Post Tagged with: "elementary school"

Year-End Chapels Honor Students for Academic Excellence, Christian Conduct, and More

Year-end Awards Chapels on June 7 and 14 recognized students in grades 1-5 and in grades 6, 7, 9, 10, and 11 for their hard work and accomplishments in their academic subjects, as well as in the areas of physical fitness and demonstrating Christian character.

Elementary Principal Gail Alford and middle school faculty member Dan Vasquez both reflected in their chapel remarks on this year’s theme verse from 2 Timothy 3:16-17 — All scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.  “God’s Word is given to each of us to equip up for every stage of our life,” Vasquez said. “This summer, allow God’s Word to come alive in your heart and impact how you live and act every day.”

At the Elementary Awards Chapel, 5th grader Maxdiel Ramos gave the opening prayer and the 5th Grade Worship Team led the students in two worship songs. After Alford’s chapel message, students were honored for making the Honor Roll and for significant achievement in physical fitness, music, art, Spanish, and technology. Each classroom teacher also recognized individual students for highest academic average, most improved, and exemplifying Christian character with their fellow classmates. 5th grader Knox Maxwell closed the chapel with prayer.

Athletic Director Pam Hitchner and PE teacher Josh Clark handed out the fitness awards.

Middle School/High School Awards Chapel

At the Middle School/High School Awards Chapel, the Middle School Worship Team opened the chapel with worship, singing “I Thank God” by Maverick City Music and Upperroom and “I Speak Jesus” by Here Be Lions. Upper School Principal Meg McHale then welcomed the students, noting that the program was a time to celebrate and receive awards for various achievements.

“But your true reward is knowing that you have poured yourself out and done the best that you could before the Lord,” McHale said. “God asks us to take the gifts He’s given us and give Him glory by using them and growing and learning so eventually we are able to impact the world for His kingdom.”

Students were then recognized for various achievements, including achieving the highest academic average in their grade and in individual subjects, the Presidential Fitness Awards, the Citizenship Award, and the COMPASS Award for exhibiting outstanding character and Christian testimony. Faculty member Vasquez closed the chapel with a devotional and prayer.

Both awards programs were live streamed and can be viewed on the ACS You Tube channel.

Musical, Dramatic Talents of K-3 Students Shine in Spring Concert

Parents, family members, and friends packed the ACS gym on April 21 for our K-3rd grade Elementary Spring Concert. The instrumental, vocal, and acting skills of our students were on display as they performed on recorders, sang songs that celebrated the power and love of God, and presented the musical “Puzzle Puppy.”

Five students were featured in the musical’s skits — 3rd grader Kambriella Rogers as Detective Puzzle Puppy, 3rd grader Grace Petrinec as the Cat, 3rd grader Victoria Rosario as the Mole, 3rd grade Chloe Capito as Pixie Poodle, and 2nd grader Carson Myers as the Police Dog. Four 2nd graders — Jayce Bird, Sadie Brossman, Harleigh Kraus, and Jaxson Silva — sang in the Drama Chorus. Interspersed with the skits, students in the 1st-3rd grades presented songs to tell the story of Detective Puzzle Puppy investigating the case of Pixie Poodle’s missing puppy treats.

The kindergarten classes closed the concert with two praise and worship songs — “Super Wonderful” by Little Praise Party and Yancy” and “Children of God” by Saddleback Kids. Congratulations to faculty members Tim Rosie and Julie Zimmer for doing an excellent job teaching and directing our elementary music program this year.

Thank you also to faculty member Rhapsody Hahn-Chaney and the students in her after-school Costume Design Workshop for creating and making the charming costumes for the actors in the musical skits.

 

Congratulations to Top Scholars on 2022-2023 First Semester Honor Roll

Congratulations to our top scholars who made the first semester Honor Roll of the 2022-2023 school year. The Honor Roll, finalized in mid-February, recognizes 331 students from the 1st through 12th grades who have excelled in their academic studies, receiving Highest Honors or Honors designation.

“We are very proud of these students from elementary through high school who have distinguished themselves as top-notch scholars  and earned a place on the Honor Roll,” said Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen. “We are also thankful for our dedicated and highly qualified faculty who encourage our students to excel academically and to seek to honor God with their lives.”

Elementary students in grades 1-5 who earned a 95% average or higher in every major subject received the Highest Honors designation and students who received an 85%-94% average in every major subject received the Honors designation. Middle School and High School students in grades 6-12 who earned a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.8 or higher at the end of the school year received the Highest Honors designation. Students in grades 6-12 who earned a cumulative GPA of 3.5-3.79 received the Honors designation.

CLICK HERE for a complete list of the students from the 1st to 12th grades who achieved Highest Honors or High Honors.

Classroom Cameo: 5th Grade Science Poster Project Focuses on Ecosystems

Elementary school students in 5th grade recently researched ecosystems during a science unit taught by faculty member Nadya Lorick and created colorful, hand-drawn posters illustrating the different ways animals can interact within those ecosystems.

The students used a cartoon strip-like format to tell the story of the way animals interact in one of three ecosystems — a savannah, the ocean, and a temperate forest.

The students worked in pairs during class from February 28 to March 4 to research their assigned ecosystem and identify its atmosphere, climate, vegetation, and animal life. The students also learned about three ways animals can interact — by predation, competition, and mutualism — and showed examples of each in their posters.

 

 

Congratulations to Top Scholars on First Semester Honor Roll for 2021-2022 School Year

Congratulations to our top scholars who made the first semester Honor Roll for the 2021-2022 school year.  The Honor Roll, finalized in early February, recognizes 291 students from the 1st through 12th grades who distinguished themselves in their academic studies, receiving Highest Honors or Honors designation. The Honor Roll was also published online on March 3 in the Currents and Gazettes newspapers.

“We are very proud of these students from elementary through high school who have distinguished themselves in their academic studies and earned a place on the Honor Roll,” said Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen. “We are also thankful for our dedicated and highly qualified faculty who encourage our students to excel academically and to seek to honor God with their lives.”

Elementary students in grades 1-5 who earned a 95% average or higher in every major subject received the Highest Honors designation and students who received an 85%-94% average in every major subject received the Honors designation. Middle School and High School students in grades 6-12 who earned a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.8 or higher at the end of the school year received the Highest Honors designation. Students in grades 6-12 who earned a cumulative GPA of 3.5-3.79 received the Honors designation.

CLICK HERE for a complete list of  the students from elementary through high school who achieved Highest Honors or High Honors.

Students, Staff Gather to Worship the Newborn King at All-School Christmas Chapel on Dec. 23

Students and staff gathered to worship and celebrate the birth of Jesus at an all-school Christmas Chapel on December 23. Students from preschool to the 12th grade participated in the chapel program with drama, vocal, and instrumental presentations. Event Coordinator and high school Bible teacher Christian Delacruz encouraged everyone in his chapel message to be thankful for the best Christmas gift of all — the gift of grace, love, and eternal life made possible through the birth, death, and resurrection of Christ.

Event Coordinator Christian Delacruz presented the chapel message.

Gail Alford, the Elementary Principal and Early Education Director, opened the chapel with prayer and then introduced Mrs. Meza’s 2nd grade class, who presented a dramatic skit about four words that embodied the Christmas story — sacrifice, seek, shout, and share. Mrs. Meza challenged everyone to take the opportunity during this Christmas season to share the salvation message rooted in the Christmas story with family and friends.

The PreK3 and PreK4 classes then took to the stage to joyously sing and dance to “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”

The PreK3 and PreK4 classes sang and danced to “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”

An Upper School Instrumental Worship Ensemble performed two Christmas songs, featuring 12th grade brothers Hyeonjin (Isaac) Choi and Hyeonbin (Joseph) Choi on violin, 8th grader Rowlee Murphy on cello, and 12th grader Haley Whedbee on flute.

CLICK HERE to view a video of the Upper School Instrumental Worship Ensemble’s performance.

The 5th grade Worship Team got everyone on their feet to sing and dance along with them as they performed “Feeling Like Christmas” and “Born is the King.” The Middle School and High School Worship Teams followed suit, as they encouraged the students and staff to sing along as they performed “Carol of the Bells” and several other Christmas carols.

CLICK HERE to view a video of the Middle School and High School Worship Teams performing  one of their carols during the Christmas Chapel.

There were several light-hearted moments during the chapel. The winners of the 6th-12th grade Christmas Door Decorating Contest and the K-5th grade Christmas Tree Decorating Contest were announced. Mrs. Flath’s 9th grade class won the Christmas Door Decorating contest, that included decorating several doors and adjacent walls with a Charlie Brown theme.  The elementary Christmas Tree Decorating Contest focused on a Christmas Around the World theme and Mrs. McCarthy’s 3rd grade class won with a tree decorated as Christmastime in the tropics.

A group of faculty and staff closed the chapel with a surprise song-and-dance routine.

The audience also participated in an Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest, cheering loudly as they voted for their favorite students to win first place. The winner from the 6th to 12th grade classes was 12th grader Mia Liggins and the K-5th grade winner was kindergartner Felicity Macpherson.  The chapel concluded with a surprise — a song-and-dance routine performed by an energetic group of faculty and staff.

 

 

Elementary Students Present “Beneath a Shining Star” Musical as Part of Dec. 16 Christmas Concert

Students from kindergarten to the third grade took center stage to share the story of the Biblical events that led up to the birth of Jesus at their Christmas concert on December 16. After the opening prayer by Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen, the kindergarten students performed “Jingle Bell Rock” and “Jingle Bells.” The concert program then transitioned to a presentation of the children’s musical — “Beneath a Shining Star.”

As the scenes of the musical unfolded, the story of Jesus’ birth was told by 1st to 3rd grade students through skits and songs, with various students playing the roles of Joseph, Mary, the inn keeper, shepherds, angels, the wisemen, and a townsperson from Bethlehem.  One student played the role of stage manager, weaving the various scenes together.

Within each scene, the students performed a number of songs including “I’m Booked Up,” which featured 2nd graders Jeremiah Diaz, Callie Gibson, and Bright Otong as soloists, “God Will See Us Through,” “Let’s All Go To Bethlehem,” “What Is This New Star,” and “Sing To the Newborn King.”

At the conclusion of the musical, during the collection of the Teacher-Staff Love Offering, the Elementary Sign Language Club presented a moving rendition of “The Goodness of God.” The concert ended with the audience joining the students in a lively Christmas carol sing-along.  Elementary Principal and Early Education Director Gail Alford closed the concert in prayer.

The students who played various speaking roles during the musical were: Jayden Bird (stage manager), Lucian Kizuka (Joseph); Grace Petrinic (Mary); Lillian Breitweiser, Nova Ciappina, and Alba Reed (angels); Nathan Frye and Kennedy Jackson (wisemen); Caitlin Doucett, Charlee Mitchell, and Ceci Tormey (shepherds), and Julia DiMaio (townsperson).

Congratulations to the show’s music directors Julie Zimmer and Tim Rosie, and sign language club advisor Jessica Martin for an outstanding program that celebrated the true meaning of Christmas — the birth of Jesus, the promised Messiah and savior of the world.

CLICK HERE to view a highlight video of the K-3 Christmas Concert which is posted on the ACS YouTube Channel.

CLICK HERE to view a Photo Galley of the K-3 Christmas Concert on the ACS website.

 

 

 

Classroom Cameo — 5th Grade Students Have a Blast With Volcano Project

During the last week of school, the students in Mrs. Kiefer’s 5th grade class researched famous volcanos and then did a class project constructing mini-replicas out of recycled materials. The final step of the project was to simulate a volcanic eruption, and according to Mrs. Kiefer — “It was a blast.”

The students worked in teams of 3 and 4 to construct their volcanos, using completed workbooks and worksheets as the base material.  “Allowing the students to tear up their spelling workbooks and make something out of their old work was very gratifying,” Kiefer said. All items used for the project were recycled materials.

The students use a paper mache solution to cover their volcano structures and then painted them various earth-tone colors to look like a volcanos.

On June 10, the final day of the project, the students enjoyed making their volcanos erupt by combining baking soda, vinegar, dish soap and red dye.

Open Enrollment for 2021-2022 School Year Now Underway for New Families, More Classrooms Being Added

Open enrollment for the 2021-2022 school year is now underway for new families seeking to enroll their children in Atlantic Christian School and several new elementary and middle school classrooms are being added for the coming school year to enable more families to be a part of the ACS Family.

“We’re very excited about our growth and the ability to welcome new students and their families to our school,” said Admissions Director Jessica Martin. “There have been many families on the waiting list this year and this new expansion will enable more parents to place their children in our school, where we are nurturing and equipping students with a Biblical worldview.”

There are openings available in preschool (for children from 12 months old to 4 years old) up through high school. ACS is also grateful for the support from various donors that makes it possible to continue offering needs-based Tuition Assistance Grants to new families as well as returning families.

Interested families should contact Mrs. Martin to set up a private tour or to discuss the online application process.  Please call Mrs. Martin at 609-653-1199, ext. 314 or email her at jmartin@acseht.org

 

ACS Participates in Read Across America Week with Fun, Creative Educational Activities

Preschool and elementary students ate green eggs and ham, counted and matched rainbow goldfish crackers, and wore wacky, mismatched socks to school as part of fun and educational activities they enjoyed from March 1-3 as part of Read Across America Week.  Some classes watched the “Cat in the Hat” movie, others made Cat in the Hat kebobs of bananas and strawberries for snack, and the librarian played music from “Seussical” as students choose from a variety of books on display in the library.

“Our students and teachers really look forward to Read Across America Week and celebrating Dr. Seuss’ birthday every year because they get to dress up for Cat in the Hat Day or Crazy Sock Day and come up with creative projects that make reading fun,” said Elementary Principal and Early Education Director Gail Alford. “The goal is to get our students excited about learning.”

Reading Dr. Seuss books was a favorite activity throughout the week and a large bulletin in the school library hallway was decorated with the covers of various Dr. Seuss books.

In Mrs. Kelley’s PreK4 class, they read Dr. Seuss’ “Put Me in the Zoo” and then made the dog from the story as an art project. The students also made “Thing” hats, recited their numbers up to 20, and chose a number to write on their hat.

Mrs. Fosbenner’s 3rd grade class read Dr. Seuss’ “Bartholomew and the Oobleck,” and then created their own version of Oobleck as part of a science experiment observing how liquid ingredients when mixed together can change into a solid form.

CLICK HERE to see additional photos from Read Across America week.

 

 

 

Intramural Basketball Starts Jan. 23, Registration Closes Friday, Jan. 15

Our popular Intramural Basketball Program for boys and girls in the 2nd to 8th grades will begin on Saturday, January 23 and Friday, January 15 is the last day to register for the program.

The intramural will be led by Varsity Girls’ Basketball coach Kaylee Breunig, with assistance from the high school players on the girls’ team. The cost of the 5-week program is $60 and includes a T-shirt.

The intramural will run from January 23 to February 20 and will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. in the ACS gym.

CLICK HERE for the registration form.  Please complete the form and submit it to the school office by Friday, January 15 with your payment of $60.

Classroom Cameo: 2nd Graders Learn About Habitats and the Animals That Thrive in Them

The students in Amy Williams’ second grade class have been learning about the different habitats that are home to polar bears, snakes, jaguars, parrots, and other animals and recently built creative three-dimensional dioramas as part of a winter science project.

The dioramas, which were completed on January 8, are now on display in the hallway outside Ms. Williams’ classroom. As part of the assignment, the students have also been giving oral reports on the animals they chose and their habitats. On Thursday, January 14, Lily Kimmerley and Dominik Gilbert presented their projects. Lily talked about pandas and their mountain habitat and Dominik presented his diorama on grey wolves and their mountain and forest habitats.

“The students have done a great job with their projects,” Williams said. “My favorite part is seeing them learn how an animal can be endangered if their habitat is disrupted if something they rely on is harmed or removed. God put us in charge of the animals and our job is to nurture and care for the environment so their survival is not threatened.”

In addition to the panda and grey wolf, other animals the students studied included deer, ducks, penguins, monkeys, and sea turtles and their habitats including the ocean, desert, jungle, rain forest, and savannah.

 

Practice Makes Perfect for Hopeful Spelling Bee Competitors

The after-school Spelling Club got underway on November 12 with 17 elementary students turning out to practice and improve their spelling skills in preparation for classroom spelling bees in January. The winners of the classroom bees will then advance to the ACS 1st-8th Grade Spelling Bee on January 27, and the winner of that Bee will compete against winners from other area public and private schools in the Scripps Regional Bee.

“The students are excited and ready to work hard to earn that special title of Spelling Bee Champion,” said Spelling Club Advisor Jessica Martin, who also oversees the school’s Spelling Bee in February. Martin said the students are reviewing and practicing spelling words from lists provided by the Scripps National Spelling Bee.  To practice, they play games like Boggle and Lexicon, and are learning to differentiate between homophones.

The club meets on Thursday afternoons for five weeks this fall and then will meet for a second round in the winter to give the winners of the class spelling bees an opportunity to prepare for the ACS 1st-8th Grade Spelling Bee.

Martin said the dates and format for the 2021 regional and national Scripps Spelling Bees have not yet been determined. Due to the coronavirus outbreak last spring, the 2020 regional and national bees were cancelled.

ACS Students Learn Pickleball in New PE Unit Funded by Donations

ACS middle school and high school students were introduced to the game of Pickleball the week of October 5, thanks to recent donations to the ACS Athletic Department.

Six new, bright yellow pickleball nets, along with racquets, and balls were set up in the gym for game play during various PE classes.  Additional pickleball game sets purchased with grant funds from the AtlantiCare Healthy Schools, Healthy Children program will be used for elementary PE classes and will be set up outdoors on the new ACS basketball court.

Pickleball is a paddleball sport that combines the elements of badminton, table tennis, and tennis. “The students are having a lot of fun learning this new game, which has become a popular sport that is often seen played adjacent to larger tennis courts,” said Athletic Director Pam Hitchner. “Pickleball is a faster-paced game and it’s a recreational sport that can be played and enjoyed over your lifetime.”  Hitchner said she is very grateful for the donations and grant funds that made it possible to add a new unit to the ACS PE curriculum.

 

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.

 

 

Enrolling Now for Fall 2020 — Planning for Five-Day, On-Campus Learning, With New Remote-Only Option

Enrollment is underway for the 2020-2021 school year and ACS is looking forward to welcoming students from 6 months to the 12th grade on Tuesday, September 8 for a five-day-per-week, on-campus schedule. ACS is also offering a new “remote-only” option for students in grades 4-12 who prefer to learn at home.

“We are very excited about the start of the coming school year,” said Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen. “This summer we have been busy developing our plans to provide full in-person instruction for our students and a committee comprised of administrators, teachers, and parents has been working hard on all the details.”

“We have made a significant and informed investment in our facilities, technology, protective equipment, personnel, and training to be sure we can provide students and staff with a safe learning environment,” Oblen said. At the same time, Oblen said webcams have been installed in every classroom to provide synchronous remote classroom instruction if necessary when a student is ill and for Upper School students who choose the new remote-only learning option.

The Admissions Department is open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.  to answer questions and give tours of the campus by appointment.  Please contact Admissions Director Jessica Martin at jmartin@acseht.org or 609-653-1199, ext. 314. Classes are filling quickly and space is limited, so don’t delay.

CLICK HERE to schedule a tour online. All visitors will have their temperature taken and must wear a mask while in the school building. CLICK HERE to complete and submit our online admissions application.

Oblen said enhanced cleaning protocols and health screening procedures will help promote a healthy environment on the school campus, including daily temperature and wellness checks for students and staff upon arrival to school. Sanitation stations have been installed in classrooms and hallways and plexi-glass shields have been purchased for use on classroom desks and on lunch tables.

Face coverings will be required for all faculty and staff when in the school building and for children in K-12 when entering and exiting the building and when transitioning in hallways and other common areas. Entry into any buildings on campus will be limited.

New Employee Spotlight — Guidance Counselor Mrs. Christina Ragland

ACS is excited to welcome Mrs. Christina Ragland, who will be joining the ACS faculty this fall as our new Guidance Counselor. She holds a Master’s degree in K-12 counseling and guidance from New York University and is a New Jersey-certified school counselor.

“We are looking forward to having Mrs. Ragland bring her skills, passion,  and experience as a guidance counselor to ACS to help our students develop academic plans that reflect their skills, talents, and strengths,” said Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen. “We also know that God will be working through Mrs. Ragland to come alongside our students from elementary school to high school to address behavioral and academic challenges.” Mrs. Ragland will also be teaching the high school “College and Careers” course.

Mrs. Ragland is a native of Jersey City, NJ. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Rutgers University in 2011 with a BA in psychology. During her undergraduate studies, she was a research assistant in the RISC lab and a member of the Abbott Leadership Institute which teaches education advocacy, policy, and practices to parents, educators, community members, and students.

During her graduate studies at New York University, Mrs. Ragland worked at the Henry and Lucy Moses Center for Students with Disabilities as a graduate assistant. She also completed a guidance internship at Landmark High School in New York City and worked with the high school counselor and college advisor. She taught workshops to junior and seniors on the college process, led a small group on self-esteem called “Brand New Me” for freshman and sophomore girls, conducted one-on-one sessions, as well as organized college trips and retreats for students. She was also nominated and received the “Youth on the Move” award for her community involvement and mentorship for youth in her community.

Upon graduation, Mrs. Ragland relocated to South Jersey and began working in the school system as a paraprofessional for students with autism. She then began working at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center as a Care Coordinator for the Case Management Department. Mrs. Ragland has taught workshops for schools and community events on such topics as self-esteem, bullying, and college preparation.

Mrs. Ragland is an active member of Lighthouse Community Church in Pleasantville, New Jersey, where she serves on the social media team, administration team, and is a co-leader of a small group for young adult women. She has a passion for seeing souls added to God’s Kingdom and helping individuals recognize and live out their God-given purposes.

Mrs. Ragland and her husband, Christian, are proud parents of three children, Moriah Kansas, Morgan Kaidence, and Matthew Kevin. Mrs. Ragland considers her family her biggest blessing and enjoys making new memories with them and sharing them on her Facebook mommy blog page called, “Mommy and MK.”

ACS Thanks Faculty, Staff at Year-End Appreciation Lunch

ACS recognized and thanked faculty and staff members for their commitment and service over the past school year and honored several employees who are retiring at the annual Thank-You Lunch on Wednesday, June 17 in the Multi-Purpose Room.

“This was a school year unlike any other and we truly appreciate the extraordinary efforts that each of you made to deal with the challenges of remote teaching,” said Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen. “The outbreak of the coronavirus required us to be flexible and to put our faith and trust in God for His guidance and I’m so proud of how each of you responded and stayed engaged and connected with our students and their families.”

Oblen was joined by Elementary Principal and Early Education Center Director Gail Alford and Upper School Principal Meg McHale in giving a warm send-off to four faculty/staff members who are leaving ACS to pursue other endeavors. “We love you very much and we will miss you, but remember you are still a part of the ACS family,” Oblen said. The four departing employees are: Lisa Dye, Sarah Getty, Sherree Hoover, and Joanne VanAcker. The departing employees were presented with personalized ACS sweat-shirts as one of their parting gifts.

Dye and Hoover are two veteran faculty members who are retiring after decades of service at ACS. Dye started out as a first grade aide in April 1997 and then transitioned to be a 1st grade teacher that fall. She has since taught 1st, 4th, and 5th grades, and Middle School math and Bible. Hoover came to ACS 20 years ago, when she enrolled her son Ethan in kindergarten, and later came on staff to be one of the school’s longest-serving 4th grade teachers.

Veteran retiring teacher Lisa Dye, left, with Upper School Principal Meg McHale.

“Lisa has a huge heart for our students and her hands have been involved in so many parts of our school over the years,” said McHale, who started teaching at ACS the same year as Dye. Oblen noted that she enjoyed serving with Dye on three middle school missions trips. “Lisa is always one to ask — how can I help or are there any students who are struggling that I can work with?” Oblen said. Dye pointed out that she plans to stay connected with ACS and is ready to serve as a substitute teacher or to volunteer.

Long-time 4th grader teacher Sherree Hoover, left, with Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen.

“Dedicated and focused on doing things with excellence are words that best describe Sherree,” said Oblen. “She has always wanted ACS to be the best that it can be and to be a light in our community.” Elementary Principal Alford said she will miss Sherree for her leadership and mentorship among the elementary teachers and for her sound advice.

Early Education Teacher Joanne VanAcker, left, with Early Education Director and Elementary Principal Gail Alford.

In her capacity as the Early Education Center Director, Alford also recognized and thanked Early Education PreK3 teacher Joanne VanAcker and Early Education aid Sarah Getty for their service to ACS. “Joanne and Sarah have shown love and devotion to all of the children under their care in our Early Education Center,” Alford said. “Their joyful presence will be missed.” VanAcker came to ACS in 2017 as an Early Education aide and began serving as an Early Ed teacher in 2018. Getty, who was unable to attend the luncheon, served for two years as an Early Education aide.

ACS Kindergarten Students Make Memories with Virtual Graduation, Drive-By Parade

ACS school families, faculty, and staff celebrated the accomplishments of our Kindergarten students with a Virtual Graduation Program that aired on YouTube the morning of June 9, followed by a Drive-By Parade later that day at the ACS campus,  where students were greeted by their teachers, aides, and the ACS Cougar mascot and received their diplomas.

In her opening remarks during the virtual graduation video, Elementary Principal Gail Alford applauded the efforts of school families and staff, who worked together to help students achieve a successful year of learning and growing.

“This is not the typical way we would be celebrating, but we did not want the year to go by without recognizing the outstanding work of the students and recognizing those who played a part in helping to guide them on this special journey,” Alford said. The 35-minute graduation video also includes heart-felt messages from kindergarten teachers Hayley Price and Julie Reilly and songs performed by the kindergartners, filmed remotely from their homes.

During the afternoon of June 9, parents and their students arrived at the ACS campus by car, van, and even motorcycle for a Drive-By Parade in the parking lot. Teachers and aides greeted the students and presented them with their diplomas.

During the first week of June, as a special keepsake, ACS staff also delivered personalized yard signs to kindergartners at their homes.

CLICK HERE to watch the kindergarten graduation program on the Atlantic Christian School YouTube channel.

Upcoming Year-End Events – Most Virtual, Some In-Person in July

The 2019-2020 school year is coming to a close and due to COVID-19 social distancing restrictions most of the year-end events that we look forward to have been transformed into virtual online events. We are pleased that a relaxation in restrictions is allowing us to hold Commencement for our Class of 2020 outdoors on our school campus on July 8 and our 8th Grade Blessing Ceremony on July 10.

We congratulate all of our students for how hard they have worked from home over the past 11 weeks to complete their academic studies and to continue developing their God-given abilities in art, music, physical fitness, and more.

Following is a schedule of our upcoming year-end events in June and July and how you can be a part of them, virtually or in person.

  • Thursday, June 4: 12th Grade Celebration Video Message
    CLICK HERE to view video on our ACS YouTube Channel.
  • Thursday, June 4: Virtual Athletic Awards Program – 5 p.m.
    CLICK HERE for the Middle School Awards;
    CLICK HERE for the High School Awards;
    Both videos are posted on our ACS YouTube Channel.
  • Friday, June 5: Virtual Upper School Honors Chapel – 10 a.m.
    CLICK HERE to view video on our ACS YouTube Channel
  • Monday, June 8: Virtual Spring Concert (1st-12th grades) – 5 p.m.
    CLICK HERE to view video on our ACS YouTube Channel
  • Tuesday, June 9: Kindergarten Virtual Graduation – 9 a.m.
    CLICK HERE to view video on our ACS YouTube Channel
  • June 10-12: Virtual Elementary Awards Ceremonies – Awards will be given by grade level live at different times of the day, as listed below, and are being broadcast on Zoom:

    – 1st Grade – Wednesday, June 10, 10 a.m. – CLICK HERE to view;
    Meeting ID: 781 6133 1903 – Password: 3u3Khy
    – 2nd Grade – Wednesday, June 10, Noon – CLICK HERE to view;
    Meeting ID: 788 0531 9165 – Password: 4nWPqh
    – 3rd Grade – Thursday, June 11, 10 a.m. – CLICK HERE to view;
    Meeting ID: 744 9190 8961 – Password: 1mZ7Ue
    – 4th Grade – Thursday, June 11, Noon – CLICK HERE to view;
    Meeting ID: 710 4770 1544 – Password: 1Tdyii
    – 5th Grade – Friday, June 12, 10 a.m. – CLICK HERE to view;
    Meeting ID: 760 2072 5213 – Password: 9P3gE3
  • Wednesday, June 17: Virtual Early Ed Closing Program – 9 a.m.
    CLICK HERE to view video on our ACS YouTube Channel.
  • Wednesday, July 8: 12th Grade Commencement – 10 a.m.
    Limited ticket-only event to be held outdoors on the ACS campus. The rain date is Thursday, July 9. The ceremony will be live-streamed on the ACS YouTube channel. CLICK HERE to view the ceremony.
  • Friday, July 10: 8th Grade Blessing Ceremony – 10 a.m.
    Limited ticket-only event to be held outdoors on the ACS campus. The ceremony will be live-streamed on the ACS YouTube channel. CLICK HERE to view the ceremony.

2020-2021 Enrollment Underway, School Campus Open for Tours

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

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

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

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

CLICK HERE for more information or to apply for admissions.

New Job Openings at ACS; Seeking to Fill 3 Positions

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

The positions we are seeking to fill are:

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

ACS is a great fit for you if you are passionate about Christian education and want to be part of a loving, nurturing environment where students can discover and develop their God-given gifts and talents. 

CLICK HERE for more information and to apply.  Also, please SHARE our Facebook posts about these job openings with your contacts. Thank you.

Elementary Students Create Artwork to Commemorate Memorial Day

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

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

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

Snapology of Atlantic County Offering On-Line STEAM Classes

Snapology of Atlantic County, a non-profit organization that provides after-school classes at ACS, is offering new online STEAM classes for students who must remain at home in response to the COVID-19 virus pandemic. The first class will begin Monday, March 23.

“It’s a way for the students at home to see their friends and still learn some STEAM concepts,” said Scott Stone, a certified teacher who works with Snapology. The cost of the class that begins March 23, entitled “Science of Superpowers,” is $10 and is geared to children ages 5 to 12.

CLICK HERE to find out more information or to sign up.

ACS School Library Is Now Online, Linked to ACS Website

The ACS Library is now online! An online catalog of the books in our school library, created by ACS Library Media Specialist Rhapsody Hahn-Chaney,  was added to the ACS website in late March.

Hahn-Chaney said the catalog works just like a catalog at the public library — you can go online to search for books by author, title, subject, series, etc. The online library site will also show which books are checked in or checked out. To find the catalog, go to the “Student Life” tab on the website and choose the “Library” sub-tab in the drop down.

Throughout the school year, K-5 students visit the library weekly to check out books, learn library research skills, and to read books and enjoy reading circle time. The library is also a resource for research by middle and high school students.

“Using their bar codes, students will be able to login to their accounts, save books to a list, reserve a book, and see what they have checked out,  a great way for parents to keep track of this too,” Hahn-Chaney said.

Hahn-Chaney also created several videos featuring the library that she posted on March 20 on her virtual library classroom site for students in K-5 to watch. The videos included a special message from security guard Curtis Dull and Hahn-Chaney reading the poem “I’m Up Here” by Karla Kuskin.

CLICK HERE to go to the ACS Library online.

CLICK HERE to see the new videos featuring our school library.