News & Announcements

Volume 17, Issue 16

Andrews Academy's

Official Newsletter

October 10, 2023

Student Leadership Conference

Traditionally, the Andrews Academy experience has been known for strong student leadership resulting from student participation in its curricular and co-curricular experiences. To help develop Seventh-day Adventist Christian leadership qualities of current student leaders, AA sent 15 student leaders to a student leadership retreat at Camp Au Sable from October 5-8, 2023. The retreat, hosted by the Lake Union Conference, gave student leaders an opportunity to share ideas and experiences with leaders from all of the other Lake Union academies in a spiritually charged environment.

The structure of the weekend typically includes a keynote speaker who focuses on several aspects of Christian leadership. Several breakout sessions give leaders opportunities to meet with and glean ideas from students from the other schools who hold the same office. Additionally, each academy has time to talk and brainstorm ideas specific to their local situations. And, as with all good retreats, there is social and recreational time.

Above and beyond the organized program, Andrews Academy adds a few of their own activities to develop prayerful, thoughtful leadership. Built into the schedule is an opportunity for significant group sharing, which is used to give students time to commit to being used by the Lord as leaders, to make a stand as moral leaders, and to bond through prayer and singing.

This Leadership Conference remains an invigorating and spiritually refreshing experience for AA leaders as they return with a renewed commitment to their offices and their God. Please continue to pray for AA and to pray prayers of blessing on the student leadership as they lead throughout this school year.

More photos on FB

PSAT Testing Information & Senior Day with AU

Tomorrow, Wednesday, October 11

All freshmen, sophomores, and juniors will take the PSAT test on Wednesday, October 11. There will be no afternoon classes. This is a change to our calendar.

Grades 9, 10, and 11 students will take the PSAT/NSMQT that morning from 8:00–12:00 PM. Students should arrive by 7:45 AM. Students arriving after 8:00 AM will not be allowed to sit for the test. Please arrive on time.

The PSAT, when taken in a student's junior year, is a qualifying test for the National Merit Scholarship. We encourage our students to familiarize themselves with the test by taking practice tests online by visiting www.collegeboard.org.

If your student wishes to participate in the PSAT testing, they will need to test on-site. There will not be a make-up PSAT testing date.

Grade 12 will be with AU that day for Senior Day. Your sponsors have given you more information and permission forms.

Orchestra class will not meet on October 11.

If you have any additional questions, please contact me at nievesl@andrews.edu.

Ms. Leslie Nieves
Guidance Counselor | Andrews Academy
269-471-3453

Hispanic Heritage Assembly

This Friday, October 13

8:00-8:50 AM

8:00 Class Meets

8:55 - 9:45 AM

9:20 Class Meets

9:50 - 10:40 AM

10:15 Class Meets

10:45 AM - 12:00 PM

Assembly

12:05 PM

Regular Friday Schedule Resumes

Symphony Orchestra

Performance

This Sabbath, October 14, at PMC for both services.

They will perform Holy, Holy, Holy, Crown Him, and God of Our Fathers.

Call time: 8:00 AM on the platform for sound check
Attire: Full Concert Attire

NOTE: Dr. Gallardo would like to take the ensemble picture that Sabbath morning—pending the weather forecast. Please, make sure you have your full concert dress, including your solid black bow tie, cummerbund, black shoes, and black socks.

Next Week, October 16-20, 2023

America Monday: Over the top patriotism: red, white, and blue.
Time Travel Tuesday: Dress like the past or the future; “futuristic” looking clothing or anything depicting the past.
Squad Wednesday: Dress alike with your peers. A group of 4 or more is encouraged, but there’s a minimum of 2 people.
Oversized Thursday: Dress in oversized/baggy clothes; clothes are still meant to cover the person regardless of how big it is.
Fresh Fits Friday: Wear business casual clothing.

For all days, we expect people to be reasonable along with following all AA dress code guidelines in reading AND in practice regarding dress down days (NO hoodies, sweats, short skirts, open-toed shoes, or leggings worn as pants; and stay in traditional gender clothing). See our school Sourcebook (pgs. 79-80) for more info. If you aren't dressing up for Spirit Week, you must be in AA uniform!

Career Seminars & Fair

Friday morning, October 20

On Friday of AA's alumni weekend, there will be a special Convocation for our students. The speaker will be Pastor Don Anderson from the class of 1983.

Following the Alumni Convocation, sixteen AA alumni will hold Career Seminars, sharing about what they do, the education needed for their career, and more. There will also be a Career Fair in the gym. No classes will meet at AA during that time. The regular school schedule will resume at 11:10.

Students, please click on the link to sign up for Career Seminars. Give your top three choices, although you will only attend two seminars and the Career Fair. Please let us know if you have a college class on Friday mornings also. Thank you!

Deadline: If you do not sign up by next Tuesday, October 17, you will be assigned to two seminars.

Please contact Mrs. Meekma in the front office if you have any questions.

Career Seminar Sign-Up

Shydepoke Games - School vs Alumni

Shydepoke (this year it will be basketball games against alumni) is scheduled for Saturday night, October 21, at the AU Andreasen Center for Wellness gym. Players meet in the AU gym by 7:45 PM to get organized and for the national anthem. The girls game will be first, then the boys will play.

To sign up and for more info, contact Mrs. Mills (samantham@andrews.edu).

SAT Testing at AA

We are excited to announce that students will have the opportunity to participate in SAT School Day on Thursday afternoon, October 26. The SAT is a standardized test for college admissions in the United States. Allowing students to take the test in a familiar environment will build their confidence and do well. To learn more about the SAT, we invite you to explore the website: https://www.collegeboard.org/. You are also able to access a free practice test: https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat/practice-preparation/practice-tests

Students should bring their payments to the main office by October 20. There is limited seating available for the test; we will allow a total of 50 students who are in the 11th & 12th grades to sign up. Students must bring their $60 to the office, and write their names to reserve a place on the list. Checks should be payable to Andrews Academy with "SAT" written on the memo line. (Note: Those in bells will be at RingFest so will be unable to take the test that day.)

October 26 is the second day of Parent/Teacher Conferences, and the students have noon dismissal. Students participating in SAT School Day are excused from their classes that day only if they are present for the test that afternoon and should arrive at school at 1 PM to begin testing promptly at 1:30 PM. If you do come for the whole day, please bring a lunch.

Please bring an approved calculator:

https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat/what-to-bring-do/calculator-policy

Ms. Leslie Nieves
Guidance Counselor | Andrews Academy
269-471-3453
nievesl@andrews.edu

Intramurals and Fitness Center at AA

Students, please click on the intramural interest button and answer all of the questions to aid in planning the after-school activities at AA for the 2023-2024 school year. You can also sign up to use the fitness center on Monday afternoons from 3:30-4:30 PM.

Student Intramural Interest

Student Fitness Center Sign-Up

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!

After-School Hours Agreement

The After-School Hours Agreement needs to be signed by a student and a parent. Here are the acceptable ways to return this document (if you haven't already done so):

Complete the attached fillable document and email to ginam@andrews.edu.
Print the attached document, complete it, scan or take a picture, and email it to ginam@andrews.edu (or turn it in to the school office).
Stop by the school office and complete the form.

Tuition

Tuition payment #3 is due October 25.

Please contact Ms. Gracie at gaytan@andrews.edu with questions.

Professional Development

Periodically during the school year, a day is set aside for professional development of our teachers while students have an E-learning day. AU provost, Christon Arthur, presented our morning devotion based on II Samual 9, reminding us of the higher calling of Christ, which is to show kindness to all, our students in particular. In the morning, Charity Garcia, AU associate professor, shared on the topic, “Becoming More Trauma Aware.” It was a very informative session on how to better understand student behaviors and help students more effectively. In the afternoon, Yanina Jimenez, a teacher from Hinsdale, Illinois, presented on Standards Based Learning, a new approach to education that the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists is instituting in each of our schools over the next several years. She also shared many practical strategies in differentiated learning. It was a full day of learning for our teachers.

Senior Pictures & Ads for Yearbook

Senior pictures are needed for yearbook, class night, and the class composite to be hung in the AA Commons. Yearbook will need your senior and baby pictures by next Friday, October 20, 2023. We encourage you to get your senior picture done ASAP if you haven't already. PLEASE PLAN AHEAD and get your picture done in a timely manner.

Please send an electronic senior picture (JPEG) to the yearbook sponsor (myersd@andrews.edu). 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.

Pictures for the yearbook and senior ads must adhere to the following requirements:

In color
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 - both
High-resolution JPEG (at least 4x6, 300 ppi resolution)

Baby Photos

By the same date (October 20), 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 staff, and they will scan it for you.

Also, please plan ahead for senior yearbook ad nights on Monday and Tuesday, October 30 & 31, 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).

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

Attention AA Alumni:

Fall is here, and that can only mean one thing—ALUMNI WEEKEND! We are so excited to host AA Alumni weekend on October 20 & 21! The main events are on Sabbath, October 21. Career Seminars presented by alumni for current students are held on Friday morning. Friday evening vespers is being planned by the class of 2003.

Plan to attend all of our events and catch up with classmates. In case there are any updates to the weekend's schedule, please visit our reunion information page before alumni weekend. Events are hosted at the Academy unless otherwise stated. Some honor classes may have additional gatherings to attend. Many of the honor classes have a Facebook group page where classmates may be planning activities for the weekend. See our list of FB groups for links.

This year, we are planning to have basketball games for Shydepoke. Challenges have arisen over the past couple of years regarding Shydepoke, and we are seeking to make AA Alumni aware of them and potentially develop some possible solutions that will be agreeable to most. We would like to keep the spirit of Shydepoke alive and request your feedback in this matter.

The Shydepoke planning challenges are as follows:

The Berrien Springs High School field is no longer a feasible option due to time constraints and costs.
The athletic field at Andrews University is still under construction.
AA's field doesn't have lights, which are cost prohibitive to rent.

AA Alumni Weekend Events:

Friday, October 20: 8-11 AM - Convocation and Career Seminar Presentations by alumni for current student body
Friday, October 20: 7 PM - Vespers by the Class of '03
Sabbath, October 21: 10 AM - Tribute Sabbath School & Alumni Proceedings (Roll Call)
Sabbath, October 21: 11:30 AM - Alumni Worship Convocation: Doug Taylor '98, Speaker
Sabbath, October 21: 12:45 PM - Honored Class Alumni Photos & Haystack Luncheon (food provided) - Honor Classes will have a classroom to meet in for lunch and the afternoon.
Sabbath, October 21: 2-6 PM - Academy building open for extended mingling.
Saturday night, October 21: 8 PM - Shydepoke (Basketball games hosted at the AU Andreasen Center for Wellness gym); the AA Commons will be open for visiting.

Sabbath School and church are typically live-streamed on AA's Facebook page and YouTube channel. If you are unable to join us in person, please join us virtually!

Alumni FB Groups

Reunion Info

Shydepoke Survey

Alumni Shydepoke Sign-up

Mr. van Rooyen graduated from Andrews Academy in 1985.

2023-24 Year-at-a-Glance Calendar

2023-24 Calendar

Mondays - Thursdays:
7:40 AM - 4:00 PM

Fridays: 7:40 AM - 2:00 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

Textbook Information

Be sure to check to see if used options are available.

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!