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While not all students who come to Assumption School are Catholic, all share experiences of faith and values. Today, after celebration of the Liturgy for the Feast of Theophany, Fr. Ivan walked around the Assumption Catholic school in Perth Amboy, NJ with a small group of students and blessed each classroom with holy water and offered a blessing to students and staff. Fr. Ivan explained to children that Christ’s baptism in the river Jordan was a manifestation of the Holy Trinity to the world, it was also 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.

ACS was invited to Barnes & Noble last night AND WHAT A NIGHT! Our two Chimes groups performed beautiful Christmas melodies and our Show Choir sang Christmas Carols in English and Ukrainian. Some of our teachers were also guest story tellers and what a great crowd of ACS students and friends. We are so blessed to have so many talented students and dedicated teachers who support our Music Program and each other!!

It has become a long tradition here at ACS for our sixth through eighth graders to research and report on the many Christmas traditions that have been brought to our country from around the world. They recently became travel agents and put together the selling points for visiting their assigned country during the Christmas season. Teachers and students listened to each team of travel agents talk about songs, traditions, and foods that would make their country THE place to visit for the Christmas season. Their day culminated with a luncheon in which they tasted Christmas foods from around the world. They discovered that many foods are part of many different cultures, just served a little differently. It was a fun, delicious learning day for all.

To Know, To Love, To Serve God…words that are in our mission statement and woven into our identity and instilled in everyone of our students. During the season of advent we want to make note of our blessings in working on these terrific projects. So far this year we have served our community in the following ways:

Orphanage in Ukraine – each class was assigned a child to purchase small gifts, school supplies and write letters and cards to.

Purple Heart Project – we created ornaments in honor of Veterans who have received a Purple Heart of Valor. The ornaments are sold and the proceeds go to train Service Dogs.

Nursing Home – Penny Wars: Each class had a competition against each other where they collected pennies and change for the elderly. We collected over $350.

Veteren’s Cards Part I: Each student, under the leadership of our ACS Service Club created Veteren’s Day cards.

Veteren’s Cards Part II: we created over 150 Christmas cards for Veterans.

Kindness Rock Project: Each student created two rocks with a kind message – one for our garden and one for the Community.

Christmas Food Drive for needy families in Perth Amboy area.

This Friday, Assumption Catholic School welcomed the Class of 2020 and their parents to the Annual Blessing of Class Rings Ceremony. Ring Ceremony is one of the most memorable events for 8th grade students. The class rings were blessed after the Liturgy by Fr. Ivan Turyk and presented to the Class of 2020 by the school’s principal, Mrs. Lissette Shumny. During his homily, Fr. Ivan spoke about the symbolism of the rings and the Principal expressed how proud she and the eighth grade teacher Mrs. Pickering were of their soon-to-be graduates. After posing for a group picture, students and their families enjoyed a small breakfast celebration in the church hall.

On Thursday, December 12, 2019, ACS children were united with all Catholic school students in the Diocese of Metuchen. At exactly 12:30, a pre-recorded Consecration Prayer Service for Children was played in each school throughout the Diocese, thereby consecrating the Diocese of Metuchen community to Our Lady of Guadalupe. Students were provided with copies of the prayer service and songs to enable full participation. Father Ivan prefaced the prayer service with a brief talk and ACS students then presented roses to Our Lady of Guadalupe. This symbolizes the roses she gave to Juan Diego 488 years ago in Mexico as proof she appeared to him. It was a moving afternoon and we were grateful to be one Catholic school community.