Some of the headlines from the February newsletter:

• GCCS Students Featured in College Textbook
• Students Celebrate 100th Day at GCCS
• Gift Card Contest

Student of the Marking Period

Every marking period we recognize students from each grade who have exhibited exemplary behavior in the area of academics, attitude and testimony.  The following students were selected for the second marking period:

 1^st grade: Juliann Russell, Geoffrey Hoffman          2^nd grade: Abigail Harris, Ben Huckins

3^rd grade: Megan Dersch, David Hanna                  4^th grade: Amanda Miller, Richard Duggan

5^th grade: Lauren Lentini, Adam Moser                    6^th grade: Stephanie Russell, Luke Moore

7^th grade: Rachel Lloyd, Matthew Jeffreys               8^th grade: Marlie Trimble, Ben Cromley

9^th grade: Catherine Kearney, Zack Eaton               10^th grade: Christine Schweppenheiser, Nate Lucas

11^th grade: Michele Zoback, Paul Crisanti              12^th grade: Jennifer DeMaria, Jon Eaton

 Re-Enrollment

With increases in enrollment over the last several years, we eagerly look forward to the 2008/2009 school year. Because decisions about room location and staffing are best made in the spring, your prayerful decision to re-enroll early is very important. Re-enrollment information will be mailed to our school families in the beginning of March.    Many new families have been in contact with the office already, and classes will be filling up quickly. To ensure a spot in next year's class, re-enroll as soon as possible.

Open House

Open House is Thursday evening, April 17th from 7-9 PM.  Make sure to mark this date on your calendar.  This is a wonderful time to invite new families out to see the school.

GSACS Spelling Bee

On Friday, February 8, 2008, GCCS hosted the Garden State Association of Christian Schools Spelling Bee.  Thirteen schools from north and south Jersey participated.  Our school placed 3rd in the AA (large school) division.  The following students made individual placements:

Austin Andrews                       1^st Grade          3^rd Place             Sarah Cassaday                       1^st Grade        5^th Place

Bryan Stimpson             4^th Grade           4^th  Place             Georgie Lentini              5^th Grade           2^nd Place

Marisa Duggan                  6^th Grade              1^st Place                 Caleb Moore                      8^th Grade              3^rd Place

GCCS Principal Attends National Conference

Mr. Netz attended a meeting of the Board of State Representatives of the American Association of Christian Schools (AACS).  The meeting was held at the national office in Chattanooga, TN.  He was a part of the discussion concerning the ministry of the Association and how it can be a greater help to the member states.  Topics included: The Christian School and the home school family; Internet dangers; Finding quality teachers and the AACS high school student Cadet Program.  Mr. Netz was thankful for the Lord's protection as he and his wife were in the area where tornados were spotted.

GCCS Students Featured in College Textbook

The 2007 national champion choral speaking group from GCCS, was featured in a college reading textbook, Teaching Fluency-Beyond the Primary Grades, by Midge Madden and Jane Sullivan.  The students performed at Rowan University's graduate level reading class and captured the admiration of professors and students alike.  The epilogue states: "Before this book was even a proposal, we knew that the Gloucester County Christian School Choral Speaking Group must have a part.  When we listen to their reading performances, we hear fluency at its highest level.  Beautiful, expressive, and lyrical, their choral speaking epitomizes what we understand to be fluency."  The group was under the direction of speech/drama teacher, Mrs. Janet Iles.

Slipper Day Winners

Friday, February 15, 2008 was Slipper Day in the elementary grades.   Slippers were divided into categories.  The  following students won in their category:  Cutest slippers: Vanessa Small (2^ndgrade), Charlotte Hunt (5^th). Funniest: Riley Rudd (2^nd), Chelsey Cannon (5^th). Most Worn: Juliann Russell (1^st), Caleb Snyder (6^th). Most Unique: Jacob Cubbler (K5), Marissa Kennedy(3^rd) and Adam Moser (5^th) tied.

Students Celebrate 100^th Day at GCCS

On Monday, February 11, 2008, the students of GCCS celebrated the 100^th day of school.  Students in grades Pre-K through 2^nd grade wore 100^th day crowns, 3^rd through 6^th grade wore 100^th day glasses, and 7^th-12^th grade were give 100^th day pencils. 

In Kindergarten the students played a 100^th day trivia game, activity during math, and an art project.  The first graders counted to 100 by ones, twos, fives, tens, and twenty-fives, did 100 jumping jacks, brought in 100 of a food item to share with the class, and found hidden 100's around the classroom.  The third graders drew a picture of what they would look like at 100, wrote about their 100^th birthday, 100 exercises, and observed 100 seconds of silence at the 100^th minute of school. 

The fourth grade collected 100 cans of soup for charity, collected 100 Suduko books for troops in Iraq, made grids of 100 tiny items, collected 100 pieces of candy for each student, drew what they would look like at 100 years old, and looked up the 100^th chapter and verse in the Old and New Testaments.  The fifth graders were very active dressing up as what they would look like at 100 years old, put 100 hearts saying, "I Love_____" on the wall, brought in 100 stuffed animals, did 100 timed math facts, signed 100 names on a poster, did a 100 piece puzzle race, did 100 laps in gym, came up with 100 excuses "Why I didn't do my homework", did a 100 penny line up, brought in 100 canned items for charity, wrote a paragraph, "If I had 100_________ I  would________",  made a 100 out of Lego blocks , had 100 pieces of candy, and wrote an essay, "My Hundredth Birthday".

 In sixth grade the students made a chain of 100 paper clips and Cherrios, did 100 jumping jacks, held their breath for 100 seconds, used 100 oz. of tomato soup and 100 oz. of water and made soup in a crockpot, ate 100 crackers with the soup, divided a sheet cake into 100 pieces, put together a 100 piece puzzle and 100 piece Knex structure, and counted to 100.

Gift Card Contest

As part of our Super Bowl Week of activities, a contest was devised to invite students in grades seven through twelve to find a $50 Wal-Mart gift card.  The first clue was meant to be vague enough to allow for the contest to go on for several days.  Eight clues were devised to help the students get closer to the prize.  The first clue ended with this sentence: " Possibly our directions impart ultimate mystification."  From this clue, senior Kirby Franklin was able to find the card.  He found it in less than 30 seconds!  Can YOU figure it out?  (Don't read on if you want to try to figure it out).  If you take the initials in the sentence you will see that it spells PODIUM.  The card was hidden in the podium used for chapel.  Congratulations to Kirby for his ability to cipher  the code.

Senior Tim Roach Scores 1000^th Point

On Thursday, February 14, 2008, Tim Roach scored his 1000^th career point in a basketball game at home against Atlantic Christian.  With one second in the game Tim needed three points for a 1000 and was at the foul line shooting two shots.  He made the first, missed the second intentionally, got his own rebound, and scored a basket before the horn sounded.  What excitement and drama to end the game!  Congratulations Tim !.

Upcoming Dates

Feb. 22       International Day (elementary grades)

Mar. 1        Re-enrollment begins for school family

Mar. 7        Educator's Conference (school closed)

Mar. 11       Sr. High Music Festival @ Parsippany

Mar. 13       Fine Arts Night - 7 p.m. @ HBC

Mar. 14       Sr. High Academic Day @ The Pilgrim Academy

Mar. 17       Progress Reports issued

Mar. 20       Progress Reports returned         

Mar. 21-24  Easter Vacation

Mar. 25-31  Achievement Tests

REMINDER TO GCCS FAMILY - TRANSPORTATION (B6T) FORMS FOR 2008-2009 MUST BE COMPLETED AND RETURNED TO THE SCHOOL OFFICE NO LATER THAN MARCH 1, 2008