, 12th grader Ashleigh Martin as Miss Hannigan, 9th grader Soolim (Sue) Yoon as Grace, 10th grader Asher Dawkins as Rooster, and 12th grader Nell Daeleman as Lily.
Show Director and Producer Amy Culleny said she was so proud of the young and largely novice cast and how hard they worked to achieve a polished production in just 10 short weeks once rehearsals got underway in mid-September.
“The cast worked hard in every rehearsal and it paid off with a great show,” Culleny said. She also thanked ACS parents, friends, and businesses in the community who supported the effort by purchasing tickets, playbill and electronic ads, making it possible to meet and exceed all the production costs.
Culleny said the success of the “Annie Jr.” production was a team effort, thanking a talented crew for their contributions and for ACS parents – Stage Manager Kelly Flynn, Carrie Jorgenson, Arzum Sanchez, and Jessica Martin for supporting the cast and production behind the scenes. Lee Martin was the Music Director and Technical Director who used digital imagery on a large background screen to enhance the setting of each scene. Jennifer, Haley, Havilah, and Caleb Shorten of Sojourn Productions acquired the beautiful costumes and managed the backstage area, and Sean Griffith, also of Sojourn Productions, designed and constructed the set. Robin Shorten ran all of the music and light cues. Culleny would also like to thank Sojourn Productions for graciously donating use of sets, costumes, and props.
After the curtain call and final bows by the cast and crew, the “Annie Jr.” production concluded with a brief sermonette by Musical and Technical Director Lee Martin. He drew parallels between the story of Annie Jr., an orphan who eventually found someone to adopt her, and how God takes care of us as His children.
Pastor Ted Winsley, Sr. Chaplain to Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles, To Speak at ACS Chapel on Friday, Dec. 6
Pastor Ted Winsley, Sr., chaplain to the Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles, will be the featured speaker at our Middle/High School Chapel on Friday, December 6. He will share stories about his experience with the team and insight into how he helped the players turn adversity into a world championship during the hour-long chapel which will be from 8:45-9:45 a.m. in the school gym.
Pastor Ted Winsley resides in South Jersey and heads “The Family Church” which is a non-denominational, multi-ethnic Bible-based church located in Voorhees, NJ. He has been the Philadelphia Eagles’ chaplain since 2001 and has played a key role in the spiritual development and team dynamic the Eagles are known for.
We are extending a special invitation to ACS families to attend and join our students in what we know will be a time of blessing and inspiration.
ACS Students Show Love and Appreciation to Grandparents on Special Day
Over 500 grandparents visited the ACS campus on Friday, November 22 for our annual Grandparents’ Appreciation Day.
Mrs. Karen Oblen, ACS Chief School Administrator, welcomed the grandparents and PreK4 students started the program with the song “Hosanna.” The chapel program continued with students from elementary through high school praising God through musical presentations, scripture recitation, and prayer.
The keynote speaker, Pastor Kevin Bernat of New Life Assembly and ACS grandparent, shared scriptures and encouraged grandparents to take an active role in ensuring that their grandchildren grow up with the knowledge of Christ. He said “The greatest gift grandparents can give to their grandchildren is knowing Jesus.” He shared the stories of how people were saved due to their grandparent’s prayers. “Do not underestimate the prayers of grandparents,” Pastor Kevin encouraged the crowd. “Grandparents are blessed and a blessing,” he added. He said that he is grateful for a school like Atlantic Christian and its faculty and staff who are investing in each student and training them up in God’s Word. He closed his remarks by praying for our students.
Before the close of the program, the grandparents got a sneak preview of that night’s upcoming show, “Annie Jr.,” with the cast performing one of the lively numbers entitled “Hard Knock Life.” Senior Class President Ian Iaconelli closed the program in prayer.
After the chapel program, the grandparents visited various classrooms where their grandchildren proudly shared examples of their classroom projects and gave them hand-made gifts. The grandparents also had the opportunity to visit the Scholastic Book Fair in the school library and see the Shoreline Model Railroad Club’s model train Christmas display.
K-12 Picture Make-Up Day – December 2
School picture retakes for students in grades K-12 will be on Monday, December 2. Students who missed the first Picture Day should pick up a form in the office. Students who would like to have their picture retaken must return their original picture packet on Retake Day. Please remember that the dress code for pictures requires an ACS polo shirt. Gym clothes, ACS hoodies and sports gear are not to be worn.
Christmas Door Decorating Contest Begins Dec. 2 – Vote for Your Favorites on Facebook Dec. 6-13
ACS students and teachers will begin decorating their classroom doors next week for the Christmas season. Classes will compete for prizes with winners to be determined by on-line voting on Facebook.
Photographs of each classroom door will be posted on the ACS Facebook page. Voting will open at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, December 6 and will close at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, December 13.
The Early Ed classroom door, the Elementary classroom door, and the Middle School/High School classroom door with the most “likes” will each win a special prize to be shared by all the class members.
Make plans now to go to the ACS Facebook page between December 6 and 13 to cast your vote with a “like” for your favorite door. Winners will be announced at the December 20 all-school Christmas Chapel.
A Thanksgiving Message from Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen
Dear ACS Family,
As we gather together at Thanksgiving, with so many blessings and opportunities surrounding us, we can sometimes forget that all of these extraordinary blessings come from our great God. Today, I was reminded of this in Colossians 3:15-17, which says, “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
Our God, the one from whom all blessings flow, lavishes us with these gifts freely and generously. What else can I be but overwhelmed with gratitude for all that He has done! So today, I am especially thankful for His love and grace. I am blessed beyond measure to serve in a school where God is glorified. I thank God for my ACS family! I pray each of you has a wonderfully blessed and joy-filled Thanksgiving!
Karen M. Oblen, M.Ed.
Chief School Administrator
Grandparents Day is Tomorrow! November 22
We are all set for our Grandparents Day! Tomorrow’s celebration will begin with a coffee social for grandparents at 8:00 a.m. in the gym, followed by an all-school chapel at 9:00 a.m., where students from preschool through high school will participate in praising God through musical presentations and Bible readings. Grandparents will then have the opportunity to spend time with their grandchildren in their classrooms from 11:00 a.m. -12:30 p.m.
Grandparents are also invited to attend the following events tomorrow, November 22:
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR (LIBRARY)
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
CHRISTMAS TRAIN DISPLAY
BY SHORELINE MODEL RAILROAD CLUB (ANNEX BLDG. #2)
10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
TRUTH THAT ROCKS CHRISTIAN BOOK STORE (FOYER)
FRIDAY, 7:00 PM &
SATURDAY, 2:00 PM
ANNIE JR. MUSICAL (ACS GYM)
TICKETS AVAILABLE AT THE FRONT DESK
We hope to see all of our grandparents at ACS on November 22.
Don’t Forget to Visit The Scholastic Book Fair!
Tomorrow, November 22, is the last day of the ACS Scholastic Book Fair!
ACS students, as well as their family members, will have opportunities to visit the ACS Library and shop for books from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm. Lots of great books are still available!
To check out the interactive book flyer or order books online, visit our school’s homepage on the Scholastic website by clicking on the link below:
Grandparents Day – November 22
We love our grandparents and ACS students will show that love on Friday, November 22nd as part of Grandparents Day.
This special annual celebration will begin with a coffee social for grandparents at 8:00 a.m. in the gym, followed by an all-school chapel at 9:00 a.m., where students from preschool through high school will participate in praising God through musical presentations and Bible readings. Grandparents will then have the opportunity to spend time with their grandchildren in their classrooms from 11:00 a.m. -12:30 p.m.
We hope to see all of our grandparents at ACS on November 22.
Move It Mondays
Elementary students had great start this week with the first session of Move It Monday! Mrs. Jessica Martin directed all the students in a fun and engaging 20-minute fitness workout exercise designed to condition the body and get their minds ready for school.
Mrs. Gail Alford, Elementary Principal and Director of Early Education, was excited to bring back this fun activity. “Every year before standardized testing we would always have a short session in the morning to get moving and wake up the brain. Since we changed the format of our testing we no longer had a set time to do this fun activity. After meeting with Mrs. Martin we decided that the first Monday of every month would be designated as a time to all get 
together and begin our day with movement.”
Students wore their “Be Transformed” class t-shirts with either jeans or ACS PE uniform bottoms for the activity.
Scholastic Book Fair Coming to ACS – November 18-22, Volunteers Needed
Our fall Scholastic Book Fair will be held from Monday, November 18 to Friday, November 22.
All students, as well as their family members, will have opportunities to visit the ACS Library and shop for books throughout the week.
We need volunteers to help make this year’s Book Fair a success! If you would like to volunteer, please CLICK HERE to sign up easily online.
To check out the interactive book flyer or order books online, visit our school’s homepage on the Scholastic website by clicking on the link below:
Veterans Appreciation Chapel – Friday, November 15
Atlantic Christian School will show its appreciation to our veterans at an all-school chapel on Friday, November 15, 9:00 am in the gymnasium.
Our keynote speaker this year is Maj. Gen. Mark L. Loeben, USAF, Retired.
Flyers have been sent home with students. Please invite family members and friends who have served or currently serve in the military to attend. There will be reserved seating for our honored guests.
Varsity Soccer Teams Head Into Championship Weekend After Excellent Seasons
On Saturday, the Atlantic Christian Varsity Soccer teams will be competing in the TSCAC League Championship. The boys’ team will be playing Gloucester County Christian School in the Consolation game at 3:00 pm. The girls’ team will be playing in the Championship game against rival Pilgrim Academy at 5:00 pm. All Saturday games will be held at Glassboro Park, 152 Delsea Drive South, Glassboro, NJ 08208. Tickets for the day are $2 for students, $3 for adults and $10 maximum for a family.
The boys’ team recorded their best record since 2012 and finished in a solid third place in the league. They lost a tough semifinal game 2-0 to Pilgrim on Thursday. They are playing Gloucester County Christian School who they have defeated twice this season already.
The girls’ team was undefeated in the TSCAC Conference for the 5th consecutive year. They have competed in the Championship game for the last 5 years, with a current 3 year winning streak and looking for a “four-peat” on Saturday. In the semi-finals, they easily defeated King’s Christian 6-0 with goals by Chloe Vogel (2), Reyna Lewis, Maddie DeNick, Tiana Purdy-Phillips and Eden Wilson. Goalie Shelby Einwechter had 5 saves.
The TSCAC All-Star Game will be held on Tuesday, November 5th at Calvary Academy at 5:00pm.
Athletes and Family Members Honored at Soccer Senior Day
ACS honored six senior players on the Varsity Girls’ and Boys’ soccer teams and their parents in a special ceremony on Friday, October 25. The ceremony was held prior to the start of the home games against Gloucester County Christian School. Athletic Director Pam Hitchner introduced the team members and read notes of special thanks to each written by Varsity Boys’ Coach Ben Chapman and Varsity Girls’ Coach Carly Witherow.
The following seniors were honored (pictured from left to right): Mark Rosie, Ian Iaconelli, Ping-yu (Alex) Wang, Dan Roland, Ben Noble, and Emily Kelley.
CLICK HERE to see more Soccer Senior Day photos in our online gallery.
Take A Bow – Seven Students Inducted Into National Honor Society
Congratulations to the following ACS students who were inducted into the High School National Honor Society on October 24 in the ACS gym (pictured from left to right):
- Alex Wang
- Kami DeNick
- Elizabeth Alford
- Fiona Xiao
- Mia Liggins
- Jia Peng
- Lin Xiao
They joined 12 other students in grades 10 through 12 who were previously inducted into the ACS chapter of the NHS. Chapter Advisor Sara Coates said the students had distinguished themselves in the areas of service, leadership, Christian character, and scholarship.
ACS Students Bless Work of Atlantic City Rescue Mission From Bowls of Hope Proceeds
ACS students and staff presented the Atlantic City Rescue Mission with a check for $1,670 on Monday, February 25 to support the mission’s important work serving the homeless and needy in the region. The donation came from the proceeds of the February 2 Bowls of Hope Soup Cook-Off Benefit. Rescue Mission President and CEO Dan Brown welcomed the students and staff and thanked Atlantic Christian for having a heart for those who need a helping hand. The four students who presented the check were members of the ACS chapter of the National Honor Society that along with other high school students helped sell tickets and volunteered at the Bowls of Hope. Pictured from left are: 11th grader Kathryn Winder, Rescue Mission Vice President Pastor Bill Warner, 12th grader Ryan Lomangino, 11th grader Dalton Sage, Rescue Mission President Dan Brown, Rescue Mission Kitchen Director and ACS alumnus Dara Brown Heston (’11), 12th grader Rose Shaw, and Upper School Principal Meg McHale.
After meeting with Mr. Brown, the ACS group was given an extensive tour of the mission by Pastor Bill Warner and Bob Franklin, the Mission’s Partnership Development Officer. The group visited the men’s floor, the women’s and family center, the kitchen, thrift shop, and Hopeful Grounds Coffee Shop. Pastor Warner said the Mission’s programs, which are fully funded by donations, focus on ministering to the heart, soul, mind, and body of every person who seeks help at the Mission. He said over 3,500 volunteers serve annually at the Mission and encouraged the students to come back and be hands-on volunteers. “The most important lesson you can learn is that life isn’t about focusing on yourself, it’s about caring for the people around you,” Warner said.
Get Your Tickets Today to Our 2019 Legacy Gala – An Evening With Kirk Cameron
Get your tickets now to our 2019 ACS Legacy Gala — it’s just four weeks away. Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to hear popular TV & film actor & producer Kirk Cameron in person! Individual tickets, full tables, and VIP Experience packages are all available as well as sponsorship and advertising opportunities. In preparation for the event, there is still much to do, and volunteers are welcome to assist the Legacy Gala Committee in obtaining sponsors, advertisers, and Silent Auction donations, as well as promoting the event to the community. If you are interested helping with this exciting and important fundraiser in any way, please contact Event Coordinator Jessica Martin at (609) 653-1199, ext. 314 or jmartin@acseht.org.
Class Projects, Special Chapel Speaker Celebrate Black History Month
Throughout February, ACS students participated in a variety of special activities for Black History Month. Hallway bulletin boards were decorated in honor of influential African Americans like Harriet Tubman and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Classroom lessons and projects highlighted historical contributions of African Americans as well as the social accomplishments of those who led the civil rights movement. Students in Mrs. Coates sixth grade history class discussed turn-of-the-century discrimination and the development of Jim Crow laws in the South while her eighth graders studied landmark Supreme Court cases, like Brown vs. Board of Education, which led to the end of school segregation.
Elementary and upper school students welcomed special guest speaker Vena R. Noel-Jackson who spoke in each chapel on Friday. Her lively presentations covered the origins of Black History Month, significant contributions of African Americans throughout history, and encouragement about God’s plan for creating unity from diversity. Using examples from her own accomplishments as a runner, Mrs. Jackson reminded the ACS family that despite our differences – age, race, ability, etc. – we can all run for the same prize in following Jesus. “My Prayer is that we celebrate our uniqueness by the power of the love of Jesus,” she said. “Whatever you do, do it all for the Glory of God.”
Varsity Basketball Teams Competing in National Tournament
Our Varsity Boys’ and Girls’ Basketball teams traveled to Ohio this week to compete in a 3-day national tournament that concludes March 2. The tournament is organized by the National Christian School Athletic Association and features teams from across the U.S. who are the best in their regions. We’re praying for safe travels and that our athletes will play to the best of their God-given abilities.
Our Boys’ and Girls’ teams lost to King’s Christian School in the Tri-State Christian Athletic Conference Championship Games on Saturday, but we are proud of every player and for an outstanding season overall for both teams. The Varsity Boys’ team received a trophy at the TSCAC Championship tournament for being ranked first in the conference, finishing the regular season with an undefeated 12-0 record. The Varsity Girls’ finished the season ranked second in the conference.
In the Championship Game, senior Cole Johnson led the team with 17 points, senior Dan Roland had 11, and 6′ 7″ sophomore Landon Shivers had 10 points, 16 rebounds, and 4 blocked shots. Junior point guard Ben Noble played strong throughout, scoring 9 points and 5 assists. “It was a tough game and we missed some key lay-ups later in the second half,” said head coach Dan Carney. “Of course, we were disappointed with the way the game ended, but I’m very proud of this team and how hard they worked all season to bond and play for each other,” Carney said. “We went a month and a half and only lost one game, so overall it was a great season. It just didn’t end the way we had planned, but I shared with the team that rarely do our plans match up with God’s plans.”
Varsity Boys’ Basketball Head Coach Dan Carney Named TSCAC Coach of the Year, Seven ACS Players Named to All-Star Teams
The Varsity Boys’ Basketball Head Coach Dan Carney, in his 3rd year leading the Boys’ team, has been named the Tri-State Christian Athletic Conference “Coach of the Year.” Coach Carney was recognized for the award at the conclusion of the TSCAC championship games on Saturday, February 23. “I’m really grateful for receiving this honor, but it truly is an award for both me and my assistant coach, Paul Jones,” said Coach Carney. “No one can do this job alone, and without Paul’s commitment and the energy he poured into our guys, we would not have seen the success that we did this year.”
Seven ACS Varsity basketball players have also been recognized and honored as TSCAC All-Stars. The ACS Boys’ team players named TSCAC All-Stars were: senior Cole Johnson (1st team), junior Ben Noble (2nd team), junior Dan Roland (honorable mention), and sophomore Landon Shivers (honorable mention). The ACS Girls’ team players named TSCAC All-Stars were: sophomore Sydney Pearson (1st team), senior Caraline Winkel (2nd team), and sophomore Cristen Winkel.
Johnson led the ACS Boys’ team in scoring, averaging 16 points a game. As point guard, Noble average 11 points a game and led the team in steals and assists. Roland and Shivers both averaged a double-double with at least 10 points and 10 rebounds a game. The 6’7″ Shivers also averaged 23 rebounds a game and led the team in blocked shots, averaging 3 a game. Pearson led the ACS Girls’ team in scoring and rebounding. The Winkel sisters were also led the team in scoring and steals.
