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Andrews Academy's
Official Newsletter
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Dear AA Families,
Happy New Year to all of our AA families. I write my first principal’s letter of the new year while reflecting on the year 2021. We faced many challenges throughout the year. However, God is faithful, and He brought us through.
As we start this new semester/new year, we enter with great hope and possibilities. Even though we see an uptick in COVID-19 in our community and country, the same God who sustained us in the past will continue to keep us.
COVID Protocols
We resume in-person learning this Tuesday, January 11. We encourage both parents and students to be diligent in following COVID-19 protocols. If your child has been exposed to COVID-19, or shows symptoms of or tests positive for COVID, please report it to Andrews Academy at aaprincipal@andrews.edu and the Andrews University COVID line at covid19@andrews.edu. Please read the quarantine procedures from the Berrien County Health Department. If a student is sick and needs to be away from school for an extended time, please inform the guidance counselor and the front office.
SOW Safari
I was able to be a part of SOW Safari, our traditional mission trip/class. We had a total of 22 students and five chaperones. Our parent chaperones were Richard and Ivette Aguilera, and Tonya Snyder. Our Academy staff included Marcelo Martins, Ron Norton, and myself. We were able to minister to almost 20 families in McAllen Texas. Some of the ministry included removing rubbish, repairing houses, and conducting worship services and Vacation Bible School. We commend our students. They represented Christ and the Academy well in their behavior and service.
Parent & Student Surveys
Next Friday, January 14, 2022, we will be sending surveys for parents and students to complete. These surveys are in reference to our upcoming accreditation. Please take some time to complete these surveys as your input in this process is very important.
Welcome and Farewell
Mr. Daniel Rojas joins the AA family as a full-time staff. He is our IT professional and teachers’ aid. We welcome him to our AA family. While we welcome Daniel, we also want to congratulate Ms. Esther Penn on her new position at the Andrews University Post Office. Ms. Esther served as the administrative assistant at the Academy for seven and a half years. We thank her for her service to Andrews Academy and wish her all the best in her new position. Mrs. Gina Meekma will support the front office during the transition.
“Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To Him belong glory and dominion forever and ever.” 1 Peter 4:9-11
Let’s continue to glorify God in serving others with our gifts and talents.
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Andrews Academy's SOW Safari Mission Trip Returns Safely
We are thankful for the safe return of each of the participants from SOW Safari’s mission Trip to McAllen, Texas (Dec. 28 - Jan. 6). Many compliments were shared with participants for the amount of work that was completed helping residents in the trailer park, as well as students openness to share Jesus through music, talks, acting, and just by being examples for Him.
We pray that the people they interacted with will know Jesus better, and if they haven’t chosen Jesus, that they will choose Him. Participants not only blessed individuals there, as Pastor Ferguson shared this morning in chapel, they were blessed by individuals there and the total experience of the SOW Safari Mission Trip. We are thankful for God’s protective hand and blessings during this mission trip.
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Attendance Reminders
- 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.
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The CSA is required for students who leave the Academy to attend classes at Andrews University, who are going to work off campus during the school day, 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. If you have a college class next week, please email me at aaattendance@andrews.edu so that you can be excused from Study Hall as needed. Then when we are back in the building, please get the CSA request form filled out and turned in ASAP.
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.
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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Textbooks
The Andrews University Bookstore, which is a Barnes & Noble Bookstore, is now partnering with Andrews Academy in regards to textbooks.
Class schedules for next semester, which you will need in order to know which classes to buy textbooks for, are available in FACTS.
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AU Bookstore Hours
The Andrews University Bookstore plans to be open in January to accommodate Academy students as follows:
- Sunday, January 9, to Thursday, January 13: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM & 1:00-5:00 PM
- Friday, January 14, from 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Except for Sunday, January 16, regular hours will resume the next week.
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Andrews Academy will resume in-person learning this Tuesday, January 11.
This Monday, January 10, will be an asynchronous learning day. Students will work on tasks assigned by teachers via Google Classroom or email.
Please continue to use the #CampusClear app/web site while remote learning.
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Important Deadlines from the Registrar’s Office:
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Ms. Ivonne Segui-Weiss
Andrews Academy Registrar
aaregistrar@andrews.edu
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School Name: Andrews Academy
Picture Retake Day: Thursday, January 20, 9:00 AM
Picture Day ID: EVT6FD3JP
You can still order on mylifetouch.com with the above Picture Day ID. If you were not here for Picture Day in September or would like a retake, please come prepared to have your picture taken that day. If you would like a retake, simply return your original package on Picture Retake Day.
Please note that class composites are no longer available.
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Awesome Students
Mr. Atkins is impressed with how students are willing to work hard to do well in their classes and how tech savvy they have become. Today (Friday), biology students had their first test of the semester. With it being online, students had to not only load Zoom on their computer but also on their phone. This way they could use their phone to show their testing area prior to taking the test, and then leave it on as they wrote the test. Each student had two cameras on as they wrote their test. This way the teacher could see what each student was doing while they wrote their test.
Each student was ready at the beginning of the class period, and it only took 5 - 8 minutes to check the entire class in before beginning the test. Even when some had technology issues, they calmly problem-solved and were ready for the test. So many include thank you’s in the chat as the teacher replied to a question they may have had. As students finished their tests many said (or typed in the Zoom chat) farewell greetings to their teacher as they departed.
Thank you all for being such awesome students!
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Chapels This Week
On Wednesday, Pastor Lindsey Pratt, PMC youth pastor, talked about Jonah’s prayer and how even in the depths of the ocean, covered in grime with his head wrapped in seaweed, he thanked God. Scientists have studied the effects of being grateful, and it results in being physically healthier, overall happier, and having stronger relationships. Pastor Pratt challenged students to practice thankfulness by writing or sharing what they are grateful for daily. Practice thankfulness.
Our guest speaker for on Thursday was Pastor Chad Bernard. Pastor Chad doesn't like being told "no." Like most people, he's upset if he doesn't get what he wants. Pastor Chad compared this feeling to when a child wants to do something but doesn't understand it could hurt them. Pastor Chad told us a story about when he needed a new car. He went to an auction and found a car he liked, but it died. However, he did end up finding one for an affordable price. To close, Pastor Chad reminded us that we are just like children. We don't know what God knows or what He has in store for us. God wants us to trust Him and the process He's taking us through.
Today (Friday), Pastor Ferguson presented chapel on the topic, “God made me to be me.” Too often we listen to others or the media that influence us on how we think about ourselves. We need to remember that God made us who we are, and that He knows what is best for us. We are uniquely and wonderfully made. Psalms 139:13-14, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
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Important: Remember that in order to order lunch, students must have a signed contract with AU Dining Services/Bon Appetit and their ID card. Also, lunches need to be ordered online or through the GET Mobile app at least one day in advance (by 5 PM). See instructions in a previous E-Sanjo or contact Dining Services for more information - 269-471-3161 or ds@andrews.edu. If a student orders lunch but then is absent that day, please email Dining Services by 9:00 AM to cancel the order.
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Free Counseling Offered at Andrews University
The Andrews Community Counseling Center (ACCC) will have openings for many new clients when they reopen in January 2022 (although individuals interested in services are encouraged to call now and leave a confidential voicemail message to get their name toward the top of the waiting list). 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.
During the pandemic, the ACCC knows that the need for mental health services is great, and they also recognize that the need for physical safety is essential. Therefore, all counseling in-person sessions will require counselors and clients to wear a face mask covering the nose and mouth at all times, regardless of vaccination status. For those unable to attend in-person, some teletherapy services may also be available using confidential Zoom sessions.
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* There are options to subscribe to the 2021-22 school calendar on our website.
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School Office Hours:
January 10: CLOSED
January 11: Regular hours resume
Monday – Thursday:
7:40 AM – 4:00 PM
Friday: 7:40 AM – 2:00 PM
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Andrews Academy
8833 Garland Ave Berrien Springs, MI 49104
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269-471-3138
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