Looking Ahead to Spring Term

Midway through this winter term, we are eagerly planning ahead for spring! Families can expect to hear from us on Monday with details around spring term. Once you’ve had a chance to consider these plans, we look forward to hearing back as soon as possible regarding your child’s expected status (Boarding/Day/Remote). As a reminder, we are inviting all students back to campus in the spring.

From the Dean of Studies Office

Midterm grades: The Dean of Studies Office will post Term 2 midterm grades in the Student Reports section of The Hive on Tuesday, February 2. Midterm grades are P/LP/F (pass/low pass/fail) for all courses. End-of-term grades will use the Academy’s regular 0–6 scale, with the exception of English 100 (pass/low pass/fail) and Physical Education 200 (pass/fail).

Winter reflections: This week or next, the advisor point person will connect with families to share their student’s midyear reflection. Families are encouraged to have follow-up conversations with their children to help them process this unique year and do their best in Term 3.

First week of February reminder: There are no classes Monday, February 1, and Tuesday, February 2. Students can expect a double homework assignment due in each class meeting Wednesday through Friday.

Campus Public Health Update

Please be sure to watch this health update video. Dr. Amy Patel, Phillips Academy’s medical director, describes campus public health action steps taken to mitigate COVID-19 infections and explains the reasons behind Andover’s success in managing the virus on campus.

Brace Faculty Fellow Presentation This Evening

The Brace Center for Gender Studies invites families to “Thinking Outside the Arc: Gender and Narrative Structure,” a presentation by Winter 2021 Brace Faculty Fellow and instructor in English Kate McQuade, on Friday, January 29, at 6 p.m. EST. McQuade will discuss her Brace faculty fellow research and welcome guest author Kate Reed Petty for a conversation about innovative women and nonbinary writers, the craft of writing, story structure, and Petty’s acclaimed novel True Story. Zoom link. Passcode: writers

Mindfulness Weekend Begins Tonight

Please join us for A Weekend with Matthew Hepburn. As part of the Tang Institute’s Mindfulness Speaker Series, mindfulness instructor Matthew Hepburn will offer two opportunities to explore balance and calm in everyday life: an evening presentation on Friday, January 29, at 7 p.m. EST and a daytime workshop on Saturday, January 30, from 1 to 5 p.m. EST. Additional details and registration information are available on the Tang Institute website.

Reminder: A recording of Dr. Denise Pope’s January 12 presentation, “Navigating School During Uncertain Times,” is available here for one more week.

Weekly Religious Services & Events

Jewish Cultural Weekend starts today! This celebration of Jewish culture is presented by members of the Jewish Student Union (JSU). Please join us for these three events—and feel free to share Zoom links with family and friends.

Tonight, Friday, January 29, 5:30–6:30 p.m. EST: Jewish Shabbat Service and JSU meeting, led by Rabbi Michael Swarttz. All are welcome! Zoom link.
Tonight, Friday, January 29, 8 p.m. EST: “From Krakow to Krypton: A History of Jews in Comic Books,” with Arie Kaplan. Zoom link. Passcode: 378431
Sunday, January 31, 12 p.m. EST: “Flickering Shadows: Images of the Holocaust in Film & TV,” with Arie Kaplan. Zoom link. Passcode: 252057

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

Assistant treasurer and help with communications needed: Parents of Students of Phillips Academy is seeking volunteers to fill the position of assistant treasurer and to help with communications. Please email to find out more about these opportunities to get involved. We’d love to hear from you!

Campus Closet: For a limited time, the PSPA’s Campus Closet is offering several student favorites at 10 percent off. Please take a look online. All items will be shipped directly or delivered to campus. If your student is on campus, please be sure to indicate name and dorm for delivery.

You Are Invited!

January 29: “Thinking Outside the Arc: Gender and Narrative Structure,” Brace Center Faculty Fellow Presentation by Kate McQuade
January 29: “From Krakow to Krypton: A History of Jews in Comic Books,” with Arie Kaplan
January 29 & 30: 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 9: Andover’s First Century—a History Talk with John Patrick ’65
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!

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