Post Tagged with: "Christian School"

2020-2021 Enrollment Underway, School Campus Open for Tours

Enrollment for the 2020-2021 school year is underway and COVID-19 guidelines in New Jersey now allow for prospective families to make an appointment to take a tour of our highly-rated school and to meet with the Admissions Department. ACS recently earned a “2020 Best Schools” ranking from Niche, the largest website for researching public and private K-12 schools.

Admissions Director Jessica Martin said there are openings for students at every grade level, from Early Education to the 12th grade. Please call or email Mrs. Martin to schedule your appointment at 609-653-1199, ext. 314 or jmartin@acseht.org. Only parents or guardians may attend the appointment and everyone is required to wear a mask while in the school building.

Martin also said the tuition rates for the 2020-2021 school year have been approved by the school’s Board of Directors and are posted on the school’s website under the Admissions tab.

This is the second consecutive year ACS has received a “Best Schools” ranking from Niche, which is used by millions of families to choose the right schools for their children. ACS has an overall grade of “A-” on Niche and is ranked #32 out of 47 “Best Private K-12 schools in NJ.” Other Niche rankings of ACS include: #3 in “Best Private High Schools in Atlantic County,” #12 out of 26 “Best Christian High Schools in New Jersey,” and #35 of 196 “Most Diverse Private High School in New Jersey.”

CLICK HERE for more information or to apply for admissions.

New Job Openings at ACS; Seeking to Fill 3 Positions

We’re hiring! ACS is now seeking qualified individuals to fill three full-time positions, two of which are available immediately in our award-winning, state-licensed Early Education Center, and one is a faculty position for the 2020-2021 school year.

The positions we are seeking to fill are:

– Elementary School Teacher (full-time, 10-month)
– Early Education Teacher (full-time, 12-month)
– Early Education Teacher’s Aide (full-time, 12-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.

Celebrating the Class of 2020 – With Yard Signs, Video, Press of AC Photo Gallery

ACS created colorful yard signs with a photo of each of the 20 seniors in the Class of 2020 to honor and celebrate their accomplishments. The yard signs were displayed at the school campus and then delivered to the students at their homes from May 5 to 15. ACS also created a video with poignant, personalized messages for each senior from the administration and high school faculty. Photos of the seniors are also on display in a virtual graduation photo gallery on the Press of Atlantic City online.

The yard signs were delivered by Upper School Principal Meg McHale and the ACS Cougar mascot, traveling to the students’ homes in Absecon, Egg Harbor Township, Northfield, Somers Point, Mays Landing, Ocean View, and even Cape May Courthouse. Teachers, students, and high school parents then participated in a drive-by parade on various days — waving and honking their car horns as the seniors and their parents gathered on their front lawns with their sign.

“We wanted to do something special for our seniors to make them feel loved and appreciated,” said Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen. “The outbreak of the coronavirus cancelled so many of the events that were planned for our seniors and in mid-May it was uncertain whether we would even be able to hold commencement.”

Oblen added that the school administration, parents, and seniors are very pleased that a recent decision by the Governor’s Office in late May will allow commencements to be held outdoors with adherence to social distancing guidelines on or after July 6. ACS Commencement has now been scheduled for Wednesday, July 8 at at 10 a.m. The rain date is July 9.

CLICK HERE to see the ACS video honoring each senior in the Class of 2020.

CLICK HERE to see the Press of Atlantic City’s online gallery of the Class of 2020. Type in Atlantic Christian School or the graduate’s individual name in the search box.

Grammy-Award Winning Artist Mandisa Does Zoom Interview with 5th Graders on Being an Overcomer

The students in Mrs. Kiefer’s and Mr. Miller’s 5th grade classes had the special opportunity to do a Zoom interview with Grammy Award-winning Christian recording artist Mandisa on May 29. The 5th graders had been reading and studying the book “Number the Stars,” which focuses on the struggles of two children during the time of the Holocaust. The students have been learning about overcoming obstacles and being brave, which are themes in Mandisa’s music.

Mandisa was originally scheduled to be the keynote speaker at the ACS Legacy Gala on May 1, but the Gala was cancelled due to the outbreak of the coronavirus. One of Mandisa’s hit songs, “Overcomer,” had become familiar to ACS students from a video promoting the Gala that was broadcast in the school lobby in January and February.

From her living room in Tennessee, Mandisa responded during the live Zoom meeting to questions posed by the students and Mrs. Kiefer, who moderated the interview. Mandisa gave advice on how to overcome obstacles by expressing one’s feelings and seeking wisdom from God through prayer. To one question Mandisa responded — “I have learned to put my worth and value in what God says about me and I know He loves me just the way that I am.”

Mandisa got her big break as a contestant on American Idol Season 5, finishing in 9th place. With more than 1 million records sold, she has proven to be one of American Idol’s most successful alums. She was performing across the country with the Christian music group Newsboys as part of their 2020 Greatness of Our God Tour, but the tour was suspended this spring due to the coronavirus outbreak. In 2017, she performed with Toby Mac’s “HITS DEEP Tour.” She was awarded a Grammy in 2013 for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album for her best-selling “Overcomer” album.

CLICK HERE to watch the entire interview with Mandisa.

ACS Families, Students, Staff Donate Meals to Bless Area Health Care Professionals

Nurses and staff at AtlantiCare Medical Center in Atlantic City, Shore Medical Center in Somers Point, and Absecon Manor Nursing Home were treated to delicious meals in April and May, made possible by donations from ACS school families, students, and staff to express our love and appreciation for the health care professionals serving on the front line dealing with the coronavirus outbreak in our community.

On April 28, ACS staff members Carrie Jorgenson and Kelly Schlundt, who have spearheaded the charitable community service project, delivered pizza from Carluccio’s in Northfield to bless the nurses at the AtlantiCare Medical Center ICU in Atlantic City.

On May 28, Jorgenson and Schlundt delivered lunch from Naomi’s Cafe in Northfield for the staff at Absecon Manor Nursing Home, which includes ACS parents Gessie Polynice and Jennifer Remlein.

On May 29, Italian specialty dinners from Sal’s Coal Fired Pizza in Somers Point were delivered to say thank-you to nurses and staff at Shore Medical Center who are working in units treating COVID-19 patients. 10th grader Elizabeth Alford, who works at LevelUp Nutrition in Egg Harbor Township, also made and delivered a batch of energy drinks for the staff, accompanied by her grandmother and ACS staff member Sandy O’Brien.

Additional meal donations are planned in the future as ACS families continue to donate to show their gratitude for our local health care providers who are helping keep our community safe and well. Any interested in making a donation to this project can contact Mrs. Jorgenson at cjorgenson@acseht.org.

Elementary Students Create Artwork to Commemorate Memorial Day

ACS elementary students recently created Memorial Day-themed art projects as part of their remote art classes taught by faculty member Sherry Mirakian. Ms. Mirakian created a video highlighting those art projects to share with ACS families and friends.

The artwork was created by students in the 1st to 3rd grades. As part of their class assignment, they watched a video about the history of Memorial Day. Ms. Mirakian then asked the students to create a unique piece of art to celebrate the memory of those who have died in defense of our country’s freedom.

CLICK HERE to watch this video of our student’s Memorial Day themed artwork.

Students, Teachers Navigate Through First Week of Remote Learning

Working together, ACS students and teachers navigated through the uncharted waters of remote learning this week, which will continue through March 31 and perhaps longer if the state-mandated school closure is extended.

“We’re so grateful for the support and encouragement that our school families have been sending to our teachers and administrators,” said Elementary Principal and Early Ed Director Gail Alford. “And we love seeing the photos of our students diligently working on their schoolwork at home.”

Alford and Upper School Principal Meg McHale sent parents and guardians an email today asking them to complete an online survey to gather feedback on the remote learning platform. “We’re looking to make changes and adjustments as necessary to have this new method of instruction be as effective and successful as possible,” Alford said.

While teachers remained at home and conducted classes using platforms such as Google Classroom and Zoom, administration and facilities staff worked on various projects at the school campus. Each workday began with devotions and prayer for our school families, our local community and churches, and government leaders at the local, state, and federal level.

Three Alumni Lady Cougars Basketball Players Made Their Mark on College Teams

Three alumni who played on ACS championship Lady Cougars basketball teams made significant contributions this season to their college teams — 2017 graduate Dakota Hitchner, 2015 graduate Ola Oguntuase, and 2016 graduate Candace Winkel (pictured above with ACS Athletic Director Pam Hitchner).

Winkel, a shooting guard on Clarks Summit University’s Women’s Basketball team, sank her 1,000th point on February 20 in the final game of regular season play in the Colonial States Athletic Conference. Athletic Director Pam Hitchner and Winkel’s family were at the game to celebrate this rare accomplishment at the college level. Winkel’s team finished 4th in the conference and went on to the playoffs, but lost in the first round. Winkel is graduating this May with a degree in counseling and plans to earn her Masters in counseling at Clarks Summit.

Hitchner, in her second year as the point guard on Cairn University’s Women’s Basketball team, averaged 20 points a game and received Honorable Mention All-Conference in the Colonial States Athletic Conference. Hitchner, a junior, is majoring in physical education.

Oguntuase, a pre-med major at Jefferson University, has been a member of this strong Division 2 team since her freshman year. The team came in first place this year in the Central Athletic Collegiate Conference and was moving on to play in the NCAA Division 2 Championship tournament, but due to the Coronavirus pandemic the tournament games were recently cancelled. Oguntuase, who plays center, averaged five minutes of playing time this year and played strong in the final game of the regular season.

ACS Cub Scout and 4th Grader Brandon Jorgenson Achieves Arrow of Light Award

ACS 4th grader Brandon Jorgenson was recently recognized for achieving the Arrow of Light, the highest honor in Cub Scouts, at a cross-over ceremony on February 24 in the ACS Multi-Purpose Room. The cross-over ceremony is akin to a graduation, where Cub Scout Webelos transition to become Boy Scouts.

The ACS ceremony included walking over a wood bridge with planks named after the 12 principles of the Scout Law. Brandon, pictured above second from left, participated in the ceremony, along with three other Cub Scouts who attend other schools in the community. The Cub Scouts crossed over the bridge as members of ACS Cub Pack 389 and into the ACS Boy Scout Troop 389.

Brandon was warmly welcomed into the Troop by his older brother, Hunter, an ACS 9th grader. The Jorgenson family is actively involved in the scouting program at ACS. Mike Jorgenson is the Scoutmaster and Carrie Jorgenson is the Cubmaster.

The ACS Scouts — Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts — meet at Atlantic Christian School on Monday nights. The goal of scouting is to train youth in responsible citizenship, character development, personal fitness, and self-reliance through participation in a wide range of outdoor activities and educational programs. Cub Scouts is for boys from 1^st -5^th grades. Boy Scouts is for boys from 6^th grade until 18 years old.

Save The Date! April 4 – Game On! Mother-Son Game Night

Join us on Saturday, April 4 from 4:00 – 6:00 pm for Game On! Atlantic Christian School’s 1st Annual Mother-Son Game Night. Open to boys from Kindergarten to 5th grade, the cost is $35 per couple (mother and son) and just $10 per additional son. Tickets go on sale Friday, March 20th.

If you have any questions, please email Mrs. Gail Alford at galford@acseht.org

Students Compete for Awards in Middle School Science Fair

Excitement was in the air at the Middle School Science Fair on March 6 in the ACS gym. A team of judges reviewed 50 projects and chose the top three entries from the 6th, 7th and 8th grades.

“We are very proud of the efforts of all of the students,” said Middle School science teacher Celine Melody, who organized the fair along with middle school teachers Caitie Lee and Amy Parker. “It’s been a number of years since we held a Science Fair so this year was our relaunch,” Melody said. “We are looking forward to next year when we will have some of our students move on to participate in the Jersey Shore Science Fair at Stockton University. ”

In the 6th and 7th grades, students worked in teams, while 8th graders prepared individual projects. The science project counted towards the student’s science grade.

High science teacher Dave Genter, who was one of 10 judges, commended the students for doing an excellent job on their oral presentations to the judges. “The students showed that they are developing their thought processes and scientific skills and have a keen curiosity about the world around them,” Genter said.

Following are the students who received the top Science Fair awards:

6th Grade

1st Place: Joshua Oke & Calvin Castello
2nd Place: Caden Kim & Noah Engle
3rd Place: Gabrielle Goodwin & Alexis Andjuar

7th Grade

1st Place: Aine Dorset & Ruth Oke
2nd Place: Judah Dawkins & Rebecca DiMaio
3rd Place: Grace Johnson, Autumn Loo, & Taylor Sutton

8th Grade

1st Place: Noelle Thompson
2nd Place: Noah Gibbs
3rd Place: Ryleigh Martin

CLICK HERE FOR PHOTO GALLERY

March 28 – Christian Skate Night

The ACS Freshman Class is hosting a Christian Skate Night skating party on Saturday, March 28, 2020 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Young’s Skating Center (763 Park Road, Mays Landing).

ACS families and friends are welcome to attend. Tickets will be available at the front desk starting next week and will be $8 apiece. The ticket price at the door will be $10 per person. There is an additional fee for skate rental. All proceeds to benefit the Freshman Class.

Legacy Gala Silent Auction – An Opportunity for Local Businesses to Connect With New Customers

Do you own a business or have connections to a business that would like to support Christian education and reach new customers? Our May 1 Legacy Gala — An Evening with Mandisa will include a large Silent Auction that provides a great showcase for local businesses to reach hundreds of new customers.

Everyone who attends the Gala, to be held at the Ocean City Tabernacle, will have the opportunity to enjoy delicious appetizers and bid on items in the Silent Auction during the Welcome Reception from 6:30-7:30 p.m. in the Tabernacle’s Narthex. The Legacy Gala Program will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Tabernacle’s large auditorium, which can seat over 900 people.

If you own a store-front or a home-based business and would like to donate to our Gala Silent Auction, please contact Mrs. PJ Santos at psantos@acseht.org. Examples of home-based businesses who have donated to past Silent Auctions include LuLaRoe, Pampered Chef, Rodan & Fields, Tastefully Simple, and Thirty-One Gifts.

Mrs. Santos is also seeking volunteers to help with calling or visiting local businesses to ask them to donate to the Silent Auction. “We want this year’s Silent Auction to be bigger and better than ever and we need your help,” Santos said. All donations are fully tax-deductible and will benefit our school’s educational programs.

To be included in a listing of Silent Auction donors in the Gala Program book, Silent Auction donations must be received by Friday, April 17.

CLICK HERE for more information on the Gala or to buy tickets, be a Sponsor, or an Advertiser.

Batter Up! Baseball/Softball Season Preview

The High School and Middle School Baseball and Softball seasons are getting underway. High School tryouts will be held on Monday, March 9 and Middle School tryouts will be on Monday, March 23. Interested students should sign up in the gym. Check out the ACS website under the “Athletics” table for the game schedules of all our teams. Hope to see you in the stands!

The Varsity Baseball team will play its first game on Friday, March 20 — a non-league home game against Annapolis Area Christian School. The Varsity Baseball team will play its second, non-league game on Friday, March 27 at home against Oakcrest High School. The first Tri-State Christian Athletic Conference games for the Varsity Baseball and Softball teams will be on Tuesday, March 31 at home against Pilgrim Academy.

The Middle School baseball and softball teams will play their first games in the Atlantic Cape Junior High League on Tuesday, April 21 at home against Pilgrim Academy.

The head coaches who will lead our high school and middle school teams this season are:

Varsity Boys’ Baseball — Ben Chapman, in his 1st year. Chapman is a 2013 alumnus who was a stand-out baseball player at ACS and went on to be a pitcher on Cairn University’s baseball team;
Varsity Girls’ Softball — Dara Kimmerley, in her 6th year, with a strong record of winning seasons, including a TSCAC championship in 2017, a first place regular season finish in 2018, and taking the team to the championship game in 2019.
Middle School Boys’ Baseball — Charlie Costello, an ACS parent in his first year as head coach. He assisted former head coach Rob Barberio last year when the team finished in 3rd place in the league.
Middle School Girls’ Softball — Rick Jackson, an ACS parent in his first year as head coach. He assisted former head coach Mike Bohs, who led the team to a 1st place finish in the league in 2018 and tied for first in 2019.

See What’s New Around the 37-Acre ACS Campus

Work crews are converting our grass soccer field to an artificial turf field expected to be ready by mid-April.

With spring around the corner, we thank God for providing funding for a number of improvements now underway on our beautiful, spacious 37-acre campus, including new security fencing, an artificial turf soccer field, and a new outdoor toddler playground also covered with artificial turf.

“We are so excited about these new upgrades to some of our outdoor facilities that have been made possible through donations and grants,” said Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen. “Our students from preschool to high school will be benefiting from these improvements for years to come.”

New security fencing will soon surround outdoor play areas, made possible by state security grant funding for non-public schools. Progressive Fence began installing the green support poles for the fencing in January. The height of the fencing will range from 6- to 10-feet high, and will include several lockable gates at entry points to the track. Oblen said additional new fencing is planned for the next school year to go along the property lines near the baseball and softball fields.

Several weeks ago, work crews from Clayton Companies began removing the grass on the main soccer field used by the Varsity Boys’ and Middle School Boys’ soccer field to replace it with artificial turf. The turf field and the labor is being donated by Clayton Companies and is expected to be ready by mid-April. Oblen said the turf field will have better drainage and will be significantly less costly to maintain than the grass field.

With the start of warmer weather this month, ACS students in toddler preschool classes have come outdoors to explore their new play area, which has been fenced in and covered with artificial turf. “The children were all smiles and the turf is a safe surface that is easy to keep clean,” said Elementary Principal and Early Education Director Gail Alford. Recently completed asphalt-covered walkways along the perimeters of the playgrounds are also providing easier access to the play areas and the track.

Save the Date: March 28 – Christian Skate Night

The ACS Freshman Class is hosting a Christian Skate Night skating party on Saturday, March 28, 2020 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Young’s Skating Center (763 Park Road, Mays Landing).

Bump, Set, Spike! Students Enjoy Friendly Competition in Annual Volleyball Tournament

It was a challenging night of friendly competition, with plenty of bumps, sets, and spikes as ACS students, joined by a few agile faculty and family members, faced off in the ACS gym on Friday, February 28 for the annual Intramural Volleyball Tournament.

Nearly 70 people showed off their skills as nine high school teams and one middle school team competed for team medals and bragging rights. After three hours of double-elimination games, the high school team named “Rest in Peace” took first place. The members of the winning team, comprised of 5 juniors and 1 sophomore, pictured below (from left) are: Jacob Rosie, Chloe Vogel, Landon Shivers, Sydney Pearson, Aaron Glancey, and Cristen Winkel.

A combined junior/senior team named “One-Sixth Black” placed 2nd, a freshman team, wearing pink T-shirts sporting the name “Chew Blocka” placed 3rd, and the “Cruise Control” team with parent, faculty, and high school student players who wore light blue Sterling Tackle shirts, placed 4th. Athletic Director Pam Hitchner and PE teacher Ben Chapman served as referees during the tournament.

Elementary Students Celebrate Dr. Seuss’ Birthday and the Love of Reading

ACS students in preschool and elementary celebrated Dr. Seuss’ birthday this week as part of Read Across America – a national campaign that focuses on motivating children to be lifelong readers. On Monday, students wore crazy socks to school; 12th graders read Dr. Seuss books to elementary students on Tuesday; and for Wacky Wednesday, teachers, students, and staff dressed up in colorful, mismatched clothes, wigs, and hats. Students also celebrated their love of reading by eating green eggs and ham, listening to secret readers, and reading books showcased in the ACS school library.

CLICK HERE FOR THE PHOTO GALLERY

Box Tops Goes Digital, Use Mobile App to Earn Cash for ACS

No more clipping those Box Tops to earn cash for ACS. The Box Tops for Education program has gone digital. Download the “Box Tops for Education” app on your mobile phone, register, and select Atlantic Christian School. Then just start scanning your grocery store receipts.

If your receipt contains a Box Tops product, the app will record that product and automatically add Box Tops or our school’s earnings online. ACS will earn 10 cents for each Box Tops product purchased. The app will automatically add Box Tops to our school’s earnings online.

Please note that Box Tops will continue to honor all physical clips until they reach their expiration dates so you can keep clipping regular Box Tops and sending them in to the school as long as you continue to find them on packages. Box Tops will also allow double dipping during the transition period — so you can clip the physical Box Tops AND scan your receipt. A few brands may not be participating in the double dip. The app will give you a message that they are “clip only” in

New Employee Spotlight: Computer Teacher & Library Media Specialist Rhapsody Hahn-Chaney

ACS welcomes new Computer Teacher and Library Media Specialist Rhapsody Hahn-Chaney

Rhapsody Hahn-Chaney is the new face in the ACS first floor computer lab, where she teaches students from kindergarten to high school to master the technology skills necessary to be successful in the classroom, in college, and the workplace. She also welcomes K-5 students to the school library each week, where they are developing a love of reading and are learning library research skills.

Mrs. Hahn-Chaney became the new computer teacher and library media specialist in January after Mrs. Diane Ash relocated with her family to Massachusetts. However, she is no stranger to ACS as she has been a proud and involved parent since 2015. Her son Caedyn is now in 5^th grade and her son Gaebriel is in 3^rd grade. But her real first day at ACS was in 1993 as a student in Mrs. Cassell’s kindergarten class. She attended ACS for most of her elementary years.

Hahn-Chaney holds a BS from the Art Institute of Philadelphia and is certified in Inbound Marketing and Digital Skills. Prior to coming to ACS, she was a content writer and manager for DotCom Global Media in Somers Point.

Hahn-Chaney, her husband, Marques, and their two sons live in Mays Landing and are active members of Fresh Start Church in Egg Harbor Township. She is currently working on redesigning the church’s website and recently enjoyed serving at Tim Tebow’s “A Night to Shine” event hosted at the church.

Hahn-Chaney takes her role as a teacher very seriously, describing herself as “an entrusted alternate” for the parents and grandparents who work hard so that their children and grandchildren can attend ACS. “I teach new skills, address bad days, give encouragement, inspire a thought process, share the love of Jesus, show a good example, and administer correction, all to the purpose of being an excellent stand-in for my students’ primary caregivers,.” Hahn-Chaney said.

Her favorite Bible verse is Proverbs 3:5-6. “In our world today, there is great emphasis on being really smart and getting more educated, but God is not impressed by academia,” Hahn-Chaney said. “He cares about our hearts. If I trust Him with all of my heart instead of trying to figure it all out, He will teach me what I need to know and show me what I need to do.”

Come to the Middle School Science Fair – Friday, March 6

Is the five-second rule true? What is the effect of microwaves on plant growth? What are the different densities of water? The answers to these and other STEM-focused questions will be explored in middle school science projects at the ACS Science Fair on Friday, March 6 in the gym from 4:00-6:00 p.m. ACS families are invited to attend and tour the 50 science projects that will be on display.

The students began developing their science fair projects in November, which is part of their science grade. The 6th and 7th graders have been working in pairs and 8th graders have created their individual projects.

Middle School science teacher Celine Melody said a panel of judges will examine each of the projects during the Science Fair and select the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners from each class.

Seven ACS Varsity Basketball Players Recognized for Outstanding Achievement

TSCAC Varsity Girls’ Basketball MVP – junior forward Sydney Pearson

Seven ACS Varsity Basketball players made outstanding contributions to their teams over the past season and were recently recognized for their achievements. Junior forward Sydney Pearson received the highest individual honor given by the Tri-State Christian Athletic Conference — the Varsity Girls’ MVP award — and six other players were named TSCAC All-Stars.

The ACS players were recognized and honored during an awards ceremony after the conclusion of the Championship Games on February 22. The ACS basketball players who were named TSCAC All-Stars were — Girls’ team: Olivia Chapman, Shelby Einwechter, Sydney Pearson, and Cristen Winkel; and Boys’ team: Ben Noble, Dan Roland, and Landon Shivers. ACS hosted the TSCAC All-Star Games this past Tuesday and fans had the opportunity to cheer on their favorite players for one last time this season.

ACS players named TSCAC All-Stars — Sydney Pearson, Shelby Einwechter, Olivia Chapman, and Cristen Winkel (from left, at left); and Ben Noble, Landon Shivers, and Dan Roland (from left, at right)

Senior Dan Roland was also honored just days before the championship tournament for pulling down 500 rebounds during his high school career. Roland became the 13th ACS Varsity Basketball player in school history to reach this significant milestone. He was recognized and given a special game ball at the Feb. 20 semi-final playoff game.

ACS Students Create Valentine’s Day Gift Bags for Children at Ronald McDonald House

Mrs. Parker’s 7th grade class created a craft project

Students from elementary to high school collaborated on a service project this month to decorate and fill 30 Valentine’s Day gift bags with hand-made Valentine’s Day cards, snacks, games, and craft projects for families at the Ronald McDonald House in Camden. This is the third year in a row that ACS students have participated in this Valentine’s Day service project.

The gift bags were delivered on Valentine’s Day by ACS Resource Room Specialist Mrs. Kelly Schlundt, who heads up the project. The gift bags were given to children who are staying at the Ronald McDonald House while they receive treatment at Philadelphia area hospitals.

Mrs. Schlundt said ACS has also been collecting metal soda can tabs in the lunchroom. The tabs collected during the first half of this school year are recycled and the funds help pay for the utility bills at the Ronald McDonald House. “We’ll keep collecting the soda tabs until the end of the school year and will give them to the Ronald McDonald House over the summer or next Valentine’s Day,” Mrs. Schlundt said.

Varsity Boys’ Basketball Team Brings Home TSCAC Championship Trophy; Varsity Girls’ Lose Close Championship Match

The undefeated Varsity Boys’ Basketball team received the TSCAC Championship Trophy at the conclusion of the February 22 Tournament in the ACS gym.

Congratulations to our Varsity Boys’ basketball team for winning the Tri-State Christian Athletic Conference championship on February 22, beating the #2-seeded King’s Christian School 47-32. The ACS Boys, under head coach Dan Carney, finished the regular season undefeated in the conference and brought home the championship trophy for the 10th time in school history.

Our Varsity Girls’ basketball team was seeded in first place entering the championship tournament with a 12-0 regular season record. The team lost a hard-fought match in the championship game 45-41 to King’s Christian School. During the Tournament awards ceremony, the Varsity Girls’ team, under head coach Kaylee Breunig, was recognized for its outstanding regular season and received a TSCAC trophy.

The Varsity Girls’ Basketball Team received the TSCAC regular season 1st place trophy.

“We were thrilled to have the opportunity to host the Championship Tournament in the ACS gym and we are proud of every player on our Boys’ and Girls’ teams who always gave 110% whenever they stepped onto the court,” said Athletic Director Pam Hitchner. At the conclusion of the tournament, each member of the winning Varsity Boys’ team and their coaches climbed up a ladder to cut off a piece of the basketball net as a special keepsake, a tournament tradition.

The Varsity Boys’ and Girls’ teams will travel to Ohio next week to compete in a 3-day national tournament that concludes March 7. 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 very grateful to our school families and friends who filled our stands at home games and during the Championship Tournament, encouraging our athletes to do their best,” Hitchner said. “We also appreciate the parents and other volunteers, led by long-time ACS parent Terry Vogel, who worked in our Cougar Den concession stand throughout the season, helping raise funds for our athletic program.”

Hitchner also thanked and recognized the assistant coaches and team managers for their important contributions to a memorable season — Varsity Girls’ assistant coach Dara Kimmerley; Varsity Boys’ assistant coaches Drew Carney, Ben Chapman, and Paul Jones; and team managers Ashleigh Martin and Alex Wang.

CLICK HERE to read more about the championship games as reported in a February 24 Press of Atlantic City online article.

MS Basketball Teams Finish 1st & 2nd in Atlantic Cape Jr. High League

The ACS Middle School Girls’ Basketball team, holding the first place trophy at the Jan. 25 Pilgrim Academy middle school basketball tournament.

The Middle School Girls’ and Boys’ basketball teams wrapped up excellent seasons, with the girls finishing in first and the boys in second place in the Atlantic Cape Junior High League. Both teams also took first place in a middle school tournament on January 25 hosted by Pilgrim Academy.

The ACS Middle School Boys’ Basketball team won first place at the Jan. 25 Pilgrim Academy tournament, that featured six area boys’ middle school teams.

The MS Girls’ team, in its second year under head coach and 2007 ACS alumnus Grant Miller, finished 10-3 overall. The MS Boys’ team, under head coach Lee Martin who is also in his 2nd year, also finished 10-3. The final games of the season were played at home against Assumption Regional Catholic School, with the boys winning their game and the girls losing, their only league loss of the season.

“We’re very proud of the way our players worked together and supported each other,” said Athletic Director Pam Hitchner. “The skills of the players steadily improved and they showed exemplary character and sportsmanship throughout the season.”

The 15 members of the MS Girls’ team were: Riley Cook, Sophia Costello, Gianna Flynn, Sophia Johnson, Rebecca Kelley, Evangelina Kim, Ryleigh Martin, Kendall Murphy, Taylor Murphy, Alicia O’Donnell, Ruth Oke, Skyler Shivers, Kayaha Smalls, Taylor Sutton, and Anyae Welch.

The 14 members of the MS Boys’ team were: John Cook, Calvin Costello, Charlie Costello, Judah Dawkins, Jayden Dixon, Jackson Gayeski, Noah Gibbs, Ethan Haynes, Emmanuel Johnson, Caden Kim, Chase Leach, Joseph McCrae, Jayden Sanchez, and Adam Schlundt.