Post Tagged with: "Christian School"

Race for Education One Week Away — Still Time for Students to Ask Family, Friends to Sponsor Them to Reach our $40,000 Goal

The Race for Education is just one week away — on Friday, October 28 — and sponsor donations and pledges are now close to $25,000. There is plenty of time left for students from PreK2 to the 8th grade to ask family members and friends to sponsor them in the Race. We’re getting closer to our goal of $40,000, so please keep emailing and calling family, friends, and local businesses to ask them to be a Race Sponsor.

Event Coordinator Christian Delacruz has been visiting classrooms around the school campus to present dozens of green-and-white Race for Ed Sponsor Sneakers to students who have raised $50 or more from a sponsor. The sneakers are on display on a bulletin board in the Multi-Purpose Room hallway. There is still room for more sneakers — so let’s keep reaching out to prospective sponsors. All proceeds will go into the ACS Annual Fund to support our educational programs in this school year.

There are also some great student and class prizes for those who raise the most money in sponsor donations, including a fun class outing to the Atlantic City Aquarium, Get Air Trampoline Park, and Storybook Land, an individual  season pass to Ocean City Water Park or Storybook Land, pizza and ice cream parties, Five Below Gift Cards, and Dress Down Day passes.

Giving to the Race for Education is easy — just visit our Race website — www.race4ed.com/acs/

Sponsors can give any amount, but if they donate $50 or more, the student they are sponsoring will receive a special Race sneaker sign with the sponsor’s name and the name of the student they are sponsoring. Donors can also be a “Classroom Sponsor” (for a gift of $200) or an “Event Sponsor” (for a gift of $400). Individual yard signs with the names/logos of Classroom and Event sponsors will be placed around the edge of the track on Race Day to encourage all of our runners. In addition, the names/logos of our “Event Sponsors” will go on a banner hung at the school for the week prior to and on Race Day.

CLICK HERE to go to the Race donation website to make a gift.

Volunteers Needed on Friday, Oct. 28 — for Race for Education and Harvest Day

ACS is holding two big events in one day — the Race for Education and Harvest Day — on Friday, October 28, and volunteers are needed to help make both events run smoothly. Parents and other family members can register online to volunteer and a flyer with sign-up information was sent home with PreK-8th grade students this week. Please join us in making this day a memorable one for our students.

Harvest Day is for preschool and elementary students who, in addition to running in the Race for Education, have the opportunity to visit different activity stations throughout the day and also go a wagon ride and pick and decorate pumpkins.

Event Coordinator Christian Delacruz said volunteers are asked to sign up for one hour to serve in a variety of ways, including set up, serving as a Race lap counter, and being a monitor at the arts and crafts station, ga-ga ball, an inflatable bounce house, and the snack station. Volunteers interested in taking photographs of the Race and Harvest Day activities are also welcome to sign up. Volunteers can sign up for more than one activity if they so choose.

“Harvest Day is a fun, fall-themed day that our students look forward to every year,” Delacruz said.  “By volunteering, parents and other family members can be a part of Harvest Day or the Race for Education and help make both events a success.”

CLICK HERE to sign up to volunteer or go to: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0f4ba9aa28aaf9c25-race

ACS to Hold High School Information Night on Nov. 1

ACS is holding its annual High School Information Night on Tuesday, November 1 to give interested parents and students a preview of the variety of academic courses, programs, and extra-curricular opportunities offered to students who attend high school at ACS.  Featured speakers will include Upper School Principal Meg McHale and Guidance Counselor Christina Ragland. Attendees will be able to meet various high school teachers and get a tour of the school building.  The Information Night will be held from 6:30-8:30 p.m. and will include light refreshments.

“We encourage any family that is interested in choosing ACS for high school to attend this meeting,” McHale said. “What makes ACS a distinctive high school is that our strong academic program is Biblically integrated and every course is taught from a Christian worldview.” McHale also noted that ACS offers AP and dual-enrollment college classes and course concentrations that prepare students for careers in business, education, health and medicine, ministry, and technology.

For more information about the upcoming meeting, please contact Admissions Director Jessica Martin at 609-653-1199, ext. 314, or jmartin@acseht.org.

8th Grader Garrett Martin Wins 1st Place Among 8th Grade Competitors at North Jersey Spelling Bee, Middle School Team Places 3rd in its Division

8th grader Garrett Martin wins 1st place among 8th grade competitors at Northern New Jersey spelling bee.

Fourteen ACS 2nd-8th grade students competed in the Northern New Jersey Christian School Association Spelling Contest on October 13 and Garrett Martin took first place among all 8th graders in the contest. Garrett received a ribbon for his achievement and because of the points earned for ACS, the middle school students as a team received a plaque for 3rd place in the middle school division.

“Atlantic Christian School was represented very well at the NNJSCA spelling contest this year,” said faculty member Rhapsody Hahn-Chaney, who accompanied the students to the contest, which was held at the Abundant Life Worship Center in Nutley, New Jersey. ACS was among eight schools who competed in the event.

“Garrett was our most successful speller and his winning word was mooring,” Hahn-Chaney said.  “Our group of spelling bee participants made me very proud; they were well-behaved, showed good sportsmanship, and each of them did their best.”

ACS Spelling Bee Coordinator Jessica Martin, who has been working with the students in the weekly after-school Spelling Club, said that unlike the format of the ACS Spelling Bee held each winter, the students did not know what words would be included in the contest and were not able to study ahead for them. The contest format had students competing in a preliminary round in their specific grade levels and the top three spellers from each grade advanced to the finals.

The 14 students selected to represent ACS in the contest were the top two grade level finishers in last year’s classroom spelling bees. The students who competed were: Grisha Kagramanov and Molly Klinetob (2nd grade); Alexander Dimashi and Olivia Smith (3rd grade); Caitlin Doucett and Khaleesi Nyanankpe (4th grade); Madelyn Petrinec and Tamara Kulov (5th grade); Gaebriel Hahn-Chaney and Reese Resnick (6th grade); Nino Miranda and Matthew Coates (7th grade); and Caedyn Hahn-Chaney and Garrett Martin (8th grade).

 

Veterans Appreciation Day — Thursday, Nov. 3

ACS will show its appreciation to our veterans at a breakfast and chapel on Thursday, November 3 in the gymnasium. ACS family members and friends who have served or currently serve in the military are welcome to attend. A flyer with information about how a veteran can RSVP to attend this special event was sent home with preschool to 8th grade students this week.

A continental breakfast for the veterans, joined by members of our Student Council, will begin at 8:30 a.m., followed by chapel at 9:15 a.m.

School families are welcome to invite a family member who is a veteran or currently serving in the military to attend. We are asking veterans to please RSVP by Monday, November 1 to: cdelacruz@acseht.org or by calling 609-653-1199, ext. 302.

Staff Spotlight — Meet Our Seven New Early Education and Elementary Teachers

ACS is pleased to welcome seven new Early Education and Elementary teachers to our school family — Heather Aspenberg, Samuel Gottschall, Dena Johnson, Olivia Leach, Holly McCrosson, Jessica Samuels, and Michelle Wheeler. Several of these teachers have previously served at ACS in different roles, including as aides, substitute teachers, summer camp staff, and coaching the cheer team. What they all share is a passion for Christian education and a desire to show love and encouragement to their students and be a light for Christ.

Faculty member Heather Aspenberg

Heather Aspenberg — Heather is our new PreK3B teacher. She first came to ACS last year to work as an Early Education Center aide and continued working over the summer in the Early Ed Summer Program. Two close family members who had previously worked at ACS encouraged her to apply — her mother-in-law, Patty Aspenberg, and her sister-in-law, Christy. Heather holds a BA in hospitality from Johnson and Wales, but after working for several years as a general manager at Sonesta in Somers Point, she decided to change direction and pursue a job in education. “I’ve been working with children since high school and really feel that’s my calling,” Heather said. Her life verse, found in 1 Peter 4:8, serves her well in her new position. “It’s easy to think negatively, but we have to love everyone, show them grace and mercy, and pray for them daily,” Heather said.  Heather and her husband, Brian, live in Egg Harbor Township and worship at Fresh Start Church. They have three children, and their son, Liam, is in the 7th grade at ACS.

Faculty member Samuel Gottschall

Samuel Gottschall — Sam is a native of Piscataway, but relocated to South Jersey some three years ago after meeting his wife, Elyse, who has deep roots in the area. His father-in-law is Kyle Huber, the lead pastor at Greentree Church in Egg Harbor Township. Sam holds an BA in music from Moody Bible Institute and a MA in elementary education from Grand Canyon University. Prior to coming to ACS, Sam was a special education aide in the Ocean City School District, and he is bringing that experience into the classroom as a new 5th grade teacher. Sam said his favorite verse is Hebrews 4:12. “This verse captures how I want to live my life,” Sam said.  “It describes the Word of God as living and active, with the ability to create real change.” Sam and Elyse live in Egg Harbor Township and co-lead the children’s ministry at Greentree Church.

Faculty member Dena Johnson

Dena Johnson — Dena has returned to the ACS faculty this year after teaching middle school and high school Spanish from 2016-2020. In her new position, Dena is teaching 5th grade grammar, spelling, writing, and Bible. “I love languages and I’m just moving from Spanish to English,” Dena said with a smile. Prior to serving at ACS, Dena taught Spanish in the Wildwood Crest K-8 school for 12 years. A Bible verse that has been especially meaningful to her in the last decade is Psalm 25:5 — “Guide me in your truth, and teach me, for you are God by Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.” Dena also serves in ministry at Mission Point, where she has been a preschool Sunday school teacher for 22 years. Dena and her husband, Rob, have one son, Samuel, who is in 7th grade at ACS.

Faculty member Olivia Leach

Olivia Leach — Olivia is a new 2nd grade teacher. She gained valuable experience serving at ACS over the past two years, as a substitute teacher and as a staff member for summer Cougar Camp and the Early Education Summer Program. She is a native of Boyertown, PA and holds a BS in early education and a MS in special education from Cairn University. She lives in Linwood and her brother, Chase, is an ACS 10th grader. She attends Coastal Christian and is also part of the Morning Star Fellowship worship team. Her life verse is 1 Timothy 4:12 – “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.”

Faculty member Holly McCrosson

Holly McCrosson — Holly is a South Jersey native who grew up in Upper Township and graduated from Ocean City High School. She has known of ACS for some years and even considered transferring to it for her senior year of high school because she wanted to grow spiritually. In 2021, she earned her BA in elementary education from Southeastern University and decided to use her time at home during the COVID-19 pandemic to earn an MA in trauma informed education from Columbia College.  As a new kindergarten teacher, Holly said a Bible verse that is meaningful to her is 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. “I want people to feel God’s love when they see me, and especially the children that I have the privilege of working with this year,” Holly said. Prior to coming to ACS, she worked as a preschool teacher at Tomorrow’s World in Marmora. Her home church is Calvary Baptist Church in Dennis, but this fall she has become involved with a church plant in Pleasantville, Rise City Church, started by several alumni from Southeastern University.

Faculty member Jessica Samuels

Jessica Samuels — Jessica joins the ACS faculty as our PreK4B teacher, bringing a wealth of experience with young children. She worked for eight years as a PreK4 teacher at the Gospel of Grace Christian School, formerly located in Linwood, and has been a stay-at-home mom for the past six years with her two children, Saylor, 3, and Shiloh, 6, who started attending ACS this fall. A talented musician, Jessica loves incorporating music into the classroom. She has been a worship leader for over 17 years with Gospel of Grace Ministries in Egg Harbor Township. She also enjoys working in the ACS Early Education Center alongside her sister-in-law, PreK4A teacher Jennifer Kelley. “Christian education is a top priority for my husband, Jake, and I and originally I was planning to be a flex aide in the Early Education Center, but God had other plans and I have learned over the years that no matter what we think, God is in control,” Jessica said. A Bible verse that has been meaningful to her in the past three years is Isaiah 55:8, where the Lord declares – “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Faculty member Michelle Wheeler

Michelle Wheeler — Michelle has been an ACS parent, cheer team coach, and preschool aide, and is now excited to join the faculty as our PreK2A teacher. Michelle said she loves being part of a school where children are learning about God and His Word every day to help them follow the right path for the rest of their lives. Michelle holds an Associates degree from Wilmington University, where she was also on the Wildcats Cheer Team. Michelle and her husband, Sean, live in Mays Landing and have two children, Adrianna and Sean, who attend ACS. “My children love to pray and I’ve seen them grow so much spiritually since attending ACS,” Michelle said. She said her life verse found in 1 Thessalonians 5:11 encompasses how she tries to be an encourager in her daily life, at home, in the classroom, and elsewhere. “We all have some sort of goal in life and maybe all someone needs is just a few words of encouragement to give them the push that they need,” Michelle said. She and her family worship at Fusion Church.

Thank You for Supporting ACS Athletics at Texas Roadhouse Spirit Day on Oct. 14

Thank you to our school families, staff, alumni, alumni parents, and friends of ACS who came out to enjoy a great meal and help raise funds for ACS Athletics at our October 14 Spirit Day at Texas Roadhouse in Egg Harbor Township, the first Spirit Day event of the school year. ACS received 10% of the sales that evening. The Spirit Days held at Texas Roadhouse during the last school year raised close to $1,000 for ACS Athletics.

“We’re very thankful for the great turnout from our school families, as well as seeing our athletes, coaches, teachers, and alumni all coming out to support our athletic programs,” said Athletic Director Pam Hitchner. Funds raised from the Spirit Days go toward the purchase of athletic equipment, supplies, uniforms, referees, and more.

Hitchner also thanked the owners and staff at the Texas Roadhouse restaurant on the Black Horse Pike in Egg Harbor Township for supporting ACS Athletics. ACS plans to hold additional Spirit Days at Texas Roadhouse during this school year.

Kindergarten Students Enjoy Storybook Land Trip, Mother Goose Day Celebration

Our kindergarten classes enjoyed a fun-filled day at Storybook Land on Friday, October 7 and the following Tuesday celebrated Mother Goose Day — two favorite fall activities that helped our students learn all about the role of characters in nursery rhyme, fairy tale, or other story.

At Storybook Land, the students spent the day identifying characters from favorite stories, including Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Little Red Riding Hood, and Humpty Dumpty. They rode the nursery-rhyme themed rides, went on a hayride, and picked and decorated pumpkins. Thank you to our kindergarten teachers and aides, and our parent chaperones for helping make great memories with our students.

On Mother Goose Day, the students dressed up like Snow White and her dwarfs, Little Miss Muffet, Little Bo Peep, Jack in the Beanstalk, Jack and Jill, and other favorite nursery rhyme or fairy-tale characters and paraded through the school hallways and visited elementary classrooms. During their classroom visits, students were challenged to name the characters that the students represented based on their costumes.

Mother Goose Day concluded with students enjoying parties in their classrooms, featuring healthy versions of food linked to the nursery rhymes, including Humpty Dumpty hard boiled eggs, Peter Rabbit carrots, and Jack and Jill water to drink.

 

 

Students Learn About Fire Safety and Prevention

As part of National Fire Prevention Week, students from preschool to the 5th grade learned some valuable lessons about fire safety from firefighters with the Scullville Volunteer Fire Company who visited our campus on Tuesday, October 11.

Fireman Don Stauffer, vice president of the fire company, talked to the students about the importance of smoke detectors, the need to have “two ways out” in case of a fire, and how to “stop, drop, cover, and roll.”  The students also got a close-up look at a fire engine with its tools, hoses, gauges, and rescue equipment.

This year marked the 100th anniversary of National Fire Prevention Week and the theme was “Fire Won’t Wait, Plan Your Escape.” According to information from the Prevention Week website, today’s homes burn faster than ever and families may have just two minutes or less from the time the smoke alarm sounds to safely escape from their home. The ability to get out of a home during a fire depends on early warning from smoke detectors and advance planning.

Thank you to the firefighters with the Scullville Volunteer Fire Company for making our students more aware of fire safety and for your service to our community since 1934.

 

 

New Middle School Servant’s Heart Club Makes Sandwiches, Brownies to Bless Homeless Adults, Teens in Atlantic City

Serving others and showing the love of Jesus through acts of kindness is the motto of a new Middle School Servant’s Heart Club that this month has made some 50 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the Atlantic City Rescue Mission, baked brownies for teens at the Covenant House in Atlantic City, and created hand-made cards for gift bags for Angels in Motion. The club is one of 12 middle school clubs that are now meeting weekly during 8th period, a new time slot created this year for middle school and high school clubs to meet.

Other middle school clubs include crafts, chess, STEM, Bible and basketball, and National Junior Honor Society. There are also some 12 high school clubs that meet on Thursdays, including Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Missions, Hispanic Heritage, Student Ambassadors, National Honor Society, and several Bible studies. All the clubs are led by ACS faculty and staff.

“We wanted to set aside time during the school day for our students to get involved in groups focused on ministry, leadership, and service by being part of one or more clubs,” said Upper School Principal Meg McHale. “We’re excited to see the impact that these clubs will be having within our school and in our community.”

Faculty member Linda Stiteler, who is the Middle School Servant’s Heart Club advisor, said she and the 12 students in her club have put together an ambitious list of service projects for this school year. Some of the upcoming projects include collecting scarves, gloves, and socks for the Atlantic City Rescue Mission, filling shoe boxes with children’s Christmas gifts for Samaritan’s Purse, and picking up trash at the Nature Reserve in Egg Harbor Township.

The members of the club are: Ashlee Alford, Annalena DiMaio, Natalia Flores, Mackenzie Flynn, Ava Lombardi, Ja’Niyah Martin, Josh Maxwell, Julia Morris, Nina Purdy, Chelsie Richards, Cyrus Seyf, and Haley Schnecker.

Cairn University Rep Gives Insight Into College Life to 11th Graders in College and Careers Class

ACS 11th graders learned about the various academic, athletic, and extra-curricular programs offered at Cairn University, a Christian university in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, during an October 18 classroom presentation by Stephen Hogan, an Admissions Counselor at Cairn. The presentation was part of a series of visits from college representatives organized by Guidance Counselor Christina Ragland for the high school “College and Careers Class.”

Ragland said the class, which is required for all 11th graders, goes for the entire school year and focuses on college in the first semester and on careers in the second semester. “The goal of the first semester is to provide students with insight and strategies on how to navigate the college application process, introduce them to the various majors, and explore the similarities and differences among colleges and universities,” Ragland said.  Other college representatives on the presentation list this semester are from Lancaster Bible College, Palm Beach Atlantic University, and Stockton University.

During the second semester, students are introduced to a variety of careers and learn about resume building, the job interview process, and entrepreneurship strategies.

“Last year, our students had a Shark Tank-inspired competition where they worked in groups to create a new product or organization and their fellow classmates chose a first, second, and third place winner,” Ragland said. “The students really enjoyed the project and we plan to do that again in the spring.”

 

Race for Education Just Three Weeks Away — Students Receive Sponsor Sneakers for Donations From Family, Friends

The Race for Education is just three weeks away — on Friday, October 28 — and we need every student and teacher from PreK3 to the 8th grade to reach out to family members and friends to ask them to be a Race sponsor. Event Coordinator Christian Delacruz visited different classrooms during the week of October 3 to present green-and-white Race for Ed Sponsor Sneakers to students who had raised $50 or more from a sponsor.  The sneakers were also put on display on a bulletin board in the Multi-Purpose Room hallway. There is still room for more sneakers — so let’s keep reaching out to prospective sponsors.

Please find time over this holiday weekend to send some emails or share the ACS Race flyer on Facebook and help us reach and exceed our $40,000 goal. All proceeds will go into the ACS Annual Fund to support our educational programs in this school year.

To date, ACS has received over $8,000 in donations and pledges from sponsors. Thank you to everyone who has already donated or reached out to prospective sponsors. Let’s keep pressing on over the next three weeks and encouraging others to come on board as sponsors.

Giving to the Race for Education is easy — just go to our Race website — www.race4ed.com/ACS

Sponsors can give any amount, but if they donate $50 or more, a special Race sneaker sign with the sponsor’s name and the name of the student they are sponsoring will be posted on a school hallway wall and in students’ classrooms as a sign of support. Donors can also be a “Classroom Sponsor” (for a gift of $200) or an “Event Sponsor” (for a gift of $400).

Individual yard signs with the names/logos of Classroom and Event sponsors will be placed around the edge of the track on Race Day to encourage all of our runners. In addition, the names/logos of our “Event Sponsors” will go on a banner hung at the school for the week prior to and on Race Day.

CLICK HERE to donate on the Race for Education website.

 

 

Seussical JR. Cast Announced; Tickets, Ads on Sale for Nov. 18-19 Shows

Congratulations to the 45 students from the 3rd to 12th grades who were recently selected for the cast of our November 18-19 production of the musical “Seussical, JR.”  Show Director Genevieve Huff got rehearsals underway in mid-September and the cast members have been working hard perfecting their singing, dancing, and choreography at their Tuesday and Thursday after-school rehearsals.

There will be three performances of Seussical, JR. — on Friday, November 18 at 7 p.m. and on Saturday, November 19 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Show tickets are on sale and seating will be first-come, first-served at acseht.org/drama. Ticket prices will be $8 for students and $10 for general admission. Ads and boosters to appear in the show’s playbill and electronic ads can be purchased now online at: acseht.org/drama. The ad submission deadline is Monday, November 7, 2022.

12th grader Evan Power will play the lead role of The Cat in the Hat.

“We are so excited to be putting together another fall musical at ACS,” said Huff, who also directed last year’s Peter Pan JR. musical.  “Seussical JR. is a lively show filled with colorful characters from Dr. Seuss stories and tells a tale with heartwarming themes of friendship, loyalty, and uniqueness.” Huff is also joined by the staff of last year’s successful production — Tim Rosie, as Musical Director; Amy Parker, as Choreographer, and Lee Martin as Technical Director. ACS art teacher Sherry Mirakian will once again be creating the scenery and staff members Bethany Kiefer and Rhapsody Hahn-Chaney will oversee costumes. Faculty member Amy Williams will serve as production assistant.

11th grader Ryleigh Martin will play the role of Gertrude McFuzz and 10th grader Joshua Kinch will be Horton the Elephant.

Huff noted that the show is challenging the actors with some more advanced harmonies and choreography. “There is nonstop singing and dancing and we’re working hard, while having fun in the process, to make this an entertaining show that will delight the young and old in the audience,” Huff said.

The role of The Cat in the Hat will be played by 12th grader Evan Power. Other main characters include Jojo, an imaginative and misunderstood young child, played by 5th grader Megan Connolly; Horton, a compassionate and determined elephant, played by 10th grader Joshua Kinch; Gertrude McFuzz, a shy bird who falls in love with Horton and wants to help him, played by 11th grader Ryleigh Martin; Mayzie, Horton’s fun loving bird neighbor, played by 6th grader Sophia Gomez; and Sour Kangaroo, the matriarch of the Jungle of Nool, played by 11th grader Vera Huff. Mr. Mayor and Mrs. Mayor are being played by 5th grader Joey Kinch and 6th grader Lena Daugherty.

There are several groups of fun characters in the story line, including The Wickershams, The Whos, the Bird Girls, and the Jungle Citizens, and curious characters like Thing 1, Thing 2, Judge Yertle the Turtle, and, of course, The Grinch.  Pictured below are the members of the Seussical JR. cast after a recent rehearsal.

 

 

 

 

 

Sign Up for Parent-Teacher Conferences — Wednesday, October 12

The first Parent-Teacher Conferences of this school year for parents with students in kindergarten to the 12th grade will be on Wednesday, October 12 from 1:00-6:00 p.m. This 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.

All conferences are by appointment only and time slots are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis. Scheduling an in-person conference with a teacher is done using an on-line scheduling tool called Sign Up Genius.

An email from Elementary Principal Gail Alford containing detailed information about scheduling a conference with a specific teacher was sent on October 4 to K-5 parents by Elementary Administrative Assistant Barb Harmon. Educational Support Specialist Sue DeNick also sent an email on October 4 to 6th-12th grade parents about scheduling a conference.

A group conference for parents of 5th grade students is available on a needs basis and must be requested by emailing bharmon@acseht.org.

Please note that children are not to be present during the conference, unless the teacher has requested it.

Links to the scheduling sites are listed below:

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.

High School Students Encouraged to Unplug from World’s Distractions, Focus More on God’s Word at Spiritual Emphasis Retreat

By Robby Barberio

ACS high school students learned what it means to truly turn off from the world’s distractions, reset, take time to be silent, and look at the Lord’s Word with fresh eyes at a two-day Spiritual Emphasis Retreat on September 29 and 30 held at America’s Keswick in Whiting, New Jersey.

Retreat speaker Pastor Wil Del Valle led four chapel sessions in which he challenged the students to look at what God has to say with a new perspective and to really understand the meaning of the phrase “all Scripture is God breathed,” based on the ACS theme verse this year from 2 Timothy 3:16-17. Pastor Wil is the worship and youth pastor at Crossbridge Community Church in Woolrich Township, New Jersey. Worship during the chapels was led by Lee Martin, ACS parent and Director of Worship and Communication at the Ocean City Tabernacle, and Alyssa Griffith of Sojourn Community Church.

After each chapel, students had the opportunity to meet with other classmates and a faculty leader in COMPASS groups to reflect and discuss the message, often meeting in outdoor settings by a lake or sitting on a dock. Students also enjoyed free time to participate in recreational activities including ping-pong, basketball, canoeing, volleyball, swimming, and tennis and to compete in a scavenger hunt.

“The speaker was fabulous and I really liked how he emphasized silence,” said Urick Lewis, who teaches high school Bible at ACS and led the 9th grade boys COMPASS group. “There are so many distractions in the world, especially today with phones and social media, so it was kind of like hitting the reset button when Pastor Wil created those moments of silence for us to experience.”

On Thursday night, students gathered around a bonfire and enjoyed singing worship songs, led by 12th grader Tommy Ellison on his guitar and other students leading the singing. “The Holy Spirit works in me through music,” said 9th grader Ava Barberio. “I loved seeing students leading the worship session around the fire without being told. It showed that people were willing to engage and it was encouraging to see everyone participating.”

Students seemed to be especially moved by their COMPASS group discussions. They were encouraged by their peers’ willingness to speak up and talk about how they were feeling. “The speaker talking about making Jesus the Lord of my Life really got to me,” said 12th grader Sam Glancey. “It reminded me that Jesus should be an every day part of my life and not just something that is in the back of my mind. Everyone always gets on fire for the Lord on the retreat, and I want to bring the same spiritual energy back to ACS.”

A Middle School Spiritual Emphasis retreat will be held sometime later this fall.

 

K-12 Picture Days — October 18, 19 — Mark Your Calendar

Give us your best smile! Lifetouch will be at ACS to take school pictures on Tuesday, October 18 and Wednesday, October 19 and students should only wear school uniforms on those days.

Pictures of students in grades 6-12 will be taken on Tuesday, October 18 and pictures of students in K-5 will be taken on Wednesday, October 19. Early Education Picture Day will be on Tuesday, November 1.

Students should not wear gym clothes or athletic wear on their picture day. Hoodies and ACS sports jerseys or uniforms are also not to be worn.

Photo order forms from Lifetouch are being sent home with students by Friday, October  7.  Online ordering is the preferred method. School pictures can be ordered online in three easy steps, as follows:

CLICK HERE to go to mylifetouch.com
Enter the Picture Day ID: EVTTSXQ7F
Pick your package and complete payment

Spirit Day at Texas Roadhouse One Week Away — Join Us on Friday, October 14

ACS Spirit Day at Texas Roadhouse is just one week away — on Friday, October 14. ACS families and friends are invited to enjoy a delicious meal from 4:00-10:30 p.m. and help raise funds for ACS Athletics. The restaurant is located at 6801 E. Black Horse Pike in Egg Harbor Township.

Be sure to mention “Atlantic Christian School” when you order and 10% of your bill will benefit ACS Athletics. There’s something for everyone on the menu, including favorites like hand-cut steaks, fall-off-the-bone ribs, the cactus blossom fried onion, and made-from-scratch sides, and fresh-baked bread. The kids menu includes chili ‘n cheese hot doges, macaroni and cheese, mini-cheeseburgers, chicken tenders, and more.

Join us for a fun evening of good food and fellowship. Thank you for your support!

Homecoming 2022 – Bring the Family Next Saturday, October 15 for a Fun Day of Soccer, Crowning of King and Queen

Homecoming 2022 will be next Saturday, October 15 and ACS families, alumni, and their families are invited for a fun day of soccer, a cross country run, and the crowning of the Homecoming King and Queen. Athletic Director Pam Hitchner, who has organized the day’s festivities, is also adding new activities including inflatables, face painting, and games, along with a cook-out.

Hitchner said any alumnus who wants to play in an alumni soccer game needs to contact her to register by Monday, October 10 by text at 609-412-7735.

Homecoming Day on the ACS campus will kick off with a 3-mile cross country run between ACS and King’s Christian School at 9:30 a.m. One or more alumni soccer games will be next on the event schedule, depending on how many alumni register to play. An Alumni Girls’ game is planned for 10 a.m., followed by an Alumni Boys’ game at 11 a.m.

Two Varsity Soccer games between ACS and King’s Christian School will be the featured events in the afternoon, with the ACS Varsity Girls’ Game at 12:30 p.m. and the Varsity Boys’ Game at 2:30 p.m. The crowning of the Homecoming King and Queen and presentation of their Court will be held between the two games at 2:00 p.m.

In the evening, the annual Homecoming Dance will be held in the ACS gym for ACS high school students and their guests from 7:00-10:00 p.m.

See You at the Pole — Parents, Students, Staff Gather Outdoors for Prayer, Worship on Sept. 28

Students, teachers, and parents gathered outdoors on September 28 near the flagpoles for a student-led time of worship and prayer before school.

High school students Kaia Barbour, Tommy Ellison, and Evangelina Kim opened the program with worship songs, followed by a time of small group prayer for our school, our community, and our nation.

ACS joined hundreds of schools who participated in a the annual global prayer-focused event called “See You at the Pole,” with this year’s theme based on Romans 12:11-12 — “Never let the fire in your heart go out. Keep it alive…”

CLICK HERE to view a video of the event.

 

Staff Spotlight — Meet Our Seven New 6th-12th Grade Teachers

Seven new middle school and high school teachers are bringing a wealth of experience and a commitment to Christian education as they settle into their positions this fall at ACS. Several of these individuals are not new to the school, having served as paraprofessionals or as substitute teachers, but are now on board as full-time teachers.

Faculty Member Evelyn Altier

Evelyn Altier — Evelyn came to ACS in the fall of 2021 as a long-term substitute, teaching 6th grade science, language arts, writing, and Bible. She finished the school year and decided ACS was a place to put down roots. This year, she is teaching 6th grade science, math, and 12th grade environmental science. She holds a BA in environmental science from the Universidad de Puerto Rico, after moving to Puerto Rico with her parents during high school.  “I know this is where God wants me because I feel peace and joy when I come to work here every day,” Evelyn said. She and her husband, Chris, have three children, and their youngest, Bo, attends 5th grade at ACS. They live in Northfield and worship at Mission Point Church, where she and Chris are part of the Welcome Committee for the children’s ministry. When she is not in the classroom, you can often find Evelyn in a local gym. She has been a personal trainer and fitness instructor for 18 years and her daily routine involves getting up by 4:30 a.m. to work out and then coaching clients both before and after school.

Faculty member Paul Jones

Paul Jones — Paul grew up in Egg Harbor Township and is a 2015 alumnus of ACS.  Paul first worked at ACS for three years as a paraprofessional with Monmouth County Special Services and helped coach the high school basketball JV team. He then took a job in Lake Worth, Florida at Trinity Christian Academy, where he taught upper school history and Bible and also served as Athletic Director. After two years in Florida, Paul has returned to South Jersey and is happy to now be part of the ACS faculty. He holds a BS in Biblical and Theological Studies from Liberty University and is teaching 6th and 8th grade Bible. Paul and his wife, Hunter, who he met at ACS, have a 3-year-old daughter, Selah. In addition to teaching at ACS, Paul is the Youth and Young Adult Pastor at Friendship Bible Church in Egg Harbor Township.  Paul’s life verse is John 16:33. “Life is hard and this verse reminds me that God is sovereign and He has already overcome anything that we’re dealing with,” Paul said.

Faculty member Kelly Kirchhoff

Kelly Kirchhoff — Like Paul, Kelly first worked at ACS as a paraprofessional with Monmouth County Special Services in 2017 and 2020. She has many years of experience as a teacher, not only in a traditional classroom, but from spending more than 10 years homeschooling her eight children. “My prayer as a parent and as a teacher is that none would be lost,” Kelly said. “I have a special place in my heart for children and have a love of learning.”  Kelly has a BS and a Masters of Arts in Teaching from Liberty University and is teaching middle school science at ACS. She and her husband, Rhett, live in Northfield and worship at Hope Community Church, which meets at ACS on Sundays. Their 16-year-old son, Samuel, attends ACS.

Faculty member Chris Lopez

Chris Lopez —  Chris is a 2022 graduate of Stockton University with a BA in political science. While at Stockton, he took a number of business courses which prepared him to help establish a new high school Business Concentration at ACS. He also has been an avid soccer player most of his life, playing at Oakcrest High School, with JPS Soccer, and for several local clubs. That prepared Chris well to step into the role of head coach this fall of the Varsity Boys’ Soccer Team, where you can find him after school guiding, training, and encouraging the 21-member team. Chris lives in Mays Landing and attends Sojourn Community Church, where he helps lead their Connections team. He is looking forward to getting married next June to his girlfriend, Rachel.

Faculty member Mary McNulty

Mary McNulty — Mary is teaching 6th grade language arts and writing. She is new to South Jersey, having recently moved to Cape May Courthouse in May with her husband, Terrance, and their 9-year-old son, Hurley. Prior to teaching at ACS, Mary taught 3rd grade at New Life Christian School in Frederick, Maryland. She also taught 6th grade at a school in Virginia. She holds a BA in elementary education from Liberty University. Mary said a guiding verse for her as a teacher is I Thessalonians 5:11. “I feel it’s so important that we focus on encouraging and building each up other up, whether we’re inside or outside the classroom,”  Mary said.

Faculty member Laura Mills

Laura Mills — Laura came to ACS last December as a long-term substitute to fill the maternity leave of high school faculty member Tori Flath. She taught high school language arts last year and this year is teaching middle school writing and working with the 12th grade girls overseeing their Senior Projects. Laura worked for six years in the Absecon School District providing classroom support as a reading specialist to 4th grade students. She holds an Associates degree from Atlantic Cape Community College and is taking classes to earn her BA in education from Stockton University. Laura and her husband, Brian, live in Absecon and have three children attending ACS, Adam (6th), Luke (10th), and Nathan (11th).

Faculty member Dan Vasquez

Dan Vasquez — Dan is teaching 7th-9th grade Bible, 9th grade world history, and guiding the 12th grade boys in their Senior Projects. Dan has a Bachelors in Biblical studies and a Masters and Doctorate in Theology, all from Trinity Biblical University. He began serving in ministry in 2007 at Calvary Chapel in Vineland. From 2016-2021 he was the Senior Pastor at Calvary Chapel in Cedarville. Dan joined the faculty at Cumberland Christian School in 2019, where he taught Bible and history. He also served for two and a half years as the Athletic Director. Dan and his wife, Erin, have four children and two grandchildren and their two youngest children, Malachi (16) and Kennedy (15), are now juniors at ACS. Dan and his family worship at Calvary Chapel in Northfield, where he leads the young adults ministry and serves with his wife on the worship team. Dan said his life verse since high school has been Proverbs 3:5-6 — “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Student Spotlight — Article by Senior Robby Barberio on Actor James Murray Published in Millennium Magazine

Senior Robby Barberio got his big break this fall as a budding writer when an article he wrote on actor and comedian James Murray of the “Impractical Jokers” reality TV show was published in the September 2022 issue of “Millennium,” a New York City-based magazine.

Robby has been interested in writing since his freshman year of high school and said “he writes all the time for his own enjoyment.” Robby’s aunt works at “Millennium” magazine and when she learned of his interest in journalism, she gave him an assignment — to interview Murray, also known as Murr on the TV show, about a large garden he recently created at his home in Princeton, New Jersey.

Robby traveled up to Princeton in mid-July and interviewed Murray over lunch. His 800-word article, entitled “James Murray, the Impractical Farmer,” focuses on Murray’s garden and his plans to sell his produce to donate to charity. Several photographs of Murray and his wife, Melyssa, along with the produce they grow on their farm, are included the article, which can be found in the print and online versions of the magazine.

Robby has since branched out to further develop his writing skills by blogging weekly for the website of the Barberio School of Massage Therapy in Linwood, a business owned by his dad, Rob Barberio. He hopes to continue developing his writing skills in college.

CLICK HERE to read Robby’s article.

Race for Education 2022 — Donate to Our Fun Fall Fundraiser

Our 20th annual Race for Education fall fundraiser, to be held on Friday, October 28, launched the week of September 19. Please make a gift online today and help us reach and exceed our goal of $40,000 to support our educational programs and activities this year.

Race fundraising packets were sent home with PreK3-8th grade students. Let’s work together and reach out to our family members, friends, and local businesses to make this fundraiser our most successful ever.

Throughout Race Day on Friday, October 28, students in various grade-level groups will walk, run, or jog around our track for a 30-minute period, from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. To add to the fun, the Middle School race will incorporate an obstacle course.

We are once again using a Race website where everyone can give online. Parents, students, and teachers can participate by sending an email to people you know asking them to be a Race sponsor and giving them the link to our fundraising website — WWW.RACE4ED.COM/ACS

Sponsors can give any amount, but if they donate $50 or more, a special Race sneaker sign with the sponsor’s name and the name of the student they are sponsoring will be posted on a school hallway wall and in a classroom as a sign of support. Donors can also be a “Classroom Sponsor” (for a gift of $200) or an “Event Sponsor” (for a gift of $400). Individual yard signs with the names/logos of Classroom and Event sponsors will be placed around the edge of the track on Race Day to encourage all of our runners. In addition, the names/logos of our “Event Sponsors” will go on a banner hung at the school for the week prior to and on Race Day.

CLICK HERE to make a Race donation.

Below are some photo highlights from our 2021 Race, including photos of Race Sneaker Posters, Classroom Sponsor Signs, and our Event Sponsor Banner.

 

ACS School Families Enjoy Food, Fun, Fellowship at Back-to-School BBQ

Our 18th annual Back-to-School BBQ on Friday, September 16 was our largest ever — with over 1,200 parents, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and alumni parents coming together to enjoy an evening of fun and fellowship under beautiful, sunny skies. There were plenty of activities for children young and old, including face painting, Ga-Ga ball, 9-square-in-the-air, and several inflatables. Worship music performed live by a largely faculty-parent band was a welcome new addition to the event and everyone enjoyed taking a hay ride provided by Sleepy Hollow Family Campground, whose owners are ACS alumni parents.

For those with a sweet tooth, there were several tasty desserts available, including Kona Water Ice, Chef Steve’s Popcorn, and funnel cake.  Several groups were raising funds by selling various items — the Parent-Teacher Fellowship was selling SpiritWear sweatshirts and the ACS Cheer Squad sold mums and Playland Castaway Cove wristbands.

Thank you to the parent volunteers from the Board of Directors and PTF, as well as to our faculty and staff, who worked at the grill, served in the buffet line, volunteered in the kitchen and at the game locations, and donated food, including delicious pulled pork prepared by the Pearson family. The talented musicians who performed worship music throughout the evening, which prompted some to get up and dance, were: Ted Dawkins, Mark Huff, Amy Parker, Bill Smallwood, Bob Westcott, Jane Zigner, and Julie Zimmer, with Lee Martin on sound.

We would also like to thank several area businesses and organizations who donated or provided equipment on loan — Atlantic City Bread Company, Beacon Evangelical Free Church, Big Time Vending, Bimbo Bakeries, Gregory’s Restaurant & Bar, Herr Foods Inc., Sysco, Sleepy Hollow Family Campground, and Westside Meats.

What a great way to start off the school year!

 

See What’s New at ACS — Art Tables, Stage Lighting, Upgrades to 10 Commandments Memorial Garden

With the 2022-2023 school year now underway, we thank God for a number of improvements to our school facilities that were completed over the summer, many of them made possible by charitable gifting and discounted pricing by contractors.  Some of the improvements included new art classroom tables, new stage lighting and a new control system, and upgrades to the 10 Commandments Memorial Garden. We were excited for our school families to see some of these improvements firsthand when they attended Orientation and the Back-to-School Nights this September.

Here are more details about these improvements:

New Art Classroom Tables: Six new art solid maple tables were installed in Mrs. Mirakian’s art classroom, made possible by gifting of $4,800 from an anonymous donor. Over the summer, the art classroom was relocated to a larger room in a modular building to the right of the main school building.  The new tables, which are 60-inches long and 42-inches wide, are more moveable than the prior tables that were very heavy and had surfaces well-worn from use. Mrs. Mirakian said she is thrilled with the new tables and with her larger space that allow her to configure the classroom in different ways.  During the week of September 12, 4th grade students were among the first to begin using the tables as Mrs. Mirakian guided them in creating their art portfolio packets to store the artwork they create in the coming weeks.

New Stage Lighting and Control System: Just in time for our fall production of Seussical, JR., ACS has purchased and installed new stage lights and portable lights, along with a wireless control system, that replace a 12-year-old incandescent lighting system. The new $13,000 system was paid for by an anonymous donor in response to a Special Projects Appeal mailing sent to ACS families and supporters in August.  Lee Martin, ACS parent and Director of Worship and Communication at the Ocean City Tabernacle, oversaw the installation, with assistance from ACS alumni parent and electrician, Mike Darragh, owner of Wire Wiz Electrician Services. The project involved installing 18 new LED stage lights, replacing 16 existing lights, and adding 8 portable LED lighting bars to be used for back lighting on stage. “These new lights and control system will be more reliable, use less electricity, allow us to add colored lighting, and has other features like zoom and strobe,” Martin said.  The new lights will be used not only for the Seussical, JR. musical, but will be used for chapel worship time and school concerts and special events.

Upgrades to 10 Commandments Memorial Garden: New landscaping, concrete, and a brick pathway were part of a needed upgrade to the 10 Commandments Memorial Garden to the left of the main school building’s entrance.  The facelift and new additions to the garden were carried out by ACS parent David O’Donnell, owner of O’Donnell’s Landscaping, and his team. The garden was first established in 2006 and its main feature has been a black granite sculpture depicting the 10 Commandments, donated by ACS grandparent Kathy Breunig. The project involved removing overgrown shrubbery, adding bluestone and river rock around the sculpture, installing bricks in a former gravel pathway, and pouring concrete over areas where grass was no longer growing or viable. Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen said the garden area is a busy place in the afternoons during student pick-up and the improvements were needed to better accommodate the large number of students who stand waiting in front of the school. Some $5,000 has been donated to this project and ACS welcomes additional donations toward the $9,000 remaining in project costs.

We will continue to make improvements throughout the year both in our school building and with our outdoor facilities as God provides additional funds.

See You at the Pole — Parents, Students, Staff to Gather Outdoors for Prayer, Worship on Sept. 28

Atlantic Christian will hold a special time of group prayer and worship before school around the school’s flagpoles as we participate in the annual national “See You At the Pole” event on Wednesday, September 28. Family members are welcome to join our students, faculty, and staff from 7:30-8:15 a.m. as we pray for our school, our local community, and our nation.

The activities for the event are being organized and led by the high school Student Council and will include a time of worship and prayer.

For the last 31 years, hundreds of schools across the nation have held “See You at the Pole” events for one main purpose — to give students an opportunity to unite themselves in prayer before God to intercede for their generation. Please join us around our flagpoles!