Principal’s Newsletter

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Dear ACS Families,

Can you believe it is November? Can you believe the first marking period ends in 5 school days? NEITHER CAN WE! The first marking period comes to a close next week and we have accomplished many challenges. Our teachers have introduced classroom procedures and set high expectations and all our students are rising to the challenge. Our new students are settled and are now all just “ACS Family”. The curriculum is moving along and all our students have shown personal growth and we are pleased. So, well done ACS students and teachers- AND off we go to the second period! I am also happy to report that our Halloween celebration was a huge success. A big thank you to all the parents and FSA Board members who prepared a delicious breakfast. In addition, a special thank you to Mrs. Pickering, and all the teachers, who coordinated our first Fun Walk. Students did an excellent job walking around the block, eating and then dancing! Now, for SOME REMINDERS:

• BAZAAR – I need some help!
• The FSA could use any new items you may have that you don’t want or need. Any donation from candles, kitchen gadgets, to wine bottles and dishes would be greatly appreciated.
  Parent Teacher Conferences: November 15th Parent teacher conference is an opportunity to discuss your child’s progress with their teacher. It is a vital interaction where your student’s academic plan is discussed and expectations are set for the next marking period.
• High School Placement Test: This Saturday, November 3 at 7:45 am. Please don’t be late! Your ACS teachers, principal and friends wish you the very best and ask that God give you the knowledge and confidence to do your very best.

Have a wonderful Friday and weekend!

Mrs. Shumny
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER. INFORMATION IS LIBERATING. EDUCATION IS THE PREMISE OF PROGRESS, IN EVERY SOCIETY, IN EVERY FAMILY. -KOFI ANNAN

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Dear Parents,

It has been a very busy October so far.  I have outlined important dates, Club information and our FSA happenings – please look at our calendar online to keep up with everything that is going on. 

As teachers are challenging your student in school, I beg for your support.  Check REMIND and their planner and make sure homework is being completed. Are they having trouble? Email their teacher and together lets figure out why. Encourage your child to read every night and practice their math facts.  Even 30 minutes a night increases vocabulary and builds confidence.  I encourage you to look through your child’s folders and ask them questions about what they are learning.  It is easy for us to get wrapped up in our adult responsibilities and simply forget. 

We thank you for trusting us with your children and look forward to ending the first marking period on a high note.  Give us a call, send an email or schedule a meeting – we are here to guide your child’s success!

Any questions or concerns, please call me.

Have a great weekend!

Mrs. Shumny

“This is important: to get to know people, listen, expand the circle of ideas. The world is crisscrossed by roads that come closer together and move apart, but the important thing is that they lead towards the Good.”

-Pope Francis

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Dear Parents,

Together with the Ukrainian World Congress and other organizations, we took time to remember the victims of the terrible tragedy in the history of the Ukrainian people – the Holodomor – the Genocide of 1932-1933.  For 85 days before the International Holodomor Memorial Day on November 24, 2018, a candle will be lit daily in a different part of the world uniting Ukrainians and friends of Ukraine in remembrance of the innocent victims of the genocidal policy of the Stalin regime, while raising awareness of the issues of human rights, respect and tolerance.  Today, during our Divine Liturgy our students sang and prayed. The eighth graders read the names of the 85 children who died and each student placed a single stalk of wheat in front of the Blessed Mother.  Special petitions were added during the Liturgy and it was a beautiful memorial service.

Thank you to all the teachers and students who participated but especially to Mrs. Hila for organizing this event.

Have a great weekend!

Mrs. Shumny

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Academics:

• Math Tests went home – please discuss with your child.  email teacher with any questions or concerns. 
• On wednesdays after school, we have two Bishop ahr students who are offering free math help – practice, homework and study tips. They are here from 3 – 4 pm.  10/3 is half a day they will not be here. 
• Reading – see attached helpful information. 
• PowerSchool log in information went home this week for all new families.  If you did not receive it or have never signed into powerschool please email or send me a note and i will send home the information.
• october 5^th – half way point marking period 1 See PowerSchool

Dates to Note:                                                                                      

• 10/3  12:30 dismissal
• 10/5   ½ Marking Period 1–Progress Reports (on powerschool)                               
• 10/8   No classes Columbus Day
• 10/19  Field Trip – Mr. Wythe coordinating-permission slips going home
• **10/22 – /10/25 Scholastic Book Fair **
• 10/31  12:30 Dismissal ACS FUN RUN – info coming shortly      

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Dear ACS Families,

Dear Parents, We have made it through our first two full weeks of school, and students are doing very well adjusting to life at ACS. During the first few weeks, we have worked primarily on developing routines and building community. Students have been assessed in reading, writing and math. Math assessments (End of last years grade) will come home Monday. Please take some time to go over each of the math standards and the challenging areas with your child. Each teacher will work on all of these areas in more depth and cover each of these standards throughout our year. In writing, grades 3 and up students will complete three on demands, narrative, opinion and informational. These assessments are given within a 45 minute block to see what students recall from the previous grade. These three pieces of writing will help guide instruction with each child. Finally, we will be pulling each child to assess their reading accuracy, fluency and comprehension using the DRA test. I will be sending home more information. These beginning of the year benchmarks help guide our instruction and really challenge our students at each of their levels. Homework – Students will always have reading and math, once we get rolling. Please make sure to check your child’s planner daily to see expectations. We also post daily homework on REMIND (codes on back). At Back to School Night we covered many important topics – the PowerPoint is on our website. If you have any questions or concerns.

Have a great weekend!

God Bless,

Mrs. Shumny

“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.“
-Benjamin Franklin

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Dear ACS Families,

Welcome to the 2018-2019 school year! We are excited to start this school year with several new staff members, two new teachers and many new students. We welcome all to our ACS school community. I hope everyone had a wonderful and relaxing summer. Although our facebook page was a little quiet this summer, our building was not. We painted the pre-k, third, fourth, fifth and seventh grade classrooms and replaced the ceiling tiles in three of them. We have brand new carbon monoxide detectors throughout the building. Our janitors also worked diligently to shine the floors, polish the desks, and to continue to keep our building clean and welcoming. We have also updated our Network Access Points to accommodate all the new chrome books – super excited! A huge thank you to all who came to help us this summer.

Some Back to school Reminders:

• Back to School Night is next Thursday – PowerSchool log in information will be given at this time.

Some changes from last year:

• Newsletter day will be Fridays for this year.
• Newsletter (paper) will go home every other Friday with your child. School Calendar and Menu is available online-paper copy will go home at the beginning of the month.
• Aftercare pick up is at the front entrance.
• Our two administrative assistants are Mrs. Kwiecinski and Mrs. Gochel. Please feel free to call the office if you have any questions or concerns. We look forward to a successful, challenging and productive school year! Have a wonderful weekend!

God Bless,

Mrs. Shumny

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” -Nelson Mandela

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Welcome June! We are down to the last couple of weeks of school – we’re almost done! This is my last official Newsletter for the 2017-2018 School Year.

First, the fire drill we had this week was our regularly scheduled fire drill. Tuesday’s Lock Down and Shelter in Place were due to a student threat received at Shull School. I know many different versions of what happened at Shull School are circulating on social media and only the Police Department has all the facts. We, at ACS, take every notice from the Perth Amboy Police Department with the upmost seriousness and act according to our Emergency Plan – we did exactly what we have outlined in this type of situation. Our student’s safety is our number one priority. I know some panic set in when parents called the school office and no one answered– please know that we don’t pick up until the lockdown is over. I sent the school wide REMIND to keep everyone informed and I hope this helped. I am happy that no one was hurt in our neighboring school and that the Police Department acted quickly and God watched over all. These are turbulent times and we have to be ready and vigilant. I thank my teachers for being calm and following our protocol. Any questions please give me a call.

Second, a very special thank you goes to Mrs. Pickering and the 8th graders for organizing Field Day. All our students had a good time and our 8th graders did an amazing job coordinating the activities. Third, 2018-2019 calendar is attached.

Lastly, I invite all our friends and family tomorrow, June 8th to celebrate the Liturgy with us at 8:45am and then come back to the school for a presentation to our Sister Thomas and Sister Yosaphata. We have a surprise .

Please call the office if you have any questions or concerns.

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Dear ACS Families,

As May comes to an end and we welcome the month of June, please make sure you follow our new calendar on the ACS website. There is truly a lot going on. In addition to the end of year activities, we are in full gear with planning for the summer months. Our maintenance plan includes painting three classrooms and replacing the ceiling tiles as well. We just had major cement work done near our aftercare entrance and YES we are replacing the door bell! Our SMART board for sixth grade is ordered, Professional Development days are planned and we are busy planning out our 2018-2019 school calendar which will be sent home with the summer reading list by Monday.

These are our grade assignments for next year:

• Pre-Kinder. – Mrs. Cuff
• Kinder. – Mrs. Derevenska
• First – Miss Hucul
• Second – Mrs. Lawrence
• Third – Mrs. Cooper
• Fourth – OPEN
• Fifth – Mrs. Billy
• Sixth – Mr. Wythe
• Seventh – Mrs. Vattelana
• Eighth – Mrs. Pickering

We want to wish Miss. Salamon the very best as she embarks on her new journey. We also want to congratulate Miss. Hucul on her wedding this Sunday, June 3rd. God watch over our teachers and their lives.

Our summer hours: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 9:00am to 1:00pm and evening tours by appointment – call Mrs. Shumny 732-343-0750.

As you can tell things are not slowing down at ACS! Please call the office if you have any questions or concerns.

God Bless,
Mrs. Shumny

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The weeks are just flying by!  It seems the rain is gone and summer is here to stay.  I have started our end of year DRA testing and will send home correspondence soon.  In addition, your child’s IOWA Test results are being sent home today.  We are pleased with our student’s growth and will be planning during the summer to continue to enhance our curriculum. 

As of July 1^st Sister Yosaphata and Sister Thomas will be leaving their ministry at ACS.  After 55 years of service and dedication we are sad they are leaving us, yet happy they are joining the rest of their order to focus on new vocations and be able to reside together. On June 17 we will have a special reception, in the church basement right after the 11:30am Liturgy – please join us in wishing our Sisters the very best! 

Here are some more reminders:

• Our summer hours will be posted next week.
• 2017-2018 Yearbook – we are down to our last batch! Thank you to Mrs. Vattelana and the Yearbook Committee for all their hard work.
• Thank you to Ms. Cuff, Mrs. Fedynyshyn, Miss Hucul for their efforts in making our Moleban service so special. Our Sodality girls received their medals and it was a beautiful service.
• Congratulations to Laura G, grade 8, for winning 2^nd place in the Middlesex County Environmental Essay Contest. Go Laura!
• Lawrence’s surgery went well and she is on the mend!

As you can tell things are not slowing down at ACS!  Please call the office if you have any questions or concerns.          

God Bless,
Mrs. Shumny

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I hope all our ACS Mothers had a wonderful Mother’s Day! May God continue to watch over you and keep you safe. Tuesday was our Spring Concert and WHAT A PRODUCTION! Our ACS performers put on a phenomenal show and truly encompassed the theme: We Are ACS coming together for peace, friendship, and unity. A reminder that tonight is the first ACS Junior Honor Society induction ceremony at 7:00pm at church. Here are some reminders:

• Mother’s Day Tea celebration was beautiful! Thank you to our Pre-K through fourth grade moms for coming for tea and spending time with us. Thank you to the teachers and the FSA who helped us serve, setup and cleanup.
• Congratulations to the Principal for the Day winners: PK-2: Gia N. 3-: Victoria M. 6-8 Dyla C.
• FSA Request: Please return Graduation Work ASAP!
• Thank you to Mrs. Palhais for her treats donation to the Spring Concert – your support is appreciated.
• Thank you to our Track Coaches for coordinating and supporting our students at the Bishop Ahr Track Meet this past Saturday.

The school year is quickly coming to an end; please call if you have any questions or concerns.

God Bless,
Mrs. Shumny