Parent Bulletin

Phillips Academy Head of School Office
Rebecca Sykes, associate head of school

October 14, 2011

Parents’ Weekend

Parents’ Weekend is almost here! We look forward to welcoming you to campus on October 21-23 to spend quality time with your child and enjoy the opportunity to meet your child’s teachers, and to attend student performances and athletic events. If you have not yet registered and plan to join us, please sign up for Parents’ Weekend. Your cooperation in pre-registering will help us ensure that every event planned for the weekend is a success. Questions about Parents’ Weekend? Please contact Crystal McGuire in the Office of Alumni Affairs at cmcguire@andover.edu.

In Touch With…
Linda Griffith, Dean of Community and Multicultural Development (CAMD)

This Friday we will launch the fifth year of the CAMD Scholar Program. Four Phillips Academy students spent their summers researching topics in diversity and multicultural issues and will present their findings to the PA community throughout this academic year. Our first scholar, Gabriele Fisher ’13, will present “The Real Within the Virtual: The Evolution of Social Media and Its Effects on LGBTQ Youth” in Kemper Auditorium on Friday, October 14, at 7 p.m. A panel of guest bloggers and researchers will join the presentation, which will be moderated by Frank Tipton, instructor in History and Social Science.

The CAMD Scholar Program was developed to encourage students to rigorously pursue their own interests in multiculturalism and share that knowledge with the broader community. The Office of Community and Multicultural Development believes that through investigation and greater understanding of experiences outside our own, we come to a greater understanding of ourselves. Thus, the CAMD Scholar Program provides an opportunity for students to pursue independent summer research projects while working closely with a faculty advisor as well as the program coordinator, Aya Murata, to shape projects that will be developed and completed during the summer. CAMD Scholars write a significant research paper in the summer and make a presentation to the PA community during the following school year.

Learn more about future CAMD Scholar presentations »

Wellness Week

Next week, all students will be participating in Wellness Week programs. The academic workload has been restructured so that students can attend lectures and workshops and participate in small group discussions centered on health and wellness. At the All-School Meeting on October 19, students will hear renowned neuroscientist and best-selling author David Eagleman. Often called the Carl Sagan of neuroscience, Eagleman will discuss how the latest brain science findings relate to teens. Parents will have an opportunity to hear Eagleman at the PSPA meeting on October 18.

Midterm Grades

Midterm is upon us. In the fall term, midterm grade reports are mailed home for all students. Please be aware that midterm grades are not on the 0-6 scale that we use at the end of the term and on transcripts. A key to the midterm grading system will be included in the mailing. Instructor Reports are not mailed home at this time. In the winter and spring terms, midterm grade reports are mailed home only for those students receiving grades of Failing, Danger, or Unsatisfactory Behavior and/or having accrued two or more unexcused absences. If you have questions about your child’s performance, the first person to contact is their house counselor (if a boarding student) or advisor (if a day student).

Travel over Thanksgiving and Winter Breaks

Phillips Academy is offering transportation options for the upcoming Thanksgiving and Winter Breaks, including roundtrip bus service to NYC with stops in Hartford and Darien, Conn., and shuttles to Logan Airport. In addition, there are taxi and limousine services to Logan and Manchester airports. Log into the Parent Portal and click on the Dean of Students Section under the Student Life tab for forms and further information. If you have any questions, please contact Claudia Scofield at cscofield@andover.edu or 978-749-4175.

Upcoming Events

October 14	CAMD Scholar Presentation, 7 p.m., Kemper Auditorium
October 17-21	Wellness Week
October 21-23	Parents’ Weekend
October 21 and 22	Grasshopper Night Performances A variety entertainment show produced, directed, and performed by students. Tickets for parents are distributed to students in advance. See Parents’ Weekend Schedule for more information.
October 21	Orchestra and Band Concert, 8 p.m. Cochran Chapel
October 23	Choral Concert featuring the Phillips Academy Chorus, Fidelio Society, and soloists, 3 p.m., Cochran Chapel
October 24	College Visiting Day (no classes)
October 28	The Browning of America, by Ray Suarez, author and senior correspondent for PBS’s NewsHour, 7-8:30 p.m., Cochran Chapel. Free and open to the public.