Welcome to the New School Year! |
The academic year is off to a great start: Students are excited to be on campus, reuniting with old friends and making new ones. Faculty and staff are energized, ready to teach and learn, and eager to get to know your child.
Classes Begin Tomorrow (Friday): Shortly before the start of classes, Head of School Raynard Kington, MD, PhD, P’24, ’27, will join the Class of 2026 for the annual Vista Walk, which begins near Main Street and processes along the Chandler-Wormley Vista to the steps of Samuel Phillips Hall. Started by 14th head of school Barbara Landis Chase, this tradition previews the path seniors will walk at Commencement on May 31.
Closed Campus: This first week of the new school year is a “closed campus.” That means no car permissions or day or overnight excuses will be granted for boarding students to leave campus through Sunday, September 7. All students are required to attend cluster meetings on Friday evening, Cluster Olympics on Saturday, and class events and meetings on Sunday—important opportunities to get to know one another, build community, and have fun with their classmates.
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A Big Blue welcome! Head of School Raynard Kington joined Blue Key spirit leaders on Wednesday morning to greet new students and their families arriving for registration at the Snyder Center. A link to more photos and videos from this first week on campus will be provided in next week’s Family Bulletin.
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The Office of Family Engagement is here to support you throughout the year ahead. Read on for reminders on how to stay connected with all that’s happening at Andover.
Family Bulletin: This weekly newsletter is the primary way we communicate with families. It is typically emailed on Thursdays during the school year (when classes are in session) and includes key updates, a look at campus life, and upcoming events for parents, guardians, and family members. Archived issues are available year-round via the link at the end.
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Family Webinar Series: This virtual series, hosted via Zoom Webinar, is designed to keep families informed and engaged throughout the academic year. Each session features a 20- to 30-minute presentation or fireside chat, followed by a live Q&A. Topics vary and may include extracurricular programs, student life, wellness resources, and upcoming events.
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Save the Dates: Register for our next two webinars using the links below.
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September 17 at noon: Start of School
- October 15 at noon: Learning in the World & Academy Travel Opportunities
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November 12 (time TBD): Family Allyship for LGBTQIA+ School Community Members
- January 14 at noon: Academic Skills Center
- February 11 at noon: Student Mental Health
- March 4 at noon: Topic TBD
- April 15 at noon: Topic TBD
- May 6 at noon: Advising and Course Selection
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Family Webpage: This webpage contains timely information about the school year, events hosted by the Office of Family Engagement, and a frequently asked questions (FAQ) section.
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Join the Andover Family Directory: 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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Academic Integrity: How You Can Help
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At the start of each term, students will engage in programming to help them better understand the principles and practices of academic integrity. Programming includes discussion of academic integrity in each class and advising group, and it concludes with each student confirming their understanding of the parameters of doing good intellectual work in an academic community.
While each student is responsible for adhering to the rules and guidelines governing academic integrity, there are three ways parents/guardians can help:
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Please wait until your child has submitted an assignment before you engage with their work. Every idea, piece of data, word, punctuation mark, etc., must be the student’s own. When giving an assignment, teachers make explicit the resources that students may use to complete the work. In general, students may not receive help on any assignment from family, friends, tutors, the internet, or artificial intelligence tools unless given specific permission by their teacher.
- Please note that, as the Course of Study states, each student is the only person permitted to use their Phillips Academy credentials. No one else, including parents/guardians, may access a student’s Phillips Academy email, PAnet, or Canvas sites.
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If your child is uncertain about the parameters of an assignment or is feeling overwhelmed, please encourage them to contact their teachers for help, which may include requesting an extension. It is always better to receive a lower grade on an assignment or receive no credit for completing it than to violate the Academy’s rules regarding academic integrity. Throughout the year, all students have access to a range of great resources, including their teachers, who are available during Conference Periods; the Academic Skills Center, located in Pearson Hall; the evening Writing Center, located in the library; and the Math/Science Center, located in Morse Hall.
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Student Medication Policy |
Beginning this fall, our school is implementing a revised medication policy for both boarding and day students to enhance safety and oversight. All medications—including prescription, over-the-counter, vitamins, and supplements—must be registered with the Wellness Center. Most will be stored and dispensed by Wellness staff. Only a few low-risk medications (e.g., topical creams, oral contraceptives, rescue medications) may be approved for dorm use on a case-by-case basis.
All families are required to complete the PA Student Medication Policy and Acknowledgement Form (both the prescription and over-the-counter forms). If your student doesn't take medication, please indicate that on each form. To register your student’s prescription medications, please have the healthcare provider who prescribes and monitors the medication complete the Medication Order Form. Documents should be uploaded to your students Medicat health record.
Questions? Email the Sykes Wellness Center. Thank you for helping us maintain a safe and supportive campus environment.
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REACH is a student management system used to track student leaves and on-campus locations. Students submit requests for overnight stays, college visits, dean’s excuses, group leaves, and to indicate their location during study hours.
Leave requests in REACH require adult approval, and most must be approved by a parent/guardian. Parents/guardians do not have REACH accounts; instead, they receive an email from noreply@reachboarding.com asking them to either Approve or Reject the request. Only one parent or guardian's approval is needed for the request to move forward to the next level (house counselor or cluster dean).
Each leave request includes detailed information such as destination, dates, times, and transportation. If a parent or guardian declines the request, it is automatically cancelled.
For questions or more information about REACH, please contact Claudia Scofield.
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Shipping Packages to Your Student |
At the start of a new school year, Mail Services receives and processes a very large volume of incoming mail and packages for students. As a reminder, all items should be sent to this central address (not to dorms):
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Student’s FULL Name (no nicknames, please)
Phillips Academy
Dormitory Name
180 Main Street
Andover, MA 01810
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Students may retrieve mail and small parcels from their student mailbox. For boarders, large items are delivered to the common room of student dorms. Please review the Mailroom Policies to learn what items cannot be accepted.
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Family Weekend Is October 17–19 |
We look forward to welcoming families back to campus in just a few weeks! 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. Register now!
The schedule for Family Weekend can be found on the Andover Event Guides app, available through the Apple App Store or Google Play (for Android users). Events/programs will continue to be added once confirmed, so check back often for updates.
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- Download the Andover Event Guides app.
- Open the app and tap Find Guides (magnifying glass in bottom right corner of the app).
- Tap the Have a passphrase? button.
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Type the passphrase Andover1778 to find the PA Families and Campus Community guide for the latest information and schedule for Family Weekend. Be sure to accept notifications so you will receive notice of any venue or schedule changes.
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You can customize your weekend visit by using the My Schedule option within the guide. We hope you will attend as many events as possible!
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- Student schedules for Saturday morning (October 18) classroom visits will be available on The Hive prior to Family Weekend.
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On Saturday, you will also have the opportunity to attend small group meetings with your child’s primary on-campus contact person. The contact for boarding students is the house counselor; the contact for day students is the day student advisor. Given the number of events scheduled throughout the weekend, teachers are unable to hold individual conferences with parents/guardians.
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May I bring my student’s sibling/grandparent/aunt/uncle? Yes. All family members are welcome for Family Weekend. Children must be accompanied by an adult or Andover student.
- May we take our student off campus? Yes. Boarding students can MUST? use the REACH system to request and receive overnight permissions. For Family Weekend overnights, students need to submit REACH requests by Wednesday evening, October 15.
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Please note that students do NOT have classes on Monday, October 20, Tuesday, October 21, or Wednesday, October 22. Considerations:
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Student athletes must return for Tuesday afternoon practices and plan for Wednesday competitions.
- Boarding students taking the PSAT on Wednesday must return to campus by Tuesday, October 21 at 9:30 p.m.
- Music and community engagement commitments may be scheduled for Tuesday or Wednesday afternoon (details TBD).
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All boarding students must check in by 8 p.m. on Wednesday.
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Ensemble Auditions: Ensemble auditions are this weekend! If your student is not signed up and would like to be involved in an ensemble at Andover, please have them email the Department of Music as soon as possible.
Private Lessons: Students interested in private lessons are encouraged to complete this Private Lessons Agreement Form. Private lessons begin the week of September 15, and the ADD/DROP deadline is Monday, September 29, at 8 a.m.
Instrument Rentals: To rent a musical instrument, students should complete this Instrument Request Form.
Locker Requests: If students need a locker space for musical instruments, they should complete this Locker Request Form as soon as possible.
Term 1 Performances: Please join us for the following performances, which are free and open to the public:
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- Student Recital—Wednesday, September 24, at 1:45 p.m.
- Student Recital—Wednesday, October 15, at 1:45 p.m.
- Academy Orchestras and Wind Ensemble Concert, Family Weekend—Friday, October 17, at 7:45 p.m.
- Concert of Choral Music, Family Weekend—Saturday, October 18, at 7:45 p.m.
- Jazz Brunch, Family Weekend—Sunday, October 20, at 11 a.m.
- Chamber Music Society Concert—Saturday, November 1, at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.
- Concert Band and Wind Ensemble—Sunday, November 2, at 3 p.m.
- Academy Orchestras—Sunday, November 9, at 3 p.m.
- Student Recital—Wednesday, November 12, at 1:45 p.m.
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Questions? Please email the Department of Music.
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Phillips Academy will host a College Fair on Monday, September 29, from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Snyder Center. The fair offers local high school students and their families an ideal opportunity to familiarize themselves with a wide range of colleges and universities. Representatives from more than 100 colleges and universities from around the world will be available to answer individual questions and provide informational literature. Families will find a list of registered schools a week prior to the event.
The fair is open to the public and admission is free. Once on campus, follow the signs to available parking. Please note that students cannot miss any PA commitments to attend the College Fair.
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The Office of Family Giving is currently seeking parents and guardians to join the Andover Fund Parent 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 contact Katherine Solimini, associate director of Family Giving, at 978-749-4583 or ksolimini@andover.edu. No prior fundraising experience is necessary. We would love to hear from you!
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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.
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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.
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Check Out the Peabody Newsletter |
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The current issue of the Peabody Institute of Archaeology’s monthly newsletter is now available! Interested in receiving future newsletters directly from the Peabody? Sign up for our newsletter today.
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Addison Gallery Opening Reception: Sept. 20 |
From left: Tommy Kha, Constellations XXIV, Verplanck, New York (detail), 2024. Archival pigment print. © Tommy Kha; Bill Ravanesi, The Four Vega Brothers, Holyoke, MA (detail), 1982. Chromogenic print, 16 x 20 inches, gift of the artist, 2025.59; Lewis Wickes Hine, Women at Ellis Island (detail), c. 1910. Gelatin silver print, 6 5/8 x 4 5/8 inches. Museum purchase, 2012.14; Robert Frank, Hoover Dam, Nevada (detail), 1955, print later. Gelatin silver print, 12 3/16 x 7 15/16 inches. Gift of Hart Leavitt, by exchange, 1995.9; Harold Newton, River Grass, c. 1970. Oil on board, 24 x 48 inches. Collection of Jonathan Otto (PA 1975, P 2024, 2027)
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Please join us for a reception to celebrate the Addison’s new fall exhibitions on Saturday, September 20, from 4 to 6 p.m. Enjoy great company, light refreshments, and the best of American art! The event is free and open to the public.
This fall, the Addison presents six new exhibitions: Making Their Way: The Florida Highwaymen Painters; Hayes Prize 2025: Tommy Kha, Other Things Uttered; Captive Lands; Family Portrait; Playing to Our Strengths: Highlights from the Permanent Collection; and In Focus: John Singer Sargent. Featuring works of various time periods, artists, and subject matter, these exhibitions explore the American experience—past, present, and future.
See additional upcoming programs at addisongallery.org.
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Spiritual & Religious Gatherings |
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6:15 p.m.—Catholic Mass All are welcome to join the PA Catholic community for Mass on Sunday evenings when school is in session. Overseen by Dr. Mary Kantor, Catholic chaplain, with presider Fr. Jack O’Brien and other guest priests from the Archdiocese of Boston. Kemper Chapel, lower level of Cochran Chapel (enter from left side of building).
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September 16—Virtual: Curriculum Continuum: Abbot Academy’s Influence Today
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September 26 in New York: 25th Annual Brides’ March Non Sibi Project with the Af-Lat-Am Committee of Alumni Council
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September 29 —Virtual: Blue Runs Deep: Nonprofits & Philanthropy
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October 4 in New York: Naval Cemetery Landscape Cleanup Non Sibi Project with Roderic L. Rolett ’75.
- October 7 in Boston: Steering Toward the Future: Andover’s Framework for 21st-Century Learning with Head of School Raynard S. Kington, MD, PhD, P’24, ’27, and Nicholas Zufelt, Instructor in Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science
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Keep an eye on the Academy’s Events Calendar for gatherings in your area and an array of campus and other events that may be open to families (i.e., special student presentations; music, theatre, and dance performances; and athletic competitions). Please join us!
Health and safety guidelines, provided here, are also available when you register for an event.
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The Parents of Students of Phillips Academy (PSPA) would like to extend a warm welcome to all families. We are a nonprofit organization run by parent volunteers that is dedicated to supporting our school community through social gatherings, educational panels, and community engagement events for students, parents, faculty, and staff. There’s nothing to join: all current parents and guardians are automatically members of the PSPA!
Campus Closet
Stock up on new PA gear at Campus Closet, located on the lower level of George Washington Hall. The shop is open regularly on Fridays from 1 to 5 p.m. Our online shop offers free delivery to dorm rooms. All proceeds from sales support activities for students, parents, and the broader PA community.
September Special Store Hours
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- Opening of School: Thursday, September 4: 1–5 p.m.
- Volunteer Summit: Friday, September 19, 1–5 p.m.
- Volunteer Summit: Saturday September 20: 12–3 p.m.
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Volunteer at Campus Closet: Campus Closet relies on volunteers to operate and raise funds for the PA community. Crew leaders oversee opening and closing the store and training new volunteers in the shop. If you are interested in becoming a crew leader, please email us. If you’re able to drop in for a shift in September, 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.
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Help distribute cluster T-shirts at the upcoming cluster meetings on Friday, September 5. Sign up here to join the fun and cluster spirit!
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We’re currently accepting nominations for the following positions: Class of 2028 and Class of 2029 representatives, marketing and social media director, and treasurer secretary. If you’d like to nominate yourself or someone else, please use this link.
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If you are a parent who has some time to assist the PSPA in its marketing activities remotely, please email us.
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Follow us on Facebook (@Parents of Students of Phillips Academy (Andover)) and Instagram (@pspa_campuscloset).
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The Office of Family Engagement is here to support you throughout the school year. If you have any questions or need assistance, please email Director Jennifer Vasquez or call 978-749-4068.
In Case You Missed It: To view the slides from the Opening of School Parent and Guardian Information Session, click here.
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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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