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Scholastic Book Fair: November 9-20

Our fall Scholastic Book Fair will run for two weeks, from Monday, November 9 to Friday, November 20. All students and their family members will have opportunities to visit the fair on select days and can shop in person or online for books and gift items.

“Our goal is to sell 1,188 books, which will raise some $9,500 for our school library programs and help us add new books to our shelves,” said Rhapsody Hahn-Chaney, the K-12 Computer Teacher and Library Media Specialist. “Parents, grandparents, and friends can shop online through November 17 and in-person shopping will be open until Friday, November 20.” Mrs. Chaney said a Scholastic Book Catalog was sent home with K-6th grade students this week. The Scholastic website also has the catalog of books and gift items to choose from.

Mrs. Hahn-Chaney said she is also looking for volunteers to help with the Book Fair — as a wish list volunteer, a shopping assistant, or book talk coordinator.

Students will be visiting the school from November 9-13, to preview the Book Fair items and create their “wish lists.” Product selection will include Scholastic books and stationery items, as well as Bibles, devotionals, and Christian books and gift items from the Truth That Rocks Bookstore in Northfield. Teachers get exclusive shopping access Mondays through Fridays from 3:00-3:30 p.m. during the week of November 9-13.

The following week, November 16-20, is “Shopping Week,” when students can purchase the items they have selected. Family members can shop online or visit the Book Fair after school on select days and times during the week of November 16. The in-person shopping hours for ACS parents are posted the ACS Scholastic website page: https://www.scholastic.com/bf/acseht . The parent shopping hours are from from 3:00-5:30 p.m. from November 16-19 and are scheduled using the last name of the parent, as follows:

Last name beginning with A-G — Monday, Nov. 16
Last name beginning with H-L — Tuesday, Nov. 17
Last name beginning with M-R — Wednesday, Nov. 18
Last name beginning with S-Z — Thursday Nov. 19

CLICK HERE TO ORDER BOOKS ONLINE OR TO SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER

Students Wear Green-and-White, Show Support for ACS Soccer Teams at Nov. 4 Pep Rally

ACS students and staff wore green-and-white on Wednesday and the 6th-12th graders gathered outdoors near the Varsity Boys’ Soccer Field for a fun-filled Pep Rally to show their support for our middle school and high school soccer teams, one day before the Varsity Boys’ and Girls’ teams were set to compete in their semi-final playoff games in the Tri-State Christian Athletic Conference.

To start off the Pep Rally, Athletic Director Pam Hitchner introduced the players on each team and congratulated them for their outstanding records this season. At the Middle School level, the Middle School Boys’ team was undefeated and the Middle School Girls’ lost just one game. The Varsity Girls’ team also was undefeated in the regular season, finishing in first place, with a 10-0 record, and the Varsity Boys’ team had an 8-2 record and tied for first place in the regular season.

As middle school and high school students and faculty members cheered them on, the players from the four teams faced off in some friendly competition in contests that showed off their individual soccer skills. After competing in three games — Keep Away, Juggling, and Nothing But Net — the Varsity Boys’ Soccer team finished in first place with the most points and won a free pizza party.

In individual competition, 10th grader Moges Johnson, a member of the Varsity Boys’ Soccer team, won first place in two of the games — Keep Away and Juggling. In an impressive display of juggling, which involved bouncing the soccer ball off of his foot, Moges achieved 214 total bounces in 2 minutes. 10th grader Eden Wilson, a member of the Varsity Girls’ Soccer team, came in a close second place, with 203 juggles. In Nothing But Net, 8th grader Taylor Murphy took first place, successfully kicking the soccer ball into the back of the soccer goal net without the ball hitting the ground, from the six-foot line, the 18-foot line, and finally from 24 feet out. All the individual winning players received Wawa Gift Cards for their efforts.

ACS Featured in Press of Atlantic City Article on Private Schools Offering In-Person Learning

ACS Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen was featured in a front-page article in the November 2 Press of Atlantic City about area private schools that have opened with in-person instruction this fall ahead of public schools that have been offering only remote online learning or hybrid learning. Oblen noted that ACS has seen increased enrollment this year, with waiting lists now in place for several grades.

In the article written by Press of AC staff member Nicholas Huba, Oblen also described various steps ACS has taken to provide a healthy, safe learning environment, including installing three-sided Plexiglass shields on each desk, placing sanitation stations through the school building, and using disinfectant foggers to sanitize playground equipment. Representatives from Our Lady Star of the Sea School in Atlantic City were also interviewed for the article.

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

Race for Education 2020

Our 18th Race for Education was a wonderful event for students and staff! In addition to all the fun our students had, they also learned the importance of personally helping to support the educational program at Atlantic Christian School.

To date, we have raised $39,050! We are very grateful for the enthusiastic response from hundreds of donors. We had 37 Classroom Sponsors and 10 Event Sponsors: Atlantic City Electric, an Exelon Company; Berges Awning Inc.; The Boyle Real Estate Team; Chick-fil-A Fire Road; The Clark Family; Costello Roofing; The DiSciascio Family; Mia and Pa; Eleanor Pepper; and SERVPRO of Egg Harbor/Ventnor.

Our students have been excited to see poster cut-outs of close to 300 large green sneakers that are on display in the main school hallway and around classroom doors. Students have earned a sneaker for every gift of $50 or more that they have received from a sponsor.

It is still not too late to make a donation for our “Race for Education.” We are accepting donations up until November 16, so please continue to share the donation link – https://www.race4ed.com/acs/ with family and friends.

We would also like to thank all the volunteers that came and helped! We appreciate all of your support! Student and class prizes will be announced in early December.

CLICK HERE FOR PHOTO GALLERY

Veterans Appreciation Virtual Chapel — Wednesday, Nov. 11

Atlantic Christian School will show its appreciation to our veterans at an All-School Chapel on Wednesday, November 11 at 8:50 a.m. in the gymnasium. Due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols, we are unable to host local veterans or school family members as our guests at the chapel, but the chapel can be viewed live on the ACS YouTube Channel or watched later since the event will be recorded.

Our keynote speaker this year will be Egg Harbor Township Mayor Paul Hodson, a U.S. Army veteran. The chapel will feature presentations by ACS students from elementary to high school. ACS students have also created special hand-made gifts for veterans that are being mailed to various local American Legion and VFW posts.

The YouTube link to watch the Veterans Appreciation Chapel is: http://bit.ly/ACSVeteransDay

Varsity Boys’ and Girls’ Soccer Teams in First Place Heading into Playoffs

The ACS Varsity Boys’ and Girls’ Soccer teams have both finished in first place in the regular season in the Tri-State Christian Athletic Conference and are heading into the playoffs the week of November 2. Both teams have a bye in the quarter-final playoff round and will play at home in the semi-final round on Thursday, November 5, with both games starting at 2:30 p.m.

The Varsity Girls’ team is undefeated with a 10-0 record in the TSCAC. The Lady Cougars have now finished in first place for the fifth consecutive season under the skillful leadership of head coach and ACS alumnus Carly Witherow (’08). The Varsity Boys’ team, under new head coach Andres Tortola, is in a two-way tie for first place with King’s Christian School. This is the first time since 2012 that the Varsity Boys’ team has ended the regular season in first place or tied for first. Due to the tie for first place, a coin toss was used to determine the seeding for the playoffs and ACS lost the coin toss and was seeded second.

The final round — the Championship Games — will be played at Cairn University on Saturday, November 7. The Girls’ and Boys’ consolation games will begin at 10 a.m. The Girls’ Championship Game will begin at 12:00 p.m. and the Boys’ Championship Game will kick off at 2:00 p.m. The TSCAC will be charging gate fees at the Playoff and Championships Games. The gate fee at the November 5 playoff game at the ACS campus will be $1/child, $2/adult, or $5/family. The gate fees at the Championship Games will be $2/child; $3 per adult, or $10/family.

“This season was full of challenges, but I’m proud of our athletes and how hard they worked to rise above every obstacle,” said Athletic Director Pam Hitchner. “Throughout the season, my message to every player was to be grateful and to enjoy every moment of each game because we would not know what the next day would bring.” Hitchner encouraged school families and friends to come out to the November 5 playoff games on the ACS home fields to cheer on our ACS teams to victory and a spot in the Championship Games on November 7. (Photo credits: Scott Johnson and Katherine Kong)

ACS Wins Best of the Press 2020 Awards in Three Categories

Atlantic Christian School was a big winner in the Best of the Press 2020 awards, placing in three categories — for Best Child Daycare Center, Best Summer Camp, and Best Place to Work. The Press of Atlantic City’s 2020 Readers Choice Awards were announced on Friday, October 30 in a special pull-out section of the newspaper.

The ACS Early Education Center received a Silver medal for “Best Child Daycare Center,” the ACS Summer Cougar Camp received a Silver Medal for “Best Summer Camp,” and our school received a Bronze Medal in the category of “Best Place to Work.”

Thank you to our ACS school family and the many friends in our community who voted online in the contest in September. This is the 6th year that our Early Education Center and Cougar Camp have received “Best of the Press” recognition and the first year for our school to place in the “Best Place to Work” category.

This past summer, children from grades 1 to 6 enjoyed a 7-week Cougar Camp program held in compliance with COVID-19 health and safety protocols that included movies days, water days, STEM activities, sports, music, and much more. We’re very proud of our Cougar Camp staff, led by faculty member Eric Tardif, and of 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 were part of these programs.

Grandparents Appreciation Chapels to Air on YouTube — Wednesday, Nov. 25

ACS students will be celebrating the important role that grandparents play in their lives at two Grandparents Appreciation Virtual Chapels on Wednesday, November 25. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, we are unable to invite grandparents to join us for this special day, but the chapels will be livestreamed on the ACS YouTube Channel and recorded for later viewing. The Middle School/High School Chapel will begin at 8:50 a.m. and the Elementary Chapel will begin at 9:40 a.m.

“We hope that the grandparents who are part of our school family will be able to watch the chapels online and see the special presentations that our students have prepared for them,” said Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen. “Our students always look forward to Grandparents Day each year, and we are disappointed that we cannot celebrate with our grandparents in person this year, but we want them to know how much we love and appreciate them.”

The chapel programs will include musical presentations and Bible readings from students from preschool to high school and a special message from one of our ACS grandparents. Oblen said students are also preparing special mementos for their grandparents that will be mailed to them in November.

Please click on the links below to view the Virtual Chapels on YouTube:

8:50 a.m. Middle School/High School Chapel — http://bit.ly/ACSGrandparentsDay

9:40 a.m. Elementary Chapel — http://bit.ly/ACSGrandparentsDay2020

Special Chapel to Mark School’s 50th Anniversary — Wednesday, Nov. 18

ACS students and staff will celebrate God’s faithfulness to Atlantic Christian School at special chapels to celebrate the school’s 50th Anniversary on Wednesday, November 18. Outside guests will not be able to attend the chapels due to COVID-19 health and safety requirements, but both chapels will be live-streamed on the ACS YouTube Channel and recorded for later viewing.

The Middle School/High School Chapel will begin at 8:50 a.m. and the Elementary Chapel will begin at 11:50 a.m. “We decided to hold these special chapels on what will be the 50th day of our school year to take a look back at the past 50 years of our school’s history,” said Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen. “We have so much to be thankful for and we want to celebrate the many ways God has blessed and sustained ACS over the years.”

Oblen said the chapel program will take students on a journey looking back over the past five decades and at what going to school looked like in 1971, the year that ACS was founded. A number of alumni will also be sharing their favorite memories of when they were students at ACS. Featured speakers will be David (DJ) Schrag, a school parent, Board member, and ACS 1988 alumnus, and Kim Clark Eaves, an ACS parent and 1987 alumnus.

This special chapel is one of a series of events that ACS is holding throughout the school year to mark the 50th anniversary of ACS.

Please click on the links to watch our 50th Anniversary Celebration Chapel on YouTube:

8:50 a.m. – Middle School/High School Chapel — http://bit.ly/ACSturns50

11:50 a.m. – Elementary Chapel — http://bit.ly/ACSNow50

Race for Education Just Three Days Away – Rescheduled to Monday, Nov. 2

Our 18th annual Race for Education fall fundraiser is just three days away, rescheduled to Monday, November 2 due to rain. Thank you to all our donors who have helped us reach and exceed our goal of $30,000! You can still make a gift to the Race and help us reach our new Challenge Goal of $37,000. Donate online at this link — www.race4ed.com/acs — and share it with others.

We are very grateful for the enthusiastic response from hundreds of donors. To date, we have 39 Classroom Sponsors and 10 Event Sponsors: Atlantic City Electric, an Exelon Company; Berges Awning Inc.; The Boyle Real Estate Team; Chick-fil-A Fire Road; The Clark Family; Costello Roofing; The DiSciascio Family; Mia and Pa; Eleanor Pepper; and SERVPRO of Egg Harbor/Ventnor.

Our students have been excited to see poster cut-outs of close to 300 large green sneakers that are on display in a main school hallway and around classroom doors. Students have earned a sneaker for every gift of $50 or more that they have received from a sponsor.

We welcome our ACS families to come out and support our students as they Race around our 1/4-mile track for 30 minutes, racing at different times. Just make sure to practice COVID-19 safety precautions by wearing a mask and to social distance at all times. Parents are not allowed to run during the Race or stay with students during Harvest Day activities this year.

The success of our Race for Education relies on the number of sponsors and the amounts they give. Think of relatives, friends, neighbors, business associates, coaches, your doctor, and anyone else you know who would want to invest in your child’s education.

You can post the website link, www.race4ed.com/acs, on your Facebook page, on Instagram, on Twitter, and on other social media to inform your friends.

Thank you for supporting our school’s Race for Education fundraiser!

Red Cross Blood Drive at ACS – Saturday, Nov. 28

Donate blood and help save a life. Make an appointment to donate blood at the American Red Cross Blood Drive on Saturday, November 28 from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. in the ACS Multi-Purpose Room. All donors will receive a long-sleeve Red Cross T-shirt, courtesy of Suburban Propone, while supplies last.

All donors will have their temperature checked prior to admittance to the blood drive. Since 2008, ACS has hosted American Red Cross blood drives to help meet the urgent needs of patients at hospitals in our community. Our goal for the November 28 blood drive is to collect 40 or more donations.

To donate, please make an appointment on the Red Cross website.

CLICK HERE to make an appointment on the Red Cross website, which is: www.redcrossblood.org and use Sponsor Code: Atlantic Christian OR call 1-800-REDCROSS.

Middle School Soccer Teams Post Strong, Winning Seasons

Congratulations to our Middle School Soccer teams for posting a strong, winning season this fall. The Middle School Boys’ team was undefeated with an 8-0 record and the Girls’ team was 8-1.

Both teams played their final games at home on October 26. The ACS Boys, under head coach Brandon Stevens, beat King’s Christian School 3-1 and the ACS Girls, under head coach Casey Hopwood, beat Cumberland Christian School 4-3.

Since 2008, the ACS Middle School teams have competed in the Atlantic Cape Junior High League, but due to the coronavirus outbreak, the league cancelled this year’s season. “In spite of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, we were able to put together a solid season of non-league games and we’re so proud of the success of both teams,” said Athletic Director Pam Hitchner. “I have told our players many times that we have a lot to be grateful for.” (Photo credit: Katherine Kong)

ACS faced off against Pilgrim Academy on Thursday, October 29 and the Girls’ team won 5-1 and the Boys’ team won 1-0. In the Girls’ game, 8th grader Taylor Murphy scored 3 goals and 8th grader Sophia Johnson scored two goals. 6th grader Micah D’Anna scored the lone winning goal for ACS in the Boys’ game.

High School Students Challenged to Stand Firm in their Faith at October Retreat

What does it mean to stand firm in your faith? ACS students were challenged to answer that question at our day-long High School Spiritual Emphasis Retreat on Friday, October 23 held at the school campus. A variety of speakers, including Crossroads Fellowship Pastor Matt Mouliert, shared their personal faith journeys with the students in small and large group sessions.

The speakers encouraged the students that spiritual growth comes when we hold fast to the truth in God’s Word and are not swayed by the influences of pop culture, internet influencers, and what friends and other people have to say about you.

Upper School Principal Meg McHale said the one-day retreat was focused on giving the students time to explore more deeply the meaning of our spiritual development theme verse from 1 Corinthians 16:13 — Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong. The speakers and agenda for the retreat were organized by Upper School Vice Principal Drew Carney.

“We felt there was a need to recalibrate our hearts and reprioritize who God is in our lives because we see our students being pulled in a lot of different directions,” Carney said. “Our speakers did an excellent job of reaching our students in a very personal way. There was a lot of valuable interaction, especially in the small groups.”

Gabe Connelly, the Youth Director at Coastal Christian, led a time of prayer, worship, and devotions to start off the day, and also led worship before lunch and at the conclusion of the retreat. Six different speakers, three men and three women, led small group sessions in various classrooms, with boys and girls in separate sessions. The six speakers were Pastor Matt Mouliert, head pastor at Crossroads Fellowship Church in Pleasantville; Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen; Pastor Christian Ragland, who is the Operations Pastor and works with the youth ministry at Lighthouse Community Church in Pleasantville; Ariel Richvalsky, a 2005 ACS alumnus and former high school faculty member; Tanner Rigdon, the Youth Director at Fusion Church; and high school faculty member Gina Wilson.

During one small group session, Pastor Mouliert talked about the impact of “labels” — ones that other people place on you and ones that you place on yourself. In another session, Pastor Ragland focused on the importance of staying on guard against the enemy and encouraged the young men to surround themselves with people who will help you stay on guard. In the final session of the retreat, Pastor Mouliert presented a closing devotion that encouraged the students to reflect on what they had learned and to take concrete steps to grow in their relationship with Christ.

Alumni, Students, Families Celebrate Homecoming 2020

Alumni, students, and families gathered at the ACS campus on Saturday, October 17 for Homecoming 2020, which featured two exciting Varsity vs. Alumni Soccer games, the crowning of the Homecoming King and Queen and presentation of their court, and the dedication of the newly installed artificial turf Varsity Soccer Field. The campus grounds were creatively decorated for fall, including pumpkins painted by students in the high school art classes to celebrate the 50th anniversary of ACS.

Congratulations to our 2020 Homecoming Court — Homecoming King JJ Jacoby, Homecoming Queen Chloe Vogel, Homecoming Princesses Sydney Pearson and Rachel Whisman, and Homecoming Prince Jeremiah Engle. The King and Queen and waved to the crowd as they took the traditional ride around the track in a converted jeep, driven by school parents Michael and Kelly Flynn.

The soccer games against Life Center had to be postponed. Instead, the ACS Varsity teams faced off in two very competitive and fast-paced games against an ACS Men’s Alumni Team and an ACS Women’s Alumni Team. Prior to each game, ACS parent Karen Noble led the crowd in the singing of the National Anthem.

The Alumni Men won their game 2 to 1, with Ben Noble (’20) and Tommy Tillis (’10) scoring and assisting for the Alumni team and sophomore Jake DeNick scoring the ACS Varsity team’s goal. The ACS Varsity Women beat the Alumni 5 to 2. Sophomore Eden Wilson scored three goals, and senior Chloe Vogel and sophomore Paige Noble each scored one. For the alumni, Abigail Vogel (’18) assisted her sister, Sarah Vogel Laury (’11), on one goal, and DJ Hitchner (’17) assisted her sister, Carly Harper Witherow (’08), on the second goal.

Between the games, ACS dedicated the new artificial turf soccer field and recognized supporter Ralph Clayton for spearheading and funding the project. He was presented with the game ball, which was later signed by the players on the Varsity teams.

The concession stand was busy throughout the day helping raise funds for ACS Athletics, and students, staff, and alumni enjoyed competing for Chick-fil-A gift cards in a 50th anniversary Homecoming Court Photo Contest, with contestants having to guess the names of the Homecoming Kings and Queens going back to the first Court in 2004. Later that evening, our high school students enjoyed a fun and safe night out at the Homecoming Dance.

Thank you to Athletic Director Pam Hitchner for putting together a family friendly event, assisted by PE teachers Ben Chapman and Kaylee Breunig. We are also grateful to the dedicated volunteers who helped with food, concessions, set-up, and clean-up, including Laura Einwechter, Karen Noble, Ray Picking, Heather and Scott Shivers, Paul and Terry Vogel. CLICK HERE to see our Homecoming Photo Gallery.

Soccer Senior Day Honors Contributions of Athletes, Parents

ACS honored nine seniors on the Varsity Boys’ and Girls’ Soccer teams and their parents in a special ceremony on Monday, October 19. The seniors honored were: Olivia Chapman, Kami DeNick, Shelby Einwechter, Malachi Green, Joshua Jacoby, Sydney Pearson, Jacob Rosie, Chloe Vogel, and Cristen Winkel.

Athletic Director Pam Hitchner introduced the team members and read notes of special thanks to each written by Varsity Boys’ Coach Andres Tortola and Varsity Girls’ Coach Carly Witherow. Each player escorted their parents across the Varsity Boys’ Soccer field, with their fellow players lined up on either side of their pathway, cheering and applauding as they walked by.

The ceremony was held prior to the start of the home games against Gloucester County Christian School. Both teams went on to win their games. The Varsity Girls’ won 2-0, with senior Chloe Vogel scoring both goals, and the Varsity Boys’ won 2-1, with junior Aaron Glancey scoring twice, the second time with just 43 seconds left in the second half to clinch the victory.

We’re so proud of the commitment and leadership that our seniors have given during their high school careers and the important contributions they have made to the success of both teams this season. The Varsity Boys’ and Girls’ teams have another week of games before playoffs the week of November 2. The Varsity Girls’ team is currently undefeated and in first place and the Varsity Boys’ team is in a tie with three other teams. The Tri-State Christian Athletic Conference quarter-final games are scheduled for Tuesday, November 3, locations and teams to be determined. The semi-final playoff games are scheduled for Thursday, November 5, locations and teams to be determined. The TSCAC Championship Games will be played on Saturday, November 7 at Cairn University in Philadelphia. More details will be provided soon.

Mark Your Calendar: K-12 Closed Nov. 5-6, Early Ed Center Closed Nov. 6

A friendly reminder that ACS will be closed on Thursday, November 5 and Friday, November 6 for students from kindergarten to the 12th grade to provide an opportunity for professional development for our teachers. The Early Education Center will be open on Thursday and closed on Friday.

The school office will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Thursday and will be closed Friday. The Early Ed Center will be open on Thursday during its regular operating hours from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., but will be closed on Friday, November 6.

Volunteer Spotlight: Greg Louderback — IT Integration Coach

Greg Louderback first came to ACS as a proud grandparent, excited to watch his grandchildren, Lily and James Boyle, as they performed during the Elementary Christmas Concert in December 2017. Now, just three years later, he is no longer an occasional visitor to ACS but a valuable volunteer, donating his knowledge and expertise as a long-time teacher and IT specialist to benefit our faculty and students.

Three days each week, you can find Louderback in a classroom working with teachers and students as they integrate technology in the classroom. He assists students in the use of their Chromebooks and on independent assignments that they receive through Google Classroom. He also lends a helping hand on projects overseen by Information Technology Director Louis Andujar, including facilitating remote learning.

Louderback came out of retirement to volunteer at ACS as an IT Integration Coach after spending 18 years as an IT specialist in the Camden School District, where he trained and mentored over 200 teachers in the use of technology in the classroom. “I have a passion for education and teaching and it’s something that I wanted to continue doing,” Louderback said.

Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen said she was thrilled when she first met with Louderback in the fall of 2019 and he offered to volunteer and provide his valuable experience as an IT specialist and trainer at ACS. “We are truly blessed to have a volunteer like Greg who is willing to give of his time and expertise to bless ACS,” Oblen said. “The use of technology in the classroom has become more and more critical, and Greg has been a vital resource, coming to ACS at just the right time.”

Louderback began his career as a 6th grade teacher at King’s Christian School in Haddon Heights, after earning a B.A.Ed. with a concentration in history from the University of Delaware. After four years in the classroom, he decided to change careers and go into Information Technology. He went on to earn a Master’s degree in Information Systems from Drexel University, where he also worked as a programmer analyst.

“I see myself as a teacher who knows a lot about computers,” Louderback said. “I just love the energy and enthusiasm that the students bring to school and I especially appreciate the way that prayer is such an integral part of the school day at ACS.” Louderback and his wife, Shelley, live in Haddon Township and have two children and four grandchildren. They worship at Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia.

ACS Students Create Pumpkin Art to Mark Homecoming, 50th Year Anniversary

ACS high school students put their artistic skills to work painting various designs and messages on pumpkins that were used as fall decorations at Homecoming on October 17 and were then put on display near the school’s main entrance during the week of October 19.

Art teacher Sherry Mirakian said the project was a nice collaboration between the Athletic Department, which runs Homecoming, and our high school artists. Athletic Director Pam Hitchner supplied the pumpkins and the paint and other supplies came from the Art Department.

The students painted a variety of designs that celebrated the 50th Anniversary of ACS and Homecoming 2020, including one message that said “50 Years Blessed.” Mirakian said 22 students in her high school Art Appreciation and Art Workshop classes worked on the project over a two-day period.

Ready, Set, Go! Our Race for Education is a Week Away!

Ready, set go! — Our 18th annual Race for Education is just one week away and our PreK3 to 12th grade students are excited to be participating in this fun and healthy event that helps raise funds for our school’s educational programs. Students in PreK3 to 5th grade will also participate in our annual Harvest Festival, including a tractor-pulled wagon hay ride. Parents must sign a permission slip for their student to take the hay ride. CLICK HERE to sign and submit the permission slip.

We are also very grateful for the enthusiastic response from hundreds of donors. We are well on our way to reaching our goal of $30,000. To date, we have 24 Classroom Sponsors and 10 Event Sponsors: Atlantic City Electric, an Exelon Company; Berges Awning Inc.; The Boyle Real Estate Team; Chick-fil-A Fire Road; The Clark Family; Costello Roofing; The DiSciascio Family; Mia and Pa; Eleanor Pepper; and SERVPRO of Egg Harbor/Ventnor.

Please help us reach our goal by donating or sharing the link at www.race4ed.com/acs. The success of our Race for Education relies on the number of sponsors and the amounts they give. Think of relatives, friends, neighbors, business associates, coaches, your doctor, and anyone else you know who would want to invest in your child’s education.

Throwback Thursday 50th Anniversary Photo Contest

“Throwback Thursday Photo Contest” — Week 3. This month’s prize is a gift card to Buffalo Wild Wings! Compete each week to win a prize at the end of the month. Just email your best guesses about this photo to contest@acseht.org. Earn points by identifying: 1) the year the photo was taken; 2) where the photo was taken; 3) the occasion of the photo; and 4) the names of the people in the photo.

As part of ACS 50th Anniversary, a new photo will be posted each Thursday for the Throwback Thursday Photo Contest. Photo will be posted on the ACS Facebook page, the ACS Stronger Together Facebook group page, and Instagram. It will also be posted on a bulletin board in the Multi-Purpose Room, in the school foyer video, and on the ACS website.

We welcome all ACS family members, students, staff, alumni, alumni parents, and friends in the community to participate in our Throwback Thursday Photo Contest. Let’s celebrate the great memories made by the thousands of students, families, and staff who have been a part of ACS over the past 50 years.

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 Dedicates, Installs New Buddy Bench in Elementary Playground

A new “Buddy Bench” was installed in the elementary playground on Wednesday, October 7, after a dedication program held during the Elementary Chapels. ACS students collected over 540 pounds of plastic bottle caps in the spring of 2019, enough to build the 6-foot-long Buddy Bench as well as a toddler-size picnic table for a preschool play area.

“This is not just any bench, it’s a special bench where you can show the love of God to your fellow students when you’re out on the playground,” said Elementary Principal Gail Alford, who led the chapel dedication program. “If you feel like you need a buddy, you can sit on the bench. If you see someone sitting on the bench, go talk to them. God wants us to be a friend.” Mrs. Alford noted that ACS has many new students this year and sees the Buddy Bench as a place where students can connect and make new friends. A plaque on the bench reads: “Everyone Needs a Friend — Be One.”

High school faculty member Dave Genter and three high school seniors from the Student Council acted out a skit during the chapels to demonstrate how easy it can be to make another student feel welcome at the Buddy Bench. The Student Council oversaw the plastic bottle cap collection project, which ran from April 29 to May 31, 2019. Seniors Joshua Jacoby, Sydney Pearson, and Jacob Rosie were very involved in collecting bottle caps and encouraging students from kindergarten to the 12th grade to participate in the service project. Mr. Genter recognized and thanked faculty member Tim Rosie and his wife, Stephanie, for making the long drive to Indiana to drop off the school’s large collection of bottle caps at Green Tree Plastics, a firm that manufactures furniture from recycled plastic bottle caps. The Rosies also picked up the Buddy Bench and a toddler picnic table made for ACS.

Mrs. Alford also recognized and congratulated the students who were in Mrs. Reilly’s kindergarten class in 2019, who collected the most bottle caps by weight among all the other elementary classes. The students, who are now in second grade, were invited to come up front during chapel and sit on the Buddy Bench.

“I’m looking forward to seeing all of you using this Buddy Bench,” said Mrs. Alford. “God wants us to come alongside and support each other, so let’s put this Buddy Bench into action.”

Race for Education Is Fast Approaching – Please Share Donation Website With Family and Friends

Our 18th annual Race for Education fall fundraiser is fast approaching! Race Packets were recently sent home to students. Please help us reach our goal and raise over $30,000 for Atlantic Christian School by sharing the link to the donation website – www.race4ed.com/acs.

Then EMAIL or TEXT them with a message such as this:

“[Your child’s name] will be walking/jogging during Atlantic Christian School’s Race for Education fundraising event on Friday, October 30, 2020. Would you be willing to sponsor [him/her]? Please go to www.race4ed.com/acs to find out more. Type [your child’s first and last name] in the Search bar to make a donation. Thanks very much.”

You can also post the website link, www.race4ed.com/acs, on your Facebook page, on Instagram, on Twitter, and on other social media to inform your friends that your child is participating in a Race for Education at Atlantic Christian School. Please feel free to use the images at the bottom of this article for use on social media.

Remote learners are encouraged to participate in our Race for Education as well. We will be sending parents suggestions on how to make this fundraiser a good wellness activity (e.g., walking/jogging in your neighborhood or at a local park).

If you have any questions about our Race for Education, please feel free to contact PJ Santos via email at psantos@acseht.org. Thank you for supporting our school’s Race for Education fundraiser!

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Save the Date – FAFSA Workshop for College Planning – Thursday, October 22

Looking for money to pay for college? The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the key to getting free federal financial aid to help pay for college. If you are the parent of a student in the 11th or 12th grades, you can learn all about the FAFSA at our free FAFSA Workshop on Thursday, October 22 at 6 p.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room.

Guidance Counselor Christina Ragland said the workshop is open to parents of juniors and seniors and students can attend if accompanied by a parent. Parents are encouraged to pre-register by October 20 if they plan to attend. CLICK HERE to register or email Mrs. Ragland at cragland@acseht.org.

Mr. Michael Whiting from the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority will be facilitating the workshop and answering questions. If your son or daughter is planning to pursue a certificate program, a two-year college degree program, or a four-year college degree program, you should attend this workshop to learn what you need to know to complete the FAFSA and other financial aid forms. The FAFSA is also required for most types of financial aid, including scholarships.

K-12 Picture Days — October 22, 23 — Mark Your Calendar

Give us your best smile! Lifetouch will be at ACS to take school pictures on Thursday, October 22 and Friday, October 23 and students should only wear school uniforms on those days.

Pictures of students in grades 6-12 will be taken on Thursday, October 22 and pictures of students in K-5 will be taken on Friday, October 23. If Remote-Only students would like their picture taken, they can come on the appropriate day for their grade level, from 8:00 to 8:30 a.m. only, and should use the side entrance of the school on Zion Road. Photos will be taken in the school library. Early Education Picture Days will be November 2-4.

Students should not wear gym clothes or athletic wear on their picture day. Hoodies and ACS sports jerseys or uniforms are also not to be worn.

Photo order forms from Lifetouch have been sent home. Online ordering is the preferred method this year to keep the process as contact free as possible. School pictures can be ordered online in three easy steps, as follows:

CLICK HERE to go to mylifetouch.com
Enter the Picture Day ID: EVT9F72B4
Pick your package and complete payment