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Volume 15, Issue 35

 

Andrews Academy's

Official Newsletter

December 10, 2021

 

Dear AA Families,

 

We are nearing the end of fall semester, and next week is our last week. We are truly thankful for God’s guiding care and protection. As the semester ends, we recognize that some students may be experiencing both mental and physical fatigue. Please be observant of your child’s behavior as they may be trying to deal with navigating school and the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Be mindful that children can experience anxiety and depression. If they are exhibiting sudden mood changes or changes in eating habits, withdrawal, etc., parents may want to have conversations with their child/children about the observed behaviors and their feelings.

 

Students should have received class evaluation surveys for all fall semester classes. Please encourage your child to complete the surveys, which close this Wednesday, December 15.

 

Our forty-eighth annual Feast of Lights happens tonight at 7:00 PM at PMC.  Please be advised that tickets are required for entry. Review the announcement section of this E-Sanjo for live-streaming information.
 

Our Christmas Pops concert is scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday, December 11, at 7:00 PM at the Howard Performing Arts Center. Everyone is invited. It will also be live-streamed.
 

This week we have had no new cases of COVID-19 reported. We continue with our protocols in place which includes face covering, #CampusClear, sanitizing, etc.

 

Next week we will provide information regarding next semester’s expectations as it relates to COVID-19 protocol.
 

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” John 14:27


We give God thanks for the gift He left with us.

Happy Sabbath,

Pastor Mario Ferguson
Principal
Andrews Academy
mferguson@andrews.edu

 

Student Association Food Drive


We are thankful for the generosity of our students and their families as they participated in the Student Association holiday food drive. The plan is to prepare 150 Christmas meal packages for needy residents of an apartment building in our county to whom Pastor Bell is ministering. These food items will provide a Christmas meal for a family that is in need. 

Again, thank you for your generosity during this Christmas season of giving.

 

Andrews Academy Christmas Concerts

Christmas Pops

 

Tomorrow, Saturday, December 11, 7:00 PM
Howard Performing Arts Center
Campus of Andrews University
Everyone is welcome!

Due to COVID restrictions, seating for Feast of Lights ONLY will require tickets and will be for a limited number of people.

Both concerts will be live-streamed on our Facebook page.
Feast of Lights will also be live-streamed on the Andrews University website.

FOL - AU live-stream
AA Facebook page
 
 

Final exams start this Wednesday, December 15! 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.

 

If you have a study hall (or band) during the first exam slot of the day, then you do not need to arrive until devotions. Please see Ms. Esther in the office to excuse your class or if you have any questions. Be sure to sign in at the front office.

 

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.

 

Bible Camp at Camp Au Sable

January 20-23, 2022

Applications for Bible Camp are available in the main office. We can only accommodate 60 students, so complete applications (with $130 payment) will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. The deadline to receive applications and payments is next Friday, December 17.

 

Tuition

 

Tuition payment #5 is due on or before December 25. Payments may be mailed to the office:

Andrews Academy

8833 Garland Ave
Berrien Springs, MI 49104

Or contact Ms. Gracie at gaytan@andrews.edu to make other arrangements.

 
 

Christmas - International Students


Ms. Chao and Pastor Ferguson recently presented a small Christmas gift to each of the international students who attend Andrews Academy. In one week’s time, we all will be enjoying the holidays spending time with our family and friends. A small gift was given to them recognizing that they will not be able to go home for Christmas this holiday season. A big thank you to each international student for making the sacrifice to be able to attend Andrews Academy. We are praying that each student will have a blessed Christmas season.

 

Dual Enrollment Option

Please contact Ms. Ivonne (aaregistrar@andrews.edu) if you are interested in taking this class at AU next semester.

 

Chapels this Week


Wednesday’s chapel was a short devotion delivered by guest speaker Pastor Russel. Previously, he has done a three or four-part series entitled "Creation, Science, and Common Sense." He didn't have time to unpack the whole thing but left us with a significant point from his presentation. Pastor Russel gave a few examples of what one could say when asked if they believe in God. Maybe you've experienced a miracle, or have seen prophesies come to fruition, or most importantly, you know God for yourself. But Pastor Russel said there should be a scientific reason in there somewhere as well. Biologists have studied numerous life forms and have come to find the simplest to exist. However, this "simple" life form isn't so simple after all. One experiment, performed at Standford, took a whole team of scientists and 128 computers to complete. The complexity of biology and life shows that it didn't happen by chance.

Our guest speaker for Thursday was Pastor Earl Baldwin. His topic was not letting your past define who you are. In Judges 6, there is a story about Gideon. Gideon is hiding in the wine press instead of working in the fields because he is afraid of their enemy, the Midianites. But God calls Gideon to lead his people against their enemy. Sometimes in life, we can find ourselves stuck in a mental "wine press." We can be afraid of seeking help or speaking our minds because we are afraid of what people will say. In the circus, baby elephants are chained to a post so they won't escape. As they get older, this chain is switched to a rope. An elephant is strong enough to break a rope. However, they are used to not being able to break the chain. So they think they can't break the rope either.

To close, Pastor Baldwin called us to break free and "not set our ceilings based on others." God will find you at your lowest moments and say, "You are my mighty child of valor." 

On Friday we had a farewell presentation for Ms. Autumn Bange, a student teacher who was with us this semester in Mr. Wright’s math classes. She already has a job lined up and will begin her teaching career in January. A small gift was given and a prayer of blessing was given by Pastor Glassford.

Following this, Pastor Russell continued his series of biology illustrations showing how life is not by accident. Even if a perfectly evolved DNA molecule were to suddenly exist, it still needs something else to live; DNA alone can’t do anything by itself.

Even the ATP energy molecule is so complex, it couldn’t have just happened by chance. Living things need other things to eat; if a heterotroph were to evolve, it couldn’t survive without food. Even autotrophs, that make food, would be damaged by the light rays from the sun. Life is too complex to have occurred by accident! Studying biology helps build his faith.

More photos on FB
 
More info
 
More information

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.

 
 

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.

 
 
2021-22 Calendar*
2021-22 Year-at-a-Glance Calendar

* There are options to subscribe to the 2021-22 school calendar on our website.

 

Regular School Office Hours:

Monday – Thursday:
7:40 AM – 4:00 PM

Friday: 7:40 AM – 2:00 PM

From December 15-17, the Office will close at 12:35 PM.

The Office will be closed from December 20-24.

Office personnel will be available by appointment from December 27-29.

The Office will be closed on
December 30-31.

Principal: mferguson@andrews.edu
Application/Enrollment Process: penn@andrews.edu

Financial Plan: gaytan@andrews.edu

Class Schedule: aaregistrar@andrews.edu
Guidance Counselor: nievesl@andrews.edu

2020-21 Sourcebook
Faculty & Staff Contact Info
 
 
 

Please remember, if a student has been exposed to, or tests positive for, COVID-19, this information should be sent via email to  covid19@andrews.edu and aaprincipal@andrews.edu.

Quarantine Procedures
Berrien County Health Dept Info for Schools & Families
 

Andrews Academy

8833 Garland Ave Berrien Springs, MI 49104

 

 

academy@andrews.edu

 

269-471-3138