News & Announcements

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Volume 15, Issue 7

Andrews Academy's

Official Newsletter

August 27, 2021

Dear AA Families,

To God be the Glory, we have completed our first week of school! Thank you for your commitment to Seventh-day Adventist Christian Education.

Our Dedication Convocation service is tomorrow, Sabbath, August 28, 2021, at 11:45 AM in the Richard T. Orrison Chapel. It will be livestreamed on our YouTube Channel.

Please refer to the safety guidelines for this event outlined here:

A face covering is required for all indoor activities.
Chapel seating: If you are a part of the same household, you are encouraged to sit together for service and lunch.
When we reach capacity for chapel seating and overflow room, we will deny entry into the building.
Lunch will be served in disposable to-go containers so individuals will have the option of staying for lunch if there is room, or taking it to go.

This Tuesday, August 31, at 6:00 PM, there is a Parent Meeting via Zoom. This is an informational session for our AA families. One of the items on the agenda will be our new electronic devices policy. I look forward to seeing you there.

It is imperative that you read the E-Sanjo (typically sent twice a week, Tuesday and Friday) for important information as we navigate through the school year. Staying up to date with the latest official communication will help alleviate much anxiety and stress.

Psalm 46:1-3: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.”

In times like these we can be assured that God is still in control, and He is our great refuge.

With care,

Pastor Mario Ferguson
Principal
Andrews Academy
mferguson@andrews.edu

All AA Families are invited to this event tomorrow, August 28:

FACTS or Andrews ID Log In Help

If you need help logging in to FACTS or help with your Andrews user name and password, please contact Ms. Esther (penn@andrews.edu) in the main office.

You can find your schedule, grades, etc. on FACTS.

Attendance

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, driver's test, etc. These cards can be found in the main office or online. A parent's signature is required, as well as 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. The 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. This is the preferable method.

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

Zoom Link

Parent Meeting

You are invited to our virtual Parent Meeting this Tuesday, August 31, at 6:00 PM. We will discuss topics having to do with COVID, the new electronic devices policy, and other issues.

Meeting ID: 979 8944 2424

Passcode: 797875

School Name: Andrews Academy

Picture Day Date: This Thursday, September 2

Picture Day ID: EVTX9M72G

Order before Picture Day on mylifetouch.com with the above Picture Day ID.

Opting in to Texting for One Call Now

Andrews Academy utilizes One Call Now, an automated messaging service, to contact students and parents about upcoming events, performances, and school cancellations.

If you want to receive a text notification instead of a call, 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 penn@andrews.edu with any changes. Thank you!

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. A number of individuals 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 aanews@andrews.edu. Thank you!

(Another pose)

We are pleased to announce that our school enrollment is 247, about 21 more students than last year at this date! We are blessed.

Please keep Andrews Academy in your prayers as we begin the 2021-2022 school year. May each student think deeply, live fully, serve unselfishly, and trust God completely.

See Facebook for more closeup pictures of this photo. ~ Aug. 24, 2021

More photos on Facebook

Chapels this Week

To open chapel on Wednesday, Pastor Ferguson reminded all of us about the importance of time, and that we should be diligent in making the most of life and setting aside time for God. Following this, Pastor Vulcano prayed over everyone, and then Pastor Russel began his talk. The topic for the day was how our thoughts and interactions impact our image of God. He gave the analogy of “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” how he seems mighty and powerful, but just ends up being an ordinary person putting on a hoax. Sometimes, especially when life gets busy, we can forget how good God is. As Pastor Russel pointed out, from Malachi 3 and John 3:16-17, God is always merciful and loving. We just need to take the time to get to know Him.

On Thursday, we were blessed to have Pastor Russel join us again. His topic was similar to the day before, but also a little different. The main idea was how a believer may compare their life to someone else’s. Pastor Russel said one of his favorite chapters of the Bible is Psalms 73. This chapter depicts how a believer is struggling with how other people, believers and non-believers alike, seem to have a better life. It’s easy to look at just the here and now, but, when you look at the big picture, if you are faithful, you will receive your reward in Heaven. Remember that God will always be with you to help you through the hard times.

Today (Friday), we had class devotions. Instead of going to the chapel, each class met in various locations throughout the school. For example, the Junior class met in the Commons for their morning devotion that was on the topic of Christian leadership. Later in their class meeting, they talked about class elections, and nomination forms were handed out to those that wanted to run for an office.

Sophomores and juniors are having their elections on September 10; seniors had their elections last spring; and freshmen will have their elections on September 24 to give them time to get to know each other before their elections. At the close of their meeting, the junior class went outside for a class picture, to the location where they had their picture as freshmen in 2019.

More junior photos on Facebook

More chapel photos on Facebook

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 through the GET Mobile app or online at least one day in advance (by 5 PM). (See instructions in previous E-Sanjos or contact Dining Services for more information - 269-471-3161 or ds@andrews.edu.)