November 30, 2023

After a five-year hiatus, the Department of Theatre & Dance will present an updated version of The Nutcracker... It is the night of the annual Phillips Academy Holiday Celebration and an early snowstorm has trapped some students on campus over Winter Break. Students are out trying to catch a glimpse of the partygoers when they come upon a room filled with the costumes and set pieces of the old Nutcracker. Magic ensues! The cast of 35 student dancers will be joined by faculty and staff children and adults.

Showtimes in Tang Theatre:

This event is first-come-first-serve seating. We recommend arriving 45 minutes prior to showtime to secure your seat. All persons in your party must be present to claim their seat.

Families of students involved in the production and campus adults who arrive before doors open can check in at the Information Desk to receive priority seating. Please arrive 45 minutes prior to showtime.

The Office of Family Engagement invites you to participate in our Family Engagement Survey, designed to gather feedback on your experiences and suggestions about new ways the office can enhance resources to support you. Please click here to access the survey, which is completely anonymous and will take approximately 15 minutes to complete. 

Monday, December 4—the deadline for your student to apply to Learning in the World (LITW) faculty/staff–led Spring Break and summer 2024 programs and express interest in affiliate programs—is just days away! Please visit the LITW webpage to learn more about our current offerings and pay special attention to the “Take Action” page for details on eligibility, financial aid, how to apply, and the selection process. A few reminders and additional notes:

As always, if you have any questions, please email Mark Cutler, director of LITW.

If you would like your student to receive the flu vaccine, they will need a Flu Consent form on file at the wellness center. 

If you would like your student to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, they will need a Covid Consent form on file at the wellness center.

Please visit the Sykes Wellness Center Health Portal, log in, and click the Forms tab. You can submit the Flu Consent form on the portal. You can download the blank Covid Consent form and email the completed form to sykeswellness@andover.edu.

As Winter Break approaches, lost and found items from across campus will be collected, sorted, organized, and displayed. Students can stop by the Dean of Students Office on the lower level of George Washington Hall between Tuesday, December 12, and Friday, December 15 (8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day) to look for lost items. We have a LOT of belongings and no space to store them. Items not claimed (except those labeled with a student’s name) will be donated over Winter Break. 

A reminder that Phillips Academy will offer transportation at Winter Break to and from New York City, with a stop in Darien, Connecticut. Students can sign up for one-way travel ($100) or roundtrip ($160). Buses will depart campus at 4 p.m. on Friday, December 15, and return Wednesday, January 3, departing NYC at 11 a.m. 

Bus 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 at 2023–2004 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 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 on The Hive.

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

Thank you to the many families who contributed to the Andover Fund through the fall term. The Andover community came out in full force for the Andover 360 Challenge, with families leading the way, making up 45% of challenge participants! In total, 650 family members, alumni, and friends contributed.

Families who have not yet participated may expect to receive email reminders in December, and we hope you will help strengthen Andover parent support. 

Call for Andover Fund Parents Committee volunteers: We are seeking parents who are interested in joining the Andover Fund Parents Committee (AFPC). In close partnership with the Family Giving team, AFPC volunteers engage in peer-to-peer outreach to encourage meaningful participation and raise critical support for the Academy. To express your interest—or for further information—please email Josie Skelley, assistant director of family giving.

Click here for one-stop shopping for gifts to shower your family with PA pride! Be sure to check out the PA featured items. You can also shop in-person at Campus Closet (lower level of George Washington Hall) during these holiday hours:

Order by Tuesday, December 12, for free on-campus delivery to students. We also offer free domestic shipping with $200 purchase. Happy holidays, everyone!

Campus Closet needs parent volunteers to help staff the store for a few days in December. Please click here to volunteer. 

Friday, December 1

Sunday, December 3

Coming on Sunday, December 10

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.

All families are encouraged to order a 2024 Pot Pourri, Phillips Academy’s yearbook, by clicking this link: PA Yearbook. If prompted, enter school code 3591. Yearbooks, which are full color and typically about 300 pages, will be delivered to students in mid-May. 

Parents of seniors: Express pride and love and congratulate your soon-to-be-graduate with a fun and heartfelt ad in the Pot Pourri yearbook. Choose from several sizes and 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. The “Family message” submission deadline has been extended to January 15.

Senior portraits: A photographer will visit campus for any students who wish to have a senior portrait photo taken. Information has been sent to students. You are also welcome to submit a portrait for your senior via email. The senior portrait submission deadline is January 15.

Class rings: Class rings are a wonderful keepsake of your child’s time at Phillips Academy. Class rings ordered before January 1 will be delivered to your senior before graduation. Our class ring vendor visits campus several times during the school year and can help students with ring sizes, designs, and samples. Find more information on class rings here! Or you can email Mike McCann at Herff Jones, our ring vendor.

All information on yearbook orders, family messages, senior portraits, and class rings can be found on The Hive. 

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.