Post Tagged with: "Middle School"

Christmas Chapels Feature Songs, Skits Presented by Middle School, High School Worship Teams

“A Campfire Christmas” was the theme of this year’s Christmas chapels on December 16 and 23, with students in the Middle School and High School Worship teams singing and dancing to favorite Christmas songs and presenting mini-skits while gathered on stage around a simulated campfire. Middle school faculty member Mrs. Celine Melody presented a skit about the true meaning of Christmas that featured 8th grader Joshua Kinch playing the role of the father.

The student-led chapels featured Christmas songs selected by the students in the worship teams because they had special significance in their lives, according to Mrs. Kelly Flynn, who directs the worship teams.  The chapel program opened with “Joy to the World,” followed by several upbeat songs including “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” and “Jingle Bell Rock,” and the students and staff in the audience were encouraged to sing and clap along.

Several students were featured in solos at the December 16 elementary and middle school chapels, including 7th grader Ava Barberio singing “O Holy Night” and 6th grader Autumn Henson and 8th graders Autumn Loo and Jadelyn Maurer in “Mary Did You Know.”

“It was wonderful to see the students having fun singing and dancing to some of their favorite Christmas songs and then taking the time to dig deep and focus on the true meaning of Christmas and to share that salvation story with their fellow students,” Mrs. Flynn said. In the December 16 chapels, Mrs. Flynn closed the program with a moving solo performance of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”

At the December 23 chapel, the High School Worship Team performed a stirring rendition of “Mary Did You Know”  and closed the chapel with “A Christmas Hallelujah.” Featured soloists in the two soulful songs were Elizabeth Alford (11th), Destiny Brewer (11th), Tommy Ellision (10th), Evangelina Kim (9th), and Rebekah Kimmerley (12th).

 

12th Grader Katherine Kong Wins Christmas Card Art Design Contest

Congratulations to 12th grader Katherine Kong for winning first place for the second year in a row in the ACS Christmas Card Art Design Contest. Her original art design is being featured on the cover of our school’s annual Christmas card that several thousand families and friends will receive in the mail by Christmas.

In addition to Katherine, four other students were recognized for their outstanding designs: 2nd place – Noelle Thompson (9th grade); 3rd place – Aine Dorsey (8th grade); 4th place – Summer Scott (10th grade); and 5th place – Shelby Einwechter (12th grade).

Thirty-seven students in Ms. Mirakian’s 8B Art Class and high school students in Art Appreciation and Art Workshop submitted cover art designs for the contest. A faculty-staff panel of judges selected the winners, who were recognized and presented with award ribbons during Upper School chapel on December 9.

 

Christmas Card Design Contest Winners Announced — From left: Art teacher Sherry Mirakian; 8th grader Aine Dorsey (3rd place); 12th grader Shelby Einwechter (5th place); 10th grader Summer Scott (4th place); 9th grader Noelle Thompson (2nd place); 12th grader Katherine Kong (1st place).

Katherine’s card design, done with markers, colored pencils, and metallic pen on card stock, captures a quiet night scene of the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus lying in the manger and incorporates the message spoken by the angel to Joseph in Matthew 1:21 — “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

“This is the fourth year we have held this Christmas card art contest and the designs just keep getting better and better,” Ms. Mirakian said. “This contest gives our students an opportunity to discover and develop their God-given artistic abilities and to understand how art can be a powerful medium to share the gospel message.” All of the Christmas card designs will be on display in December and January on a large school bulletin board in the main school hallway adjacent  next to the Multi-Purpose Room.

 

ACS Wins Cross Country Meet Vs. Kings Christian School

Ten middle school and high school athletes competed in a cross country meet with King’s Christian School on November 13 and the ACS team won the meet, with 10th grader Tommy Ellison coming in first place overall, finishing the 3.1 mile course in 19:42 minutes.

Ellison also came in 1st place in the category of High School Boys and 9th grader Alicia O’Donnell came in first place in the High School Girls category, with a time of 24:45 minutes (both pictured below left).  8th grader Jayden Sanchez came in 3rd place overall and second place in the category of Middle School Boys, with a time of 21:39 minutes, and 8th grader Taylor Murphy took second place in the category of Middle School Girls, and finished in 10th place with a time of 25:52 minutes (both picture below right).

“This was the first time we had the opportunity to compete against King’s Christian in cross country and our athletes did a great job,” said Athletic Director Pam Hitchner, who traveled with the team to the meet, which was held at Pennypacker Park in Haddonfield, NJ. “We have some strong long-distance runners and will be looking for more races to enter in the future to help our athletes improve their skills.” Hitchner said King’s Christian entered seven runners in the meet.

The six other ACS athletes who competed in the meet were:

8th grader Charlie Costello (4th overall, 3rd in MS Boys)
7th grader Calvin Costello  (5th overall, 4th in MS Boys)
8th grader Taylor Murphy (10th overall, 2nd in MS Girls)
8th grader Isabell Alford (11th overall, 3rd in MS Girls)
12th grader Gabriel Catusse-Martinella (13th overall, 3th in HS Boys)
7th grader Marley Odell (14th overall, 4th place in MS Girls)
7th grader Stephanie Valdes (16th overall)

 

 

 

 

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.

 

 

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!

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.

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.

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.

2020 Yearbooks to Arrive in July; Yearbook Dedicated to Veteran Teacher Lisa Dye

The 2020 Yearbook Cover was designed by 12th grader Lin Xiao, who plans to study art in the fall at Syracuse University.

The 2020 ACS Yearbooks are set to arrive in July, celebrating school events and students’ achievements in a school year significantly impacted and cut short by the coronavirus outbreak. Yearbook Advisor Tori Flath said that artwork designed by 12th grader Lin Xiao was chosen for the yearbook cover and that veteran teacher Lisa Dye was being honored with the yearbook dedication.

Flath said that yearbooks will be shipped in early to mid-July to the school and also directly to a purchaser’s home if the purchaser requested shipment to their home address when placing their order. Families will be notified by email when the yearbooks arrive and advised regarding the pick-up process. Flath said a limited number of yearbooks will be available for purchase from the school office. The cost of a yearbook is $45 and checks should be made payable to Atlantic Christian School, with the word “Yearbook” in the memo line.

Faculty member Lisa Dye, rear left, poses with fellow teachers Sarah Coates, George Dickson, Dena Johnson, and Shirlene Perini at the ACS Back-to-School BBQ in September 2018.

Flath said Dye was selected for the yearbook dedication for her long-standing service at ACS as an elementary and middle school teacher. She has also been active with the Middle School Missions Club, serving as a chaperone on three past missions trips.

The dedication located near the front of the yearbook reads in part — “Ms. Dye is a wonderful example of what it means to have one’s heart transformed into the image of Christ. She is brimming over with great love for each of her students, seeking to help them grow academically and, more importantly, spiritually. She truly is a light for Christ in the school.”

This year marked Dye’s 23rd year in Christian education at ACS. She started as a full-time 1st grade aide in April 1997 and then became a full-time 1st grade teacher that fall. Since then, she has also been a 4th grade and 5th grade teacher and taught Middle School math and Bible. Dye earned a BS in business from Eastern University and holds teaching certifications from the State of New Jersey and the Association of Christian Schools International.

This June, Dye decided to retire from teaching at ACS, but she is looking forward to continuing to be involved in various ways, including as a substitute teacher and as a volunteer with the Middle School Missions Club.

Faculty member Lisa Dye served as a chaperone with the ACS Middle School Missions Team, working with children at the Bridge Academy in Coatesville, PA in spring 2018.
An 8th Grade Bible class, taught by faculty member Lisa Dye, did a chapel presentation for preschool and kindergarten students in October 2019 on the armor of God.
The Middle School Missions Team, with chaperone faculty member Lisa Dye (front far right), served in Philadelphia, PA in April 2019.

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.

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.

Students Compete for Awards in Middle School Science Fair

Excitement was in the air at the Middle School Science Fair on March 6 in the ACS gym. A team of judges reviewed 50 projects and chose the top three entries from the 6th, 7th and 8th grades.

“We are very proud of the efforts of all of the students,” said Middle School science teacher Celine Melody, who organized the fair along with middle school teachers Caitie Lee and Amy Parker.  “It’s been a number of years since we held a Science Fair so this year was our relaunch,” Melody said. “We are looking forward to next year when we will  have some of our students move on to participate in the Jersey Shore Science Fair at Stockton University. ”

In the 6th and 7th grades, students worked in teams, while 8th graders prepared individual projects. The science project counted towards the student’s science grade.

High science teacher Dave Genter, who was one of 10 judges, commended the students for doing an excellent job on their oral presentations to the judges. “The students showed that they are developing their thought processes and scientific skills and have a keen curiosity about the world around them,” Genter said.

Following are the students who received the top Science Fair awards:

6th Grade

1st Place: Joshua Oke & Calvin Castello
2nd Place: Caden Kim & Noah Engle
3rd Place: Gabrielle Goodwin & Alexis Andjuar

7th Grade

1st Place:  Aine Dorset & Ruth Oke
2nd Place: Judah Dawkins & Rebecca DiMaio
3rd Place: Grace Johnson, Autumn Loo, & Taylor Sutton

8th Grade

1st Place: Noelle Thompson
2nd Place: Noah Gibbs
3rd Place: Ryleigh Martin

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CLICK HERE FOR PHOTO GALLERY

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Batter Up! Baseball/Softball Season Preview

The High School and Middle School Baseball and Softball seasons are getting underway. High School tryouts will be held on Monday, March 9 and Middle School tryouts will be on Monday, March 23. Interested students should sign up in the gym. Check out the ACS website under the “Athletics” table for the game schedules of all our teams. Hope to see you in the stands!

The Varsity Baseball team will play its first game on Friday, March 20 — a non-league home game against Annapolis Area Christian School. The Varsity Baseball team will play its second, non-league game on Friday, March 27 at home against Oakcrest High School. The first Tri-State Christian Athletic Conference games for the Varsity Baseball and Softball teams will be on Tuesday, March 31 at home against Pilgrim Academy.

The Middle School baseball and softball teams will play their first games in the Atlantic Cape Junior High League on Tuesday, April 21 at home against Pilgrim Academy.

The head coaches who will lead our high school and middle school teams this season are:

  • Varsity Boys’ Baseball — Ben Chapman, in his 1st year. Chapman is a 2013 alumnus who was a stand-out baseball player at ACS and went on to be a pitcher on Cairn University’s baseball team;
  • Varsity Girls’ Softball — Dara Kimmerley, in her 6th year, with a strong record of winning seasons, including a TSCAC championship in 2017, a first place regular season finish in 2018, and taking the team to the championship game in 2019.
  • Middle School Boys’ Baseball — Charlie Costello, an ACS parent in his first year as head coach. He assisted former head coach Rob Barberio last year when the team finished in 3rd place in the league.
  • Middle School Girls’ Softball — Rick Jackson, an ACS parent in his first year as head coach. He assisted former head coach Mike Bohs, who led the team to a 1st place finish in the league in 2018 and tied for first in 2019.

See What’s New Around the 37-Acre ACS Campus

Work crews are converting our grass soccer field to an artificial turf field expected to be ready by mid-April.

With spring around the corner, we thank God for providing funding for a number of improvements now underway on our beautiful, spacious 37-acre campus, including new security fencing, an artificial turf soccer field, and a new outdoor toddler playground also covered with artificial turf.

“We are so excited about these new upgrades to some of our outdoor facilities that have been made possible through donations and grants,” said Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen. “Our students from preschool to high school will be benefiting from these improvements for years to come.”

New security fencing will soon surround outdoor play areas, made possible by state security grant funding for non-public schools. Progressive Fence began installing the green support poles for the fencing in January. The height of the fencing will range from 6- to 10-feet high, and will include several lockable gates at entry points to the track. Oblen said additional new fencing is planned for the next school year to go along the property lines near the baseball and softball fields.

Several weeks ago, work crews from Clayton Companies began removing the grass on the main soccer field used by the Varsity Boys’ and Middle School Boys’ soccer field to replace it with artificial turf. The turf field and the labor is being donated by Clayton Companies and is expected to be ready by mid-April. Oblen said the turf field will have better drainage and will be significantly less costly to maintain than the grass field.

With the start of warmer weather this month, ACS students in toddler preschool classes have come outdoors to explore their new play area, which has been fenced in and covered with artificial turf. “The children were all smiles and the turf is a safe surface that is easy to keep clean,” said Elementary Principal and Early Education Director Gail Alford. Recently completed asphalt-covered walkways along the perimeters of the playgrounds are also providing easier access to the play areas and the track.

Bump, Set, Spike! Students Enjoy Friendly Competition in Annual Volleyball Tournament

It was a challenging night of friendly competition, with plenty of bumps, sets, and spikes as ACS students, joined by a few agile faculty and family members, faced off in the ACS gym on Friday, February 28 for the annual Intramural Volleyball Tournament.

Nearly 70 people showed off their skills as nine high school teams and one middle school team competed for team medals and bragging rights. After three hours of double-elimination games, the high school team named “Rest in Peace” took first place. The members of the winning team, comprised of 5 juniors and 1 sophomore, pictured below (from left) are: Jacob Rosie, Chloe Vogel, Landon Shivers, Sydney Pearson, Aaron Glancey, and Cristen Winkel.

A combined junior/senior team named “One-Sixth Black” placed 2nd, a freshman team, wearing pink T-shirts sporting the name “Chew Blocka” placed 3rd, and the “Cruise Control” team with parent, faculty, and high school student players who wore light blue Sterling Tackle shirts, placed 4th. Athletic Director Pam Hitchner and PE teacher Ben Chapman served as referees during the tournament.

Come to the Middle School Science Fair – Friday, March 6

Is the five-second rule true? What is the effect of microwaves on plant growth? What are the different densities of water? The answers to these and other STEM-focused questions will be explored in middle school science projects at the ACS Science Fair on Friday, March 6 in the gym from 4:00-6:00 p.m. ACS families are invited to attend and tour the 50 science projects that will be on display.

The students began developing their science fair projects in November, which is part of their science grade. The 6th and 7th graders have been working in pairs and 8th graders have created their individual projects.

Middle School science teacher Celine Melody said a panel of judges will examine each of the projects during the Science Fair and select the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners from each class.

ACS All-Star Spellers Compete in Feb. 21 Bee, 4th Grader Leila Alobeidy Wins Top Spot

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)

MS Basketball Teams Finish 1st & 2nd in Atlantic Cape Jr. High League

The ACS Middle School Girls’ Basketball team, holding the first place trophy at the Jan. 25 Pilgrim Academy middle school basketball tournament.

The Middle School Girls’ and Boys’ basketball teams wrapped up excellent seasons, with the girls finishing in first and the boys in second place in the Atlantic Cape Junior High League. Both teams also took first place in a middle school tournament on January 25 hosted by Pilgrim Academy.

The ACS Middle School Boys’ Basketball team won first place at the Jan. 25 Pilgrim Academy tournament, that featured six area boys’ middle school teams.

The MS Girls’ team, in its second year under head coach and 2007 ACS alumnus Grant Miller, finished 10-3 overall. The MS Boys’ team, under head coach Lee Martin who is also in his 2nd year, also finished 10-3. The final games of the season were played at home against Assumption Regional Catholic School, with the boys winning their game and the girls losing, their only league loss of the season.

“We’re very proud of the way our players worked together and supported each other,” said Athletic Director Pam Hitchner. “The skills of the players steadily improved and they showed exemplary character and sportsmanship throughout the season.”

The 15 members of the MS Girls’ team were: Riley Cook, Sophia Costello, Gianna Flynn, Sophia Johnson, Rebecca Kelley, Evangelina Kim, Ryleigh Martin, Kendall Murphy, Taylor Murphy, Alicia O’Donnell, Ruth Oke, Skyler Shivers, Kayaha Smalls, Taylor Sutton, and Anyae Welch.

The 14 members of the MS Boys’ team were: John Cook, Calvin Costello, Charlie Costello, Judah Dawkins, Jayden Dixon, Jackson Gayeski, Noah Gibbs, Ethan Haynes, Emmanuel Johnson, Caden Kim, Chase Leach, Joseph McCrae, Jayden Sanchez, and Adam Schlundt.

ACS Students Celebrate Black History Month

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.

Bowls of Hope Food Drive Collects 1,021 Pounds of Food For Community FoodBank

Our Bowls of Hope Food Drive was a huge success! Thanks to the generosity of our school families and friends, ACS collected a whopping 1,021 pounds worth of canned soups, vegetables, beans, tuna fish, and other non-perishable food items to donate to the Community FoodBank of NJ, Southern Branch. ACS middle school and high school Student Council members helped pack up the donated items and loaded them onto a Food Bank truck on Thursday, February 6.

Colette Kraus, Food Sourcing Manager for the Community FoodBank, thanked ACS for the donation which she said “will help many in our community who need our assistance.”

The donations came in throughout the month of January, with the school-wide Food Drive concluding the night of the Bowls of Hope Soup Cook-Off on February 1. Many people who attended the Bowls of Hope brought canned goods and other non-perishables to donate to the Food Drive, which this year collected three times more than last year’s drive.

Varsity Cheer Squad Fires Up ACS Basketball Fans

A talented, high-energy 15-member cheerleading squad has been getting ACS fans fired up at home basketball games since early January. The squad will be cheering at three more games before the basketball season concludes — at this Friday’s JV and Varsity Girls’ games against Winslow; at the senior game on February 11; and at the semi-final playoff game on February 20. Come on out and cheer our Cougars on to victory!

The middle school and high school students on the squad, co-coached by staff members Kelly Flynn and Morgan Gibson, started practicing in November to learn nearly 50 chants, cheers, and half-time routines and to develop their tumbling, stunts, and pyramids.

“I love the way this squad really works together,” said Mrs. Flynn. “They help and support each other and not just when they’re cheering, but they’re building great relationships for life.” In addition to practicing or cheering at a game three to four days a week, the squad has also enjoyed their time together at team dinners and Bible studies.

The squad is led by two captains — 9th grader Lauren Kent and 8th grader Haven Sanchez. The other members of the squad are: Angelina Alexis, Isabell Alford, Ava Barberio, Leah Boyer, Victoria Dade, Rebecca DiMaio, Adrienna Foo, Grace Johnson, Paityn Kates, Autumn Loo, Savannah Schwenker, Makayla Tomlinson, and Stephanie Valdes.

ACS Participating in Coaches vs. Cancer Campaign

ACS and other Christian schools in the Tri-State Christian Athletic Conference are combining their efforts to support families dealing with cancer with a “Coaches vs. Cancer” campaign. Donations and gate fees collected at the February 3 middle school and high school basketball home games and at the Tuesday, February 11 home JV and Varsity games against Gloucester County Christian School will be donated to the TSCAC campaign.

Special T-shirts are being worn by ACS basketball players and cheerleaders at these games to support the cause. Income from the sale of the T-shirts is also being donated to the campaign.

Athletic Director Pam Hitchner said the funds collected this year will go to two families who have family members undergoing cancer treatment. One family is affiliated with Calvary Academy. The other recipient will be Kevin Weeks and his family. Mr. Weeks, who resides in Egg Harbor Township, is 31 years old and has six children. He is related to two members of the ACS Varsity basketball team, Aaron and Sam Glancey.