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Boosters Required for Return in March
Spring Break (March 4–20) is on the horizon—a welcome respite for students and a much-needed opportunity for family time and fun. Protecting community health, while also delivering on our mission, continues to be the Academy’s highest priority. As you may have read in yesterday’s email from Head of School Raynard Kington, “Eligible students who have not received a vaccine exemption or who have not received their booster by March 20, 2022, will be placed on a Leave of Absence and will not be allowed to return to campus." Please be sure to review the full email.
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Health & Wellness Update
As of Wednesday, February 16, more than 99% of PA students have received 1+ vaccination dose(s) and more than 85% have received a booster. One student has tested positive in the past seven days. COVID metrics continue to improve across our campus, community, and state. New cases and hospitalizations are continuing to decline. To see the complete data from Dr. Amy Patel, Sykes Wellness Center medical director, please visit our COVID-19 Updates & Information.
Travel testing for Spring Break: Students traveling during Spring Break who will need documentation of recent COVID test results should sign up via the Sykes Wellness Center Health Portal. The cost is $175 and is not covered by insurance. Please see the recent email regarding travel testing sign-ups.
Next and Final Student Booster Clinic—Sunday, February 27, 2–3:30 p.m. at the Snyder Center: Boosters are required for those who are eligible and due. Please encourage your student to schedule an appointment via the Sykes Wellness Center Health Portal.
COVID-19 testing prior to returning from Spring Break: Students will take home a two-pack of COVID tests to take prior to their return to campus. We ask that each student take the first test one day before traveling to campus and the second test on the day of travel to campus. Ideally, a parent or guardian will be with the student during the test. Instructions will be sent out before break regarding test pickup and reporting of results; please follow all directions to ensure accurate data is submitted.
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Schedule for Final Week of the TermMonday, February 28: Conference day, plus athletics/rehearsals
Tuesday, March 1: 9–11 a.m. (Period 7), 1–3 p.m. (Period 6), plus athletics/rehearsals
Wednesday, March 2: 9–11 a.m. (Period 3), plus tournaments/athletics/rehearsals
Thursday, March 3: 9–11 a.m. (Period 2), 1–3 p.m. (Period 1), plus athletics/rehearsals
Friday, March 4: 9–11 a.m. (Period 5), 1–3 p.m. (Period 4), plus athletics
Please note:
- Monday, February 28, is a conference day. Teachers will be available in their classrooms during the regularly scheduled time. These are “open hours”: students do not need to attend and can come and go as they need.
- From Tuesday, March 1, through Friday, March 4, each class will meet once, according to the schedule above. All classes will meet in person, and attendance for all students is required.
- The winter term ends at 3 p.m. on Friday, March 4. No teacher may accept any additional work from a student after that time.
- Any possible exception to these policies—if a student falls ill, has a family emergency—must be approved by the director of studies in collaboration with the medical director.
- Boarding students must be out of dorms by noon on Saturday, March 5.
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Travel Over Spring Break
Phillips Academy will offer Spring Break transportation to and from New York City, with a stop in Darien, Conn. Students can sign up for one-way travel ($90) or roundtrip ($150). Buses will depart at 4 p.m. on Friday, March 4, and return Monday, March 21. Drop-off and pick-up occur at the service plazas in Darien and at Dock 2 at the Port Authority Bus South Terminal in New York City. Answers to travel questions and access to the online bus form are available on The Hive under the Resources tab at the top of the page. This information will also be shared with students.
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.
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Avoid Late FeesPlease review your student’s 2021–2022 tuition account on our billing portal, FACTS. All outstanding balances were due in full by Tuesday, 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 any late fees. Questions? Please email Tina Rioux, bursar.
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2022 AP Exam RegistrationRegistration for AP exams this spring is taking place now through noon on Thursday, March 3. College Board is currently planning for paper and pencil Advanced Placement exams to take place on campus May 2–13.
Phillips Academy students will be sent an email from the Phillips Academy Standardized Testing Office with registration instructions. Exam fees will be paid through students’ Course Material Account and are processed later in the spring. Funds do not need to be added to the BlueCard.
Please note that AP exams are optional and not required for college applications. Student grades and classwork are more important than AP exam scores. Exams require a significant amount of preparation and missed class time, just before final assessments. Students who are unsure about taking AP exams should speak to a teacher or College Counselor. Students should not register for more exams than they are sure to take. Click here for specific information on registration and exam dates and fees.
Planning to Visit Campus?
We are excited to invite families and parents to numerous campus events, performances, and presentations over the next two weeks. To keep yourself and those on campus safe, please follow these important protocols:
- Proper masking is required in indoor spaces at all times.
- Visitors must be fully vaccinated and boosted, if eligible, to attend events at Phillips Academy.
- If you or anybody in your household is displaying Covid-19 symptoms, you should not attend a campus event.
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Celebrating Black Arts WeekendFeminista Jones—Friday, February 18, 7:30 p.m., Kemper Auditorium: Social influencer Feminista Jones will kick off Black Arts Weekend with a talk titled “Looking Toward a Black Future Informed by Our Rich History.” Named one of the top 100 Black Social Influencers and 25 Most Inspiring Women on Twitter, Jones—the author of the critically acclaimed Reclaiming Our Space: How Black Feminists Are Changing the World From the Tweets to the Streets—has been featured in the New York Times, Essence, Out, Complex, Salon, Ebony, Detroit Free Press, Huffpost, Jet Magazine, NBC News, Newsweek, NPR, and on the Oprah Winfrey Network, as well as other major media. Her work centers around queer identity, critical race theory, intersectionality, mental health, and social work.
Urban Bush Women Dance Performance—Sunday, February 20, 3 p.m., Kemper Auditorium: UBW dancer Christal Brown will perform “Give Your Hands to Struggle,” a tribute to civil rights leaders whose work contributed to a better future for all of us. The title is based on a speech by Adam Clayton Powell “What’s in Your Hands.” This lecture demonstration will encourage audiences to examine their own lineage and those who have inspired them through an archive viewing, dialogue, and embodiment.
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Live Music Performances!Please join us for these special events in Cochran Chapel.
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Live Theatre & Dance!Memory Retrograde: Kaede and Allan are a couple well into married life. When Kaede finds a long-lost childhood memento in their attic, all the buried memories of their relationship begin to resurface in this century-spanning dive into the couple and their past lives. Memory Retrograde, by Haruna Lee, is part of the THD901 Independent Project series and is student directed. Showtimes* in Steinbach Theatre:
- Thursday, February 17, at 7 p.m.
- Sunday, February 20, at 4 p.m.
Urinetown: The Musical: The Department of Theatre & Dance presents Urinetown: The Musical, a three-time Tony Award–winning musical comedy that premiered in 2001. This celebratory ode to the medium of musical theatre was created by Mark Hollmann and Greg Kotis and acts as a humorous form of cultural criticism. Urinetown highlights the limitations of capitalism’s response to climate change and racialized policing. The corporatocratic response at the heart of the show seems more relevant in the midst of the pandemic, where inequities along racial and class lines are on even greater display than when Kotis and Hollmann created it. Showtimes* in Tang Theatre:
- Friday, February 18, at 8 p.m.
- Saturday, February 19, at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.
- Sunday, February 20, at 1 p.m.
Iphigenia and Other Daughters: This play, by Ellen McLaughlin, follows the House of Atreus in a series of murders. Caught in a seemingly inescapable cycle of sacrifice and vengeance, the children of Clytemnestra and Agamemnon discover and effectuate their own perceptions of justice. This show is presented as part of the THD901 Independent Project series. Showtimes* in the Theatre Classroom:
- Wednesday, February 23, at 7 p.m.
- Sunday, February 27, at 2 p.m.
Three THD902 Performances: Featuring works from three student choreographers, come enjoy a short dance performance with us. This show is presented as part of the THD902 Independent Choreography Project series. Showtimes* in Steinbach Theatre:
- Thursday, February 24, at 8 p.m..
- Sunday, February 27, at 1 p.m.
*All T&D events are first-come-first-serve seating. We recommend arriving 30 minutes prior to showtime to secure your seat for the show. Families of students involved in the productions can check in at the Information Desk to receive priority seating. All persons in your party must be present to claim their seats—there is no saving seats and no late seating. Masks are required in George Washington Hall, Tang Theatre, Steinbach Theatre, and the Theatre Classroom.
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Peabody Diggin’ In WebinarJoin us Wednesday, February 23, at 1:30 p.m. ET for “There’s Nothing of their House but the Ruined Foundation”: History and Archaeology at the Manton Farm Property. This is Season 4, Episode 3 of the Peabody Institute of Archaeology’s Diggin’ In series.
The Public Archaeology Laboratory, Inc. has teamed with the Little Compton Historical Society on a collaborative project to document the history of the Manton Farm in Little Compton, R.I. The property was the home of Henry Manton, who came to Little Compton as a boy in the 1860s and lived with the Gifford family—believed to have been part of the Underground Railroad. Please sign up for this webinar at our new online registration page.
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Addison Opening Celebration
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News from the PSPAThank you to all who joined us to hear from Julie Lythcott-Haims last week. Recordings of her session with the PSPA and other talks with students are available on The Hive under “Resources,” then “Informational Videos.” We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events.
Tonight! PSPA General Meeting—Thursday, February 17, at 6:15 p.m. ET: The general meeting will take place in the Underwood Room, with a light dinner served from 5:45 to 6:15 p.m. Please join us! Zoom link. Passcode: a2j8nE
- Following the general meeting is a collaborative program from 7 to 8 p.m. in Kemper Auditorium, brought to you by the PSPA and Director of Studies David Fox. Hear from the director of College Counseling as well as a panel of faculty from various departments who will focus on the PA academic experience for uppers and seniors. A Q&A session will follow. Although the discussion will be centered on the 11th- and 12th-grade experience, this event is open to all interested parents. If joining remotely, please feel free to submit your questions in advance. (Livestream link) A recording will be posted on The Hive.
Virtual Mixer and Trivia Night—Thursday, February 24, at 8 p.m. ET: Back by popular demand! Meet parents and guardians at our winter term virtual mixer and trivia night. We will start with introductions and then play a fun and low-pressure team trivia game. No trivia experience necessary. Zoom link. Passcode: qC0ZVb
Come Shop In Person—Campus Closet will be OPEN tomorrow (Friday, February 18) from noon to 4 p.m.: One way to combat the gray winter days is with some Retail Therapy! Plus, show your PA pride! Come browse new items and favorite classics now back in stock. You can always shop 24/7 online. Delivery on campus is FREE.
Summer Guide Now Available!
It’s time to start thinking about your student's summer plans! The PSPA proudly presents our 32nd annual 2022 Summer Opportunities Fair in an all-new online guide. Don’t miss it! Our informative guide features nearly 100 programs, including college experiences, languages, arts, outdoor adventures, foreign language immersion, tutoring, test prep, and more. Please share this link widely with your friends and family—and with teachers/administrators you may know in your local schools.
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This Week’s Religious Gatherings
Friday, February 18
- 1 p.m.—Muslim Student Association (MSA) Prayers: Led by Noureddine El Alam. Meditation Room, lower level of Cochran Chapel (side entrance). Masks required.
- 5:30–6:30 p.m.—Jewish Shabbat Service and JSU Meeting: Led by Rabbi Michael Swarttz. Paul’s Room, upper level of Paresky Commons. All are welcome! Masks required if not eating.
Sunday, February 20
- 6–7 p.m.—Protestant (Ecumenical) Dinner Service: Led by Rev. Gina Finocchiaro, interim Protestant chaplain. All are welcome for this time of scripture, prayer, and spoken reflection! Masks required. Ada’s Room, Upper Level, Paresky Commons.
- 6:45–7:30 p.m.—Catholic Service: The Catholic community will mark Black Arts Weekend with sacred music by African American and African composers. After Mass during fellowship time, artwork and objects will be displayed along with posters of the six Black Catholics currently being considered for and in the process toward sainthood. Overseen by Dr. Mary Kantor, Catholic chaplain, with priests of the Archdiocese of Boston presiding. Fully vaccinated (if eligible) families and parents are welcome to join us; masking is required. Kemper Chapel, lower level of Cochran Chapel (side entrance).
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Curriculum CornerHighlights of the Academy’s extensive course offerings
The history of Visual Studies (ART225), a foundational art course, dates back to the 1960s, when art department faculty developed a novel approach (at the time) to cultivating visual literacy by using the camera to foster inquiry and close looking. The class took hold and has morphed into a course now taken by all ninth-graders (juniors), enabling them to experience a variety of artistic media over the arch of a single term.
Every instructor in the department teaches Visual Studies, each engaging students in the artistic process and working from ideation to personal expression. Both historical and contemporary art are studied, inviting students to understand the communicative power of art and to debunk narrow perceptions of what constitutes art and the role art can play in society. Students are encouraged to actively explore contemporary issues, including identity and social justice, and many go on to enroll in our 300-level elective studio courses.
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You Are Invited!All events are virtual unless otherwise noted. Please join us!
Please check the Events Calendar on Andover’s website regularly for additional in-person and online events that may be open to families. The Weekender is the Academy’s one-stop guide to weekend student activities, opportunities, club-organized events, guest speakers, performances, and athletic contests.
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Phillips Academy
180 Main St.
Andover, MA 01810
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You received this message because you are a valued member of the Andover community. We are obligated to communicate with you, and require you to be on our email list while your student(s) attends Phillips Academy. For more information contact the Dean of Studies Office. |
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