A Commitment to Learning & Growth

We are constantly thinking about what it means to be an excellent institution, and our students’ intellectual and personal growth are at the heart of this work. In addition to all the wonderful things they will accomplish over their Andover career, there will be times when they make mistakes of all different types and impacts. Our community expectations reflect our commitment to helping students learn in those moments.

Please take moment to read this letter that was sent to students yesterday. We hope that this update provides context and clarity around changes to our student conduct system.

Course Requests for Spring Term

Students will prepare and submit course requests for Term 3 between January 27 and February 8.

Each student will work with their advisor to determine remaining diploma requirements, which of their current courses or sequences will continue in spring, and what space they might have to choose electives. Students should have conversations with adults (including parents) about what the spring might look like in big-picture terms, including sports commitments, extracurricular activities, family responsibilities, health, and well-being. We hope that the advising process will teach students not only how to navigate complex systems like our program but also how to make good decisions for themselves whenever they have options.

House counselors, current teachers, cluster deans, coaches, and the staff in the Academic Support Center and Sykes Wellness Center can be helpful as students figure out whether to take on more, cut back, make a change, or stretch themselves. Course requests also help students develop flexibility and resilience, because they often must be willing to change their current instructors or schedule to get their top choice of new courses.

Commencement Schedule Now Online

We are excited to welcome the families of seniors to campus in June to celebrate Phillips Academy’s 245th Commencement. For a complete schedule of events and FAQs, please visit the Commencement webpage.

If you have additional questions, please connect with Naomi Sobelson Mashburn ’08 in the Office of Alumni Engagement via email or call 978-749-4225.

In the coming months, a Commencement invitation will be sent to your home and seniors will receive four additional “keepsake” invitations in their student mailboxes. Please note that invitations are not required for attendance.

“Dance Open” Next Week

Dance Open, presented by the Department of Theatre and Dance, features student-choreographed work in a wide range of styles. Dance Open is directed this year by four 11th-graders under the mentorship of instructors Kareem Lewis and Judith Wombwell. Performances will take place in the Cristina R. Rubio Dance Studio in the Abbot Academy Dance Suite in the new Pan Athletic Center.

Showtimes:

Friday, February 3—7:30 p.m.
Saturday, February 4—7:30 p.m.

We recommend that all audience members arrive 30 minutes prior to showtime. Families of students involved in the production can check in with the House Manager to receive priority seating. Seating is first come, first served for all other audience members.

Time to Order a Yearbook

Families are encouraged to order the 2023 Pot Pourri online (enter school code 3591) by March 1. Order forms are also available on The Hive. Yearbooks, full color and typically about 300 pages, will be delivered to students in mid-May.

Andover Fights Cancer

The athletics department is pleased to help raise awareness and funds in the fight against cancer. We encourage our fans to join in the fight by wearing purple—the color of Relay For Life—as they cheer on Big Blue teams this month.

Friday, January 27: Girls’ Varsity Hockey—5:30 p.m.
Saturday, January 28: Boys’ Varsity Hockey—2:15 p.m.

Relay For Life, sponsored by the American Cancer Society, returns to the PA campus on Saturday, April 22, from 8 to 11 p.m. in the Snyder Center. Click here for more information.

News from the PSPA

Casino Night—Saturday, February 18: Take part in the most anticipated event of the year and help make the evening a great one for our students! Starting on Friday, February 17, we need parent volunteers to decorate/set up, serve refreshments, and of course, deal cards at the gaming tables. Please sign up here.

PSPA Book Club—Sunday, February 19, 8 p.m. ET: Join us virtually as we continue our theme of student-read books with Arif Anwar’s The Storm. The New York Times describes the novel as “a fascinating, ambitious work, stretching across decades and countries and capturing troubled moments in each: Burma, 1942; India, 1946; Bangladesh, 1970; the United States, 2004.” Watch for the Zoom link in a future issue of the Family Bulletin. Click here to email questions.

Blue & Silver Semiformal Dance—Saturday, February 25: Please consider volunteering to staff the dance so we can help make it a fun and festive event for the students! Click here to sign up.

2023 Summer & Gap Year Guide coming soon: The PSPA is getting ready to launch our annual guide to summer and gap year opportunities, featuring programs that are both local and global. Help us get the word out! We are seeking volunteers to help with social marketing of the digital guide to families in communities around the world. This will only take a small amount of time but will be a huge help. If you have a few minutes to spare, please click here.

Spiritual & Religious Gatherings

Jewish Cultural Weekend, January 27–29, is sponsored by the Jewish Student Union: Join us Friday, January 27, at 8 p.m. in Kemper Auditorium for My Son the Waiter: A Jewish Tragedy, a one-man off-Broadway show developed and performed by Brad Zimmerman. It is Zimmerman’s “personal inspiring story about the grit and passion it takes to ‘make it’ as an artist and the sweet rewards that come from never giving up”—and gets rave reviews! Bring partners, friends, mentors, co-workers, kids, lawyers, accountants, doctors, and therapists. Everyone is welcome!

Friday, January 27

1–1:30 p.m.—Muslim Student Association (MSA) Prayers and Fellowship: Sermon (Jumma prayer). Led by Mr. Noureddine El Alam. Meditation Room, lower level of Cochran Chapel (enter from left side of building).
5:30–6:30 p.m.—MSA Dinner and Discussion: Everyone in the community is welcome to join the gathering. Ada’s Room, Paresky Commons.
6 p.m.—Jewish Student Union (JSU) Shabbat Celebration: Led by members of the JSU and Rabbi Michael Swarttz. Included are blessings over candles, juice and hallah, community conversation, sharing and fellowship. Mural Room, Paresky Commons.
8 p.m.—My Son the Waiter: A Jewish Tragedy: This one-man off-Broadway show will highlight Jewish Cultural Weekend. Kemper Auditorium.

Sunday, January 29

10:30 a.m.—Bagel Brunch: Please join the Jewish Student Union for a bagel brunch to wrap up the festivities of Jewish Cultural Weekend. Mural Room, Paresky Commons.
6 p.m.—Protestant Worship Service: Led by the Reverend Gina Finocchiaro, Protestant chaplain. Musician of the week: pianist, Michael Belcher. All are welcome for this time of scripture, prayer, and spoken reflection! Cochran Chapel (main chapel).
6:15–7 p.m.—Roman Catholic Mass: All are welcome! Overseen by Dr. Mary Kantor, Catholic chaplain, with presider Fr. Jack O’Brien and other guest priests from the Archdiocese of Boston. Student leaders participate in liturgical roles as lectors, Eucharistic ministers, and musicians, and help with hospitality. Mass is followed by hospitality and fellowship with snacks and refreshments, and sometimes short programming by Catholic Student Fellowship (CSF) leaders. Kemper Chapel, lower level of Cochran Chapel (enter from left side of building).

Need a Transcript?

As students begin to look at summer opportunities, they may need a copy of their Andover transcript. All requests for transcripts should be emailed to the registrar. If you request an official transcript, please note that it must be sent directly from the Registrar’s office to the organization requesting it, as students are not permitted copies of their official transcript. Please email if you have questions.

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 locations:

January 27 in Singapore

February 21 in Los Angeles

March 13 in Atlanta—Save the Date

February 1: A Virtual GSA Conversation with James D. Marks ’79 and Avery W. Stone ’10
February 5 in Seattle: Andover Gathering & Wine Tasting
February 9 in Cambridge: New England Welcome to the Neighborhood
February 13: Blue Runs Deep: Virtual Conversation, with Alumni in Finance & Venture Capital
February 16 in San Francisco: Andover Wine Dinner with Fisher Vineyards
February 28 in Chicago: Andover in Chicago Social Gathering with the Regional Leadership Team
March 22: Zooming Through the Decades, A Virtual All-Classes Social Gathering

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!

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. 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, if they are within 10 days of having been diagnosed with COVID, and/or if they have any symptoms of respiratory illness. 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, if eligible. 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. We expect attendees to mask at all times—or not attend the event—if they are a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID in the last 10 days, if they are within 10 days of having been diagnosed with COVID, and/or if they have any symptoms of respiratory illness. In the spirit of non sibi, the Academy trusts that those in attendance will follow these guidelines.

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Phillips Academy
180 Main St.
Andover, MA 01810

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