Support, Conversation, Flexibility

Last weekend, in the midst of all that is going on in our world, students received an email focused on the week ahead and various supports available. We acknowledged that many students are experiencing wide-ranging trauma (COVID, racial, personal), with impact on the ability to concentrate, sleep, and complete academic work—and highlighted some areas for support and opportunities for conversation and flexibility. Key takeaways from the email:

Please know that deans have been in communication with instructors about offering flexibility with timing of course engagement, deadlines, and assessment. Instructors are prepared to hear from students if they are struggling to concentrate and/or complete assignments.
Students should share candidly with their advisor point person (APP) about how they are doing and what they need. Students can communicate in writing in their Winter reflection and/or during follow-up conversations with their APP this week. Advisors will communicate with the class dean—and, if appropriate, the full team—to identity strategies and options for support.
Students may wish to try these two grounding techniques/resources:
- Practice “Take 5”—Breathe in as you run one finger from the bottom of the opposite palm up to the tip of your pinky finger, exhale as you run your finger back down to the bottom of your palm; repeat with your other fingers and thumb.
- 3-minute mindful breathing meditation
Students residing in Massachusetts who need to talk with a Sykes Wellness Center counselor are urged to email to set up an appointment. Students residing outside of Massachusetts should email for guidance on how to access local counseling options in their area.

Pack the Books!

If your student is returning to campus in February, please remind them to bring along all necessary schoolbooks.

Don’t Miss Rent on Friday

The Department of Theatre & Dance, in collaboration with the Department of Music, is pleased to present a look inside our study of Rent, the musical, tomorrow, Friday, January 22, at 5 p.m. EST. Two decades after its premiere on Broadway, the award-winning show’s messages of love, inclusion, creativity, and community continue to resonate today.

During fall term, 14 students—under the guidance of Dr. Abbey Siegfried, music department instructor and chair, and Erin E. Strong, instructor in theatre and dance—explored the themes and messages of the show as they learned a selection of 11 songs. Students will share recordings of these songs as well as a look inside their journey with Rent. Come see how we lived, and continue to measure our lives, in love. Zoom link.

Upcoming Addison Gallery Talks

The Addison Gallery of American Art’s many curricular connections with classes have gone virtual this year and we hope that you, too, will join us online! Explore the Addison through 3D tours of current exhibitions and the following live gallery programming. Additional information and program descriptions are available on our website.

Three-part Addison Virtual Gallery Talk: “Currents/Crosscurrents: American Art 1850–1950” with Gordon Wilkins:

Wednesday, January 27, at 2 p.m. EST—Part 1: 1850–1900. Register here.
Wednesday, February 10, at 2 p.m. EST—Part 2: 1900–1930. Register here.
Wednesday, February 17, at 2 p.m. EST—Part 3: 1930–1950. Register here.

Sunday, February 28, 11 a.m.–noon EST—“Mindfulness at the Museum,” a virtual mindful observation experience co-sponsored by the Tang Institute and the Addison Gallery of American Art. Register here.

Video Resources on The Hive

Videos of All-School Meetings and numerous other presentations are available for parents on The Hive. We’ve recently added the MLK Day All-School Meeting, with keynote speaker Charlene Carruthers, a political strategist, cultural worker, and founding national director of the Black Youth Project 100. A recording of Dr. Denise Pope’s January 12 presentation, “Navigating School During Uncertain Times,” is available here for the next two weeks only.

Food Drive for Lazarus House

Phillips Academy students have organized a food drive for Lazarus House in nearby Lawrence, which provides food, clothing, and other services to those in need. This Saturday through Tuesday, local families are invited to drop off their food donation at a site near campus—or we will pick it up (both options will be managed with safety protocols aligned with COVID-19 guidelines). Thank you to our partners in the Office of Community Engagement!

Non sibi (not for self)—imprinted on the Academy seal—speaks to the generosity of spirit to which Andover students, faculty, staff, and alumni aspire. To participate and for further information, please fill out this form.

Weekly Religious Services & Events

Jewish Shabbat Service and Jewish Student Union (JSU) Meeting—Fridays 5:30–6:30 p.m. EST: Led by Rabbi Michael Swarttz. All are welcome! Zoom link.

Muslim Student Association (MSA) Dinner—Fridays at 6 p.m. EST: In the absence of in-person prayers, the MSA still offers a virtual “club dinner” every Friday evening. All are welcome! Advisor: Mr. Noureddine El Alam. Student board co-presidents: Leen Alnsour ’21 and Ablah Siddiq ’22. Zoom link.

Ecumenical Protestant Worship—Sundays at 6 p.m. EST: Join Rev. Gina Finocchiaro for a time of scripture, prayer, and spoken reflection and music with Michael Belcher. All are welcome! Zoom link. Passcode: 2021

Roman Catholic Worship—Sundays, 6:45–7:30 p.m. EST: Worship with the Catholic community at Andover, followed by fellowship and discussion led by Dr. Mary Kantor and Catholic Student Fellowship (CSF) leaders. All are welcome! Zoom link.

News from the PSPA

Thank you to the many families that participated in last Friday’s Trivia Night! It was great to see some familiar faces and meet new folks as well. Many thanks also to those who volunteered to help with the Parent Focus Groups. School administration sent an email directly to all volunteers, and we will share further information when it becomes available.

PSPA Book Club: Our next meeting will be in spring term. In the meantime, please take our short Book Interest Survey to help us select a book. Please email us to learn more or to get on our mailing list.

Phillips Andover Parent Directory: If you are looking for ways to connect other Andover families, please access the Phillips Andover Parent Directory, which can be found online on The Hive. (“Parent Directory” is in the Quick Links dropdown at the top of The Hive homepage. Note that you must “opt in” to this directory and enter your information.) If you would like to receive PSPA communications, please subscribe to be added to the PSPA distribution list.

You Are Invited!

January 27: Diggin’ In Peabody Series—“Privy to the Past,” with Joseph Bagley
January 27: Addison Virtual Gallery Talk—“Currents/Crosscurrents: American Art 1850–1950,” with Gordon Wilkins, Part 1, 1850–1900
January 29: From Krakow to Krypton: A History of Jews in Comic Books, with Arie Kaplan
January 29 & 30: The Tang Institute Mindfulness Speaker Series—A Weekend with Matthew Hepburn
January 31: Flickering Shadows: Images of the Holocaust in Film & TV, with Arie Kaplan
Throughout February: Note Writing Non Sibi Project for The Women’s Lunch Place, with Christine Cloonan ’98
February 4: Meet Our 16th Head of School, Raynard S. Kington, MD, PhD, P’24, hosted by the Denver, Portland, and Seattle Regional Leadership Teams
February 5: “Mind the Gap: Traversing the Imagination Gap, Emancipating Children’s Literature,” CAMD Scholar Presentation by Nana Afia Boadi-Acheampong ’21
February 7: Unwrapping the History of Chocolate and Making Abbot Heavenly Goo, with Priscilla Martel ’74 and Jina Corneau ’03
February 10: Addison Virtual Gallery Talk—“Currents/Crosscurrents: American Art 1850–1950,” with Gordon Wilkins, Part 2, 1900–1930
February 17: Addison Virtual Gallery Talk—“Currents/Crosscurrents: American Art 1850–1950” with Gordon Wilkins, Part 3, 1930–1950
February 28: Mindfulness at the Museum, a virtual mindful observation experience co-sponsored by the Tang Institute and the Addison Gallery of American Art
March 4: Meet Our 16th Head of School, Raynard S. Kington, MD, PhD, P’24, hosted by the Chicago, Atlanta, and Texas Regional Leadership Teams
March 15–20: Non Sibi Project for NYC Community Fridges, with Candace Douglas ’00

All events are virtual unless otherwise noted. Please join us!

Parent Bulletin Archive »

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