November 2, 2023

Shows begin tomorrow evening! Everybody, by Obie-winning contemporary Black playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, is a modern riff on the 15th-century morality play Everyman—one of the first recorded plays in the English language. This production is a theatrical meditation on what is essential to live life to the fullest.

Showtimes in Steinbach Theatre:

This event is first-come-first-serve seating. We recommend arriving 30 minutes prior to showtime to secure your seat. All persons in your party must be present; there is no saving seats and no late seating. Families of students involved in the production can check in with the House Manager 30 minutes prior to showtime to receive priority seating. 

We hope you can join us for the following concerts and events, all free and open to the public. 

For more information, email Jessica McCormack in the music department.

Please take a few minutes to complete this confidential Family Weekend survey to help strengthen future programming. It only needs to be completed once. The survey will close tomorrow, Friday, November 3. If you were unable to attend Family Weekend, please take a minute to complete this condensed survey. Thank you!

Event videos from Family Weekend: If you were unable to join us on campus or were here but missed some programs, check out these videos on the Family Weekend website.  

Three alumni judges—Justice Gabrielle R. Wolohojian ’78, Justice Eric Neyman ’86, P’22, and Justice Sookyoung Shin ’92—will be on campus Tuesday, November 7, to hear oral arguments on four Massachusetts Court of Appeals cases from 10 a.m. to noon in Kemper Auditorium. For more information and to register for the event, click here. These hearings offer students, faculty, and members of the community an opportunity to witness the courts in action: a bailiff calls the court into session, the judges enter, and lawyers for the parties present their arguments to the judges and answer the judges’ questions. The proceedings will include two civil and two criminal cases.

Following the court’s adjournment, the judges will respond to questions from Student Alumni Representatives from noon to 1 p.m. (in Kemper Auditorium and streamed) about their professional journeys beyond Andover. This event, titled Blue Runs Deep: Judges in Massachusetts Courts, will welcome three additional alumni judges serving in the Commonwealth to join the panel: Justice Daniel E. Dilorati ’75, Justice Mary F. McCabe ’71, and retired Justice Howard J. Whitehead ’68, P’02, ’04. The Blue Runs Deep panel will also be streamed via Zoom. 

We invite you to explore the all-new Tang Institute website, your window into the Academy’s hub of teaching, learning, and partnership. At the Institute, we’re dedicated to enhancing the educational experience for Andover students across all subjects and disciplines. On our website, you’ll find a wealth of initiatives that span the curriculum, from The Workshop to mindfulness events, the ethi{CS} project, engaging lunch discussions with Tang Fellows, and more. Click here for deeper insight into our work or stay connected with us through “Notes on Learning,” our monthly newsletter.

Find out about the recent fused glass workshop led by Hopi artist Ramson Lomatewama—and more—in the October issue of the Robert S. Peabody Institute of Archaeology’s monthly newsletter. Interested in receiving future newsletters directly from the Peabody? Sign up today!

As we approach the end of the Term 1 (fall term), please note the following:

From Monday, November 13, through Friday, November 17, each class will meet once, according to the special schedule below. All classes will meet in person, and attendance is required for all students.

* World Language courses making use of the Language Block meeting on 11/14 at 12:30 p.m.: Chinese 100, 200, 300, 220/320, 400, 420, 520; Spanish 521; Japanese 100, 200; French 100, 200,300; German 100. All other language courses will meet during their assigned period block. **Sciences courses making use of the Science Block on 11/16 at 12:30 p.m.: Biology 501; Chemistry 250, 300, 550; Physics 400, 551. All other science courses will meet during their assigned period block.

Term 1 ends at 3 p.m. on Friday, November 17. All fall term work must be submitted no later than 3 p.m; instructors are not permitted to accept any additional work from a student after that time. Any possible exception to these policies—if a student falls ill, has a family emergency—must be approved by the director of studies in collaboration with the chief medical officer.

Phillips Academy will offer transportation at Thanksgiving and Winter breaks to and from New York City, with a stop in Darien, Connecticut. Students can sign up for one-way travel ($100) or round-trip ($160). Buses will depart at 4 p.m. on Friday, November 17, and return Tuesday, November 28, departing NYC at 11 a.m. 

Drop-off and pick-up occur at the southbound (to NYC) and northbound (to Andover) service plazas in Darien and at Dock 2 at the Port Authority Bus South Terminal in New York City. Bus forms and answers to travel questions are located in 2023–2024 Information for Families under Transportation Information for Thanksgiving and Winter breaks. This information has also been posted on PAnet for student access.  

For transportation to Logan (Boston) and Manchester (N.H.) airports or Boston’s South Station, arrangements can be made with private taxi and limousine service providers. A list of service providers regularly used by members of the PA community is available in 2023–2024 Information for Families.

Questions? Email Claudia Scofield or call 978-749-4124.

The Office of Family Engagement (OFE) will be sending an anonymous survey to all families in the next few weeks. Please take this opportunity to provide feedback on your experience as a PA parent/family so far this year. What has been helpful? What information has been missing? How can the office support you?  

The insights obtained through this survey will play a vital role in shaping future resources and programs. OFE wants to hear from you!

Parents of seniors: Express pride and love and congratulate your soon-to-be-graduate with a fun and heartfelt “family message” in the Pot Pourri yearbook. Choose from several sizes (full-color or black and white) and include your own special message and photo(s). Simply click Yearbook Order Center to create your ad and submit payment. Family message submission deadline is Wednesday, November 15.

Information on ordering yearbooks, senior portraits, and class rings can be found on the 2023–2024 Information for Families under Yearbook. 

Our students are having a blast with the new game tables at Susie’s! More games and furniture are on the way as part of the PSPA’s $36,000 donation for furniture, game tables, and additional entertainment to enhance the popular gathering place for students on the lower level of Paresky Commons.

This project and all other PSPA activities are funded by profits from our volunteer-run Campus Closet, which features official Phillips Academy gear for your whole family. The shop will be open for extended hours tomorrow, Friday, November 3, from noon to 5:30 p.m. to welcome trustees and all shoppers. Remember, you can shop online 24/7! 

Volunteer opportunity: Campus Closet needs your help staffing the shop in the upcoming holiday months. Please click here to volunteer. 

PSPA General Meeting—Tuesday, November 14: You are invited! Join us for an early light dinner, which will be served at 5:30 p.m. ET. The general meeting will start at 7 p.m. ET. Underwood Room. 

A Zoom link and password will be provided in next week’s Family Bulletin for those who cannot join us in person.

Friday, November 3

Sunday, November 5

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!

Health and safety guidelines, provided here, are also available when you register for an event.

The Office of Family Engagement is here to support you throughout the school year. If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact Director Jennifer Vasquez by email or call 978-749-4068.