Important Updates on Keeping Our Community Safe

August 6, 2021

Dear Families,
 

As we prepare for a new school year and continue to take steps to assure the safety of our school in the face of COVID-19, including the new and worrying Delta variant, I wanted to share with you some of the approaches that will guide our operations this new school year.

These approaches reflect how Andrews University/Andrews Academy are approaching the new school year, which includes new guidelines and expectations now in place for those who are fully vaccinated or who have acquired immunity, which you can review here, and for unvaccinated, which you can review here. Andrews Academy will not require COVID-19 testing for admittance into our school. Some items listed in the guidelines pertain only to AU students. Please contact me if you need clarification.

As always, we partner with the Berrien County Health Department and Andrews University in seeking the health and safety of each person and our entire campus community.
 

Here are other resources we are sharing with you:
 

Updated AU Website — You can find an overview of the new COVID-19 guidelines for Andrews University on its revised World Changers for a Changing World website. Those general guidelines and expectations will also influence our operations this school year.

Centers for Disease Control (CDC) & Berrien County Health Department (BCHD) Guidelines for K–12 Schools, Including Masking — We will also continue to monitor and follow CDC and the latest BCHD guidelines on safe operations for K–12 schools during this upcoming school year. With the increasing threat of the Delta variant, these include an updated guideline recommending consistent mask usage indoors, regardless of vaccination status: “Given new evidence on the B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant, CDC has updated the guidance for fully vaccinated people. CDC recommends universal indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students and visitors to K–12 schools, regardless of vaccination status.” You can follow the latest and overall guidelines from the CDC for K–12 schools at this link, and the BCHD’s Back to School Guidance  here.

Based on recommendations from the above agencies, Andrews Academy will require face coverings for all indoor activities for the first four (4) weeks of Fall semester 2021. We will assess the best course of action during this time regarding face coverings and protocols relating to COVID-19.
 

Reporting Vaccinations — If you have received but not yet recorded a COVID-19 vaccination, please do so immediately at this link as this will help our school continue to make timely decisions about safe operations as conditions change.
 

*Please note that while Andrews Academy continues to strongly encourage vaccinations for those who are 12 or older, the choice to get vaccinated remains with the individual. It is inappropriate for any individual to challenge or harass another student or employee about her or his vaccination status.

A Responsive Plan — Please be aware that any significant changes or new risks with the COVID-19 situation across the United States and on our own campus will bring appropriate and timely changes in our Andrews University/Andrews Academy mitigation expectations. We will communicate those changes as needed.

If you have additional questions or concerns, please contact me directly, and I’ll help you get the answers you need, including the help and support of the Andrews University COVID-19 team (you can reach out to them directly with questions at covid19@andrews.edu).
 

We look forward to moving carefully into this school year in some new but also familiar ways for which we have hoped, longed, and prayed for over the last year. Thank you for your contributions and commitment as together we take these cautious and important steps forward for our Andrews Academy community.

The Academy’s new gym wear, school polos, and fleece jackets will be available for in store purchase. The Academy’s textbooks will be available for in-store and online purchase. We look forward to this partnership and the many benefits it will bring to our students. As with any change, there may be some bumps in the road, and we appreciate your continued support. We look forward to utilizing the staff at the AU Bookstore to help make this transition as seamless and as easy as we can. Students will need their ID number, but not necessarily their ID card, to purchase textbooks and uniforms.

Instructions for Purchasing AA Textbooks Online:

To purchase textbooks online, please go to www.andrews.bncollege.com, click on “Textbooks,” and then from the list select “Find Textbooks.”

In the box under “Term,” select from the drop down list “A A 2021-2022.” Then in the next box under “Department,” select from the drop down list the department you want. For example, select “English.” Then under the next box called “Course,” select from the drop down list your course. For example, pick “Amer Class.” Then in the next box called “Section,” select your section.

You can choose to fill out the information for 4 classes and the click on the button called “Find Materials.” It will display the page with your required textbooks. Next to each book is a blue hyperlink that says “Select Format.” Click on "Select Format" to see purchasing options such as “Rent New,” or “Purchase New.”

PLEASE NOTE THAT IN ORDER TO RENT A TEXTBOOK YOU MUST USE A CREDIT CARD. NO OTHER FORMS OF PAYMENT WILL BE ACCEPTED FOR RENTING TEXTBOOKS.

Once you have selected the format you wish to purchase the book, click on “Add to Cart” and from there follow the on screen prompts to checkout and purchase your items, which may be picked up at the Andrews University Bookstore or mailed to you.

AU Campus Safety Parking Permit

Academy Vehicle Registration Process

1. All vehicles parked on Andrews University property must register their vehicle with the Office of Campus Safety. This must be done online before August 23. (See instructions below.)
2. You will be given a green community registration sticker or an orange staff registration permit if your guardian currently is employed by Andrews and is present at the time of registration. This will go on the driver’s side lower corner of your windshield and should be visible to the on duty patrol officer. This permit will allow you to park in all blue and green lots on campus. No overnight parking is permitted.
3. The parking permit will expire on August 31 of the following year, when it will need to be renewed. It may be renewed sooner, starting in early May.
4. As a complimentary service, Campus Safety is pleased to offer free jump starts and vehicle lockouts to our guests and students provided they are on University property.
5. The Andrews University adopted vehicle policy can be found at the link below.
6. If you have further questions, Campus Safety is available twenty four hours a day, seven days a week and can be reached at the following number: 269-471-3321.

Walk-through of Online Vehicle Pre-Registration:
 

Step 1: Go to https://vault.andrews.edu.
 

Step 2: Click on “Campus Safety” then login using AU username and password.

Step 3: Click on “Register Vehicles.”

Step 4: To re-register an existing vehicle, select “Re-register.” To register a new vehicle, select “Start New Registration.”

Step 5: Under Type, select the permit type based on status (Faculty/Staff, Student: Community, Housing, Lamson, Meier/UT, etc.). If your current status is not available please select what is shown and make sure to clarify the appropriate status with our office at the time of decal retrieval.

Step 6: If you are re-registering, your vehicle information will automatically be populated based on your previous registration. If you are registering a new vehicle, you will then need to enter the information in the Vehicle section. Fill in the Type, Year, Make, Model, & Color of your vehicle. Choose a color from the menu that is closest to your vehicle color. Your VIN number (Vehicle Identification Number) is string of numbers and letters.

In the License section, enter the State issued from and the License Plate number.

If you have a temporary License plate, or no plate yet, please see *Note below.

Step 7: Click the Agreement button and read through the Vehicle Registration Agreement. Then “sign” using your AU password and then click “Submit.”

Step 8: The dialog box will then close and you will see red text next to the “Agreement” button that will indicate the date/time that the consent form was signed. You can then select the “Update” button.

Step 9: Attach the following documents: driver’s license, proof of insurance, and state registration. You must have CURRENT Registration, Insurance and a valid Driver’s License to be issued a parking decal.(Please verify that they have been saved before moving on to step 10.) If you are not able to upload the documents, bring them with you when you pick up your parking decal from Campus Safety.

Step 10: There is a $10 annual fee per vehicle for parking decals. Select payment method. If you wish to pay cash do not choose an option. Cash can only be paid at the Financial Aid Cashiers Desk. (Note: Tell cashier payment is for Vehicle Registration and bring receipt given to retrieve the decal.)

This will need to be done for each vehicle to be registered.

Step 11: You will receive an email from Campus Safety with instructions. Please look for this in your AU email account.

*Note: If you are waiting for an appointment to register or to receive permanent item(s) in the mail, please bring verification (email, screen capture), all other requested documents, and a temporary parking permit will be issued.

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:

• Complete the attached fillable document and email to penn@andrews.edu.
• Print the attached document, complete it, scan or take a picture, and email it to penn@andrews.edu.
• Stop by the school office and complete the form.

Dear Band & Orchestra Students,

Welcome to the AA Band and Orchestra program! I'm so glad you are interested in joining our ensembles.
 
Below you will find the audition requirements that you will need to prepare. Auditions will be accepted via video recording - rather than in person - to give everyone more flexibility and to save students and parents a trip to school.  I encourage you all to prepare diligently. Don't be scared or discouraged. Read and follow the instructions carefully and do your best. Auditions determine admission and placement in our ensembles. 

Audition requirements for BAND can be viewed here. Deadline to submit your audition video: Sunday, August 22.

Audition requirements for STRINGS are available here. Deadline to submit your audition video: Sunday, August 22.

I'm looking forward to meeting and working with you all this new school year.

Happy practicing!

Dr. Elsy Gallardo-Diaz

Faculty Updates

Senior Pictures & Ads for Yearbook

PLEASE DO YOUR SENIOR PICTURE THIS SUMMER - DUE OCTOBER 22.

Senior pictures are needed for yearbook, Sanjo Senior edition, class night, and the class composite to be hung in the AA commons. The yearbook needs your senior and baby pictures by October 22, 2021. The senior section of the yearbook is being worked on near that time.

We encourage you to get your senior picture done during the summer before the busy school year begins. Photographers get busy in the late summer and fall, so you may want to book an appointment early. PLEASE PLAN AHEAD and get your picture done in a timely manner.

Please send an electronic senior picture (JPEG) to the yearbook team (aayearbook@andrews.edu). You do not have to go to a professional photographer for this picture, but please make sure you follow the picture requirements.

By the same date (October 22), please submit a baby picture as well. The baby picture will be used by yearbook and for class night purposes. Please submit a high-resolution JPEG baby picture. If you cannot scan the picture, you can bring the baby picture to the yearbook staff, and they will scan it for you.

Also, please plan ahead for senior yearbook ad night in early fall, during Senior Spirit Week. At that time, you and your parents can purchase senior ads for the yearbook.

If you have any questions, please email Mrs. Silvestre at silvestre@andrews.edu.

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