|
Andrews Academy's
Official Newsletter
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
To view the full newsletter, you may need to click on the words at the top -
"View in browser."
|
|
|
|
 |
|
AA will be closed from December 18 - January 2.
School resumes on Wednesday, January 3.
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
|
|
|
|
|
|
50th Anniversary of the Feast of Lights
Andrews Academy’s annual Feast of Lights, our gift to our community, was held on December 8, 2023. The program began with a brief history of the program and recognition of Dr. Orrison, the principal that envisioned the program, and Rosalyn Upshaw, the first director that began Feast of Lights. Four guest directors from the recent half of the 50 year tradition returned as guest conductors for this special program. It was a magnificent night of music, scriptures, and drama honoring the King of Kings, a retelling of the glorious Christmas story. It spoke to our hearts of His wondrous love.
A big thank you to all the students who worked diligently in making this such a beautiful program, as well as to the music directors, Dr. Elsy M. Gallardo-Diaz & Mr. Marcelo Martins.
May God grant you His richest blessings during this season of celebration of His Son’s birth. Merry Christmas!
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| More photos on Facebook |
| Video on Facebook |
|
|
|
|
|
Four Former Music Directors Return for 50th Anniversary of the Feast of Lights & a Faculty Reunion
As part of the 50th Anniversary Feast of Lights celebration, four former directors returned to be part of this Feast of Lights: Mark Becker, Dean Boward, Héctor Flores, and Byron Graves. These guest conductors really appreciated and enjoyed their time here at AA when they taught here, but they also enjoyed rehearsing with the current students for this program. They were impressed with the caliber of the musicians and how well they welcomed the guest conductors. This was a meaningful component of this 50th Anniversary Feast of Lights celebration.
On Sabbath afternoon, the guest conductors, a number of former faculty that were colleagues with them, and some current faculty members gathered for a small reunion, fellowship, and Sabbath lunch in the home ec room at Andrews Academy. Some in the group were from different eras of time and did now know each other. After the meal, each former director took turns sharing what years they worked at AA, a special memory from AA, and what has happened in their lives recently. Many retired faculty shared how their time teaching at AA were their best years of teaching, and how the camaraderie and friendship meant so much to them. Such great memories!
This picture of the faculty at lunch represents over 333 collective years of teaching at AA!
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Starting tomorrow!
|
 |
|
|
|
Final exams/assessments start tomorrow, 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 or last 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!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
This week NHS began a bake sale in order to raise money for the Sow Safari Trip coming up in December. On Monday and Tuesday, NHS officers sold crumbl cookies, and on Wednesday and Thursday, they will be selling donuts after school. We are thankful to Mrs. Leiterman for donating and making over 70 crumbl cookies, plus many brownies. Mrs. Leiterman sells baked goods and has donated a large sum to NHS to help with their fundraiser (more information on Instagram: @jeanniebakes_dessert_bar). With her donation, NHS has raised over $300 and hopes to continue raising more throughout the week.
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
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 this Friday, December 15.
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
 |
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.
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
