Parent Bulletin

Phillips Academy Head of School Office
Rebecca Sykes, associate head of school

January 25, 2013

Each year in New England, we find ourselves readjusting to the winter and looking for ways to keep our spirits up. In this edition of the Parent Bulletin, we provide an array of information, from reminders about how to stay safe outdoors to a listing of indoor programs to engage the hearts and minds. Please refer to our website for a full schedule of athletic events. No matter what the weather, there is always something interesting going on at Andover and we welcome you to join us.

In Touch with…

Tom Conlon, Director of Public Safety

Snow, sleet and ice abound. Cold, windy and dark conditions prevail. The winter season presents particular challenges and our students can benefit from reminders about what to wear and how to make their way around campus. We understand that for some students this is the first time they have lived in this climate and not every precaution is intuitive. Please help us to reinforce the following:

•	Plan ahead and give yourself sufficient time. Rushing increases your chance of a fall.
•	When walking on steps always use the hand railings and plant your feet on each step before stepping to the next.
•	Always cross streets at established crosswalks.
•	Make eye contact with the driver and continue to watch the flow of traffic.
•	Wear bright colors or a reflective piece of clothing when walking about after dark.
•	Ice and snow conditions decrease a driver’s ability to see pedestrians. Don’t step the curb off until the motor vehicle is completely stopped.
•	Using electronic devices and wearing ear buds or headphones decrease attentiveness. Unplug while crossing the street.
•	If you are a day student who drives to campus, heed the road advisories issued by state authorities and follow the advice from the deans.

While we put more emphasis on weather-related precautions at this time of the year, general campus safety is a constant priority. We recently conducted a test of our emergency text system and the students were exhorted, “If you see something, say something.” Phillips Academy is an open and welcoming community, but we strive to keep it as safe as possible. Thanks for all you do as parents to assist us in this effort.

Student Council Passes Co-President Model

On January 19, the Student Council voted to change the top leadership position to a co-president model (upper pairs will run as a ticket). We thought you should be aware of this since students may be talking about this historic change. More information may be found on the Philippian online.

Email for Dr. Patel

Please note that the email address for Medical Director Amy Patel is incorrect in the hardcopy version of the 2012-2013 Directory. It is listed correctly online: apatel@andover.edu.

GeograBee Competition

Phillips Academy’s 17th Annual GeograBee Competition will begin on Sunday, January 27 with separate contests in each dorm and for day students. The challenge will culminate with the all-school final on Tuesday, February 12 at 5:30 p.m. in Paresky Commons. Please contact Susanne Torabi at storabi@andover.edu for more information.

Care Packs

Help ease the stress of assessment week with a Care Pack full of edible goodies. Care Packs will be delivered to your student on March 6 and include your personalized note. Sponsored by the Department of Theatre and Dance, this fundraiser supports the Theatre and Dance Touring Scholarship Fund. The department takes a production on an international tour in alternating years. The next tour will be in the summer of 2014, when students will travel to South Africa to participate in the Grahamstown Arts Festival. Please contact Amy Martin at 978-749-4429 or amartin@andover.edu for more information. To order, please download a form and send it with your payment to:

Care Packs/THDA Dept.
Phillips Academy
180 Main Street
Andover, MA 01810

News from PSPA

Parents of Seniors, have you ordered your Senior DVD yet? This is a professionally produced DVD highlighting Senior events throughout the 2012-2013 school year, including the Senior Vista Walk, Andover/Exeter Day, Prom and all of the Commencement weekend events and ceremonies. All proceeds benefit PSPA-funded student activities. Order online at the PSPA Shop.

AP Exams

Registration for advanced placement exams begins February 1, 2013. The cost is $89 per exam. Students taking AP or other relevant courses should obtain an AP Student Bulletin and Registration Form from the Dean of Studies Office and register as soon as possible. The exams are given from May 6 – 17. Full explanation of AP costs and deadlines is on our website. If you have any questions about the AP registration process, please contact Debra Colombo at dcolombo@andover.edu.

Upcoming Events

Friday, January 25

•	Holocaust Speaker, Leo Ullman ’57, author of From a hidden child in occupied Amsterdam to a preppy at Andover – surviving the Holocaust, 8 p.m., Kemper Auditorium. This event is free and open to the public.

Saturday, January 26

•	Senior Concerto Concert, 7:30 p.m., Cochran Chapel. This concert is free and open to the public. For further information please contact the music department at 978-749-4260 or e-mail music@andover.edu.

Monday, January 28

•	Brace Student Fellow MJ Engel ’13 presentation: “Loans, Lessons, and Leaders: Empowering Men and Women to End the HIV/AIDS Epidemic in Zimbabwe,” 5:30 – 6:30 p.m., School Room, Abbot Hall, 3rd Floor. This event is free and open to the public.

Friday, February 1

•	“After the Arab Spring,” presented by Reza Aslan, author of No god but God: The Origins, Evolution and Future of Islam and How to Win a Cosmic War, 7 p.m., Kemper Auditorium. This event is sponsored by CAMD and funded by the Abbot Academy Association, and is free and open to the public.