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Boarding students have been out of quarantine for nearly a week, in-person classes began on Monday, and the New England weather has been cooperating. And the cherry tree between Samuel Phillips and Morse halls should be blooming soon—a sure sign that spring has arrived! With masks on and maintaining physical distance, students are filling the Great Lawn with activity on sunny days, playing sports, and enjoying heated tents for classes, clubs, and evening events. It’s great to be together again! For updates on Andover community health, please visit the Academy’s COVID-19 Testing Dashboard.
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Spring Sports Have Begun!
Our spring athletic program is in full swing—and our interscholastic competition begins this weekend.
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While we are unable to have fans/spectators attend our home games (students in our testing protocol ARE permitted to attend on-campus games), we encourage you to check out the livestream for baseball, softball, lacrosse, volleyball, and track (ultimate, too, when played at Phelps Stadium). On our athletics calendar, you will notice a video icon next to contests that are being livestreamed (see graphic). Please note that all games/schedules are subject to change.
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Student Mail and Package Delivery
Central Services accepts all incoming mail, packages, and deliveries on behalf of students. This year, these items are being delivered to dorms. Students are notified via email when a package is processed, but it may take a day or so for the item to be delivered to the student—so please plan accordingly. Importantly, students and families have been asked to limit the number of packages shipped to the Academy and adhere to our policies regarding weight and restricted items:
- Items may not exceed 40 pounds.
- Beverages (including bottled water) will not be accepted. Filtered water is available in every building on campus, and students are strongly encouraged to carry a reusable water bottle.
- No large or bulky items will be accepted.
- Do not send anything to campus that needs to be refrigerated or frozen. We cannot safely store these items.
- Boxed, nonperishable food items (peanut butter, granola bars, chips, crackers, etc.) can be shipped to campus, but we cannot accept bagged groceries. The bags are flimsy, rip easily, and often do not include a student’s name. When ordering groceries, choose to have them “packed to be shipped.”
- DO SEND homemade treats, candy, boxed fruit, plants, and flowers.
- Please note: The mailroom is open Monday through Friday until 4:30 p.m. and closed weekends. Please schedule deliveries for early in the day and refrain from having items delivered on Fridays. If a package is received after the mailroom closes, it will not be processed until the next business day.
- If there is an occasion that may warrant a special treat, please reach out to your child’s house counselor for guidance.
Shipping an Item to Your Child? Be sure to use 180 Main Street, Andover, Mass. 01810. There is a very similar address in town, 180 N Main Street, that sometimes ends up as the mailing address on student packages. This is a private residence and items are not forwarded to the Academy. Even if “Phillips Academy” is included in the address information, shippers will send to the actual street address. Please double-check the address before completing your purchase.
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Commencement Plans
Andover’s 243rd Commencement Exercises honoring the Class of 2021 will be celebrated on Sunday, June 6. Current plans are for an in-person, on-campus event. Each senior will be allowed to have two guests at the ceremony. The event will also be streamed live, allowing all family and friends to share in this special day. A message about Commencement from Head of School Raynard Kington was sent to seniors and their families yesterday.
Family Advertisements for Phillipian Commencement Issue: Each year, The Phillipian student newspaper publishes a longer issue that captures major events that occurred throughout the school year. This year’s version will reflect student lives both on and off campus. You can commemorate your student’s achievements through a “Family Advertisement” in the issue. Please visit Commencement Commemorations for more information and to create your advertisement by Friday, May 7. Questions should be emailed to Celeste Robinson, CFO of The Phillipian. Commencement issues will be sold during Commencement Weekend.
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White Supremacy and Antisemitism
PA’s Jewish Student Union invites you to an important webinar about how white supremacy is fueling a surge in antisemitism, which will be held Sunday, April 11, at 2 p.m. EDT. This program commemorates Holocaust Remembrance Day (Thursday, April 8) and is supported by the Sidney Paley Fund.
For the past decade or so the United States has experienced an alarming rise in white supremacist activity, resulting in increased hate speech and propaganda as well as increased violence against minorities, including Jews, people of color, Muslims, and LGBTQ+ individuals. 2020 marked the highest level of incidents reported since the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) began tracking such data. In this webinar, Robert Trestan, executive director of the ADL’s Boston office, will report on these trends and describe what is being done—and what else needs to be done—to counter this crisis. Zoom link. Passcode: 498820.
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Brace Student Fellow Presentation
The Brace Center for Gender Studies invites families to a presentation by Maya Shkolnik ’21 titled “Queer Oppression, Resistance, and Art Under the Gaze of Post-Soviet Russia” on Friday, April 16, at 7 p.m. EDT. Zoom link. Passcode: Maya
Shkolnik will discuss how, following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russian dignitaries “othered” and vilified queerness to unify Russians. Yet, an underground community of queer Russians has flourished. What does this underground community look like? What are Russian queer spaces? How do they fight against political homophobia? Faculty advisor: Kassie Archambault, instructor in Russian.
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| Greetings from Parent Development
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We send best wishes to you and your family for a healthy and engaging start to spring term. Please contact us at any time if we can be of assistance—we are always happy to connect.
Save the Date for PA Giving Day—Wednesday, April 28: Andover’s annual day of giving is a global effort during which alumni, parents and guardians, grandparents, friends, faculty, and staff join together to make a difference for the PA community. Mark your calendar! Every gift of every size matters on PA Giving Day, and there will be special matches available to help you elevate your impact.
Andover is aspiring for every family to make a gift this year. PA Giving Day is a great opportunity to show your support for the Academy! For questions or to get involved, please email Elisabeth Munro, Parent Development coordinator.
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Get Ready for Summer Learning and Fun
Registration for Andover Summer’s newest two-week program, Andover Summer Advantage, is now open. Visit the Andover Summer Advantage website for information about course offerings, dates, rates, enrollment, and more. We also continue to accept applications for our traditional five-week on-campus boarding and day programs. Your child—or perhaps the child of a neighbor or friend—will be enriched by this transformative and exciting in-person summer experience!
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Class Rings and Yearbooks
Phillips Academy class rings can still be ordered online. Please email our ring vendor, Mike McCann of Herff Jones, with any questions.
Pot Pourri yearbooks—which cover the 2020–2021 school year—are available for purchase for $125 each. Please order online using school code 3591. Yearbooks will be shipped to the school in mid-May.
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News from the PSPA
PSPA Speaker Series Featuring Dr. Lisa Damour—Wednesday, April 14, at 7 p.m. (EDT): Please join Dr. Lisa Damour for “Challenges of Parenting Through a Pandemic: Helping Your Teen Manage Anxiety and Stress.” An internationally acclaimed expert on adolescent mental health, Damour has authored two well-known books, Under Pressure: Confronting the Epidemic of Stress and Anxiety in Girls and Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls through the Seven Transitions into Adulthood. Zoom Link. Passcode: 872148.
More information about Damour is available here. This event is co-sponsored with the Wellness Collaborative, Associate Head of School’s Office, and Sykes Wellness Center. Damour will also address students at All-School Meeting earlier in the day.
View PSPA Event with Natasha Singh: A recording of Natasha Singh’s April 1 presentation, “How to Talk to Your Teen About Sexual Ethics, Healthy Relationships, and Intimacy,” will be available for two weeks on The Hive under the Resources/Informational Videos menu.
Order Senior Lawn Signs: Honor your senior with a custom-printed lawn sign. Select from three design options or a digital file to print on your own. Order by Friday, April 23, and proceeds will go toward PSPA events and activities for students. Learn more here.
Campus Closet Volunteers Needed: Looking for a way to connect with the PA community? Campus Closet is seeking parent volunteers to fill online orders. Hours are flexible. Please email us to learn more.
Book Club—In the Woods: Please join the PSPA’s final Book Club meeting of the year on Sunday, May 30, 8–9 p.m. EDT, as we discuss In the Woods (Dublin Murder Squad, Book 1) by Tana French. Please email us if you would like to participate—or if you would welcome a different time.
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| PSPA Virtual Summer Opportunities Fair
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The PSPA is excited to announce that we are hosting an online catalog version of our annual Summer Opportunities Fair this year. Although things are a bit different this summer, there are still many opportunities to engage and entertain the young people in your life. Some great vendors have partnered with us to showcase their programs—please check them out!
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You Are Invited!- Throughout April: Operation Gratitude Letter Writing Non Sibi Project, with Brandon Stroman ’97, Steve Matloff ’91, and Jim Donnelly ’82
- Throughout April: Atlanta-based Non Sibi Project Free99Fridge, with Chrystal Akor ’00 and Gabe Wardell ’89
- April 14: Spotlight Series: Robert S. Peabody Institute of Archaeology
- April 14: A Conversation with Julia Alvarez ’67 on her novel Afterlife
- April 19: A Conversation with Andy Housiaux, Currie Family Director of the Tang Institute
- April 22: Community Discussion on the Future of Race Relations
- April 24–25: The Open Door Shelter Non Sibi Project, with Laura Wyatt ’00
- April 27: Yoga with Tobi Gold ’70
- May 7: “Turning Over a White Stage: Disrupting White-Affirming Racial Fetishism in ‘Elite’ White Concert Dance,” a CAMD Scholar Presentation by Katherine Wang ’21
- May 15–30: Transition House Non Sibi Project, with Tiffany Horne Noonan ’99
- June 6: Roof Above Homeless Ministry Non Sibi Project, with Erin Chantry ’02, Caroline McGirt ’23, and Joe McGirt ’25
All events are virtual unless otherwise noted. Please join us!
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| Parent Bulletin Archive » |
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You received this message because you are a valued member of the Andover community. We are obligated to communicate with you, and require you to be on our email list while your student(s) attends Phillips Academy. For more information contact the Dean of Studies Office. |
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© 2021
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