July 2024

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 our website. A mid-August issue of the Family Bulletin will provide additional Opening of School details. 

2024–2025 Academic Calendar 

Weekly Class Schedule

All medical and insurance information was due to the Rebecca M. Sykes Wellness Center (via The Hive) on July 1. Returning families, please remember to update your health forms. This is an annual requirement. Questions? Contact the Sykes Wellness Center team via email or call 978-749-4455.  

Most other registration requirements must be completed via The Hive by Thursday, August 1. Your Hive login includes your username followed by @andover.edu (example: tsmith1234@andover.edu). If you have difficulty logging into The Hive, please contact the Help Desk via email or call 978-749-4357.  

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.

The Andover Event Guides app is our primary platform for sharing important details with families about key campus events, such as the Opening of School in September and Family Weekend in October. This app offers schedules, maps, and real-time notifications to support families during these special occasions. 

Opening of School schedule is now live on the app! The schedule is being updated throughout the summer, so check back often.  

How to download the Andover Event Guides app: 

Please be sure to “enable notifications” to allow the app to send you any last-minute information. Remember to check the app often, especially as we get closer to Opening of School. 

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. 

Early Arrivals: If your student has been notified to register earlier, here are the details: 

For nearby parking and building locations, refer to the campus map.

Please note that the first week of the 2024–2025 school year is a “closed campus.” That means no day excuses, car permissions, or overnight excuses will be granted from a students arrival date through Sunday, September 8. During this time, students will engage in community-building activities to promote social connections and set the tone for the new school year. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. 

Please email the Dean of Students Office with questions or for further information. 

The BlueCard, your student’s Phillips Academy ID, is used for identification, to access buildings, to check out materials and use the printers in the library, and other functions. The deadline for students to submit their photo (via email to Claudia Scofield, manager, information services) was yesterday, Monday, July 15.

An email was sent to returning students in early June and to new students in late June with information on photo requirements and how to submit a headshot for the ID. Please be sure your student completes this task! They can email Claudia Scofield if they have any questions.   

Starting with the new school year, we will be replacing the BlueCard Stored Value system with a more versatile point of sale system. This new system will accept credit cards, debit cards, and electronic payments like Apple Pay across the entire campus. Students will continue to use a similar-looking ID card for building access, equipment and material checkout, and other functions.

Why the Change? 

Next steps: Please be sure your student has access to a debit or credit card by the start of the school year. If they do not already have one, there is a local Bank of America branch within walking distance of campus along with a Bank of America ATM available near student mailboxes on Chapel Avenue, street-level of George Washington Hall. Any existing balances on BlueCards will be refunded to student accounts. We appreciate your cooperation and understanding as we make this important transition to enhance the convenience, security, and efficiency of our campus payment systems.

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. 

Did you miss the “New Family Orientation” segment of the Family Webinar Series? You can view the recording here. 

This September, Phillips Academy will welcome 202 new and returning international students to our community. We are currently seeking host families. This is a great opportunity for both our international students and their host families. Many families enjoy long-lasting friendships with their host student!  

If you are interested in serving as a host family, please complete this Host Family Volunteer Form. To learn more about the Host Family Program, you can view the recording of the Family Webinar Series segment here.   

Questions? Please email Gina Finocchiaro, international student coordinator.  

Cluster and housing information will be available the week of August 26. Students can view information by logging into 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 into 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. 

See a list of “What to Bring” and “What NOT to Bring” to campus.  

You can start shipping items for your student on Monday, August 19. Do not ship items before this date. Please review the Central Services Mailroom Policies for the correct shipping address and what items cannot be accepted.

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. Watch for information regarding the fall and winter buses in the Family Bulletin in early October.  

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. 

Andover’s athletic program offers something for everyone each season. In the fall, many students may find themselves competing on one of our eight interscholastic teams at the varsity or junior varsity level: 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, dog-walking, 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, 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 4. LIFE sport offerings begin on Monday, September 9.

Be sure to check out the Athletics webpage for a calendar of athletic events and live-streams of games when available. 

Students interested in private lessons are encouraged to complete the Private Lessons Agreement Form. Private lessons begin the week of September 15.  

To rent a musical instrument, students should complete the Instrument Request Form.  

If students need a locker space for musical instruments, they should complete the Locker Request Form before the start of the academic year.  

Questions? Please email Jessica McCormack, music department coordinator. 

Parents and guardians of new students are cordially invited to a “meet and greet” reception on Wednesday, September 4, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in Davis Hall (in McKeen Hall on the nearby Abbot campus). If you are dropping off your student, we hope you will join us for this informal social event and enjoy light refreshments before you depart campus. For more information, email Katherine Solimini, associate director of Family Giving. 

To help with travel planning, we are pleased to share that Family Weekend is October 25–27. Note that students will not have classes on Monday, October 28, and Tuesday, October 29. More information will be provided in the weeks ahead. 

For a list of nearby lodging, click here. When making your reservation, be sure to mention that you are a guest of Phillips Academy, as the school has negotiated reduced rates with some hotels.

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 contact Director Jennifer Vasquez by email or call 978-749-4068. 

The Family Bulletin is typically emailed weekly during the school year when classes are in session. Be sure to review each issue for important information, a quick glimpse of what’s happening on campus, and a selection of events of interest to parents, guardians, and other family members.