- Friday, October 10: Midterm
- Friday–Sunday, October 17–19: Family Weekend
- Monday, October 20: No classes. Boarding students check in by 9:30 p.m.
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Tuesday, October 21: No classes. Boarding students check in by 9:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, October 22: No classes. PSAT exam for uppers (11th graders). Boarding students check in by 8 p.m.
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Just One Week Until Family Weekend! |
We can’t wait to see you on campus for Family Weekend, October 17–19. Register here today and skip the registration line!
Student Overnight Permissions: Students do not have classes on Monday, October 20, Tuesday, October 21, or Wednesday, October 22. Boarding students can use the REACH system to request and receive overnight permissions. For Family Weekend overnights, students need to submit REACH requests by 8 p.m. THIS Sunday, October 12. Please note: Student-athletes must return for Tuesday afternoon practices and Wednesday competitions. Boarding students taking the PSAT exam must return by Tuesday at 9:30 p.m., and students with private music lessons should confirm attendance with their instructor.
Schedule of Events: The schedule for Family Weekend can be found here and on the Andover Event Guides app.
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Download the Andover Event Guides app (Apple App Store or Google Play)
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Open the app and tap Find Guides (magnifying glass icon, bottom right).
- Tap the Have a passphrase? button.
- Type the passphrase Andover1778.
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Be sure to accept notifications so you will receive notice of any venue or schedule changes. You can customize your weekend visit by using the My Schedule option within the guide.
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Grasshopper Night Tickets: Grasshopper is a popular annual show that is presented by students. Performances will take place on Friday, October 17 (6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m.) and Saturday, October 18 (6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m.). Tickets are limited and available on a first-come-first-served basis at registration. Each family can reserve up to 3 tickets. Friday tickets can be picked up on Friday ONLY, and Saturday tickets can be picked up on Saturday ONLY.
Families of performers can pre-reserve up to 3 tickets and will receive separate communication to submit your request.
For additional details on Grasshopper Night tickets and answers to frequently asked questions, review the Family Weekend FAQ document.
More Family Weekend questions? Please send us an email.
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Mid-point grades and progress reports will be posted on The Hive on Tuesday, October 14. All students will receive brief progress reports from each of their instructors. Reports will be viewable by both students and families.
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The guidance and feedback are intended to provide advice for students at a time in the term when they can still act on teachers’ suggestions for improvement. Students will receive written feedback again at the end of Term 1 and Term 3 (spring term).
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Club Rally Tomorrow Night |
The Student Activities Office will host a Club Rally on Friday, October 10, from 8–10 p.m. in the Snyder Center. This is a great opportunity for students to explore the wide range of student organizations on campus, meet peers with shared interests, and find ways to get involved in the community. We hope your student will stop by and discover something new!
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Learning in the World Opportunities Coming Soon! |
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Learning in the World (LITW) soon will announce its slate of domestic and international programs for March break and summer 2026. Follow our website and Instagram for details as they become available. LITW opportunities are diverse and multifaceted, and we encourage all students to take advantage of at least one experience during their Andover career!
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Dates and deadlines to remember:
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Wednesday, October 15, at Noon: Tune in for a Family Webinar Series session covering key information regarding LITW, Performing in the World (PITW), and athletic preseason training. Register here.
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Saturday, October 18, 9–11:30 a.m.: Join us at our Family Weekend open house to talk with student veterans of LITW and PITW programs, program leaders, and representatives of affiliate programs. Bring your student, your questions, and your curiosity to the Tang Gallery in the Oliver Wendell Holmes Library!
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Deadline—Friday, November 14, 5 p.m.: Applications for PA faculty/staff-led programs and expressions of interest for LITW affiliate programs due. Late submissions will be put on waitlist status.
- Week of December 8: LITW office will send out invitations and waitlist notifications for LITW programs as well as updates regarding affiliate programs.
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Deadline—Monday, December 15: RSVPs due. Please help your student be ready to make their decision, having fully considered your available financial resources, coinciding/conflicting commitments, and other logistical details by this time. See “Take Action” on our website for more details and information.
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Please note: Once a student enrolls in a faculty/staff-led LITW program, fees will be posted to FACTS and a permissions packet, and other materials will be collected via Canvas (with parent access). Please be attentive to your email and adhere to the strict deadlines for each of your responsibilities.
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Your questions are welcome! Please email LITW & Academy Travel Opportunities Director Mark Cutler.
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News from Central Services |
Hello from Central Services—your hub for all things mail and packages! We’re off to a great start, and your students have been respectful and considerate during this busy delivery season. Here are a few updates and reminders as we move toward winter:
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Package Delivery: While we aim to deliver all student packages within 24 hours on weekdays, we’re currently short a driver and appreciate your patience. If your student can pick up their item directly from Central Services, it would be a big help. We expect to be fully staffed again in the coming weeks.
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Mailroom Policies: Please review our policies for key guidelines on items such as beverages, same-day orders, florals, and fruits. We especially ask families to follow rules on item weight and restricted deliveries. Rejected items must be returned at your expense, and packages left for more than 10 business days may be donated or discarded.
- Food Delivery: We do not accept deliveries from local fast-food locations or restaurants. These will be immediately discarded.
- Shipping Address: Use the following format when shipping items to your student. Do not use the dorm’s street address or 180 N Main Street (a private residence).
Student’s Full Name
Dorm Name
Phillips Academy
180 Main Street
Andover, MA 01810
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Delivery Issues: For questions about a shipment, please email Mail Services with your student’s name, tracking number, and any available package details (e.g., shipping date, carrier, vendor, or size).
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Family Weekend: We’ll be open Saturday, October 18, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. during Family Weekend. Stop by with any questions!
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PA’s Travel-Based Programs: Join us on Wednesday, October 15, at noon for an overview of travel-based programs supported by the Learning in the World (LITW) and Academy Travel Opportunities (ATO) office.
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Next Month! Family Allyship for LGBTQIA+ School Community Members: Join us on Wednesday, November 12, at noon for an empowering session led by Dave Edwards that will focus on how families can actively support LGBTQIA+ students, educators, and staff. Learn practical ways to foster inclusion, advocate for equity, and build stronger school communities through allyship. Register here.
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October Performances: Join us for these free public events.
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- Student Recital—Wednesday, October 15, at 1:45 p.m.* in the John Barry Performance Hall in Falls Music Center
- Academy Orchestras and Wind Ensemble Concert (Family Weekend)—Friday, October 17, at 7:45 p.m. in Cochran Chapel
- Concert of Choral Music (Family Weekend)—Saturday, October 18, at 7:45 p.m. in Cochran Chapel
- Jazz Brunch (Family Weekend)—Sunday, October 19, at 11 a.m. in Paresky Commons
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*Families can watch live performances on the Concert Livestream page. Missed one? Catch up anytime on the Concert Archive page in MediaSpace.
Questions? Please email the Department of Music.
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We are currently seeking host families for international students. We have students from more than 45 countries, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Germany, and Austria and so many more! We particularly need host families for Thanksgiving break, November 21–December 2. This is a great opportunity for both the international students and their host families, as many long-lasting friendships are often formed.
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To learn more, you can view the Host Family Program segment of the Family Webinar Series here. Questions? Please email Gina Finocchiaro, international student coordinator. If you are interested in serving as a host family, please complete this Host Family Volunteer Form.
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Order the 2026 Pot Pourri, Phillips Academy’s full-color yearbook, here. Enter school code 3591 if prompted. Yearbooks will be delivered to campus in May.
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Senior Portraits: Portraits for the yearbook are due by January 1, 2026. You may have your student’s photo taken by a photographer of your choice—or take it yourself! Photos can be emailed to us directly. We will also offer photo shoots with our student yearbook staff later this fall. More details are available in the Class of 2026 Info Flyer.
Yearbook Family Tribute Messages: Celebrate your senior with a tribute page (additional cost). Instructions are in the Class of 2026 Info Flyer.
Class Rings: You can purchase a class ring for your senior through our vendor, Herff Jones. A representative will be on campus during Family Weekend in October. Questions? Please email Mike McCann.
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Spiritual & Religious Gatherings |
- 1–1:25 p.m.—Muslim Student Association (MSA) Jummah Prayer: Led by Noureddine El Alam. Meditation Room, lower level of Cochran Chapel (enter from left side of building)
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5:15 p.m.—Jewish Student Union (JSU) Shabbat Celebration: Led by members of the JSU and Rabbi Joshua Greenberg. Paul’s Room, Paresky Commons (second floor)
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5:30–6:30 p.m.—MSA Dinner & Discussion: Led by Noureddine El Alam and members of the MSA. Ada’s Room, Paresky Commons (second floor).
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- 11:30 a.m.—Protestant Worship: Led by Rev. Gina M. Finocchiaro, Protestant chaplain. Cochran Chapel
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6:15 p.m.—Catholic Mass: 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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Special Announcements
Last Chance! Join the Catholic Confirmation Program—We are still accepting new students for the Confirmation program. All high school grade levels (including postgraduates) are welcome to participate. Students interested in the Confirmation program should email Dr. Mary Kantor for more information. The Catholic Chaplaincy provides a Confirmation program to all Catholic students who wish to be confirmed. This is a full academic year program that culminates in a Confirmation Mass on campus, presided over by our area bishop from the Archdiocese of Boston. The class meets each Sunday from 4:45 to 6 p.m. followed by the 6:15 p.m. Sunday Mass. (Arrangements are made for dinner.)
Coming Up!
Tuesday, October 14, at 5 p.m.
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Interfaith Pumpkin Carving: Back by popular demand, the Chaplaincy will host an interfaith pumpkin carving event by the Sukkah outside Paresky Commons. Students are encouraged to stop by to carve spooky designs, have some treats, and enjoy fellowship with our community.
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Friday, October 17 at 5 p.m.
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- Shabbat Service (Family Weekend): Join us for a special Shabbat Service in Kemper Chapel (lower level of Cochran Chapel) at 5 p.m. followed by Shabbat dinner with the Jewish Student Union. All are welcome!
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| Read the latest headlines and happenings from campus at Andover Today.
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October 23—Virtual: Steering Toward the Future with Head of School Raynard S. Kington, MD, PhD, P’24, ’27
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October 28 in Denver: Steering Toward the Future: A Leadership Conversation with Charter Trustee David J. Corkins ’84, P’25, and Head of School Raynard S. Kington, MD, PhD, P’24, ’27
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November 8 in Palo Alto: Andover-Exeter Viewing Party
- November 8 in Philadelphia: Andover-Exeter Viewing Party
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November 10 on Campus: HYBRID: 16th Annual Veterans Day Dinner & Program
- November 17—Virtual: Navigating a Changing Climate in Higher Education
- November 23 in Stamford, CT: Domus Thanksgiving Non Sibi Project with Torrance York ’84
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December 4 in London: Toast the Holidays with the Eight Schools Association
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December 9 in New York: Steering Toward the Future: A Leadership Conversation with Board of Trustees President Amy C. Falls ’82, P’19, ’21, and Head of School Raynard S. Kington, MD, PhD, P’24, ’27
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Keep an eye on the Academy’s Events Calendar for more campus and regional gatherings.
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Family Weekend: The PSPA (Parents of Students of Phillips Academy) is looking forward to welcoming families back to campus October 17–19. Special PSPA-sponsored events:
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- General Meeting, Social & Mixer—Andover Inn: Friday, October 17, 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Click here to RSVP.
- Thriving at Andover Forum—Kemper Auditorium: Friday, October 17, 2:30–3:30 p.m.
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Parent Reception with Family Giving Office—Addison Gallery: Saturday, October 18, 5:30–6:30 p.m.
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Campus Closet
Shop Campus Closet this Friday! Stock up on new PA gear at the store tomorrow from 1 to 5 p.m. (located on the lower level of George Washington Hall) or online, open 24/7. We offer free delivery to your student’s dorm room. All proceeds from Campus Closet fund the work of the PSPA.
Volunteer at Campus Closet: If you're available to volunteer for a shift, the October sign-up is here. If you're planning to be in town for Family Weekend, it’s a great opportunity to connect with other families while supporting your favorite campus shop.
Special Family Weekend Hours for Campus Closet
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- Friday, October 17, 11:30 a.m.–6 p.m.
- Saturday, October 18, 12:30–5:30 p.m.
- Sunday, October 19, 10:30 a.m.–3 p.m.
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Other 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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We’re currently accepting nominations for the following positions: 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 have some time to assist the PSPA remotely with its marketing activities, 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.
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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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