First All-School Meeting Tomorrow |
Students will gather Friday morning for the All-School Meeting (ASM) Opening of School ceremony, a time to honor students as the inspiration for our educational mission. The flags of all nations represented by the student body will be carried into Cochran Chapel in celebration of youth from every quarter. This year Andover welcomes students from more than 40 U.S. states and nearly 50 countries. A video of this special ASM will be posted next week to the Family Hub on Media Space, which families can access via The Hive.
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Family Weekend: Register Now! |
We look forward to welcoming families back to campus in just a few weeks. Family Weekend, October 25–27, provides a unique glimpse into your child’s daily life at Andover, with activities such as classroom visits with your child’s instructors, student performances, and athletic events. Registration is now open!
Plan ahead—and learn more about your student’s Andover experience!
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The 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). Events/programs are added and updated continually, so check back often.
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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 be alerted of any venue or schedule changes.
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You can customize your weekend visit by using the My Schedule option within the guide. We hope you will attend as many events as possible!
If you are unable to download the app, please refer to the Family Weekend Schedule of Events and check back often for updates.
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Student schedules for Saturday morning (October 26) classroom visits will be available on The Hive prior to Family Weekend. On Saturday, you will also have the opportunity to attend small group meetings with your child’s primary on-campus contact person.
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The contact for boarding students is their point person; the contact for day students is their day student advisor. Given the number of events scheduled throughout the weekend, teachers are unable to hold individual conferences with parents/guardians.
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- May I bring my student’s sibling/grandparent/aunt/uncle? All family members are welcome for Family Weekend. Children must be accompanied by an adult or Andover student.
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May we take our student off campus? Boarding students can use the REACH system to request and receive overnight permissions. For Family Weekend overnights, students need to submit REACH requests by Sunday, October 20, at 8 p.m.
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Please note that students do NOT have classes on Monday, October 28, or Tuesday, October 29. If you have additional Family Weekend questions, please send us an email.
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The Office of Family Engagement would like to remind families of various ways to stay connected and the resources available to help you support your student.
Ways to Stay Connected
SmugMug: Updated regularly, SmugMug is Andover’s official online photo gallery.
Media Space Family Hub: View videos of our All-School Meetings, guest speakers, various campus events, and the Family Webinar Series. Access them through The Hive or log in with your Hive credentials.
Social Media: Follow PA on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube
Resources to Support Your Student
2024–2025 Information for Families: This webpage contains timely information about the school year, events hosted by the Office of Family Engagement, and a frequently asked questions (FAQs) section.
Handbooks: The Blue Book, detailing our shared values, community standards, and behavioral expectations, and the Course of Study, outlining graduation requirements, courses, and academic expectations, are both available on The Hive.
Strategies for Student Success: The Academic Skills Center has updated its flyer with tips and reminders on how students can access a range of resources on campus. To learn more about the Academic Skills Center, please view the recording of the Family Webinar segment here.
Tips
Provide your student’s full name: When contacting various departments about your student, please provide your student’s full name to ensure a prompt and accurate response.
My Profile on The Hive: Families can access and update My Profile throughout the school year.
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Be sure your Preferred Number (ideally a cell phone) is the best number to reach you. Your preferred number is displayed to campus adults and is important if we need to reach you quickly.
- If possible, use different contact emails for each parent/guardian to ensure all receive our school-wide emails.
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Students who signed up for lessons should have received an email confirmation of those lessons on September 9. Any students who did not receive this message and are interested in private lessons are encouraged to complete this Private Lessons Agreement Form. Private lessons begin the week of September 15.
To rent a musical instrument, students should complete this Instrument Request Form.
Questions? Please email the Department of Music.
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Register by Sunday for PSAT Exam |
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A PSAT exam will be offered to PA 11th-graders on Wednesday, October 9. Registration closes on Sunday, September 15. Students have received a registration link via email. The $28 exam fee will be deducted from your student’s Course Materials Account.
The PSAT is a practice exam for the SAT. It tests the same skills and knowledge and can be a predictor of how one would score if they took the SAT. This will be a digital exam that students will take on their own device, Windows laptop or tablet, Mac laptop, or iPad. Specific instructions will be given to registered students. Tenth-graders will be offered a practice PSAT in the spring. For complete details, click here.
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Phillips Academy will host a College Fair on Monday, September 23, from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Snyder Center. The fair offers local high school students and their families an ideal opportunity to familiarize themselves with a wide range of colleges and universities. Representatives from more than 100 colleges and universities from around the world will be available to answer individual questions and provide informational literature. Click here for a current list of registered schools.
The fair is open to the public and admission is free. Once on campus, please follow the signs to available parking. Please note that students cannot miss any PA commitments to attend the College Fair.
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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 Portraits: Photographers will be on campus this fall to take formal senior portraits. You are also welcome to submit your own portraits by email to PA Senior Portraits. The deadline for submitting portraits is January 1, 2025.
Yearbook Senior Tribute Ad: Our senior tribute pages in Pot Pourri are a fun senior tradition; we hope 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 flier to create and purchase your ad. The deadline for submitting senior tributes is 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 in October. If you have any questions, please email Mike McCann.
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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. All current PA parents/guardians are automatically members! Please sign up here to be notified about opportunities to volunteer. We are looking for Class of 2026 and 2028 class representatives. If you would like to nominate yourself or someone else, please use this link.
Opening of School Activities
PSPA was thrilled to be part of the Opening of School! Here are a few highlights from our events:
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Faculty/Staff Breakfast: In collaboration with the Office of the Head of School, the PSPA welcomed back faculty and staff with a delightful catered breakfast.
- New Family Welcome Booth: Thank you to all who stopped by—it was wonderful to connect.
- Information Session: PSPA hosted a Parent/Guardian Info Session in Cochran Chapel.
- Distribution of PSPA “Warm Welcome” Blanket Gifts: Please remind your student to bring their redemption card to Campus Closet (located on the lower level of George Washington Hall) to collect their blanket. Last chance to pick up blankets is Friday, September 13.
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Cluster Olympics: The PSPA and the Dean of Students Office co-sponsored a Cluster Rally and various activities. A big THANK YOU to the Dean of Students team for organizing such exciting community-bonding events!
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Opening Week: Thank you to all parent volunteers and customers who contributed to the blockbuster opening week of Campus Closet. Our online shop is now open, offering Phillips Academy clothing and merchandise for your whole family. We offer free delivery on campus!
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Campus Closet Needs Crew Members: Campus Closet relies on parent volunteers to operate and raise funds to support activities for students and the broader PA community. If you’re able to volunteer for a shift in the shop in the coming months, please sign up here.
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Spiritual & Religious Gatherings |
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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)
- 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)
- 5:30 p.m.—Jewish Student Union (JSU) Shabbat Celebration: Led by members of the JSU and Rabbi Joshua Greenberg. Come for a brief kabbalat shabbat service, 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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Confirmation Program—The Catholic Chaplaincy provides a Confirmation program for all Catholic students who wish to be confirmed. This is a full academic year program that culminates in a Confirmation Mass on campus, presided over by our area bishop from the Archdiocese of Boston. The class meets each Sunday from 4:45 to 6 p.m. followed by the 6:15 p.m. Sunday Mass. (Arrangements are made for dinner.) Classes will begin in early October. All high school grade levels (including postgraduates) are welcome to take part in this program. Students interested in the Confirmation program should email Dr. Mary Kantor for more information.
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Kay WalkingStick, Wampanoag Coast, Variation II, 2018. Oil on panel in two parts. Collection of Agnes Hsu-Tang, Ph.D., and Oscar Tang. © Kay WalkingStick
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Check out the Peabody’s Monthly Newsletter |
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The current issue of the Robert S. Peabody Institute of Archaeology’s monthly newsletter is now available. Sign up today to receive future newsletters directly from the Peabody.
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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.
To view the slides from the Opening of School Parent and Guardian Information Session, click here.
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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.
© 2024 | Web version | Manage Preferences
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