Parent Bulletin

Phillips Academy

October 4, 2013

Flu Clinic this Sunday, Oct. 6

Isham Health Center will be providing a Flu Vaccination Clinic this Sunday, Oct. 6. The clinic will be held in front of Paresky Commons (Susie’s if there is rain) during brunch and dinner. Please review the vaccine information statement and send back a completed consent form either by fax (978-749-4469) or email isham@andover.edu as soon as possible. The form can be accessed here.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all children and adolescents receive an annual seasonal flu vaccine. The flu season typically runs from October to May, so it is important to get vaccinated early, as it takes up to two weeks to develop immunity after the vaccine is given. Please encourage your child(ren) to receive the vaccine on Sunday after you have sent back the consent form.

Thank you for your partnership in keeping our students healthy.

Family Weekend

We are counting down to Family Weekend (formerly known as Parents’ Weekend) October 18—20. Highlights include receptions hosted by the Parent Fund team and the Parent-to-Parent Forum co-sponsored by the PSPA and Graham House Counseling Center (more information appears below). Be sure to ask your child to get tickets for one of the four Grasshopper Night performances, a perennial favorite, directed and performed by students. Family members are encouraged to participate in class visits from 8 to 11:20 a.m. on Saturday morning. Saturday afternoon includes an array of family-friendly activities and athletic contests. Sunday is a leisurely day with a jazz brunch and student musical performances. These are just a few of the many events on tap. Register here and view the complete Family Weekend schedule.

Emergency Drills Planned for Oct. 10

The Academy will conduct two emergency drills to measure our preparedness to handle crisis situations on Thursday, October 10. First, we will run a lockdown drill on campus. Students and adults will receive a text telling them that there is a reason to lock down the campus and to seek shelter. We expect this drill to last approximately fifteen minutes. During this exercise, faculty and students will engage in conversations about what they would do in case of an emergency. Students and employees will be notified of this drill in advance.

Also on October 10, we will conduct a test of our emergency notification system for parents. This system allows voice and text messages to be sent in the event of a campus emergency. At approximately 10 a.m. EST on October 10 you will receive text and voice messages that will constitute the test. The text will come from either 226787 or 67283. We suggest that you create “PA Emergency Alert” as the contact name for both of these numbers. Please note that the voice message will appear to come from the Phillips Academy number 978-749-4102. If you see that you have missed a call from this number, there is no need for you to call the number back. You will have a voice message indicating the nature of the test.

If, by 10:45 a.m. EST, you have not received an emergency notification text or voice message, please email Maureen Ferris, director of risk management, at mferris@andover.edu with your cell phone number and email address so that she may ensure that your information is included accurately in the system. Thanks in advance for participating in this important aspect of our emergency preparedness.

In Touch with…
Stacy Gillis and Hillary Repucci, Parent Development Team

As the Parent Development team, we partner with you to build a strong community among PA families in support of the Academy.

One way we build a vibrant parent community is through various events designed to help you share in your children’s Andover experiences. In fact, we invite you to join us at our class receptions and other events during Family Weekend October 18-20!

Be sure to join us October 18, in the Mural Room of Paresky Commons, for our Parent Fund Kick-off. Learn more about Phillips Academy and how easy it is to exhibit your non sibi spirit as a Parent Fund volunteer. Speakers include: Chief Operating and Financial Officer Steve Carter, Dean of Studies Patricia Russell, Dean of Admission and Financial Aid Jim Ventre, and Head of School John Palfrey. Please stop by any time between 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.

The Parent Fund is part of the Andover Fund, which seeks to raise approximately 10 percent of the Academy’s annual operating budget. In any given year, about 65 percent of parents choose to make a gift.

Parent Fund volunteers are an organized group of Andover’s current parents, parents of alumni, grandparents and alumni parents who help raise funds that are used immediately to support today’s students. This philanthropy sustains everything that makes the Andover experience truly extraordinary—innovative faculty, a rigorous and far-reaching academic program, and a nurturing environment.

The Academy relies on philanthropy to bridge the gap between tuition and the actual cost of an Andover education. Tuition covers approximately 55 percent of the cost; income from the endowment plus support from parents and alumni make up the remaining 45 percent. For additional information, visit our web site www.andover.edu/parentfund or contact Stacy at sgillis@andover.edu. For information about additional opportunities to support capital initiatives, named giving opportunities or endowments, please contact Hillary at hrepucci@andover.edu or 978-749-4286.

News from the PSPA

PSPA invites you to attend our upcoming events over Family Weekend:

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Oct. 17: PSPA Parent Meeting “On Gender and Leadership,” 7 p.m. in Kemper Auditorium. Inspired by recent articles, books and discussions on gender inequality in leadership, this discussion will bring current trends and concerns to light, on campus and beyond.

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Oct. 18: Parent-to-Parent Forum, 3 p.m. in Kemper Auditorium. Parenting a student at Andover can be challenging, whether he or she is new to PA or simply too busy to keep in touch. Our panel of parents, from near and far, the staff from Graham House Counseling Center, Medical Director Dr. Amy Patel, and Director of Academic Support Services Patricia Davison, share their advice, resources, and answers to your questions. This is also a wonderful opportunity to connect with other parents from your geographic area! Presented by PSPA and Graham House

PSPA Campus Closet is the new name of our merchandise store, located in the lower level of GW Hall. Stop by Friday, Oct. 18, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. We will also be selling merchandise on Saturday, Oct. 19, from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. in the Smith Center. You can find photos of our merchandise and make purchases online. All profits help support student activities!

Notifications from Environmental Health & Safety

Each year, Phillips Academy is required to inform parents about the management of asbestos-containing materials and the use of termite-baiting stations on campus. This information can be found on the Parent Portal. To access, click on Parent Resources and the Getting Started FAQ. Notifications are part of the Environmental Health & Safety section.

Student Photos, October 15 and 17

Mark Lawrence Photographers will be on campus to take photos of 9th, 10th, and 11th graders on Tuesday, October 15 and Thursday, October 17. There will be multiple photographers in Lower Left dining hall of Paresky Commons from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. More information, pricing packages, and an order form can be found on the Parent Portal. Mark Lawrence Photography offers a money-back guarantee if not completely satisfied.

Upcoming Events

•	Friday, October 4 The Music Department presents Women of the World at 7:30 p.m. in Cochran Chapel. Women of the World is a Boston-based collective of women musicians. Hailing from Japan, India, Italy, Haiti, Mexico, and the United States, the singers and their eclectic band perform original and traditional folk music in more than 17 languages. This concert is free and open to the public. Cochran Chapel is handicapped accessible. For further information please call (978)749-4260 or e-mail music@andover.edu.
•	Friday – Saturday, October 4 & 5 Inaugural Latino Film Festival. View a complete schedule of events and synopsis of the films being shown.
•	Sunday, October 6 Trumpet and piano recital featuring Joseph Foley, trumpet and Bonnie Anderson, piano, 3 p.m., Cochran Chapel. This event is free and open to the public. For further information, please call (978)749-4260 or e-mail music@andover.edu.
•	Friday, October 11 Renowned teacher, concert artist, and recording artist, Gabriel Chodos will perform at 7:30 p.m. in the Cochran Chapel. This event is free and open to the public. For further information, please call (978)749-4260 or e-mail music@andover.edu.