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Andrews Academy's
Official Newsletter
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To view the full newsletter, you may need to click on the words at the top -
"View in browser."
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Beach Day 2025: A Tradition of Fun, Fellowship, and Friendly Competition
One of the most beloved traditions at Andrews Academy is Beach Day—a day where students and faculty step away from the classroom and head to the shores of Lake Michigan to enjoy God’s creation together. Held after just two weeks of classes, this annual event is the perfect opportunity to build class spirit, make new friends, and kick off the school year with fun. This year’s Beach Day took place on September 3, 2025, at beautiful Warren Dunes.
The day began with a creative challenge: each class competed in a sand sculpture contest, with a twist—each sculpture had to include at least one person as part of the design. It was amazing to see the creativity and teamwork on display! Next up came a series of class competitions that had everyone cheering. The tug-of-war was fierce, with the juniors taking first place, followed by the seniors, then the freshmen, and finally the sophomores in fourth. The energy stayed high as students raced to fill buckets with water in a relay-style challenge, and then worked together to build human pyramids—another crowd favorite.
After a well-deserved lunch, students had the choice to join a volleyball tournament or hike up to the top of the dunes for some spectacular views. Whether playing, hiking, or simply relaxing, everyone enjoyed the afternoon.
Throughout the day, we kept an eye on the weather. Though storm clouds loomed nearby and other areas experienced heavy downpours, we were incredibly blessed. Only a few light sprinkles touched our beach, and the real rain held off until we were safely back on the bus.
Beach Day 2025 was a joyful, laughter-filled reminder of the importance of community, creation, and a little friendly competition. We thank God for a safe, dry, and unforgettable day!
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| More photos on Facebook |
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Senior Spirit Week
This Week, September 8-12 - For Seniors ONLY
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Open Forum with Principal Perez-Schulz
Tomorrow, Monday, September 8, at 6:30 PM
Parents are invited to attend this meeting with the principal to learn about school policies on attendance, updates to the Sourcebook, and more. This will be useful for new and returning parents since some policies have changed.
The meeting will be recorded for those unable to attend.
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NAD College Fair
This Tuesday, September 9, 8-9:30 AM, AA Library
Juniors and seniors will be able to meet with representatives from 13 Adventist schools to learn about scholarships, financial aid, campus life, academics, and more. See www.adventistcolleges.org for more information.
If you have a CSA and do not have a college class, please make the necessary arrangements to participate.
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Senior Convocation
This Tuesday, September 9, 9:50 AM
Senior parents/guardians are invited to a special service in the AA chapel on September 9 at 9:50 AM. This is a formal event. Refreshments will follow for seniors and their families.
Note that ALL students will attend the Senior Convocation, and there will be an adjusted schedule for the morning (see below).
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Schedule Change for Senior Convocation
This Tuesday, September 9
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School Vs Senior Flag Football Games
This Tuesday, September 9, the girls' game starts at 5:00 PM, and the boys' game immediately follows, at the Academy field.
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Call for Entries! Feast of Lights Cover Art
Due Friday, October 3
Students are invited to submit original art to be featured on the cover of the Feast of Lights (annual Christmas concert) printed program. The drawing/digital file should depict the nativity scene or a related motif.
Interested? Submit your creation to Mrs. Meekma (at the front office or by email to ginam@andrews.edu) by Friday, October 3. One drawing/digital file will be selected by the faculty. The winner will be awarded a $100 prize.
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Tuition
Payment #2 of 10 is due on September 25. You may put your payment in the drop box on the post by the main doors if needed.
Please contact Ms. Gracie at gaytan@andrews.edu with questions.
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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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PFE Begins a New Year
On Sunday, August 24, 2025, the PFE Orientation Luncheon brought together young, old, and in-between for a review of what makes our program special, some age-related sensitivity training, and great food and fellowship. Parents and students began in the chapel with a short presentation by Mrs. Alice Zappia, the program’s new coordinator. She observed how parents are honored by their student’s participation in PFE because of the financial contribution they make to their parent’s commitment to Adventist education. She also pointed out that serving their mentors brings to life Jesus’ encouragement to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 19:19). Mrs. Zappia talked about common household hazards for older adults, as well as the acronym FAST to help determine a possible stroke and what to expect if they need to call 911.
Next, parents helped outfit their students with earplugs, impaired visibility goggles, and other implements to simulate age-related disabilities. Students were tasked with memory, visual, ambulatory, and fine motor challenges. Through the noise and occasional burst of laughter, students learned how difficult it can be to accomplish even the most common daily tasks. After these activities, the mentors arrived and met with their student helpers over a delicious spread of homemade Asian fusion: Thai mango salad, spring rolls, curry lentils, jasmine rice, and desserts from Mrs. Jeannie Leiterman. The buzz of talking and laughter was a sweet harbinger for the year!
Thank you to everyone who came to participate, and also to Mrs. Judy Garrick, who led a team of volunteers who set up, cooked, decorated, purchased, provided technical support, cleaned up, and put away. God bless you!
If you’re unfamiliar with the Partnering For Eternity program (PFE), it exists to reveal God’s love through service in our community and to support Adventist Education through tuition assistance for student participants. This year, there are 26 Andrews Academy students involved in this scholarship program that pairs them up with older adults in the community to accomplish house and yard work according to their mentors’ needs.
On top of acts of service, students also engage in learning new skills from their mentors, playing games, reading, and other relationship-building activities. Students visit their mentor once a week for two hours, 14 times each semester. In turn, they receive an $800 scholarship each semester funded by a grant from the SFFC Foundation and our own fundraising.
We are focusing our fundraising efforts this year on the PFE endowment so the interest will start giving back to the program. Last year, we came $7,000 shy of our $50,000 goal! God provided in amazing ways, and we know He’ll do it again. Please consider giving to the PFE program at www.andrews.edu/go/give/AAEternity. Overall, the Program will offset tuition costs for these parents and students by a total of $41,600. Praise Jesus! All our positions for this year are full; however, applications for next year will be available in March to returning PFE students, then in April to new applicants. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Alice Zappia at zappiaa@andrews.edu and visit www.aapfe.org for detailed information.
Andrews Academy would like to express our thanks to Mrs. Zappia for continuing and growing the success of this program. She is dedicated to perpetuating a standard of excellence in every aspect of the program: raising matching funds, coordinating schedules, reviewing student reports, visiting mentors while their student is working, etc. It’s such an awesome program that combines the mission of the school, service to others, work ethic, and financial assistance which helps students attend Andrews Academy.
Alice Zappia, Partnering for Eternity Program Coordinator, and
Joelle Ashley, Previous Partnering for Eternity Program Coordinator and supporting this year
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Mental Health Assembly
On some Tuesdays throughout the school year, we hold whole-school assemblies at 10:15 AM. Last Tuesday (September 2), Pastor Johnson, AA religion teacher, organized the assembly. Mrs. Trudean Scott-Elliott, MA, LLPC—mother of Michael Elliott, AA sophomore, and staff counselor and Clinical Coordinator at Andrews University—was the guest speaker. The focus of the assembly was "Stress and Managing It," to support and improve mental health.
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Chapel Recap
During chapel on Tuesday, Pastor Gabriel Johnson, AA religion teacher, led students in a revealing game of “Stand up if the statement is true,” using surprising facts about nature to show how easily our sense of truth can be shaken. This sparked a deeper question: How often do we mistake lies for truth—especially the lie that we are unworthy of love when we feel rejected or uncertain?
Pointing to Romans 8, Pastor Johnson reminded students of an unchanging truth: “Neither death nor life… can separate us from the love of God.” Unlike human promises that end with “till death do us part,” God’s love has no limits—not even death. He urged students to trust in God’s unshakable, everlasting love—rooted not in circumstances, but in His eternal nature—and closed in prayer, asking that each person be fully convinced of this truth and cling to it with confidence and hope.
The Andrews Academy Student Association led worship on Beach Day (Wednesday), beginning the service with friends and familiar camp songs that brought everyone together in joyful praise. Student Association pastor Sebastian Silie shared a powerful message from Mark 4, where Jesus calms the storm. He reminded students that although the disciples were experienced fishermen, they were still afraid without Jesus. Sebastian emphasized that no matter how talented we are, we are powerless without Christ. With Jesus, however, even the storms of life can be calmed. If stress keeps you up at night, remember—with Jesus, you can rest in peace.
Evan Keyes, an AA alumnus, returned to share insights on the Prodigal Son on Thursday morning, focusing on the moment the son "came to his senses." He connected this to a childhood sleep condition where he seemed awake but wasn’t—until his parents woke him, helping him return to reality. Evan used this as a metaphor, encouraging students to reflect on their own faith journeys. He addressed two common lies young people believe:
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"I’ve been too bad to follow Jesus."
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"I need to experience more of the world before following God."
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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 or Library. The yearbook team will need your senior and baby pictures by Friday, October 17, 2025. We encourage you to get your senior picture done ASAP. 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.
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Pictures for the yearbook and senior ads must adhere to the following requirements:
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- In color - yearbook picture
- 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)
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Baby Photos
By the same date (October 17), 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 27 & 28, 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). Watch for more information about signing up for ad night.
Please send photos and any questions to AAyearbook@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.
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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.
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FACTS or Andrews Email Log In Help
New students, you should have set up your Andrews email address if you didn't already have one. Students should also have a FACTS log in.
During the school year, you will be able to find your schedule, grades, missing assignments, attendance, etc. on FACTS.
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Students, 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.
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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. 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 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
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AA Uniforms Available from Lands' End
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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.
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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 65-66) for more information regarding uniforms.
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Only approved logoed uniform wear is allowed.
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A solid-color, long sleeved undershirt may be worn under the AA short-sleeved polo (no writing should be visible on the undershirt).
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Only AA logoed jackets are allowed to be worn in the building.
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The PE uniform (t-shirt or sweatshirt, shorts or sweats) can only be worn during PE class.
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If a student is wearing an AA logoed jacket, they should also have an AA logoed shirt underneath.
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Regular School Office Hours:
Monday – Thursday:
7:40 AM – 4:30 PM
(except Wednesdays where there's faculty meeting: 3:30 PM)
Friday:
7:40 AM – 2:30 PM
(see website for exceptions)
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Andrews Academy
8833 Garland Ave Berrien Springs, MI 49104
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269-471-3138
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This newsletter was sent to you at aanews@andrews.edu because of your interest in Andrews Academy.
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