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Andrews Academy's
Official Newsletter
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Class of 2025 Junior Class Officers
Junior class officer elections were held on September 8.
We pray that the juniors will have a blessed year as the class officers plan events throughout the school year.
Congratulations newly elected officers! The elections results are as follows:
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President: Gabriella Gonçalves
Vice President: Minki Kang
Pastor: Zoleka Sibanda
Secretary: Kiera Lyons
Treasurer: Lawrence Mattson
Public Relations: Lily Delacruz
Representatives: Leah Reid, Marcus Silie, Timothy Yi
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NHS Officers
Congratulations to the National Honor Society officers!
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President: Natalie Mendonça
Vice President: Michael Woods
Pastor: Hayoung (Karan) Chun
Secretary: Paula Oliveira
Treasurer: Natalia Brown
Public Relations: Lora Baker
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Senior vs. School Flag Football Game
The Senior vs. School flag football game was held last night (September 28). It was a fun game for all. The school girls took a lead early in the game and won the game, 19 to 0. The school guys team won 19 to 13. The game was very fast and fun. We’re impressed with the athletic ability of our students. Lots of fans were there to cheer the teams on.
Thank you, parents, for organizing the selling of food for the game and being there to cheer the players on. Thank you, coaches, for your time in helping the teams. Your time and effort was greatly appreciated.
God blessed us with a fun-filled, beautiful evening.
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E-Learning/Professional Development
Tuesday, October 10
Please note that students will be working on assignments at home on October 10 while the AA faculty and staff are having Professional Development. Students, please check Google Classroom and your email for assignments from you teachers.
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PSAT Testing Information & AU Senior Day
Wednesday, October 11
All freshmen, sophomores, and juniors will take the PSAT test on Wednesday, October 11. There will be no afternoon classes. This is a change to our calendar.
Grades 9, 10, and 11 students will take the PSAT/NSMQT that morning from 8:00–12:00 PM. Students should arrive by 7:45 AM. Students arriving after 8:00 AM will not be allowed to sit for the test. Please arrive on time.
The PSAT, when taken in a student's junior year, is a qualifying test for the National Merit Scholarship. We encourage our students to familiarize themselves with the test by taking practice tests online by visiting www.collegeboard.org.
If your student wishes to participate in the PSAT testing, they will need to test on-site. There will not be a make-up PSAT testing date.
Grade 12 will be with AU that day for Senior Day. Your sponsors will give you more information and permission forms.
Orchestra class will not meet on October 11.
If you have any additional questions, please contact me at nievesl@andrews.edu.
Ms. Leslie Nieves
Guidance Counselor | Andrews Academy
269-471-3453
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SAT Testing at AA
We are excited to announce that students will have the opportunity to participate in SAT School Day on Thursday afternoon, October 26. The SAT is a standardized test for college admissions in the United States. Allowing students to take the test in a familiar environment will build their confidence and do well. To learn more about the SAT, we invite you to explore the website: https://www.collegeboard.org/. You are also able to access a free practice test: https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat/practice-preparation/practice-tests
Students should bring their payments to the main office by October 20. There is limited seating available for the test; we will allow a total of 50 students who are in the 11th & 12th grades to sign up. Students must bring their $60 to the office, and write their names to reserve a place on the list. Checks should be payable to Andrews Academy with "SAT" written on the memo line. (Note: Those in bells will be at RingFest so will be unable to take the test that day.)
October 26 is the second day of Parent/Teacher Conferences, and the students have noon dismissal. Students participating in SAT School Day are excused from their classes that day only if they are present for the test that afternoon and should arrive at school at 1 PM to begin testing promptly at 1:30 PM. If you do come for the whole day, please bring a lunch.
Please bring an approved calculator:
https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat/what-to-bring-do/calculator-policy
Ms. Leslie Nieves
Guidance Counselor | Andrews Academy
269-471-3453
nievesl@andrews.edu
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Intramurals and Fitness Center at AA
Students, please click on the intramural interest button and answer all of the questions to aid in planning the after-school activities at AA for the 2023-2024 school year. You can also sign up to use the fitness center on Monday afternoons from 3:30-4:30 PM.
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Opting into Texting for One Call Now
Andrews Academy utilizes One Call Now, an automated messaging service, to contact students and parents about school cancellations (including snow days), upcoming events, and urgent information, etc.
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Please make sure that we have the phone number that you would like to have contacted. We also send an email, put the announcement on our Facebook and Instagram pages, and alert local TV stations (WSBT, WNDU, ABC57).
To receive a text notification instead of a call (text works best), please text “ALERT” to 22300. Please make sure that you have given us the number that you would like to be texted on as well. Email ginam@andrews.edu with any changes. Thank you!
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After-School Hours Agreement
The After-School Hours Agreement needs to be signed by a student and a parent. Here are the acceptable ways to return this document (if you haven't already done so):
- Complete the attached fillable document and email to ginam@andrews.edu.
- Print the attached document, complete it, scan or take a picture, and email it to ginam@andrews.edu (or turn it in to the school office).
- Stop by the school office and complete the form.
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Tuition
Tuition payment #3 is due October 25.
Please contact Ms. Gracie at gaytan@andrews.edu with questions.
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Biology Class Service Project
A group of biology students gathered together on Sunday afternoon (September 24, 2023) and picked up eight bags of garbage from the on and off ramps of US 31 going into Berrien Springs as part of the Adopt-a-Highway program. Andrews Academy has sponsored these ramps for a number of years. Thank you to our volunteers for helping with this project during your Sunday! Thank you to Mrs. Contreras & Mr. Chung for volunteering with the class so that we had enough supervision. (And thank you to three other parents that were on “standby” if more supervision was required.) The state requires a three student to 1 adult ratio for students who volunteer on the Adopt-a-Highway program.
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Senior Pictures & Ads for Yearbook
Senior pictures are needed for yearbook, class night, and the class composite to be hung in the AA Commons. Yearbook will need your senior and baby pictures by Friday, October 20, 2023. We encourage you to get your senior picture done ASAP if you haven't already. PLEASE PLAN AHEAD and get your picture done in a timely manner.
Please send an electronic senior picture (JPEG) to the yearbook sponsor (myersd@andrews.edu). You do not have to go to a professional photographer for this picture, but please make sure you follow the picture requirements below. If not, the yearbook team may request that you send an alternative. For yearbook pictures, seniors should be looking at the camera rather than away from it.
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Pictures for the yearbook and senior ads must adhere to the following requirements:
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- In color
- Picture from waist up (not entire body) - yearbook picture
- Portrait/vertical mode (not landscape/horizontal) - yearbook picture
- Attire per AA guidelines—no sleeveless shirts or bare shoulders, no low cut or cropped tops, no jewelry - both
- High-resolution JPEG (at least 4x6, 300 ppi resolution)
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Baby Photos
By the same date (October 20), please submit a baby picture as well. The baby picture will be used by yearbook as well as for senior bulletin board and class night purposes. Please submit a high-resolution JPEG baby picture. If you cannot scan the picture, you may bring the baby picture to the yearbook staff, and they will scan it for you.
Also, please plan ahead for senior yearbook ad nights on Monday and Tuesday, October 30 & 31, at 5:00 PM. At that time, you and your parents can purchase senior ads for the yearbook (see the messages to seniors in the back of previous yearbooks for examples).
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Chapels this Week
We celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month during chapels on Wednesday and will have a special assembly in October. Song leaders led out in a couple of songs in Spanish. Our speaker for Wednesday was Mrs. Periza Zaninovic. She shared a story of her time in France when she and friends went rock climbing. It was new to her, and she didn’t like heights. When partway up, she couldn’t figure out why the group leader was free climbing down to where she was and then hung onto her harness as she went the rest of the way up. At the top, he explained that her harness was not attached properly, and he was there making sure she was safe. He was willing to risk his life to save hers. Jesus was not only willing but actually gave His life to save us! We need to be thankful that Jesus was willing to do this for us.
On Thursday, Pastor Lindsey Pratt, PMC youth pastor, shared how a number of years ago, she had a part time job working for NBC. She was a certified rock climber and was hired to protect various famous people rock climb and do other activities as they were being filmed by NBC. After filming, these individuals would party and invite her to participate in various bad activities. It became hard to guard her heart in that climate of work. She decided to not do that work any more so that she could guard her heart as Proverbs 4:23 admonishes us to do. King Solomon was a good king, but he had a weakness—women. She encouraged us to make sure we do not have a “but” following our description like King Solomon had. We are in charge of guarding our hearts. It is what comes from our heart that is who we are.
Today (Friday), Ms. Leanne Sigvartsen, AA substitute English teacher, told a story. She captivated the audience with creative imagery as well as impactful sound effects. Although it was just a make believe story, it did help us see that we need to treat each other as Jesus would, and like the Bible says, to help build each other up. It was a great session of experiential learning.
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Attention: If you would like Friday's boxed lunch, those who are signed up for the lunch program must order it each week by Wednesday at 2:00 PM. The sign-up sheet will be at lunch or in the front office.
To sign up for the lunch program or add funds to your student's account, please contact Andrews University's Dining Services at ds@andrews.edu or call 269-471-3161. The Dining Services Office is located on the first floor of the AU Campus Center.
Monday–Thursday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
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AU Agriculture Education Center
Open House:
September 30, 4-6 PM
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Set your GPS to 8385 Farm Oval Drive to park at the top of the hill and take a stroll down, or 8225 Dairy Dr, Berrien Springs, MI 49104 to find parking down at the Agriculture Education Center.
Wander around, meeting the animals and seeing the facilities. This is not just a mini farm, this is our pride and joy. This facility allows us to offer hands on education to our students as they learn to care for our animals.
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AU Harvest Run 2023
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Homecoming Weekend at Andrews University (September 28 – October 1) is fast approaching, and we’d like to personally invite you to participate during one of our weekend events, the Bradley Family Harvest Run on Sunday, October 1, starting at 9:00 AM at the Andreasen Center for Wellness. The race features a 5k and 10k distance around the campus of Andrews University and, for the 10k, challenging trails down by the Dairy. Come enjoy a morning of exercise and test your competitiveness with the rest of our Andrews University community and visiting alumni. There will be overall 5k/10k awards in addition to age group medals. The race will be timed, and we’re offering finisher photos for the first time this year that we’ll send out to you after the race. Learn more and register at https://alumni.andrews.edu/run. We hope to see you on race day!
Your AU Alumni Team
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Attention AA Alumni:
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Fall is here, and that can only mean one thing—ALUMNI WEEKEND! We are so excited to host AA Alumni weekend on October 20 & 21! The main events are on Sabbath, October 21. Career Seminars presented by alumni for current students are held on Friday morning. Friday evening vespers is being planned by the class of 2003.
Plan to attend all of our events and catch up with classmates. In case there are any updates to the weekend's schedule, please visit our reunion information page before alumni weekend. Events are hosted at the Academy unless otherwise stated. Some honor classes may have additional gatherings to attend. Many of the honor classes have a Facebook group page where classmates may be planning activities for the weekend. See our list of FB groups for links.
This year, we are planning to have basketball games for Shydepoke. Challenges have arisen over the past couple of years regarding Shydepoke, and we are seeking to make AA Alumni aware of them and potentially develop some possible solutions that will be agreeable to most. We would like to keep the spirit of Shydepoke alive and request your feedback in this matter.
The Shydepoke planning challenges are as follows:
- The Berrien Springs High School field is no longer a feasible option due to time constraints and costs.
- The athletic field at Andrews University is still under construction.
- AA's field doesn't have lights, which are cost prohibitive to rent.
AA Alumni Weekend Events:
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Friday, October 20: 8-11 AM - Convocation and Career Seminar Presentations by alumni for current student body
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Friday, October 20: 7 PM - Vespers by the Class of '03
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Sabbath, October 21: 10 AM - Tribute Sabbath School & Alumni Proceedings (Roll Call)
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Sabbath, October 21: 11:30 AM - Alumni Worship Convocation: Doug Taylor '98, Speaker
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Sabbath, October 21: 12:45 PM - Honored Class Alumni Photos & Haystack Luncheon (food provided) - Honor Classes will have a classroom to meet in for lunch and the afternoon.
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Sabbath, October 21: 2-6 PM - Academy building open for extended mingling.
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Saturday night, October 21: 8 PM - Shydepoke (Basketball games hosted at the AU Andreasen Center for Wellness gym); the AA Commons will be open for visiting.
Sabbath School and church are typically live-streamed on AA's Facebook page and YouTube channel. If you are unable to join us in person, please join us virtually!
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Mondays - Thursdays:
7:40 AM - 4:00 PM
Fridays: 7:40 AM - 2:00 PM
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Important Attendance Information
- Pre-arranged Absences: Please be sure to fill out a pre-arranged absence card if you know in advance that you will be missing school due to a doctor/dentist/orthodontist appointment, trip, basketball tournament, driver's test, etc. These cards can be found in the main office or online. A parent's signature is required, then the office, and teacher(s) of the class(es) that you will miss.
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Class Schedule Adjustment (CSA) Requests: A CSA is available for students who have a study hall at the beginning or ending of the school day or will be working during a study hall during the school day. A CSA is required for students who leave the Academy to attend classes at Andrews University, who are going to work off campus, or who wish to begin the school day later or leave earlier on a regular basis. The CSA request form must be filled out and signed by everyone indicated on the form before the student stops attending their study hall. Students must adhere to CSA guidelines that are printed on the CSA application. Any violation may cause the CSA to be revoked. I will email students and parents when a CSA is approved.
- Other Absences: Parents, please call the front office (269-471-3138) or email aaattendance@andrews.edu if your student is going to be absent or tardy. These are the preferable methods.
Please provide the reason why your child will not be attending school and how long you think they will be out.
Parents/Guardians are the only authorized individuals who can excuse a student's attendance. When emailing, parents must send correspondence from their email account to maintain the validity of the request. Please include the name of the student.
From the Sourcebook (pg. 83):
Students who miss three (3) consecutive school days due to illness must provide written documentation from a certified medical professional corroborating the necessity of that absence.
For any attendance questions that you would like to ask by email, please direct these questions to aaattendance@andrews.edu.
Thank you!
Ms. Leslie Nieves
Guidance Counselor/Attendance Officer
Andrews Academy
269-471-3453
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FACTS or Andrews Email Log In Help
If you need help logging in to FACTS or help with your Andrews email and password, please contact Mrs. Meekma (ginam@andrews.edu) in the main office.
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You can find your schedule, grades, etc. on FACTS.
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AA Uniforms Available from Lands' End
Uniforms can be purchased from Lands’ End, including for PE. Click on the option(s) that you would like, then choose the size (kid or adult). Please be mindful that Andrews Academy is not responsible for your orders.
We do have a limited supply of uniforms for sale at AA (cash or check only) during office hours.
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| AA's Lands' End Store |
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Please review the Sourcebook (pgs 79-81) for more information regarding uniforms. Only approved logoed uniform wear is allowed. A solid-color, long sleeved undershirt may be worn under the AA short-sleeved polo (no writing should be visible on the undershirt). If a student is wearing an AA logoed jacket, they should also have an AA logoed shirt underneath. Only AA logoed jackets are allowed to be worn in the building.
The PE uniform can only be worn during PE class.
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School Communications
The E-Sanjo and other communications from the school, including classroom teacher communications, use the email address(es) that you (and your parents) have recorded in FACTS when you registered for Andrews Academy. We will also use students' AU email address. Some have been wondering why they are not receiving their school communications to a certain email. If you wish to have communications sent to a specific email address, please send the change to ginam@andrews.edu. Thank you!
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Andrews Academy
8833 Garland Ave Berrien Springs, MI 49104
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269-471-3138
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