Parent Bulletin

Phillips Academy Head of School Office
Rebecca Sykes, associate head of school

May 13, 2013

National Teacher’s Day was celebrated on May 7, but Phillips Academy was ahead of the game once more. On May 1, Parents of Students of Phillips Academy (PSPA) hosted a Faculty and Staff Appreciation Breakfast in the Faculty Room in GW Hall. Parents arrived with tablecloths, platters, coolers and serving utensils to set up in advance of the food deliveries. On the day of the breakfast, we were treated to a luscious array of fresh fruit, muffins, bagels with lox and cream cheese, granola parfaits, and both caffeinated and decaffeinated beverages. A steady stream of hungry and delighted PA employees made their way to the buffet to sample the goodies and chat with our congenial hosts. Thank you, PSPA!

PSPA and PA employees

In Touch with…
Susanne Torabi, International Student Coordinator

Looking for Local PA Host Families

Seventy-nine new international students will join the Andover community this fall. They hail from 27 countries, including Australia, Albania, Brazil, Dominica, South Africa, Scotland, Syria, and Vietnam. If you or your children have traveled abroad, you know the importance of a warm welcome when visiting a foreign country. To welcome our international students and support them during their transition to Andover and beyond, we maintain a Host Family Program. International students are paired with local families, who welcome them to Andover and provide the occasional home cooked meal, a break from dormitory life, and even a place to stay during long weekends or holiday breaks. The program is both flexible and rewarding, and the bonds that are formed between the students and their host families often last far beyond their days at the academy. The number of local host families involved has tripled since the program’s inception 21 years ago. During the 2012-2013 school year, 114 students connected with 100 local families.

Please read the Host Family Recruitment Letter on the Parent Portal for more information. If you are interested in hosting an international student, please fill out the form and send it to storabi@andover.edu. Host families and new international students will be matched during the summer. Feel free to email or contact me at 978-749-4254 for more information.

Parent Test of the Emergency Notification System

The May 1 parent text and voice mail message test of the academy’s Emergency Notification System was successful. The system reported that 1,640 of the 1,696 targeted cell numbers received the text. We encourage you to create a phone contact labeled PA Emergency Alert for the numbers 226787 and 67283 so that you will always know when a notification is coming from the academy’s emergency notification system. The academy will also use an email notification system. The emails will come from “Rave Alert – andover@getrave.com” and we recommend that you add this address to your email contact list. Thank you all for participating in this important aspect of our emergency preparedness.

Commencement Celebrations at the Andover Inn

The Andover Inn invites you to celebrate with friends, family, and your graduate after Commencement on Sunday, June 9. Enjoy our expanded brunch service featuring Honey Bourbon London Broil, our popular Orange and Crabmeat Encrusted Haddock, Stuffed French Toast, and Bloody Mary Bar. The first seating will be at 11:30 a.m. Adults $36, children 12 years and under $18, children 5 years and under free. Reservations are required. Contact Samuel’s restaurant at 978-775-4910.

Looking to plan a party or gathering at the Inn over Commencement Weekend? Space is still available but is limited and on a first come, first serve basis so act fast. Contact Jen Lawlor or Sara Gunter in Sales at 978-775-4908 or 978-775-4902 to help you plan a memorable event.

Senior Class Photos

Parents interested in downloading a free copy of the senior class photo can find several different versions of it here on the Phillips Academy SmugMug website.

News from the PSPA

The new PSPA Store, located in the Lower Level of George Washington Hall, will be open on Grandparents’ Day, Saturday, May 11, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. We will also be open on Friday, May 24 from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. and 3–5 p.m. All proceeds support student activities, clubs, and much more! To order online, please visit pspa.myshopify.com. AND, don’t forget to order your Senior DVD and graduation gifts—especially our new customized Pandora-style bead:

PSPA Pandora-style bead

Stay in touch with PSPA! Visit www.pspaandover.org for a calendar of events and volunteer opportunities and please write to us with any concerns or questions at pspa@pspaandover.org.

Independent School Health Check

The Community Health Team will administer the Independent School Health Check (ISHC) to our entire student body on Friday, May 17, 2013 from 9:40-10:20 a.m. The ISHC is a survey administered to high school students in independent schools around the country. Several of our peer schools participate, and 6 of the 8 Eight Schools Association schools will participate this year. We plan to use this data to guide the enhancement of the health education program that we will coordinate over the coming year. The ISHC is given every 2 years, and in 2011 we were able to achieve 100% participation. We hope to achieve this rate again this year, and appreciate any support you can lend to this process.

Phillipian Commencement Issue – Parent Submissions

During the weekend of June 7-9, The Phillipian will publish its annual Commencement issue, a longer version of the paper—which captures major events that happened throughout the school year. Parents may submit a picture or congratulatory message to their child(ren). In years past, The Phillipian has received so many submissions for this issue that it has run several extra pages, and parents often see it as a keepsake. Commencement ads come in five sizes and can be printed in black and white or color. You can design your own ad and send it as a JPEG to Zoe Gallagher, or send your desired pictures and text and our staff will help with the layout! Please send payment to Stephen Moreland at 180 Main Street, Andover, MA 01810. Checks should be made payable to Trustees of Phillips Academy. Questions? Please contact Rome Arnold, The Phillipian’s director of operations. Submission deadline is May 26. Thank you for your support!

Summer Storage Option

Wondering what to do with your boarding student’s belongings this summer? Phillips Academy has partnered with Collegeboxes to provide a solution. There are fees associated with this service. Collegeboxes will provide the pickup, storage, and delivery service, and Phillips Academy’s Central Services Department will sell the supply kits. These kits contain five, double walled 24x18x16 boxes, packing tape, marker, label pouches, and zip ties. Individual boxes can also be purchased. Pickups are scheduled Wednesday, June 5; Thursday, June 6; and Friday, June 7, which is reserved for seniors and those participating in Commencement. Visit the Collegeboxes website to sign up. Click on “Summer Storage and Shipping” and choose Phillips Academy Andover from the drop-down menu for more information. Additional information can be found on the Parent Portal. If you have any questions, please contact Claudia Scofield, in the Dean of Students Office, by phone at 978-749-4124 or by email cscofield@andover.edu.

Exciting News from the Comptroller’s Office

For the 2013-2014 academic year, the Comptroller’s Office is excited to share with you that student invoices will be available online. As part of the implementation, an email will be sent to all parents and legal guardians to welcome you and set up online access to your student’s account(s). As this process draws near, you will receive additional information. Please contact Ann Pimentel, bursar, at 978-749-4504 or apimentel@andover.edu with any questions.

Upcoming Events

Saturday, May 11, Grandparents’ Day

•	Senior Recital featuring Sasha Scolnick-Brower, cello, at 7:30 p.m. in the Timken Room in Graves Hall. (Free and open to the public.)

Sunday, May 12

•	Fidelio, 4 p.m. in Cochran Chapel. (Free and open to the public.)

Wednesday, May 15

•	Senior Recital featuring Skanda Koppula, violin and Eric Ouyang, violin, at 6:30 p.m. in the Timken Room in Graves Hall. (Free and open to the public.)

Friday, May 17

•	Academy Concert Bands, 7:30 p.m. in Cochran Chapel. (Free and open to the public.)

Saturday, May 18

•	Student Recital featuring Bryan McGuiggin ’15 and John Gibson ’15, at 6:30 p.m. in the Timken Room in Graves Hall. (Free and open to the public.)
•	Senior Recital featuring Miki Nagahara, violin, at 8:30 p.m. in the Timken Room in Graves Hall. (Free and open to the public.)

Sunday, May 19

•	Senior Recital featuring Christopher Teng, piano, 2 p.m. in the Cochran Chapel. (Free and open to the public.)
•	Senior Recital featuring Mari Funabashi, organ at 4:30 p.m. in Cochran Chapel. (Free and open to the public.)

Wednesday, May 22

•	Student Recital featuring academy students in solo works for piano, organ and harp, 2 p.m. in Cochran Chapel. (Free and open to the public.)

Friday, May 24

•	Academy Symphony and Chamber Orchestras, featuring Vincent Lau performing Strauss Horn Concerto and Miki Nagahara performing Bruch Violin Concerto, at 7:30 p.m. in Cochran Chapel. (Free and open to the public.)

Friday, May 24 & Saturday, May 25

•	Musical “Spelling Bee”, Friday at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday at 7:30 pm in Tang Theater. For tickets, call the box office at 978-749-4433.

Saturday, May 25

•	Senior Recital featuring Tiffany Lam, viola, at 7:30 p.m. in the Timken Room in Graves Hall. (Free and open to the public.)

Sunday, May 26

•	The Music Department presents the Academy Jazz Band along with Chapin Guest Artist, The Steve Hunt Trio, at 2 p.m. in Cochran Chapel. (Free and open to the public.)
•	Senior Recital featuring James Garth, bassoon and voice, at 4 p.m. in the Timken Room in Graves Hall. (Free and open to the public.)