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National Catholic Schools Week will be observed from January 29th to February 4th  at St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic School in Minersville, PA, St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic School in Passaic, NJ, Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Catholic School in Perth Amboy, NJ and St. Basil Academy in Fox Chase, PA.
 
This year’s theme “Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge and Service.”  celebrates who every person involved in a Catholic School is called to be.  Jesus, the Good Shepherd “came that they might have life and have it to the full” (Jn 10:10).  We are invited to an abundant life in Jesus Christ.  When we fully live and breathe this faith, we live in His abundance.  It cannot help but raise the standard of all of life around us.
 
Our heartfelt gratitude is offered to all who are part of the family of our four schools.  We acknowledge and thank the clergy, religious Sisters, the administrators, teachers, and all of the support staff for their sharing of this giftedness in their skills through their person.  This enables each school to reflect abundant life in Jesus Christ.
 
Special thanks to the parents who seek the best for their children and offer their love and support for the school staff and students.  You do it because of your living out your inspired desire for abundant life.  We admire your tremendous personal and financial sacrifices to ensure a high standard of education and religious formation for your children.
 
Uppermost are our admiration and best wishes for every student in each school family.  The highest ideals of a Catholic school can only encourage each student to strive to be their best in the pursuit of the abundant life offered to all by Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  We pray for each student as each grows in the skills and understanding of achieving the best in your Catholic School family.  May all grow in closeness with Jesus as we strive to be fully who we are called to be as a faithful student of a valued Ukrainian Catholic school.
 
We are particularly grateful for the meaningful example of excellence each school provides for the Church and for the community of which they are a part.  The striving for high standards in Catholic education positively encourages others to excel in who they are and in how they live within the community.  A Catholic School which raises its standard is fulfilling its mission of inspiring others to excellence, and thereby living the abundant life in Jesus Christ.
 
Especially helpful are the individual organizations and businesses who offer financial help to our Ukrainian Catholic schools.  Donations by persons and groups who desire to support the high standard of education and religious formation in our schools are enablers.  Such valued donors truly breathe Jesus Christ’s call to abundant life.  Can there be a better way to share one’s wealth and blessings than with children growing in knowledge and faith?  Choose to financially help our Ukrainian Catholic schools to fulfill their sacred mission to teach and prepare our children with high standards and ideals.
 
All involved in our Ukrainian Catholic schools will be especially remembered in prayers offered throughout National Catholic Schools Week.  May your hearts be filled with gratitude as you reflect on your achievement at raising the standard of education.  May all of us continue to be inspired to be our best providing the optimum example to those whom we serve and to those among whom we attempt to raise the standard of education.
 
God bless you richly in ways only He can!

The hallways are adorned with artwork and projects of the students, and classrooms are alive with displays and school spirit.

On the opening day of Catholic Schools Week, students of ACS had the pleasure of nutrition student, Kateryna Derevenskiy, from NYU provide the 6th, 7th, and 8th graders on the benefits of fruits. It is not just about healthy options that maintain a healthy weight, but certain foods, ‘fruits’ can help with muscle soreness, help with acne, and keep immune system optimal in defending viruses during flu and cold season. During the presentation it was learned that strawberries are excellent sources of Vitamin C that is not only essential in strengthening the immune system but aid in repairing cuts and wounds and keeping gums and teeth healthy. Berries, on the other hand, are rich in antioxidants that help with cell degradation; this is vital in staying young. Lastly, 1 cup of dried apricots can help fulfill 93% of daily values in Vitamin A. Vitamin A is essential for eye health and helping with acne. After the presentation, Kateryna brought in some of fruits that she highlighted during her presentation like bananas, dried apricots, and strawberries for the children to enjoy and perhaps even to some try for the first time but more importantly to look at those fruits for the first time not as food but health, beauty and wellness powerhouse.

Students in grades 6 through 8 had the opportunity to practice some geometry skills in our "Build a House" activity where they first sketched their house onto graph paper then computed the area of the house.  After that they were then given some delicious supplies to build the edible house they just designed.  Who says that snacking while you work doesn’t help to get the job done?  Come see the finished projects on Friday during the ACS Family Fun Day.

The Class of 2017 has been working very hard this school year to be of service to others. Besides their usual involvement in monthly service time, they have also taken on a few class projects. Their latest project was a result of Tyler G. mentioning during religion class that the food pantry at his parish was running low and in need of some help.

Tyler and a few other students approached our principal Mr. S. and asked if they would be able to do a food drive for Good Shepherd parish. With his approval, the student collected non – perishables from all of the classes for a school week. As a result the Class of 2017 was able to collect almost 200 items for the Good Shepherd Food Pantry where it will be available for anyone in need in the Perth Amboy area.

The sixth graders are working hard on expanding their writing skills. This week they wrote an advertisement on a product from the past and its many uses. They had to create their own slogan and use the advertisement techniques they learned in class. Great writing and presentations sixth grade!

The ACS Yearbook Committee under the direction of Mrs. Vattelana, is working hard to make the 2016-2017 yearbook the best one yet.  They have started their fundraising endeavors with an empanada sale. And it was a huge success. Thank you to Mr. and Mrs. Gonzalez for their assistance in making about 200 empanadas!

Catholic Schools Week starts the last Sunday in January and runs all week, which in 2017 is January 29 – February 4.

Monday: Mis-Matched "Math" Monday
Dress-Down — MIS-MATCHED ATTIRE – contest, "Which class is the most mis-matched?"
Daily Activities will be focused around Math – all subjects will tie back into Math.
Math activities in am for grades 6-8 in auditorium (Mrs. Vattelana) and grades K to 2 in the afternoon (Miss Hucul), 3-5 (Mrs. Billy)
6-8 Nutritionist Guest Speaker.

Tuesday: Terrific Reading Tuesday
Eighth Graders will teach a lesson to Grades PK – 7
Each teacher will read (either book or excerpt) from their favorite book and share with the class.
Grades K – 3 Reading Across ACS Activities, Grades 3 – 5 Project Challenge in classrooms, Grades 6 – 8 Vocabulary Challenge in the afternoon (Shumny – Jeopardy style game).

Wednesday: Wacky "STEAM" Wednesday
ACS Science Symposium – projects will be displayed in each class and all lessons will lead back to Science – Science Literature, Science in Math etc,
K-4 working on science experiments to do together in am.

Thursday: Thoughtful, "Thumbs-up" Thursday
Focus on our Faith and our Community Project that is being worked on by grade group (PK-2 Mrs. D and Miss H coordinating= Nursing home prayer cards and crosses, 3-5 Mrs. Lawrence coordinating = Veterans, 6-8 Mrs. Pickering & Mrs. Vattelana coordinating = Police, Fire, EMS). We will be sending the Mayor and invite and plan on a theme of giving back to the Community as Christians and importance of kindness and responsibility to our Community.

Friday: Faith, Family and Fun Day!
8:45 a.m. Divine Liturgy with parents and families – children will sing the responses and show parents how beautifully we participate in Liturgy.
Parents will be invited to Continental breakfast at school and will visit each class and "be the student" for a period. In addition, parents will be able to appreciate student art work, science projects and literature projects and end the morning with a short ACS Video showcasing some of our graduates and pictures of each class. Our eighth graders are also collecting food for the food pantry sponsored by Good Shepard Parish in Perth Amboy.

Sunday: OPEN HOUSE
Parents and prospective preschool through grade eight students are invited to visit our school on Sunday, February 5th, from noon to 3:00 p.m. for the Open House. You will have the opportunity to tour the school and enjoy conversation with Principal and current students, who will be assisting with each tour. Registrations for the 2017-2018 school year, will be accepted at these sessions. It’s never too early to start thinking about giving your children the great gift of a Catholic education – one which is effective and affordable.

The Feast of the Holy Theophany (Epiphany) of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ is celebrated each year on January 6. The Feast commemorates the Baptism of Christ and the divine revelation of the Holy Trinity. At the Baptism of Christ at the river Jordan, all three Persons of the Holy Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—were made manifest. During Theophany, people traditionally attend a prayer service… where the priest blesses regular water into holy water at the “Blessing of the Water” ceremony. This year, after the blessing of the water ceremony in the church, Fr. Ivan walked around the Assumption Catholic school with a small group of students and blessed each room with holy water and offered a blessing to students and staff. Father Ivan explained to children that Christ’s baptism in the Jordan was a “theophany,” a manifestation of God to the world, because it was the beginning of our Lord’s public ministry. He also asked students various questions about Feasts of Christmas and Theophany and was very pleased by their answers.

Assumption Catholic School will join nearly 8,000 Catholic Schools across the nation in celebrating Catholic Schools Week. Parents and prospective preschool through grade eight students are invited to visit our school on Sunday, February 5th, from noon to 3:00 p.m. for the Open House. You will have the opportunity to tour the school and enjoy conversation with Principal and current students, who will be assisting with each tour. Reg…istrations for the 2017-2018 school year, will be accepted at these sessions. It’s never too early to start thinking about giving your children the great gift of a Catholic education – one which is effective and affordable! If you can’t make it to the OPEN HOUSE, feel free to call the School office and set up a tour with us at any time. Our principal is always more than happy to do a walk-through with you and answer all your questions! To receive more information about the school, call 732-826-8721 or visit www.assumptioncatholicschool.net