News

On Monday, April 11, the Classes of 2011, 2012, and 2013 boarded a school bus with their teachers and chaperones and headed for Philadelphia. They arrived at the visitor center ready for a fun and informational day.

They began their day by boarding a double-decker bus for a tour of the city. They saw many landmarks makes Philadelphia famous, including St Mary’s Cathedral, the house of Betsy Ross, and the famous “Rocky” stairs of the Philadelphia Art Museum. They also saw the Eastern State Penitentiary that housed the infamous Al Capone, as well as beautiful City Hall. Along the way they heard many stories related to all of the sites.

After the tour the group quickly made their way over to Independence Hall where they were given a guided tour by a park ranger. He explained what events happened in each room that led to the birth of our country. Upon completion almost everyone was very hungry, so lunch was next.

After lunch the U. S. mint was the next destination. Here they were given a taste of out national security rules when they had to empty pockets and go through metal detectors. Adults in the group had to show a valid identification. Students then walked through halls showed how coins were made. They were able to look down through glass windows to see pennies and other coins being produced.

The day continued with a quick trip to the place Benjamin Franklin was buried and then on to the Liberty Bell. After those visits they finally boarded the bus for the long trip back home. Everyone arrived back home tired, yet happy. Some of the chaperones have said that they plan on returning to Philadelphia with their families this summer.

On Good Friday morning, April 22, ACS students will gather along with the parishioners of Ukrainian Assumption Church to commemorate the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. In Ukrainian this day is called Veleka Pyatnysia. We are reminded of the suffering that Jesus freely accepted so that we may have the opportunity to go to heaven and be with God our Father.

 A most important part to the service is the Plaschanitsia, a large linen cloth with a picture of how Jesus’ body as it was laid in the tomb. The service is a most beautiful mix of pastor, parish choir, and ACS school students praying together remembering what it must have been like to lay Jesus in the tomb.

Our ACS students have been practicing with Sister Yosaphata and Mrs.Rizkallah three important parts for Good Friday Vespers. They will sing the processional hymns, Psalms 104 and 141, and they will also sing the culminating songs as parishioners approach the Plaschanitsia on their knees to kiss the five wounds of Jesus. The Plaschanitsia will then remain in the church until Easter Sunday morning for visitation by anyone that might want to spend some time in prayer.

Please come with your child for this very special day. Students should come to school at regular time. We will head over to church together at 8:45 with Vespers starting at 9 a.m.

This week, the Perth Amboy Merchants Association, Inc. P.A.M.A. was honored to announce the Annual Award Recipients. This year, among the recipients of the award for the Educator of the Year was the Assumption Catholic School 7th grade teacher – Mrs. Lissette D Shumny . Thank you  Mrs. Shumny for all you do for our school, and congratulations on your award as teacher of the year.  Every year  P.A.M.A. is  celebrating the achievements of individuals, businesses and organizations that have demonstrated an outstanding commitment for the betterment of the City of Perth Amboy, NJ.

If you saw lots of police activity at the Assumption  School  on Thursday, April 14, 2011 or heard some pretty scary chatter over the scanner this morning, fear not. It was the Perth Amboy City Police Department conducting a disaster drill that simulated a gunman in the halls of a school. The exercise was coordinated so emergency services officials can be prepared for the worst and was not in response to any particular incident. The school Principle Mr. Michael Szpyhulsky said that the drill went well and that the school learned a lot.  “The students all cooperated and the drill was quite a success,” he  said. “We are a safer school today.”

What does the Appalachian Mountains, 1,803 feet, zinc, and willemite all have in common?  If you answered Assumption Catholic’s Third, Fourth and Fifth Grade Spring Field trip, you are correct!  On Monday, March 28, 2010, 62 students, 27 chaperones, and 3 teachers boarded the buses for a day of fun-filled exploration.  Our first stop was the Sterling Hill Mine where everyone traveled back in time to 1914-1986 when the New Jersey Zinc Company owned and operated the mine.  Our tour began in Zoebel Exhibit Hall where over 20,000 items where on display.  There were fossils, florescent minerals, mining equipment, fossils, ore specimens, periodic table display, meteorites, and a locker room where the men would change before going into the mine.  After exploring the hall, grade groups were taken on an underground tour of the mine.  We traveled 1,300 feet underground and learned what it was like to work in the mine by visiting the lamp room, shaft station, and mine galleries.  One highlight of the tour was a visit to the Rainbow Room where brightly fluorescent zinc ore is exposed in the mine walls.  Illuminated under ultraviolet light, the walls glow bright green and red, the green signaling the presence of Willemite, one of the main zinc ore minerals at Sterling Mine.  After the mine, the students went on a Rock Discovery Tour where they were able to pick out species of basalt, marble, sandstone, slate, coal, and garnet.

After lunch we boarded the bus and headed even further north to High Point State Park.  High Point State Park is the highest peak in the Kittatinny Mountains, which is part of the Appalachian Mountain Range. It is 1,803 feet and the highest point in NJ.  From High Point you can see three states: New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York.  On display at High Point is a 220-foot obelisk monument honoring the War Veterans.

Generations of Faith is a new approach to faith formation that is life long and intergenerational.  It is intended to serve the whole parish–children, teens, college students, young adults, single adults, parents, grandparents, elders–as everyone learns and grows together.  I would like to  extend my  thanks to the planning committee and speakers for helping to organize this program in our parish on Sunday, April 3rd, 2011. Over 100 people have gathered after the Sunday Liturgy in the school hall to learn of how to become a better Christian by integrating faith, worship, and life in light of the Gospel during the Lenten season. A special  thanks go Mrs.  Helen Cheloc for preparing the presentation on the topic “Lent – Commission and Omission”. We should all remember, that everyone is extremely important in God’s eyes, and everyone has been given gifts of time, talent and treasure that can be shared with God’s people.  We use our gifts and talents to serve our family, friends, neighbors, parish and community.  By the washing of the feet, Jesus taught us how to serve each other.  Pray about your God-given gifts, use them and encourage others to use their gifts as well.  Please consider getting involved in the next session of  Generations of Faith in the future.

View more photos from the event here .

Music is indeed the universal language of mankind. It transcends time, culture and all languages. As Plato said, “Music is a more potent instrument for education than any other.” Assumption Catholic School offers quality music classes to all ages.  Our students eagerly go to music classes every week, because they learn new songs and revisit old favorites. The music teacher, Miss Anna Lawrence also introduces her students to the guitar, musical notation, and basic principles and technique of guitar and accordion playing.  This results in dynamic classes that are fun and educational!

Pastors are incredibly busy people. Still, Fr. Ivan always finds time to be with his students at the Assumption School.  On Thursday, he took the 8th grade class and their teacher Mrs. Pickering to the church and gave them a lesson on the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation.  The students had a wonderful opportunity to learn more about what it means to be a Christian and how God enriched  their lives through the Baptism and Confirmation. They also learned that in the waters of Baptism we became children of God and inheritors of eternal life. By water and the Holy Spirit we are made members of the church and ambassadors for Christ.

Students at ACS celebrated a beautiful day by playing Duck, Duck, Goose together. Fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grade students joined in the fun to run around and enjoy the weather on Friday, March 18th.