Post Tagged with: "#finishstrongacs"

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.

Celebrating the Class of 2020 – With Yard Signs, Video, Press of AC Photo Gallery

ACS created colorful yard signs with a photo of each of the 20 seniors in the Class of 2020 to honor and celebrate their accomplishments. The yard signs were displayed at the school campus and then delivered to the students at their homes from May 5 to 15. ACS also created a video with poignant, personalized messages for each senior from the administration and high school faculty. Photos of the seniors are also on display in a virtual graduation photo gallery on the Press of Atlantic City online.

The yard signs were delivered by Upper School Principal Meg McHale and the ACS Cougar mascot, traveling to the students’ homes in Absecon, Egg Harbor Township, Northfield, Somers Point, Mays Landing, Ocean View, and even Cape May Courthouse. Teachers, students, and high school parents then participated in a drive-by parade on various days — waving and honking their car horns as the seniors and their parents gathered on their front lawns with their sign.

“We wanted to do something special for our seniors to make them feel loved and appreciated,” said Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen. “The outbreak of the coronavirus cancelled so many of the events that were planned for our seniors and in mid-May it was uncertain whether we would even be able to hold commencement.”

Oblen added that the school administration, parents, and seniors are very pleased that a recent decision by the Governor’s Office in late May will allow commencements to be held outdoors with adherence to social distancing guidelines on or after July 6. ACS Commencement has now been scheduled for Wednesday, July 8 at at 10 a.m. The rain date is July 9.

CLICK HERE to see the ACS video honoring each senior in the Class of 2020.

CLICK HERE to see the Press of Atlantic City’s online gallery of the Class of 2020. Type in Atlantic Christian School or the graduate’s individual name in the search box.

ACS Elementary Students Raise Over $1,100 for American Heart Association

ACS elementary students recently participated in a month-long “Kids Heart Challenge” service project to raise funds to benefit the American Heart Association.   Thank you to our school families and friends who donated to the effort and helped our student’s raise $1,147 for the AHA.

The Kids Heart Challenge campaign was launched during an Elementary Chapel on February 28, where AHA representative James Presby explained the benefits of participating in the service project. He said all donations would help fund life-saving research and programs that help kids with special hearts. PE teacher Ben Chapman, who spearheaded the project for ACS, had planned to hold a fun PE event on March 26, but the event could not be held since the school campus was closed on March 17 due to the coronavirus outbreak.

“I’m so pleased with the outstanding response from our school families and friends who donated to support the AHA even while the pandemic was underway,” Chapman said. He also added that by participating in and completing the Kids Heart Challenge, ACS now qualifies to apply for a grant of up to $3,500 from the AHA for PE equipment or other health and wellness equipment or projects.

Grammy-Award Winning Artist Mandisa Does Zoom Interview with 5th Graders on Being an Overcomer

The students in Mrs. Kiefer’s and Mr. Miller’s 5th grade classes had the special opportunity to do a Zoom interview with Grammy Award-winning Christian recording artist Mandisa on May 29. The 5th graders had been reading and studying the book “Number the Stars,” which focuses on the struggles of two children during the time of the Holocaust. The students have been learning about overcoming obstacles and being brave, which are themes in Mandisa’s music.

Mandisa was originally scheduled to be the keynote speaker at the ACS Legacy Gala on May 1, but the Gala was cancelled due to the outbreak of the coronavirus.  One of Mandisa’s hit songs, “Overcomer,” had become familiar to ACS students from a video promoting the Gala that was broadcast in the school lobby in January and February.

From her living room in Tennessee, Mandisa responded during the live Zoom meeting to questions posed by the students and Mrs. Kiefer, who moderated the interview. Mandisa gave advice on how to overcome obstacles by expressing one’s feelings and seeking wisdom from God through prayer.  To one question Mandisa responded — “I have learned to put my worth and value in what God says about me and I know He loves me just the way that I am.”

Mandisa got her big break as a contestant on American Idol Season 5, finishing in 9th place. With more than 1 million records sold, she has proven to be one of American Idol’s most successful alums.  She was performing across the country with the Christian music group Newsboys as part of their 2020 Greatness of Our God Tour, but the tour was suspended this spring due to the coronavirus outbreak. In 2017, she performed with Toby Mac’s “HITS DEEP Tour.” She was awarded a Grammy in 2013 for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album for her best-selling “Overcomer” album.

CLICK HERE to watch the entire interview with Mandisa.

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.