Post Tagged with: "South Jersey"

School Garden, Greenhouse Ready for Summer, Fall Growing and Learning

The ACS school garden and greenhouse are ready for new opportunities for children to develop their green thumbs this summer and fall thanks to grant funding from the AtlantiCare Healthy Schools, Healthy Children program and revitalization efforts by our Garden Club advisors, school groundskeeper, and the ACS Boy Scout Troop Scoutmaster.

Activity for ACS students in the school garden and greenhouse usually goes into high gear in the spring, but due to the coronavirus outbreak, the school campus was closed from mid-March to the end of the school year. The roofing of the greenhouse was damaged by inclement weather and the raised garden beds were in need of weeding and new planting.

New, heavy-duty plastic sheeting for the greenhouse roof was purchased with the AtlantiCare grant funds and installed by Scoutmaster Mike Jorgenson. Jorgenson had led a team of scouts that built the greenhouse, which first opened in October 2018. Repairs and clean-up of the raised garden beds were carried out in June by Garden Club Advisors Bethany Kiefer and Eric Tardif and groundskeeper Brandon Stevens. Using grant funds, Kiefer and Tardif also purchased and planted a variety of vegetables and a few flowers in the garden, which they will maintain during the summer months.

Tardif, who is an ACS 4th grade teacher and the Cougar Camp Director, said campers will have the opportunity to water, weed, and learn about how to grow plants organically in pesticide-free soil as part of their camp experience. Some of the vegetables growing in the garden include tomatoes, squash, beans, eggplant, peppers, and watermelon. Tardif said produce harvested from the garden will be used in camp cooking classes and donated to the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, Southern Branch.

Kiefer, who is an ACS 5th grade teacher, said activity in the greenhouse will get underway in the fall, and maintaining and harvesting produce from the garden beds will also continue. Both teachers said they are looking forward to seeing students back in the garden again when the after-school Garden Club gets underway.

ACS Hosting Red Cross Blood Drive – August 10

Donate blood and help save a life. Make an appointment to donate blood at the American Red Cross Blood Drive on Monday, August 10 from 2:00-7:00 p.m. in the ACS Gym at its Egg Harbor Township campus.

“Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for blood is very urgent – there is a huge shortage,” said Student Council Faculty Advisor Dave Genter, who is overseeing the blood drive. Genter also said that the Red Cross is automatically doing antibody testing for COVID-19 on all donated blood and donors will be advised of the results 10-14 days after donation.

Since 2008, ACS has hosted American Red Cross blood drives to help meet the needs of patients at hospitals in our community. Our goal for the August 10 blood drive is to collect 40 or more donations.

To make an appointment to donate, go to: www.redcrossblood.org
To find the ACS blood drive, please search by zip code “08234” or use Sponsor Code: Atlantic Christian

Virtual Art Show Video Highlights High School Art Projects

High school students in our Art Workshop and Advanced Art classes continued developing their artistic talents by working on projects at home from March to June and art teacher Sherry Mirakian recently created a video to highlight their work.

“Each spring, we look forward to our Student Art Show to showcase the artistic talents of our students,” said Mirakian. “However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic our Art Show could not be held, so creating a video as a Virtual Art Show was the best way to recognize the exceptional efforts of our students.”

The projects featured in the video, created by 11th and 12th grade students, include art inspired by a student’s favorite worship song, a color study of Zentangle trees, a figure study,  and artwork designed for the top of a graduation cap.

CLICK HERE to watch the high school art project video.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ACS Holds Virtual Awards Ceremonies for High School, Middle School Athletes

High school and middle school students who played on an ACS sports team during the 2019-2020 school year received recognition for their participation, leadership, and athletic abilities during virtual Athletic Awards Ceremonies on June 4 that were streamed on the Atlantic Christian YouTube channel.  

Athletic Director Pam Hitchner was the featured speaker in both awards videos, describing the high points of the soccer and basketball seasons and congratulating the teams for a very successful year. “I’m very proud of our teams and what it comes down to is we have very excellent coaches that are committed and great at what they do,” Hitchner said. “The commitment is second to none.” The coaches of each of the High School and Middle School Boys’ and Girls’ Soccer and Basketball teams and the coach of the Cheerleading team also presented individual athletic awards to their players in separate videos posted on the ACS YouTube channel. CLICK HERE to watch the videos.

TSCAC MVPs — Varsity Girls’ Soccer MVP Chloe Vogel (left) and Varsity Girls’ Basketball MVP Sydney Pearson (right).

In the High School Virtual Awards Ceremony video, Hitchner noted that ACS varsity teams brought home two conference championship trophies — in Varsity Girls’ Soccer and Varsity Boys’ Basketball — and that two ACS athletes were named MVPs in the Tri-State Christian Athletic Conference (TSCAC) — junior Chloe Vogel in Varsity Girls’ Soccer and junior Sydney Pearson in Varsity Girls’ Basketball.

The Varsity Girls’ Soccer team, under head coach and ACS alumnus Carly Witherow (’08), earned its fourth straight championship and had another undefeated season. Coach Witherow was named TSCAC Coach of the Year. The Varsity Boys’ Soccer team, under first-year coach and ACS alumnus Ben Chapman (’13), had its best season since 2013 and advanced to play in the TSCAC tournament consolation game.

In basketball, the Varsity Boys’ and Girls’ teams were both undefeated in the conference in the regular season. The Varsity Boys, led by head coach Dan Carney, went on to win the TSCAC championship and advanced to win its division at the National Christian School Athletic Association’s national tournament in Ohio. Three players achieved noteworthy career milestones — senior Dan Roland and junior Landon Shivers each pulled down 500 rebounds and senior Ben Noble scored 1,000 points. The Varsity Girls’ team, under head coach and ACS alumnus Kaylee Breunig (’12), finished in 2nd place after a tough loss in the championship game. The Varsity Girls’ team also for the first time in school history won the Delco Tournament in Pennsylvania, with junior Cristen Winkel being named tournament MVP.

In the Middle School Virtual Awards Ceremony video, Hitchner reflected on a number of team achievements. The Middle School Girls’ Soccer team, under head coach Casey Hopwood, and the Middle School Boys’ Soccer team, under head coach George Dickson, both posted winning seasons.

In basketball, both the Middle School Girls’ and Middle School Boys’ teams kicked off the season strong by winning first place in the Pilgrim Academy Tournament. Ethan Haynes (above, second from right) and Evangelina Kim (above, on right) were named the tournament MVPs, joined by five other players who were named to the All Tournament teams — Jayden Dixon, Jackson Gayeski, Noah Gibbs, Kendall Murphy, and Kayaha Smalls. The teams continued playing well throughout the season, with the Middle School Girls, under coach and ACS alumnus Grant Miller (’07), winning first place in the Atlantic Cape Junior High League, and the Middle School Boys taking second place. Throughout the basketball season, the 15-member Cheerleading team, under coach Kelly Flynn, led the crowds in the ACS gym in chants and performed during halftime. 9th grader Lauren Kent and 8th grader Haven Sanchez served as co-captains.

2020 Cougar Award Recipients — Senior Emily Kelley (left) and senior Dan Roland (right).

During the High School Virtual Awards Ceremony, Hitchner announced the recipients of two special annual high school sports awards — the Cougar Award and the Billy Robinson Award. Seniors Emily Kelley and Dan Roland received the Cougar Award, given to one male athlete and one female athlete who have demonstrated outstanding Christian character, leadership, responsibility, and commitment in the area of athletics. Both athletes played all three sports for all four years of high school at ACS. Junior Sydney Pearson and senior Ben Noble were chosen by the Athletic Department to be the recipients of the 2020 Billy Robinson Award, in recognition of significant achievement, Christian testimony, and athletic ability.

Three Varsity basketball players reached significant career milestones during the 2019-2020 season. Senior Dan Roland (left) and junior Landon Shivers (right) pulled down 500 rebounds and senior Ben Noble (center) sank 1,000 points.

Noble was also asked to speak at the conclusion of the High School Virtual Awards Ceremony about out how his life was impacted by playing sports at ACS and to give a challenge to the younger athletes at ACS. Noble has committed to play on the Men’s Soccer team at Cairn University and was the 2020 recipient of the TSCAC Rex Feltman Award, a $750 scholarship given to one outstanding senior boy and girl athlete in the conference who will be attending a Christian college and pursuing ministry. 

“One of the coolest things about ACS sports is that the coaches invest in you and pour into your life on and off the field,” Noble said. “They care more about the athlete than about winning or losing.” Noble encouraged the younger athletes to work hard, set goals, and be a team player, concluding with the charge stated in Colossians 3:23, which says — “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord and not for men.”

In compliance with COVID-19 regulations, student athletes were able to come to the ACS campus on June 15 to pick up their well-earned awards, letters, pins, trophies, and plaques.


Congratulations to the 2019-2020 Honor Roll Students

Congratulations to the 208 students in the 1st to 12th grades who were academic achievers during the 2019-2020 school year and earned a place on the year-end Honor Roll.

“We’re very thankful for the way our teachers and students worked together to finish this school year strong, dealing with the difficult challenges of remote learning and staying on track academically,” said Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen. “Our students are ready for the next school year and we are especially proud of those who excelled and have been selected for the Honor Roll.”

Due to the closure of the school campus in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, students were recognized for their academic achievements during virtual on-line ceremonies.  Elementary Principal Gail Alford held several Zoom awards ceremonies by grade with school families from June 10-12. The students in grades 6-12 who made the Honor Roll or received various awards for citizenship and service were recognized by Upper School Principal Meg McHale during the virtual Honors Chapel on June 5, which streamed on YouTube.

Oblen said the elementary students in grades 1-5 who earned a 95% average or higher received the Highest Honors designation and students who received an 85%-94% average received the Honors designation. Middle School and High School students in grades 6-12 who earned a cumulative GPA of 3.8 or higher at the end of the 1st semester 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 the full list of the Honor Roll recipients.

CLICK HERE to view the June 5 virtual Honors Chapel for students in grades 6-12, which posted on YouTube.

Summer Cougar Camp Opens Monday, July 6, Register Now to Reserve Your Child’s Spot

Our popular summer Cougar Camp will get underway next week — opening on Monday, July 6. It’s not too late to register for a great place to spend the summer enjoying fun activities that combine faith, fellowship, exercise, and learning. Spots are filling fast and camp is now fully booked on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, but there are still openings on the other days.

Cougar Camp will run for seven weeks to August 21 and is open to boys and girls who are entering 1st grade through the completion of 6th grade. Campers can choose to attend one or more weeks and must also choose two or more days each week that they will attend. 

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, ACS is implementing new health and safety procedures and guidelines that comply with NJ Department of Health recommendations. Campers will be provided with a copy of the procedures and guidelines bulletin and the bulletin is also posted on the ACS website.

Favorite Cougar Camp activities include STEM projects, playing ga-ga ball in the air-conditioned gymnasium, drawing and painting, hands-on learning in the school garden, cooking healthy snacks, and plenty of outdoor water play activities. Worshiping God through music and Bible story time are also part of the daily program.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, no field trips are permitted this summer. All participants must bring their own lunch, but every Friday is pizza day (cost included in the camp fee). Snacks are provided daily. 

CLICK HERE to register online for Cougar Camp. 

ACS to Hold Outdoor Commencement and 8th Grade Blessing Ceremony on School Campus

ACS will celebrate the achievements of the Class of 2020 at an outdoor commencement ceremony on the school campus on Wednesday, July 8 and will hold an 8th Grade Blessing Ceremony on Friday, July 10. Both ceremonies will begin at 10 a.m. and are ticketed events limited in capacity due to COVID-19 regulations.

“We are so thankful that we are now able to hold in-person ceremonies to recognize and honor our Class of 2020 and our 8th grade students,” said Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen. “We are looking forward to coming together with our ACS families to celebrate and give thanks to God for His faithfulness throughout this extraordinarily challenging school year.”

Seniors are receiving 4 reserved tickets for front section seating and 10 additional tickets for general seating in the parking lot in front of the school building. Eighth grade students are receiving 4 reserved front section tickets and 6 general seating tickets. Chairs will be provided for the 4 front section seats, but guests holding the general seating tickets are asked to bring their own chairs. Only those holding a ticket to the ceremonies will be able to attend, with limited attendance by ACS faculty and staff. Social distancing is expected to be followed throughout these events.

Families can pick up their allotted tickets for these ceremonies in the school office starting on Thursday, July 2. Additional important details about the ceremonies were emailed to parents and guardians by Upper School Principal Meg McHale on June 30.

Those who are unable to attend the ceremonies in person will be able to watch them online. Both ceremonies will be live streamed on the Atlantic Christian School YouTube Channel.  Please click on the links below to watch the ceremonies live on YouTube:

CLICK HERE to watch the Commencement Ceremony for the Class of 2020.

CLICK HERE to watch the 8th Grade Blessing Ceremony.

Upcoming Year-End Events – Most Virtual, Some In-Person in July

The 2019-2020 school year is coming to a close and due to COVID-19 social distancing restrictions most of the year-end events that we look forward to have been transformed into virtual online events. We are pleased that a relaxation in restrictions is allowing us to hold Commencement for our Class of 2020 outdoors on our school campus on July 8 and our 8th Grade Blessing Ceremony on July 10.

We congratulate all of our students for how hard they have worked from home over the past 11 weeks to complete their academic studies and to continue developing their God-given abilities in art, music, physical fitness, and more.

Following is a schedule of our upcoming year-end events in June and July and how you can be a part of them, virtually or in person.

  • Thursday, June 4: 12th Grade Celebration Video Message
    CLICK HERE to view video on our ACS YouTube Channel.
  • Thursday, June 4: Virtual Athletic Awards Program – 5 p.m.
    CLICK HERE for the Middle School Awards;
    CLICK HERE for the High School Awards;
    Both videos are posted on our ACS YouTube Channel.
  • Friday, June 5: Virtual Upper School Honors Chapel – 10 a.m.
    CLICK HERE to view video on our ACS YouTube Channel
  • Monday, June 8: Virtual Spring Concert (1st-12th grades) – 5 p.m.
    CLICK HERE to view video on our ACS YouTube Channel
  • Tuesday, June 9: Kindergarten Virtual Graduation – 9 a.m.
    CLICK HERE to view video on our ACS YouTube Channel
  • June 10-12: Virtual Elementary Awards Ceremonies – Awards will be given by grade level live at different times of the day, as listed below, and are being broadcast on Zoom:

    – 1st Grade – Wednesday, June 10, 10 a.m. – CLICK HERE to view;
    Meeting ID: 781 6133 1903 – Password: 3u3Khy
    – 2nd Grade – Wednesday, June 10, Noon – CLICK HERE to view;
    Meeting ID: 788 0531 9165 – Password: 4nWPqh
    – 3rd Grade – Thursday, June 11, 10 a.m. – CLICK HERE to view;
    Meeting ID: 744 9190 8961 – Password: 1mZ7Ue
    – 4th Grade – Thursday, June 11, Noon – CLICK HERE to view;
    Meeting ID: 710 4770 1544 – Password: 1Tdyii
    – 5th Grade – Friday, June 12, 10 a.m. – CLICK HERE to view;
    Meeting ID: 760 2072 5213 – Password: 9P3gE3
  • Wednesday, June 17: Virtual Early Ed Closing Program – 9 a.m.
    CLICK HERE to view video on our ACS YouTube Channel.
  • Wednesday, July 8: 12th Grade Commencement – 10 a.m.
    Limited ticket-only event to be held outdoors on the ACS campus. The rain date is Thursday, July 9. The ceremony will be live-streamed on the ACS YouTube channel. CLICK HERE to view the ceremony.
  • Friday, July 10: 8th Grade Blessing Ceremony – 10 a.m.
    Limited ticket-only event to be held outdoors on the ACS campus. The ceremony will be live-streamed on the ACS YouTube channel. CLICK HERE to view the ceremony.

ACS Summer Programs Are A Go!

Our popular Summer Programs will be offered again and registration is open online. A late May announcement by Governor Phil Murphy has relaxed COVID-19 restrictions and is allowing Early Education Centers to reopen and is permitting children to participate in summer camp programs.

Our award-winning Cougar Camp summer program will run from Monday, July 6 to Friday, August 21, 2020. Cougar Camp is open to boys and girls who are entering 1st grade through the completion of 6th grade. This summer,  campers will enjoy 7 weeks of organized activities with varying themes each week that combine faith, fun, fellowship, exercise, and education. Campers can choose to attend one or more weeks and must attend at least two days per week.

Our Early Education Summer Program, for boys and girls from PreK3 to entering kindergarten, will run from Monday, June 22 and will conclude on Friday, August 21, 2020. Enrollment is for the 9-week program and children must attend at least two days per week.

CLICK HERE to visit the ACS Summer Programs webpage to learn more and to register!

New Job Openings at ACS; Seeking to Fill 3 Positions

We’re hiring! ACS is now seeking qualified individuals to fill three full-time positions, two of which are available immediately in our award-winning, state-licensed Early Education Center, and one is a faculty position for the 2020-2021 school year.

The positions we are seeking to fill are:

– Elementary School Teacher (full-time, 10-month)
– Early Education Teacher (full-time, 12-month)
– Early Education Teacher’s Aide (full-time, 12-month)

ACS is a great fit for you if you are passionate about Christian education and want to be part of a loving, nurturing environment where students can discover and develop their God-given gifts and talents. 

CLICK HERE for more information and to apply.  Also, please SHARE our Facebook posts about these job openings with your contacts. Thank you.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CLICK HERE to watch the entire interview with Mandisa.

ACS Families, Students, Staff Donate Meals to Bless Area Health Care Professionals

Nurses and staff at AtlantiCare Medical Center in Atlantic City, Shore Medical Center in Somers Point, and Absecon Manor Nursing Home were treated to delicious meals in April and May, made possible by donations from ACS school families, students, and staff to express our love and appreciation for the health care professionals serving on the front line dealing with the coronavirus outbreak in our community.

On April 28, ACS staff members Carrie Jorgenson and Kelly Schlundt, who have spearheaded the charitable community service project, delivered pizza from Carluccio’s in Northfield to bless the nurses at the AtlantiCare Medical Center ICU in Atlantic City.

On May 28, Jorgenson and Schlundt delivered lunch from Naomi’s Cafe in Northfield for the staff at Absecon Manor Nursing Home, which includes ACS parents Gessie Polynice and Jennifer Remlein.

On May 29, Italian specialty dinners from Sal’s Coal Fired Pizza in Somers Point were delivered to say thank-you to nurses and staff at Shore Medical Center who are working in units treating COVID-19 patients. 10th grader Elizabeth Alford, who works at LevelUp Nutrition in Egg Harbor Township, also made and delivered a batch of energy drinks for the staff, accompanied by her grandmother and ACS staff member Sandy O’Brien.

Additional meal donations are planned in the future as ACS families continue to donate to show their gratitude for our local health care providers who are helping keep our community safe and well. Any interested in making a donation to this project can contact Mrs. Jorgenson at cjorgenson@acseht.org.

Elementary Students Create Artwork to Commemorate Memorial Day

ACS elementary students recently created Memorial Day-themed art projects as part of their remote art classes taught by faculty member Sherry Mirakian. Ms. Mirakian created a video highlighting those art projects to share with ACS families and friends.

The artwork was created by students in the 1st to 3rd grades. As part of their class assignment, they watched a video about the history of Memorial Day. Ms. Mirakian then asked the students to create a unique piece of art to celebrate the memory of those who have died in defense of our country’s freedom.

CLICK HERE to watch this video of our student’s Memorial Day themed artwork.

ACS Cub Scout and 4th Grader Brandon Jorgenson Achieves Arrow of Light Award

ACS 4th grader Brandon Jorgenson was recently recognized for achieving  the Arrow of Light, the highest honor in Cub Scouts, at a cross-over ceremony on February 24 in the ACS Multi-Purpose Room. The cross-over ceremony is akin to a graduation, where Cub Scout Webelos transition to become Boy Scouts.

The ACS ceremony included walking over a wood bridge with planks named after the 12 principles of the Scout Law.  Brandon, pictured above second from left, participated in the ceremony,  along with three other Cub Scouts who attend other schools in the community. The Cub Scouts crossed over the bridge as members of ACS Cub Pack 389 and into the ACS Boy Scout Troop 389.

Brandon was warmly welcomed into the Troop by his older brother, Hunter, an ACS 9th grader. The Jorgenson family is actively involved in the scouting program at ACS. Mike Jorgenson is the Scoutmaster and Carrie Jorgenson is the Cubmaster.

The ACS Scouts — Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts — meet at Atlantic Christian School on Monday nights. The goal of scouting is to train youth in responsible citizenship, character development, personal fitness, and self-reliance through participation in a wide range of outdoor activities and educational programs. Cub Scouts is for boys from 1st -5th grades. Boy Scouts is for boys from 6th grade until 18 years old.

ACS Prepares Remote Teaching Plans, Follows Cleaning Protocols in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, ACS teachers and staff have been working diligently this week to prepare for a possible closing of the school and the implementation of at-home instruction as well as following cleanliness and disinfection protocols recommended by the health department.

School was closed on Friday, March 13 for a teacher In-Service, with teachers using the time to create virtual lessons to to provide students with course content remotely if needed. Facilities staff and teachers also spent Friday doing a deep cleaning of all Early Ed to high school classrooms, bathrooms, and common areas, including disinfecting walls, door handles, door frames, sinks, mirrors, table and desk tops, toys, and cubbies.  Chromebook surfaces were also cleaned. Oblen said teachers and staff will continue to follow the health department’s guidelines for daily cleaning.

Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen sent a letter by email to all parents and guardians on March 11 describing the details of the school’s Remote Teaching Plan. Oblen said that under the plan, all students in grades K-12 will use Google Classroom and Zoom for at-home instruction. Students who do not have a computer or tablet at home will be able to borrow a Chromebook from the school. Oblen said another letter will be emailed to parents and guardians with specific instructions on remote instruction in the event that school must be closed.

“Most importantly, we are committed to be in prayer for our school, our families, and our community,” Oblen said. “We are in uncharted waters, but we know the God who is in control of all things and it is His perfect love that casts out all fear.”

Oblen said the NJ Department of Education has approved a written directive that schools are to provide home instructional services to enrolled students if required to close.  In addition, N.J.S.A. 18A:7F-9 states that:   Any day in which students impacted by a public health-related closure have access to home instruction services will count as a day of education toward the compliance with the 180-day requirement in accordance with this directive.

If a student does not have a computer or device to use at home, parents and guardians are asked to contact their child’s principal so that a Chromebook can be loaned to you — Upper School Principal mmchale@acseht.org or Elementary Principal galford@acseht.org.

Varsity Boys’ Basketball Team Wins First Place in Division 4B at Nationals Tournament

The ACS Varsity Boys’ Basketball team capped off its championship-winning season in the Tri-State Christian Athletic Conference (TSCAC) with additional success on March 7, winning first place in Division 4B at the National Christian School Athletic Association’s national tournament in Ohio. The tournament features Christian high school teams from across the U.S. who are the best in their regions.

The Boys’ team lost its first tournament game to Bishop Walsh of Maryland, and then won the next two games, beating Thales Academy from North Carolina and Cumberland Valley from Pennsylvania. Overall, the ACS Boys’ team finished 17th out of the 52 boys’ high school teams that competed.

“As a senior, it was great to go out with a win for our school at Nationals,” said guard Ben Noble, who scored 34 points, had 13 assists, and 6 steals during the tournament. Several other players made strong contributions during the tournament. Mark Rosie, one of 3 seniors on the team, had 16 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, and 6 steals. Senior forward Dan Roland had 24 points, 15 rebounds, 8 assists, and 2 steals.  Junior 6′ 8″ center Landon Shivers, who led the team in scoring with 65 points, had 30 rebounds, 9 assists, 10 blocks, and one steal.

Athletic Director Pam Hitchner said college coaches come to Nationals to check out the talent and she was pleased that a college coach from Kansas City spoke with Landon after watching him play at the tournament.

The Lady Cougars, who were seeded in Division 1, lost their first two games to Grace Christian from West Virginia and Calvary Christian from Maryland, and won their third game playing in Division 2 against Grace Christian from Illinois. Hitchner said the Lady Cougars ended in 3rd place in Division 2 and came in 7th overall out of 32 girls’ high school teams that competed.

“We’re very proud of our players and our coaches and for the enthusiastic school spirit of our students and families that carried our teams throughout this memorable season,” Hitchner said.

Classroom Cameo – Second Graders Create Robots Out of Recycled Materials

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Reduce, reuse, and recycle!  Mrs. Laura McCarthy and Miss Amy Williams’ challenged their second grade students this past month to create robots out of recycled materials.  “In science class, we have been learning about the importance of protecting the earth’s habitats and conservation is one important way to do that,” said Miss Williams.

Each robot includes at least three different types of recycled items and is colorfully decorated with paint or markers. The students were so excited when they brought in their projects last Thursday and gave oral presentations to their classmates.  “This project winds up being the favorite of the year. It’s a time of applying a concept that has been learned while having some creative fun!” Mrs. McCarthy added.

March 17 – Green Mustache Day

On Tuesday, March 17, students in grades K-5 will participate in “Green Mustache Day,” a fun annual activity just in time for St. Patrick’s Day. During lunch, students will have the opportunity to sample healthy green smoothies made by faculty and staff. Students who try the green smoothies will have their pictures taken and be entered into a drawing to win a prize! March is National Nutrition Month. Atlantic Christian is participating in Green Mustache Day as part of its membership in the AtlantiCare Healthy Schools, Healthy Children program.

Legacy Gala Silent Auction – An Opportunity for Local Businesses to Connect With New Customers

Do you own a business or have connections to a business that would like to support Christian education and reach new customers? Our May 1 Legacy Gala — An Evening with Mandisa will include a large Silent Auction that provides a great showcase for local businesses to reach hundreds of new customers.

Everyone who attends the Gala, to be held at the Ocean City Tabernacle, will have the opportunity to enjoy delicious appetizers and bid on items in the Silent Auction during the Welcome Reception from 6:30-7:30 p.m. in the Tabernacle’s Narthex. The Legacy Gala Program will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Tabernacle’s large auditorium, which can seat over 900 people.

If you own a store-front or a home-based business and would like to donate to our Gala Silent Auction, please contact Mrs. PJ Santos at psantos@acseht.org. Examples of home-based businesses who have donated to past Silent Auctions include LuLaRoe, Pampered Chef, Rodan & Fields, Tastefully Simple, and Thirty-One Gifts.

Mrs. Santos is also seeking volunteers to help with calling or visiting local businesses to ask them to donate to the Silent Auction. “We want this year’s Silent Auction to be bigger and better than ever and we need your help,” Santos said. All donations are fully tax-deductible and will benefit our school’s educational programs.

To be included in a listing of Silent Auction donors in the Gala Program book, Silent Auction donations must be received by Friday, April 17.

CLICK HERE for more information on the Gala or to buy tickets, be a Sponsor, or an Advertiser.

Batter Up! Baseball/Softball Season Preview

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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