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From the Associate Head of School
Dear Andover Families,
You remain on our minds and in our hearts during this time of social distancing. We hope that you and your families are safe and well.
These tragic global circumstances have created unique challenges for students around the world—and especially for our senior class. Phillips Academy is striving to provide seniors with a memorable experience to celebrate their achievement, despite our inability to gather in person during a traditional Commencement Weekend.
While many plans are still in motion, I wanted to inform you that we will be kicking off our senior week of celebration on June 1 with the Senior Sunrise walk, led by Dean of Students Jenny Elliott and the cluster deans.
That week, students should expect invitations to daily celebratory events to promote class bonding, including an alumni panel with familiar faces from the classes of 2017, 2018, and 2019. Chris Capano, student activities director; Anny Candelario, West Quad South cluster dean; and Taylor Ware, associate director of college counseling, will continue to work with seniors to determine the best virtual programs. We expect to end the week prior to graduation with an exciting virtual senior-community event—an opportunity to celebrate with teachers, coaches, house counselors, advisors, and other campus mentors.
While this is not the spring that any of us had planned, we know how hard your students have worked to earn their Andover diploma. And on Sunday, June 7, at 10 a.m. ET, we will be with you in non sibi spirit enjoying PA’s commencement-themed tribute to seniors. We can’t wait to cheer on the graduating class and share our pride. The Class of 2020’s legacy will forever stand in our hearts and memories. GO BIG BLUE!
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May Is “Spread the Love” Month
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For more than a decade, Office of Community Engagement student coordinators have led a Spread the Love Week at the end of spring term by encouraging acts of kindness on campus. This year, student coordinators decided that everyone could use a whole month of love!
This week focuses on love for self. The next three weeks will be dedicated to loving others, love for Phillips Academy, and, finally, a potpourri of love. Check out their wonderful ideas on Facebook and Instagram and help us spread the love!
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Reminder from the Registrar
Please complete all online registration forms for your child(ren) for the fall term as soon as possible. Check the “Required for Registration” section on The Hive to see which forms you still need to submit.
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Returning students are currently working with their advisors to select courses for fall 2020 based on the assumption that the Academy will open as usual, with all students attending a full load of classes on campus.
However, recognizing that there are uncertainties, students also are discussing specific course plans for the entire academic year—as well as drawing up and filing a multiyear course plan that takes into account their big-picture goals, hopes, and priorities through graduation. If opening of school plans change, students will be contacted as soon as possible and invited to discuss any necessary decisions with their advisors or staff in the Dean of Studies Office.
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From the Sykes Wellness Center
The Sykes Wellness Center team would like to share some of the many resources we have vetted to help Andover families cope with the impact of the ongoing pandemic. If you have questions or feedback, please email Amy Patel, MD, medical director, or Suzanne Heon Kemp, PsyD, director of psychological services.
Articles and Podcasts for Parents:
Resources for Students:
- Instagram (@PAwellness) and the Big Blue Be Well initiative focus on important wellness topics and building community and connections.
- From The Cubby, hosted by Jim Ventre, interim head of school, airs weekly with good news and special guests.
- Please see EBI and CAMD sections (below) for additional student resources.
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EBI Program Update
The Empathy, Balance, and Inclusion program is collaborating to support all students while honoring two guiding principles—that we are all experiencing this pandemic differently and the belief that less is more. Several teams—including members from the Sykes Wellness Center and Dean of Students Office, EBI course heads, class advisors, and student-elected class representatives—have been created to message students and offer resources and opportunities to connect online.
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CAMD Stays Connected
COVID-19 town halls: Monique Cueto-Potts, director of Community Engagement; Flavia Vidal, director of the Brace Center for Gender Studies; Amy Patel, MD, director of the Sykes Wellness Center; and LaShawn Springer, director of CAMD (Office of Community and Multicultural Development), have teamed up to bring our community a series of “town halls” on how COVID-19 is disproportionately impacting some of our most vulnerable populations.
Please join our third town hall on Thursday, May 14: Starting time and topic will soon be available on the CAMD website and Instagram. If you missed our first two town halls—“What Pandemics Lay Bare” and “The Privilege Pandemic”—please visit Media Space.
Student leaders also continue to initiate connections: Andover’s GSA (Gender & Sexuality Alliance) collaborated with GSAs from Northfield Mount Hermon and Lawrenceville to mark Day of Silence, WoFo (Women’s Forum) recently hosted a Netflix party to watch The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson, and members of AWE (Asian Women’s Empowerment) and Asian Society hosted Coalition Against Anti-Asian Racism Affinity Town Hall with guest Liza Talusan. For more initiatives, including CaMD Newsletter and CamTea Dialogues, please visit the CAMD website.
CAMD Scholar Presentation on Friday, May 8, at 8 p.m. EST: Karen Sun ’20 will present “A Devil’s Advocate to God’s Advocates: Religious Language in American Presidential Campaigns.” Watch via our Zoom link. The password is Karen20.
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College Athletic Recruiting During COVID-19
Thursday, May 21, at 8 p.m. EST: Phillips Academy parents/guardians and student-athletes are invited to join the Athletic Department and College Counseling Office for a virtual panel discussion titled “College Athletic Recruiting During COVID-19: What we know, what we’re learning, and how to keep moving forward.” Panelists include Scott Rynne, Tufts University head football coach and assistant coach of men’s lacrosse; Drew Carter, senior associate director of admission, admissions athletics liaison, and Patriot League representative at College of the Holy Cross; and Lisa Joel, Phillips Academy athletic director and girls’ varsity soccer head coach. Join the conversation on Zoom. The password is 1138.
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News from the PSPA
The Parents of Students of Phillips Academy (PSPA) invites all parents to join us virtually:
- Thursday, May 7, at 7:30 p.m. EST: Virtual ImprovBoston session in partnership with the Sykes Wellness Center team. We will engage in a forum to learn skills to help navigate some of the stress of the “new normal,” connect with our parent community, and have a bit of fun. Please RSVP.
- Thursday, May 14, time TBD: The College Counseling Office presents a panel, “Lessons Learned from the College Application Process” featuring members of the Class of 2020. Details will be provided via email and posted on The Hive.
The Campus Closet is open: Shop for fun Andover swag from the convenience of your home! (Shipments may be slightly delayed.)
Wednesday, May 27: The PSPA board will host a webinar. Join us to learn more about the PSPA, the many events and activities planned for the 2020-2021 school year, and how you can get involved. Visit our website and The Hive for details. Please subscribe today to receive our email communications. As always, we encourage you to email your comments and suggestions.
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Greetings from Parent Development
The Parent Development team’s goal is to be a thoughtful and helpful resource for parents and parent volunteers. Thank you to those parents who have offered feedback and support! We look forward to holding virtual welcome receptions for new parents beginning later this month and will keep you posted about end-of-year plans for the Parent Fund.
Virtual volunteer opportunity: We are seeking volunteers to offer a warm welcome to new Andover parents by email or phone in the next few months. Volunteers will be provided an outreach template and guidance from Parent Development. If you are interested, please complete this sign-up form by Friday, May 15. Questions? Email Elisabeth Munro or call 978-749-4303.
The Parent Development team is here for you. If you have questions or would like to connect, please email Rebecca Brewster, director of Parent Development, or Elisabeth Munro, coordinator of Parent Development.
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Continuing a Senior Tradition
Each spring, the Parent Development team invites our parents of seniors to submit notes of appreciation to faculty. These individual notes will be shown to the faculty member(s) after graduation. Please email your letter(s) of appreciation by Wednesday, June 10.
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Your Senior in The Phillipian
The Phillipian will publish its annual Commencement issue on Friday, June 5. This longer version of the student newspaper celebrates the Class of 2020 and captures the major events of the school year. Commencement issues will be available for online purchase June 6 and 7.
Commemorate your student’s achievements: A family advertisement in the Commencement issue is a great opportunity for parents to show their pride—and for your student to leave a legacy in The Phillipian.
- The family advertisement online form includes sample layouts, sizes, prices, and payment options. The deadline for completion of the form is Friday, May 15. Extensions provided upon request.
- Submit congratulatory message/text via the online form.
- Submit one or several photos (JPGs) of your child(ren) at this special email address.
- Members of The Phillipian staff will work closely with you to ensure that your family advertisement features all of the photos and messaging you want to include about your child and/or student organization in a professional manner.
Families that purchase an advertisement will receive a free copy of the Commencement issue. Questions? Please email Henrique Chamon ’21.
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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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© 2020
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