December 14, 2023

Be sure to watch Lessons & Carols, the Academy’s annual candlelit service of music, scripture, and poetry in the season of Advent anticipating Christmas, which was held in Cochran Chapel this past Sunday. Many other campus performances from this school year are also available on the “Music at Andover” YouTube Channel.

The Family Engagement Survey closes tomorrow, Friday, December 15, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Please CLICK HERE to access the survey, which is completely anonymous and will take less than 15 minutes to complete.

The survey is designed to gather feedback on your experiences and suggestions about ways the Office of Family Engagement can better support you. Tell us what you think!

Lost and found items from across campus have been collected, sorted, organized, and displayed. The final day for students to stop by the Dean of Students Office (lower level of George Washington Hall) to look for lost items is Friday, December 15, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Items not claimed (except those labeled with a student’s name) will be donated over Winter Break. 

Kindly review the information below and ask your student to make the necessary preparations before departing campus. 

Private Lessons: Winter Term private lessons have begun! The Add/Drop deadline is Friday, December 15, at 5 p.m. If your student is interested in lessons and did not request them during advising period, please complete a request here. Note that lessons do not rollover each term and that students must request them for each term they wish to be enrolled. Questions? Email Dr. Jessica McCormack. 

Traveling with PA Instrument Rentals: Students have been informed that rentals from PA’s collection are generally not permitted to leave campus; requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Students who would still like to make a special request to travel with their PA rental (by car only) should speak with Mr. Carl Johnson or Mr. Will Silvers in the W.B. Clift Music Library. 

Winter Term Concert Calendar: PA’s varied and inspiring musical performances are free and open to the public. Please review our Winter Term Concert Calendar and plan to attend an event. All are welcome! 

Team Music wishes our students and their families happy and safe holidays!

Just a reminder that buses will leave campus tomorrow afternoon at 4 p.m. traveling to Darien, Connecticut, and Manhattan. Student drop-off occurs at the southbound service plaza in Darien and at Dock 2 at the Port Authority Bus South Terminal in New York City. Student passengers (with copies to parents) have been emailed their confirmation. If you or your child did not receive a confirmation, they do not have a reservation on the bus. There is still space available, so please email Claudia Scofield to reserve a spot.

We at the PSPA (Parents of Students of Phillips Academy) wish you the warmest of holidays and hope you have a relaxing and restful break with your family. 

Campus Closet open tomorrow: If you’re looking for a touch of PA to gift this season, stop by Campus Closet in the lower level of George Washington Hall from noon to 4 p.m. on Friday, December 15, before picking up your student. 

Campus Closet is staffed by PSPA volunteers; all proceeds go toward student activities and building a stronger PA community. Note that our online shop is on a well-deserved hiatus through the new year.

Did you know that Andover Summer offers a five-week academic enrichment program that brings together a community of global learners on the Phillips Academy campus each summer? With over 100 students already enrolled in Summer Session 2024, now is the time to learn more and apply. 

Webinar next week! Please join us Thursday, December 21—at either 10 a.m. or 7 p.m. ET—for our last Andover Summer information webinar before the holiday break. Sign up here today.

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.

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. 

Parents of Seniors—Create a Family Message: Express pride and love and congratulate your soon-to-be-graduate with a fun and heartfelt ad in the Pot Pourri. Simply click Yearbook Order Center to create your ad and submit payment. Submission deadline is January 15.

Senior Portraits for Yearbook: Submission deadline is January 15.

Class Rings: Class rings ordered before January 1 will be delivered to your senior before graduation. Find more information on class rings here or email our class ring vendor Mike McCann. 

Visit 2023-2024 Information for Families for complete information on yearbook orders, family messages, senior portraits, and class rings. 

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.

This is the final Family Bulletin of 2023. The next issue will be sent Thursday, January 11. See you in 2024!