Hello from Andover!
This special issue of the Family Bulletin—for both new and returning families—shares some important updates and reminders from offices across campus, all intended to help the start of the new school year go smoothly for you and your student.
Families are also encouraged to visit the Family Engagement and Frequently Asked Questions sections of the Andover website. Mid-July and mid-August issues of the Family Bulletin will provide additional Opening of School details.
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Registration Requirements |
To ensure your student is cleared for registration in the fall, families are asked to complete “Required for Registration” tasks. All necessary forms are available on The Hive. For a login tutorial, including how to set up Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), click here. Below is an overview of the four required tasks:
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Tuition and Fees: This link displays the current tuition and fee status. If they are not up to date, log in to FACTS Management to review your account, which you can access on The Hive homepage. As a reminder, payment deadlines depend on your payment plan. For both the one- and two-payment plan options, the first payment is due July 1.
- My Family Profile: Families can view their address and email contact information. Updates are due by August 1. When entering your information, please note the following:
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- Be sure your Preferred Number is the best number to reach you. In most cases, this is your cell phone. The preferred number is displayed to campus adults so we can contact you quickly if necessary.
- If possible, please choose a different contact email for each parent/guardian to ensure all receive our school-wide emails.
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- Health and Medical: Log in to the Sykes Wellness Center Health Portal to complete registration requirements and upload updated health information for your student by Tuesday, July 1. You can access the health portal on The Hive homepage.
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- Travel Authorizations: Complete Travel Authorizations before the start of school in September.
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Incentive for returning students! If all registration requirements are met by August 1—completion of online registration tasks by parents/guardians via The Hive and the submission of a headshot for the BlueCard ID by the student—boarding and day students will receive an email invitation to proceed directly to their dorm or to the lower level of George Washington Hall.
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All students are required to have a laptop for use in classes. For information on minimum laptop requirements, click here. If you have any questions about device compatibility, email the Help Desk or call 978-749-4357 (Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. ET).
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Campus Arrival Dates & Times |
The dates and times that students should arrive on campus and register are listed below. Students are expected to arrive on their scheduled registration date. Students may not arrive before their scheduled registration date—and are not allowed to move into their dorm until they register.
If students have questions regarding their arrival, they should contact the appropriate person, such as the coach, club advisor, international student coordinator, or Dean of Students Office.
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- New Student Registration is Wednesday, September 3, 8–11:30 a.m.—Register at the Snyder Center.
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Returning Student Registration is Thursday, September 4, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.—Boarders cleared to register should go directly to their dorm; day students cleared to register should go directly to the lower level of George Washington Hall. Students not cleared to register go to the Sykes Wellness Center.
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Early Arrivals: If your student has been notified to register earlier, here are the details:
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Friday, August 29, 9 a.m.–noon
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Who: Student leaders, specifically proctors, prefects, day student mentors, EBI seniors, school and cluster co-presidents, cluster reps, and Blue Key heads.
- Where: Register at the Dean of Studies Office.
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Saturday, August 30, 8:30 a.m.–noon
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Fall varsity athletics candidates (new and returning) by coach invitation only for cross country, field hockey, football, soccer, girls’ volleyball, and boys’ water polo. Note: The majority of new students interested in fall interscholastic teams will take part in Junior Varsity tryouts, which will begin Friday, September 5.
- These student leaders: World partners, CAMD power players
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- New Students—Register at the Snyder Center.
- Returning Students—Boarders cleared to register should go directly to their dorm; day students cleared to register should go directly to the lower level of George Washington Hall. Students who are not cleared to register should go to the Snyder Center.
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Tuesday, September 2, 9 a.m.–noon
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- Who: New international students, theatre and dance leaders, and ACE students
- Where: Register at the Snyder Center.
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For nearby parking and building locations, refer to the campus map.
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Closed Weekend in September |
Please note that the first weekend of the 2025–2026 school year is a “closed weekend.” That means no car permissions or day or overnight excuses will be granted from your student’s date of arrival through Sunday, September 7. Students are to remain on campus once they arrive. During this time, students will engage in community-building activities to promote social connections and set the tone for the new school year. Day students are expected to be on campus for required programming and should refer to the Opening of School schedule in the Andover Event Guides app. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. Please email the Dean of Students Office with questions or for further information.
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Save the Date! Family Weekend |
Mark your calendars for Family Weekend: Friday, October 17, to Wednesday, October 22. Family Weekend programming will take place Friday afternoon and all day Saturday, with optional events on Sunday. Students do not have classes on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday; however, some student may have required commitments on Tuesday and Wednesday. More information will be provided in the weeks ahead.
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Resources for New Families |
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The Office of Family Engagement encourages families to review the New Family Guide, which offers essential information to help you navigate the months leading up to Opening of School and address questions you may have along the way. The guide is also available on the Family Engagement webpage.
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New Family Orientation Sessions |
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| New Family Orientation Session 3: “Health & Wellness at Andover,” takes place on Wednesday, July 16, at 12 p.m. ET
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Join us for our final session, which is focused on student health and wellness at Andover. Learn about services offered through the Sykes Wellness Center and what to expect when students need care on campus. You’ll also hear tips for supporting your student’s growing independence around health and well-being. A live question and answer session will follow the discussion. To register, click here.
Did you miss Session 1: “Getting Started at Andover” or Session 2: “Learning at Andover”? You can view the recordings here.
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Cluster and Housing Information |
Cluster and housing information will be available in late August. Students can view information by logging in to BlueLink. They will see their cluster, assigned point person, and advisor. Boarders will also be able to view their housing assignment, house counselor(s), and roommate information. Parents/guardians can also view this information by logging in to The Hive. As a reminder, each student has a single adult serve as their point person for the year. Families should always reach out to their student’s point person with questions and concerns.
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Packing for Campus: Essentials and Shipping Info |
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For student transportation to Logan (Boston) and Manchester (N.H.) airports or Boston’s 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, including information on greeter services for unaccompanied minors, is available here.
Note regarding unaccompanied minors: Families are responsible for understanding the rules of various airlines regarding unaccompanied minors, knowing the age requirements, and making the necessary arrangements (departure and arrival points) if their child will be flying as an unaccompanied minor. Ages vary considerably from airline to airline.
For school breaks between terms (Thanksgiving Break, Winter Break, and Spring Break), Phillips Academy partners with C&J Bus Lines to provide transportation between campus and Darien, Connecticut, and New York City. Additionally, FlightLine offers a shared car service exclusively for PA students for one-way travel to Logan or Manchester airports and to Boston’s South Station. Watch for information regarding the fall and winter buses and FlightLine reservations in the Family Bulletin in early October.
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The Academy currently purchases course materials in bulk for all classes. These materials—a physical book, information for access to electronic resources, or information on availability of books at the library—will be provided by teachers on the first day of classes.
To cover the cost of the books and other course materials, a Course Materials Charge of $900 is included in the first student tuition invoice. This yearly $900 charge will be placed in a separate Course Materials Account; the account will also be used to cover art fees, PSATs, and Advanced Placement Exams. Any balance in your student’s Course Materials Account will be refunded upon their departure from the Academy. Questions? Please email Cindy Stewart.
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Welcome to Andover Athletics! |
Andover’s athletic program offers something for everyone each season. In the fall, many students may find themselves competing at the varsity or junior varsity level on one of our eight interscholastic teams: girls’ and boys’ cross country, field hockey, football, girls’ and boys’ soccer, girls’ volleyball, or boys’ water polo.
Students not participating in our fall interscholastic program can choose from over 25 exciting “LIFE” offerings, ranging from recreational tennis, squash, and crew to disc games, badminton, and SPIN classes. Outdoor enthusiasts (or even newcomers to outdoor adventures!) are encouraged to explore hiking, climbing, and canoeing in Outdoor Pursuits. Additionally, dance classes are offered for beginners to advanced students. Important: A very small number of new students have been invited to attend varsity tryouts at the opening of school. If your student hopes to play on an Andover team and has not been contacted by a fall coach to date, there’s no need to worry. Each year, most new students begin fall tryouts on the first day of classes. The arrival date for these students remains Wednesday, September 3. LIFE sport offerings begin on Monday, September 8.
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This September, Phillips Academy will welcome new and returning international students to our community. We are currently seeking host families. This is a great opportunity for both the international students and their host families, as many long-lasting friendships are often formed!
If you are interested in serving as a host family, please complete this Host Family Volunteer Form. To learn more, you can view a recording of the Host Family Program segment of the Family Webinar Series here.
Questions? Please email Gina Finocchiaro, international student coordinator.
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Special Gathering for New Parents/Guardians |
Parents and guardians of new students are cordially invited to a “meet and greet” reception on Wednesday, September 3, from 5:45 to 7 p.m. at the beautiful Abbot Circle, located at 27 School Street on the Abbot campus (a short walk from the main campus). After you drop off your student, we hope you will join us for this informal social event and enjoy light refreshments before you depart campus. A formal invitation will follow. For more information, email Katherine Solimini, associate director of Family Giving.
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The Parents of Students of Phillips Academy (PSPA) is a nonprofit parent-run organization that hosts social gatherings, educational panels, and engagement events throughout the year for students, families, and the broader PA community. There is no “joining”—all PA parents and guardians are automatically members!
Please watch for more information about PSPA summer and fall programming. We wish you a wonderful summer and look forward to welcoming new and returning parents/guardians and students in the fall.
Campus Closet
Our Campus Closet store is open over the summer! Stop by the lower level of George Washington Hall to stock up on new PA gear—or shop online 24/7. Summer hours:
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- Monday, June 30, Noon–4 p.m.
- Tuesday, July 1, Noon–4 p.m.
- Friday, August 1, 2–6 p.m.
- Saturday, August 2, 12–4 p.m.
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Staffed by PSPA volunteers, all proceeds from Campus Closet go toward student activities and building a stronger PA community. If you would like to help out on the dates above (Andover Summer program registration and closing days and Parent Exhibition Day), please sign up here.
Ways to Engage
Stay in the Know: Keep up to date on PSPA activities by following us on Facebook (@Parents of Students of Phillips Academy (Andover)) and Instagram (@pspa_campuscloset). To receive our e-newsletter, sign up here.
Get Involved: Please sign up to be notified about opportunities to volunteer. We are also seeking support in marketing and social media. This can be done from your home! If you would like to help, please send us an email.
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Join the Andover Family Directory |
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Want to find other Andover families in your area? Log in now using your Hive credentials. The directory is opt-in; families must log in to be visible to others. You can find tutorials on how to use the directory here. Forgot your password for The Hive? Use the Self-Service Password Reset Portal. Need more help? Reach out to the Technology Help Desk by email or call 978-749-4357.
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The Office of Family Engagement is here to support you throughout the school year—and during the summer! If you have any questions or need assistance, please email Director Jennifer Vasquez or call 978-749-4068.
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Phillips Academy
180 Main St. | Andover, MA 01810 US
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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.
© 2025
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