Recognizing the need to help middle level students jump-start their quest toward higher education, the National Junior Honor Society offers the annual NJHS Outstanding Achievement Award (OAA). The award recognizes 500 exceptional NJHS students with $500, to be placed in a college savings account program-managed by Ascensus as part of the New Mexico Education Trust Board’s 529 college savings plan: The Education Plan. Congratulations to the two Academy of the Most Blessed Sacrament award recipients, Nina P. of the Class of 2022 and Sean B. of the Class of 2023!

On Saturday, May 21, 2022, teachers, parents, and students proudly represented the Academy of the Most Blessed Sacrament in the Franklin Lakes Centennial Parade. The Borough of Franklin Lakes was formed in March 1922, when it ceded from Franklin Township. Celebrating 100 years, the theme of the Centennial Parade was “Pride in Our Past, Faith in Our Future”. Happy 100 Years Franklin Lakes!

Four students from the Academy of the Most Blessed Sacrament earned recognition from the National Spanish Exam in 2022. The National Spanish Exam is the largest of its kind, with over 73,000 students participating in 2022. The exam is a motivational contest to recognize student achievement in the study of Spanish, all with promoting language proficiency. Attaining a medal or honorable mention for any student is very prestigious. “For the first time, we administered the National Spanish Exam to our 7th and 8th graders this year,” said AMBS Spanish teacher Vera Olinski. “My daughter took the National Latin Exam three times, and I have administered the National Italian Exam for high school students three times. For my daughter and all of my students who prepared for the exams, I have seen dramatic improvement in their foreign language abilities as they worked toward the national exam, and I was hoping to see the same sort of success here at AMBS.” The exam was administered in April, and was comprised of two sections that included overall achievement (grammar and vocabulary proficiency) and a separate segment on reading and listening. The following students attained national recognition for their excellent performances on the 2022 National Spanish Exam: Shaya T., who earned a Premio de Bronce, or a Bronze Medal and Izabella C., Jazmine C., Burke B. who received Mención Honorífica, or Honorable Mention. Congratulations to all four of our AMBS students on their success on the 2022 National Spanish Exam!

https://jerseycatholic.org/most-blessed-sacrament-holds-synod-listening-sessions-with-students/

On Friday, March 18, Father Gino de la Rama visited the Academy of the Most Blessed Sacrament at the invitation of Father John and Mr. Conwell. Father Gino is the Director of Vocations for the Archdiocese of Newark. Students in Grades 5 through 8 attended Mass with Father Gino and Father John. In his homily, Father Gino shared his own vocation story, and how he heard God's call to be a priest, especially during his time as a layperson working in the missions. Father Gino talked about vocations to the priesthood and to consecrated life as religious brothers and sisters. Following the Mass, Father Gino presented a video which showed highlights from the ordination of priests in 2019 at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark. He explained some of the rituals that take place during this beautiful liturgy, including the laying on of hands, the anointing with sacred chrism, the singing of the Litany of Saints, and the newly ordained priests offering their first blessings to family and friends. After the video, Father Gino answered questions posed by the members of the four grades in attendance. We are grateful for the time Father Gino spent with us. May all of us pray for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious life, especially from Most Blessed Sacrament.

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. 

Congratulations to Nina P. and Maximo C. who received the Archdiocesan Youth Parish/School Sportsmanship Award at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark on Sunday, April 3rd. The award is presented to an athlete who displays outstanding sportsmanship through service or actions on and off the athletic field in their parish or school community.

Ms. Dragonetti and the 2nd grade chose Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, NJ as their February service project. These inspiring 2nd graders collected donations of puzzle books, playing cards, magnifiers, short novels and more for the Senior patients there.

In January, the Prayer Partners of Transitions/Kindergarten and 8th grade chose Mercy House as their project. As January was Respect Life Month at AMBS, the students collected donations of diapers, wipes, bottles, blankets and more for Mercy House.

Monday, January 31, 2022 is School Spirit Day! The Student Council is hosting a spARTan drawing challenge. Students draw their interpretation of the school mascot, the SpARTan!

The Student Council hosted "Silly Sweater Day" on Tuesday, December 14's School Spirit Day. The entire school got into the spirit with their funny Christmas sweaters. Silliest sweater students won a N.U.T. day. Merry Christmas!

Ms. Curriero's 3rd grade class partnered with Mrs. Manzo's 4th grade class for their December service project. The service project 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."

On 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. The Christian action of the Xavier House is to support Military troops and as their service project, the students collected Halloween candy. Thank you AMBS students! This is #spartanservice!

On October 27, 2021, the Student Council invited the AMBS community to dress down and "Wear Pink" for Breast Cancer Awareness. The students and teachers looked great in pink!

In front of the entire school, parents and family, Nina and the Student Council spoke of Service and Peace, recited the Pledge of Allegiance, and led the school in the anti-bully pledge. Principal Mr. Conwell ended the Prayer Circle by thanking everyone in attendance and reiterated the message of service to our school community.

Congratulations to this year’s Student Council officers and representatives who were inducted on Friday, October 15, 2021. For the 2021-2022 school year, the officers are: President – Nina P., Vice President – Sean B., Secretary – Cristiana H. and Treasurer – Emma A. The class representatives are: 8th grade – Cameryn L., 7th grade – Jazmine C., 6th grade – Lexi C., 5th grade – Shilee T. and 4th grade – Michael B. and Lucas R.

Nina has been a student at The Academy of the Most Blessed Sacrament since she was 3 years old in the Little Blessings program. Today, she is a leader of the school and in the Class of 2022. "It has always been a place of friendship, learning and religion. My teachers have always helped me to succeed, and even though I'm not in their classes anymore, they always take the time to check in and see how I'm doing." At AMBS, Nina has participated in choir, school plays, basketball, AMBS Green Team, Senior Citizen breakfast and the With One Voice committee. This year, Nina serves as Head of Xavier House, Student Council President and National Junior Honor Society Vice President. As Mr. Quintilian, Moderator of Xavier House, Advisor of Student Council and the NJHS states, "Nina has all the potential in the world to be successful in all her endeavors, inside and outside of school. It is an honor to nominate Nina for Student Spotlight"

Thank You Home-Academy Partnership (HAP) for an incredible Back to School BBQ! From the ice cream truck, popcorn, cotton candy, food, music and inflatable games to the sack race, egg and spoon race, jump ropes, tug of war, hoops, football and cheerleading fun, to the delicious food catered by Nicholas Markets, it was definitely a night to remember and enjoyed by all.

Most Blessed Sacrament will initiate a new children's choir with rehearsals starting in September.  The children's choir includes AMBS students as well as public school students. MBS Director of Choirs, David Maiullo "While we have had an adult choir in the past, we have never had a children's choir, except at Christmas and Easter. Involving our parishioners, young and old, in the liturgical life of the parish through music and song is a wonderful thing."  The children's choir will rehearse at 9:30 am on Sundays beginning on September 26, 2021.  The choir will sing at the 10 am Mass the Second Sunday of every month, starting Sunday, October 10th.  

Dixon E. has grown up in the Most Blessed Sacrament community. He was baptized at MBS, and has been a student at the Academy since Pre-K 2. Now a fifth grader, Dixon has already begun to distinguish himself as an exceptional student and classmate. For example, Dixon has already made the AMBS Honor Roll in both of the first two trimesters this year. Given the fact that he is a big reader who loves the Harry Potter series, Dixon says that reading is his favorite subject in school. Though he has enjoyed the work of many writers, he said that Roald Dahl is his favorite author, particularly his book The BFG. Dixon also enjoys drawing, and says that he enjoys AMBS because “I get to learn in fun ways and I get to spent time with friends. It is great to be at AMBS.” His teacher, Mrs. Brizzolara, describes her student this way: “Dixon’s remarkable academic talents shine through in many ways. His smile gleams whenever you see him. He is a kind, compassionate friend to his peers, always acting with gentleness and thoughtfulness. Dixon has only supportive and positive words for his classmates and always steps in to lend a hand whenever he perceives a need. Dixon cares deeply about the quality of his work. He demonstrates great perseverance with every activity to ensure that it lives up to his high standards. Dixon also imbues his creativeness and personal style in everything he does. Dixon’s warmth, gentleness and compassionate nature will also bring him a lifetime of fellowship and friendship. Awesome job, Dixon.”