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Alumni Spotlight: ACS Alumni Making Their Mark in College and Beyond

ACS is pleased to 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 here are Karen Kizer Woerner (’86), Tommy Tillis (’10), Dara Brown Heston (’11), Rachel Picking Tillis (’11), Hannah Schalles (’13),  Paul Jones (’15), Sam Karabashian (’15), Lydia Dice (’16), and Dakota (DJ) Hitchner (’17).  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.

Karen Kizer Woerner (’86) earned her BS in elementary education from Liberty University and wanted to return to her hometown to teach. She spent 15 years as an elementary teacher in Pleasantville, mostly as a 4th grade teacher.. During those years, she was named Teacher of the Year twice at the Leeds Avenue School and was nominated and chosen twice for the Who’s Who of American Teachers. Karen became a stay-at-home mom in 2005 and has been homeschooling her children, Kirsten and Andrew. This fall, Karen stepped back into the classroom part-time and is teaching 4th and 5th grade at Westminster Christian Academy.

Tommy Tillis (’10) joined the U.S. Navy after high school and served as a Navy rescue swimmer for six years, with three tours of duty to Bahrain. He is married to another ACS alumnus, Rachel Picking (’11), and they have two children, Ellie, and Cooper. While Tommy was serving in the Navy, the family lived in Norfolk, VA, but they returned to South Jersey in 2018.  Tommy is now a firefighter in Ocean City, his life-long dream job, and Rachel is a stay-at-home mom. Rachel, who was valedictorian of the Class of 2010, attended Liberty University where she earned a BS in business administration.

Dara Brown Heston (’11), who has overseen the kitchen at the Atlantic City Rescue Mission for the past six years, recently became a Certified Medical Assistant and is working at a plasma clinic in Atlantic City.

Hannah Schalles (’13) graduated in May 2020 from Cedarville University with a Doctor of Pharmacy and is now doing her pharmacy residence at Nemours/Alfred I duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Delaware. She plans to pursue a career as a clinical pharmacist.

Paul Jones (’15) has relocated to Florida with his wife, Hunter, and daughter, Selah, to take a faculty position at Trinity Christian Academy in Lake Worth. Paul is teaching middle school Bible and history. He will also be an assistant coach on the Varsity Boys’ basketball team, a position Paul held at ACS for the past several years.

 

Sam Karabashian (’15) has been living and working in the nation’s capital since graduating in 2019 from Biola University with a degree in business analytics. He worked last year in the Capitol Hill office of Congressman Mark Green of Tennessee and recently took a position with DeLoitte, a global firm that provides audit, consulting, tax, and advisory services.

Lydia Dice (’16) graduated with honors in September 2020 from Lancaster Bible College with degrees in Bible and middle level education in science and math. She has moved to South Carolina to work for a gap year with One Life at South Wesleyan University while she pursues her Masters in higher education through Geneva University.

 

 

Dakota (DJ) Hitchner (’17) is in her junior year at Cairn University pursuing a degree in health and physical education. She has distinguished herself as a scholar and athlete, making the dean’s list every semester while playing on the Women’s Soccer Team and the Women’s Basketball team. She has made all-conference in both sports every year, has been captain of the Women’s Basketball team, and was named to the All-Sportsmanship Team of the Colonial States Athletic Conference.  In September 2020, DJ was recognized for her athletic talents and leadership by being one of 10 players named to Cairn’s 2010-2020 All-Decade Women’s Basketball team. She is also student president of the athletic department and is responsible for planning student events on campus.

 

 

Classroom Cameo: K Students Celebrate Johnny Appleseed Day, Make Homemade Applesauce

Our kindergarten classes celebrated Johnny Appleseed Day and Apple Day during the week of September 28, learning how to make applesauce from scratch and doing an apple taste test.

The first step in the applesauce-making process was to cut up red and green apples and stack them into crock pots to cook, a task carried out by the classroom aides and KB teacher Mrs. Vaccaro. In the afternoon, once the apples had cooked down, the students took turns using a food mill to mash the apples into applesauce. Of course, the students also enjoyed eating the applesauce they had made.

Students also had the opportunity to do an apple tasting test. “This week we have been learning all about our senses and the apple tasting test gave the children an opportunity to describe the feel, look, smell, sound, and taste of various apples,” said Mrs. Vaccaro.

Throwback Thursday 50th Anniversary Photo Contest Starts October 8

This school year is the 50th Anniversary of ACS and there will be various activities and events to mark this amazing milestone in our school’s history. The first fun anniversary activity will begin on Thursday, October 8 — a Throwback Thursday Photo Contest — with monthly prizes for contestants who correctly identify details in the photos.  The first contest photo is posted here. Let the competition begin!

Each week from October through April, ACS will select one photo featuring ACS students and/or staff involved in an activity or event that has occurred in the past, going as far back as the first school year of 1971-1972. A new photo will be posted each Thursday on the ACS Facebook page, the ACS Stronger Together Facebook group page, and Instagram.  The photo will also be posted on a bulletin board in the Multi-Purpose Room, in the school foyer video,  and on the ACS website.  To participate, contestants must simply identify details about the photos. Earn points by identifying: 1) the year the photo was taken; 2) where the photo was taken; 3) where the photo first appeared or the occasion of the photo; 4) the names of the people in the photo. Each correct detail will earn a contestant one point.

To enter the Throwback Thursday Photo Contest, contestants will need to email their information about the photo to contest@acseht.org.  The contestant with the most points at the end of each month will win a prize.

We welcome all ACS family members, students, staff, alumni, alumni parents, and friends in the community to participate in our Throwback Thursday Photo Contest. Let’s celebrate the great memories made by the thousands of students, families, and staff who have been a part of ACS over the past 50 years.

 

ACS Spirit Day at Buffalo Wild Wings — Friday, October 16

Save the Date! ACS Spirit Day at Buffalo Wild Wings in Mays Landing will be on Friday, October 16. Eat wings and help raise funds for ACS Athletics.

This is the third year that the Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant in Mays Landing is partnering with ACS to support our school. ACS will receive a donation of 20% of the total bill of any customer who participates between 11:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. on October 16, the day before Homecoming.  The donation will be applied to take-out orders as well as to meals eaten indoors or outdoors at the restaurant. The restaurant is located at 4311 Black Horse Pike in Mays Landing.

Please spread the word about this exciting fundraiser to benefit ACS athletics.

CLICK HERE to get the special yellow printable fundraiser ticket to present when you order your meal. Tickets are also available in the school office.

 

Join Us for Homecoming 2020 — Saturday, October 17

The ACS school family, alumni, family members, and friends are invited to Homecoming 2020 on Saturday, October 17, with our Varsity Soccer teams facing off against Life Center Academy from Burlington, NJ. Both games are set to be played on our newly completed artificial turf soccer field.  Our Varsity Girls’ game will begin at noon and the Varsity Boys’ game will kick off at 2:00 p.m. The Homecoming Court Presentation will be held between the games, from 1:30-2:00 p.m., along with a Dedication Ceremony for the new turf field.

The Homecoming festivities will get underway with Open Volleyball outdoors for our alumni, families, and friends from 10 a.m. to noon and 3-on-3 half-court basketball games on our new outdoor basketball court from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Some additional fun activities are being added to Homecoming as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of ACS this year. There will be an opportunity to pose for a 50th anniversary photo op and a Homecoming Photo Contest with prizes. There will be lots of great food to enjoy throughout the day, including hamburgers, hot dogs, and pizza, with the proceeds benefiting our athletic programs. Come on out for a fun family day to cheer our Cougars on to victory.

In the evening, our annual Homecoming Dance will be held in the ACS gym for ACS high school students and their guests from 6:30-9:00 p.m.

ACS Students, Staff Gather to Pray for See You at the Pole Event

Groups of ACS students and staff gathered throughout the day on September 23 near the school flagpoles to pray for our school, our community, and nation as part of the annual national “See You at the Pole” event.

Elementary students gathered for chapel near the flagpole and spent time praying and praising God in song, led by students in the 5th grade worship team.

Middle school and high school students gathered at the flagpole during their Bible classes, praying, reading Bible verses, and talking about the power of prayer.

The event, now in its 30th year, was usually held before the start of school and included participation from ACS families who could choose to attend. However, to ensure the health and safety of our students and families in light of the coronavirus, the event was modified to be held during the school day and involving smaller groups of students and staff gathering at different times.

 

 

New Hours for Used Uniform Closet, Lost and Found

New operating hours are now in effect for the Used Uniform Closet and Lost and Found as part of our effort to ensure the health and safety of our students and staff while in the school building.
Services Coordinator Anne Block said parents may visit the Used Uniform Closet or Lost and Found, which are located in the the Multi-Purpose Room, from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. or from 3:00-4:00 p.m. daily, Monday to Friday.  Students and staff will not be in the Multi-Purpose Room during those hours.
Mrs. Block also noted that the school accepts outgrown or not needed uniforms in good condition year-round. The used uniforms are sold at discounted prices and the income from the sales goes into the school’s operating fund.
Clothing, backpacks, lunch bags, and water bottles left on the playground, in hallways, and other areas in the school are taken to the Lost and Found. All unclaimed, unmarked items will be displayed for a time for reclaiming. If not claimed after 14 days, items will be made available for resale or discarded.  Mrs. Block said parents can help alleviate the build-up of articles in the lost and found by marking their child’s name and class on all coats, sweaters, and jackets.
Please contact Mrs. Block with any questions at 609-653-1199, ext. 381 or ablock@acseht.org.

Race for Education Fundraiser Now Underway — Help Us Reach Our $30,000 Goal

Our 18th annual Race for Education fall fundraiser, to be held on Friday, October 30, kicked off the week of September 21 and we’ve already received over $8,100 from sponsors! Make a gift online today and help us reach and exceed our goal of $30,000 to support our educational programs and activities this year.

Race fundraising packets were sent home with PreK3-5th grade students and were mailed to parents of 6th-12th 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.

New this year — we’ve expanded the Race to be an all-school event — adding high school students to the effort. Throughout Race Day on Friday, October 30, students in various grade-level groups will walk, run, or jog around our track for a 30-minute period, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. To add to the fun, the Middle School and High School races will incorporate an obstacle course.

The fundraising method we’re using this year is also new. Parents do not have any address label sheets to fill out and send in to school. Instead, there is 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 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.

There are also lots of great prizes for students and classes who get involved — the specific details are in the Race Packet sent to each school family. There is a “Student Grand Prize” of an Apple Watch Series 3 or a season pass to an Ocean City water park for the top student fundraiser, and there are three “Class Grand Prizes” for classes who raise the most money in sponsor donations — one prize for an Early Ed/Elementary Class, one for a Middle School Class, and one for a High School Class. Other prizes include Dress Down Day Passes, Snack Passes, and Five Below $10 Gift Card Prizes — check out all the details in the Race packet.

If you would like to volunteer on Race Day, please contact Race Coordinator PJ Santos at psantos@acseht.org or 609-653-1199, ext. 302.

Middle School Soccer Season Off to a Great Start

Our Middle School Soccer teams are off to a great start, winning their first games of the season at home against Pilgrim Academy on September 21. The Girls’ team, under head coach Casey Hopwood, won 3-0, and the Boys’ team, under new head coach Brandon Stevens, beat Pilgrim 6-1.

On September 22, the MS Girls played away at King’s Christian School and beat their co-ed team 3-2. Both teams will play next on September 29 against Pilgrim Academy at their home field. The full schedule of the season is posted on the Middle School Athletic Calendar on the ACS website.

8th grader Taylor Murphy was the top goal scorer on the 20-member Girls’ team, scoring two goals in both the Pilgrim and King’s Christian games. 8th grader Rebecca DiMaio scored 1 goal  in the Pilgrim game and 7th grader Lydia McCarthy scored a goal in the King’s Christian game.  7th grader Anyae Welch played strong defense in the goal.

In the Boys’ game, 8th grader Chase Leach led the offense on the 17-member team with three goals. 8th grader Charlie Costello, 6th grader Justice Settles, and 8th grader Alek Stein each scored one goal. 6th grader Ethan Costello and 8th grader Judah Dawkins each had one save playing in goal.

We’re excited to see these teams continue to grow and develop their skills. Go Cougars!

Order Your Class T-Shirts By October 6

It’s time to order Class T-Shirts for students from preschool to the 8th grade. The Class T-shirts will be worn for the Race for Education and for other class activities during the school year, with different colored shirts for each grade. The order form is online and the deadline to place your order is Monday, October 5.

The T-shirts will be imprinted with this year’s Spiritual Development Theme Verse from 1 Corinthians 16:13. The sizes range from Youth XS to Adult XXL and cost $6.00 each, except for Adult XXL, which are $8.00 each.

The T-shirt order form also includes an option to purchase a hot dog lunch on the day of the Race for Education. The Parent-Teacher Fellowship is offering its popular “Hot Diggity Dog Lunch” for $4. The meal includes a hot dog, chips, and a drink. Additional hot dogs can be purchased for $2 each.

CLICK HERE to order the Class T-Shirts and Hot Diggity Dog Lunch.

Any questions? Please contact Race Coordinator PJ Santos at psantos@acseht.org or 609-653-1199, ext. 302.

Support ACS by Shopping at Boscov’s on Oct. 14-15

Boscov’s is once again sponsoring its “Friends Helping Friends” charitable shopping event on October 14 and 15 — and if you mention Atlantic Christian School by name in the store at the register or online at check-out, Boscov’s will donate 5% of your total purchase to ACS.  The big shopping event will be two days this year — October 14 and 15 — from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.  There are no tickets or shopping passes to purchase in advance, just shop on those two days and mention ACS and we’ll get the donation.

To further attract customers on those days, Boscov’s will be giving shoppers a 20% discount off of their lowest sale prices both in-store and online. With the health and safety of workers and customers in mind, Boscov’s has modified the event to extend over two days to avoid crowding and allow for social distancing.

The Boscov’s Friends Helping Friends event has helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for local non-profit organizations over the past 23 years and this year they hope to give away $1 million, according to Boscov’s Chairman and CEO Jim Boscov. Thank you for supporting ACS with this shopping opportunity and please encourage your family members and friends to participate as well.

 

 

 

 

 

New Teacher Spotlight: Welcome to Mrs. Gomez, Mr. Rosie, and Miss Whisman


ACS is pleased to welcome and spotlight several faculty members who are new to the ACS staff this fall or have moved into new positions — Mrs. Estefany Gomez, Mr. Tim Rosie, and Miss Megan Whisman. Please pray with us that God will bless and guide them as they teach, mentor, and serve as Christian role models for our students.
Estefany Gomez is a new face in our Upper School for the 2020-2021 school year. She is teaching Middle School and High School Spanish, as well as 4th and 5th grade Spanish. Born and raised in the Dominican Republic, Estefany enjoys teaching her native language to her students and also sharing with them how following God’s plan for her life led her to ACS. She was planning to be an engineer when she started college at the Dominico Americano University, but God had a different plan and she eventually changed direction and earned a BA in education.

After getting married and moving to the United States, Estefany and her husband Miguel made their home in Atlantic City. They have two children, Graciela and Miguel Andres, and they are active in the Ciudad De Luz church, where Estefany leads the Children’s Ministry. Estefany started out part-time at ACS in 2018 teaching elementary Spanish. “I love working at ACS — I feel very much at home,” Estefany said.
A pivotal Bible verse that first impacted Estefany when she heard the gospel preached at the age of 14 is Jeremiah 1:5, which says: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Please give Estefany a warm ACS welcome as she follows her calling to be a light for Christ as she teaches Spanish to our 4th-12th grade students.
Tim Rosie is our new Director of K-12 Choral and Instrumental Music, which includes leading our Elementary and Middle School Bands and our Middle School and High School Choirs. Tim and his wife Stephanie live in Egg Harbor Township and met at Cedarville University, where they were both music majors. Tim is an accomplished trombone player, an instrument he first took up in the 5th grade.
Born and raised in Somers Point, he played in Mainland High School’s Jazz Band, Wind Ensemble, and Marching Band, and is now also serving as the brass tech for the band. Tim has been sharing his love of music, and especially brass instruments, with budding young musicians for over 11 years as a private teacher in Texas and New Jersey.
You can also find Tim in church on Sundays leading praise and worship at Faith Bible Baptist Church in Egg Harbor Township. Please join us in welcoming Tim to ACS.
 
Megan Whisman is starting her first full school year at ACS, having joined the faculty last spring just a few weeks before the coronavirus outbreak closed the campus and moved classroom learning online. Megan is excited to be sharing her love of reading and American and British literature with her students in the 8th to 12th grades.
“The books we’re reading, even though they were written many years ago, are full of universal themes and truths that apply to everyone and are still relevant today,” Megan said. “We’re still wrestling with the same thoughts and ideas and some of these ideas have transformed the world.”  Some of her favorite books include The Hobbit, Pride and Prejudice, Crime and Punishment, and A Christmas Carol.  Megan earned her BA in humanities from Cincinnati Christian University and is now working on a Master’s degree in teaching with a concentration in English from Liberty University.
Born in North Carolina, Megan and her family relocated to New Jersey when she was seven. She is the second of four children and has been active in her father’s church, Milmay Christian Church. She enjoys working as a fellow teacher at ACS with her mother, Amy, who teaches high school history, and likes being able to wave an occasional hello in the hallway to her sister, Rachel, who is an ACS senior. In her spare time, Megan enjoys reading, writing, baking, and hiking.

We Love Our Volunteers — Great Way to Be Involved in the ACS Family

Volunteers are an important part of school life at ACS and we are blessed each year to see the servant hearts of our parents, guardians, grandparents, and friends in the community who are willing to give of their time and talents to make the school day experience at ACS the best it can be. As this school year gets underway, we are in need of volunteers to help in a variety of areas, which are described below. Please consider how you can be involved in the ACS Family by serving as a volunteer.

  • Lunchroom Volunteers — Volunteers are needed to serve lunch and help with light clean-up. Volunteers can choose to serve daily, once a week, or once a month. The serving time is from 10 am to 1 pm. We can accommodate anyone’s schedule. To sign up, please contact Services Coordinator Anne Block at ablock@acseht.org or call 609-653-1199, ext. 381.
  • Race for Education Volunteers — We need volunteers to help with the Race for Education on Race Day on Friday, October 30, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. outdoors at the ACS track.  The volunteer duties include being a Race lap counter, serving at the water and popcorn stations, and being a Race photographer. To sign up, please contact Race Coordinator PJ Santos at psantos@acseht.org or call 609-653-1199, ext. 302.
  • Servant’s Heart Club — Volunteers are needed to assist with the after-school Servant’s Heart Club. The Club meets the first Tuesday of every month from 3:15-4:00 p.m. and the first meeting will be on Tuesday, October 6. The club is for students in grades 2-5 and is focused on doing creative, hands-on service projects aimed at blessing people in our school and local community.  Past service activities that the club has conducted include: making snack bags and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the Atlantic City Rescue Mission, wrapping Christmas boxes for Operation Christmas Child, planting trees on the ACS campus and promoting recycling on Earth Day, and making salvation friendship bracelets to be gifted to children in Jamaica and the Dominican Republic. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Club Advisor Mrs. Jennifer DiMaio at 609-432-2030.

Parents in Prayer Group to Meet Every Tuesday Morning — Starts September 29

Impact your children’s lives and ACS through prayer. Be a part of the ACS Parents in Prayer Group that will meet throughout the school year on Tuesday mornings from 8:45-10:00 a.m. in the Extended Care trailer. The first prayer meeting is Tuesday, September 29 and all parents and guardians are welcome to attend.

The goal of the prayer group is to ask God to move at every level of the school, to work in the hearts of our students and their families and in the lives of everyone connected to ACS. We will be praying that our young people will grow in their faith and that their lives will be transformed by God’s Word and the power of the Holy Spirit. We will be praying that our entire school community would live their lives devoted to one another in love, through Jesus, to the glory of God.

Any questions? Please contact group leader and alumni parent Sharon Griffith at 609-214-2136.

Sign Up For Parent-Teacher Conferences — Wednesday, October 7

Parent-Teacher Conferences for parents with students in K to 12th grade will be on Wednesday, October 7 from 1:00-5:00 p.m. To schedule an in-person conference with a teacher, please use our on-line scheduling tool using the links listed below. Parents of any student on remote learning are welcome to sign up for a time and you will be sent a Zoom link for your meeting.

A 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.

For the health and safety of our school families and staff, we have several new rules regarding attending an in-person conference. There is a limit of one person per family that can attend the conference, your temperature will be taken upon entry into the school building, and you must wear a mask when in the building.

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.

Pretzel Days – Now Mondays & Wednesdays

Starting this week, PTF Philly Pretzels are available for students to purchase on Wednesdays too! The Parent-Teacher Fellowship will be selling Philly Pretzel Factory Pretzels for $1 every Monday and Wednesday during lunch.

Funds raised by the PTF go to support student scholarships and awards and teacher equipment and supplies. Thank you for supporting our school!

 

New After-School Classes Starting Next Week

There are new After-School Classes starting next week! Intramural Baseball, Art Studio and Art Workshop, and virtual Snapology classes are being offered.  Please see the list of programs being offered for the fall season below.  

CLICK HERE to see to download the registration forms.  Printed copies will also go home with elementary students this week.

 

 

 

Join Us for Back-to-School Nights — Via Zoom on September 17 and 24

Parents and guardians are encouraged to participate in our upcoming Back-to-School Nights to be held online via Zoom rather than in-person this month, in keeping with our desire to protect the health and safety of our school families and staff. The Elementary Back-to-School Night will be on Thursday, September 17 for families with students in Kindergarten to the 5th grade, and the Upper School Back-to-School Night will be on Thursday, September 24 for families with students in grades 6-12.

The Elementary Back-to-School Night on September 17 will have two, 30-minute live sessions, from 6:30-7:00 p.m. and from 7:15-7:45 p.m. Parents can choose to log on and participate in either session. Teachers will provide parents with their unique Zoom meeting links. More detailed information will be sent home with students and via email.

The Upper School Back-to-School Night on September 24 will have both recorded presentations from teachers and a live session to be able to ask questions of your child’s teachers. Further details will be sent in an upcoming email from Upper School Principal Meg McHale.

Get Involved in the Parent-Teacher Fellowship — First Meeting Thursday, Sept. 17

Are you interested in getting involved as a volunteer at ACS? Come out for the first monthly meeting of the Parent-Teacher Fellowship on Thursday, September 17 from 1:30-3:00 p.m. to find out  how and in what ways you can get involved. The PTF will continue to meet the third Thursday of each month throughout the school year.

The PTF is a great way for parents and guardians to get plugged into ACS and to use your gifts and talents to help advance our school’s mission.  This year’s activities and fundraising plans will be discussed at the September 17 meeting. The PTF organizes a monthly lunch to bless ACS faculty staff and heads up several fundraisers including the sale of ACS Family Spiritwear, Philly Pretzel Factory pretzels on Mondays during lunch, and ShopRite Gift Cards. Funds raised by the PTF support student scholarships and awards and help purchase teacher equipment and supplies.

To attend the meeting, please check into the school office when you arrive and you will be directed to the location of the meeting.  For any questions, please contact PTF President Terry Vogel at 609-226-4383. Other members of the PTF Board are: Polly Ellison (Vice President), Lori Pearson (Treasurer), and Amanda Costello (Corresponding Secretary).

ACS 2020-2021 School Spiritual Development Theme — Stand Firm

The ACS 2020-2021 Spiritual Development Theme is “Stand Firm,” based on 1 Corinthians 16:13, which says — “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.” Chapel speakers during the first week of school focused on this theme and posters were displayed throughout the school building to encourage students to stand firm on God’s promises. Staff T-shirts worn on the first day of school also displayed the new theme.

On September 9, Pastor Matt Mouliert of Crossroads Fellowship in Pleasantville was the featured speaker at the Middle School and High School chapel and said standing firm means “that you stand out, stand up, and stand strong.” He referenced the actions of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the book of Daniel as examples of what it means to stand firm in your faith.  The three Hebrew men refused to bow down and worship a statue of King Nebuchadnezzar and were thrown into a fiery furnace to die, but an angel of the Lord protected them from any harm.

Elementary Principal and Early Education Director Gail Alford spoke about the theme verse during the Wednesday chapels for students from preschool to the 5th grade. Alford said that the Elementary and Early Education chapels throughout the year will be focusing on the armor of God.

“It’s so important that we teach even our youngest students how to suit up and protect ourselves from the attacks of the world,” Alford said.  Upper School Principal Meg McHale said the middle school and high school students will break into smaller COMPASS Bible study groups that will meet every other week during chapel time.  This year’s spiritual development theme is integrated into the high school COMPASS study series,  “Counter Culture” by David Platt, and into the middle school study series, “Follow Me,” also by David Platt.

 

Save The Date! Race for Education – October 30, 2020

 

Are you interested in helping Atlantic Christian School raise $30,000 in order to continue to provide a quality education and affordable tuition?

Would you be willing to give a minimal amount of time to help our school raise needed funds?

Here are some facts about this year’s Race:

  • Our Race for Education is a jog-a-thon, which will involve our PreK3-12th grade students walking and/or jogging around the school track for 30 minutes.
  • Our Race for Education will be held on Friday, October 30, 2020.
  • A “Kick-Off” packet of information about our Race for Education will be sent home with each PreK3-12th grade student on Monday, September 21.
  • “Remote learners” are encouraged to participate in our Race for Education as well. We will be sending parents suggestions on how to make this fundraiser a good wellness activity (e.g., walking and/or jogging in your neighborhood or at a local park).
  • The success of our Race for Education is based on sharing your child’s personal fundraising webpage address with potential sponsors by EMAIL, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or by sending individuals a sponsor mailer.
  • Potential sponsors may be family members, relatives, close friends, and neighbors. Don’t forget to include relatives and friends that live out of town and may not normally be able to contribute to other school fundraising efforts. Our Race for Education makes it easy for them to participate as well!
  • There are incentives and prizes to help promote the success of our Race for Education, which encourage student & classroom participation (e.g., Snack Passes, Dress Down Day Cards, “Five Below” Gift Cards, Class Outings, Lap Winner Certificates).
  • Our Race for Education is great fun for our students, no hassle to parents, and will fully benefit our school’s educational program!

 

 

Mondays are Philly Pretzel Days – Starts Sept. 14

PTF Pretzel Mondays are back! The Parent-Teacher Fellowship will be selling Philly Pretzel Factory Pretzels for $1 every Monday during lunch, starting Monday, September 14.

Funds raised by the PTF go to support student scholarships and awards and teacher equipment and supplies. Thank you for supporting our school!

 

Middle School Soccer Tryouts – Sept. 14-15 Final Two Days

Middle School Soccer tryouts for the boys’ and girls’ teams, which began today, will continue through next Tuesday, September 15.  Try-outs are held after school from 3:15-5:00  p.m. Please come prepared with cleats and shin guards.  The MS Boys’ coach is Brandon Stevens and the MS Girls’ coach is Casey Hopwood.

ACS in Final Voting Round for Best of Press 2020 Awards – Vote for ACS!

ACS has advanced to the final round of voting for the Best of the Press 2020 Awards — for Best Child Daycare Center, Best Summer Camp, and Best Place to Work.

Thank you to everyone who voted during the Nomination Round to get ACS into the Top 5.

Now we need your votes again in the Final Round of Voting – which goes from September 9 to September 23.

CLICK HERE to vote or go to: pressofac.com/contests   —  You can vote once daily.

Look for the “Services” section,  and ACS is in the running in 3 categories:

  • Best Child Daycare Center
  • Best Summer Camp
  • Best Place to Work

Thank you for voting and please encourage your family members and friends to vote too.

New High School Class to Focus on Missions and Ministries

ACS has added a new high school elective called “Missions and Ministries” and faculty member Dave Genter, who will be teaching the course, is looking for help from ACS families, friends, and local churches to build a networking list of missionaries that the students can study and support.

The new elective is part of the “Ministry” concentration, one of  five high school concentrations that allow high school students to be more immersed in a specialized field as they explore their God-given gifts and abilities. The other concentrations are Business, Education, Health and Medicine, and Technology.

“The students in this class will be researching missions and missionaries — where they are, the challenges they face, their needs, and how we can pray for them,” Genter said. “We will also do some correspondence with the missionaries in the field and will try to face time some of them.” Genter said time will be set aside each week to pray specifically for the missionaries they are studying.

Please contact Mr. Genter with the names and contact numbers of any missionaries that you may know or support to help the class building their missionary network. Please email Mr. Genter at: dgenter@acseht.org.