Post Tagged with: "South Jersey"

5th Grader Madelyn Petrinec Places in Top 3 at SJ Regional Spelling Bee, Interviewed for WHYY-TV Program on Bee

Fifth grader Madelyn Petrinec finished in 3rd place in the South Jersey Regional Spelling Bee on March 25 and represented ACS well as she competed against 19 other top spellers from schools across South Jersey. WHYY-TV, a sponsor of the Bee, recorded the spelling competition and also interviewed Maddie, along with the winner and runner-up, for a program that will air in June on PBS station TV-12 in South Jersey.

The bee was held at the Camden Big Picture Learning Academy. ACS Spelling Club Coach Jessica Martin as well as Maddie’s parents, Nathan and Kelly Petrinec, siblings Grace and Samuel, and grandparents David and Sue Petrinec, who traveled from Indiana, were on hand to cheer her on. This was not Maddie’s first appearance at the regional bee. She represented ACS at last year’s bee and earned 5th place.

The regional and national competitions are open to students from the 5th to 8th grades. Maddie finished just shy of the opportunity to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, DC in May. Only the first place winner and runner-up are allowed to advance to the national bee.

“I was sad at first, but then excited to have made it to 3rd place,” Maddie said. “Next year I want to go all the way.” After winning the ACS 1st-8th grade bee on February 16, Maddie had five weeks to study 25 pages of words provided by the regional bee organizers. She said she studied the word list with her mother every night for 40-45 minutes over those five weeks and remembers reviewing the word  “connivery,” which came up in the 11th round of the bee.  She made a mistake and spelled it with one “n” instead of two. The bee only went two more rounds before concluding with the top two winners.

During the week prior to the regional bee, two South Jersey media outlets published articles about Maddie winning the ACS Spelling Bee and moving on to compete in the regional spelling bee.

CLICK HERE to read the Press of Atlantic City article on Maddie and the ACS Spelling Bee.

CLICK HERE to read the Shore Local Newsmagazine article on the ACS Bee.

 

ACS Students Excel at March 23 Spelling Bee Sponsored by Association of Christian Schools International

Members of the ACS Spelling Team excelled and made their mark at a March 23 South Jersey-Philadelphia spelling bee for 1st to 8th grade students sponsored by the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). 8th grader Garrett Martin came in 2nd place overall and 5th grader Joey Kinch placed 5th. Seventeen of the twenty-seven students on the ACS team received ribbons for winning 1st to 4th place and six ACS students won 1st place in their grade-level bees.

ACS and two other schools competed in the ACSI bee — The City School in Philadelphia, which hosted the Bee, and the New Jersey United Christian Academy in Cream Ridge.

The Bee got underway with students first competing in their grade level. Seven students in the 1st-4th grades won 1st to 4th place in their grade-level bees — Jordan Vielma (1st place-1st grade), Ellie Campbell (3rd place-1st grade), Jack Sawyer (4th place-1st grade), Molly Klinetob (4th place-2nd grade),  Ellie Sellers (1st place-3rd grade), Rachael Eachus (2nd place-3rd grade), Caitlin Doucett (1st place-4th grade), Eric Protesto (3rd place-4th grade), and Hadley Basso (4th place-4th grade).

Eight ACS students in the 5th-8th grades placed 1st through 4th in their grade-level bees — Luke Sabulao (1st place-5th grade), Joey Kinch (2nd place-5th grade), Brody Panetta (3rd place-6th grade), Gaebriel Hahn-Chaney (4th place-6th grade), Antonino Miranda (1st place-7th grade), Matthew Coates (2nd place-7th grade), Garrett Martin (1st place-8th grade), and Caedyn Hahn-Chaney (2nd place-8th grade). These students then advanced to compete in a Spell-Off to determine the overall top spellers.

Thank you to the parent and staff volunteers who assisted at the Bee — Despina Bara-Protesto, Marques Chaney, Joe Coates, Rhapsody Hahn-Chaney, Walter Klinetob, Spelling Team Coach Jessica Martin, Clint Sawyer, Meredith Sellers, and Lisa Smith.

Silent Auction to be Held at May 12 Legacy Gala, Classroom Gift Baskets to be Part of Auction

The 2023 Legacy Gala on May 12, featuring Christian comedian Jeff Allen as the headliner, will also include a Silent Auction and ACS classes from PreK2 to the 8th grade are being asked to create beautiful, themed gift baskets to be put up for bid at the auction. A flyer about the auction gift baskets was sent home to parents the week of March 27.

ACS families are asked to help create the gift baskets by donating items based on various themes assigned to each grade level, including cat lovers, dog lovers, baby shower, craft fanatic, pamper mom, and more. The flyer below lists the gift basket themes for each grade level.

ACS staff member PJ Santos, who is heading up the Silent Auction Committee, said the classroom gift baskets are always very popular items in the auction. Santos also said she is looking for volunteers to join the committee to help contact businesses to donate items for the auction or to help assemble the gift baskets once all the items have been collected in each classroom.

To volunteer for the Silent Auction Committee, please email Santos at psantos@acseht.org.

All proceeds from the Silent Auction, as well as ticket sales and sponsorships for the Gala, will support the ACS Tuition Assistance Grant Fund, which provides tuition discounts to new and returning families in need. The Gala will be held at the Ocean City Tabernacle.

CLICK HERE to purchase tickets to the Gala or to be a Gala sponsor. Sponsors and VIP Experience tickets come with special benefits, including a Meet-and-Greet and photo with Jeff Allen, a gourmet appetizer and dessert reception, and reserved premium seating for the Gala program.

 

Award-Winning Summer Programs Start June 26; Register Now to Reserve Your Child’s Spot

Registration is now open for our popular, award-winning summer camp programs — “Cougar Camp” for children entering grades 1-7 and “Down the Shore” for children entering PreK4 and kindergarten. The programs will start on Monday, June 26 and conclude on Friday, August 25. Register online now to reserve your child’s spot.

Over a 9-week period, qualified and trained staff will provide a warm, loving environment with organized activities tied to weekly themes that will combine faith, fun, fellowship, exercise, and education. Our summer camp programs have been recognized annually for excellence, winning “Best of the Press” awards since 2017.

CLICK HERE to register your child for one of the ACS summer camp programs. Campers can choose to attend one or more weeks and must also choose two or more days each week that they will attend. There are discounted rates for campers who attend the full 9-week program.

The Cougar Camp and Down the Shore program hours will be from 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with Before and After Care available and included in the camp fee. All participants must bring their own lunch, but every Friday is pizza day. The pizza day cost is included in the Cougar Camp fee, but is available for a small fee for Down the Shore campers.  Snacks are also provided daily.

Cougar Camp activities will run from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Favorite 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. Weekly field trips include visiting the Atlantic City Aquarium, Birch Grove Park, and the Funny Farm Rescue, and going miniature golfing and bowling.

Children in the Down the Shore summer program must be potty-trained. Preschoolers look forward to the weekly “Water Day” where they enjoy playing in inflatable water slides and pools.

For more information on our summer programs, please contact Barb Harmon at 609-653-1199 ext. 382 or at bharmon@acseht.org.

 

Middle School, High School Students to Share God’s Love With Children in Coatesville During Easter Break Missions Trip

Fifteen middle school students and five high school students will spend part of Easter break in Coatesville, Pennsylvania doing volunteer service for the Bridge Academy, a non-profit that works with inner-city children from preschool to the 8th grade. The ACS missions team will work with the young people in the Academy’s after-school program and also help with cooking, upkeep of the facility, and other hands-on projects at the Camp at Old Mill, which the Academy uses for summer youth camp programs.

Leading the team as chaperones during the April 10-13 missions trip will be faculty member and ACS parents Daniel Vasquez, his wife, Erin, and school nurse and ACS parent Carrie Jorgenson. Vasquez said the high school students on the trip will be assisting as team leaders, giving them an excellent opportunity to serve and learn valuable leadership skills.

“The goal of this missions trip is to help develop a heart to serve within our students and to understand what it means to be the hands and feet of Jesus,” Vasquez said.

The middle school students participating in the trip are: Liam Aspenberg, Ethan Brumble, Aiden Costantini, Christian Delacruz, Caelyn Domsic, Chase Hagel, Brandon Jorgenson, Greta Rebecca Kleinman, Liam Larkin, Grace Lushina, Malena Meyer, Julia Morris, Bezute Ngwabi, Lillian Porreca, and Lexi Wyckoff. The high school trip participants are: Gabriella Goodwin, Manny Johnson, Luke Mills, Kennedy Vasquez, and Malachi Vasquez.

This is the fourth year that an ACS missions team has served in Coatesville at the Bridge Academy, building on a relationship that began in 2017.

CLICK HERE if you would like to make a donation to support the ACS Middle School missions trip to Coatesville or go to: https://acseht.org/giving/online-donation-form. Under the gift category section, choose the Coatesville, PA missions trip. The per person cost is $400.

Three 12th Grade Students Collecting Clothing, Medical Supply Donations for South African Orphanage as Part of Senior Project

Three ACS 12th graders are collecting donations of clothing, book bags, and medical supplies for an orphanage in South Africa as part of their Senior Project and the deadline is Monday, April 3 for school families, faculty, and staff to drop off donations. A collection box is located near the school office entrance. A flyer was sent home to families the week of March 27 describing the project and providing a list of the items that are being collected.

The three students who are carrying out this senior project are Tommy Ellison, Moges Johnson, and Cruz Lewis.  They will be taking the donations with them to QwaQwa, South Africa during Easter break, where they will be serving at the orphanage as part of a short-term missions trip.

In the flyer created by the students to promote their donation drive, the students wrote — “Your donation, no matter how small, can make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate.” The students also pointed out that one of the most needed clothing items are underwear, from sizes 4T to teen.

In addition to distributing the donated supplies during their missions trip, the students will doing skits and teaching lessons from the Bible with the children, including sharing the gospel message through the story of Easter. The orphanage is located about a two-hour drive south of Johannesburg. Moges’ family founded the orphanage, which serves some 80 children from toddlers to teens.

The items that are being collected to donate to the orphanage are:

  • Socks
  • Sturdy Book Bags
  • Underwear – sizes 4T to teen
  • Antibiotic Cream
  • Band-Aids and Dressings
  • Antifungal cream
  • Hydrocortisone
  • Infant Tylenol
  • Kids Chewable Tylenol
  • Kids Chewable Motrin
  • Regular Tylenol
  • Regular Motrin

The Senior Project is a class for 12th graders and this project is being facilitated by faculty member Daniel Vasquez. Other seniors are working a variety of other projects, all with a community service focus and utilizing their individual gifts and talents. Part of each project also includes writing a letter of intent, writing a research or reflection paper, and doing an oral presentation to the class.

AtlantiCare Heart Institute Donates Automated External Defibrillator to ACS

ACS recently received an Automated External Defibrillator from the AtlantiCare Heart Institute, which was presented to school nurse Carrie Jorgenson on March 28. The donation was made possible through a grant from the AtlantiCare Healthy Schools, Healthy Children program.

Presenting the AED to Jorgenson were L.J. Wehner, Director of AtlantiCare’s Heart and Lung Institute, and Jessica Whittle, a school health specialist with AtlantiCare Healthy Schools, Healthy Children. The donated AED is a Cardiac Science Powerheart G5 and also came with a portable carrying case.

Jorgenson said the AED will be located on the second floor of the main school building, where it will be accessible for use by Upper School students, faculty, and staff.

“A new AED can cost upwards of $2,000 and is now even difficult to purchase due to supply chain issues,” Jorgenson said.  “We are very grateful to AtlantiCare for donating this life-saving device.” Jorgenson said the easy-to-follow instructions on the unit make it possible for anyone to use in the event of an emergency.

 

Classroom Spotlight: ACS Campus Becomes Outdoor Lab for 7th Grade Honors Science Class Studying Ecosystems

Students in 7th Grade Honors Science moved their classroom outdoors on March 29 to conduct an ecosystems lab project analyzing living and nonliving things in grassy areas on the ACS campus. Faculty member Kelly Kirchhoff said the warmer weather created the perfect opportunity to do an outdoor lab as the 19 students in the class started a new unit on how living things interact with, and depend on, the other parts of an ecosystem.

The students used magnifying glasses to discover and examine the types of organisms in a 1-meter-square section of ground.  Kirchhoff said each student created a table and recorded every different living and nonliving thing that they found and the number of times they found the item, such as a leaf, a rock, grass, a flower, etc.

After completing their research, the students returned to the classroom to organize and review the data they collected and predict how their observations would change during different times of the year. Kirchhoff said the students will use the information from their lab to create an ecosystem project in April.

 

 

Kindergarten Students Create Easter-Themed Bird’s Nest Art

Kindergarten students created Easter-themed bird’s nests filled with eggs in their weekly art class taught by faculty member Patti Scardilli. The unique and colorful artwork will be on display at the K-3rd Grade Spring Concert on April 21.

The students worked on the two-day project during the last two weeks of March. The students used their drawing, coloring, cutting, and gluing skills to draw a bird’s nest on construction paper and then decorated it with oval shaped eggs. The students drew circles with brown, black, and white colored crayons to create the nest, added branches and green leaves, and then cut out oval shaped eggs and used crayons to add colored spots and dashes.

“The students did a wonderful job and brought their own, unique creativity to their drawings,” Scardilli said.  As she presented the project to the students, Scardilli also shared the Easter story and the symbolism of the eggs as a reminder of Jesus rising from the dead.

“Like a baby bird hatching out of an egg, Jesus came back to life,” Scardilli said. “When we see an egg, we can think about how Jesus is alive again and how much He loves us.”

 

Alumni Spotlight: ACS Alumni, Former Students Making Their Mark in College and Beyond

ACS is pleased to periodically recognize and congratulate several of its alumni and former students who are making their mark in college, in the working world, and in other endeavors, building on the strong educational and spiritual foundation they received during their years at ACS. The alumni spotlighted in this article are: Chris Masi (’05), Taylor Hadley (’07), Brianna Butler (’11), Lydia Schalles (’15), Sydney Pearson (’21), and Eric VonColln (’22).  Profiles of many more ACS alumni can be found on the “Alumni News” page of the ACS website under “News and Events.”

Chris Masi (’05) and his wife, Becky, are the creators and writers of a new TV series called “RIDE” that debuted on the Hallmark Channel on March 26, 2023. After graduating as Salutatorian of the class of 2005, Chris attended Biola University in Southern California, where he earned his degree in Film, Radio, and Television in 2009. He also met his wife, Becky, at Biola and they were both in the same degree program. Since that time, Chris has been working his way up in Hollywood as writer, working on scripts for various shows including USA’s “White Collar” and “Graceland” and the HBO show “The Newsroom.”  In 2021, they were contracted by the Hallmark Channel to create and write a TV series called “Ride” based on a pilot they wrote and pitched to Hallmark. They spent the last year working on the first 10 episodes. The show follows the lives of the McMurray family, part of a rodeo dynasty going back a generation, as they struggle to keep their ranch afloat.  The debut episode has received many favorable reviews and the show will continue to air on the Hallmark Channel on Sunday nights at 9 p.m.

Taylor Hadley (’07) works in the Emergency Department at Cape Regional Medical Center in Cape May County, NJ as a Physician’s Assistant. After graduating as the valedictorian of the Class of 2007, Taylor continued to excel academically and earned his undergraduate degree from Grove City College, a Christian liberal arts college in Pennsylvania. He then attended PA school, where he graduated with Honors in 2017. Taylor and his wife, Kristen, were married in March 2019 and have two sons, Jude and Ezra. They live in Beesley’s Point and are active members of Ocean City Baptist Church.

Brianna Butler (’11) joined the coaching staff at St. Joseph Academy in Hammonton in the 2022-2023 season in the position of assistant coach of the Varsity Girls Basketball team.  During her high school years at ACS, Brianna was a strong, contributing guard on the Lady Cougars basketball team that in 2010 and 2011 won the Tri-State Christian Athletic Conference Varsity Basketball championship and a national championship. Brianna stopped by the ACS gym in March to watch the girls’ basketball game of the 8th grade South Jersey Future Stars. Brianna is working on her MBA in organizational management from Eastern University, where she also earned her undergraduate degree. She lives in Galloway and will be getting married in September 2023.

Lydia Schalles (’15) is relocating from Washington, DC to Hawaii in July 2023 for her job with the U.S. Department of Defense. After graduating from ACS as valedictorian of the Class of 2015, she attended George Washington University in Washington, DC. She earned a BS in international affairs in 2019, with a concentration in security policy and East Asian studies and a minor in Korean and business administration. In her leisure time, Lydia enjoys running, hiking, and surfing. She ran in the Honolulu Marathon in December 2022 and keeps in shape by running half-marathons, including the Ocean City half marathon in September 2022 and the Philadelphia half marathon in March 2023.

Sydney Pearson (’21) graduated as valedictorian of the Class of 2021 and was admitted to the nursing program at Stockton University. But after completing nearly two years in the program, Sydney has switched to a liberal studies major with a concentration in elementary education. The change in course came after Sydney started substitute teaching in elementary classes at ACS in January 2023. “I just loved it and so I prayed about it and felt God was leading me to pursue a different career,” Sydney said. Sydney has also been serving at ACS this winter as a long-term substitute teacher for high school Algebra II, Geometry, and Personal Finance. “The Lord opened a door for me at ACS to get my feet wet in teaching and I am looking forward to starting my education classes in the fall at Stockton,” Sydney said. During her high school years at ACS, Sydney was a three-sport athlete and she has also been involved in coaching at ACS for the past two years. This spring, she is the head coach of the Middle School Girls Softball Team, after serving as assistant coach last season. She also served as assistant coach of the Middle School Girls Soccer and Basketball Teams in the 2022-2023 school year.

Eric VonColln (’22) is a private in the U.S. Army and since February 2023 has been stationed in Vilseck, Germany. He will serve there for three years, where he has been assigned the role of driving and leading a stryker armored vehicle. Eric came out to watch an ACS basketball game in January 2023, where he visited with Upper School Principal Meg McHale, other faculty and staff, and students. His goal is to become a non-commissioned officer and then to enter one of the airborne divisions. Eric said attending ACS in his senior year made him a better person and taught him to look at the brighter side of things.

Alumni – We want to hear from you! Please send us news about how God is working in your life. Feel free to send photos as well. Email alumni news to: ckarabashian@acseht.org.

Announcing Two Spring Fundraisers — Legacy Gala & Golf Tournament — Ticket, Registration Site Now Open Online

ACS is excited to announce two big fundraisers coming this spring — our Legacy Gala: An Evening with Comedian Jeff Allen on May 12 at the Ocean City Tabernacle and our Cougar Classic Golf Tournament on May 16 at McCullough’s Emerald Golf Links in Egg Harbor Township. The online site is now open to purchase tickets, be a sponsor, or register to golf. Both events will benefit the ACS Tuition Assistance Grant Fund.

There will also be a Silent Auction at the Gala.  There are $55 and $75 general admission tickets to just attend the Gala program, which will feature our headliner, Christian comedian Jeff Allen. There is a discount on General Admission tickets for groups of 10 or more. For those buying a $150 VIP Experience ticket or donating to be a Sponsor, there will be a Meet-and-Greet and photo opportunity with Mr. Allen and a Celebration Reception with gourmet appetizers and desserts. All seating is reserved and all tickets must be purchased online with iTickets.

The May 16 Cougar Classic Golf Tournament will get underway with an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start and will conclude with lunch and an awards program. The golfer fee for an individual is $150 and a foursome is $560. There are also sponsorship packages and combo packages for those who would like to attend the Gala and participate in the Golf Tournament.

Proceeds from both fundraisers will benefit our Tuition Assistance Grant Fund, which provides families with needs-based tuition assistance. This fund enables many families each year to have access to a Christian education for their children.

“Our Tuition Assistance Grant Fund has enabled many families each year to have access to a Christian education for their children and we encourage our school families and friends in the community to help us grow this fund by attending one or both of these events,” said Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen.

CLICK HERE to buy tickets, be a sponsor, or register to golf or go to https://acseht.org/galagolf/

 

ACS Presents Rescue Mission With $1,517 from Bowls of Hope Benefit; Williams’ 5th Grade Class Wins Bowls of Hope Contest

ACS presented the Atlantic City Rescue Mission with a check for $1,517 on March 9 from the proceeds of the February 4 Bowls of Hope Soup Cook-Off to help fund the Mission’s important work meeting the needs of the homeless in Atlantic City and surrounding communities. Accepting the check on behalf of the Rescue Mission were Pastor Bill Warner, Vice President of Biblical Education and Policy, and Sara Franklin, Chair of the Mission’s Board of Trustees.

The high school students who helped present the check are members of the Student Council who volunteered at the Bowls of Hope fundraiser. Also participating in the check presentation were Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen, Upper School Principal Meg McHale, and Event Coordinator Christian Delacruz. The Student Council members pictured in the photo are: Isabell Alford, Sophia Costello, Rebecca DiMaio, Zachary Fosbenner, Noah Gibbs, Caden Kim, Evangelina Kim, Autumn Loo, Alli Lushina, Ryleigh Martin, David O’Donnell, Haven Sanchez, Allison Schlundt, Nathan Stein, and Noelle Thompson.

Ms. Williams’ 5th grade class won the Bowls of Hope Classroom Fundraising Contest.

In a separate presentation, Ms. Amy Williams’ 5th grade class was recognized for winning first place in the Bowls of Hope classroom fundraising contest, raising the most funds from ticket sales and sponsorships. The class received a pizza party as its prize.

Thank you to our students, school families, faculty and staff, and friends in the community for helping make our Bowls of Hope Soup Cook-Off a success.

ACS Inducts Ten High School Students Into National Honor Society

Ten high school students were recognized for outstanding achievement in academics, leadership, Christian character, and service at a March 16 induction ceremony for the National Honor Society held in the ACS gym. The ceremony marked the 11th anniversary of high school students being inducted into the NHS since ACS established its chapter in 2012.

The students inducted into the National Honor Society were: 10th graders Isabell Alford, Rebecca DiMaio, Aine Dorsey, Sophia Johnson, Joshua Merlino, Alek Stein, and Taylor Sutton; and 12th graders Daniella Ajayi, Madelynne DeNick, and Thomas Ellison, Jr.  DiMaio was unable to attend the ceremony due to illness.

Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen welcomed some 60 family members, faculty, and guests to the ceremony. She congratulated the inductees for their commitment and hard work and offered a prayer of blessing over them. For membership in the NHS, students in the 10th-12th grades must have an outstanding academic record, with a 3.6 minimum GPA, and excel in leadership, Christian character, and service.

Guidance counselor Christina Ragland, the NHS chapter advisor, and 12th grader Reyna Lewis, president of the chapter, led the students through the various parts of the induction ceremony, which included reciting the Honor Society pledge, signing the official chapter registry, and lighting a votive candle. Upper School Principal Meg McHale presented each inductee with their society membership certificate.

High school Bible teacher Urick Lewis was the guest speaker at the National Honor Society induction ceremony.

Senior members of both ACS chapters also participated in the programs, speaking about the spiritual significance of each of the Honor Society’s four principles. The student participants in the NHS ceremony were: Alicia O’Donnell (on scholarship); Cruz Lewis (on leadership); Ryleigh Martin (on Christian character); and Paige Noble (on service).

High school Bible teacher Urick Lewis was the guest speaker at the ceremony and congratulated the students for attaining such a significant level of excellence. “Excellence isn’t what you do, excellence is who you are,” Lewis said. He shared a message from Daniel 6, encouraging the inductees to stay true to God’s Word and allow their faith to guide everything they do. “Don’t use someone else’s ruler to measure your excellence, but strive to bring excellence because you serve an excellent God,” Lewis said.

 

 

 

 

Upper School Students Present “Let It Shine” Concert on March 15

Over 50 students in the 6th to 12th grades had the opportunity to let their artistic talents shine as they sang, danced, and played musical instruments at the March 15 “Let It Shine” concert.

“Our Upper School performing arts program has grown significantly and it’s exciting to see the variety of talent that is developing among our students,” said Upper School Principal Meg McHale as she welcomed several hundred school families and friends in the audience.

Tim Rosie, Director of Choral and Instrumental Music, explained that the theme of the concert was based on Matthew 5:16, where Jesus encourages His disciples to “let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Rosie said the concert gave the students an opportunity to bless others with their God-given gifts and to be encouraged to use those talents to glorify God.

Rosie and Middle School Choir Director, Julie Zimmer, expertly led the various performing groups, which included a 36-member 6th-7th Grade Concert Band, a 5-member 6th-7th Grade Vocal Ensemble, and an 11-member 8th-12th Grade Wind Ensemble. 6th grader Julieta Gonzalez served as the MC, providing a brief history and background of each song performed.

Several talented students also performed solos — 8th grader Garrett Martin on the bass clarinet,  6th grader Norah Wilson on the piano, and 6th grader Greta Kleinman presenting a jazz dance.

The concert concluded with the Wind Ensemble performing an arrangement by Andrew Mackereth of “Christ the Lord is Risen Today,” looking forward to the Easter season in April.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two ACS 8th Grade Basketball Players Named to 2023 Atlantic County Boys All-Star Team

Congratulations to 8th graders Ethan Costello and Justice Settles, two members of the ACS 2022-2023 Middle School Boys Basketball Team, for recently being named to the 2023 Atlantic County Boys All-Star Team.

Ethan and Justice were two of fourteen talented 8th grade basketball players who were selected to the team from middle schools across Atlantic County. Ethan and Justice were part of the starting five on the ACS Middle School Boys’ Basketball Team, under head coach Joshua Clark, that helped lead the team to an undefeated season and a first place finish in the Atlantic Cape Junior High League.

On Friday, March 17, ACS hosted the South Jersey Future Stars 8th Grade All-Star Games for both the boys’ and girls’ teams. Family members and friends filled the gym to watch the Atlantic County Boys All-Star team play against the Cape May/Cumberland County Boys All-Star team.  Ethan and Justice played strong on offense and defense in the game, and the Atlantic County team beat the Cape May/Cumberland team by a score of 82-32.

Congratulations, Ethan and Justice, for your outstanding contributions to the ACS Middle School Boys Basketball Team this past season. We look forward to seeing you continue to develop your skills as you move up into high school.

 

Check Out the 2023 Spring Schedule of After-School Classes — Flag Football, Garden Club, Homework Club, and More

A new “Costume Design Workshop” for 4th-12th grade students and “Intro to Sign Language” for 1st-5th grade students kicked off this week — the first offerings in our action-packed and enriching schedule of Spring After-School Classes.  A number of other new classes have been added to the schedule that will open in the next several weeks, including Flag Football, the Garden Club, and the Homework Club.

The spring schedule, with the description of the classes, start dates, and fees, was sent home the week of March 6 with students from PreK2 to 6th grade, along with registration forms, and was emailed to 7th-12th grade parents.

A weekly “Chess Club” on Fridays for 4th-6th grade students, which got underway in mid-winter, has been a popular new addition. The winter class, taught by faculty member Samuel Gottschall, will conclude on March 31, but will be open to new members after spring break on April 21.

“Flag Football” on Mondays starting April 17 is being led for the third year by ACS parent Dennis Gibson and is open to students in the 2nd-5th grades.

Faculty members Ashley Brossman and Eric Tardif will be leading the Garden Club on Thursday afternoons, open to students in the 1st to 8th grades. Students will work in the school garden and will create their own herb garden in a planter to take home. It is also planned to sell vegetables and herbs grown in the school garden at a Summer Farmers Market at ACS.

High school science teacher Celine Melody is leading the Homework Club for students in the 1st-5th grades and proceeds will benefit the 10th grade class. Melody, who is the class advisor, will provide individualized attention to students to assist them with their homework assignments in various subjects.

Staff member Jessica Martin is in her 5th year teaching the “Intro to Sign Language” class for 1st to 5th grade students and is offering two Wednesday sessions — one from March 15- April 26 and the second from May 3-June 7. Students will learn to sign to a worship song and will have the opportunity to perform at an upcoming spring concert or year-end event.

Technology teacher Rhapsody Hahn-Chaney, who has a degree in fashion design, is leading the Costume Design Workshop on Tuesday afternoons. Hahn-Chaney also designed and sewed many of the whimsical costumes for last fall’s Seussical, JR. musical. Students in the workshop will design and create costumes for students performing in the K-3 Spring Concert.

The schedule and registration forms are on the school’s website under the “Programs” tab and are available in the school office. Please send payment with the registration form to the school office or bring to the first class.

CLICK HERE to view and download the schedule and registration forms.

Bump, Set, Spike! Record 14 Teams Compete in Annual Intramural Volleyball Tournament

There was lots of bumping, setting, and spiking in the ACS gym on March 8 as over 90 ACS students, faculty, alumni, parents, and friends faced off for a night of friendly competition at our annual Intramural Volleyball Tournament. Fourteen teams competed, the most ever since the tournament was launched in 2005 by Athletic Director Pam Hitchner.

After five hours of double-elimination games, the high school team named “Blue Steel” took first place. The six members of the medal-winning team, all 11th graders, were: Noah Gibbs, John Hannum, Manny Johnson, Becca Kelley, Evangelina Kim, and Alicia O’Donnell.

Blue Steel — the winning team of the ACS 2023 Intramural Volleyball Tournament.

Hitchner and PE teacher Joshua Clark served as referees during the tournament, assisted by a number of ACS students serving as scorekeepers. Students from the 8th-12 grades were could form teams and each team had at least three girls and three boys. Several teams included parents, faculty, alumni, and former students.

Thank you to the tournament volunteers and to everyone who bought food at the Cougar Den, which helped raise funds for the ACS Cheer Team as they prepare for their trip to Nationals in Virginia in early April. Photo credit: PJ Santos.

 

 

Students Sample Healthy Smoothies for Green Mustache Day, Get Surprise Visit from Cat in the Hat

Over 250 students from the 1st to 5th grades showed off their green mustaches on Thursday, March 2 after sampling healthy smoothies during lunch made with fruit and spinach. 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.

Green Mustache Day also coincided with Read Across America Day that celebrates Dr. Seuss’ birthday, which meant many students were dressed up like the Cat in the Hat, Thing 1, 2, and 3, or other characters from Dr. Seuss books. 12th grader Evan Power, who has held leading roles in several ACS musicals, paid a surprise visit to the lunchroom dressed up as the Cat in the Hat and posed for photos with the students.

After they sampled the smoothies, groups of students made green mustaches on their upper lips with the drink and posed for photos. Students who sampled the smoothies received a green paper mustache as a fun reward. A number of faculty and staff also sampled the smoothies and posed for photos.

A staff panel has selected three group photos to submit to an AtlantiCare contest. One of the photos could be selected to receive a $50 VISA card, which will go to the classroom of the students in the photo. The photos in the running are from Mrs. Huff’s 3C class, Mrs. Jackson’s 4B class, Mr. Tardif’s 4C class, and Ms. Williams’ 5B class.

For families who would like to try making this healthy smoothie at home, here’s the recipe that makes 32 ounces:

Healthy Green Smoothie Recipe

2 ripe frozen bananas
1 apple, chopped
2 cups fresh chopped spinach (can also use kale)
1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 cup cold water

The first 3 photos below are being entered into the AtlantiCare contest:

 

 

 

 

5th Grader Madelyn Petrinec Wins ACS Spelling Bee, Advances to March 25 Scripps South Jersey Regional Bee

Congratulations to 5th grader Madelyn Petrinec for winning our school Spelling Bee on February 16, placing first among 19 students from the 1st to 8th grades after 2 hours and 27 rounds of competition. Maddie, who also won last year’s school Spelling Bee, will move on to represent ACS at the Scripps South Jersey Regional Spelling Bee in Camden on Saturday, March 25.

Coming in second place was 1st grader Zackary Alobeidy. 6th grader Brody Panetta placed third, staying in the Bee through the first 19 rounds. Zackary and Maddie then went head to head for another 7 rounds before Zackary misspelled “thurible” and Madelyn correctly spelled “nares” and then “eurythmics,” marking the 213th word in the competition.

Parents, teachers, and students were on hand in the gym to watch the bee and applaud between rounds. The students who competed in the bee had either won or placed runner up in classroom bees held in January. 6th grader Gaebriel Hahn-Chaney and 8th grader Caedyn Hahn-Chaney, who are brothers, represented their classes well and finished in 4th and 5th place, respectively.

Under the guidance of Spelling Bee coach Jessica Martin, the students had a month to prepare for the all-school bee by studying a list of 450 words provided by the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Martin was also the pronouncer for the Bee. “Since this will be Maddie’s second time representing ACS at the regional bee, I am optimistic that she will draw upon her prior experience and will do well in this upcoming competition,” Martin said.

The top 19 spellers who competed in the Bee, by grade level, were: 1st Grade: Zackary Alobeidy, Ellie Campbell; 2nd Grade: Chase Hemberger, Carson Myers, Janessa Obot; 3rd Grade: Chloe Capito, Amelia Crespo, Rachael Eachus; 4th Grade: Caitlin Doucett, Lindsay Eachus; 5th Grade: Giovanna (Bo) Altier, Tamara Kulov, Maddie Petrinec; 6th Grade: Eva Dimashi, Gaebriel Hahn-Chaney, and Brody Panetta; 7th Grade: Grace Lushina and Nino Miranda; and 8th Grade: Caedyn Hahn-Chaney.

Pastor Appreciation Day Gives ACS Students an Opportunity to Honor, Thank Their Pastors

We love our pastors! Nearly 50 pastors and ministry leaders from churches across South Jersey were treated to breakfast and a student-led chapel for Pastor Appreciation Day on February 16.  It was a special time for ACS students to honor and thank their pastors for the important role they play as their spiritual leaders and mentors. Pastors and students spent time together at breakfast, worshipping in chapel, and posing for group photos after chapel.

Pastor Mat Mouliert of Crossroads Fellowship Church shared an encouraging message with the pastors during breakfast. 12th grader Sam Glancey spoke during the chapel program about the importance of being trained to go out and share the gospel and thanked the pastors for discipling and training the next generation and encouraged them “to do more of what you are already doing.”

During his breakfast remarks, Pastor Mat shared some of the lessons he has learned during his five-year battle with cancer.  “Suffering happens to all of us and God wants us to glorify Him through our suffering,” Pastor Mat said. “Suffering builds perseverance and character and also opens doors that would never be available to us otherwise.”

The chapel also included performances to bless our pastors by the PreK4 students, the Kindergarten students, the 5th Grade Band, the 5th Grade Worship Team, and the High School Worship Team. Students in elementary classes also created several hundred unique, hand-written thank-you cards that were given to the pastors to take back with them.

Thank you to the parent and staff volunteers who donated food and served at the Pastor Breakfast.

 

We’re No. 1! ACS Varsity Boys’ and Girls’ Basketball Teams Both Capture 2023 Conference Championships

The ACS Varsity Boys’ and Girls’ Basketball Teams are the 2023 Tri-State Christian Athletic Conference Champions! Both teams won hard-fought battles on February 25 in their championship games, which were held in the ACS gym. The No. 1-seeded Lady Cougars remained undefeated, beating Gloucester County Christian School 48-43, and the No. 2-seeded Varsity Boys’ Team pulled off an upset, beating No. 1-seeded Pilgrim Academy 54-45, a team that had been undefeated all season. It was a night to celebrate!

This is the fourth consecutive year that our Varsity Boys’ Team has brought home the championship trophy. The Lady Cougars last won the TSCAC championship in 2021. ACS advanced to the championship games by handily winning their semi-final matches on February 23 against King’s Christian School.

Congratulations to Varsity Boys’ head coach Drew Carney, assisted by Dan Carney and ACS 2013 alumnus Ben Chapman, and to Varsity Girls’ head coach and ACS 2012 alumnus Kaylee Breunig, assisted by Dara Kimmerley, for their hard work and dedication. This was an exciting and memorable season.

Eight ACS players were named TSCAC All-Stars for the 2023 season and were recognized at the end of the championship games. The four Girls’ Varsity All-Stars are — Evangelina Kim and Paige Noble (1st team), Reyna Lewis (2nd team), and Becca Kelley (honorable mention). The four Boys’ Varsity All-Stars are — Noah Stokes (1st team), Caleb Vogel (2nd team), and Charlie Costello and Noah Gibbs (honorable mention).

ACS also received two other special recognition awards from the conference. Senior Paige Noble received the 2023 TSCAC MVP Varsity Girls’ Basketball Award. She was one of the team’s leading scorers and a force to be reckoned with both on offense and defense. Paige will be attending Cairn University in the fall.

Coach Breunig received the 2023 TSCAC Varsity Girls Basketball Coach of the Year Award. This is the second time she has received this award. The first time was in the 2017-2018 season when she was in her first year as head coach of the Lady Cougars.

During this season, Coach Breunig was also honored for earning her 100th win on February 15 when the Lady Cougars defeated Oakcrest 54-24 in a nonconference game. In her 6th year as head coach, Coach Breunig has now led the Lady Cougars to two TSCAC Conference championships and five first place finishes in the regular season. She also received the TSCAC Coach of the Year Award in the 2017-2018 season, her first year as head coach. Coach Breunig is a 2012 ACS alumnus who was a strong varsity player and team leader during her four years on the Lady Cougars.

In the Championship varsity girls’ game, junior guard Evangelina Kim led the team in scoring with 20 points and pulled down 8 rebounds. Senior forward Reyna Lewis scored 16 and also had 8 rebounds. Senior guard Paige Noble had 7 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 steals. Freshman forward Gianna Flynn scored five and Flynn and junior forward Becca Kelley each had five rebounds.

In the Championship varsity boys’ game, three players were the top scorers — junior Noah Gibbs, with 15 points, sophomore Noah Stokes with 14 points, and senior Caleb Vogel with 13 points. Gibbs and Stokes also led the team in rebounds, each pulling down 12, and were strong on defense, with Gibbs grabbing 3 steals and Stokes getting 2 blocks. A key contributor to the team’s success in the final quarter of the game was consistently sinking their baskets at the foul line.

At the conclusion of the games, the ACS teams did the traditional “cutting down of the nets,” which each player and coach cutting a piece of the net to take home as a souvenir of their victories.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Congratulations to Top Scholars on 2022-2023 First Semester Honor Roll

Congratulations to our top scholars who made the first semester Honor Roll of the 2022-2023 school year. The Honor Roll, finalized in mid-February, recognizes 331 students from the 1st through 12th grades who have excelled in their academic studies, receiving Highest Honors or Honors designation.

“We are very proud of these students from elementary through high school who have distinguished themselves as top-notch scholars  and earned a place on the Honor Roll,” said Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen. “We are also thankful for our dedicated and highly qualified faculty who encourage our students to excel academically and to seek to honor God with their lives.”

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 the 1st to 12th grades who achieved Highest Honors or High Honors.

Chapel Speakers, Class Projects, Quiz Contest Help Focus Students on Black History in February

Throughout February, ACS students participated in a variety of special activities for Black History Month. Chapel speakers, classroom assignments, bulletin board displays, and a quiz contest helped spotlight the history, culture, and accomplishments of African-Americans.

On February 2, Rev. Vena Noel-Jackson, a pastor with Yeshua’s Living Word Ministries, was the featured speaker in Middle School Chapel, where she highlighted the accomplishments of two African-American athletes — Ida Keeling and James “Jesse” Owens — and emphasized the importance of celebrating our uniqueness by the power and love of Jesus. Using examples from her own accomplishments as a runner, Rev. Jackson reminded the students that despite our differences – age, race, ability, etc. – we can all run for the same prize in following Jesus. An accomplished seamstress, Rev. Jackson also gave away to the students several hand towels with scripture inscribed on them.

On February 9, Upper School students welcomed chapel speaker and ACS parent Christian Ragland, who spoke on the school’s spiritual emphasis theme — God breathed — based on 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

“I believe the enemy is working overtime with your generation to sow seeds of anger and discontent and to make wrong look right,” Ragland said. “Don’t try to figure out how to solve your problems, but instead allow God to take over, to breathe His Word and His Spirit into your life.” Ragland is the operations pastor at Lighthouse Community Church in Pleasantville and is Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at AtlantiCare.

The Black History Month quiz contest ran for two weeks, from February 13-24, and nine African-Americans were highlighted. During morning announcements each day, students were given a question to answer about an influential African-American. The first student in each homeroom to tell their teacher the correct answer was entered into a contest to win a dress-down pass. The correct answer and a short biography of that person were read over the intercom into every classroom at the end of each day.

Some of the quiz questions and answers were:

Question: Who were the first two African-American quarterbacks to play in the same Super Bowl? Answer: Jalen Hurts and Patrick Mahomes
Question: Who was the first African-American to win a Nobel Prize? Answer: Ralph Johnson Bunche
Question: Who was the first African-American woman to win an Academy Award for best actress? Answer: Halle Berry

The students who correctly answered the quiz questions and received dress down passes were:  in Elementary — Layla Aspenberg, Abigail Brunda, Milo Cirigliano Jeremiah Diaz, Allison Eachus, Alexia Gay, Sofia Huezo, Olivia Kuchmek, Erik Macpherson, Selah Melody, Myla Montemurro, Robert O’Donoghue, Addison Rawlings, Michael Saad, Ceci Tormey, Jordan Vielma, Hunter Wolcott, and John Wolcott; in Middle School — Josiah Christmon, Malani Christmon, Kiara Loo, Finn Maxwell, Layla McCarthy, Malena Meyer, Luca Sullivan, and Nathaneal Thompson; and in High School — Cruz Lewis, Zachary Fosbenner, Isaac Kelley, Evangelina Kim, Reyna Lewis, Michael Markert, Seth Phillips, and Jeriko Thomas.

Throughout the month, classroom lessons and projects highlighted the historical contributions of various of African-Americans and some of these projects were displayed in the first floor hallways. In the 2nd grade classes, students learned about the life and contributions of George Washington Carver. Mrs. Hockenberry’s class created a mosaic of his portrait and Mrs. Brossman’s and Ms. Leach’s classes completed a biography sheet on Carver.

Mrs. McCarthy’s 3rd grade class completed a project inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s memorable “I Have a Dream” speech in 1963.  A hallway wall display, entitled “Martin’s Dream was Big and So is Mine,” featured student essays about Dr. King and their own dreams for the future. Students in Mrs. Huff’s 3rd grader studied the life of civil rights activist Ruby Bridges and their hallway display highlighted a quote from Mrs. Bridges describing the lesson that she said Dr. King tried to teach us all — “Never judge people by the color of their skin. God makes each of us unique in ways that go much deeper.”

 

Join Us at Applebee’s on March 25 for Cheer Team Flapjack Fundraiser

Pile up some pancakes at the ACS Cheer Team’s Flapjack Fundraiser at the Mays Landing Applebee’s on March 25 and help send the team to The One Finals national competition in Virginia Beach on April 1-2.

Flapjack tickets are available for purchase at the ACS front desk and online. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for children 10 and under. The breakfast will run from 8:00-10:00 a.m. so be sure to get there early. The address of the Applebee’s in Mays Landing is 200 Consumer Square.

According to staff member Arzum Sanchez, who organized the fundraiser, the cheerleaders will be greeters and will help serve breakfast and do clean-up. Sanchez’s daughter, 11th grader Haven, is one of the team captains.

Sanchez said the goal is to have at least 200 people come out for breakfast, so mark your calendar for Saturday, March 25 and come out to support our award-winning cheer team.

CLICK HERE to purchase your tickets online.

 

12th Grader Moges Johnson Featured in Kickoff of 2023 Senior Spotlight Series

The future plans and goals of the Class of 2023, 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 kicked off on February 28 featuring 12th grader Moges Johnson. A new spotlight article on each of our 29 seniors will appear each Tuesday and Thursday from now until June 2023 on the ACS Facebook and Instagram pages and will also be on a “Senior Class Spotlight” page on the ACS website.

This is the fourth 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 during COVID while school was closed and we wanted to have a way to celebrate our seniors and their accomplishments,” said Martin, who is producing the series. “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 first Senior Spotlight article on Moges Johnson.