PSAT Testing Information & Senior Day with AU

This 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 have given 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

Hispanic Heritage Assembly

Next Friday, October 13
 

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

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!

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.

Foods & Nutrition Class

Andrews Academy has a selective curriculum. Certain classes are required, but choices are available to choose from to fulfill other requirements. This semester we offer two home ec classes: home skills and foods classes. These pictures are from the foods and nutrition class taught by Mrs. Andreabelle Tan. Students have a lot of fun as they learn important skills in cooking. They also get to enjoy the dishes that they make! Oct. 4, 2023

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.

Pictures for the yearbook and senior ads must adhere to the following requirements:

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).

Chapels this Week

On Monday, the AA religion teachers led in “praying through scripture.” They modeled it, then had students participate in this way of praying as we read scripture: 

1. It's important to read the series of verses from Psalms through to get context of the message. 

2. Students read a verse or two and contemplated, shared in a small group, then shared with the entire group what they thought was the important message of the verse. Then there was time to pray collectively about the verse, as well as time to pray quietly about the verse. 

We then moved on to the next series of verses. It was a very practical way to learn and experience another type of praying strategy. Thank you, Pastors Johnson and Kardos-Moldovan (Ms May), for this presentation.

AA Junior, Elisabeth Jeroncic, presented chapel on Tuesday about the importance of building each other up. She began the talk by having four volunteers drive some nails into boards. Then she had them pull the nails out. She pointed out that once the hole was in the board, even though the nail was removed, the hole was left behind. You cannot remove the hole. Likewise, hurtful things are too often spoken, and the pain (the holes) remains. We should do what Ephesians says to do to, “lift each other up.” Social media can be a great way to communicate, but too often it is used to hurt people. She encouraged each of us in our daily lives and as we use social media to make sure we are lifting each other up!

We celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month during chapels on Wednesdays and will have a special assembly next Friday. Song leaders led in a couple of songs in Spanish. Our speaker on Wednesday was Mr. Giovanni Leonor, AA alumnus and father of senior Giordi and a psychologist in the area. He shared some special characteristics that Hispanics are proud of but then focused our attention on I Corinthians 12:12: “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.” Too often we focus on how we disagree with people instead of what we agree upon. He encouraged each of us to seek out people that are different than us and spend time with them to learn of our similarities, and to expand out from our friendship groups. In this way, you will get to know others in a much more meaningful way, and you will live a fuller life.

Pastor Lindsey Pratt, PMC youth pastor, shared a story on Thursday from Flag Camp, where one of the students was in charge of a group of “wild” four year olds. Rules were in place to keep campers safe, with consequences when they broke the rules. In Genesis 2, we read of Adam and Eve being able to eat of any fruit of the tree, as they cared for the garden, except for one tree. They experienced consequences of breaking that rule. The pastor told a story from when she was in 9th grade when she and her friends decided to cheat on an assignment. After being caught, the principal that what is important is to build character, not just try to get the assignment done. She learned that lesson at a young age and encouraged us to remember that rules are put in place so that we can have an abundant life and live a life of integrity in God.

On Friday, AA religion teacher Pastor Gabriel Johnson, lead in the worship experience by posing two questions: 

1. What are some practical ways you can build a relationship with God? 

2. What do you do that causes you to feel the presence of God? 

Students shared their ideas in small groups then individuals reported back to the entire group. Many good and creative ideas were shared.

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

Attention AA Alumni:

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:

• Friday, October 20: 8-11 AM - Convocation and Career Seminar Presentations by alumni for current student body

• Friday, October 20: 7 PM - Vespers by the Class of '03

• Sabbath, October 21: 10 AM - Tribute Sabbath School & Alumni Proceedings (Roll Call)

• Sabbath, October 21: 11:30 AM - Alumni Worship Convocation: Doug Taylor '98, Speaker

• 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.

• Sabbath, October 21: 2-6 PM - Academy building open for extended mingling.

• 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!

Mr. van Rooyen graduated from Andrews Academy in 1985.

Textbook Information

Be sure to check to see if used options are available.

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!

CONTACT US:

Main Office: ginam@andrews.edu or call 269-471-3138
Principal: aaprincipal@andrews.edu or mferguson@andrews.edu
Vice Principal:  girlie@andrews.edu

Application/Enrollment Process: aaadmissions@andrews.edu

Financial Questions: gaytan@andrews.edu

Class Schedule: aaregistrar@andrews.edu

Attendance:  aaattendance@andrews.edu

Guidance Counselor: nievesl@andrews.edu