Valentine’s Day Messages of Positivity and Friendship

Hundreds of students stopped by the Dean of Studies Office this week to send a “heart of encouragement” to anyone on campus. Red and pink frosted cookies and selfies with Gunga—decked out in his Valentine’s Day finest—added to the fun. Tomorrow morning, more than 400 handwritten notes will be delivered to students, faculty, and staff. Hosted by Julie Powers, administrative assistant and positivity expert, the event was a terrific way to warm up winter and spread the love on Valentine’s Day.

Help Us Manage Flu Season

We are seeing a very high volume of seasonal influenza, which is consistent with the circulating influenza across the U.S. Symptoms of the flu include any combination of fever, chills, cough, sore throat, stuffy/runny nose, body aches, headache, fatigue, and less commonly, vomiting or diarrhea. In an effort to minimize spread in our community, we are doing the following:

Students who are ill should remain home, at a minimum until fever-free for 24 hours—without the use of fever-lowering medications. Because the Rebecca M. Sykes Wellness Center has a finite capacity of 12 beds and because children often feel more comfortable managing their illness in the comforts of their own home, we are asking parents within a two- to three-hour driving radius to take their child home to recuperate, when possible.
Our ill students who cannot go home will remain at the Sykes Wellness Center until they appear well and their fever has subsided for 12 to 24 hours. This means that students will be in the dorms who do not feel 100 percent, as the wellness center is caring for the sicker students. We are asking faculty and house counselors to check in with students who are not feeling their best to ensure that they are eating, drinking, and resting.

In the meantime, we are asking students to practice prevention:

Use hand sanitizer stations located in every building on campus, and supplement with hand washing. Cough into the elbow or a tissue, and minimize close face-to-face or hand-to-hand contact. We still have a small supply of the flu vaccine left for students. Remember that the flu season can continue into May in Andover. Students can come to the wellness center Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. for the seasonal influenza vaccine.
Treatment includes getting plenty of rest, staying hydrated, and choosing nutritious food options (students should look for the immune-boosting foods in Paresky). Minimizing stress will also help improve the body’s natural immunity against illness.

An Evening with College Counseling

Thursday, February 27: Join Dean of College Counseling Sean Logan and Director of College Counseling Kassy Fritz from 7 to 8 p.m. in Kemper Auditorium for an update on the college admission landscape. Sean and Kassy will discuss college trends, provide an overview of the Academy’s college counseling process, and share some ideas about how parents can help their child prepare for a successful college application experience. This event is sponsored by the PSPA.

Reminder from the Comptroller’s Office

Please review your child’s 2019–2020 tuition account on our billing portal, FACTS Tuition Management. All outstanding balances are due in full by February 15. Even if tuition has been paid in full there may be additional charges, payments, and credits applied to your student’s account. If you have already reviewed your statement and taken appropriate actions, thank you. If your student still has an outstanding balance from previous months, please remit payment immediately to avoid late fees. Questions? Please email Tina Rioux, bursar.

Video: Coping Skills for Teens

Lynn Lyons LICSW, a psychotherapist, author, and speaker with a special interest in interrupting the generational patterns of anxiety, was recently on campus for a mini-residency. At a February 11 event sponsored by the PSPA, Lyons presented “Preventing Anxiety and Depression: Skills We Can (and Should!) Teach Our Teens.” You can watch the video on The Hive..

Lyons is the coauthor with Reid Wilson of Anxious Kids, Anxious Parents and the companion book for kids Playing with Anxiety: Casey’s Guide for Teens and Kids.

Share Feedback with the PSPA

The PSPA (Parents of Students of Phillips Academy) strives to build and maintain a supportive community of Andover parents and guardians. Our programs support faculty and staff and supplement student activities. Please complete this brief survey to help us identify the programs and services you would find most helpful.

Classic Athletic Apparel for Sale

Wear blue as you cheer for Big Blue at the February 29 Andover-Exeter games! The athletic department will sell team uniforms, shorts, shirts, jackets, and jerseys in a variety of sizes on Saturday, February 29, in the Borden Gym (Meeting Room 1) from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Cash or checks only. Supplies are limited!

Transportation Option for Spring Break

Phillips Academy will offer Spring Break transportation to and from New York City, with a stop in Darien, Connecticut. Students can sign up for one-way ($90) or roundtrip ($150) travel. Buses depart at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, March 6, and return Monday, March 23. Drop-off and pick-up will be at Dock 2 at the Port Authority Bus South Terminal. Forms and further information are available on The Hive.

For transportation to Logan (Boston) and Manchester (N.H.) airports, students can make arrangements with private taxi and limousine service providers. Flight Line, Inc. offers discounted rates for travel at the beginning and end of Spring Break. 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.

News from Parent Development

Thank you to the parents who have supported the Parent Fund this year—participation currently stands at 57 percent. While we are tracking ahead of last year, we still have a way to go to reach our goal of 100 percent participation by June.

Families of the Class of 2023 are leading with 72 percent parent participation, followed by the Class of 2022 with 61 percent, the Class of 2020 with 51 percent, and the Class of 2021 with 49 percent. One great way to up those percentages is to participate in PA Giving Day! See details below.

Questions about the Parent Fund? Email Elisabeth Munro, coordinator of Parent Development, or call 978-749-4303.

PA Giving Day Is March 25

Mark your calendar for PA Giving Day on Wednesday, March 25! This annual day of giving, Andover’s biggest fundraising effort, provides critical resources to the Academy. Last year, 540 parents and grandparents from across the globe helped raise $2.48 million for scholarships and other vital priorities.

This year’s PA Giving Day also aligns with End of Tuition Day—from March 25 to the end of the school year, the entire cost of an Andover education is supported by the generosity of the PA community alone. We hope you will consider making a gift—at any level that is right for your family—on March 25.

Senior Parents: Last Chance for Class Rings

Herff Jones, the company that creates Phillips Academy class rings, will be in Paresky Commons during lunch periods on Thursday, February 27, and Friday, February 28; students are invited to see ring samples and confirm their ring size. An $80 down payment is required to start production. Questions? Email Mike McCann at Herff Jones or call 781-749-2426.

You Are Invited!

February 27 in Washington, D.C.: Af-Lat-Am Alumni Social Gathering
February 27 in Denver, CO: Andover Social Gathering & Bowling
February 29 on Campus: Coed Alumni and Parent Hockey Game
February 29 on Campus: Coed Alumni and Parent Basketball Game
March 14 in San Francisco, CA: Cocktails with Strangers
April 1 in Philadelphia, PA: A Conversation with Director of Alumni Engagement Jenny Savino P’21

Registration links will be available soon for the following events:

April 2 in Los Angeles, CA: Stories from Every Quarter: A Panel Discussion on Equity & Inclusion in Hollywood
April 2 in Washington, D.C.: Andover Networking Night
April 18 in New York, NY: Performance by Fidelio and the Phillips Academy Orchestra at Lincoln Center

Parent Bulletin Archive »

Phillips Academy
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Andover, MA 01810

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