The Middle School Boys’ and Girls’ basketball teams posted strong, winning seasons this winter, making the best of a year impacted by COVID-19 and building experience and teamwork that will result in continued success in coming years. ACS also launched a new developmental league that met on Saturdays and gave 30 middle school boys who did not play on the team a chance to develop and strengthen their ball-playing skills.
MS Girls Squad
The ACS Middle School Girls’ squad were undefeated with a 6-0 record going into their final game to be played this Friday, February 26 away at Calvary Academy in Lakewood, New Jersey.
Leading scorers for the team were 8th grader Taylor Murphy, who averaged 6.83 points per game, 7th grader Gianna Flynn, who averaged 4.5 points per game, and 7th grader Sophia Costello, who averaged 4 points per game.
“As a team, we would like to thank Athletic Director Pamela Hitchner for her dedication to our basketball teams this season,” said faculty member and ACS alumnus Grant Miller (’07), in his 3rd year as head coach. “We are very proud of our girls and how they have grown on the basketball court, but more importantly in their walks with Christ. We have seen a tremendous amount of confidence, aggressiveness, teamwork, and compassion. We pray the Lord will continue to work in our lives as we grow closer to Him.” Coach Miller was assisted by his wife, Minelva, and ACS parent Rick Jackson.
The 15 members of the Middle School Girls’ Basketball team were: Alexis Andujar, Angela Awad, Sophia Capito, Katie Colella, Sophia Costello, Gianna Flynn, Kiera Frontino, Lucy Huff, Sophia Johnson, Taylor Murphy, Ava Nixon, Nadia Pearson, Skyler Shivers, Taylor Sutton, and Anyae Welch.
MS Boys’ Main Squad
The ACS Middle School Boys’ basketball season finished its season with an 8-2 record. A pair of games against King’s Christian School wrapped up the season in dramatic fashion. After King’s took the first game at ACS on February 22 with a heart-breaking buzzer-beater, ACS traveled to Cherry Hill on February 24 and found redemption with a hard-fought 45-40 overtime win. “It was a thrilling end to a unique season, playing through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said coach and ACS parent Lee Martin, in his third year as head coach. Martin was assisted by ACS parents Jenna Cook and Charlie Costello.
Despite minimal practice time due to limited gym availability, the boys quickly picked up the offensive and defensive schemes and learned to play together as a unit, ultimately turning in their best all-around performance to end the year on a high note. Leading scorers for the season were 8th grade newcomer CJ Ford, who averaged just over 13 points per game and returning 8th grade point guard Jayden Dixon, who averaged 10.5 points per game. Head coach Lee
The 13 members of the Middle School Boys’ Basketball team were: John Cook, Charlie Costello, Ethan Costello, Micah D’Anna, Judah Dawkins, Jayden Dixon, CJ Ford, Caden Kim, Chase Leach, Joseph McCrae, Jayden Sanchez, Adam Schlundt, and Justice Settles.
MS Boys’ New Developmental League
When nearly 30 6th-8th grade boys tried out for the middle school basketball team in early January, Coach Lee Martin knew he had a unique opportunity on his hands. Clearly, a team of 30 players was out of the question, and after two days of tryouts, a main squad of 13 players was selected. With 7 of those players being in 8th grade, the coaching staff was already thinking about next season and how to develop players with potential but just “weren’t quite there yet.”
After some brainstorming with Athletic Director Pam Hitchner, Coach Martin invited the boys who did not make the main squad to participate in a new “Developmental League” (D-League) on Saturdays. Fifteen boys, divided into two rosters (Green & White), joined this new program designed primarily to help younger players gain the fundamental skills and experience to prepare for tryouts next season.
Each week included an hour of conditioning and skills training, similar to a main squad practice, as well as a regulation game with coaches Marques Chaney and Charlie Costello, referees, and official scoring and stats. The D-League will wrap up on Saturday, February 27, with the last of a five-game series, followed by an awards ceremony to honor the team with the most wins and individual players who excelled in various aspects of the game.
The coaches are hopeful that the D-League program will continue next season and beyond, developing younger players and strengthening the middle school and high school basketball program for years to come.
Fifteen members of the ACS Cheer Team participated in Fresh Start Church’s “Night to Shine” event on Friday, February 12, clapping and cheering as a car parade of special needs students passed by. The event was organized through the Tim Tebow Foundation.
We’re hiring! ACS has immediate openings for several part-time positions — custodian, flex aides for our award-winning Early Education Center, and substitute teachers to serve in kindergarten through 12th grade classes. Apply on the ACS website on the “Employment Opportunities” page or contact Human Resources Manager Mrs. Arzum Sanchez for more information at asanchez@acseht.org.
Students in the ACS 8th grade Honors Writing class recently had the opportunity to compete in the Young Writers’ “SOS Sagas: Trapped” contest and the eight students who chose to enter the contest had their original stories selected for publication in the anthology that will be released later this year.
ACS 4th grade students have been learning about the history and culture of the Lenape Indian tribes, one of the early inhabitants of New Jersey, and recently created models of the longhouses where they lived. The longhouses are now on display in the hallway outside the 4th grade classrooms.
In her essay, 4th grader Mia Gaffney wrote that the longhouses were built by tying young trees to the frame, “trees young enough to bend and shape.” 4th grader Malani Christmon noted that 20 or more people could live in a longhouse and that “some longhouses had two stories used for sleeping and storage.” 4th grader Rafael Patiag wrote that a lot of fires were placed in the longhouse and were used for heating, cooking, and light. “There were holes at the top of the longhouse for the smoke to go out,” Patiag wrote. In his essay, 4th grader Ben Kelley wrote that one way to measure the length of a longhouse was by the number of fire pits. “A longhouse is about ten to twelve campfires long,” Kelley wrote.
ACS recognized and honored forward Olivia Chapman, a 4-year member of the Varsity Girls’ Basketball team, for pulling down 500 rebounds during her high school career with a special ceremony during the January 30 home game in the ACS gym. Olivia grabbed her 500th rebound in the first two minutes of the game against Veritas Christian Academy.
“I have been coaching Olivia for the past three years and I believe she is one of the most naturally, God-gifted athletes to play for our girls’ program,” Breunig said. Olivia has been a starter on the ACS Varsity Girls’ team for the past three years. She has led the team in rebounds for the past two years and usually leads the team in steals each game.
Kathy Reinheimer first came to ACS as a parent to enroll her daughters, Heather and Holly, in elementary school in 1973, just two years after ACS opened its doors in the Parish House at St. John’s By the Sea Reformed Episcopal Church in Ventnor, New Jersey. Nearly 40 years later, Mrs. Reinheimer returned to ACS, coming out of retirement as a public school librarian and volunteering for the past nine years to help expand and modernize the ACS school library.
Thank you to our school family and friends who participated in the Boscov’s “Friends Helping Friends” charitable shopping event in October 2020, which resulted in donations to the ACS Annual Fund and the ACS Missions Club.
The application period is now open for students interested in being accepted into the National Honor Society and the National Junior Honor Society. The application packets can be downloaded from the ACS website under the “Academics” tab and also obtained from NHS advisor Mrs. Coates and Guidance Counselor Mrs. Ragland.
ACS is pleased to periodically recognize and congratulate several of its alumni who are making their mark in college, in the working world, and in other endeavors, building on the strong educational and spiritual foundation they received during their years at ACS. The alumni spotlighted this month are: Kristine Cassell (’85), Kim Clark Eaves (’87), Jonathan Cassell (1996-8th), Ian Wallace (’04), Taylor Hadley (’07), Sterling Breunig (’09), Byron Nelson (’09), Amy Vogel Nelson (’09), Alexa Weintraub Byrd (’09), Ani Karabashian (’12), Dakota Hitchner (’17), Jacob O’Brien (’19), and Ben Noble (’20). Profiles of these and many more ACS alumni can be found on the “Alumni News” page of the ACS website under the “News and Events” category.
Kim Clark Eaves (’87) returned to ACS as a school parent in September 2020 to enroll four of her five children, and in November 2020 was a featured speaker at the 50th anniversary Elementary Chapel. She talked about her passion for helping and serving others, and how that passion led her to become a foster parent. She adopted three of her children after fostering them. Over the past 30 years, Kim has held a variety of positions in the medical field, from working as a radiology tech to practicing and teaching massage therapy. Currently, Kim is working as an entrepreneur in a health and wellness social retail network marketing business. She resides in Egg Harbor Township and her family worships at Gospel of Grace Ministries.
Ian Wallace (’04) is the operations manager at Shoemaker Lumber Co. in Ocean City, NJ, a position he has held since 2011. Ian earned a BA in history from Eastern University. He was in the first ACS graduating class to graduate at the new campus in Egg Harbor Township in June 2004. He returned to ACS to serve as the Varsity Boys’ Baseball Coach from 2009-2013. Ian is a deacon at Ocean City Baptist Church and has overseen their adult basketball outreach on Tuesday nights in the winter and spring. One of his favorite life verses is Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Byron Nelson (’09) became the Boys’ Basketball Head Coach at the Atlantic County Institute of Technology in Mays Landing in 2020 and also teaches health and PE. He graduated from Kean University in 2016 with a BS in communication recreation administration. Prior to working at ACIT, Byron worked at Winslow Township High School and at ACS, as a fitness trainer and running basketball clinics. In 2019, Byron married ACS classmate Amy Vogel Nelson (’09). Amy earned her BA in elementary education from Stockton University in 2013. She returned to ACS in 2015 to serve as the Extended Care Director and then became an elementary teacher. Amy and Byron reside in Northfield and have one son, Cameron.
Alexa Weintraub Byrd (’09) earned a BA in interdisciplinary studies from Coastal Carolina University, with a concentration in education and social work. After college, she and her husband, Torren, put down roots in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Since 2018, Alexa has worked at Bridgewater Academy, a charter elementary school in Horry County, and at Bridge Builders Family and Youth Services as a counselor. Alexa and Torren are active at Ekklesia Christian Church and have two girls, Victoria and Ava.
Ani Karabashian (’12) became a full-time student in the fall of 2020 to pursue a Master’s degree in urban planning from Rutgers University. She is looking to pursue a career in urban planning that focuses on food access and creating healthier communities. She earned her BA in social work from Gordon College in 2016. After graduation, she took a position with Food Corps NJ and worked as a nutrition educator with K-8 students in the Atlantic City public schools and at the Salvation Army. In 2018, Ani took a new position as a SNAP-ED nutrition educator with the Community FoodBank of NJ, Southern Branch, teaching nutrition classes to adults and children, which included cooking demos. Ani is active with the women’s Bible study group at Beacon Evangelical Free Church and has served as a leader with the middle school youth group. She enjoys gardening, exploring the outdoors, and cooking, and in the winter of 2020-2021 baked and sold Armenian pastries to raise funds for the Armenian Soldier’s Fund in Armenia. She resides in Ventnor.
An exciting winter sports season is underway as high school and middle school basketball and cheer teams showed off their skills at several games during the week of January 25. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, no spectators are allowed in the stands, but fans can watch the games live on YouTube.
Next week is the kick-off of our annual Bowls of Hope Soup Fundraiser. To ensure the health and safety of our school family and friends, the Bowls of Hope will not be held this year as an in-person Soup Cook-Off in our gym. Instead, this year’s fundraiser will be in the form of a “Super Soup Coupon Card” that can be purchased and used to to receive a free soup, with a minimum purchase, at 15 participating local restaurants from February 1 to May 31, 2021.
The Student Council is leading a school-wide Food Drive in February in conjunction with the Bowls of Hope Soup Fundraiser. Brown paper grocery bags donated by the English Creek ShopRite will be sent home with students the week of February 1 to fill with non-perishable food items that will be donated to the Community FoodBank of NJ, Southern Branch.
Students from kindergarten to the 12th grade are being challenged to create an original video to promote the Bowls of Hope Soup Fundraiser. The contest offers VISA gift card prizes for the top three entries and those winning videos will be posted on ACS social media during the month of February.
Online electronic enrollment for the Atlantic Christian School 2021-2022 school year is now underway for returning families. Email messages about re-enrollment were sent out by Admissions Director Jessica Martin on Friday, January 22. ACS families with students currently enrolled are being given an exclusive period of time from January 22 until February 19 to secure their child’s space for next year, ahead of the open enrollment period for new families, which will begin on March 1.
Atlantic Christian School is pleased to offer needs-based Tuition Assistance Grants for the 2021-2022 school year to families with children enrolling in kindergarten through the 12th grade and the online application process opens on Monday, February 1 on the ACS website. The deadline to apply is May 1.
ACS recognized and honored senior forward Sydney Pearson, a member of the Varsity Girls’ Basketball team, for scoring 1,000 points during her high school career with a special presentation during the January 26 home game in the ACS gym. Pearson scored her 1,000th point with a layup in the first quarter of the first conference game of the season against Calvary Academy.
Athletic Director Pam Hitchner presented Sydney with a special commemorative game ball. Sydney’s parents, Doug and Lori Pearson, and Varsity Girls’ Basketball Coach Kaylee Breunig, posed for photos with Sydney.
The students in Mrs. Meza’s 2nd grade classes have been learning about the late civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and his contributions to America. The class recently completed a reflective art and writing project inspired by his memorable “I Have a Dream” speech to a crowd of some 250,000 people at the 1963 March on Washington.
The majestic trees found across the 37-acre ACS campus have been recreated in watercolor paintings done by ACS 5th grade students during art classes over the past several months. The colorful paintings are now on display on the hallway bulletin outside the school library.
