Spring Term Updates

On Wednesday, families and students received a detailed email with updates on two key spring term topics: the revised weekly schedule and student life on campus, including community neighborhoods, studying, socializing, and dorm living as well as day student squads and off-campus behavioral expectations. Please be sure to review that important email.

We will be in touch again shortly with further information on dining, athletics, social activities, registration, and packing. Please refer often to the Spring Term 2021 Facts/Q&A for ongoing updates, and send your additional questions to this special Q&A email address.

AP Testing—2021 Changes

Advanced Placement (AP) Exam testing details and policies have been updated since fall registration. Please click here for the updates—and be sure to check out these frequently asked questions.

Spring Late Registration for the AP Exams is now open: All students were sent an AP registration email on February 22 with details on how to register. If students are registered for AP Exams and wish to cancel, please email Debra Colombo, director of standardized testing. Late registration runs until March 5 at noon. The cost of late registration AP exams is now $135 per exam plus a $5 nonrefundable administrative charge.

AP Exams are very expensive and involve extensive time for preparation as well as missed classes. They are not required for college applications (except when applying to schools in the United Kingdom). Classroom grades are more important than AP Exam scores. Students should consult with their instructors or advisor point person if they are unsure about taking an exam. Students should not register for more AP Exams than they are sure they will take.

Wellness x 3

From the Rebecca M. Sykes Wellness Center:

Spring Break travel: IMPORTANT! Do you know the requirements for travel to your student’s Spring Break destination—and are plans in motion for any COVID-19 documentation/testing results required? Please share your student’s plans via this survey.
Check out this week’s campus health update from our medical director, Dr. Amy Patel.
With final assessments coming up, the Wellness Center has been focused on the importance of sleep and stress management. Visit our Instagram site (@pawellness) for resources to help support your Andover student as they prepare for the end of winter term.

Meet Congresswoman Katie Porter ’92 Tonight

The Student Alumni Reps (STARs) will host Congresswoman Katie Porter ’92 tonight, Friday, February 26, at 6:30 p.m. EST for a conversation about her time as an Andover student, her decision to run for political office, and her impactful and ongoing service in Washington, D.C. Porter, a Democrat, represents California’s 45th Congressional District and is a member of the House Financial Services Committee and the House Oversight and Reform Committee. Zoom link.

This event is part of the Blue Runs Deep Alumni Speaker Series organized by the STARs. Questions for Porter may be emailed in advance to Jenny Savino P’21, ’24, director of the Office of Alumni Engagement.

Live-Streaming Tonight: I and You

The Department of Theatre & Dance is proud to present two performances of the winter term THD901 Independent Project, I and You by Lauren Gunderson. The play will be performed live tonight, Friday, February 26, at 8 p.m. EST, and on Saturday, February 27, at 2 p.m. EST. Tickets are not needed to view the event, but we recommend logging on to the site at least 15 minutes in advance of showtime.

The plot: Anthony, a high school basketball star and straight-A student, goes over to the house of Caroline, a terminally ill senior, unannounced, to work on an English project about Walt Whitman. This is their love story—the story of how I and you become we. I and You is directed by Abigail Scharf ’21, mentored by theatre and dance instructor Kevin Heelan, and stars Ariana Velasquez ’22 and Quintin Moss ’21.

Mindfulness at the Museum

Join us virtually on Sunday, February 28, from 11 a.m. to noon EST for a mindful observation experience focused on finding ground within unpredictability. This deep seeing experience uses artworks, the body, and breath to help you unwind and relax into the present moment with the amplified impact of group meditation. No prior experience is necessary. Come away with tools for stress relief, new awareness, and a deepened sense of community.

Led by India Clark, Museum Mindfulness Guide & Life Path Mentor for Creative Souls, this experience is sponsored by the Tang Institute and Addison Gallery of American Art. The workshop is free, but you must sign up in advance. Questions? Please email Jamie Gibbons, the Addison Gallery’s head of education.

Parent Workshop in March

The Tang Institute invites parents to attend a workshop hosted by Challenge Success on Thursday, March 11. Many of you will recall that Dr. Denise Pope, co-founder of Challenge Success, spoke with Andover parents in January. We hope this workshop, which focuses on the college admissions process, will offer additional insight into ways to continue to support your child’s overall well-being and readiness for life in college and beyond.

Workshop details are available here. The Tang Institute is happy to cover workshop registration fees for Andover families; if you are interested in participating, please email Tang Institute.

Celebrate Your Senior!

The Phillipian, PA’s student newspaper, will publish its annual Commencement issue the weekend of June 4–6. This longer version of the newspaper will capture the major events of the 2020–2021 school year and will be available for purchase that weekend.

Parents of seniors: The staff of The Phillipian invites you to commemorate your student’s achievements through a “family advertisement” in our Commencement issue. Last year nearly 100 families dedicated a commemoration to their student(s); this year, we hope to achieve 100 percent family participation. Members of The Phillipian will work closely with you to ensure that your family advertisement features all of the photos and messaging you want to include about your child—and/or a favorite student organization, club, or team that your senior has been involved with—in a professional manner. Please complete this family advertisement form as soon as possible. The deadline is Friday, May 7.

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) Prayers—Friday, February 26, 1 p.m. EST: Weekly Prayer Meetings sponsored by the MSA. Advisor: Mr. Noureddine El Alam. All are welcome! Meditation Room, Lower Level of Cochran Chapel.

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.

Andover Summer Is Testing the Waters

If you live in the Merrimack Valley area, Andover Summer would appreciate your feedback as we consider offering a new two-week, in-person academic program on the Phillips Academy campus this coming summer. Andover Summer’s Advantage Program would be geared toward local (day) students entering grades 7–10, with a goal of helping to refresh and engage these young people as they prepare for a new school year. If this is something that might be of interest to your family, please fill out this form and let us know! You can also visit Andover Summer’s Advantage Program website.

News from the PSPA

Book Club: We will be discussing Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, by Gail Honeyman, at our next book club meeting on Sunday, March 28, 8–9 p.m. EST.

Are you interested in being part of the PSPA Book Club but find it difficult to join us on Sundays at 8 p.m.? We are open to hosting a second book club, which would meet on March 28 at 2 p.m. EST (8 p.m. Central European Time). If this specific time slot would work for you, please email us.

International Book Club: If you are an international parent and would like to lead/host a separate book club, we’d be happy to help you coordinate it. Please email us to learn more or to get on our mailing list.

PSPA Campus Closet: Check out How to fold a hoodie the Marie Kondo way! Thank you to an enthusiastic fellow Andover parent for creating this fun video for the Campus Closet. Follow the PSPA on Instagram (@pspa_campuscloset) for exciting merchandise news, and please remember: Campus Closet profits fund current Andover student activities.

You Are Invited!

Throughout February: Note Writing Non Sibi Project for The Women’s Lunch Place, with Christine Cloonan ’98
February 26: A Conversation with Congresswoman Katie Porter ’92
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 2: “Building a 20th Century School – An Andover History Talk,” with John Patrick ’65
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
March 22: “Health Disparities in Underrepresented Communities and COVID-19 Vaccine Development,” with Dr. Vanessa Kerry ’95, Dr. Zeke McKinney ’99, Dr. Sachiko Ozawa ’99, and Dr. Amy Patel, PA medical director
March 24: “Advancing Andover: How It All Works,” with Thom Lockerby, Secretary of the Academy

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

This is not an exhaustive list of events open to parents. Events are continually being added to our calendar—and some events may be highlighted separately.

Parent Bulletin Archive »

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