News

On January 28, 2010 the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution honoring the contributions of Catholic schools to the nation. The resolution comes in time for Catholic Schools Week, January 31 – February 6, 2010.  It recognizes the academic and moral excellence instilled in students and congratulates schools for contributing to a brighter, stronger future for the country. This year's theme is “Catholic Schools – Dividends for Life."

ACS will begin the week on Monday with a Divine Liturgy to thank Almighty God for the blessings of a Catholic education.  Later that morning there will be a Pep Rally to congratulate and recognize those students who participate in ACS extra-curricular activities:  Altar Boys, Sodality of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Student Council, Gardening Club, Junior and Senior Drama, Glee Club, Bowling, Track and Field, Basketball, Chimes, and Ukrainian Dance.  On Tuesday the children will enjoy a virtual "Day at the Beach," featuring boardwalk games created by the upper grades, and a picnic lunch sponsored by the Family School Association.  There will be a Pro-life poster contest and a crazy hat & sock day on Wednesday, as well as a pajama day for Grades Pre-K, K, 1 & 2.  On Thursday, groups of eighth graders will teach a Science lesson to each of the lower grades, and that evening the ACS faculty is will host a Pasta Dinner fundraiser to help pay for class field trips.  Friday will begin with an all school rosary and end with a talent show in the afternoon.  Individual teachers have also planned many special surprises and learning activities for their classes to add to the joy of Catholic Schools Week!

The faculty of our parish school will host a Pasta Night on Thursday, Feb. 4, 2010 from 5:30 to 7:30 PM in the school auditorium.
 
The menu includes salad, choice of pasta, Italian bread and a beverage.
 
Tickets purchased in advance at the school are $7 per adult $4 per child.
 
Tickets purchased at the door will be $10 per adult and $5 per child.
 
For information call the school office, 732-826-8721.

The American Museum of Natural History was the destination for students in grades five, six, seven, and eight.  New York City traffic cooperated and the group arrived in time for their first show.  They saw an IMAX movie that took them to the coast of Africa.  They spent the rest of the morning exploring the many rooms and galleries of the museum.

At lunch, students shared what they had been doing.  This led them on a new adventure to find the exhibits that the others had already been to.  The afternoon included a planetarium show.  They learned about the life cycle of a star.  This was not your average show.  You felt as if you were among the stars and even experienced the vibrations of star matter changing through the centuries.

The latter part of the day was spent exploring other museum exhibits.  The bus ride home reverberated with the chatter of what they had seen.  Many students said they were going to ask their parents to take them back again.

Special thanks to the chaperones for their help and assistance on this day!

Fun Games, Prizes, Raffles, Ethnic Food, & More…
 
Assumption Catholic School will be holding its 2009 Christmas Bazaar on Sunday, November 15 from 11:30 am – 5 pm, free admission! As usual, the kitchen will be open serving all kinds of delicious hot cooked meals for eat in or take out. Enjoy an afternoon of old-fashioned family fun. There will be games of chance, raffles, crafts, prizes, and baked goods.  All are welcome. Bring your friends and neighbors.  ACS has been running an annual holiday bazaar since 1968, one of the longest running bazaar's in the area.

If anyone knows of a family or business that would be interested in making a donation for the bazaar, or who would like to be a vendor, call the school at 732-826-8721.

Sister Josepha Mary Kruchinsky, M.S.M.G., 87, fell asleep in the Lord at the convent of the Missionary Sisters of the Mother of God, Stamford, CT, on Sunday, September 27, 2009.  Born in Primrose, PA, on June 30, 1922, she was the daughter of the late Steven and Yustina (Kit) Krichinsky.  Sr. Josepha was a member of St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church in Minersville, PA.  She graduated from Minersville H.S. in 1940, and was employed at a local textile factory.  She joined the Congregation of the Missionary Sisters of Mother of God on June 19, 1945 and professed her Final Vows of poverty, chastity and obedience on January 1, 1957.  

Sr. Josepha earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Alberta Magnus College and a master’s degree in educational administration from Fordham University.  She taught at Mother of God Academy in Stamford, CT, from 1953 until 1963, at which time she was appointed the first principal of Ukrainian Assumption Catholic School, in Perth Amboy, NJ.  She held this position for 31 years, 25 of which she was also a full time teacher.  Her greatest joy was preparing children for First Holy Communion and the Sacrament of Penance, and acquainting them with the liturgical beauty of the Ukrainian-Byzantine Rite.  

In August of 1989, Sister Josepha was elected Mother General of her religious community and served in this capacity until 2002.  Mother Josepha will always be remembered for her gracious manner, keen mind, spirit of gratitude, compassion for children, and tender devotion to Jesus, Mary, and Saint Joseph.  One of her favorite prayers was, “O Dear Lord, I do not know how long I shall live, but while I live, please let me help my fellow man with a smile, a kind word or deed, so help me God.”

She was preceded in death by four sisters:  Anna Ternowchek, Mary Kruchinsky, Tess Kruchinsky, and Helen Schumack; her brother, Steve Kruchinsky; two brother-in-laws, Samuel Ternowchek, James Schumack; a niece, Catherine Ondisco; a nephew, Joseph Schumack; and a grandniece, Karen Ternowchek.  Surviving are:  nieces, Mary Ann Kelemen, Theresa Laubenstein, Anna Kovich, Christine Ternowchek; nephews, Michael Ternowchek, Samuel Ternowchek, Jr., John Ternowchek, and Richard Schumack; eleven grandnieces; seven grandnephews; seven great grandnieces; and ten great grandnephews.  

A viewing will be held at Lacerenza Funeral Home, 8 Schuyler Street, Stamford, CT on Thursday, October 1, 2009 from 2-8 p.m.  A Requiem Divine Liturgy will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, October 2, 2009 at Ukrainian Assumption Catholic Church, Perth Amboy, N.J., prior to this there will be a 10:00 a.m. viewing at the church.  Burial services at Mother of Sorrows Cemetery, Langhorne, PA.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Missionary Sisters of Mother of God, 711 N. Franklin St. Philadelphia, PA 19123.
    

The Holy Name Society undertook the enormous task of first cleaning out and then filling in cracks on the school playground.  To protect the surface, they removed any debris then applied a 7-year-life sealer over the entire nine year old playground. The project took four days of working in 90+ degree temperatures to accomplish and was finished on Monday August 17, 2009 in time to start the new school year. In total, 72  5-gallon buckets of sealer were applied.
 
Charlie Boyko, co-chairman of the project offered, "Not only will the newly-coated playground have a smooth jet-black appearance, but if a child falls, any scrape on the knee may be a bit less severe." The coating will also reduce future surface degradation and should help the asphalt pavement to last longer according to Charlie.
 
Peter Baralecki added in closing,"Several HNS members who attended our parish school remember how much fun we had playing here!"
 
Many thanks go out to the Holy Name Society for their hard work!

Certificate of Excellence Awarded – May 2009 The Royal Garden Club by the Bay has awarded a Certificate of Excellence to Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Assumption for beautifying the city of Perth Amboy with flowers, shrubs and trees.

You can appreciate the beautiful park like settings everywhere you look simply by walking around the parish block.

The gounds of Assumption Catholic School and Church are truly a magnificent "Oasis" amongst the city of Perth Amboy.

On Friday, May 8, if you peaked into the auditorium you would have seen many students picking out the perfect plant to present to Mom on Mother’s Day. The Garden Club of ACS, under the guidance of Mrs.  Rizkallah along with the help of Mrs. Pickering’s eighth grade class sponsored this event. The proceeds will help to pay for the fence that was recently constructed between the trailer on the playground and the convent behind it.  If all goes well, there will be many vegetables, such as tomatoes, peppers and squash, growing in this area.  Our students will reap the benefits in the fall as they enjoy vegetable soup made with fresh ingredients from our school garden!

To perform on stage in a high school musical in front of hundreds of people in the audience requires poise, confidence, and a great deal of dedication.  Several of our graduates have had major roles, including lead roles, in area high school musical and play productions.  
 
Just recently, former student Paul R. ACS '07, performed in the role of "Kenickie" in the Bishop McCarrick High School performance of Grease.
 
Congratulations Paul!

ACS students found themselves immersed in many activities that helped to bring the days leading up to Easter into focus. The week included lessons on pysanky, the art of Ukrainian egg dying for older students and traditional Easter egg decorating for the younger students. Discussions took place in classrooms based on the last week of Christ’s life.  On Holy Thursday the classes of 2009, 2010, and 2011 presented the Living Stations of the Cross to the school. This was followed by spiritual activities back in the classrooms.

The school week culminated with students, parents, and parishioners participating in Good Friday services at Church led by Father Roman. Sub-deacon Paul Makar congratulated Sister Yosaphata on the beautiful chanting that students provided for the services. Over twenty – five altar boys and members of Sodality also kept vigil at Our Lord’s grave throughout the afternoon and into Holy Saturday.