News

There was green everywhere through out the halls of ACS.  The fourth grade class was setting up their leprechaun traps to catch the culprit that left green shamrocks and footprints all over their desks.  The students had been learning about simple machines and what better way to remember then to practice what you have read.  So, inclined planes and screws, pulleys and levers were used in an attempt to catch the Irish imp.  They didn’t catch the leprechaun but they did all catch a leprechaun ducky.  Oh well, better luck next St. Patrick’s day.  I think Miss Fiore found his hat and I am sure he will want it back. 

This year our parish will offer a spiritually enriching experience during Lent called the Parish Lenten Mission. A Parish Lenten Mission might be described as "a retreat that comes to you." To make a retreat, one must leave home and daily routine in order to give some days to silence, prayer and reflection in order to experience a renewal and growth in faith. Most people are not able to that very easily. A Lenten Mission is an opportunity for renewal and growth in our faith that is available at the local parish and can be fit into the demands of daily life. Part of the attraction of a Lenten Mission is that it is preached by someone coming into the parish for that purpose. Not only is the preacher a "new voice," but it is someone who has a particularly deep knowledge and experience of the spiritual life. Our Lenten Mission is scheduled for March 15, 16 and 17, 2013 and will feature Fr. John Zeyack a former pastor of St. Thomas Church, Rahway, NJ. The Lenten Mission will take place over the course of three days and is a spiritual growth event you will not want to miss.
During three days, Fr. John will talk to the parish on following topics:
1. In English, Friday, March 15 after 6:30 pm. Presenctified Liturgy
Topic: Who is the living and true God whom we gather to worship?
2. In English and Ukrainian on Saturday, March 16 at 9:00 a.m. Sorokousty Liturgy and in English at 5:00 p.m. Liturgy
Topic: The parish – a place to encounter the living Christ!
3. In Ukrainian, Sunday, March 17 at 9:00 a.m. Liturgy and in English at 11:30 a.m. Liturgy
Topic: How do we respond to the call to holiness by living out our faith?
Confessions will be heard before a during services. Families are encouraged to come together. If you can make all three days, great! If not, come when you can for this time of felowship and renewal during Lent!

Did you know that students in grades six through eight study Spanish as part of their curriculum?  Mrs. Magyar Torres is in her second year of teaching Spanish once a week to the students. As part of learning the language, they also learn about the cultures. Students learn about the different Spanish countries, their people, and their foods. As part of the recent Mardi Gras celebration in the middle school, students brought a Spanish dish to share for lunch. In addition, Mrs. Magyar made a beautiful cake for all of the students to enjoy. So, students were able to get a taste of foods that were familiar to them or they tried something new. Thanks to all of the parents/guardians that helped to make this a wonderful experience for the middle school Spanish classes!

One recent morning the eighth grade received a surprised visit from their next door neighbors, Miss Fiore and the Pre K class. The younger children came in to thank the older children for all of the help they have given to them through the year. They asked eighth grader, Ziara if she would help them by reading their card that they had made to her class. The message was simple, they could knot get along without their help. In addition, eighth graders enjoyed a pretzel knot provided by the Pre.

Catholic Schools Week is always a week of classroom fun and school – related activities. This year as with years in the past, ACS ended the week with a roar. Classes lined up to enter the auditorium and waited patiently for their turn to enter. As each class was called, Student Council and the Class of 2013 led everyone in cheers. This got everyone in a Bulldog spirit.

Clubs are an important part of the ACS fabric. There is always something for everyone’s interest. Earlier in the day members of each club signed a banner that had been made by eighth graders. Each club was then called forward and members introduced themselves. As introductions were finished, the whole school cheered for that club.

The afternoon continued with game of volleyball between the Class of 2013 and the faculty. It was an exciting match with both sides playing great. Once again the faculty edged out the eighth grade by two points. At the end Father Ivan commended the students for a great week. Students dismissed for the weekend with memories of a great reason to be in ACS and thoughts of what next year’s Catholic Schools Week might bring.

Students of grades six, seven, and eight recently had a lesson on the celebration of Mardi Gras where they learned about the purpose of the celebration with traditions such as floats, entertainment, and especially its relationship with the season of Lent. They learned that Mardi Gras is a time in which families would remove any kind of fats or other temptations from their kitchens so that they might start Lent in the right frame of mind.

Students were grouped across the grades into traditional krewes. Each krewe had to think of a theme and name. Once approved, they came up with some sort of entertainment that would be performed for the rest of the school. As part of the project, each student created their own Mardi Gras float. These were displayed in the auditorium for students to see.

On Fat Tuesday, the day before Lent, krewes assembled and paraded into the auditorium with each group anxiously awaiting their turn to perform. In the end the krewes provided great entertainment reflecting how hard they had worked on everything from their costumes, to banners, and their acts. Just as the end of Mardi Gras signals the solemn season of Lent, students put their celebrations away to give way to extra quiet travels through the halls; remembering that their small sacrifice is a way to thank God for the greatest sacrifice of His Son on the cross.

Rebels in Assumption Catholic, what do you mean, the Eighth graders?  No, it was Mr. Lawrence dressed as a Confederate soldier.  He came to visit the fourth and fifth grades, after they finished learning about the Civil War. “Johnny Reb, “ A.K.A.  Mr. Lawrence, fascinated the class with his knowledge about the everyday life of a soldier.   He explained what they wore, what they carried and how they spent their day.

Mrs. Lawrence is the fifth grade teacher at Assumption Catholic School, and Miss Lawrence teaches music there as well. This was the first time the entire Lawrence family was teaching in the school.  Hopefully, Mr. Lawrence will come back again next year, as the country remembers the 150th sesquicentennial commemoration of the Civil war.

On Sunday, January 27, Father Ivan Turyk  celebrated a very special Divine Liturgy to mark the opening of Catholic Schools Week at Assumption Catholic School in Perth Amboy, NJ. During the Liturgy several students read their essays about what makes ACS so special. When Liturgy was finished, Father Ivan called Sister Yosaphata to the front of the church and presented her with a special Papal Blessing sent by Pope Benedict XVI. This blessing was given in recognition of Sister’s 50 years in the service of God. ACS Student Council met parishioners at the back of the church and presented them with baskets containing “hugs”. They had spent the week before weaving the baskets and gave them to the parishioners for the support they have given to the school. Monday of this week prove to be the start of a very busy week. Student participated in various activities including fifth graders building towers with geometric shapes. Mrs. Lawrence said that the structures were tested by “Hurricane Lawrence”. Grade2 played bug bingo while the upper grades watched Fantasia 2000 and treated to popcorn and lemonade by their teachers. Tuesday found classes once again participating in fun activities like spelling bees and multiplication bingo. The Class of 2013 began their jobs of teaching a science class to the younger grades. This was only the second school day for Catholic Schools Week activities and great memories were already in place.