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Monday, October 7: Students will follow a Friday schedule.
- Tuesday, October 8: Senior Boat Cruise (see Senior Scoop for details)
- Wednesday, October 9: No classes. PSAT exam for uppers (11th-graders) and mandatory community event for juniors (9th-graders). See details below. Community Engagement programs and sports will meet as usual.
- Friday, October 11: Midterm; Students will follow a Wednesday schedule.
- Tuesday, October 15: Mid-point grades and progress reports posted to The Hive.
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Friday, October 25–Sunday, October 27: Family Weekend
- Monday, October 28: No classes. Boarding students must check in by 9:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, October 29: No classes. Boarding students must check in by 8 p.m.
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From the Dean of Studies Office |
Mid-point grades and progress reports will be posted on The Hive on Tuesday, October 15. At the Term 1 (fall) mid-point, all students will receive brief progress reports from each of their instructors. Reports will be written directly to the student (in the second person) and will be viewable by both students and families.
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The guidance and feedback contained in the mid-point reports is intended to provide advice for students at a time in the term when they can still act on teachers’ suggestions for improvement. Students will hear from instructors in writing again at the end of Term 1 and at the end of Term 3 (spring term).
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Get Ready for Family Weekend |
We can’t wait to see you on campus for Family Weekend, October 25–27. Please register here today!
Be sure to check the schedule of events and plan to arrive early on Friday. Whether you’re cheering your student on from the sidelines, taking in a performance, or just spending time catching up on your child’s life at Andover, you are sure to have a wonderful few days.
Family Weekend Information: For event information, including area hotels, a campus map, and frequently asked questions, please visit the Family Weekend website.
Student Overnight Permissions: Students do not have classes on Monday, October 28, and Tuesday, October 29. Boarding students can use the REACH system to request and receive overnight permissions. For Family Weekend overnights, students need to submit REACH requests by 8 p.m. on Sunday, October 20.
Grasshopper Night Tickets: Grasshopper is a popular talent show that is produced, directed, and performed by students. The four performances will take place Friday, October 25 (6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m.), and Saturday, October 26 (6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m.). Due to Tang Theatre’s seating capacity, a limited number of tickets are available for each show. We, unfortunately, cannot guarantee that all families will be able to attend a show in the theatre. However, all performances will be simulcast in nearby Kemper Auditorium, where no tickets are needed.
Tickets will be available at Family Weekend registration (in the Oliver Wendell Holmes Library) on the day of each performance: Friday show tickets are available on Friday ONLY and Saturday show tickets are available on Saturday ONLY. Tickets for each of these shows will be available on a first-come-first-served basis. Once theatre capacity has been reached, tickets will no longer be available. Tickets can only be reserved and obtained in person at registration. We will not accept advance requests for ticket reservations unless your student is a performer in the show.* Note that there will be a section reserved for students, who can line up outside of each performance prior to showtime.
Grasshopper Night Ticket Availability
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- Each Andover family is eligible to reserve 3 tickets to only ONE of these three performances: Friday at 6:30 p.m.; Friday at 9 p.m.; or Saturday at 6:30 p.m.
- The Saturday 9 p.m. show will be open admission and will not require pre-reserved tickets. Tickets will be available on a first-come-first-served basis to those who line up in Steinbach Lobby 30 minutes prior to the show. Again, we cannot guarantee attendance for all in line as the theatre has a limited capacity.
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Grasshopper Ticket In-Person Pickup
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- Friday 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. performances—
Friday Only at Registration (Oliver Wendell Holmes Library). See hours listed below.
- Saturday 6:30 p.m. Performance—Saturday Only at Registration (Oliver Wendell Holmes Library). See hours listed below.
- Tickets must be presented at the Tang Theatre in order to see the show.
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*If you are a performer’s parent, you will be receiving a separate communication the week of October 7. Please send us an email if you do not receive this communication.
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Registration Hours for Family Weekend
Oliver Wendell Holmes Library
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- Friday, October 25 (Noon–7 p.m.)
- Saturday, October 26 (7 a.m.–Noon)
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Schedule of Events: The full schedule for Family Weekend can be found on the Andover Event Guides app, available through the Apple App Store or Google Play (for Android users).
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| - Download the Andover Event Guides app.
- Open the app and tap Find Guides (magnifying glass in bottom right corner of the app).
- Tap the Have a passphrase? button.
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Type the passphrase Andover1778 to find the PA Families and Campus Community guide for the latest information and schedule for Family Weekend. Be sure to accept notifications so you will receive notice of any venue or schedule changes.
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Customize your weekend visit by using the My Schedule option within the guide. We hope you will attend as many events as possible!
More Family Weekend questions? Please send us an email.
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Our Fall 2024 concert calendar is available here. Please note that some times and locations have changed.
Information regarding the Massachusetts Music Educators Association (MMEA) Northeastern Festival will be available to students this week. Interested students must sign up with the Department of Music by Wednesday, October 23. Questions? Please email the Department of Music.
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Student Flu Clinics in October |
Save the dates! The Rebecca M. Sykes Wellness Center will offer free flu vaccines to students on October 8, 11, 15, and 16. Please log in to the Sykes Wellness Center Health Portal and complete the flu consent under the Forms tab if you haven’t done so yet. If your student received the flu vaccine elsewhere, please email documentation to the wellness center.
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Indigenous Peoples’ Day Lecture at the Peabody |
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Join the Peabody for an evening celebrating Indigenous Peoples’ Day with guest speaker David Lowry on Monday, October 14 at 7 p.m. at the Robert S. Peabody Institute of Archaeology. Event is free and open to the public.
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David Shane Lowry is assistant professor of anthropology at the University of Southern Maine. He grew up in—and is an enrolled member of—the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina.
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Ensuring Andover’s Excellence: A Quick Survey |
Andover is actively engaged in a long-range planning initiative to chart its course for the next 20 to 30 years. This effort requires the wisdom and commitment of our campus and global communities. Families are invited to take a few minutes to fill out a five-question survey that will help us shape the strongest possible future for Andover students.
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On Wednesday, October 9, all juniors (9th-graders) will go on a bowling outing. This is a mandatory event; students do not need to sign up, but please note that attendance will be taken. Buses will depart from the George Washington Hall circle at 9:30 a.m. and return to campus by noon so students are back in time for their afternoon sports activities. Students need only bring a positive attitude—everything else, including bowling shoes and pizza, is provided. Students with questions about participation in this event should contact their cluster dean. Questions? Email the Student Activities Office.
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Yearbooks are now on sale! All families are encouraged to order a 2025 Pot Pourri, Phillips Academy’s yearbook, by clicking PA Yearbook. If prompted, enter school code 3591. Yearbooks—full color and typically about 300 pages—will be delivered to campus in May.
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Families of seniors! This section keeps you in the loop on important events and milestones of your student’s final year.
Senior Boat Cruise on Tuesday, October 8: Buses will depart from the George Washington Hall circle at 8 p.m. and return by 11 p.m. Seniors must participate in all afternoon sports commitments, community engagement activities, and music rehearsals on this day. Students with questions about participation in this event should contact their cluster dean. Questions? Email the Student Activities Office.
Senior Portraits: Mark Lawerence Photographers will be on campus from Tuesday, November 12, through Friday, November 15, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The sitting fee is $30, payable via credit card. Photos taken will be submitted directly to the yearbook. Students will receive an email from the Students Activities Office one week prior so they can sign up for a sitting. Families are also welcome to submit your own portrait of your student by email to PA Senior Portraits. The deadline for submitting portraits is January 1. If no photo is submitted, the student’s BlueCard ID photo will be used.
Yearbook Senior Tribute Ad: Our senior tribute pages in Pot Pourri are a fun senior tradition; the yearbook staff hopes you’ll consider participating. Space for tributes to seniors, which are submitted by their family, is available through the yearbook for an additional charge. Follow the directions on the Class of 2025 Yearbook Info flyer to create and purchase your ad. The deadline for submitting senior tributes is Friday, November 15.
Class Rings: You can purchase a class ring for your senior through our vendor, Herff Jones. A representative will be on campus during Family Weekend. Questions? Please email Mike McCann.
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Spiritual & Religious Gatherings |
- 1–1:25 p.m.—Muslim Student Association (MSA) Jummah Prayer: Led by Noureddine El Alam. Meditation Room, lower level of Cochran Chapel (enter from left side of building)
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5:30–6:30 p.m.—MSA Dinner & Discussion: Led by Noureddine El Alam and members of the MSA. All community members are welcome to join this gathering. Ada’s Room, Paresky Commons (second floor)
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5:30 p.m.—Jewish Student Union (JSU) Shabbat Celebration: Led by members of the JSU and Rabbi Joshua Greenberg. Come for blessings over candles, challah and grape juice, sharing and fellowship. All are welcome. Paul’s Room, Paresky Commons (second floor)
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- 6 p.m.—Protestant Worship: Led by the Reverend Gina M. Finocchiaro, Protestant chaplain. All are welcome for this time of scripture, prayer, music, and spoken reflection. Cochran Chapel
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6:15 p.m.—Catholic Mass: All are welcome to join the PA Catholic community for Mass on Sunday evenings when school is in session. Overseen by Dr. Mary Kantor, Catholic chaplain, with presider Fr. Jack O’Brien and other guest priests from the Archdiocese of Boston. Kemper Chapel, lower level of Cochran Chapel (enter from left side of building)
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Coming up!
Tuesday, October 8
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5:15 p.m.—Jewish Student Union (JSU) Tashlikh Ritual: Tashlikh is a ritual done between Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur where individuals symbolically cast off the guilt and pain of the previous year. Led by members of the JSU and Rabbi Josh Greenberg, students will gather by Rabbit Pond for readings and reflections. Rabbit Pond, Pine Knoll Cluster (by the circle at the end of Chapel Ave).
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5:15 p.m.—Jewish Student Union (JSU) Yom Kippur Service: Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement, begins at sundown on October 11 and continues through sundown on October 12. Dinner will be served at 5:15 p.m. followed by Yom Kippur service at 6 p.m. hosted by the JSU and Rabbi Joshua Greenberg. Mural Room, Paresky Commons (second floor)
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- 5:30 p.m.—Yom Kippur Break Fast: The Jewish Student Union will host a Break Fast following Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement. All are welcome to join the meal and fellowship. Underwood Room, Elson Art Center
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Catholic Confirmation Classes begin October 6—The Catholic Chaplaincy provides a Confirmation program to all Catholic students who wish to be confirmed. This is a full academic year program that culminates in a Confirmation Mass and on campus, presided over by our area bishop from the Archdiocese of Boston. This year’s Confirmation Mass, followed by a brunch reception, is the morning of Sunday, May 11. Confirmation classes will begin Sunday, October 6, and meet most Sundays from 4:45 to 6 p.m., followed by the 6:15 p.m. Sunday Mass (arrangements are made for dinner). All grade levels, including postgraduates, are welcome to take part in this program. Interested students should email Dr. Mary Kantor for more information.
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The Parents of Students of Phillips Academy (PSPA) is a nonprofit parent-run organization that hosts social gatherings, educational panels, and engagement events throughout the year for students, families, and the broader PA community. Please sign up here to be notified about opportunities to volunteer. We are looking for Class of 2026 and 2028 class representatives. To nominate yourself or someone else, please use this link.
Mark Your Calendars!
General Meetings: We hope to see you at our general meetings, which will be held once per term at the Andover Inn on the following dates:
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- Friday, October 25, at 10:30 a.m. (Family Weekend)
- Friday, February 14, at 6:30 p.m.
- Friday, April 25, at 6:30 p.m.
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PSPA Meet and Connect —Friday, October 25,12:30–2:30 p.m.
- Parent-to-Parent Forum: “Thriving at Andover”—Friday, October 25, 2:30–3:30 p.m.
- All Parents Reception—Saturday, October 26, 5–7 p.m.
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Shop this Friday from noon to 4 p.m.: Stop by Campus Closet, located on the lower level of George Washington Hall, for Phillips Academy gear for your whole family—or shop online 24/7.
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Crew members needed: Campus Closet relies on parent volunteers. If you are able to volunteer for a shift in the coming months, please sign up here. It’s a great way to connect with parents and others in the PA community.
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- October 4 in Singapore: An Andover Dinner with Alumni and Parents
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October 11 in Tokyo: An Andover Dinner with Alumni and Parents
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October 15—Virtual: Andover’s Foundation & Future with Head of School Raynard S. Kington, MD, PhD, P’24, ’27
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October 22 in Greenwich: Andover’s Foundation & Future with Head of School Raynard S. Kington, MD, PhD, P’24, ’27
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October 25–27 on Campus: Family Weekend 2024
- November 2 in New York: Citymeals on Wheels Fall Non Sibi Project with Marcia McCabe ’73
- November 2 in Maine: Center for Wildlife Fall Non Sibi Project with Tiffany Horne Noonan ’99
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November 7 on Campus and Virtual: 15th Annual Veterans Day Program and Dinner
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November 9 in Philadelphia: Andover-Exeter Viewing Party
- November 12—Virtual: Blue Runs Deep: Conversations with Alumni in Food & Beverage
- December 4 in Chicago: Andover’s Foundation & Future with Head of School Raynard S. Kington, MD, PhD, P’24, ’27
- December 12 in New York
: Andover’s Foundation & Future with Head of School Raynard S. Kington, MD, PhD, P’24, ’27
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Keep an eye on the Academy’s Events Calendar for gatherings in your area and an array of campus and other events that may be open to families (i.e., special student presentations; music, theatre, and dance performances; and athletic competitions). Please join us!
Health and safety guidelines, provided here, are also available when you register for an event.
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The Office of Family Engagement is here to support you throughout the school year! If you have any questions or need assistance, please email Director Jennifer Vasquez or call 978-749-4068.
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Phillips Academy
180 Main St. | Andover, MA 01810 US
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You received this message because you are a valued member of the Andover community. We are obligated to communicate with you, and require you to be on our email list while your student(s) attends Phillips Academy. For more information contact the Dean of Studies Office.
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