Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Governor Murphy’s series of Executive Orders, our K-12 campus and Early Education Center are closed until further notice. We will inform school families as soon as possible once a reopen date has been established. Since March 17, our faculty members have continued providing classroom instruction to our K-12 students via remote eLearning platforms. Please contact your child’s Principal by email with any questions as the school office is closed in compliance with the Governor Murphy’s executive order directing residents to remain at home.
In this time of uncertainty, Scripture reminds us to draw closer to God and to put fear aside. As it says in Philippians 4:6-7 – “Do no be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
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Reduce, reuse, and recycle! Mrs. Laura McCarthy and Miss Amy Williams’ challenged their second grade students this past month to create robots out of recycled materials. “In science class, we have been learning about the importance of protecting the earth’s habitats and conservation is one important way to do that,” said Miss Williams.
Each robot includes at least three different types of recycled items and is colorfully decorated with paint or markers. The students were so excited when they brought in their projects last Thursday and gave oral presentations to their classmates. “This project winds up being the favorite of the year. It’s a time of applying a concept that has been learned while having some creative fun!” Mrs. McCarthy added.
ACS elementary students will be participating in a month-long “Kids Heart Challenge” service project launched this Friday to benefit the American Heart Association (AHA) and to raise awareness about the importance of taking care of your heart. During Friday’s Elementary Chapel, a representative from the AHA encouraged students to participate in the service project by helping raise funds for the AHA. Kids Heart Challenge fundraising packets are being sent home with students.
PE teacher Ben Chapman, who is overseeing the service project, said students are being asked to take a challenge for their health by choosing to Move More, Be Kind, and Be Ready. He is also planning a fun and exciting PE event on March 26, the final day of the Kids Heart Challenge campaign. Elementary classes will participate throughout the day in various, cardio-pumping activities in the gym.
Chapman said all donations given to the American Heart Association will go to fund life-saving research and programs that help kids with special hearts. Students can earn thank-you gifts from the AHA for collecting donations from as little as $5 and up to $1,000. The gifts are described in the fundraising packet.
By holding this Kids Heart Challenge, ACS will qualify to apply for grants from the AHA for PE equipment. Donation checks should be made payable to the American Heart Association, not to Atlantic Christian School. Students can use the AHA Donation Form packet to collect donations and should return their packet by March 26. Students can also have a fundraising page on the AHA website to receive online donations.
CLICK HERE to register and set up you child’s fundraising page.
ACS welcomes new Computer Teacher and Library Media Specialist Rhapsody Hahn-Chaney
Rhapsody Hahn-Chaney is the new face in the ACS first floor
computer lab, where she teaches students from kindergarten to high school to
master the technology skills necessary to be successful in the classroom, in
college, and the workplace. She also welcomes K-5 students to the school
library each week, where they are developing a love of reading and are learning
library research skills.
Mrs. Hahn-Chaney became the new computer teacher and library media specialist in January after Mrs. Diane Ash relocated with her family to Massachusetts. However, she is no stranger to ACS as she has been a proud and involved parent since 2015. Her son Caedyn is now in 5th grade and her son Gaebriel is in 3rd grade. But her real first day at ACS was in 1993 as a student in Mrs. Cassell’s kindergarten class. She attended ACS for most of her elementary years.
Hahn-Chaney holds a BS from the Art Institute of
Philadelphia and is certified in Inbound Marketing and Digital Skills. Prior to
coming to ACS, she was a content writer and manager for DotCom Global Media in
Somers Point.
Hahn-Chaney, her husband, Marques, and their two sons live in Mays Landing and are active members of Fresh Start Church in Egg Harbor Township. She is currently working on redesigning the church’s website and recently enjoyed serving at Tim Tebow’s “A Night to Shine” event hosted at the church.
Hahn-Chaney takes her role as a teacher very seriously, describing herself as “an entrusted alternate” for the parents and grandparents who work hard so that their children and grandchildren can attend ACS. “I teach new skills, address bad days, give encouragement, inspire a thought process, share the love of Jesus, show a good example, and administer correction, all to the purpose of being an excellent stand-in for my students’ primary caregivers,.” Hahn-Chaney said.
Her favorite Bible verse is Proverbs 3:5-6. “In our world
today, there is great emphasis on being really smart and getting more educated,
but God is not impressed by academia,” Hahn-Chaney said. “He cares about our
hearts. If I trust Him with all of my heart instead of trying to figure it all
out, He will teach me what I need to know and show me what I need to do.”
Mrs. Parker’s 7th grade class created a craft project
Students from elementary to high school collaborated on a service project this month to decorate and fill 30 Valentine’s Day gift bags with hand-made Valentine’s Day cards, snacks, games, and craft projects for families at the Ronald McDonald House in Camden. This is the third year in a row that ACS students have participated in this Valentine’s Day service project.
The gift bags were delivered on Valentine’s Day by ACS Resource Room Specialist Mrs. Kelly Schlundt, who heads up the project. The gift bags were given to children who are staying at the Ronald McDonald House while they receive treatment at Philadelphia area hospitals.
Mrs. Schlundt said ACS has also been collecting metal soda can tabs in the lunchroom. The tabs collected during the first half of this school year are recycled and the funds help pay for the utility bills at the Ronald McDonald House. “We’ll keep collecting the soda tabs until the end of the school year and will give them to the Ronald McDonald House over the summer or next Valentine’s Day,” Mrs. Schlundt said.
Spelling Bee Winner 4th Grader Leila Alobeidy will represent ACS at the March 21 South Jersey Regional Spelling Bee in Vineland.
Thirteen All-Star spellers in grades 1-8 competed in the ACS Spelling Bee on February 21 and 4th grader Leila Alobeidy was the last speller left standing and will move on to represent ACS at the South Jersey Regional Spelling Bee on March 21 in Vineland.
Leila won first place in the ACS Bee for the third consecutive year. 8th grader Ryleigh Martin of Mays Landing placed second, Leila’s 3rd grade brother, Adam, placed third, and 7th grader Ruth Oke of Williamstown placed a close fourth.
The All-Star spellers advanced to the school-wide Bee by winning classroom spelling bees over the past month. As fellow students, teachers, and proud parents watched from the audience, the Bee went 60 rounds, the longest of any prior ACS spelling bees.
Spelling Bee winner Leila Alobeidy, right, and runner-up Ryleigh Martin shake hands at the end of the Bee.
Leila and Ryleigh went head to head for the last 23 rounds before Ryleigh misspelled “logistics” and Leila clinched the victory by correctly spelling the 287th word in the bee — “reductive.”
“We’re very proud of every student who competed and we know Leila will do a great job representing our school at the regional bee,” said Mrs. Jessica Martin, the ACS Spelling Club Advisor who oversaw the Bee.
At the conclusion of the
Bee, Leila’s 4th grade teachers and classmates cheered and gathered round to
give her a hug and congratulate her. The classroom finalists, by grade, were:
Khaleesi Nyanankpe and Caitlyn Doucett (1st); Tamara Kulov and Luke Sabulao (2nd);
Adam Alobeidy (3rd); Leila Alobeidy and Matthew Coates (4th); Sophia Capito and
Thomas Potenski (5th); Joshua Oke (6th); Samuel Lilley and Ruth Oke (7th); and
Ryleigh Martin (8th).
All- Star spellers — 1st graders Khalessi Nyanankpe (left) and Caitlyn Doucett (right)
All-Star spellers — 2nd graders Tamara Kulov (left) and Luke Sabulao (right)
All-Star spellers — 3rd grader Adam Alobeidy (left) and 4th grader Matthew Coates (right)
All-Star spellers — 5th grader Thomas Potenski (left) and 6th grader Joshua Oke (right)
All-Star spellers — 7th graders Samuel Lilley (left) and Ruth Oke (right)
All-Star spellers — 8th grader Ryleigh Martin (left) and 5th grader Sophia Capito (right)
Over 50 pastors and ministry leaders from 30 area churches were the honored guests at Pastor Appreciation Day on Wednesday, February 12. The special day began with a complimentary breakfast for the pastors followed by an all-school chapel program that featured students from preschool to the 12th grade.
Senior Ashleigh Martin shares her faith journey at the Pastor Appreciation Day Chapel.
The students sang and danced to songs of praise and worship and recited Bible verses that incorporated the steps to salvation. 12th grader Ashleigh Martin shared how serving God on ACS missions trips to Houston and the Bahamas helped her grow in her faith.
The program also included a video that featured dozens of students talking about why they love their pastors and church and thanking them for the important role they play in their lives. ACS also presented the pastors with a special ACS mug and handmade valentines created by the students in the Servant’s Heart Club.
During breakfast, Pastor Mike Bult of Mainland Baptist Church, spoke on the challenges facing the church in reaching Generation Z with the gospel. He emphasized the importance of building relationships and using the tools of social media to connect with young people. He also talked about the power of prayer and for pastors to encourage parents to pray regularly with their children.
After chapel, the students had fun taking pictures and talking with their pastors. This week was Spirit Week at ACS and many students were wearing cowboy hats, boots, bandannas, and other Western wear attire to fit the day’s theme.
CLICK HERE to see a photo gallery of Pastor Appreciation Day including group photos taken of our students with their pastors.
Throughout February, ACS students are participating in a variety of special activities for Black History Month. A new, daily quiz contest was launched this Monday, February 10 during morning announcements with students being told a fact about an influential African American and being able to win a prize by being the first to find their principal and correctly identify that person.
The quiz contest is continuing to the end of February and a total of 13 African Americans will have been highlighted. Six students in elementary through high school were this week’s contest winners: 5th grader Julian Calloway, 9th grader Jake DeNick, 9th grader Hunter Jorgenson, 3rd grader Nora Sawaid, 7th grader Ruth Oke, and 9th grader Caleb Vogel. The winners are receiving a dress down pass as the prize. This week’s questions and answers were:
Question: Who was the first African American woman to travel into space? Answer: Mae Carol Jemison;
Question: Now an NFL quarterback, this African American initially played college football and college baseball at Texas Tech University. Answer: Patrick Lavon Mahomes II;
Question: This African American inventor is best known for being awarded a patent for automatically opening and closing elevator doors. Answer: Alexander Miles;
Question: This African American woman was the 66th U.S. Secretary of State, under the administration of President George W. Bush. Answer: Condoleezza Rice.
A short biography and a photo of the 13 African Americans featured in the contest are being hung in the school hallway near the Multi-Purpose Room. Hallway bulletin boards in other hallways are also decorated in honor of historically significant African Americans like Harriet Tubman and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Classroom lessons and projects are also highlighting the historical contributions of African Americans as well as the social accomplishments of those who led the civil rights movement.
A hallway bulletin board in our Early Education/Elementary first floor hallway decorated for Black History Month with a quote by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Over 450 people came out on Saturday, February 1 to sample a variety of delicious soups and choose their favorite at our 7th annual Bowls of Hope Soup Cook-Off. Congratulations to Gregory’s Restaurant and Bar in Somers Point for taking first place in the People’s Choice Golden Spoon Award for the second year in a row, serving up a shrimp and crab roasted corn chowder. The Gregory’s family is also part of the ACS family and everyone gathered on stage to receive their award.
Sal’s Coal-Fired Pizza in Somers Point took 2nd place for the second year in a row, serving a tortellini soup. The Atlantic City Rescue Mission Kitchen finished in 3rd place with its broccoli and cheddar soup, the first time the Rescue Mission has placed in the contest. Congratulations to 2011 ACS alumnus Dara Heston, who headed up the Mission’s culinary team.
Thank you to everyone who bought a ticket, donated to be an Event Sponsor, or brought cans of soup and other non-perishable items for the Community FoodBank of New Jersey. The Bowls of Hope showcased some of the best restaurants in and around Atlantic County serving up their specialty soups. Our high school students had the great experience of helping serve some of the soups and working behind the scenes with set-up, clean-up, selling tickets, and more.
Thirty-five elementary and middle school students presented 16 entertaining acts throughout the evening, showcasing their God-given talents and abilities. Students sang, danced, played the violin, and even performed while riding hover boards. Faculty member Amy Parker and senior Ashleigh Martin served as the Talent Show emcees.
We would like to thank and recognize the 20 chefs and restaurants who donated soup and helped make our event a success. Please join us in thanking them by patronizing these establishments. Our 20 participating restaurants and chefs were: Academy of Culinary Arts; Atlantic City Rescue Mission Kitchen; Bahay Kubo; Barrels; Bonterra Market; Carluccio’s; Charlie’s Bar & Restaurant; Eat Clean Organization; Gregory’s Restaurant & Bar; La Cucina Ristorante; Maurizio’s Pizzeria; Romanelli’s On the Greene; Sal’s Coal Fired Pizza; Sofia Restaurant; Steve and Cookies Restaurant; Tacocat; Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall; The Cheese Board; The Local’s Spot; and Whisk Bakery and Cafe.
We would also like to thank and recognize our generous Bowls of Hope Sponsors: American Church Group of NJ; B.F. Mazzeo Fruits and Produce; Clayton’s Self Storage; Edward Jones Investments, Jason Kiefer, Financial Advisor; Formica Brothers Bakery; H.S. Restoration and Cleaning Service; Klingert Family Chiropractic; Olympic Physical Therapy; and SERVPRO of Egg Harbor/Ventnor City.
CLICK HERE to read more exciting details and see photos of our Bowls of Hope as reported in the Press of Atlantic City’s February 1 article. Hope to see everyone back again next year!
Our largest-ever intramural cheerleading squad made its debut at our “White Out” home basketball game on January 31 before a capacity crowd in the ACS gym in Egg Harbor Township. The squad will lead cheers and do a half-time routine at two more upcoming home games — the senior game on Tuesday, Feb. 11 and the semi-final playoff game on Thursday, Feb. 20.
The 26-member squad of elementary girls from kindergarten to 5th grade, led for the fifth year by Coach Morgan Gibson, has been practicing weekly since late November, learning the chants and practicing tumbling and stunting.
“We’re so excited to see the growth in this intramural program since it began five years ago,” said coach Gibson. “This is the largest and most experienced squad we’ve ever had. Our 5th graders are the leaders and they have learned so much. We know they’re ready to move on next year to the Varsity squad.”
Our 4th grade students, with Google Chromebooks in hand, moved up into Mr. Carney’s high school math classroom on Wednesday, January 29 to get a special lesson on coordinate pairs and graphing as part of their unit on geometry.
“We thought it would be a unique and exciting experience for our students to learn about the fundamentals of geometry from our high school math teacher, especially using the technology resources that he uses with his own students,” said 4th grade teacher Mrs. Hoover. “The students had so much fun!” She and 4th grade teacher Mr. Tardif were on hand to advise and assist the students as they used their Chromebooks during the lesson. Mr. Carney’s son, Colton, is also in Mr. Tardif’s class.
Mr. Carney began by having the students use graph paper to draw the x-axis and y-axis lines and then divide the paper into four quadrants. He gave described how to find the coordinate pairs of a given point placed on the graph and then had the students log into the Chromebooks and begin typing the coordinate pair for the given point.
Mrs. Hoover said the students soon learned how to arrive at the correct answer. Mr. Carney ended the lesson with having the students write their own coordinate pairs to form two eyes on a graph that already had a smile mouth showing.
Elementary students in our Servant’s Heart Club made some 50 peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches at its January meeting for the Atlantic City Rescue Mission to distribute to the homeless in our community.
The 2nd-5th grade students made the sandwiches during their monthly after-school meeting on January 7 and the sandwiches were delivered to the mission this week by Club Advisor and school parent Jennifer DiMaio. The students also colored Bible verses with an encouraging message on flyers that were attached to the sandwich bags.
Mrs. DiMaio said the club’s February project will be to create Valentine’s Day care packages for children in the Ronald McDonald House. Twenty-one students participate in the after-school club and additional students are welcome to join at any time.
Mrs. Fosbenner’s 3rd graders created special projects this week on the life and work of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
“I have a dream.” Those memorable words are the centerpiece of a special history project that students in Mrs. Fosbenner’s 3rd grade class completed this week ahead of Monday’s national holiday honoring the late civil rights leader and minister, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The students created portraits of Dr. King, accompanied by excerpts from his famous “I Have a Dream” National Mall speech to a crowd of some 250,000 people at the 1963 March on Washington. The students were also challenged to list five ways they can help others in the spirit of Dr. King’s message. In addition to creating the portraits, the students are reading a Scholastic News article about Dr. King’s life and impact on society.
The 3rd grade class projects will hang in the hallway near their classroom throughout this month. Dr. King’s biography is also on display on a bulletin board in the hallway near the school library. The display promotes the theme: Speak Love, Think Love, Show Love based on 1 Corinthians 13:1-8.
Over the next week, our elementary students will be reading, writing, and watching videos about Dr. King. As one example, Mrs. McCarthy’s 2B class will be reading “Martin’s Big Words” and completing a writing piece entitled “Martin Had Big Dreams and So Do I?” Our Upper School students learn about the life and legacy of Dr. King throughout the school year as part of their history/social studies curriculum.
ACS is grateful for courageous leaders like Dr. King who have helped us understand and apply the biblical truth that in Christ, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one.” (Galatians 3:28)
