Relax & Enjoy!

Andover faculty, staff, and administrators would like to wish our students and their families a happy, safe, and fun Thanksgiving break. There’s so much to catch up on—including sleep! The Family Bulletin is also taking a break. Watch for the next issue on December 1.

End-of-Term Grades

Fall end-of-term grades will be posted on The Hive by 9 a.m. ET on Wednesday, November 23. Click the “Grades History” link below your student’s photo.

Important dates:

Tuesday, November 29: Dorms reopen; boarding students may return after 8 a.m.—and must return by 8 p.m.
Wednesday, November 30: Winter term (Term 2) classes begin.
Saturday, December 17: Winter vacation begins. Students may depart campus after 3 p.m. on Friday, December 16. Students must depart by noon on Saturday, December 17.
Wednesday, January 4: Dorms reopen; boarding students may return after 8 a.m.—and must return by 8 p.m.
Thursday, January 5: Term 2 classes resume.

The campus community was bursting with Big Blue pride on Andover-Exeter Weekend. Here, fans pack into Borden Memorial Gym to cheer on the girls’ volleyball team. (Photo by Gil Talbot)

Thank You for Participating!

We appreciate all the families who took part in the Andover-Exeter Challenge last week. While we didn’t beat Exeter, there is certainly plenty to celebrate: We exceeded our donor goal of 2,022, tallying an incredible 2,141 contributors, including alumni, families, faculty, staff, students, and friends worldwide who united in Andover spirit. What’s more, 36 percent of A-E Challenge donors were parents! You made a huge impact for our community, and your participation and generosity will make a difference all year long. From the bottom of our Big Blue hearts, thank you!

Questions about making a gift to the Academy? Email Katherine Solimini, associate director of parent development.

Addison Gallery Virtual Talk

Organized by Dr. Tanya Sheehan ’94, “New Perspectives: The Collection in Dialogue” presents a series of virtual talks by leading scholars of American art that focus on the Addison’s collection. The first talk of this series, “The Art of HIV/AIDS,” takes place on Thursday, December 1, at 6 p.m. Fiona Johnstone and Jonathan Katz will explore art created during the AIDS crisis and works by artists—including Mark Morrisroe, Hunter Reynolds, Eric Rhein, Tim Rollins and K.O.S., and David Wojnarowicz—who continue to be impacted by HIV. Please register here.

December Performances

Organist Dr. Abbey Siegfried P’25, ’26, and the Fidelio Society will perform at the Methuen Memorial Music Hall’s Holiday Open House on Friday, December 2, from 7 to 9 p.m. Admission is free and light refreshments will be provided. For further information and directions, please contact the MMMH.

The Academy Orchestras will present a Family Concert on Sunday, December 4, at 3 p.m. in Cochran Chapel. Works by Copland, Tchaikovsky, Vaughan Williams, and Nishimura and music from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone will be performed. This concert is free and open to the public. Please join us for a reception following the performance.

Private Music Lessons

Is your student interested in taking private lessons on campus? Our private lesson program for winter term will begin the week of December 4, and the add/drop deadline is Wednesday, December 14. Questions? Please email Dr. Jessica McCormack.

March Break LITW Apps Due Dec. 5

The deadline to apply to Learning in the World (LITW) programs that take place over March break (March 4–20) is December 5. Please visit the LITW website to learn more about our current offerings. Your student should submit their application via our online portal.

Students should connect as soon as possible with PA adults who know them well and can write recommendations on their behalf.
Applications for LITW summer programs are due January 9 (via our online portal).
Students should apply directly to affiliate programs now. Separate entities from LITW, each affiliate program has its own specific deadlines and requirements.
Your student’s “expression of interest” in an affiliate program is due January 23 (via our online portal). An expression of interest helps the LITW office coordinate with students and families on pre- and post-program actions and support them in the financial aid process.
Need-based financial assistance is available for PA-sponsored and affiliate programs. Please email Andréa Gerakaris in the Office of Admission with specific inquiries.

Not all LITW programs are travel-based. Students and adults have many opportunities throughout the year to participate in LITW-sponsored programming, such as virtual exchanges hosted by affiliates such as Envoys and GEBG, as well as academic collaborations with various departments.

Questions? Email Mark Cutler, LITW director.

Live & Learn at Andover Next Summer!

Andover Summer, open to rising 7th- through 12th-grade students, is a residential academic enrichment program that brings together a community of global learners at Phillips Academy for five weeks each summer. Students immerse themselves in exciting classes, such as Neuropsychology, Entrepreneurship, Great Issues and Controversies of the Modern World, and Art as Action: Murals of the 21st Century. With over 60 courses offered among three distinct institutes, students can explore new interests, take a step outside their comfort zone, and satiate their curiosity for learning.

Online application now open for summer 2023: The Andover Summer program is a great opportunity for younger siblings, along with current students, to get a taste of life at Andover. Click here for more information about upcoming webinars, dates and rates for this summer, and to apply online. If you and a younger child are planning to attend the Admissions Open House on Saturday, December 3, be sure to stop by the Andover Summer table in Kemper Auditorium to chat with us in person.

Standardized Test Dates & Deadlines

Click here for details on Phillips Academy standardized test dates, deadlines, and registration information. Tests administered on the PA campus include the SAT, PSAT, ACT, and pre-ACT, as well as AP exams. Questions? Please email Debra Colombo, director of standardized testing.

Sign Up for the Tang Newsletter

The Tang Institute is the Academy’s center for teaching, learning, and partnership. Andover students benefit from Tang Institute projects across the curriculum, in a range of departmental and interdisciplinary efforts. These include The Workshop at Andover, mindfulness events, the ethi{CS} project, and more. Please click here to subscribe to “Notes on Learning,” the Tang Institute’s monthly newsletter.

Pot Pourri Yearbook—Order Online

Families are encouraged to order the 2023 Pot Pourri online (enter school code 3591). Order forms are also available on The Hive. Yearbooks, full color and typically about 300 pages, will be delivered to students in mid-May.

Plan ahead! Create a “family message” for your senior: Express pride and love and congratulate your soon-to-be-graduate with a fun and heartfelt ad in the yearbook. Choose from several sizes and full-color or black and white, and include your own special message and photo(s). Please download the order form, which includes instructions for submitting ad materials and payment. Deadline for submission is Saturday, January 14.

Spiritual & Religious Gatherings

Muslim Student Association (MSA) Prayers and Fellowship, Dinner and Discussion: MSA events will resume Friday, December 2.
Jewish Student Union (JSU) Shabbat Celebration: The next Shabbat celebration will be Friday, December 2.
Protestant Worship Service: The next Protestant worship service will be Sunday, December 4.
Roman Catholic Mass: The next Roman Catholic Mass will be Sunday, December 4.

You Are Invited!

Join us in person for An Evening with Head of School Raynard S. Kington, MD, PhD, P’24, as he meets with the Andover community in these three cities:
                December 6 in New York
                February 21 in Los Angeles—Save the Date
                March 13 in Atlanta—Save the Date

November 17: How to Non Sibi—A Toolkit for Fostering Community Service and Connection
November 20 in Stamford, CT: Domus Non Sibi Project
November 23: Peabody Diggin’ In Series: New Archaeological Discoveries at the Basil & Nancy Dorsey Farm Challenge the Myths About Post-Emancipation African American Communities like Sugarland, MD
November 28 in London: An Andover Evening, with Thom Lockerby and Ellen Sullivan
November 30: A Conversation with Torrence N. Boone ’87 and Kayla A. Thompson ’15
December 1 in Dubai: An Andover Evening, with Thom Lockerby and Ellen Sullivan
December 1: The Addison Gallery of American Art New Perspectives Lecture Series: The Art of HIV/AIDS
December 2 in Methuen, MA: Methuen Memorial Music Hall’s Holiday Open House, with a performance by Dr. Abbey Siegfried P’25, ’26, and the Fidelio Society
December 4 on Campus: Family Concert featuring the Academy Orchestras
December 14: Zooming Through the Decades, An All-Classes Social Gathering

All events are virtual unless otherwise noted. Keep an eye on the Alumni & Families Events Calendar for gatherings in your area—and check the Academy’s Events calendar for additional campus and other events that may be open to families (i.e., special student presentations, music, theatre, and dance performances, and athletic competitions).

PA Visitor/Guest Health & Safety Guidelines

On-Campus Visitors: In consideration of the health and safety of visitors and our campus community, we expect visitors to be up to date with COVID vaccination, if eligible. Any visitor who is ineligible or has a medical or religious exemption must mask indoors at all times when on campus. We expect visitors to stay off campus if they have any symptoms of illness and to mask if they develop any symptoms while on campus. We expect visitors to mask at all times or stay off campus if they are a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID in the last 10 days. In the spirit of non sibi (not for self), the Academy trusts that campus visitors will follow these guidelines.

Guests at Off-Campus/Regional Events: In consideration of the health and safety of our Andover community, we ask attendees to be up to date with COVID vaccination. We require all attendees to adhere to the public health guidelines established by the CDC and your state and local health officials, as well as to follow venue guidelines and regulations that are in place at the time of the event. Venue-specific guidelines will be shared close to the event date. Prior to attending, we ask that you monitor your health. If you are feeling unwell, please plan to stay home. In the spirit of non sibi, the Academy trusts that those in attendance will follow these guidelines.

Family Bulletin Archive »

Phillips Academy
180 Main St.
Andover, MA 01810

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