Guam Adventist Academy students have noticed a big difference in the school’s front  lawn. According to GAA high school teacher, Mr. Mckeever, several palm trees were donated to the school by Mr. Roland Alcantara. The trees were donated and planted in November. One student said, “Since the trees were planted they’ve added so much beauty to the campus.” Additionally  school officials said, “The trees definitely make the campus look beautiful and are like natural ornaments for Christmas.”

Guam Adventist Academy Medical Club members got together for the first of two medical training seminars scheduled this quarter. They are being conducted by RN and Seventh-day Adventist preacher, Pastor Steven Silva. Pastor Silva shared with the students the definition of high blood pressure and what it could indicate.  He also explained the difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure.   After the lecture, students were able to test their new knowledge by reading each other’s blood pressure levels. Medical Club members were also trained on interpersonal relations, or when dealing with patients face-to-face. He said that there was a certain etiquette and responsibility when talking to patients. He said Club members should always try to keep patients feeling comfortable and at ease. Pastor Silva will be discussing blood sugar and how to check for levels at the next Medical Club training session, which takes place on Tuesday, December 6th, at 2:50pm at the school.  The GAA Medical Club has helped with 2 health screenings so far this school year.  Their next set of public screenings will be held at the Agana Shopping Center on December 11th and 18th, both dates are Sundays. The members will begin conducting free blood pressure and sugar level checks at 10am until 2pm.

Dr. Charles T. Muse, a executive director from National Robotics Trading Center (NRTC) visited Guam Adventist Academy on August 13. Dr. Muse, who is from South Carolina, visited Guam to conduct a workshop for Guam High and Southern High. A Seventh-day Adventist, he asked GAA for permission to visit and talk to students interested in Robotics. He talked about NRTC and about the RoboCup (a robotic soccer competition). He also said that by 2015, the US military expects that one-third of the combat vehicles will be unmanned. Robotic System Joint Project Office deployed 6,000 unmanned vehicles. In South Korea, they say that by 2020, every house will have a robot. By 2025, 1 million industrial robots will be in Japan. Robots have reached 8.6 million in the world. The robots are composed of sensors, cameras, range finder, GPS (Global Positioning System), simulating sensors, and a platform. The NRTC’s mission is to “develop a Robotics Production Technician program and make it available throughout the US.” The schools would provide a 2 year associate degree program. Dr. Charles said, “You can serve God and your country.” For more information, you can visit their site at www.NRTC.com

With the majority of Guam’s tourists coming from Japan, it was an easy decision to select Japanese as the second foreign language to be offered at Guam Adventist Academy. Mrs. Yumiko Imazu has answered the call and is now offering the course to GAA’s secondary students. She is excited about her classes saying, “[My students] have already learned phrases in Japanese in such a short time!” She also believes it is always fun to teach those who are eager to learn.

Now the school offers two languages. Aside from Japanese, Spanish is also an elective. Many colleges require at least 2 years of foreign language. The School Principal, Mrs. Torres, felt students would benefit twice over by offering the foreign language options: 1) It would help students prepare for college, and 2) It also allows them to practice a language that will help them in obtaining better jobs in Guam’s tourism industry.

One of the missions of Guam Adventist Academy is “to actively pursue a healthy lifestyle.” This year, the Physical Education department is basing their program goals and methods on NEWSTART principles. This will allow them to provide students a holistic approach to health. The NEWSTART program has proven time and time again to be effective in changing lives and lifestyles for the better. NEWSTART is an acronym which stands for Nutrition, Exercise, water, Sunlight, Temperance, Air, Rest, and Trust in God – a Biblical method of achieving physical, mental, and spiritual health and fitness.

Students will also participate in the President’s Challenge which requires students to meet measured standards of fitness ability. Blood pressure, weight, waist size, pulse rate, and body fat percentage will be recorded throughout the year to assess their progress. Genesis 1:26 states that God created man in His image. I Corinthians 6:19 tells us that our body is the temple of God. GAA PE teachers, Mr. Larrazabal and Mr. Roa, believe physical education is not only a requirement but a responsibility as stewards of God’s temple.

They hope that parents will help their PE students apply the concepts they’ll learn in school into their daily lives.

New and returning students should remember that there’s a uniform code at Guam Adventist Academy. Students are encouraged to strive to look not only presentable, but professional. Remember that hair should also be neatly and conservatively groomed.

Boys should always walk onto and around campus with shirts neatly tucked. Belts should be dark in color, such as navy blue, black or dark brown. Elementary boys – kindergarten through 6th grades – have the option to wear GAA issued pants or shorts. On Fridays, boys should be in full uniform which includes the GAA issued neckties. Boys’ hair should be short and should not fall below the ear or the nape of the neck (where your dress shirt collar usually is). Boys should ensure that their undershirts are plain white; this means no prints.

Ladies should also arrive to campus with shirts neatly tucked in. The skirts shouldn’t be shorter than 2 inches above the knee when kneeling. They should, in addition to their blouse and skirts, wear their ties daily. For girls in Pre-K to 6, ties are optional except on Fridays when they are mandatory for chapel. Girls should make sure that their hair is nicely groomed and presentable as well. Jewelry is not allowed at school. Underclothing used by girls should be plain white with no print.

If you find that you get a bit cold at times, warm up with your GAA issued sweater. This is the only type of sweater allowed on campus. All others will be confiscated and students will be warned. For more information on the uniform code, please see our registrar, Mrs. Vega.

“Standards of good grooming are established upon the basic principles of neatness, cleanliness, modesty, and appropriateness for the occasion and place. When the appropriateness or modesty of a student’s personal appearance is in question, the administration’s interpretation will be the determining factor.”

Many young people traveled from near and far to be a part of the Pacific Island Youth for Christ Conference. The annual event took place from August 3rd through the 7th and is designed to promote ways the island’s youth can connect and reconnect with Christ as well as educate and train them on the Bible truths and how to spread the “Word.” This year’s event was held at the Agat-Santa Rita Seventh-day Adventist Church and was packed with teenagers and young adults from Guam, Saipan, and Rota. The PYC featured powerful Christian speakers including Robby Teeling from Alaska, and Pastors Godfrey Miranda and Alvin Maragh from California. Pastor Maragh’s sessions touched on the USA and its place in Bible prophecy while Pastor Miranda talked about the need to change our attitudes and lifestyles if we want to be closer to God. Meanwhile, Elder Teeling spoke on the Bible character Joseph and went into detail about Joseph’s dysfunctional family and how we should be Christ-like in all situations, good or bad, just as Joseph was. The youth had the opportunity to go into the village and meet with people, discovering that more than sixty-five of them wanted to learn more about Christ and have Bible studies. The PYC generally takes place toward the end of summer. This year’s PYC proved to be a wonderful way to start off the new school year!