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Parent Bulletin
Phillips Academy Head of School Office
Rebecca Sykes, associate head of school
February 3, 2012
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Head of School Day
For
the last time, Barbara Chase wielded her blue hockey stick to declare
today, February 3, 2012, Head of School Day. Topping the drama of all
other Head of School Day announcements in her tenure, Mrs. Chase slipped
into Paresky Commons undetected…. Then came the Big Reveal. Students
were thrilled at the end of a week of mid-term assessments to have a day
off from classes. To catch a glimpse of last night’s pandemonium, we
encourage you to “like” the PA Facebook page and watch the video of the Big Reveal.
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News from PSPA
- PSPA is currently seeking new board members for the
following positions: President (previous PSPA board involvement
preferred), 1st VP, 2nd VP, and Secretary. There are also non-board
positions available on the 2013 Summer Opportunities Fair Committee and
as Assistant Co-Director of Merchandise Sales. For more information on
any of these positions, please e-mail: pspa@pspaandover.org.
- The next PSPA meeting is an Introduction to College Counseling for Parents of Juniors and Lowers
on Thursday, February 9, at 7 p.m. in Kemper Auditorium. Director of
College Counseling Sean Logan will present an overview of the college
counseling process.
- Videos of all PSPA meetings and the Upper Parent Kickoff can be viewed at: http://pspaandover.org/index.php/video/. Please note that videos are password protected so that they can only be viewed by members of the Andover community. The password is: PAparent
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In Touch with…
Max Alovisetti, Ph.D., Director of Graham House Counseling Center
Avoiding the Winter Blues
For
many students and adults, the winter’s cold, wet weather and diminished
daylight all seem to conspire to make our daily responsibilities and
tasks more difficult. Since hibernation is not an option, we need to do
our best to maintain proper nutrition, exercise, and sleep, and to
manage our stress levels, in order to remain both physically and
mentally healthy this winter.
Stress is a normal part of life and is not a problem unless it
becomes a chronic situation. One of the best ways to manage the
academic stress at PA is for students to increase their sense of
competence by staying on top of their work and getting help when needed.
Whatever we can do to help our kids worry less and focus more will be
welcome.
Parents and teachers also need to challenge our students’ often
irrational beliefs about the importance of a grade, an athletic
competition, or the end result of any selection process. Our students
need to try their best, but there is never any one event or one course
grade that will result in lifelong happiness or failure.
Students also need balance in their lives, whereby they alternate
periods of hard work and intense focus with activities that are just
enjoyable and relaxing. While the coming spring term will also have its
challenges, we can be pleased that we have left behind the season where,
according to an old Maine expression, “every mile is two.”
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Travel over Spring Break
For
Spring Break, Phillips Academy will be offering bus transportation to
NYC with stops in Hartford and Darien, Connecticut. Buses depart on
Friday, March 9, and return on Sunday, March 25. Cost is $90 one-way
and $150 round-trip.
Shuttles to Boston’s Logan Airport on Friday, March 9, at 8
a.m. also will be offered at a cost of $30. We will NOT offer return
shuttles at the end of break. Private taxi and limousine services are
also available. See Flight Line for transportation specials.
Forms and further information are available on the Parent
Portal’s “Student Life” tab under the Dean of Students section. Please
contact Claudia Scofield at cscofield@andover.edu or 978-749-4175 for more information.
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Upcoming Events
Tuesday, February 7
All-School GeograBee Finals, 5:30 p.m., Paresky Commons.
Wednesday, February 8
Screening of documentary Vincent Who?, 6:30 p.m., Kemper Auditorium. Free and open to the public. More info »
Thursday, February 9
PSPA Meeting, Introduction to College Counseling for Parents of Juniors and Lowers, 7 p.m., Kemper Auditorium. For more information, e-mail pspa@pspaandover.org.
Friday, February 10
Student recital featuring Miki Nagahara ’13, violin; Sasha
Scolnik-Brower ’13, cello; and Paul Noh ’12, piano, performing works by
Beethoven, Rachmaninoff, and Schubert, 7:30 p.m., Graves Hall. Free and
open to the public. For more information, e-mail music@andover.edu.
Friday, February 10
Brace Fellow Presentation Investigates Gender Bias in Science, 7 p.m.,
School Room in Abbot Hall. Free and open to the public. More info »
Friday, February 17
Nimbaya Drumming Ensemble, 7:30 p.m., Cochran Chapel. Free and open to the public. For more information, e-mail music@andover.edu.
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