News & Announcements

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Volume 19, Issue 32

Andrews Academy's

Official Newsletter

January 16, 2026

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No School this Monday,

January 19

Since Monday, January 19, is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, there is no school on that day. AA will be closed.

Winter Bible Camp

Winter Bible Camp is a spiritually focused weekend retreat held in a beautiful snowy setting in Northern Michigan. While students enjoy the winter scenery, the primary purpose of the retreat is to grow closer to Jesus and deepen their faith. The Spiritual Life Committee plans and organizes this annual event.

The weekend began with general announcements about Winter Bible Camp and expectations, followed by an icebreaker activity to help students connect with one another. Pastor Gem Castor is serving as the guest speaker for the retreat. The theme for the weekend is “Meet Me on the Mountain.”

More photos on Facebook

Important Deadline from the Registrar’s Office:

This Tuesday, January 20 – Add/Drop Class Deadline

Freshmen & Sophomores

(Grades 9 & 10)

This Wednesday, January 21

On Wednesday, January 21, grades 9 & 10 will take the MAP® Growth™ test from NWEA® on a laptop. Students are requested to bring a fully charged computer on the day of testing. Please ensure devices are updated and ready prior to arrival to avoid delays. Students should arrive at school by 7:40 AM. Testing will begin promptly at 8:00 AM and should conclude by 12:00 PM. Parents, please arrange for your student to be dropped off and picked up on time.

If you would like to have your student see what to expect, visit the NWEA website: https://www.nwea.org, go to the login tab, and select MAP Growth student login from the drop down menu. Once at the login page, select try the practice test. After clicking, try the practice test, enter grow for the username and password. On the next screen select grade, choose any of the subjects, language preference, and any of the tests. This will help the students see what a test will look like.

Parents, please contact Mrs. Robinson (aaattendance@andrews.edu or 269-471-3453) if your student is not able to make it to the school for MAP testing so that we can schedule their make-up tests.

PM E-Learning Day for Freshmen & Sophomores (Grades 9-10)

This Wednesday, January 21

There will be e-learning (work at home) for the afternoon classes, so grades 9-10 should check Google Classroom or watch for an email from their teacher for each of their afternoon classes to see what may have been assigned for that day.

E-Learning Day for Juniors & Seniors (Grades 11-12)

This Wednesday, January 21

There will be e-learning (work at home) for their classes, so grades 11 & 12 should check Google Classroom or watch for an email from their teacher for each of their classes to see what may have been assigned for that day.

- Mrs. Dionne Robinson

Guidance Counselor

& Attendance Officer

269-471-3453

Professional Development for Faculty on Wednesday

Please note that faculty will have professional development in the afternoon after MAP testing this Wednesday, January 21. The office will be open.

Ice Skating & Class Vespers

Class vespers and activities provide a meaningful time to be drawn closer to God, to develop friendships outside the classroom setting, and an opportunity for class officers to develop leadership skills as they plan and lead in the activity and worship experience.

Ice skating and class vespers will be on Friday afternoon, January 30. Due to space limitations, the first 110 students that turn in their signed permission slips and $10 for ice skating at the main office will skate together, and then classes will have a vespers and some food (details pending).

Students who don't go ice skating can still go to the evening vespers, and they will still need a permission slip ($10 not required if not going ice skating).

As you load the bus at 2:45 PM in the parking lot of AA to go ice skating, please bring cold weather gear since the rink is outside. Students are not allowed to drive themselves.

Permission slips should be available next week. The $10 is to cover the cost of using the ice rink, skate rental, and to help defray some of the cost for transportation to the rink.

We will leave the rink at 5:30 PM and bring you back to AA (or your class vespers location) by around 6:00 PM for class vespers or pick-up.

Textbooks

Andrews Academy has established a textbook program that provides students with the necessary textbooks and digital content for their classes. Students are able to buy their required textbooks, workbooks, and digital content through the school as needed during the school year and then sell their textbooks back at the end of the semester/school year, provided that the book will be used again.

Textbooks for second semester are available in the main office. Please stop by ASAP to buy any that you still need, bringing payment with you (cash/check/credit card). If you would like to know the cost ahead of time, please email ginam@andrews.edu.

We are also buying back textbooks that students no longer need, especially for classes that will be taught again second semester.

Note: Some classes require digital content which will be paid for at the same time as the textbooks. The digital code will be provided to the student by Andrews Academy and is not returnable. It may not be transferable if the student drops the class.

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, upcoming events, and performances, etc. Hopefully you received a message from us regarding the snow day yesterday.

Please make sure that we have the phone number that you would like to have contacted. For school closings due to weather, we also send an email, put the announcement on our Facebook and Instagram pages, and alert local TV stations (WSBT, WNDU).

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

Payment #6 of 10 is due on or before January 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.

🍿Sophomore Class Popcorn Fundraiser 💰

Do you like popcorn 🍿? Please help Andrews Academy's sophomore class raise $4,000 for their senior class trip by ordering one or more products from their online store at needsyoursupport.org/share/ZM4PY. The purchases are made online, and the product will ship directly to your door. Thank you!

Weather

As was mentioned in Tuesday’s worship talk (see Chapel Recap), Michigan’s weather is very unpredictable! We went from a beautiful sunrise with virtually no snow on Tuesday to a two- or three-foot snowdrift behind the biology classroom by Friday. One of the students thought it was important to make a snow angel in the drift! ☃️

Chapel Recap

Pastor Taariq Patel, an Andrews Academy alumnus who attended in 1997, shared Monday’s chapel message about his journey to becoming a pastor. He spoke candidly about his struggle with drugs in high school and afterward, and how his mother never stopped praying for him, once telling him, “Jesus loves you, and so do I,” and giving him a Bible. Pastor Patel described years of brokenness and emptiness despite constant partying. At his lowest moments, he twice turned to the Bible—first to Proverbs 31, then years later to Job 22:21—which ultimately led him back to God. He realized his Savior had been calling him all along, and God lifted him out of despair. He closed by urging students not to ignore God’s call: God is calling now, and He has a purpose for your life.

Tuesday’s chapel opened with a lively rendition of “Father Abraham,” followed by guest speaker Mrs. Heidi Agy, mother of Lily and Easton Murphy, who used Michigan’s unpredictable winters as an illustration of the importance of preparation. She shared humorous examples, including a photo of someone dressed for summer in the snow, and demonstrated proper winter attire to show how fall signals the need to prepare for what’s coming. She then connected this idea to a deeper message about being spiritually prepared for Christ’s second coming. Reading Matthew 24:44, she reminded us to stay ready by truly knowing Jesus and maintaining a strong relationship with Him.

Mr. Cerna led chapel on Wednesday morning with a music-centered service focused on God’s presence, emphasizing that God is always with us, wherever we are. Through Scripture and song, we reflected on the truth that no matter where we go, God goes with us—before us, beside us, behind us, and around us—so we have nothing to fear. The service concluded with a familiar song and prayer sung together:“Into my heart, into my heart / come into my heart, Lord Jesus.”

Today (Friday) after song service, Pastor Steve Toscano, one of our religion teachers, shared a story from a mission trip to Hawaii. While exploring the island, he and friends swam at a beautiful spot surrounded by sharp volcanic rock. Suddenly, strong waves and an undertow pulled them under, making it difficult to breathe. Fearing for their lives, Pastor Steve prayed for strength to save his wife. In that moment, he found the energy to bring his wife, a friend, and himself safely to shore. From this experience, he learned that focusing on our own struggles can overwhelm us, but focusing on helping others allows God to work through us. As a church, we are called to look beyond ourselves, recognize the needs around us, and respond with compassion and purpose.

More photos on Facebook

Free Counseling Offered at Andrews University

The Andrews Community Counseling Center (ACCC) reopened on January 12 for spring semester. Individuals may call and leave a confidential voicemail message to get on the request list.

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 link for more information.

More information

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 9 digit AU ID number, including the zeros), 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.

Calendar on Website

2025-26 Year-at-a-Glance Calendar

FACTS or Andrews Email Log In Help

The FACTS district code is AN-MI.

During the school year, you will be able to find your schedule, grades, missing assignments, attendance, etc. on FACTS.

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.

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!

Important Attendance Policy Updates

ATTENDANCE EVALUATION

Each student begins each semester with an attendance record of zero points. All absences and tardies (excused and unexcused) are assigned a weight of 1 point. The FACTS system includes separate attendance codes, allowing for clear categorization and reporting:

A (Absence)
AE (Excused Absence)
T (Tardy)
TE (Excused Tardy)

The AS attendance code is assigned a weight of 0 and is used to mark school-related absences (e.g., for approved school trips or activities). These absences do not count against the student’s attendance record.

Students are allowed one long tour per semester.

PROCEDURES

Each school day, the student who was absent or tardy without excuse is notified of the record in FACTS, the student information system. Parents and students both receive email notifications. If the student believes the record to be incorrect, or has any question about the record, it is that student’s responsibility to contact the school office or attendance officer or submit to the school office a written excuse from a parent/guardian within 3 school days to remove those points.

Correction received after five days generally will not be accepted. In instances where a student is absent for several consecutive days, such as for an extended illness, two school days are allotted following the last absence to submit an excuse.

A student is responsible for all course work missed while absent with or without excuse.

Absence Policy
• After 5 unexcused absences per class: Student receives a warning email.
• After 8 unexcused absences per class: Student receives a demerit.
• After 10 unexcused absences per class: A meeting is scheduled with the student, parents, and attendance officer or another administrator.
• After 10 combined excused and unexcused absences per class: Student receives a warning email noting the risk of withdrawal from the class.
• After 15 combined excused and unexcused absences per class: A meeting with the registrar is required, and the student may be withdrawn from the class and lose all credit subject to that class, pending a review by the Student Affairs Committee.

Tardy Policy
• After 5 unexcused tardies per class: Student receives a warning email.
• After 10 unexcused tardies per class: Student receives a demerit.
• After 10 total excused and unexcused tardies per class: Student meets with the attendance officer or administrator.

Demerit Review Policy
Demerits related to attendance may be re-evaluated at the end of the semester if the student maintains no unexcused absences or tardies from the date the demerit was issued onward.

A student is eligible to hold an organizational office or leadership position as long as they maintain an attendance score below 7 unexcused absences. A student is also eligible to participate in co-curricular, overnight trips and tours if the attendance score is below 7 unexcused absences. A student is placed on citizenship probation when the attendance score reaches 7 unexcused absences.

Major off-campus school activities include, but are not limited to, overnight trips and tours (see section on Student Citizenship-Citizenship Probation). When a student’s attendance score reaches 7 unexcused absences, the student is placed on citizenship probation. Further unexcused absences could lead to future in-school suspensions. Repeated attendance issues will be referred to the Student Affairs Committee to determine if the student should continue in the Academy and, if so, under what conditions. If these conditions are not successfully adhered to, the student’s enrollment may be discontinued at the time of infractions, at the end of a given semester, or at the end of the school year.

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.

- From the Sourcebook (pg. 67-68)

For any attendance questions that you would like to ask by email, please direct them to AAattendance@andrews.edu.

Thank you!

Mrs. Dionne Robinson
Guidance Counselor/Attendance Officer
Andrews Academy
269-471-3453

More 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. 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 or injury 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

Google Account Security Key Required

PLEASE note that if your child still has their security key from last year, you DO NOT NEED to purchase them a new one.

If you have not done so already, please purchase the Multi-Factor Authentication Security Key for all AA students right away. This key is essential for your child to access all Google platforms (AU email, Google Classroom, etc.), as well as secure documents from Andrews University and Andrews Academy. Each student needs their own security key, which cannot be used by anyone else.

Security Key Link

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 65-66) 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).
Only AA logoed jackets are allowed to be worn in the building.
The PE uniform (t-shirt or sweatshirt, shorts or sweats) can only be worn during PE class.
If a student is wearing an AA logoed jacket, they should also have an AA logoed shirt underneath.