AMBS #spartanservice
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ambs community
The Academy of the Most Blessed Sacrament plans various student-led service based activities throughout the school year. Together, we strive to educate our students while expanding their hearts by living, experiencing and reflecting on service to others as did Christ, our greatest teacher.
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2022-2023 School yearFebruary 2023
MEET THE MUSICIANS
February 8, 2023
Today the student at AMBS had the privilege of meeting all the musicians that play at our First Friday Masses. Students listened to why they chose the instrument they play and why they love playing it. They also got to ask the musicians questions. It was a great experience for all! Everyone at AMBS would like to thank the musicians for coming and spending the afternoon with us!
Mass Conclusion
February 3, 2023
As we concluded a wonderful Catholic Schools Week, 2nd and 3rd grade led us in mass with Father John and Bishop Flesey. After mass, Father John blessed the throats of students, faculty, and parishioners who joined in honor of the feast of St. Blaise. This has been an AMAZING week for all involved. Thank you to our principal, Mrs. Alycia Manzo, and pastor, Father John, for working together to help us celebrate our Academy rooted in faith, service, and excellence. To all of our students, parents,faculty, and staff of AMBS- thank you! Your support, hard work, and dedication does not go unnoticed. AMBS is a very special place because of each of you, and we are forever grateful.
What better way to celebrate vocations than Career Day?!
February 2, 2023
Thank you to all of our guests who came to speak about their careers. We concluded our day with Exposition of The Blessed Sacrament while our 2nd and 3rd graders led us in our monthly recitation of the Rosary with assistance from prayer partners. Thank you to everyone involved today - we are very blessed with an amazing community!
Celebrating Our Nation
February 1, 2023
Students in grades 5-8 have been researching various information about states they chose. Today, they were able to present their projects to our elementary students and parent visitors. Our elementary students loved learning from the older students- a job well done! Such a wonderful learning experience for everyone involved.
January 2023
"Celebrating our Students"
January 31, 2023
We started our morning with a school wide prayer partner activity. After our 8th grade along with Ms. Wetzel assisted our younger students with mini science labs. To end our day, the Student Council hosted a Talent Show. Great Job to all students who performed in the talent show!
‘Soup’er Bowl of Caring
January 30, 2023
No Monday blues here! Today’s CSW theme was “Celebrating our Community.” We started our morning with school wide prayer partner activity, where prayer partners created cards for the senior patients at Valley Hospital to be delivered with the donations being collected for our Trimester 2 project. We then had a local Zumba instructor from the YMCA come to give zumba lessons to all students today - what a fun way to get active! At the end of the day, all students came together to build a structure out of the soup cans.
Kicking Off CSW
January 29, 2023
Such a beautiful mass to begin our Catholic Schools Week! Thank you to our students, faculty, AMBS parents and families who participated and joined us.
2nd Annual Valley Hospital Service Project Grades 2-4
Begins January 17th & Ends February 13th
AMBS HOSTS OPEN HOUSE
January 29, 2023
The Academy of the Most Blessed Sacrament kicked off Catholic Schools Week with an Open House program following the 12:00 noon Mass on Sunday, January 29. AMBS will use the week to celebrate its mission: "Success, Growth, Leadership, Faith: Together as One."
REMEMBERING POPE BENEDICT
January 11, 2023
The students and faculty of the Academy of the Most Blessed Sacrament remembered His Holiness, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, in a variety of ways.
The school offered its communal Rosary on Thursday, January 5th for the late Holy Father. On Friday, January 6th, the students remembered Pope Emeritus Benedict through prayers and intercessions offered at First Friday Mass. Following the Mass, the students offered prayers for the Holy Father during First Friday Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
Throughout the week, the Academy's Middle School faculty offered presentations on the late Holy Father's life, especially during his pontificate from 2005 to 2013, inclusive of his tremendous contributions as a theologian and author.
The First Friday liturgy also provided the opportunity for a remembrance of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, the foundress of Catholic education in the United States and the saint after whom Seton House is named.
December 2022
Mercy House Service Project
December 15, 2022
During Trimester 1 our Pre-K 2, 3, 4, Kindergarten and 1st Grade classes organized their service project to help those in need at Mercy House, a social agency sponsored by the Archdiocese of Newark. Throughout these past months, families from AMBS and our parish donated toiletries, non-perishable food items, clothing, cleaning products, and toys. Last week, Ms. G, Mr. Felipe, Mrs. Benneh, and our students, Sean and Jarred delivered all items to Mercy House. The kindness and generosity of all who contributed will help many. “Serve whole heartedly, as if serving the Lord, not people” Ephesians 6:7
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JUNE 2022
Mrs. Ramdath and the 6th grade Homeroom led a "Donate to Dress Down Day" in support of the Franklin Lakes Fire Department. Established in 1924, the Franklin Lakes Fire Department has developed a rich history of tradition and bravery, generated from the dedicated efforts of its membership over the past 97 years. They respond to an average of 600 emergency calls per year including structure and vehicle fires, motor vehicle collisions, hazardous materials incidents, technical rescues and severe weather events.
MAY 2022
As the Christian action of the Seton House is to promote reading, Head of House Cameryn L. and Seton House members collected new and gently used books for the Book Nook. Book Nook has been instilling the love of reading for 10 years and is seeking to donate 10,000 children’s books to Brooklyn Book Bodega.
For March, Mrs. Gall and the 1st grade class chose to collect for the Sisters of St. Joseph who live at St. Joseph Villa in Flourtown, PA. Saint Joseph Villa is a well-respected Catholic senior living community and a sponsored work of the Sisters of Saint Joseph. In the spirit of loving its neighbor, the Villa provides skilled nursing care and welcomes everyone to its short-term rehabilitation and its compassionate, state-of-the-art long-term living community. The children collected movies, books, snacks, socks and more through the Sisters of St Joseph's amazon wish list. Students also wrote letters to the retired Sisters to offer thanks and prayers.
MARCH 2022Ms. Dragonetti and the 2nd grade class chose Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, NJ as their service project. These inspiring 2nd graders collected donations of puzzle books, playing cards, magnifiers, short novels and more for the Senior patients there.
JANUARY 2022Ms. G's Transitions/Kindergarten class with their 8th grade Prayer Partners (Mr. Q) chose Mercy House as their service project. As January was Respect Life Month at AMBS, the students collections donations of diapers, wipes, bottles, blankets and more for Mercy House.
DECEMBER 2021
Ms. Curriero's 3rd grade class partnered with Mrs. Manzo's 4th grade class for their December service project. The service projeIct was helping collect gift cards for Most Blessed Sacrament Church's The Giving Tree program. We are happy to report that 583 Christmas gift card requests were fulfilled by parishioners and the AMBS community! The gift cards were distributed among a group of charitable organizations that included Mercy House in Hackensack, the Little Sisters of the Poor in Totowa, Harrison House in Paramus, Expect Hope in the Bronx and the Martin de Porres Village in Paterson. Liz Harkins, who coordinated The Giving Tree program for the parish, "The challenges that some of us face, even in this area, can be heart-breaking and overwhelming. The spirit of the Christmas season is the spirit of giving. It is my hope that in the generosity we have shown to others, we have helped our neighbors to feel some of God's loving grace and mercy."
NOVEMBER 2021On Thursday, November 11, 2021, the Aquinas Middle School Xavier House hosted a Prayer Circle dedicated to Veterans. Xavier House is a small Christian learning community of 6th, 7th and 8th graders. Nina P., Head of Xavier House, led the prayer “Today is Veterans Day which honors individuals who served our country. As we come closer to the season of Thanksgiving, we send our appreciation to the millions of service members, Veterans, military families, caregivers and survivors who have served and continue to serve our nation“. Samantha W. led the school in the Pledge of Allegiance and Jarred L. led the school with the Anti-Bully pledge.
MAY 2021The Aquinas Middle School’s Xavier House saluted the Military in May. Led by Patricia M., Head of Xavier House, they hosted various events for the school community. From May 10th through May 21st, Xavier House collected donations of wipes, protein bars, instant soup, chewing gum, snacks, mouthwash and drink mixes for the 2-113th Infantry Regiment, New Jersey National Guard. They hosted a dress down day on May 12th where students wore camouflage, red/white/blue or insignia of any Military branch. They decorated a bulletin board showcasing family members who serve/have served and honored them during daily prayers. To conclude the event, Xavier House members set up tables around school celebrating the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard and National Guard on May 26th with crafts, American flags and raffles.
APRIL 2021Ms. G and the Transitions/Kindergarten class chose the Archdiocese of Newark's Mercy House as their service project. From April 12th through April 30th, the students collected donations of pajamas and undergarments for children and adults. The AMBS community was incredibly generous! In addition to collecting donations, the Transitions/Kindergarteners also led the school in prayer each day, by praying the Our Father, reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and the AMBS anti-bully pledge. They hosted a zoom Q&A for the school to watch, with Cheryl Riley, the director of Mercy House. To learn more about The Corporal Works of Mercy, the children drew their interpretations with Mr. Jim, Art & Design teacher at AMBS.
MARCH 2021To celebrate the Feast of St. Joseph, Mrs. Gall and the 1st grade class made gift bags for the Sisters of St. Joseph Villa. The school donated assorted toiletry items and activity books for the retired Sisters. The 1st graders also hosted a Zoom Q&A with Sister Rose Marie of Most Blessed Sacrament Church. Pope Francis proclaimed "Year of St. Joseph" with the Apostolic Letter "Patris corde" ("With a Father's Heart"). Pope Francis recalls the 150th anniversary of the declaration of Saint Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church. To mark the occasion, the Holy Father has proclamied a "Year of Saint Joseph" from December 8, 2020 to December 8, 2021.
FEBRUARY 2021For Catholic Schools Week, AMBS students donated a can of soup to dress down for the "Souper Bowl". The students wore their favorite sports jersey. Donations went to support the St. Vincent De Paul Food Pantry.
Ms. Curriero and the 3rd grade class hosted a donate to dress down day and plush raffle sale to support The Seeing Eye in Morristown, NJ. Each class also watched videos on how The Seeing Eye breeds and raises puppies to become Seeing Eye dogs, trains Seeing Eye dogs to guide blind people, instructs blind people in the proper use, handling, and care of the dogs and conducts and supports research on canine health and development. They raised $1500.00 for the puppies!
DECEMBER 2020
Mrs. Manzo's 4th Grade class, along with Most Blessed Sacrament Church, collected gift cards for the annual Giving Tree. In all, hundreds of gift cards were donated and distributed to a variety of charities and service agencies including Little Sisters of the Poor (Totowa), Harrison House (Paramus), Expect Hope (Bronx), St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Food Pantry (Jersey City), Community Hills Learning Center (Newark), Mission of St. Joan of Arc (Philadelphia) and NJ Courts and agencies who help shelters/halfway houses and children whose parents are incarcerated, in rehab programs or are deceased.
NOVEMBER 2020Congratulations to the 5th Grade Class and Mrs. Brizzolara for leading this service project! They collected an incredible $2869.00 for Thanksgiving Baskets. Shout out to the 4th Grade Class for being the homeroom with the most donations - enjoy your ice cream party! Given the realities of the Covid-19 pandemic, Most Blessed Sacrament Church transitioned from the Thanksgiving Food Baskets that had long been its tradition, to instead, collecting supermarket gift cards to support the various charities the parish has served in the past. Between the parish community and the children/families of the Academy of the Most Blessed Sacrament, more than $7,000.00 in gift cards were collected and distributed to service centers and shelters in our area.
OCTOBER 2020Congratulations to Mr. Quintilian and the 8th Grade Class for a spook-tacular service project! For a $5 donation, students received a goodie bag with a Halloween themed pencil and a small bag of allergy-free candy. The 8th Grade Class made a $587 donation to the MBS Restoration Fund.
MAY 2019Our With One Voice Character Education Committee planned for and organized a student activity day with fun and games called the Village Project. Our students were charged an entrance fee which supported the work of Eva's Village in Paterson, NJ.
MARCH 2019As a school, we participated in Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowl Collection. The students raised $863.86 in collections and came together with Catholics around the world to practice prayer, fasting and almsgiving—and by doing so we help lift families and communities out of poverty and put them on a path toward resilience, prosperity and stability.
DECEMBER 2018As a school, we hosted a Holiday Toy Drive for patients at St. Joseph's Hospital Paterson. Over 85 toys were donated to this event.
NOVEMBER 2018November 12-16 our MBS Parishioners & school hosted a Thanksgiving Food Drive. Together we filled over 80 boxes to give to those in need. Thank you all from the MBS community for coming together on this service project!
We hosted a "Heart and Soul Dance" Wednesday, October 24, 2018 1:45-2:45 for students. All proceeds benefited the Oncology and Hematology Foundation. Students collected items to make care bags for chemotherapy patients at St. Clare's Hospital.
OCTOBER 2018
We hosted a Halloween candy collection called TREATS FOR TROOPS for a non-profit called Operation Gratitude. We sent candy to men and women serving in our military. Thank you so much for all who participated!
MARCH 2018We participated in the Rice Bowls program. AMBS students joined nearly 14,000 faith communities in 180 dioceses around the U.S. in prayer, fasting and almsgiving this Lent. Together, we served our brothers and sisters most in need around the world while forming families and faith communities in global solidarity.
Through CRS Rice Bowl, we hear stories from our brothers and sisters in need worldwide, and devote our Lenten prayers, fasting and gifts to change the lives of the poor. Each day of Lent, individuals are invited to use the Lenten Calendar—included with every CRS Rice Bowl—to guide their Lenten almsgiving. These daily almsgiving activities—for example, give 25 cents for every faucet found in your home—help families reflect on the realities of our brothers and sisters around the world and how they can be in solidarity during the Lenten season.
FEBRUARY 2018As a school, we participated in Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowl Collection. The students raised $863.86 in collections and came together with Catholics around the world to practice prayer, fasting and almsgiving—and by doing so we help lift families and communities out of poverty and put them on a path toward resilience, prosperity and stability.
We also participated in the American Heart Association's Hoops for Hearts, a national education and fundraising event where the kids learned the value of community service and become empowered to contribute to their community's welfare and raised $1800.000.
JANUARY 2018Students and Staff tackled Hunger and participate in our Souper Bowl by wearing their favorite team jersey over their uniform and by bringing cans of soup. Students created sculptures with the soup cans with their prayer partners and subsequently over 640 cans were donated to area food pantries.
DECEMBER 2017As a school, we also hosted a Holiday Toy Drive for Oasis Safe Haven for Women and Children. Two SUVS and one car were filled with toys donated from our students and staff.
NOVEMBER 2017AMBS hosted a Halloween candy collection called TREATS FOR TROOPS for a non-profit called Operation Gratitude. We sent boxes of Halloween candyto men and women serving in our military. Thank you so much for all who participated!
November 13th-20th our MBS Parishioners & school hosted a Thanksgiving Food Drive. Together we filled over 80 boxes to give to those in need. Thank you all from the MBS community for coming together on this service project!
OCTOBER 2017We hosted a "Heart and Soul Dance" Tuesday, October 24, 2017 1:45-2:45 for students. All proceeds benefited the Oncology and Hematology Foundation. Students collected items to make care bags for chemotherapy patients at St. Clare's Hospital.
We hosted a Halloween candy collection called TREATS FOR TROOPS for a non-profit called Operation Gratitude. We sent over 150lbs of Halloween candy to men and women serving in our military. Thank you so much for all who participated!
APRIL/MAY 2017
- St. Jude Trike-a-Thon (grades PK3-K) & Walk-a-thon (grades 1-8)- May 18. We raised $1,550 from this year's Trike-a-December 2016:
- Joseph House and 1st Graders hosted a Parents' Night Out to benefit the children of The Hands and Feet Project, www.handsandfeetproject.org
- We raised $700 to donate to the orphans of Haiti.
- As a school, we also hosted a Holiday Toy Drive for two amazing organizations, CASA and Oasis Safe Haven for Women and Children.
- Students from Neumann House and other grade levels spent time after school volunteering at Oasis making stocking stuffers.thon alone which covers the airfare for a patient and parent to fly to St. Jude treatment center as well as 1 day of oxygen.
- Xavier House had a Teaching Technology to Seniors workshop led by Mrs. Hogan. The Franklin Lakes seniors were happy to come to our school for one on one technology sessions with Xavier House students.
- We hosted a Baby Shower to honor expecting mothers in shelters. Kathy DiFiore, Founder of the Several Sources Foundation came to speak to our AMBS community about the wonderful work she has done to support Pro life efforts. Special thanks to everyone who brought in donations for Several Sources. Together we can spread hope through compassion.
MARCH 2017
Together as a school community we collected over 4 boxes of books to be donated to support CUSP- Catholic Urban School Partnership.
FEBRUARY 2017
Prayer Partners from 2nd grade and Joseph House hosted a fundraiser to support Syrian Refugee Children through Catholic Relief Services www.CRS.org Parents and students from 2nd grade had a 1 day sale Pop Up Sweet Shop! We sold icepops, candy-grams, tickets for our Valentine's Dance & Lula Roe Valentine leggings. The sale brought in $1,100. Our Love for Syrian Refugees Valentine's Dance Party on 2/14/17 brought in an additional $1,400. Together as a community we raised and donated $2,500 to CRS.
JANUARY 2017
During Catholic School's Week, our service was dedicated to the homeless. Neumann House helped to lead this endeavor by collecting footwear for It's From the Sole throughout the winter. Our collaboration with It's From The Sole was a great success! We collected over 165 pairs of shoes, coats and made 150 blessing bags for the Homeless. Founder of It's From The Sole, Andre McDonnell came to inspire us to help the homeless and give back to those in need.
Please see the link to below to check it out:
www.itsfromthesole.org
NOVEMBER 2016Transitions & 4th graders hosted a Halloween candy collection called TREATS FOR TROOPS for a non-profit called Operation Gratitude. We sent 5 boxes of Halloween candy, toothbrushes, floss and toothpaste to men and women serving in our military. Thank you so much for all who participated!
November 14th-18th our MBS Parishioners & school hosted a Thanksgiving Food Drive 2016. Together we filled 81 boxes to give to those in need. Thank you all from the MBS community for coming together on this service project! Special thanks to all the students of Neumann House for the extra helping hands.
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