News

If you were standing anywhere near Assumption Catholic School on the morning of Wednesday, September 05, 2012 you would have felt the excitement in the air. The question is, was it the excitement of the students or the parents? Most likely it was a combination of both, students and parents! There’s nothing like the first day of school.

Students used the time on the playground to catch up with old friends after a long summer of relaxation. New students were welcomed by their new classmates, becoming a part of the ACS family. Teachers were just as excited as the students and welcomed their new class with enthusiasm.

With the sounding of the first bell students entered the building led by their teachers. The playground quickly emptied of students and before you knew it, parents were left standing with a list of different emotions. Some were sending their first off to school, others were sending their youngest, evoking a feeling of either happiness or just a little sadness. Some parents might have shed tears. Were they tears of sadness or tears of joy? Many parents were probably left wondering what they were going to do with their child/children in school all day.

A new year has started!

Welcome back to another exciting year at Assumption Catholic School. There have been some changes that I would like to make everyone aware of.

 We bid a fond farewell to Mrs. Shumny (grade 1) and Sister Maria (grade 2). We thank them for their years of service here at ACS and ask God for His blessings on them in their new endeavors. We welcome Mrs. Giordano, our new first grade teacher, and Mrs. Khouzam, our new second grade teacher. Both are eagerly anticipating working with our ACS students.

 We are instituting a pilot Accelerated Math program for qualified students in grades six, seven and eight. The accelerated Math program will be taught by Ms. Hanna who is diligently working to create an even more challenging Math curriculum.

 We also bid farewell to Coach S. (Mr. Stankovitz – Phys Ed) and Ms. Hanania (Art), both of whom will be missed by the ACS community. Our new Phys Ed teacher will be Mrs. Kowalski, while the new art teacher will be announced shortly.

We are also pleased to announce that the Metuchen Diocese schools are now affiliated with a new accrediting agency called AdvanceEd. We are now fully accredited by AdvanceEd and will be working toward our reaccreditation this year with the new agency. This year will be an exciting year as we prepare for our 50th anniversary.

This year, for the 49th time, eager and nervous children will enter our doors to attain “a firm foundation in the truths of the Catholic faith, an appreciation for the traditions of the Ukrainian Rite, and the moral and academic training essential to grow daily in wisdom, virtue and understanding.”

Congratulations to Peter Zulin and Anthony Ciko, students of Assumption Catholic School, who were named Top Academic Students of our parish school by Perth Amboy Merchants Association, Inc., in a program held on June 12. Congratulations to our students for their exception achievement in 2012.

Mrs. Lawrence’s fifth grade class learned all about structures this year.  They used the world wide web to view different types of bridges and buildings as well as to understand the engineering aspects of each type of structure.  In October they designed and “built” their own building using toothpicks and Playdoh.

The culminating assignment was to build a geodesic dome out of newspapers, cardboard tubes, and masking tape.  Eight groups tried their best to construct a dome about six feet in diameter on the school playground.  Despite the uncooperative weather most groups nearly completed their domes.  Considering this was a first time experience for all, including Mrs. Lawrence, the results were good.

Assumption Catholic School celebrated the graduation of 19 kindergarteners with a ceremony held on Monday evening, June 11, 2012.
The ceremony included a concert with the awarding of graduation certificates. The boys and girls looked so nice in their caps and gowns. Congratulations to our kindergarteners.

Award, Benefactor
Academic Excellence, ACS Family & School Association – Xavier RiveUkrainian Assumption St. Anne’s Society – Karan Patel                            
Wasyl Czaban Memorial (Rozalia Czaban) – Vanessa Espino
Religion Award – Semen and Paraskevia Dzioba Memorial (Rev. Deacon Paul  and Mrs. Ann Makar) – Vanessa Espino
Math Award – Helen Czaban Memorial (Rozalia Czaban) – Xavier Rivera
Science Award – Bodnar Family  – Karan Patel
Language Arts Award – Dorothy Drury Memorial (Mrs. Carol Fiore) – Xavier Rivera
Writing Award – Michael and Glenys Romanko Memorial (Romanko Family) – Vanessa Espino
Social Studies Award – RJ Shumny Memorial (Shumny Family) – Karan Patel
Social Studies Award – RJ Shumny Memorial (Shumny Family) – Xavier Rivera
Computer Science Award – Bill and Janet Pickering Memorial (Pickering Family) – Kayla Cabrera
Computer Science Award – Michael “Benny” Andruseczko Memorial (Rozalia Czaban) – Karan Patel
Fine Arts Award – Dorothy Drury Memorial (Mrs. Carol Fiore) – Karan Patel
Fine Arts Award – Ukrainian Assumption Bingo Committee – Brianna Ortega
Christian Living Award – Ukrainian Assumption Holy Name Society – Brianna Ortega
Deserving Student – Mother Andrea MSMG, Mother Josepha MSMG, and Mother Nadia MSMG Memorial (Bill and Joyce Adamshick) – Kayla Cabrera
Deserving Student – – Mother Andrea MSMG, Mother Josepha MSMG, and Mother Nadia  MSMG Memorial (Bill and Joyce Adamshick) – Gregory Cruz
Deserving Student – Mark Lawrence Memorial (Lawrence Family)
Daniel Flood VoTech Award – Paul and Marjorie Makar Memorial (Rev. Deacon Pauland Mrs. Ann Makar)   – Derek Harris
Community Service Award – Ukrainian Assumption Seniors – Karan Patel
Community Service Award – Ukrainian Assumption Seniors – Gregory Cruz         
Spirit of Involvement Award – Ukrainian Assumption Holy Name Society – Daniel Flood
Patriotism Award – Ed Troche  – Steven Lapka
Brian Flood Memorial Track Award (Mr. Gutierrez and Mrs. Flood-Gutierrez)  – Gregory Cruz
Brian Flood Memorial Track Award (Mr. Gutierrez and Mrs. Flood-Gutierrez)  – Xavier Rivera
Perfect Attendance – Harry & Helen Szpyhulsky Memorial (Szpyhulsky Family)  – Xavier Rivera
Participation Remembrances  – Altar Servers: Gregory Cruz, Daniel Flood, Derek Harris, Xavier Rivera
Sr. Drama Club: Kayla Cabrera, Gregory Cruz, Vanessa Espino, Daniel Flood, Derek Harris, Steven Lapka, Karan Patel, Brianna Ortega, Xavier Rivera
Bowling: Gregory Cruz, Daniel Flood, Steven Lapka, Xavier Rivera
Track:  Gregory Cruz, Daniel Flood, Derek Harris, Karan Patel, Xavier Rivera
Student Council: Kayla Cabrera, Gregory Cruz, Vanessa Espino, Steven Lapka, Karan Patel

The week of June 4 was an extremely busy week for A.C.S. Class of 2012. On June 5th the class boarded a train bound for New York City. They started their day visiting the U.S.S. Intrepid where they were able to see what life must have been like on a submarine and an aircraft carrier during WWII. After a light lunch they boarded a water taxi and headed down to the 9 – 11 memorial.  This was followed by a water taxi ride back uptown and dinner. The class continued their evening with a visit to Saint Patrick’s Cathedral.  A walk through Times Square and down to the train station ended their graduation trip.

On Thursday evening, the Class of 2013 hosted a graduation dinner that included some fun entertainment. After the seventh grade welcomed the graduating class with a memorable dinner, they entertained them with a play that took the audience 40years into the future.  There they found out what happened to the Class of 2012. Seventh graders concluded their program with two songs for the graduates. The Class of 2012 ended the evening with songs for the Class of 2013. The first told the seventh graders about what they might expect in the eighth grade and then sang a song to wish the seventh graders happiness next year. The Class of 2012 ended the evening by reading their Last Will and Testament.

The morning of June ninth arrived with an excited class ready to receive their diplomas. Father Ivan celebrated Divine Liturgy followed by the students receiving their diplomas. Students took one last walk as a class back to school where the awards breakfast took place. After breakfast they were then awarded various recognitions from academic s to club participation. The day ended with the graduates thanking everyone for the support they have been given throughout their years at A.C.S.

Congratulations Class of 2012!

Being of relatively sound minds and bodies, we, the Class of 2012,¬ realize that we are in our final days of our school life here at Assumption Catholic School.  We will take many things with us as we start our new journey. It is only fair that we leave a little bit if ourselves behind. This will ensure that you will not soon forget us!
I Kayla, leave my place in the late line to Melannie. My advice is that it is better to be the person writing the late slips than to be receiving one. So, arrive on time because morning detention is not fun.
I Greg, leave a little bit of my quiet demeanor to Anthony V. and Sam. Sometimes it’s fun to just sit back and watch. You learn so much when people don’t think that you are listening.
I Vanessa, leave to Rachel my responsibility for the auditorium lights. Get used to the idea of leaving the auditorium last, and be ready to go back down when someone else forgets to turn them off.
I Daniel, leave to Oleksandr and Adam my place at the starting line. Remember to run like the wind and always keep everyone behind you.
I Derek, leave to my brother Adrian, the job to ring the bell daily. Don’t forget, you don’t get to go home until the bell rings.
I Steven leave to Amanda, Kaila, and Jacob, a little bit of my ability to overcome even the loudest sounds. Just don’t get too loud or you will find yourself visiting Sister Yosaphata and Mr. S.
I Brianna, leave to Katherine and Dylan a little bit of my ability to get the job done. Always remember to listen to directions first. Then you will not have to repeat the job.
I Karan, leave to Anthony C. and Luis my place at the flag pole. Don’t put the flag out if it is raining. Be ready to run outside even if it is pouring, to bring in the flag. Never forget to take it down at the end of the day. You will hear about it in the morning.
I Xavier, leave to Ziara my job taking care of the microphones. Be sure to wrap the wires correctly and put the microphones back in the bags. You can be sure you will hear your name called whenever anyone needs them.
I also leave to Tommy the sense to have a great time and to know when to stop. Paying attention during class makes it fun at the end of the year. Exempting so many exams gives you lots of free time.
This Last Will and Testament is now finished with just a little more advice to the Class of 2013.
This time last year we sat where you are right now. It seemed we had all the time in the world. Trust us; time goes by like the blink of an eye. So, don’t waste time fighting or getting into trouble.
Know that you make your own happiness or misery.  You aren’t entitled to something just because you are in eighth grade. Privileges are earned and can be lost.
Doing things like tables and chairs, taking Pre K to Church and moving candy might seem like fun. It’s not! But do the job to the best of your ability and don’t whine about it. Only an eighth grader can get the job done quickly and correctly.
Make the best memories that you can. As you take over the leadership role here at ACS know that you are setting examples for the younger kids. They will look to see the way you do things and follow you. Make sure they see the best in you.
The most important thing you can do is to remember that Mr. S, Sister Yosaphata and all of the teachers want you to achieve your personal best. They will remind you of that every day and might become annoying about it. But, that is because they love you like your parents.
Thank you to Father Ivan, Mr. S, Sister Yosphata and our teachers. We are better young adults because we spent our time in the greatest school in the diocese! Some of us have been here forever, others just stayed for a few years.
As we leave we know we are taking more than we could ever hope for. We take with us the security that God loves us and will always be there for us. We take knowledge and memories. We take directions that will guide us into the next chapter of our lives. Most importantly we take with us the memory that we can always come home. For this we are grateful.

What's a parent to do to keep their child safe with computers in every home and children surfing the internet alone on tablets, phones, and personal computers?  Parents were appraised, at the last F.S.A. meeting to first: discuss with your child/children what sites they can use and second: help them understand internet safety and cyber bullying by following the recommendations given by Detective Charydczak, guest speaker of the evening.

On May 30th, Detective Charydczak met with our A.C.S. students, from third to eighth grade.  He taught the children what they can or cannot reveal to a stranger on the internet.  When they have problems, any problems, they should go only to a trusted adult.  Students were advised to ask permission about what basic information they might share.  They should never meet anyone face to face, initiated from an encounter on the internet and should be positive about their dealings with each other.  Never put yourself in a position to be a bully or an accomplice to bullying.  A general rule is:  if you cannot say anything nice, don’t say it at all.