New Health & Wellness Initiative

The Sykes Wellness Center team is pleased to announce that we now offer a new telecounseling option for students. Students may connect with a counselor for up to eight sessions, at no cost to families, through Uwill, a leading student mental health and wellness telecounseling solution. Uwill’s team of licensed therapists is diverse and experienced, and their confidential teletherapy service has garnered positive feedback from several colleges and universities. Uwill will complement services that are already available for students, including individual counseling, walk-in counseling through the consultation-liaison counselor, after-hours crisis evaluation, referrals to local counselors off campus, diagnostic assessment and medication management through a consulting psychiatrist on campus, and group workshops.

If you missed Monday’s email that shared this good news, please click here for more information.

Enrollment Agreement Due Saturday

The deadline for parents/legal guardians to complete their returning student’s online Enrollment Agreement is Saturday, April 1. If you have not already done so, please log in to your SchoolAdmin account and complete this process. Please note that your student will not be considered enrolled for the 2023–2024 academic year until you have paid your Enrollment Deposit and set up your 2023–2024 payment plan in FACTS. (Both actions can be accessed via your SchoolAdmin account checklist.)

Once you complete the online enrollment, please visit The Hive (after May 2) to complete all remaining 2023–2024 registration requirements. Questions? Please send us an email.

Private Music Lessons

Does your student want to take private music lessons? Please note that 5 p.m. on Friday, April 7, is the add/drop deadline for spring term lessons. Lessons are billed per term and financial aid is available for qualifying students. Questions? Email Jessica McCormack, music department coordinator.

Spoken Word Poetry Performance

The student affinity group MOSAIC is excited to bring spoken word poet Sarah Kay of Project Voice to campus, Saturday, April 1. The author of four books of poetry, Kay is perhaps best known for her 2011 TED talk, “If I Should Have a Daughter,” which has been viewed over 10 million times.

Please join us! Kay’s performance, free and open to the public, is tomorrow at 8 p.m. in Kemper Auditorium.

News from the PSPA

Spring Social Mixer for Parents—Friday, April 14, 6:30–8:30 p.m.: The PSPA is excited to invite all parents and guardians to our Spring Social Mixer at the Andover Inn. Come meet and mingle over wine and cheese! Please RSVP here. Adults only.

Campus Closet Needs You for Final Revisit Day: We still need volunteers to help run our on-campus store on the final Revisit Day for newly admitted students. Sign up here to help out on Monday, April 3. This sign-up sheet can also be used for volunteering at Campus Closet during regular Friday hours.

College Admissions Conversations: Mark your calendar for our annual two-part PSPA Speaker Series focused on the college admissions process.

Thursday, April 20, at 7 p.m. ET: Conversation and Q&A with the directors of the College Counseling Office.
Thursday, May 11, at 7 p.m. ET: Senior Student Panel on “Lessons Learned During the College Application Process.”

Both events will be preceded by dinner at 5:30 p.m., and the General Meeting of our PSPA membership at 6 p.m. Livestream links will be shared as the dates draw nearer.

Team Up with Our Students in the Relay For Life

Join other PA parents as we walk with our students in the Relay For Life to fight cancer on Saturday, April 22, from 8 to 11 p.m. in the Snyder Center. Please click here to sign up for the PSPA team.

Storage Option for Boarding Students

Phillips Academy has once again partnered with Collegeboxes to provide a solution for boarders who need to store their clothing, books, furniture, etc., over the summer. (Note that student belongings cannot remain on campus over the summer.) Collegeboxes will pick up items, place them in storage, and deliver them to your child’s dorm room just before school starts in the fall. Deliveries to college or the student’s home are also possible. There are costs associated with this service. Essential information and important dates:

Collegeboxes pickup days are:
- Wednesday, May 31—for ALL students
- Thursday, June 1—for ALL students
- Friday, June 2—ONLY for SENIORS and those participating in Commencement
Thursday, May 11: First delivery of supply kits (boxes) to the dorms
Monday, May 22: Last day to sign up for storage AND still receive a supply kit
Thursday, May 25: Final delivery of previously ordered supply kits.
Friday, May 26: DEADLINE to sign up for storage BUT too late for a supply kit. Student must find/purchase boxes on their own. After May 26, student will need to find another option for their items.
Pickup details:
- Be sure your child enters their CURRENT dorm and room for pickup location.
- All boxes must be packed and ready to go by 7 a.m. on the pickup date. Students should finish packing the night before.
Deliveries in time for the new school year: We will provide your child’s 2023–2024 dorm and room to Collegeboxes; you DO NOT need to enter this information. Items will be delivered to dorm rooms before students arrive on campus.

Questions? Please email or call Claudia Scofield in the Dean of Students Office at 978-749-4124.

Spiritual & Religious Gatherings

Friday, March 31

1–1:25 p.m.—Muslim Student Association (MSA) Prayers and Fellowship: Sermon (Jumma prayer). Led by Noureddine El Alam. Meditation Room, lower level of Cochran Chapel (enter from the left side of building). There is no MSA dinner during Ramadan.
5:30 p.m.—Jewish Student Union (JSU) Shabbat Celebration: Led by members of the JSU and Rabbi Michael Swarttz. Included are blessings over candles, juice and hallah, community conversation, sharing and fellowship. Paul’s Room, Paresky Commons

Sunday, April 2—Palm Sunday

6 p.m.—Protestant Worship Service: Palm Sunday service led by the Reverend Gina Finocchiaro, Protestant chaplain. All are welcome for this time of scripture, prayer, and spoken reflection. Cochran Chapel
6:15–7 p.m.—Catholic Mass—Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion: Blessing and distribution of palms. All are welcome to join the PA Catholic community for Mass on Sunday evenings when school is in session. Overseen by Dr. Mary Kantor, Catholic chaplain, with presider Fr. Jack O’Brien and other guest priests from the Archdiocese of Boston. Student leaders participate in liturgical roles as lectors, Eucharistic ministers, and musicians, and help with hospitality. Mass is followed by hospitality and fellowship with snacks and refreshments, and sometimes short programming by Catholic Student Fellowship (CSF) leaders. Kemper Chapel, lower level of Cochran Chapel (enter from the left side of building)

Wednesday, April 5, to Thursday, April 13—Passover

The Jewish holiday of Passover begins at sundown and continues through the evening of Thursday, April 13. The holiday commemorates the story of the Israelites’ journey from the slavery of Egypt to freedom, as told in the biblical book of Exodus. The themes are universal in nature and have been adapted by other groups and cultures.

Passover, more so than other Jewish holidays, is home-based. People gather around the table on the first two nights for a Seder (Hebrew for “order,” as there is a prescribed order to the rituals), during which the story of the Exodus is told. The Haggadah (“telling”) is the book that is used for this purpose; it is structured in a question-and-answer format with the goal of engaging the children at the table.

As always, there will be a Passover-friendly station and matzah available in Paresky Commons throughout the holiday. —Rabbi Swartz, Jewish Chaplain

Thursday, April 6—Maundy Thursday

6 p.m.—Maundy Thursday service and dinner: Join the Reverend Gina Finocchiaro, Protestant chaplain, in the Underwood Room for dinner and some reflective time together for Holy Thursday—the night we retell and remember the Last Supper of Jesus and the events set into motion that night. All are welcome. Please RSVP here.
Click here for Catholic services off campus.

Friday, April 7—Good Friday

12:30 p.m.—Stations of the Cross: Overseen by Dr. Mary Kantor, Catholic chaplain, please meet at 12:30 p.m. in Cochran Chapel (following All-School Meeting) for student-led Stations of the Cross. A prayer form used in the season of Lent and on Good Friday, Stations of the Cross is an ancient practice that follows the steps/stations of Jesus’ trial and judgement by the Roman government, and his steps to the cross and death by crucifixion. Around the world, the 14 stations are marked by images, sculptures, or icons.

Good Friday Stations of the Cross at Andover have drawn on the art of sculptors, painters, and iconographers from around the world. This year’s stations will be followed by a simple soup and bread meal in the Baldwin Cloister (lower level of Cochran Chapel). All are welcome to the stations and soup lunch.

Saturday, April 8—Holy Saturday

This day commemorates the day that Jesus laid in the tomb after his death and before his resurrection.

Click here for Catholic services off campus.

Sunday, April 9—Easter Sunday

6 a.m.—Easter Sunday Sunrise Service: Come for early morning Easter rejoicing and hallelujahs! Rev. Gina will offer a casual sunrise service on the road at the top of the graveyard (the road that runs from Highland Rd. to the back of Sam Phil). There will be a fire pit and breakfast treats! All are welcome. (Boarding students will need to ask permission from house counselors to leave the dorm extra early on Easter morning.)
6:15 p.m.—Catholic Mass, Easter Sunday: All are welcome to join the PA Catholic community for Mass on Sunday evenings when school is in session. Overseen by Dr. Mary Kantor, Catholic chaplain, with presider Fr. Jack O’Brien and other guest priests from the Archdiocese of Boston. Student leaders participate in liturgical roles as lectors, Eucharistic ministers, and musicians, and help with hospitality. Mass is followed by hospitality and fellowship with snacks and refreshments, and sometimes short programming by Catholic Student Fellowship (CSF) leaders. Kemper Chapel, lower level of Cochran Chapel (enter from left side of building).

You Are Invited!

March 15—April 12: Rosie’s Place Food Drive Non Sibi Project with Rosalina Feliciano ’81
April 16 in New York: God’s Love We Deliver Non Sibi Project with Jessie Ting ’99
April 17: Blue Runs Deep—A Virtual Conversation with Alumni on the Business of Sports
April 22 in San Francisco: Park Restoration Non Sibi Project with Winston W. Wyckoff ’78, P’12
April 22 in Concord, MA: Gaining Ground Non Sibi Project with Jeff Hunt ’82, P’25
April 22 in New York: Flushing Meadows Corona Park Non Sibi Project with Candace Douglas ’00
April 22 in Washington, DC: A Wider Circle Non Sibi Project with John J. Patrick ’65
April 23 in Cape Neddick, ME: Center for Wildlife Non Sibi Project with Tiffany Horne Noonan ’99
April 26 in Washington, DC: Bread for the City Non Sibi Project with Libby O’Hare ’96 and Margaret Doles ’97
April 26: A Virtual Session with Head of School Raynard S. Kington, MD, PhD, P’24
April 29 in Los Angeles: Community Services Unlimited Urban Gardening Non Sibi Project
May 9 in Washington, DC: A Conversation with Andover Alumni: Journalism’s Role in Democracy
May 15: A Virtual Conversation with Wendy Ewald ’69
May 20 in New York: Citymeals on Wheels Non Sibi Project with Marcia B. McCabe ’73
June 20 in London: 10th Anniversary Concert Nucleo Non Sibi Project with Lucy Maguire ’08

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!

PA Visitor/Guest Health & Safety Guidelines

On-Campus Visitors: In consideration of the health and safety of visitors and our campus community, we expect visitors to be up to date with COVID vaccination, if eligible. We expect visitors to mask at all times or stay off campus if they are a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID in the last 10 days, if they are within 10 days of having been diagnosed with COVID, and/or if they have any symptoms of respiratory illness. In the spirit of non sibi (not for self), the Academy trusts that campus visitors will follow these guidelines.

Guests at Off-Campus/Regional Events: In consideration of the health and safety of our Andover community, we ask attendees to be up to date with COVID vaccination, if eligible. We require all attendees to adhere to the public health guidelines established by the CDC and your state and local health officials, as well as to follow venue guidelines and regulations that are in place at the time of the event. Venue-specific guidelines will be shared close to the event date. Prior to attending, we ask that you monitor your health. We expect attendees to mask at all times—or not attend the event—if they are a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID in the last 10 days, if they are within 10 days of having been diagnosed with COVID, and/or if they have any symptoms of respiratory illness. In the spirit of non sibi, the Academy trusts that those in attendance will follow these guidelines.

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Phillips Academy
180 Main St.
Andover, MA 01810

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