July 16, 2025

Hello from Andover!

This special issue of the Family Bulletin—for both new and returning families—has lots of important and timely information, all intended to help ensure that Opening of School goes smoothly for you and your student.
Please read on.

Get Quick Answers Online: Be sure to visit the Family Engagement and Frequently Asked Questions sections of our website.

2025–2026 Academic Calendar

Weekly Class Schedule

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.

The Opening of School schedule is now live on the app!

How to download the Andover Event Guides app:

Please “enable notifications” to be sure you receive any last-minute information. The schedule will be updated throughout the summer, so check the app often, especially as we get closer to Opening of School.

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.

Other registration requirements, including the Family Profile and Travel Authorization form, must be completed via The Hive by Friday, August 1. Your Hive login includes your username followed by @andover.edu (example: tsmith1234 @andover.edu). If you have difficulty logging in to The Hive, use the Self-Service Password Reset Portal. Need more help? 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 at registration.

The BlueCard, your student’s Phillips Academy ID, is used for identification, to access buildings, retrieve packages from the mailroom, and other functions. Photos must be updated each year. Students were asked to submit theirs over the summer, so IDs are ready for registration. If your student hasn’t submitted a photo yet, please have them do this as soon as possible.

Students sign in to My Photo with their @andover.edu credentials to submit a photo for their BlueCard. If they cannot locate the original communication or are having any issues submitting a photo, they can email Claudia Scofield in the Dean of Students Office. Thank you for ensuring your student meets this requirement!

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).

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:

Friday, August 29, 9 a.m.–noon

Saturday, August 30, 8:30 a.m.–noon

Tuesday, September 2, 9 a.m.–noon

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

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.

We look forward to welcoming families back to campus! Family Weekend, October 17–19, provides a unique glimpse into your child’s daily life at Andover, with activities such as classroom visits with your child’s instructors, student performances, and athletic events. Registration is now open!

Plan ahead—and learn more about your student’s Andover experience!  

You will find programming in the Family Weekend Schedule of Events. We will continue to update the schedule of events as additional programming is confirmed, so please check back regularly for the latest information.

Please reference the Family Weekend FAQ document for answers to questions like these:

Students do NOT have classes on Monday, October 20, Tuesday, October 21, or Wednesday, October 22. However, some will have commitments such as the PSAT exam, athletic practice, and competitions requiring them to be on campus. 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.

If you have additional Family Weekend questions, please email us.

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.

Check these lists for “What to Bring” and “What NOT to Bring” to campus.

You can start shipping items for your student on Monday, August 18. Do not ship items before this date. Please review Mail Services Policies and Instructions 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. 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.

Students interested in private lessons are encouraged to complete the Private Lessons Agreement Form. The form includes information regarding pricing and financial aid.

Private lessons begin the week of September 15.

A note regarding private lessons: Confirmation emails will be sent to students in August. From there, their private instructor will be in touch regarding their lesson time. On rare occasions, we may have more students interested in lessons than we have capacity to teach. If this is the case, your student will be notified in August and placed on a lesson waitlist.

Lockers and Music Instrument Rental: There will be forms available during the Opening of School period to request a locker in Falls Music Center and to request an instrument rental.

Questions? Please email Allie Ross, music department coordinator.

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.

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 Session 1: “Getting Started at Andover” or Session 2: “Learning at Andover”? You can view the recordings here.

In partnership with current family volunteers, the Office of Family Giving is hosting several receptions throughout the summer to welcome new Andover families. New students and families are invited to attend a reception in their area or join a virtual session to connect with fellow new students and families before the start of the school year.

New Family Reception dates and locations:

If you would like to attend one of our upcoming receptions, please email Meaghan Reilly, assistant director of Family Giving, for registration information.

Opening of School 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.

The Office of Family Giving is currently seeking parents and guardians to join the Andover Fund Parents Committee (AFPC). In close partnership with the Family Giving team, AFPC volunteers engage in peer-to-peer fundraising to raise critical support for the Academy. Through their outreach to fellow families, AFPC members help enhance the student experience, advance the Academy’s highest priorities, and strengthen PA parent connections around the globe.

If you would like to explore joining the Andover Fund Parents Committee, please email Katherine Solimini, associate director of Family Giving, or call 978-749-4583. No prior fundraising experience is necessary. We would love to hear from you!

Want to make sure you get a yearbook? The 2026 Pot Pourri, Phillips Academy’s full-color yearbook, is already on sale! We encourage all families to order a copy by clicking PA Yearbook. If prompted, enter school code 3591. Yearbooks will be delivered to campus in May. 

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.

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:

All proceeds from Campus Closet—which is staffed by PSPA volunteers—go toward student activities and building a stronger PA community. If you would like to help out on the dates above, 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. 

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.

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. 

2025–2026 Academic Calendar

Class Schedule

Family Webinar Series

Guide for New Families

Andover Family Directory