|
Andrews Academy's
Official Newsletter
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
To view the full newsletter, you may need to click on the words at the top -
"View in browser."
|
|
|
|
 |
|
This Friday, December 8, 7 PM
Pioneer Memorial Church
Free Program
You are invited to attend Feast of Lights as we celebrate its 50th anniversary. Dr. Orrison began this "Gift to the Community" fifty years ago. We also invite our community and alumni to return to PMC for this special program as recent former music directors Mr. Becker, Mr. Boward, Mr. Flores, and Dr. Graves will be returning to AA to direct some songs. We would love to fill the front of Pioneer Memorial Church with alumni and current chorale members as we sing the Hallelujah Chorus together to conclude this year's Feast of Lights celebration.
Music Participants:
Place: PMC Sanctuary. Pews will be reserved for you.
Call Time: 6:30 PM (unless otherwise instructed by your teacher)
Attire: Full concert outfit, including tuxedo/black dress, black formal shoes, and socks.
|
|
|
|
|
|
50th Feast of Lights
If you have lived in Berrien Springs for any length of time, you have probably attended or at least heard of the the annual Andrews Academy Feast of Lights Christmas program. I still remember the feeling of awe I felt hearing the music and seeing the candles in such a huge and beautiful church during my first Feast of Lights when I attended Andrews University in the 1980s.
The Feast of Lights was first conceived by longtime Andrews Academy principal Richard Orrison in 1972. Dr. Orrison had attended a different Feast of Lights put on annually by the University of Redlands in southern California while he was dean at La Sierra University, and he was so impressed by it that he decided to borrow the idea for Andrews Academy. An Andrews Academy tradition was born, and this year we will celebrate our 50th annual Feast of Lights program this Friday, December 8. During this 50th Feast of Lights, we will be recognizing the Orrison family and will have a recorded interview with the AA music director, Rosalyn Upshaw, who worked along with Dr. Orrison to create the first Feast of Lights.
There have been many small traditions within the larger one; for many years, every student at Andrews Academy sang in the Chapel Choir at Feast of Lights, and a guest alumnus was invited to perform. A more recent addition is the presentation of large scale choral and orchestral works such as Vivaldi’s Gloria and Handel’s Messiah. Some old traditions continue still, such as the live nativity, student-drawn cover artwork for the program, and of course, singing the Hallelujah chorus and Silent Night to close the evening.
One of our teachers working at AA today was “Joseph” in one of the Feast of Lights in the 1980s. What the audience does not see is that each of our faculty and staff are involved behind the scenes, along with many parents and students who are not performing onstage. Whether it is decorating the church in the days leading up to the concert, choreographing the nativity, running the spotlights, or vacuuming the floor after the program, we are extremely grateful for the countless hours these individuals spend creating an atmosphere that reminds us of years past and points us to the infant King.
As you can see, the Feast of Lights is more than just a school Christmas program. Besides the nearly 1,000 people in onsite attendance, nearly 3,000 people have watched it on Facebook throughout the years. But beyond its production value, the Feast of Lights has always been about something deeper. As Dr. Orrison envisioned it half a century ago, this program is about the Academy giving something back to the community. Through the musical retelling of Christ’s birth, we strive to live up to the subtitle on the program, “Honoring God’s Gift to the World,” as we give this Christmas gift to you.
This year we have invited back former AA directors from the recent half of this fifty year tradition. Mr Dean Boward was one of the music teachers that taught here for about 26 years. He arrived Sunday from Colorado and has been practicing with the band this week. Dr. Byron Graves, AU music instructor, taught here for several years and has been rehearsing with the handbells this week. Mr. Mark Becker, and Mr. Hector Flores will arrive sometime this week for rehearsals. These guest conductors will conduct a few pieces at various times during the program. We thank our current music directors for making this historic 50th Feast of Lights a special program.
- Written by Steven Atkins with many excepts from an article that Byron Graves wrote in 2016. At that time, he was the band and handbell director at Andrews Academy and Ruth Murdoch Elementary School.
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
You are also invited to our secular Christmas concert on Sunday, December 10, at 4 PM at the Howard Performing Arts Center on the campus of Andrews University. Invite your friends to this free concert!
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
Hello and Happy Holidays!
I am so thankful that another holiday season is upon us, and I am filled with anticipation and excitement as we prepare for Christmas. My prayers are that this holiday season is one that will be filled with blessings for you and your family.
This letter is in reference to an initiative that the Andrews Academy Student Association is responsible for as part of their service project for the 2023-24 school year. The project is the annual food collection drive used to feed 200 families in the Benton Harbor area for their holiday meal. This traditional project has grown in size since it first started four years ago, from 150 families to the current 200. While we've received donations from students in the past, the amount of donations has been a lot less than what is needed. We are asking for your support in either donating food or money to Andrews Academy to help with this initiative. If you are able to support with food items (see list below of suggested items), with a check that is payable to Andrews Academy, or with cash, they can be dropped off any time between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM (Friday until 2:30 PM) to the school office before this Friday, December 8, 2023.
Suggested Donation Items:
Boxed Macaroni & Cheese
Boxed Stuffing
Canned Corn
Canned Green Beans
Bagged Rice
Instant Mashed potatoes
Instant Gravy
|
|
|
|
If you have any questions about this initiative, please email me at samantham@andrews.edu at any time, and I will follow-up.
Thank you for your prayers and donations,
Mrs. Samantha Mills
on behalf of the AA Student Association
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
Final exams/assessments start on Wednesday, December 13. Please note when your exams are scheduled for and carefully prepare for them so that you can do well in each of your classes. The first day begins at 9:25 AM to provide you more time to prepare. If your transportation requires you to arrive at the school at 8:00 AM, then please go to the Commons.
Students are required to attend even if you do not have an exam/ assessment for that time slot. However, if you have a study hall (or band) during the first exam slot of the day, then you do not need to arrive until devotions. For students with band or a study hall for the first or last exam slot of the day, parents should contact us at AAattendance@andrews.edu or 269-471-3138 to excuse study hall/band. Contact Mrs. Meekma (ginam@andrews.edu) in the front office if you have any questions. Be sure to sign in at the front office if you arrive late or leave early.
Students with a college class exam time that conflicts with AA classes or exams, please contact your teachers to make other arrangements. Also let the office know so that you can be excused.
If you have a break in between two finals (for example, on Thursday you have a 10:15 AM class final and no 11:10 AM class final [such as a study hall or CSA], then a 2:25 PM class final), then you must go to study hall. You may not leave campus and walk over to Apple Valley or anywhere else.
Please remember that students must stay in the classroom for the entire exam class period. You may not go "get books," "get a drink," etc. when you are done with your exam.
Before the exam begins, please get books you may need to study from, get a drink, use the restroom, etc. so that you can stay in the classroom the entire time. We want the entire school to be quiet during exams so that they can be done as effectively as possible without distractions. Thank you!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Important Deadlines from the Registrar’s Office:
|
|
Ms. Ivonne Segui Medina
Andrews Academy Registrar
269-471-6234
aaregistrar@andrews.edu
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Bible Camp
January 18-21, 2024
Camp Au Sable, Grayling, MI
|
|
|
Applications for Bible Camp are available in the main office. We can only accommodate 88 students, so complete applications (along with $150 payment) are being accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Once we have 88 students, others will be placed on a waiting list.
The deadline to receive applications and payments is Friday, December 15.
|
|
|
|
|
Lifetouch Pictures
Proofs and pictures that were ordered from Picture Retake Day are in the office. Please stop by and pick them up.
|
|
|
|
To order, log in to your account on mylifetouch.com or create an account using your student's school ID (NOT AU ID) number. Contact Mrs. Meekma (ginam@andrews.edu) for the ID number. Don’t forget to order your FREE Digital SmileSafe card!
More about the Smilesafe program here.
|
|
|
|
|
Opting into Texting for One Call Now
Andrews Academy utilizes One Call Now, an automated messaging service, to contact students and parents about school cancellations (including snow days), upcoming events, and urgent information, etc.
|
|
|
|
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!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tuition
Tuition payment #5 is due on December 25. Since that is during Christmas break, please plan accordingly.
Please contact Ms. Gracie at gaytan@andrews.edu with questions.
|
|
|
|
 |
AA Music Groups in the Community
Andrews Academy students presented Jesus through music this past Sabbath (December 2) at two different locations. Silhouettes performed at Stevensville Adventist Church, and band, orchestra, and strings performed at a church near Grand Rapids. Thank you, Dr. Elsy M. Gallardo-Diaz and Mr. Marcelo Martins and all of the Andrews Academy students who are taking music classes, for your many hours of practice and the performances that you do. These songs do indeed draw us closer to God during our worship experiences.
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
SOW Safari 2023
December 31, 2023, - January 10, 2024
If you would like an opportunity to be part of the upcoming SOW Safari mission trip without leaving home, scan the QR code or click on the graphic to give online. You can also give via check (made out to Andrews Academy) or credit card (call AU Development at 269-471-3124 - specify AA's Student Missionary/SOW Safari fund).
If you would like to support one of the students going on the trip (non-tax deductible), please contact the school office at 269-471-3138.
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
Free Counseling Offered at Andrews University
The Andrews Community Counseling Center (ACCC) will be open for spring semester starting on January 8, 2024, and counselors will start contacting individuals within a couple of weeks after re-opening. Individuals may call now and leave a confidential voicemail message to get on the request list now. The graduate-level practicum students who provide these free counseling services at the ACCC have training in counseling adults, adolescents, and children. Counseling sessions are completely confidential.
See the attached brochure for details.
|
| More information |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mondays - Thursdays:
7:40 AM - 4:30 PM
Fridays: 7:40 AM - 2:30 PM
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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. Meekma (ginam@andrews.edu) in the main office.
|
|
 |
|
You can find your schedule, grades, etc. on FACTS.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
| AA's Lands' End Store |
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
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!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Andrews Academy
8833 Garland Ave Berrien Springs, MI 49104
|
|
|
 |
|
269-471-3138
|
|
|
|
|
