Volume 18, Issue 11

Andrews Academy's

Official Newsletter

September 17, 2024

To view the full newsletter, you may need to click on the words at the top -

"View in browser."

Senior Class Trip

Andrews Academy’s senior class trip is held in the fall to allow the “old” students to rekindle relationships with each other and form new friendships with the new seniors for the remaining year ahead. The itinerary is set up accordingly, to strengthen relationships with each other and with our God. The seniors left early Sunday morning, traveling many miles. They are enjoying lots of activities in Tennessee. On Sunday evening, they arrived at their lodge that has plenty of room for the entire class. They enjoyed their supper there and time to worship and relax in the evening.

On Monday, they went to Dollywood to enjoy activities there. Today, due to rain, they relaxed and had some fun at the lodge. Please pray for safety and that the trip will be a time to draw the class closer to each other and to God.

More photos on Facebook

Service Day

Tomorrow, Wednesday, September 18

8:30 AM - Chapel
2:00 PM - Dismissal

Wear an AA t-shirt with your work clothes if you have one (or get one in the office), and bring a sack lunch.
Water and snacks will be provided.

Please bring work gloves if you have them, wear closed-toed shoes, and wear jeans (not shorts).

E-Learning Day for Students/Professional Development for Faculty & Staff

Please note that there will be an e-learning day on Monday, September 30. Students will work on assignments from home while the faculty and staff have some important training.

Parents Positively Involved (PPI)

As the AA school year and events are well under way, we are thrilled with the parent involvement thus far. There are many more opportunities to serve, and I encourage you to look ahead at the school calendar of events.

We are especially looking for help with Sabbath lunch during alumni weekend (October 19).

Please email me (aappi@andrews.edu) if you are available and willing to serve at alumni or any of these events. ~ Kimberly Spare

School Lunch Program

Andrews Academy
2024-2025

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Bon Appetit Management 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, always prepared from scratch. We take the care of your student(s) very seriously and thank you in advance for placing your trust in us.

Meals are sold as a package of 4 weeks of meals (one month). Students may choose which lunches they want to eat and bring a lunch on the other days. When the academic semester has completed, the cost of any unused meals remaining are credited back to the Andrews Academy student (tuition) account.

Important Information for 2024-2025 School Year

Until you receive further instructions, parents desiring to purchase school lunches for their enrolled students will need to pay via cash, check, or credit card at the Andrews Academy office or via credit card over the phone for their student's lunch service for the month. Checks (noting that the payment is for lunches and the student's name) may also be put in the dropbox on the pillar by the front door also. Lunch payments may NOT be made on TouchNet or elsewhere online at this time.

This is a temporary arrangement, since Andrews University ITS is planning to provide a secure web page where parents of AA students can pay online for any subsequent school lunch charges after the first month of school. Further announcements will be forthcoming.

Full Paying Meal Plan ($6.60 per meal / 20 Meals per month / $132 monthly)

Reduced Meal Plan ($2.85 per meal / 20 meals per month / $57 monthly)

The reduced meal plan contract and application can be obtained from the school office, or you can reply to this email to request them to be sent to you in an email in case you would like to be considered for this program. Please return the completed forms to Andrews Academy ASAP. Proof of income will be required. Please see the application for details.

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 by AA 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

Notes: The menu will be posted in the display case at school as well as towards the end of the E-Sanjo each week.

The Friday boxed lunch must be ordered by putting the student's name and ID number on a sign-up sheet in the office (also passed around during lunch) by Wednesday at 2:00 PM.

This is an optional lunch program. Students are always welcome to bring their lunch or their parent can bring them a lunch, but students are not allowed to have lunch delivered to them by a restaurant/Door Dash.

More information

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 understand that uniforms are on back order from Land's End. We do have a limited supply of uniforms for sale at AA (cash or check only) during office hours. We found a few more used uniforms in storage, so those who don't have uniforms should come tomorrow (Monday) to see if you can find something that fits (first come, first served).

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.

AA's Lands' End Store

Google Account Security Key Required

PLEASE note that if your child still has their security key from last year, you DO NOT NEED to purchase them a new one.

If you have not done so already, please purchase the Multi-Factor Authentication Security Key for all AA students. This key is essential for your child to access all Google platforms (AU email, Google Classroom, etc.), as well as secure documents from Andrews University and Andrews Academy. Each student needs their own security key.

Security Key Link

If you have any further questions, feel free to email me.

Forms to check out a school computer for use at home during the school year can be found in the main office. Both a parent and the student's signatures are required.

Thank you for your cooperation,

Caleb Akins, MA

Media Ministry Director

Andrews Academy

akins@andrews.edu

Tuition

Note that payment #2 is due on or before September 25. If you have not yet paid payment #1, please do so right away. It was due on August 5.

Please contact Ms. Gracie at gaytan@andrews.edu with questions.

MAP Testing and Test Prep Day

Monday morning (September 16) was a "Test Preparation Day" for the juniors while seniors are on their class trip. Juniors met in the chapel with AU representatives for a short worship and discussion of what these standardized tests are for. Then the juniors then met with Academy teachers to work together on test sample questions, which is a prudent way to prepare for the PSAT and SAT tests.

Freshmen and sophomores did their MAP® Growth™ test from NWEA® on a computer or tablet. MAP Growth scores help teachers check student performance by measuring achievement and growth. Teachers use results to tailor classroom lessons and set goals for students. This test adapts to the student’s responses to measure the student’s skill level. These results will provide a more complete picture of what the student knows and is ready to learn—whether it is on, above, or below their grade level. Teachers can identify students with similar scores that are generally ready for instruction in similar skills and topics, and then plan instruction accordingly.

Senior Pictures & Ads for Yearbook

Senior pictures are needed for yearbook, class night, and the class composite to be hung in the AA Commons or Library. The yearbook team will need your senior and baby pictures by Friday, October 18, 2024. We encourage you to get your senior picture done during the 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.

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:

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 - yearbook AND senior ads
High-resolution JPEG (at least 4x6, 300 ppi resolution)

Baby Photos

By the same date (October 18), 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 team, and they will scan it for you.

Also, please plan ahead for senior yearbook ad nights on Monday and Tuesday, October 28 & 29, starting 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).

Please send photos and any questions to Mrs. Diane Meyers (myersd@andrews.edu). Note the student’s name in the subject line and indicate if the photos are for the senior/baby section OR the parent dedication.

AA Students Helping at Church

At Andrews Academy, we encourage students to get involved in helping with church ministries, which is a great way to tell others about Jesus.

For a number of weeks, many AA students from biology class have been involved in helping teach Beginners (Cradle Roll) at PMC. They were great teachers and leaders. Thank you for getting involved in church ministries.

More photos on Facebook

Attention Students: 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.

Parents: To sign your student up for the lunch program or add funds to your student's account, please pay at the Academy main office (cash/check/credit card) until a website is set up in mid-September to load funds online. You may still pay cash or check in the Academy office even when the website is available.

Community Volleyball

Starting on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, from 7:00-9:00 PM, AA will be hosting community volleyball.

Click on the form link if you would like to play. It needs to be completed before you can attend and play for the evening. You can access this form repeatedly to change your sign-up status. Please sign up the day before the Tuesday you choose to play so that Mrs. Mills can give the list to the supervisor for the evening. Each person that plans on playing needs to sign up using the attached form (using an andrews.edu email address).

Volleyball Sign-Up Form

Full Calendar on Website

2024-25 Year-at-a-Glance Calendar

Textbook Information

Our online textbook store is open. Please follow the instructions for purchasing workbooks and digital content that are automatically placed in your cart, which is required to purchase from them as part of our contract. The bookstore will list all of the textbooks required for each class that the student is registered for (note that some textbooks are optional if there is digital content required).

Email Mrs. Gina Meekma (ginam@andrews.edu) with any questions or log in difficulties.

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. Gina Meekma (ginam@andrews.edu) in the main office.

You can find your schedule, grades, missing assignments, etc. on FACTS.

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.
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

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!