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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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Dear Andrews Academy Students, Parents/Guardians, and Supporters:
After a prayerful reflection, Pastor Mario Ferguson has announced his decision to resign as principal of Andrews Academy. He and his family will be relocating outside of the area to pursue new ministry opportunities. This resignation will be effective on June 30, 2024. While we are greatly saddened by this news, we also are hopeful and filled with prayers for Pastor Ferguson, and for Andrews Academy, as we prepare to move forward.
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Pastor Ferguson has been part of our Andrews Academy family in a variety of teaching and leadership roles since 2013, and he brought with him nearly 25 years of thoughtful leadership and other experience in educational and Adventist church roles.
As our world was turned “upside down” during COVID-19 in 2020, he stepped into the position of then interim principal for the 2020–2021 school year. He brought us through a very difficult school year as we implemented all the COVID-19 safety precautions, began hybrid teaching (in the classroom and for those online), and had to deal with fluid conditions throughout that very difficult year. His expertise in technology was utilized as he helped each teacher implement the new technologies of Google Classroom, recording cameras, creating online testing, and so many other things teachers had to learn. His expertise in technology was also utilized as the school had to retool and purchase many things for teaching during COVID-19. We thank him for navigating the school through that very difficult year.
After a school board principal search, there was overwhelming support to have Pastor Ferguson lead the school as principal in the fall of 2021. His focus, as he led the school these past five years, has been the spiritual journey of our students and faculty. We have chapel at 8:55 in the morning; however, he wanted our school to begin the day at 8 a.m. and conclude the day at 3:15 p.m. with prayer. This has been such a meaningful addition to the beginning and ending of each day. These daily prayers will be a legacy he leaves with us at Andrews Academy. This is one example of the many ways he intentionally weaved together a more spiritually focused experience here at Andrews Academy.
Under Pastor Ferguson’s leadership, we have enjoyed a steady increase in enrollment after the enrollment dip due to COVID-19 in 2020. We also appreciated the financial security and increased innovations we experienced throughout our school. He has a keen, safety-minded sense that has resulted in changes to our school that had not been thought of before. We appreciate his leadership in providing a safer school and look forward to completion of more of his safety-focused features that are currently in the planning stages.
Pastor Ferguson led the school through accreditation. This process involved a lot of work, planning, communication, and organization to put all the pieces together. Thank you, Pastor Ferguson, for bringing us through the accreditation process and achieving a very successful outcome.
With Christ before him, Pastor Ferguson has brought unity in diversity, enriching our campus, supporting our students, and fostering pride and a celebration of the diversity we enjoy here at Andrews Academy. He has also enriched the school by building into the calendar personal development days that help teachers grow and become even better teachers for our students.
On behalf of the Andrews Academy Board, its faculty, staff, students, and parents, I’d like to thank you for all that you have done for our school, Pastor Ferguson. You leave our school in a stronger spiritual way. We will be forever grateful for this, and we join together in prayer for you.
For our Andrews Academy family, we will formally update you about the work of a principal search committee of our board to identify and place a new principal for the upcoming 2024–2025 school year.
Cordially,
Fares Magesa, Chair
Andrews Academy Board of Directors
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International Assembly & Food Tasting
The annual international assembly was held today, Friday, February 9, 2024. This presentation was part of the International Appreciation Week held at Andrews Academy. The program included the international flag entrance, parade of international attire, cultural dances, special music, scripture read in eight different languages, and prayer. Following the assembly, there was an international food tasting. Thank you to so many families for providing your international traditional foods for us to enjoy.
International Appreciation Week is an opportunity for each student and faculty to learn more about the many cultures here at Andrews Academy. Each day we had a guest speaker present insights from their culture or discuss spiritual insights learned from their culture or international experience. This week was a true celebration of the cultural diversity that the Andrews Academy family enjoys each day.
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| More photos on Facebook |
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Silhouettes
AA SILHOUETTES will perform at PMC (Pioneer Memorial Church) tomorrow, Sabbath, February 10, providing music for both services.
Call Time FIRST Service: 8:00 AM at the platform
Call Time SECOND Service: 11:20 AM at the Youth Chapel at PMC
Attire: Full concert outfit, including tuxedo, black dress, black formal shoes, and socks.
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February PE Events
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Important Deadline from the Registrar’s Office:
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Ms. Ivonne Segui Medina
Andrews Academy Registrar
269-471-6234
aaregistrar@andrews.edu
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Opting into Texting for One Call Now Alerts
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.
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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!
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Tuition
Tuition payment #7 is due on February 25.
Please contact Ms. Gracie at gaytan@andrews.edu with questions.
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Partnership With Andrews University - Biology Class Field Trip
Andrews Academy is blessed to be part of the Andrews University campus. It provides opportunities that many other high school students cannot experience. This week, the biology classes went to the PT cadaver lab to see the organ systems they have been studying during their unit on Anatomy and Physiology. Students did very well observing, reviewing the systems we have been studying, and introducing the remaining systems we will complete before spring break. We appreciate AU’s PT department for allowing us to participate in this rather unique high school learning experience. (February 6, 2024)
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International Appreciation Week
This week (February 5-9, 2024) was International Appreciation Week. It was a week to celebrate the diversity that the AA family enjoys and to learn more about the many cultures here at Andrews Academy. Monday through Thursday, we had a speaker present insights from their culture or discuss spiritual insights learned from their culture or international experience.
On Wednesday, Pastor Ferguson introduced the speaker for that day's emphasis of international week, the Afro-Caribbean countries. Kofi Amponsah, AA senior, translated as his dad presented on Christian discipleship. As a youth, he was involved in building relationships with people on his island of Ghana, a mostly Muslim country. As he and others built relationships, they shared Jesus with them. This was the beginning of his work there, and now there is a church in that community with many baptized members.
On Thursday, Noah Lim translated for his mom as she retold some stories of her time here at AA in 1990-1991. Having recently moved to the USA, she was apprehensive of going to AA as she hardly knew the language, had different clothing, and didn’t know what to expect. The theme for that year was “To see His face.” She saw Jesus’ face during her time here despite her fears and being self-conscious about being an international student. She then related some stories of how students and four faculty in particular impacted her life in a meaningful way.
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Looking for Cookie Dough to Purchase?
As you may recall, the freshman class had a cookie dough fundraiser before Christmas. They had to purchase each type of cookie dough in bundles of 6, so there are a few tubs left over:
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5 chocolate chip
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3 oatmeal raisin
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4 snicker doodle
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1 sugar cookie
Tubs are available for immediate pickup. Please contact Mr. Atkins at satkins@andrews.edu (or stop by his classroom) or reach out to a freshman if you would like some frozen cookie dough to help complete the freshman class fundraiser. ($16/tub)
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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
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Adventist Colleges Abroad is part of the Education Department of the North American Division. They provide opportunities for students to learn a second language on an Adventist campus abroad.
If you want to learn more about the languages you could learn and places you could go, please come to the information meeting on Wednesday, February 14, at 7 PM in the Newbold Auditorium at Andrews University.
For additional information, please contact badenas@andrews.edu.
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Pathfinder Fundraiser - Movie Premiere
Sunday, March 10, 2024, Food - 4:30, Movie - 5 PM, AA Chapel
Capacity is limited, so if you really want to attend that evening, it is strongly suggested that you get your tickets as soon as possible!
Get your tickets at the link below or text "Fossil" to (269) 281-2345.
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| Link to Tickets |
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Mondays - Thursdays:
7:40 AM - 4:30 PM
Fridays: 7:40 AM - 2:30 PM
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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. 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
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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.
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You can find your schedule, grades, etc. on FACTS.
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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.
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| AA's Lands' End Store |
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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.
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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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Andrews Academy
8833 Garland Ave Berrien Springs, MI 49104
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269-471-3138
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