Post Tagged with: "South Jersey"

ACS Inducts Five High School Students into National Honor Society at March 30 Ceremony

ACS recognized and honored five high school students for their accomplishments in scholarship, leadership, service, and Christian character as they were inducted into the National Honor Society during a ceremony in the gym on Tuesday, March 30. The NHS is the nation’s oldest, largest, and most prestigious organization that recognizes student achievement.

The students who were inducted into the NHS were: 10th graders Moges Johnson, Cruz Lewis, Reyna Lewis, and Paige Noble, and 12th grader Hyewon (Amy) Ki.

Family members and teachers in the audience applauded as each student recited the NHS pledge, lit a candle, signed their name in the ACS Chapter registry, and received their NHS membership certificate from Upper School Principal Meg McHale.

“We praise God for the way these students have used their gifts and talents to distinguish themselves in the classroom, in community service, and in leadership, throughout displaying exemplary Christian character,” said Mrs. McHale in her welcome remarks at the ceremony. “We also thank God for the parents, faculty, and staff who have invested in them.”

Mrs. Christina Ragland, Advisor for the ACS Chapter of the National Honor Society, also congratulated the students for their accomplishments and introduced the guest speaker, faculty member and pastor Dave Genter, who she said “has been an encouragement to these students and has pushed them to be all they can be.”

Genter challenged the students to use their abilities as leaders to invest in the lives of others. “You have the talents, abilities, and work ethic to be successful,” Genter said. “But it’s important to remember that life is about people and when you invest in the lives of people, you touch eternity.”

Senior members of the ACS Chapter also participated in the ceremony, including Chapter President Sydney Pearson, Vice President Elizabeth Alford, Secretary Chloe Vogel, and members Kami DeNick and Katherine Kong. The students each spoke about the meaning and spiritual significance of the four principles of the NHS — scholarship, leadership, service, and Christian character — and lit a candle representing each of those principles.

Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen, in closing remarks at the ceremony, described the inductees as “a small but mighty group” and advised them not to view their induction into the NHS as the finish line, but as the beginning of God’s purpose and plan for their lives.  “All the skills you’ve learned will serve you well in the future as you follow the plan God has for you,” Oblen said.

CLICK HERE to view additional photos from the National Honor Society Induction Ceremony.

 

 

ACS to Participate for Second Year in American Heart Association’s “Kids Heart Challenge”

ACS elementary students are participating for the second year in a row in a month-long “Kids Heart Challenge” service project launched in late March to benefit the American Heart Association (AHA) and to raise awareness about the importance of taking care of your heart. Kids Heart Challenge fundraising packets were sent home with students on March 24.

PE teacher Ben Chapman, who is overseeing the service project, said students are being asked to take the challenge to make healthy heart choices. He said this year’s campaign is promoting six habits for a healthy heart — to add colorful fruits and vegetables to your diet, to choose water, to move more, to never vape or use tobacco, to help others, and to practice gratitude.  Chapman is also planning a fun and exciting PE event on April 30, 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 April 30. Students can also have a fundraising page on the AHA website to receive online donations.

CLICK HERE to register and set up your child’s fundraising page.

Pastor Mouliert Challenges Students to Please God, Not the Crowd in All-School Easter Chapel Message

Are you a people pleaser? Do you make decisions and choices based on what others are saying and doing instead of what God wants you to do?  Pastor Matt Mouliert challenged ACS students from kindergarten to the 12th grade with these questions during his powerful message at our all-school Easter chapel on Wednesday, March 31.

“If you live for the crowd and try to please others, you are going to do things that you know are wrong,” said Pastor Mouliert, senior pastor at Crossroads Fellowship Church in Pleasantville.  “Integrity is more important than popularity.” In his message, Pastor Mouliert focused on a part of the Easter story recorded in Mark chapter 15, where Jesus was arrested and taken before the Roman governor of Judaea, Pontius Pilate. Pastor Mouliert described Pilate as a “people pleaser,” noting that he made the decision to hand over Jesus to be crucified because he wanted “to satisfy the crowd” of people who were chanting, “Crucify him.”

“Don’t do what Pilate did,” Pastor Mouliert said. “The only person you need to please is God; He made you unique, so be your true self and live for God.”

Pastor Mouliert also tested the students’ knowledge of Easter-themed trivia during a light-hearted contest that engaged everyone, with the promise of a giant chocolate Easter bunny as the prize. In the end, after more than 15 rounds of trivia questions, kindergarten student Janessa Obot was the final winner, with fellow kindergarten student Grisha Kagramanov finishing second.

Various student groups also participated in the chapel program. 7th graders Alexis Andujar, Amelia D’Anna, Gabriella Goodwin, and Dariana Ortez, who are in the Middle School American Sign Language 2 class, opened the chapel signing to the Elevation Worship song, “Graves Into Gardens,” joined by vocalists from the High School Worship Team.

Four students from the 5th grade worship team — Zoey Holmstrom, Julia Morris, Solia Pecou, and Chelsie Richards — led worship with choreography to “God’s Not Dead” and “Lord, I Lift Your Name on High.”

The High School Worship Team led worship to close the chapel, with Elevation Worship’s “Echo” and Passion Conference’s “Glorious Day.” The 10 students on the High School Worship team were: Elizabeth Alford, Tommy Ellison, Vera Huff, JJ Jacoby, Evangelina Kim, Rebekah Kimmerley, Jada Logan, Haven Sanchez, Quinn Schrag, and Noelle Thompson.

Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen, in her closing remarks at chapel, noted the joy that she felt seeing the entire student body together, a sentiment that Early Ed Director and Elementary Principal Gail Alford and Upper School Principal Meg McHale also expressed during their chapel remarks.  Oblen noted that it had been 15 months since the students had last gathered for an all-school chapel, on December 22, 2019.  Oblen also gave a final challenge to the students, asking them to tell at least one person about Jesus during their time off for Easter break –“tell them the truth because they need to hear it.”

CLICK HERE to see a photo gallery of the Easter chapel.

 

 

 

ACS Sends Thank-You Card to Over 100 Pastors with Cover Art Designed by 8th Grader Makayla Tomlinson

Over 100 area pastors received a special thank-you card this week from ACS in appreciation of their critical role as spiritual mentors and servant-leaders for ACS students, faculty, and staff. The artwork on the card’s cover was designed by 8th grader Makayla Tomlinson, who took first place in a new student art contest.

“Each year, our students and staff look forward to Pastor Appreciation Day — a time when we enjoy fellowship over breakfast, worship and learn from God’s Word at chapel, and spend time talking and taking photos together,” said Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen.  “However, due to health and safety protocols related to the COVID-19 pandemic, we were unable to hold Pastor Appreciation Day in person here at the school. The thank-you card was a unique way we could show our pastors that we love and appreciate them and each card was signed by the students who attend their church.”  In addition to the card, pastors also received a photo of the kindergarten through 12th grade student or students who attend their church.

Makayla’s cover design took first place out of 20 student entries in a contest that art teacher Sherry Mirakian said will now be held annually. Makayla created her design using markers and pen over a 5-week period during Middle School Art Class in January and February. The wording on the cover says: “Thank you for doing what God has made you to do.”  High school students in Mrs. Mirakian’s Art Workshop Class also designed artwork for the cover of the card.

Pastor Appreciation Card Design Winners Recognized at March 10 Upper School Chapel — From left: Hyeonjin (Isaac) Choi, 5th place; Katherine Kong, 4th place; Ava Nixon, 3rd place; Jadelyn Maurer, 2nd place; and Makayla Tomlinson, 1st place; and Art teacher Sherry Mirakian.

During Upper School chapel on March 10, Makayla and four other students who took 2nd through 5th place in the contest were recognized by Mrs. Mirakian for their artistic talents and presented with ribbons. A video displaying the images of the five top cards was also shown as part of the chapel presentation.

The top five contest winners, pictured at right, were: 8th grader Makayla Tomlinson, 1st place; 8th grader Jadelyn Maurer, 2nd place; 8th grader Ava Nixon, 3rd place; 12th grader Katherine Kong, 4th place; and 11th grader Hyeonjin (Isaac) Choi, 5th place.

The top five cover art designs are pictured below.

 

Classroom Cameo: 3rd Grade Research Project Highlights Planets in Our Solar System

The heavens declare the glory of God! – that was the theme of a research project on our solar system recently completed by students in Mrs. Fosbenner’s and Mrs. McCarthy’s 3rd grade classes.  Large, colorful posters with paintings of Jupiter, Mars, Neptune, and other planets that the students researched have been on display since mid-March in the hallway outside the 3rd grade classrooms.

“This was a multi-stage assignment where each student selected a planet in our solar system and then learned the steps and skills of how to do a research paper on that planet,” Mrs. McCarthy said.  During class time, the students gathered facts online using a child-friendly search engine, then wrote a first draft of their research paper, reviewed and revised that draft, and then produced a final version. The project also included painting a poster of their planet. In Mrs. Fosbenner’s class, the students worked on their projects as a homework assignment.

“This project taught our students important research and writing skills that they will build upon each year,” said Mrs. Fosbenner. ” But there is also a spiritual lesson in this project because as the students gathered information for their paper they became more knowledgeable about the awesome details of the planets that God created and how they are uniquely placed within our solar system.”

 

 

Purchase The 2021 ACS Yearbook

The 2021 ACS Yearbook is now on sale!  The price of the yearbook is $45, but students in the Class of 2021 can purchase the yearbook for a discounted price of $40. To purchase, please use the form below.

The yearbook was produced by a 4-member yearbook staff — 12th graders Gabriel Catusse-Martinella, Kayla DeNick, Katherine Kong, and Sydney Pearson — and overseen by Yearbook Advisor and faculty member Tori Flath. The staff has been working diligently throughout the 2020-2021 school year, taking photos at dozens of ACS events, both during the school day and after school.    The yearbook includes a tribute to the school’s 50th anniversary, a dedication page to an ACS staff member, photos of each class from preschool to high school, and photos of all teachers and staff. The yearbook celebrates the gifts and talents of ACS students, in areas such as academics, athletics, music and art, and highlights various community service projects. There are also lots of photos of students having fun at pep rallies, the high school Prom, and the Butterfly Ball, and dressing in wacky outfits for Dr. Seuss Day, Pajama Day, and other themed activities.

You can also purchased the yearbook at the front desk. Any questions? Please contact Mrs. Flath at tflath@acseht.org.

ACS Announces Cougar Classic Golf Tournament on May 13 at Greate Bay Country Club

ACS is excited to announce that we will be holding a Cougar Classic Golf Tournament on Thursday, May 13 at the Greate Bay Country Club in Somers Point.  Join us for a fun day together on the golf course and help us raise funds for our school. If you don’t golf, we welcome ACS families, staff, alumni, and friends to join us in the evening for a 50th Anniversary Reception and Dinner at the club. There are also Tournament Sponsorship and Advertising options.

“The Golf Tournament event gives our school family and supporters an opportunity to come together for fellowship and to celebrate the many ways God has blessed ACS over the past 50 years,” said Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen. “We hope everyone will get involved and help make this fundraiser a success.”  Oblen said volunteers are needed to help and anyone interested in getting involved should contact Event and Digital Marketing Manager, Mrs. PJ Santos.

The Golfer Fee is $150 per golfer and $550 for a foursome, and includes lunch, the appetizer reception, and the dinner.  Tickets to just the Reception and Dinner can also be purchased for $50 each and a donation of $500 sponsors a Dinner Table of 8.  There are also a number of golf sponsorship levels with exciting benefits and advertising opportunities to help raise funds for the school’s Annual Fund, which are described in detail on the Tournament flyer.

The Tournament will begin with a shotgun start at 1 p.m. , with a scramble format. The Dinner Reception and a Silent Auction will open at 5:30 p.m. and the Tournament Dinner and Awards progam will begin at 6:30 p.m.  Seating is limited at the dinner, so secure your tickets soon.

CLICK HERE to register to golf, purchase a sponsorship or advertisement in the Dinner Program Book, or to purchase tickets to the Reception and Dinner.  Paper sign-up forms are also being sent home with students and are available in the school office.

CLICK HERE to sign up to volunteer to help with the Golf Tournament and Silent Auction.

 

 

Twelve Students Inducted Into National Junior Honor Society

The Atlantic Christian School chapter of the National Junior Honor Society proudly inducted twelve new members at a ceremony on Wednesday, March 24 in the school gymnasium. Middle school teacher Sara Coates, the chapter advisor, and Mrs. Karen Oblen, Chief School Administrator, welcomed family members and guests and congratulated the 7th and 8th grade inductees for their significant achievement.

The 12 new members of the National Junior Honor Society are: 7th graders Amelia D’Anna, Gabriella Goodwin, Cole Hagerty, Layla Kent, Caden Kim, Lydia McCarthy, Marley Odell, Elliot Parker, Austin Salcedo, Anyae Welch, and 8th graders Aine Dorsey and CJ Ford.

“We salute each one of you for your hard work and pray that you will be world changers for God’s kingdom,” Oblen said. Coates led the students in the Honor Society pledge and encouraged them to exemplify the four guiding principles of the society throughout their lives — scholarship, service, leadership, and Christian character. Each new inductee lit a votive candle, signed the official chapter registry, and were presented with his or her society membership certificate from Upper School Principal Meg McHale.

Middle school and high school Bible teacher Grant Miller was the guest speaker during the ceremony and challenged the inductees to use their gifts and talents to honor God and to look for opportunities to show kindness and serve others. “As leaders, people will go where you take them. Be sure to encourage your peers to do well in their academics, but also encourage them in their walk with the Lord.”

Six senior members of the ACS chapter of the National Junior Honor Society also participated in the ceremony, speaking about the spiritual significance of each of the Honor Society’s principles. Those student participants were: Autumn Loo, Chapter President; Sophia Johnson, Chapter Vice President; Taylor Murphy, Chapter Secretary; and members Isabell Alford, Charlie Costello, and Taylor Sutton.

CLICK HERE to view a photo gallery of the ceremony on the ACS website.

 

Students Sample Healthy Smoothies for Green Mustache Day

Our elementary students showed off their green mustaches on Thursday, March 18, after sampling healthy, delicious green smoothies during lunch. It was all part of “Green Mustache Day,” a fun annual activity that ACS sponsors as part of its membership in the AtlantiCare Healthy Schools, Healthy Children program.

Photos were taken of the K-5th grade students as they sampled the smoothies at their lunch tables. A staff panel of judges later selected three groups of students for having the best green mustaches. The students received a dress down day pass and a PTF snack pass.

And the winning students sporting the best green mustaches were:

— from Mrs. Vaccaro’s kindergarten class — Olivia Douglass, Alivia Eaves, Addison Figueroa, Annalise Gaffney, and Jayden Warriner;

— from Mrs. Brossman’s first grade class — Sean Connolly, Kane Cummings, Nehemiah Gonzalez, and Cole Manzione;

— from Mrs. Kiefer’s 5th grade class – Billy Winkel;

— from Mrs. Murphy’s 5th grade class – Ethan Brumble, Elijah Polynice, and Matthew Schlundt.

Thank you to the team of volunteers who helped make the smoothies — Anne Block, Doug Pearson, PJ Santos, Heather Shivers, and Steve Thomas.  Here’s the special smoothie recipe, using a blender, that makes 32 ounces of a healthy green smoothie:

2 ripe frozen bananas
1 apple, chopped
2 cups fresh chopped spinach
1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 cup cold water

Classroom Spotlight: 4th Graders Write Thank-You Letters to God

4th grade students in Mr. Tardif’s class wrote letters to God. Pictured from left: John Mazareh, Malani Christmon, Rafael Patiag, and Kaila Smalls.

Students in Mrs. Jackson’s and Mr. Tardif’s fourth grade classes were challenged during the month of March to reflect on the many blessings God has provided in their lives and to write a letter to God thanking Him for those blessings. These “Letters to God” are now on display on two bulletin boards in the hallway outside their classrooms.

“I wanted to help the students think about how God’s love and grace is shown to use every day, regardless of the circumstances or situations we are in,” said Tardif, who came up with idea for the writing assignment. “We wanted our students to think about what they are thankful for on a more spiritual level,” said Jackson, adding that she and Tardif, as well as several high school Child Development concentration students who assist in the 4th grade classes, also wrote thank-you letters.

In Tardif’s class, Malani Christmon thanked God in her letter “for your plan in my life that I will grow up to be strong in you.”  Classmate Rafael Patiag thanked God “for friends that are always here for me.” Kaila Smalls wrote that she was thankful for “my family and school which are a blessing to me.”  Classmate John Mazahreh wrote that he was “grateful that we can pray for others.”

In Jackson’s class, 4th grader Kari Ancharski said she was thankful “for my family, who you found just for me. They love me just for being me.”  Classmate Eva Dimashi, in her letter, thanked God “for the Bible so we can learn about all the amazing things that you have done for us, like parting the Red Sea and sending Jesus Christ to die on the cross for us.” Classmate Sammy Petrinec wrote that he was thankful “for everything you have done to keep me from getting into the devil’s hands.” And classmate Mason Graham in his letter thanked God “that you gave me a Christian school to go to and make friends.”

 

 

Varsity Boys’ and Girls’ Basketball Teams Clinch Championship Titles

We’re #1! Congratulations to our ACS Varsity Boys’ and Girls’ Basketball Teams, who are this year’s Tri-State Christian Athletic Conference Champions.  The Boys’ team beat King’s Christian School 52-46 in an exciting, fast-paced match on Saturday, March 20. The undefeated Lady Cougars also brought home the regular season and TSCAC Championship trophies, but due to COVID-19 outbreaks on several teams, the championship final game was not played.

The ACS Boys’ Team, seeded #2, took the lead in the first quarter and never gave it up. The #1-seeded King’s Christian team battled back to come within four points in the 4th quarter, but clutch free throws sunk by senior point guard Malachi Green in the final minutes held back King’s and helped bring the TSCAC Championship trophy back to ACS for the 11th time in school history.

ACS hosted the championship game and the Conference Awards Program held after the Boys’ game. Congratulations to senior Cristen Winkel, who was named the TSCAC Girls’ MVP. We’re also proud of the nine ACS players who were named TSCAC All-Stars: Olivia Chapman, Shelby Einwechter, Aaron Glancey, Malachi Green, Sydney Pearson, Jacob Rosie, Caleb Vogel, Chloe Vogel, and Cristen Winkel.

Thank you to Boys’ Head Coach Dan Carney and Assistant Coaches Ben Chapman and Drew Carney and Girls’ Head Coach Kaylee Breunig and Assistant Coach Dara Kimmerley for a great season!

 

 

Last Week To Purchase Your Bowls of Hope “Super Soup Coupon Card”

1st place Bowls of Hope video created by Katherine Kong and Leo Li.

Support local restaurants, Atlantic Christian School, and the Community FoodBank of NJ by purchasing a Bowls of Hope “Super Soup Coupon Card”!

The 15 participating restaurants this year are:  Barrels; Bahay Kubo; Gaspare’s Italian Bistro; Gregory’s Restaurant & Bar; La Cucina Ristorante; Linwood Country Club; Maurizio’s Express EHT; Ocean City Cafe; Sana & Sadia’s Cafe; Stir It Up; Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall; The Spot; Towne & Country Cafe; Velo Cafe, and Windjammer Diner.

The Super Soup Coupon Card can be used until May 31 to receive a free soup, with a minimum purchase, for take-out or eat-in orders.

ACS Holds Successful February Blood Drive

Thank you to everyone who donated blood at our American Cross Blood Drive on February 27 and helped make the event a success. The Blood Drive is a service project of the ACS Student Council, overseen by faculty member Dave Genter.

During the blood drive, held in the Multi-Purpose Room, volunteers donated 31 units of blood that will be able to provide for 93 hospital patients in our area

Genter said ACS is planning to host the next American Red Cross Blood Drive on August 9, 2021. Mark your calendar to participate. Details will be posted on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Give blood. Help save lives.

2021 Spring After-School Program

Check the schedule below for the start dates and fees for the classes being offered this spring. Registration flyers were sent home this week.

Band – 4th-12th
Tim Rosie, ACS Music Director
Improve your band skills! This free class offeres two levels: beginner (meets on Mondays) and intermediate (meets on Tuesdays). Approval from Mr. Rosie is needed to join the intermediate class.

Crochet for Beginners – 3rd-8th
Rebecca Stonelake, ACS Faculty
Our beginning crochet class will introduce you to the basic crochet stitches and their chart symbols providing you with a good foundation for future projects.

Flag Football – 2nd-5th
Mr. Dennis Gibson, Former State Championship Athlete
Learn the fundamentals of flag football. Participation promotes an active lifestyle and friendly competition in a fun, safe environment. Register now and help your player build solid fundamentals, improve skill levels, and make our first season the best ever!

Garden Club – 1st-8th
Mrs. Jackson & Mr. Tardif , ACS Faculty
Come work in the new greenhouse and raised bed garden. Build your own planter for your own herb garden to take home.

Gymnastics – PreK-PreK4 and K-4th
Blake’s Gymnastics
Learn the basics of gymnastics and build your skills each week. This 6-session class is designed to enhance your love for movement and make fitness a fun activity.

Integrity Creative Program for Girls – 4th-5th
Sherri Lynn Asea, Christian Life Coach
Integrity’s Creative Program was designed to inspire girls to use their gifts and talents for a godly purpose. The program is led by Ms. Sherri Lynn Asea, whose practice is part of Janice Picking’s Nutrition and Functional Medicine Center in Somers Point. Certified as a Life Coach and in Psychology, Ms. Asea’s passion is to direct girls to know their value in the Lord. Each week the girls will get to be mentored in their gifting/talent (no skill required), will learn a thriving life skill, and grow closer in their walk with Jesus, all in a positive and creative atmosphere!

Origami – 3rd-8th
Tori Flath, Faculty
Learn the ancient Eastern art of Origami, paper folding! Students will learn how to fold and help create something beautiful and unique out of a piece of paper.

Photo Editing for Beginners – 3rd-8th
Rhapsody Hahn-Chaney, Faculty
5-session introductory course on photo editing using software to modify images, remove backgrounds, and create a photo montage on a chosen theme. Final projects will be featured in an article for the Cougar Current and we will submit an artwork for printing in the 2021 ACS Yearbook.

Private Lessons – Voice and Band
Tim Rosie, ACS Music Director
Receive one-on-one instruction in music, voice, piano, or band instruments from ACS Music Director Tim Rosie.

Sign Language – 1st-5th
Mrs. Jessica Martin, ACS Staff
Get started learning sign language with the alphabet and common words used in everyday life. You will also learn to sign along with a simple worship song.

Servant’s Heart Club – 2nd-5th
Jennifer DiMaio, ACS Parent
Develop a love for serving God and blessing others in our community by working cooperatively on creative, hands-on projects at meetings on the first Tuesday of each month in the Multi-Purpose Room. Masks must be worn.

Soccer — PK3-5th
Prestige Soccer
Age-based curriculum and skills training provided by professional coaches in a fun-filled, positive environment.

Worship Team – 4th and 5th Grade Students
Teresa Bird, ACS Faculty
The 4th and 5th Grade Worship Teams, led by Mrs. Teresa Bird, rehearse once or twice a week. The teams lead worship at the weekly Elementary and Early Education chapels.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ACS Teachers, Students Finding Ways to Integrate Technology into Classroom Learning

How do arctic animals stay warm? What crops did people living in the Thirteen Colonies grow on their farms?  Who are some of the famous people born in New Jersey? What is a negative integer? ACS students are finding answers to these and other questions in their history, science, and math classes by using various types of technology that are being integrated into classroom learning.

Volunteer Greg Louderback, a retired teacher and educational technology trainer, is providing valuable in-classroom support to ACS teachers and students to help them find new ways to use technology and various educational websites to supplement and enhance learning.

“Education in the 21st century must include using technology to enhance a student’s learning experience,” said Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen.  “We are very pleased to be able to provide training for our teachers and students so they can make the best use of their Chromebooks and the many online resources that are available for interactive and hands-on learning.”

In December, Mrs. Jackson’s 4th grade class accessed the Nearpod program on their Chromebooks to study thermal energy. The first lesson consisted of learning the three types of energy transfer. The next lesson was a lab in which students applied the scientific method as they explored the use of insulators by making blubber mittens. Their final project was to design a house that would withstand the subzero weather of the arctic.

In Mrs. Murphy’s 5th grade class, students worked in pairs in February to research the thirteen colonies and report their findings to their classmates. The students researched such topics as colonial clothing, the Jamestown settlement, the Plymouth colony, colonial jobs and trades, cooking, life on a colonial farm, and life in a colonial town. The students were given quality digital resources from which they gathered their information. Each team created a report using Google slides and gave a oral presentation in class.

Both sixth grade math classes are using Desmos, Quizizz, and Nearpod websites for learning. According to Mr. Louderback, Mrs. Coates and Mrs. Lee were excited to find hands-on ways for their students to learn and review various abstract math concepts, such as the coordinate grid, transformations and negative integers.  Upper school math teachers George Dickson and Gina Wilson are also using Desmos, ExploreLearning Gizmos, Schoolyourself, Edpuzzle, and Nearpod video for their Algebra 1 and Geometry classes.

 

 

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.

 

 

 

Athletes, Family Members Honored at Basketball Senior Night on March 1

ACS honored its 12 Seniors on the Varsity Boys’ and Girls’ Basketball Teams and on the Cheer Team and their parents in a special ceremony on March 1 before the start of the last regular season home games against Cumberland Christian School. We look forward to seeing our seniors play in the upcoming Tri-State Christian Athletic Conference playoff games, which were postponed to the week of March 15, with the championship final games to be played on Saturday, March 20 in the ACS gym.

The Seniors girls honored were: Olivia Chapman, Kami DeNick, Kayla DeNick, Shelby Einwechter, Bekah Kimmerley, Katherine Kong, Sydney Pearson, Chloe Vogel, and Cristen Winkel. The Senior boys honored were: Joshua Jacoby, Malachi Green, and Jacob Rosie.

Both ACS teams went on to win their games and several seniors put in an outstanding effort. In the Varsity Girls’ game, which ended 50-23, forward Olivia Chapman had 10 steals, 8 rebounds; forward Sydney Pearson had 16 points and 10 rebounds; and point guard Cristen Winkel scored a season high 24 points and had 6 assists. In the Varsity Boys’ game, which ended 67-42, point guard Malachi Green scored a career high 33 points, had 8 rebounds, and 5 steals. Forward Jacob Rosie had 6 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 steals.

The ACS teams will be playing in the TSCAC playoff games next week, which were originally scheduled for the week of March 1.  The Varsity Girls, who are undefeated and in 1st place in the conference, will play in the semi-final playoff game (opposing school to be determined) and the Varsity Boys, who are in 3rd place, will play in the quarter-final game against Cumberland Christian. The dates and times of the playoff games are still to be determined, but the championship final games will be held on Saturday, March at the ACS gym. All games will be livestreamed. Go Cougars!

 

 

Classroom Cameo: Geometry Students Design Cities Using Parallel Lines

The high school students in Mrs. Wilson’s geometry class recently had the opportunity to combine their creativity with their math skills to design a city using parallel lines, with some students bringing their cities to life by creating a 3-D model.

“In geometry we’re learning all about angles and in this project the students had to correctly identify and use specific angles, such as the alternate interior angle, as they created their city designs,” Mrs. Wilson said. The students also had to name their city and place fire stations, hospitals, schools, and other public service buildings at the correct angles in their designs. The students worked in teams and completed their projects in mid-January.

The team of 10th grader Samuel Glancey, 10th grader Moges Johnson, and 12th grader Jacob Rosie created the most elaborate 3-D city (pictured below) ,which they named Soga City, and included streets and buildings named after family members and friends. “The students who created 3-D designs definitely had the most fun with their projects and they got extra credit points,” Mrs. Wilson said. She said the team even made a video of themselves as they were working on their project.

10th graders Eva Elgersma and Lauren Kent teamed up to create a 1-dimensional city (pictured below left), which they called Trump City, that included roads named Trump Road and Pence Avenue.  Pictured below right is the early stages of a 3D project designed by 10th grader Jason Herrera, who worked on his project remotely from home.

 

Congratulations to Top Scholars on First Semester Honor Roll for 2020-2021 School Year

Congratulations to our top scholars who made the first semester Honor Roll for the 2020-2021 school year.  The Honor Roll, finalized on February 24, recognizes 226 students from the 1st through 12th grades who distinguished themselves in their academic studies, receiving Highest Honors or Honors designation.

“We are so thankful for our dedicated and highly qualified faculty who encourage our students to excel academically and to seek to honor God with their lives,” said Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen. The names of elementary Honor Roll students, written on gold and silver stars, are currently on display on a first floor bulletin board that celebrates their academic achievements during the first half of the school year.  The Honor Roll was also published online on February 25 in the Current and Gazettes newspapers.

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. The Honor Roll was also published on February 25 in the Current and Gazettes newspapers. CLICK HERE to read the online article.

Bowls of Hope Food Drive Sets New School Record – Collecting 4,655 Pounds of Food for Community FoodBank of NJ

Our Bowls of Hope Food Drive set an exciting new school record this year, collecting a whopping 4,655 pounds of food for the Community FoodBank of NJ, Southern Branch.  Middle school and high school students on the Student Council, who helped organize the school-wide event, helped pack up and load the over two tons of donations onto wooden pallets for pickup by a FoodBank truck on Thursday, March 4. Congratulations to Mrs. Capito’s 1st grade class for winning first place among all PreK-12th grade classes for collecting the most non-perishable food by weight — 442.4 pounds.

The food drive was held during the month of February, concluding on March 1. In early February, hundreds of paper grocery bags donated by the English Creek Shoprite in Egg Harbor Township were sent home with students for families to fill with their food  donations.

Mrs. Capito’s 1st grade class came in first place in a schoolwide contest by collecting the most non-perishable food donations by weight — 442.4 pounds.

“Thank you to all our school families and friends who brought in food to make this an overwhelming success,” said faculty member Dave Genter, who oversaw the drive as the Student Council advisor. “You were Jesus’ hands and your donations are helping out many families in our community.”  Genter said that ACS collected over four times more donations this year than last year, when ACS had collected 1,021 pounds of non-perishable food.

Kathy Steinman, transportation supervisor at the FoodBank, thanked and congratulated ACS for its efforts. “Wow, you guys and gals did an amazing job,” Steinman said. “Thank you all for everything you did to help so many in need.”

Mrs. Capito’s 1st grade class will be enjoying a pizza party next week for collecting the most donations by weight. Two other classes were also recognized for their efforts — in second place, Mrs. Lewis’ PreK2A class, which collected 419.8 pounds of food, and in 3rd place, Mrs. Brossman’s 1st grade class, which collected 385 pounds of food.

 

5th Graders Gabe Capito, Billy Winkel Earn Cub Scouting Arrow of Light Rank, Advance to ACS Boy Scout Troop 389

Congratulations to 5th graders Gabe Capito and Billy Winkel, who earned the Arrow of Light rank, the highest achievement in Cub Scouts, and advanced into the ACS Boy Scout Troop 389 during a crossover ceremony on February 22 in the ACS gym.

Cubmaster Carrie Jorgenson, an ACS parent and school nurse, was thrilled to be a part of the crossover ceremony to acknowledge and celebrate the accomplishments of Billy and Gabe, who have been part of Cub Pack 389 for the past two and half years.

“Both Billy and Gabe worked very hard to achieve the Arrow of Light,” said Cubmaster Jorgenson. “They never missed a Cub Pack meeting or outing and they have gained a wide range of knowledge and skills with each of the badges they earned.” Jorgenson said some of the skills the boys have learned include: wood carving, foraging, how to build an outdoor shelter, how to build a campfire and cook over it, knife safety, water safety, first aid, and environmental science and conservation.

As proud family members and fellow scouts looked on, Scoutmaster and ACS parent Mike Jorgenson welcomed the boys into Boy Scout Troop 389, which has grown to 19 members. Several Boy Scouts also participated in the crossover ceremony, tying on a Boy Scout neckerchief onto Billy and Gabe.

The Boy Scout Troop 389 and Cub Pack 389, which are chartered by Atlantic Christian School, meet weekly on Mondays at ACS at 7 p.m.  For more information about the scouting program at ACS, contact Scoutmaster Mike Jorgenson for children ages 11 and older at 609-464-3957, and contact Cubmaster Carrie Jorgenson for children from K to the 5th grade at 609-289-1489.

 

Students in Class of 2021 Share Future Plans, Favorite Teachers, Advice in Senior Spotlight Series

The future plans and goals of the Class of 2021, as well as other interesting facts about each student and their advice for the underclassmen, are part of a “Senior Spotlight” series of articles that are appearing each Tuesday on the ACS Facebook page and have also been added to a new “Senior Class Spotlight” page on the ACS website.

The Senior Spotlight articles began appearing on Facebook in mid-February and will conclude in June. This is the second year ACS has published this Senior Spotlight series, which was created by Admissions Director Jessica Martin in the spring of 2020.

“The idea for the Senior Spotlight developed last year during COVID while school was closed and we wanted to have a way to celebrate our seniors and their accomplishments,” said Martin, who is overseeing the project. “We had an excellent response to the series and decided to continue doing it annually.”

Martin said each student submits his or her responses to a series of questions that are part of the spotlight.  “The spotlight is a great way for our school families and friends in the community to learn about the character and heart of our students and the wide range of interests, talents, and abilities that they have developed during their years at ACS,” Martin said.

CLICK HERE to read the Senior Spotlight articles that are posted on the ACS website and will be updated weekly through June.

Date Change: Butterfly Ball for K-6 Girls Is Saturday, March 27


Girls in Kindergarten through 6th Grade are invited to bring their “special prince” (father, grandfather, uncle, brother) for an evening of dinner, dancing, and fun at the annual Butterfly Ball on Saturday, March 27 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. in the ACS gymnasium.  Invitations went home with the students last week. Please note that the date has changed to Saturday, March 27.

The cost is $35 per couple or $45 for families with more than one daughter. Please RSVP by Monday, March 15 . Please return your RSVP card along with your payment to the main office.

New Fencing and PA System Provide Enhanced Campus Security

A new public address system and additional fencing to enclose the outdoor basketball court and school greenhouse were recently installed, providing enhanced campus security and communication with the school building and adjacent annex classrooms. On Wednesday, February 24, the 6th grade boys’ PE class was the first group of students to use the new outdoor basketball court since the installation of the new fencing.

These important facility enhancements were made possible by state security grant funding for non-public schools that totaled over $31,000.  Progressive Fencing installed some 200 feet of new green-colored fencing over a 4-week period, starting on February 5.  The new PA system went into operation on February 16 and now connects the PreK4 and Kindergarten classrooms in the Annex Trailers to the system. The system also includes new speakers that have been installed outdoors directed towards the athletic fields.

“We are very pleased to have received additional funding to install a second phase of security fencing to ensure that all the outdoor areas where our students play and carry out various learning activities are now enclosed with fencing,” said Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen.  Oblen said additional security cameras have also been installed in new outdoor areas.

The new public address system replaces a system that was installed when the school campus first opened in 2004 and was an outdated analog system, Oblen said. There are also plans to expand the PA system in the next school year to include connecting with the Art and Computer classrooms and After Care Room in the annex trailers across the school parking lot.