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AA is closed (except by appointment) during Christmas break.

Please make sure that we have the phone number that you would like to have contacted. For school closings due to weather, 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!

Physical Science Final Exam Project Presentations

Instead of a traditional paper-and-pencil final exam, students worked in groups and completed project-based assessments. Each group selected two out of four project options:

1. Design and build a garage door opening device

2. Construct a bridge using paper

3. Create a robotic arm made from paper

4. Build a water mill to capture energy from flowing water

Students worked on their projects for approximately five days. During the scheduled final exam period on Wednesday morning, groups presented their completed projects. Each presentation lasted about 15 minutes. There were six guest evaluators, and each group presented their projects four times, once for each audience rotation. Group members explained their designs and demonstrated how their projects worked, while guests were encouraged to ask questions. Several groups discovered during testing that redesigns were necessary. These groups presented both their original designs and their revised, improved versions. Other groups realized later in the process that changes were needed, so they shared their completed projects along with thoughtful suggestions for how their designs could be modified to improve performance.

The projects were creative and well-executed, and students clearly enjoyed presenting their work. Overall, this project-based final exam was an engaging and effective way for students to demonstrate their understanding, reflect on the design process, and learn from hands-on experience.

Thank You, PPI

Thank you, Parents Positively Involved (PPI), for thinking of the faculty and staff by providing meals this past week during exams. The food was delicious and was appreciated after busy days of finals and helping students with assignments at the close of this busy semester.

Again, thank you for this and for all your help for the numerous activities throughout this past semester that helped make many memories for the students of Andrews Academy.

Junior Class Fundraiser - Update

Dear Parents and Supporters of the Junior Class Cookie Dough Fundraiser Project,

We have received the unfortunate news that our cookie dough will not arrive until after the holidays. The manufacturer had a systems outage that delayed production significantly. The good news is that we will receive a small financial compensation for the delay to add to our fundraising profits, and we'll have freshly baked cookies to kick-off the New Year. Thank you in advance for your understanding and support.

The company says that the order will be shipped in January.

Chapel Recap

Last Wednesday, Pastor Gabriel Johnson explained the purpose of the winter Bible Camp and what students can expect, then asked them to complete a survey about their interest and any obstacles to attending. He encouraged everyone to apply, noting the team would review responses, pray over them, and seek ways to provide financial and practical support.

On Thursday, Kaitlyn McKenzie, an AA junior, shared her testimony about the upcoming SOW Safari mission trip. Needing to raise funds, she followed Mrs. Pellegrini’s advice to reach out to her church. Her pastor interviewed her during Sabbath service, where she shared her desire to grow closer to God and share Jesus in another country. Church members generously contributed, including unexpected gifts of $400 and $1,500, leaving her deeply grateful and blessed by the experience.

In March, students will travel to Paraguay to help build a church and lead evangelistic meetings. Mrs. Pellegrini reminded students that God makes a way when things seem impossible. Pastor Johnson then invited the spring mission trip participants forward, and the Spiritual Committee prayed for God’s guidance, provision, and life-changing impact.

Student Association religious VP, Sebastian Silie, urged students to deepen their daily walk with Jesus and to both envision and execute their goals. The Spiritual Life Committee followed by discussing how vision boards support effective planning and goal achievement, then led a group activity where students shared their vision for Andrews Academy and/or their personal lives, creating a collective vision board displayed on the TVs.

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 main office.

Parents: To sign your student up for the lunch program or add funds to your student's account, you may use this link to pay online (you will need your child's AU ID number), or you may pay with cash or check at the Academy main office. The minimum payment for 20 lunches is $141.20, unless your student has been approved for reduced lunch.

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!

Important Attendance Policy Updates

ATTENDANCE EVALUATION

Each student begins each semester with an attendance record of zero points. All absences and tardies (excused and unexcused) are assigned a weight of 1 point. The FACTS system includes separate attendance codes, allowing for clear categorization and reporting:

• A (Absence) 

• AE (Excused Absence)

• T (Tardy)

• TE (Excused Tardy)

The AS attendance code is assigned a weight of 0 and is used to mark school-related absences (e.g., for approved school trips or activities). These absences do not count against the student’s attendance record.

Students are allowed one long tour per semester.

PROCEDURES

Each school day, the student who was absent or tardy without excuse is notified of the record in FACTS, the student information system. Parents and students both receive email notifications. If the student believes the record to be incorrect, or has any question about the record, it is that student’s responsibility to contact the school office or attendance officer or submit to the school office a written excuse from a parent/guardian within 3 school days to remove those points.

Correction received after five days generally will not be accepted. In instances where a student is absent for several consecutive days, such as for an extended illness, two school days are allotted following the last absence to submit an excuse.

A student is responsible for all course work missed while absent with or without excuse.

Absence Policy
• After 5 unexcused absences per class: Student receives a warning email.
• After 8 unexcused absences per class: Student receives a demerit.
• After 10 unexcused absences per class: A meeting is scheduled with the student, parents, and attendance officer or another administrator.
• After 10 combined excused and unexcused absences per class: Student receives a warning email noting the risk of withdrawal from the class.
• After 15 combined excused and unexcused absences per class: A meeting with the registrar is required, and the student may be withdrawn from the class and lose all credit subject to that class, pending a review by the Student Affairs Committee.

Tardy Policy
• After 5 unexcused tardies per class: Student receives a warning email.
• After 10 unexcused tardies per class: Student receives a demerit.
• After 10 total excused and unexcused tardies per class: Student meets with the attendance officer or administrator.

Demerit Review Policy
Demerits related to attendance may be re-evaluated at the end of the semester if the student maintains no unexcused absences or tardies from the date the demerit was issued onward.

A student is eligible to hold an organizational office or leadership position as long as they maintain an attendance score below 7 unexcused absences. A student is also eligible to participate in co-curricular, overnight trips and tours if the attendance score is below 7 unexcused absences. A student is placed on citizenship probation when the attendance score reaches 7 unexcused absences. 

Major off-campus school activities include, but are not limited to, overnight trips and tours (see section on Student Citizenship-Citizenship Probation). When a student’s attendance score reaches 7 unexcused absences, the student is placed on citizenship probation. Further unexcused absences could lead to future in-school suspensions. Repeated attendance issues will be referred to the Student Affairs Committee to determine if the student should continue in the Academy and, if so, under what conditions. If these conditions are not successfully adhered to, the student’s enrollment may be discontinued at the time of infractions, at the end of a given semester, or at the end of the school year.

Students who miss five (5) consecutive school days due to illness must provide written documentation from a certified medical professional corroborating the necessity of that absence.

- From the Sourcebook (pg. 67-68)

For any attendance questions that you would like to ask by email, please direct them to AAattendance@andrews.edu.
 

Thank you!

Mrs. Dionne Robinson
Guidance Counselor/Attendance Officer
Andrews Academy
269-471-3453

More 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. We will email students and parents when a CSA is approved.

• Other Absences: Parents, please call the main 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. 68):

Students who miss five (5) consecutive school days due to illness or injury 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.

Mrs. Dionne Robinson

Guidance Counselor

dionner@andrews.edu

269-471-3453

If you have not done so already, please purchase the Multi-Factor Authentication Security Key for all AA students right away. 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, which cannot be used by anyone else.

Security Key Link

AA Uniforms Available from Lands' End

Please review the Sourcebook (pgs 65-66) 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).

• Only AA logoed jackets are allowed to be worn in the building.

• The PE uniform (t-shirt or sweatshirt, shorts or sweats) can only be worn during PE class.

• If a student is wearing an AA logoed jacket, they should also have an AA logoed shirt underneath.