Post Tagged with: "Sleepy Hollow Family Campground"

ACS Wins Best of the Press 2022 Awards in Three Categories

We’re in the Winner’s Circle! Atlantic Christian School was a big winner in the Press of Atlantic City’s 2022 Readers’ Choice Awards, placing in three categories — for Best Child Daycare Center, Best Summer Camp, and Best Place to Work. The award winners were announced on Sunday, November 6 and published in a special pull-out section in The Press of Atlantic City.

Our summer Cougar Camp and our Early Education Center both received 2nd place Silver Medals and ACS received a 3rd place Bronze Medal in the category of “Best Place to Work.”

Thank you to our ACS families and the many friends in our community who voted online in two rounds of the contest from July-September. Our desire is to honor God in everything we do as we serve our students, our school families, and our local community.

This past summer, children entering grades 1 to 7 enjoyed a 9-week Cougar Camp program that included field trips to the Cape May Zoo, King Pin Bowling, Estell Manor Park, and other fun and educational destinations, water foam fun, STEM activities, swimming at the lake at Sleepy Hollow Family Campground, working in the school garden, sports, Bible stories and worship, and much more. We’re very proud of our Cougar Camp staff, led by faculty member Eric Tardif, and our Early Education teachers and aides, led by Early Ed Director and Elementary Principal Gail Alford, for their dedication and love for each of the students who are in these programs.

CLICK HERE to read the online article on the awards in the Press of Atlantic City.

ACS School Families Enjoy Food, Fun, Fellowship at Back-to-School BBQ

Our 18th annual Back-to-School BBQ on Friday, September 16 was our largest ever — with over 1,200 parents, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and alumni parents coming together to enjoy an evening of fun and fellowship under beautiful, sunny skies. There were plenty of activities for children young and old, including face painting, Ga-Ga ball, 9-square-in-the-air, and several inflatables. Worship music performed live by a largely faculty-parent band was a welcome new addition to the event and everyone enjoyed taking a hay ride provided by Sleepy Hollow Family Campground, whose owners are ACS alumni parents.

For those with a sweet tooth, there were several tasty desserts available, including Kona Water Ice, Chef Steve’s Popcorn, and funnel cake.  Several groups were raising funds by selling various items — the Parent-Teacher Fellowship was selling SpiritWear sweatshirts and the ACS Cheer Squad sold mums and Playland Castaway Cove wristbands.

Thank you to the parent volunteers from the Board of Directors and PTF, as well as to our faculty and staff, who worked at the grill, served in the buffet line, volunteered in the kitchen and at the game locations, and donated food, including delicious pulled pork prepared by the Pearson family. The talented musicians who performed worship music throughout the evening, which prompted some to get up and dance, were: Ted Dawkins, Mark Huff, Amy Parker, Bill Smallwood, Bob Westcott, Jane Zigner, and Julie Zimmer, with Lee Martin on sound.

We would also like to thank several area businesses and organizations who donated or provided equipment on loan — Atlantic City Bread Company, Beacon Evangelical Free Church, Big Time Vending, Bimbo Bakeries, Gregory’s Restaurant & Bar, Herr Foods Inc., Sysco, Sleepy Hollow Family Campground, and Westside Meats.

What a great way to start off the school year!

 

Race for Education, Harvest Day 2021 — Great Way to Celebrate Fall, Raise Funds for ACS

With sunny, blue skies overhead, some 600 students and teachers from preschool to high school ran, walked, and even navigated an obstacle course on our track to help raise funds for our school at our Race for Education on November 1.  Scores of family members came out to cheer from the sidelines and volunteer. To add to the fun, elementary students enjoyed a variety of fall-themed, Harvest Day activities in addition to participating in the Race.

“Thank you to our volunteers and our donors for helping make our fall fundraiser a big success,” said Event Coordinator Christian Delacruz, who oversaw the Race.  “We have received generous gifts from over 400 donors and we have now exceeded our $40,000 goal — what a blessing!”

Throughout Race Day, various classes posed with yard signs that recognized a record 20 Event Sponsors and 30 Classroom Sponsors. Two large banners recognizing our Event Sponsors also were hung near the track and at the front entrance of the main school building. Hundreds of sponsors gave $50 or more and the students they supported received large green-and-white Race sneaker posters that are on display in their classrooms and in the hallways.

According to Delacruz, donations are still coming in for the Race and a new Race fundraising record may be set. It’s not too late to make a donation to the Race. Our online donation site is still open — race4ed.com/aceht

Favorite Harvest Day activities held throughout the day included a visit to the pumpkin patch and decorating pumpkins, paper leaves, and cards for art. Thank you to Produce Junction in Northfield for providing over 400 pumpkins at a discounted price for our event. Students also enjoyed riding a tractor-pulled wagon around the school campus, driven by former ACS student Noah Pricskett, whose family owns the Sleepy Hollow Family Campground in Egg Harbor Township.  Other Harvest Day activities included story time, a scavenger hunt, jumping in a new Bounce House, playing gaga ball and 4-square, and an outdoor music class where students practiced their percussion and rhythmic skills.

Photo credits: Christian Delacruz, Carole Karabashian, Anna Linkins, Patty Rosie

 

Back-to-School BBQ a Great Time of Fellowship, Building Friendships

Our annual Back-to-School BBQ on September 17 was a great night of fellowship and a time to grow closer together as a school family. It was our biggest BBQ ever as we welcomed over 850 new and returning parents, students, staff, grandparents, and alumni for an enjoyable evening of  good food and lots of games and activities for students of every age.

The favorite activities included the Rock Wall, Ga Ga Ball, 9-Square in the Air, several inflatables, and going to the face-painting table.  The BBQ-goers also enjoyed several new food offerings — Kona Water Ice, Funnel Cake, and Chef Steve’s Kettle Corn Popcorn. Children and families also enjoyed a tractor-pulled wagon ride around the ACS campus, provided by the Pricskett family, whose son, Noah, drove the tractor. The Pricsketts, who are alumni parents and own Sleepy Hollow Family Campground, also provided dozens of picnic tables for seating at the BBQ.

Thank you to the many volunteers, including members of the Board of Directors, faculty, and staff, who were busy at the BBQ grill, serving at the food buffet line, doing face-painting, monitoring the student activities, and helping with set-up and clean-up.

We are also grateful to several businesses, a church, school families, and vendors who donated food, beverages, and equipment to help keep the cost of the BBQ affordable for our families. These donors included: Atlantic City Bread Company, Beacon Evangelical Free Church, Big Time Vending, Bimbo Bakeries, Ralph Clayton, Gregory’s Restaurant & Bar and Joe and Amanda Gregory, Herr Foods, Kris Jacoby, Liberty Coca-Cola, Doug and Lori Pearson, Steve and Alisun Richards, Sysco, and Paul and Terry Vogel.  A special thank-you also to ACS high school students on the Yearbook Staff who took the photos at the BBQ — Vera Huff, Mia Liggins, Amber Ramos, and Summer Scott.