Post Tagged with: "South Jersey"

Varsity Basketball Teams Gearing Up for TSCAC Playoffs

The Varsity Boys’ and Girls’ basketball teams are heading next week to the Tri-State Christian Athletic Conference tournament. The Boys’ team, with an overall record of 16-8, enters the playoffs in first place after an undefeated (10-0) regular season in the conference. The girls, 11-10 overall, secured the #2 seed in the tournament with an 8-2 league record. Both teams have a bye in the quarter-final round (Tuesday, February 19) before hosting the semi-final games here at ACS on Thursday, February 21. The Girls’ team will play at 5:00 p.m., followed by the Boys’ team at 6:30 p.m. There is a small conference gate fee for these games – $1 per student, $2 per adult, or $5 per family. Go Cougars!

The playoffs will conclude on Saturday, February 23 at Gloucester County Christian School with the consolation games (Girls’ game at 1:00 p.m. and Boys’ game at 3:00 p.m.) followed by the Girls’ championship game at 5:00 p.m. and the Boys’ final at 7:00 p.m. The gate fees for Championship Saturday will be $2 per student, $3 per adult, or $10 per family.

New green “Protect the Den” T-shirts are available for $10 each in the Athletic Office. ACS fans are encouraged to purchase the shirts and wear them for our home games next Thursday.

Middle School Basketball Teams Wrap Up Winning Seasons

 

The Middle School Girls’ and Boys’ basketball teams wrapped up excellent seasons with wins over conference rival The Pilgrim Academy on Tuesday, February 12. The Middle School Girls’ team, under head coach Grant Miller, started the season with a tournament win at ACIT and also finished as runner-up in the Pilgrim Invitational Tournament. They posted a final record of 15-5, placing second in the Atlantic Cape Junior High League and going undefeated in the 10-minute league “JV” games. “We thank God for these achievements,” said Miller. “But we are even more grateful that He helped us draw closer to His kingdom this season.”

The boys’ team, under head coach Lee Martin, started the season 1-3 before winning 9 of their last 10 games for a final record of 10-4 and placing second in the conference. “Winning games is obviously one of our goals, and reaching that goal has been fun.” said Martin. “But the most significant thing we accomplished this season was growing together in skill, teamwork, and character. God used the ups and the downs to help us all get better in a lot of ways.”

Let’s Get Fired Up — ACS Cheerleaders Promote School Spirit

An enthusiastic, 14-member cheerleading squad has been getting ACS fans fired up at home and away games throughout the basketball season. The 6th-8th grade students in the squad, under the leadership of coach Kelly Flynn, started practicing in December to learn over 40 chants, cheers, and half-time dance routines and to develop their jumping, stunting, and tumbling skills. “These girls have worked very hard and have unified beautifully as a team,” said Mrs. Flynn. “I really enjoyed getting to know their hearts and seeing their desire to do their best at every game.” The squad will conclude its season next week and will be cheering at next Thursday’s Boys’ and Girls’ Varsity playoff games at home. The squad has been led by three 8th grade captains — Jada Logan, Alli Lushina, and Annia Pierre. The other members of the squad are: Angelina Alexis, Isabell Alford, Makayla Bailey Eason, Rebecca DiMaio, Grace Johnson, Nevaeh Johnson, Autumn Loo, Haven Sanchez, Annabelle VanAcker, Lily VanAcker (who is Corgie the Cougar mascot), and Eve Wilson. In addition to practicing or cheering at a game three to four days a week, the squad has also enjoyed their time together at team dinners and Bible studies.

Butterfly Ball for K-8 Girls Is Saturday, March 2

Girls in Kindergarten through 8th Grade are invited to bring their “special prince” (father, grandfather, uncle, brother) for an evening of dinner, dancing, and fun at the annual Butterfly Ball on Saturday, March 2 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. in the ACS gymnasium. The cost is $35 per couple and just $10 per additional daughter. Please RSVP by Monday, February 25 to Miss Stonelake – rstonelake@acseht.org.

ACS Celebrates 100th Day of School on Feb. 12

We’re 100 days smarter! Our elementary students and their teachers celebrated the 100th day of school on Tuesday, February 12, dressing up to look like a 100-year-old person and participating in lots of creative math, writing, and physical activities involving the number 100. Students in Mrs. Fosbenner’s 3rd grade class had fun seeing how high they could count in 100 seconds and how many times they could write their name in 100 seconds. Miss Vogel’s 1st graders did a math speed drill to solve 100 subtraction problems. They also were asked to answer the question — “If I had $100, I would…” One student wrote: “I would buy a mansion and a limo.”  Another wrote: “I would give it to the poor because I like to help people.” Miss Williams’ 2nd graders created posters or decorated shirts that had 100 objects in them. In Mrs. Capito’s 1st grade class, students took 100 steps outside their classroom to see how far they would go, and almost made it to the school office. In kindergarten, there was lots of activities that incorporated counting to 100 — including counting their tasty snack items like cheerios and raisins.  It was all about making learning fun.

 

 

 

 

National Junior Honor Society Application Deadline — Friday, Feb. 22

Applications from students in grades 7 and 8 for membership in the National Junior Honor Society are due next Friday, February 22. Application packets have been given to academically-eligible students and are also available online on the ACS website under the Academics tab. Completed packets, including four teacher recommendations, must be submitted to faculty member Sara Coates, who is the Honor Society advisor. Students selected for induction will be notified during the first week of March. The National Junior Honor Society induction ceremony will be held on Tuesday, March 12. Please contact Mrs. Coates with any questions at scoates@acseht.org.

New HVAC Units Installed This Week, New LED Lighting for Classrooms, Outdoors Coming Soon

Eight new HVAC units were installed on the school roof on Monday, February 11, in spite of the steady snowfall, and will be fully operational by the end of this week, ensuring heat throughout the winter season and air conditioning for the spring and summer months. Installation of new LED lighting in every classroom and in outdoor entrance-ways and perimeter fixtures will also get underway this week and continue for several weeks. The new LED lighting and HVAC units have been obtained through a combination of grant and loan programs totaling nearly $255,000, offered through the State of New Jersey Office of Clean Energy and financed by South Jersey Gas.

“We are very thankful to have been approved for a second time to receive clean energy funding through this state program, which has enabled us to complete the replacement of all of our original HVAC units that had reached the end of their lifespan,” said Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen. “The new HVAC units and LED lighting for our classrooms and outdoor areas will make our school more energy efficient and will result in some $21,000 in annual energy savings to benefit the school for years to come.”

ACS received its first energy upgrade funding through a state grant program in the fall of 2015, which was used to obtain six new HVAC units and new LED lighting in the gymnasium and in common areas, including hallways, foyers, bathrooms, locker rooms, and the school office. That first grant paid for 70% of the cost. An interest-free loan through South Jersey Gas enabled ACS to pay its 30% share over a three year-period. Oblen said that ACS will be paying off its share of that first grant this month. She said electricity savings realized from the new, more energy-efficient HVAC units and LED lighting fixtures will be used to pay for the school’s portion of these new grant and interest-free loan programs.

Oblen also expressed her appreciation to Hutchinson Mechanical of Cherry Hill, who is the designated state contractor, for directing and coordinating the acquisition of the grant and loan programs and for its professional expertise in the installation of the new equipment.

We Love Our Pastors

Over 30 pastors and ministry leaders from 22 area churches were the honored guests at Pastor Appreciation Day on Wednesday, February 13. The special day began with a complimentary breakfast for the pastors, followed by an all-school chapel program that featured students from preschool to the 12th grade. The students sang and danced to songs of praise and worship and read Bible passages. 12th grader Joshua Mizrahi shared about how serving God on ACS missions trips to Nashville and Houston had helped him grow in his faith. 12th grader Lola Oguntuase talked about a new student-led project underway to increase awareness about the tragic issue of human trafficking and invited the pastors and ministry leaders to a March 14 showing at ACS of the movie “Priceless” that will focus on the issue. At different points in the program, Event Coordinator and program emcee Jessica Martin shared with the pastors heart-felt messages written by various students about why they love their church and pastors. The chapel program concluded with 12th grader Francis Johnson talking about the important, transformative role that pastors, ministry leaders, and missionaries play in the lives of each person with whom they come in contact, and then closed with prayer. After chapel, the students had fun taking pictures and talking with their pastors.

During breakfast, the pastors received a presentation on the impact of technology and social media on the family. They watched video clips from Kirk Cameron’s “Connect” movie and Pastor Sean Griffith of Sojourn Community Church shared his insights on the topic. Each pastor/ministry leader also received a special gift of a cotton-ball decorated paper sheep made by ACS PreK3 students. CLICK HERE to see additional photos from Pastor Appreciation Day posted on the ACS website.

ACS Students Achieve SAT Scores Topping National, State, and County Public School Averages

 

ACS students achieved SAT scores in 2018 that topped the national, state, and Atlantic County public high school averages, according to statistics recently released by the College Board. The SAT is a national standardized exam that colleges use to admit students and to award scholarships.

“These strong SAT scores are a reflection of the commitment we have made over the past six years to build a more rigorous academic program,” said Chief School Administrator Karen Oblen. “We have raised the bar in every area, including updating our curriculum, developing a stronger focus on students’ writing skills, and adding Chromebooks and other technology training.”  Oblen also said that the efforts of our highly-qualified and dedicated faculty members have contributed to our students’ academic success. A significant number of ACS faculty have advanced degrees and teachers regularly participate in professional training and development.

The average scores of college-bound students from ACS who took the SAT in 2018 were 569 in the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (ERW) section and 564 in the Math section. These ACS scores were higher than the national and New Jersey state averages and the average scores of eight Atlantic County high schools, including Absegami, Atlantic City, Atlantic County Institute of Technology, Cedar Creek, Chartertech, Egg Harbor Township, Mainland, and Pleasantville (see chart).

“These SAT scores encourage all of us to keep working hard and striving for excellence in everything we do,” Oblen said. “Our goal is to continue to provide our students with a high-quality education, rooted in a Biblical world-view, that will prepare our students for success in college and the workplace.” A review of school records over the past 48 years shows that 95% of ACS seniors go to college, many receiving academic scholarships, and then go on to pursue careers in a wide range of fields including business, education, engineering, law enforcement, medicine, ministry, technology, and the military.

Join the Legacy Gala Committee and Help Make Our March 29 Fundraiser a Success

The 2019 ACS Legacy Gala with Kirk Cameron is now just seven weeks away! There is still lots to do and plenty of opportunity to participate by serving on the Legacy Gala Committee and helping with obtaining sponsors, advertisers, and silent auction donations. The next Gala Committee Meeting will be Wednesday, February 20 at 6:30 p.m. in the school library. If you are interested in helping with the Gala in any way, please contact Event Coordinator Jessica Martin at (609) 653-1199, ext. 314 or jmartin@acseht.org.

TO PURCHASE GALA TICKETS, SPONSORSHIPS, ADS

 

 

Today Is ACS Spirit Day at Buffalo Wild Wings

Today is the day! From 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Buffalo Wild Wings in Mays Landing (4311 Black Horse Pike) will donate 10% of your total bill — eat-in or take-out — to ACS Athletics! Click the image below and download a sheet of our special yellow tickets to present at the restaurant. Keep one for yourself and give two away. Be sure to post your photos from Buffalo Wild Wings to social media using #acseht and #acscougars.

 

“Let’s Can Hunger” Food Drive Extended to February 19

The Student Council “Let’s Can Hunger” Food Drive has been extended to Tuesday, February 19. ACS students and families are encouraged to drop off non-perishable canned food items in the marked bins in the school foyer and outside the upstairs school office. All items donated will be given to the Community Food Bank of New Jersey, Southern Branch to help families in need throughout southern New Jersey. Help us reach our goal of 100 more pounds of blessings!

 

 

 

ACS Hosting Blood Drive Next Week — Wednesday, February 13

Our American Red Cross Blood Drive is next week — Wednesday, February 13 — from 3 to 8 p.m  in the Multi-Purpose Room. Make an appointment online to donate blood and help save a life.  Walk-ins are also accepted. Our goal for the February 13 blood drive is to have 40 or more people donate blood. ACS has hosted American Red Cross blood drives since 2008 to help meet the urgent needs of patients at hospitals in our community.

To make an appointment, go to: www.redcrossblood.org
Use sponsor code: Atlantic Christian

 

 

 

ACS Goes Pink for Cancer Research

ACS athletes and coaches helped raise funds and awareness for cancer research this week. It was all part of a Coaches vs. Cancer Campaign sponsored by the Tri-State Christian Athletic Conference. All gate fees and donations collected at home games this week at ACS and other conference school home games are being donated to the American Cancer Society. Our middle school and high school basketball players, cheerleaders, and coaches purchased and wore pink “Shoot for a Cure” T-shirts, which were also for sale at the games.

Students, Staff Show Off Their Cougar Pride for Spirit Week

Students and staff showed off their school pride this week by dressing-down each day with various themes for our popular Spirit Week. A pep rally last Friday kicked off this week’s activities. Monday’s dress-down theme was Twinning, Tuesday was Lumberjack Day, followed by Camo Day, College T-Shirt/Sweatshirt Day, and Green-and-White Day on Friday, showing off our school colors. It was all in good fun to support our middle school and high school basketball teams as they played at home and away games throughout the week. Go Cougars!

 

National Junior Honor Society Applications Now Being Accepted from Eligible Students

Applications are now being accepted from students in grades 7 and 8 for membership in the National Junior Honor Society. The deadline to apply is Friday, February 22. Application packets have been given to academically-eligible students and are also available online on the ACS website under the Academics tab. Completed packets, including four teacher recommendations, must be submitted to faculty member Sara Coates, who is the Honor Society advisor. Students selected for induction will be notified during the first week of March. The National Junior Honor Society induction ceremony will be held on Tuesday, March 12. Please contact Mrs. Coates with any questions at scoates@acseht.org.

 

Valentine Grams for Sale Through Tuesday, February 14

The deadline to purchase a Valentine Gram is this coming Tuesday, February 12. The Valentine Grams and a sweet treat will be handed out during school on Valentine’s Day, which is Thursday, February 14. Tell a fellow student, teacher, or staff member “I Love You Because…” The Valentine Grams are $1 and the proceeds will go to the Freshman Class. Valentine Gram order forms were sent home with elementary students and are available in the school office, from freshman class students, and in Mrs. Johnson’s classroom.

Gregory’s Restaurant Wins Golden Spoon and Souper Soup Awards at 2019 Bowls of Hope Soup Cook-Off Benefit

Gregory’s Restaurant & Bar in Somers Point took the two first place awards in our 2019 Bowls of Hope Soup Cook-Off Benefit — winning both the People’s Choice “Golden Spoon Award” and the Chef’s Choice “Souper Soup Award” with their rich and creamy Shrimp and Lobster Bisque. Sal’s Coal Fired Pizza in Somers Point came in 2nd place in the Golden Spoon Award with its New England Clam Chowder, and the Whisk Bakery and Cafe in Mays Landing took 3rd place in the Golden Spoon Award with its creative Cheeseburger Soup. We were thrilled to see some 400 people come out to sample the inviting variety of hot, delicious soups and choose their favorite. We enjoyed having Chef Joseph Massaglia, owner of Mama Mia’s in Marmora and Eat at Joe’s in Egg Harbor Township, join us again as our official “Souper Soup” judge, who had the difficult task of picking the best soup out of a very competitive field of contenders. Thank you to everyone who bought a ticket, donated to be an Event Sponsor, or brought cans of soup and other non-perishable items for the Community FoodBank of New Jersey. Working together, our 2019 Bowls of Hope was a “souper” success.

The Bowls of Hope showcased some of the best restaurants in and around Atlantic County serving up their specialty soups. Our high school students had the great experience of helping serve some of the soups and working behind the scenes with set-up, clean-up, selling tickets, and more. Students from elementary to high school presented 13 entertaining acts throughout the evening, showcasing their God-given talents and abilities. Students sang, danced, and even performed while riding hover boards. The high school duo of Ashleigh Martin and Lola Oguntuase preceded their act by talking about a student project that is being planned this spring to raise awareness about human trafficking.

We would like to thank and recognize the 18 chefs and restaurants who donated soup and helped make our event a success. Please join us in thanking them by patronizing these establishments. Our 18 participating restaurants and chefs were: Academy of Culinary Arts; Atlantic City Rescue Mission Kitchen; Barrels Authentic Italian Foods; Brick House Pub and Grille; Carluccio’s Coal fired Pizza; Chickie’s & Pete’s Egg Harbor; Eat Clean Organization; Gregory’s Bar; The Original Soupman Deli in Resorts; Sadia’s Tea and Coffee; Sal’s Coal Fired Pizza; Sofia Margate; Steve and Cookies By the Bay; Tacocat Linwood; Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall; Varsity Inn; Whisk Bakery and Cafe; and The Windjammer “Cafe Bar Grille”. We also had a surprise visit during the evening from Congressman Jeff Van Drew, who sampled some soups and presented our school with a congressional certificate of commendation for our event, which is benefiting our school’s educational programs, the Atlantic City Rescue Mission, and the Community FoodBank of NJ, Southern Branch.

We would also like to thank and recognize our generous Bowls of Hope Sponsors: American Church Group of NJ; B.F. Mazzeo Fruit and Produce; Clayton’s Self Storage; Edward Jones Investments, Jason Kiefer, Financial Advisor; Formica Brothers Bakery; HS Restoration and Cleaning Service; Olympic Physical Therapy; and Sadia’s Tea and Coffee.

Thank you to photographer Christina Kha for donating her services to capture these special moments. CLICK HERE if you are interested in purchasing photos from the event.

 

CLICK HERE FOR THE PHOTO GALLERY

 

Senior Servant Day Full of Fun as 12th Graders Serve Fellow Students and Staff Members

From carrying book bags and lunch trays to helping with homework and just hanging out, ACS 12th graders went all in for Senior Servant Day this Friday, February 8. The seniors spent the day with students or staff who had placed the highest bid for their volunteer services — all with the goal of raising money for their senior trip expenses. The good-natured seniors provided service with a smile and set a great example, especially for the younger students, who proudly enjoyed their company in the hallways and classrooms.

 

 

Servant’s Heart Club Makes Valentine’s Care Packages for AC Rescue Mission

Elementary students in our Servant’s Heart Club created Valentine’s Day care packages this week for the Atlantic City Rescue Mission to distribute to the homeless in our community. The 2nd-5th grade students created the care packages during their monthly after-school meeting on February 5. The care packages included hand-made Valentine’s Day cards that shared the gospel message, a pair of warm socks, and a bag of candy. Club Advisor and school parent Jennifer DiMaio said the students eagerly participated in every step of the project.

Join Us This Saturday, Feb. 1, For Our Popular Bowls of Hope Soup Cook-Off Benefit

Our popular Bowls of Hope Soup-Tasting Benefit is just ONE DAY AWAY — on Saturday, February 2 — from 6-8 p.m. in the school gym. Happy to welcome this week two more participants in the soup cook-off — Barrels of Margate and the Academy of Culinary Arts. We also added a new sponsor — Olympic Physical Therapy in Egg Harbor Township. Come out on Saturday and warm up by sampling delicious signature soups prepared by 18 area restaurants and chefs and voting for your favorite. All proceeds from ticket sales, sponsorships, and donations will benefit the school’s educational programs and the Atlantic City Rescue Mission. Bring a can of soup or other nonperishable with you to donate to our canned drive that will benefit the Community Food Bank of New Jersey.  There will be live music performed by ACS students and a Silent Auction. Click on the button below to buy your tickets online or purchase them at the door.  Join us for a fun evening of good food and fellowship and help support our school and two great community organizations!

PURCHASE TICKETS AND SPONSORSHIPS

 

 

Tuition Assistance Grants Now Being Accepted Online, From February 1 to May 1

ACS is pleased to once again be able to offer Tuition Assistance Grants to families with children enrolling in kindergarten through the 12th grade and the online application process opens today, February 1, on the ACS website. The deadline to apply is May 1. Families must be current on their account to be eligible for tuition assistance for 2019-2020. We praise God for the donations that have made it possible to fund this program that gives families with financial need access to a quality Christian education at ACS. The tuition grants are being made possible through designated gifts from the John F. Fuoco Testamentary Trust and the John C. Allen Charitable Trust.

FACTS Grant and Aid Assessment will conduct the financial need analysis for ACS.  Families applying for tuition assistance must complete a FACTS application and submit the necessary supporting documentation to FACTS Grant & Aid Assessment.  There is a non-refundable $30.00 application fee.

Tuition assistance on a needs-basis will only be awarded to returning families who have completed re-enrollment and paid the registration fee or to new families who have submitted an Application for Admission and paid the registration fee by the May 1 deadline. Applications from new families who apply after the May 1 deadline may be considered if funds are still available.

CLICK HERE to apply for Tuition Assistance for the 2019-2020 school year.

Upcoming Valentine’s Day Fun Activities

Valentine Grams On Sale February 4-12. Tell a fellow student, teacher, or staff member “I Love You Because…” with an ACS Valentine Gram on Valentine’s Day. Recipients of a Valentine Gram will receive your special message and some Hershey chocolate kisses. The Valentine Grams are $1 and the proceeds will go to the Freshman Class. Valentine Gram order forms will be sent home with elementary students and will be available in the school office, from freshman class students, and in Mrs. Johnson’s classroom, Room 210, starting on Monday, February 4. The deadline to return the forms to the school office is Tuesday, February 12.

 

The High School Valentine’s Dance is Saturday, February 9 from 7:00-9:00 p.m. Tickets will be $8.00 per person in advance and $10 per person at the door. Advance tickets may be purchased from Mr. Carney or from a Junior Class member during lunch beginning Monday, February 4. Light snacks and refreshments will be provided at the dance.  Non-ACS guests may attend with an ACS student, but must have a permission slip signed and turned in no later than Thursday, February 7. Permission slips will be available in the school office.

 

 

Spirit Week Gets Underway February 4-8: Themed Dress-Down Days, Coaches vs Cancer, Buffalo Wild Wings Fundraiser

ACS students and staff are looking forward to Spirit Week next week — February 4-8 — and our Athletic Department has planned a number of fun activities for each day (see list below). Our middle school and high school basketball teams will be playing both home and away games Monday through Thursday next week. ACS and other schools in the Tri-State Christian Athletic Conference are combining their efforts to support cancer research with a “Coaches Vs. Cancer” campaign. Donations and gate fees collected next week at our home games will be donated to the TSCAC campaign. The week will conclude with our Buffalo Wild Wings fundraiser to support ACS Athletics at the restaurant in Mays Landing. Here’s the lineup of activities planned for Spirit Week:

Monday, February 4 – “TWIN DAY”
Match your (modest) clothes, socks, shoes, hair and more to twin with a friend! MS Girls and Boys play St. Joe’s at home.

 

Tuesday, February 5 – “LUMBERJACK DAY”
Wear plaid flannel shirts, boots, hats, fur, etc. (no axes). MS Boys play King’s at home. Varsity Boys play Baptist at home.

 

Wednesday, February 6 – “CAMO DAY”
Wear camouflage pants, shirts, jackets, hats, etc. JV and Varsity Girls play ACIT at home.

 

Thursday, February 7 – “COLLEGE T-SHIRT/SWEATSHIRT DAY”
Wear a t-shirt or sweatshirt from your favorite college. Students in 6th-12th grade who participate will receive a free hot dog at lunch.

 

Friday, February 8 – “GREEN & WHITE DAY”
Wear green and white to show your school spirit! Shirts, pants, hats, hair, face paint… Let’s go, Cougars!

 

Friday, February 8 – “Buffalo Wild Wings Fundraiser”
Support ACS Athletics by eating in or doing take-out from Buffalo Wild Wings (4311 Black Horse Pike, Mays Landing). Buffalo Wild Wings will donate 10% of your total bill between 11 a.m. and 11:30 p.m. Must present our special yellow fundraiser ticket.  CLICK HERE to get yours!

New After-School Ping-Pong Club Begins Monday, February 4

A new after-school Ping-Pong Club will begin on Monday, February 4, meeting in the Multi-Purpose Room from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Led by faculty member Eric Tardif, this club will be a great place for fellowship and fun as well as learning the rules and skills needed to play and win the exciting game of ping-pong.