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Andrews Academy's
Official Newsletter
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AA Family Garden of Prayer Begins the School Year
Andrews Academy begins each school year with a “Garden of Prayer” during the first worship of the school year. Students and faculty gathered at the front of the chapel to pray together to dedicate the year to Jesus. It’s an awesome experience to see hundreds of teenagers in prayer together. Pastor Shane Anderson, PMC’s new lead pastor, led in the prayer of blessing.
Aug. 16, 2023
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AA families are invited to join us next Sabbath, August 26, as we dedicate our school year to God and fellowship with each other. The speaker will be our new Vice Principal, Ms Girlie Aguilar.
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2023-24 AA Family
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We are pleased to announce that our school enrollment is 243. This is about 4 students more than last year at this date.
Please keep Andrews Academy in your prayers as we begin the 2023-2024 school year. May each student think deeply, live fully, serve unselfishly, and trust God completely.
Aug. 17, 2023
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HodgePodge
HodgePodge occurred this morning. This activity is designed to be a mixer to help students learn each other's names, as well as to have a fun time. This year they had a game of Jeopardy about AA facts before they went outside. It was a picture and temperature perfect morning for group challenges outside, which included the first class to line up according to age, height, then birthday, etc., as well as a balloon challenge.
Everyone then went to the Academy parking lot and each class used chalk to draw a symbolic representation of our 2023-24 school theme, “Eternity starts here.” A lot of creative ideas were expressed with seniors winning, and then sophomores and juniors, with freshmen coming in fourth place. There was also a frozen wet shirt challenge where four frozen shirts were given to each class that had to be thawed out and put on.
Students then returned to the back of the school where there were pools filled with water, and a path to run on with a plastic sheet with soap and water for a relay race. By late morning, the temperature had risen and was perfect for enjoying pool relay races! Many smiles could be seen as they jumped into the pool. Various other activities were available as classes one at a time were served their lunch.
Thank you, SA, for planning the event, and PPI (Parents Positively Involved) for preparing and serving a great meal. There were a lot of smiles as students enjoyed the morning and made new friends.
August 18, 2023
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FACTS or Andrews Email Log In Help
If you need help logging in to FACTS or help with your Andrews user name 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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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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AU SciFEST
SciFest is a weekend of STEM activities from Thursday evening to Saturday night organized by Andrews University.
September 21–23, 2023
High school students are invited to join AU for this interactive STEM experience. Students will design, solve problems, connect with others, be challenged, and experience life at Andrews. SciFEST 2023 will be on-campus and is recommended for junior and senior high school students.
Tour the AU campus, worship with them, complete lab challenges in each department...and much more. Earn points by completing each team activity. The annual QuizBowl, a game-show team event, culminates the weekend. Prizes will be given to the teams that earn the most points, and scholarships to all who participate. Lab activities include the following: Biology, Chemistry, Computing, Engineering, Math, Physics, and Sustainable Agriculture.
If you are interested in being part of SciFest, please fill out the attached application form since we are only allowed to take ten (10) students. There is no cost this year. Preference will be given to juniors and seniors. The due date for the application is next Friday, August 25, to Mr. Wright.
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Hot Lunch Contracts
Andrews Academy
School Lunch Program
2023-2024
The school lunch program begins this Monday, August 21.
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Bon Appetit at Andrews University is honored to have the opportunity to provide your child with delicious meals that promote health and wellness. Our chef-driven food is alive with flavor and nutrition and always prepared from scratch. We take the care of your student very seriously, and thank you in advance for placing your trust in us.
We are pleased to inform you that this year participating in the school lunch program will continue to be as easy as last year! You can simply give us (Dining Services) a call, and provide the student’s name, ID# and the amount you would like added to their meal plan, and your credit card information. You may also stop by our (Dining Services) office to add funds using a credit or debit card. You may add as much money as you would like; however, a minimum of $100.00 is required to get the account started. A week of meals is $31.75, a month is $127.00, a five-week month is $158.75. We are unable to accept cash. The cashier will let the student know when funds are low, and it is the student's responsibility to notify their parents.
The contract and application are attached. We also have copies in the AA office. They must be filled out and returned to Dining Services ASAP. Please provide your student with a lunch until your application is approved. Proof of income is required, so please see the application for details. We are unable to accept cash. Student is allowed one swipe per day.
Students must present their ID card for meal pickup. Portion sizes are predetermined, and second servings are not provided. All meals now include the house legume and whole grain brown rice. Students are expected to behave appropriately while in the service area. Disciplinary action will be taken as needed.
Your feedback is always welcomed. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us.
It is our greatest pleasure to serve our youth!
Your School Lunch Team at Bon Appetit
E-mail: ds@andrews.edu
Phone: 269-471-3161
Fax: 269-471-3789
Dining Services Office 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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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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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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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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Tuition
Tuition payment #1 was due on Tuesday, August 1.
Please contact Ms. Gracie at gaytan@andrews.edu with questions.
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Orientation Assemblies
The first two days of school included shortened classes and a series of shorter assemblies to orient students on expectations for the school year.
The first assembly began with the introduction of the faculty and staff. Mrs. Samantha Mills, AA PE teacher, introduced each staff. Following this Vice Principal Ms Girlie Aguilar ("Ms G") had opening prayer and discussed our mission statement. Registrar Ms Ivonne discussed some scheduling, CSAs, and other items. The Guidance Counselor, Ms Leslie Nieves, discussed counseling and the attendance policy of the school since she is also the attendance officer. Our Principal, Pastor Mario Ferguson, discussed general school procedures, which concluded the first assembly.
Representatives from AU presented on Title IX for our students for the second assembly of the year. It was an interactive assembly where students learned what things to look for, what to do, and who to report to if there are abuses. It was an informative and interactive presentation.
The third and final assembly during the first two days of school was on safety and what to do for various drills. Pastor Mario Ferguson led in the first part of this assembly. We thank Berrien Springs officer Matthew Oosterwal, who works with area schools presenting this assembly and serving in our community. He is the new resource officer for all of the Berrien Springs schools and is an alumnus of AA, the class of 2010. We thank the police department for doing preventative measures to help keep our school and community safe.
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AU Campus Safety Parking Permit
Academy Vehicle Registration Process
- All vehicles parked on Andrews University property must register their vehicle with the Office of Campus Safety. This must be done online before you plan to park in the AA parking lot or anywhere else on the AU campus. (See instructions below.)
- You will be given a green community registration sticker or an orange staff registration permit if your parent/guardian currently is employed by Andrews and is present at the time of registration. This will go on the driver’s side lower corner of your windshield and should be visible to the on duty patrol officer. This permit will allow you to park in all blue and green lots on campus. No overnight parking is permitted.
- The parking permit will expire on August 31 of the following year, when it will need to be renewed. It may be renewed sooner, starting in early May.
- As a complimentary service, Campus Safety is pleased to offer free jump starts and vehicle lockouts to our guests and students provided they are on University property.
- The Andrews University adopted vehicle policy can be found at the link below.
- If you have further questions, Campus Safety is available twenty four hours a day, seven days a week and can be reached at the following number: 269-471-3321.
Walk-through of Online Vehicle Pre-Registration:
(Please read through instructions before you begin)
Step 1: Go to www.vault.andrews.edu and login using AU username and password (a DUO push will be required to enter system). New AA students who have not yet set up their AU username and password will be sent instructions soon.
Step 2: In Permit Type, select the permit type available (NOT Bicycle). The vehicle information boxes will then populate. (If your permit type is not shown, please select what is available, clarify the appropriate type needed with our office by email or at decal retrieval.) (If decal option is not given for Faculty/Staff, and this is your campus status, please skip step 8)
Step 3: Skip down to the Vehicle section and fill in the Type, Year, Make, & Model of your vehicle. For Color, choose from the menu provided that is closest to your vehicle color.
Step 4: Your VIN number (Vehicle Identification Number) is string of numbers and letters that you should be able to find this on both the insurance and state registration (number must match on both documents.)
Step 5: In the License section enter the issuing State & License Plate number
Step 6: Click on the Agreement button (may be small in size below license plate information). Read through the Vehicle Registration Agreement and then sign using your AU password and then click Submit.
Step 7: Attach all documents requested (must be taken in any .jpeg format. If you are using your mobile device to take the pictures, check format: Settings, Camera, Format - use most compatible option.)
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You must have CURRENT Registration & Insurance and a valid Driver’s License to be issued a permanent parking decal. If document is expired see * below.
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Click “Upload” after each document has been selected
++ Faculty/Staff skip to Step 9 ++
Step 8: There is a $10 annual fee per vehicle for non-faculty/staff parking decals. Select payment method. If you wish to pay cash or in person, do not choose an option. Cash can only be paid at the Financial Aid Cashiers Desk. (Note: Tell cashier payment is for Vehicle Registration and bring receipt to retrieve the decal.)
Step 9: Click “Update.” Please look for emails in your AU email account with instructions.
* Place picture of plate in registration attachment slot. Please email safety@andrews.edu with this information after you complete all possible information online. A temporary parking permit will need be issued.Temporary Parking Permits must be placed in vehicle driver’s side dash when parked on campus.
** If you have an appointment to register with state, please bring verification (email, screen capture) along with all other requested documents, and a temporary parking permit will be issued.
Temporary Parking Permits dates must be viewable on driver’s side dash when vehicle is parked on campus.
Call AU Campus Safety at 269-471-3321 if you have any problems or questions.
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Chapels this Week
Pastor Lindsey Pratt, PMC youth pastor, led in the worship thought to begin the school year on Wednesday by having two students help her hold a basketball. A basketball may be worth $50, but if held by a famous basketball player, it would be worth a lot more. Who holds the basketball determines its worth. What determines your worth, who is holding you? God is who determines your worth, each of us are valuable. In Genesis 6, we read that Noah built the ark, but not near water because he had faith. May each of us have that similar faith in God knowing that our “Eternity starts here” (our school theme this year), and that each of us will be on the “boat.” August 16, 2023
Thank you, song leaders, for a wonderful time of singing to begin our worship experience together on these first days of school.
Music as Metaphor was presented on Thursday. This was an inspiring (and creative) message of hope and assurance in a world of change, especially as students start a new school year filled with both hope and uncertainty. Religion teacher Ms. Nancy Kardos-Moldovan ("Mrs May") teamed up with her husband, a seminarian and pianist, to present an interactive musical message. As Mrs May’s husband played an original piece on the piano, quickly establishing a melody, seven student volunteers entered at intervals carrying numbered "measure" signs, beginning with 1 and ending with 2023. Measure by measure, Mrs May described the music’s movements and transitions, rise and fall, melody and harmony, finally revealing the story told in music at the song’s end.
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Despite the song's shifts and movement - punctuated by interruptions, disruptions, pauses, tension, or uncertainty, there was always a return of the melody. The song is our story, she said. From God’s creation of a melody in Eden, to the discord brought by the fall, to a return of God’s melody in the birth and ministry of Christ, the song tells a story of change even while highlighting the one thing that has never changed: God’s plan of redemption. From creation to 2023, it is our song for eternity. It tells the story of how God redeemed us and our broken world.
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Today (Friday), Religion teacher Pastor Gabriel Johnson shared how he and his daughter enjoy watching culinary shows together. Often the chefs are given a strange ingredient to make a dish. Likewise, we may have strange “ingredients” in our life. We need to remember two important lessons:
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The things you go through are only the ingredients in your life. It doesn’t last forever, it’s not your entire existence, it is not your identify. Don’t get lost in the valleys of your life that you may not see the sunrise that is just ahead.
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The ingredients do not make up the dish entirely. You may be given weird ingredients in your life, but it's important to choose Jesus as your chef who will take these ingredients and make a wonderful dish out of your life. Having God in your life doesn’t change your ingredients. Remember Joseph was trafficked, and God used these ingredients in Joseph's life to do wonderful things through him. Remember Romans 8:28: God makes all things to work together for your good. He will take the ingredients of your life and make a wonderful dish.
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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 during this summer before the busy school year begins. Photographers get busy in the late summer and fall, so you may want to book an appointment early. PLEASE PLAN AHEAD and get your picture done in a timely manner.
Please send an electronic senior picture (JPEG) to the yearbook team (aayearbook@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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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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Andrews University Basketball Program
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Mondays - Thursdays:
7:40 AM - 4:00 PM
Fridays: 7:40 AM - 2:00 PM
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Andrews Academy
8833 Garland Ave Berrien Springs, MI 49104
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269-471-3138
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