August 13, 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

Athletic Calendar

2025-2026 Standardized Testing Schedule

The Andover Event Guides app is our primary platform for sharing important details with families about key campus events, such as 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 is still being updated, so check the app often, especially as we get closer to Opening of School.

For dates and times that students should arrive on campus and register, please click here. 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 their coach, club advisor, international student coordinator, or the Dean of Students Office.

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

Please note that the first week of the 2025–2026 school year is a “closed campus.” That means no car permissions or day or overnight excuses will be granted from your student’s date of arrival through Sunday, September 7. 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!

Throughout the weekend, all students will gather with their clusters and graduation classes, and new students will participate in continued orientation sessions. On Saturday evening, inspired by the summer Olympics, the five cluster communities—Abbot, Pine Knoll, Flagstaff, West Quad North, and West Quad South— will compete in the Cluster Olympics, with games chosen by the Student Council and Dean of Students Office. Our version of the Olympic games is designed for students of all abilities! The goal is for all day and boarding students to participate, show their cluster spirit, and have fun.

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

All registration requirements, including medical and insurance information, were due via The Hive on 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.

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! Take a few minutes to review the Family Weekend Schedule of Events. As additional programming is confirmed, we will make updates, so please check back regularly for the latest information. The Family Weekend FAQ document is a great source for answers to many frequently asked questions.

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

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.

We are excited to welcome everyone back to campus in a few weeks. Below is key information regarding Opening of School events, clusters, residential life, ID photos, and more. If you have any questions, please contact us by email or call 978-749-4175.

Cluster, Housing, and Student Team Information: Cluster and housing information will be available on or after Tuesday, August 19. Students can view information by logging in to BlueLink using their Andover credentials. 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 serving as their point person for the year. Families should always reach out to their student’s point person with questions and concerns.

ID Photos: All students have been notified to submit a headshot for their BlueCard school ID as part of their registration requirements. This photo also appears in BlueLink. We’re still missing about 100 photos—multiple reminders have been sent. Students who are currently traveling should plan to submit very soon.

If your student is experiencing technical issues uploading their photo, they should email Claudia Scofield. If the photo is not submitted by August 28, it will need to be taken during registration in the Snyder Center.

Waivers to Participate in Opening of School Activities: As part of our annual Opening of School festivities, we are excited to once again welcome Grit ’N Wit to campus for seniors and Hale 1918 Education for juniors (9th graders). Both events take place on Sunday, September 7, and provide time for community building and class bonding. Bonding activities will also take place for uppers and lowers but do not require waivers.

IMPORTANT: As is standard with recreational activities that provide physical challenges, a waiver is required for both seniors and juniors. To participate in either of these activities, students MUST have a waiver signed by a parent/guardian. Waivers and details of each event were emailed to parents/guardians on Thursday, August 7, through Adobe Sign. Please complete the required waiver(s) by Sunday, August 31. Questions regarding the waivers? Email Claudia Scofield.

What to Wear: PA does not have a dress code, but we have guidelines around what is appropriate to wear in an intentionally diverse high school community. We do not allow, for example, clothing items with messages of hatred, violence, or substance use. Students may want to wear nicer clothing for the Matriculation Ceremony (for new students), and there will be one optional dressy dance late in the fall. Jackets and ties are optional and never required. 

Laundry: We are offering free use of laundry machines in dorms—no cards needed! We will also continue to offer optional laundry service from E&R Laundry and Dry Cleaners, who will have representatives at registration. You can also contact E&R Laundry directly to set up an account.

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).

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.

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 18. Do not ship items before this date. Please review Mail Services Policies and Instructions for the correct shipping address and a list of items that cannot be accepted.

This September, Phillips Academy will welcome new and returning international students to our community, and 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 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 your student gets 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. 

Families of seniors—stay informed! This section keeps you in the loop about important events and milestones in your student’s final year!

Senior Portraits: Each senior will be featured in a portrait in the yearbook. You may have your student’s photo taken by a photographer of your choice—or take it yourself! It does not need to be a professional portrait. Photos can be emailed to us directly.

We will also offer photo shoots with our student yearbook staff in the fall. More details are available in the Class of 2026 Info Flyer. Portraits are due by January 1, 2026.  

Yearbook Family Tribute Messages: Our senior tribute pages in Pot Pourri are a fun senior tradition; we hope you’ll consider participating. These tribute messages are available through the yearbook for an additional charge. Follow the directions on the Class of 2026 Info Flyer.  

The Office of Family Engagement invites returning families to a casual Meet-Up on Thursday, September 4, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Steinbach Lobby, George Washington Hall (above the student mailroom). Join us for dessert, coffee, and a chance to reconnect. Feel free to drop in and stay as long as you'd like! Questions? Email Jennifer Vasquez, director of the Office of Family Engagement.

Read on for resources and events to help with your student’s transition this fall.

Nutrition & Allergy Tours of Paresky Commons: On Wednesday, September 3, at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., there will be optional nutrition and allergy tours of Paresky Commons. Ellie Perry, Paresky’s dietitian, will take groups of students and parents/guardians around the dining hall to review offerings. She will focus on reading signage with allergy icons and show locations of certain items. Questions? Please email Ellie Perry.

New Family Guide: The Office of Family Engagement encourages families to review the New Family Guide, which offers essential information to help you navigate the weeks 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.

New Family Orientation Sessions: Did you miss any sessions of the New Family Orientation series? You can view the recordings here.

Welcome Receptions for New Families: In partnership with current family volunteers, the Office of Family Giving is hosting three more receptions this summer to welcome new Andover families. New students and families are invited to attend a reception in their area to connect with fellow new students and families before the start of the school year. New Family Reception locations and dates:

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

Special Opening of School 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 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! To receive our enewsletter, sign up here. 

Upcoming Events:

Stay tuned for more information in the coming weeks about various PSPA events in the works. We hope you will join us! 

Campus Closet: While on campus, stock up on new gear at Campus Closet—your best source for PA clothing and merchandise. Shop Campus Closet in person on these days:

You can also shop online, with free delivery to dorm rooms. 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 in the store on the dates above, please sign up here.

PSPA Volunteer Opportunities: There are numerous ways to get involved with the PSPA. Sign up here to be notified about opportunities to volunteer. 

Follow Us and Stay In The Know: Find PSPA news and activities by following us on Facebook (@Parents of Students of Phillips Academy (Andover)) and Instagram (@pspa_campuscloset). 

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 too! If you have any questions or need assistance, please email Director Jennifer Vasquez or call 978-749-4068.

The next Family Bulletin will be emailed on Thursday, September 4, with issues sent weekly on Thursdays 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.  

Enjoy the rest of your summer! 

2025–2026 Academic Calendar

Class Schedule

Family Webinar Series

Guide for New Families

Andover Family Directory