We pass them by every day on the streets in cities across America. The hungry and homeless.
Two students from Arthur L. Johnson High School took note. Chris Calabrese and Patrick Grady have their own Youtube channel with thousands of followers.
They also make some decent money from Everything AC merchandise they sell on their vlog.
In the spirit of the season, they took a day trip to NYC to spend some of their merchandise cash
to buy food for people spread out across the city.
The boys talk about their mission of mercy. To see the full video of their outing, check out
their vlog, Everything AC on Youtube.

Our Crusader Country crew asked the staff and student body,
"What's on your wish list this season?"
Here's what we found out.

The ALJ Today (now renamed Crusader Country) video production crew strong-armed
a smattering of staff and students to get them to participate in our annual holiday singalong.
It's quite apparent that we're simply having a wonderful...ah you know the rest.
Just singalong and be careful not to spill your eggnog.

Students, teachers and staff were all in the holiday spirit for the final Spirit Week event, the Ugly Sweater Day. Participants were decked in light up sweaters, reindeer outfits, union suit pajamas and many other holiday attire. Mr. Raguseo and Ms. Wronski, Student Council advisors were very pleased with the participation. 

Continuing the tradition of "decorating" themselves for the holidays, the Class of 2018 came out strong. Reindeer groups, elves, and pajama groups were the most popular options for this year's crop of merry makers. The Class of 2018 wishes everyone a wonderful holiday season and a Happy New Year.

The Door Decorating Contest took a bit to take off, but in the end, there were many participants. Mrs. Raposo and Ms. Bronski both went with “Elf” themed doors. Others chose a number of winter and holiday scenes. Mrs. Jacobi featured a skeleton with stockings in the shape of red bones. Mr. Nevargic decorated both of his doors with characters from “The Year Without a Santa Claus” including Mr. Heat Miser and Mr. Snow Miser. Mr. Reyes’s door was a fireplace setting with stockings made by each of his students. There were many other entries, and a few that didn’t get finished before the deadline.
The winners of the door contest were announced via email to the teachers. Mr. Nevargic took 1st place, Mrs. Raposo came in second and Mr. Reyes came in third. 

​Festive socks were everywhere as fabulously festooned feet pranced from class to class. A number of girls wore long candy cane striped socks, while others donned Santas and elves. 

​The festivities continued on Thursday across ALJ with “Holiday Sock Day” and the culmination of the 2nd Annual Gingerbread House Contest in the IMC. Today was also the final judging for the teacher’s door decorating contest. The entire school seemed engaged in the holiday spirit. 

On December 19th, 2017, The Arthur L. Johnson Music Program presented their Annual Winter Concert. Directed by Mrs. Rachel Bollaro, both the concert band and the choir musicians performed a number of traditional and contemporary arrangements. 
Consisting of 67 members, the Concert Band opened the program with "Overture to a Winter Celebration," with solos by Tyler Moreira, Norberto Diaz, Cody Downing and Bobby Prussack. This was followed by Symphony Number 9 with soloist Sam Hayden. Winter Rhapsody was a difficult piece with soloists Michael Dews, Ryan Rutano, Chris Jimenez, and Sam Hayden. A traditional African song titled "Imani" roused the audience with drums and chimes, with soloists Zack Spricigo and Norberto Diaz. The concert ended the evening with a potpourri of Christmas music in "Twas the Night Before" with soloists Leanne Spratt and Bryan Brown. 
After a brief intermission, the ALJ Choir took the state. Accompanied by pianist Sasha Rabeno, the choir opened the program with "The Sleigh." The traditional Chanukah song "One Candle Lights the Way featured soloists, Dominick DePaz and Kaitlyn Caballero, with Daniel Baton accompanying on the piano. The Latin language song "Festival Sanctus" moved the audience Sasha Rabeno. The choir then entertained everyone with "I Heard the Bells" and finished the night with "Winterlight," with soloists Anthony Brown, Ryan Rutano, Ema Espirito-Santo and Dana Evelina. The choir was accompanied by Dominick DePaz.
Mrs. Bollaro thanked the nearly full auditorium for their support and attendance, and thanked both the school administration and the Board of Education for their continued support of the music program.