Parent Bulletin

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

October 19, 2012

In Touch with…

Carol Israel, Interim Director of Graham House Counseling Center

Every Parents’ Weekend for years, Graham House counselors have hosted a presentation and conversation with parents. Each year we come up with a different catchy title: “Why Smart Kids Make Dumb Choices,” “What New Brain Research Tells Us About Adolescence,” “The Challenges of Raising Adolescents in Today’s World.” But every year the goal is the same—for parents and counselors to explore together how to make sense of sometimes perplexing teenage behavior and how we manage to support and supervise our teenagers when they spend so many hours a day operating independently. Many parents come to these sessions: to listen to us, and to talk with each other. They share frustrations and strategies. The conversations have always been wonderful. Counselors provide a context for these conversations by talking about the normal tasks of adolescence, the particular challenges of being a PA student, and by discussing what Phillips Academy and parents can do to be supportive.

For this year’s Parents’ Weekend, Susan Howell and the PSPA board proposed a Parent to Parent Forum that would expand upon the traditional Graham House presentation. We quickly realized that this was a terrific opportunity for Graham House to collaborate with PSPA, since we share an interest in being a resource to Phillips Academy parents. More information about the event can be found on the Parent Portal under the PSPA Parent Involvement tab. We look forward to seeing you on Friday, October 26, at 3 p.m. in Kemper Auditorium.

Parents’ Weekend October 26-28

Parents’ Weekend 2012 kicks off Friday, October 26. Highlights include an All-Parent Meeting with Head of School John Palfrey, a Parent to Parent Forum co-sponsored by the PSPA and the Graham House Counseling Center, athletic contests, and student performances. Please note: There are no classes on Monday, October 29. Click Parents’ Weekend for more details.

Wellness Week Begins October 22

Next week, all students will participate 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 24, students will hear nationally renowned sleep expert Dr. James Maas, author of PowerSleep: The Revolutionary Program that prepares your mind for peak performance. Parents will have an opportunity to hear Maas at the PSPA meeting on October 23.

Smartphone App Connects PA Students with Healthy Meal Choices

Phillips Academy students can now quickly and easily check out the Paresky Commons menu, find nutrition information, provide feedback and more, with a click of their Smartphone. Phillips Academy Dining/ARAMARK has launched its CampusDish® Mobile App to assist students in making healthy, informed meal selections. The app makes it easy for students to search for meals meeting specific nutrition requirements, further promoting healthy eating habits. For instance, if a student is looking for a meal with less than 500 calories or less than 10 grams of fat, he or she can input the information and quickly view which menu items are being served and where they are available. The new app also enables students to submit feedback about the dining program and offer suggestions. To download the CampusDish® Mobile App, click on the desired format below (press the ctrl button and hyperlink simultaneously):

After installation, search for Phillips Academy and it will bring you to the Paresky home page.

Care Packs

Help ease the stress of assessment week with a Care Pack full of edible goodies. Care Packs will be delivered to your student with a personalized note from you, just before assessment period begins. Sponsored by the Department of Theatre and Dance, the Care Pack effort is a fundraiser to support the Theatre and Dance Touring Scholarship Fund. The department takes a production on an international tour in alternating years. The next tour will be in the summer of 2014, when our students will travel to South Africa to participate in the Grahamstown Arts Festival. To order, please download a form and send it with your payment to:

Care Packs/THDA Dept.
Phillips Academy
180 Main Street
Andover, MA 01810

Please contact Amy Martin at 978-749-4429 or amartin@andover.edu for questions about Care Packs.

Upcoming Events

Friday, October 19

Pianist Gabriel Chodos in Cochran Chapel 7 p.m. Free and open to the public. For further information please contact the music department at (978)749-4263 music@andover.edu.

Sunday, October 21

Your Neighborhood Saxophone Quartet 3 p.m. in Graves Hall. Free and open to the public. For further information please contact the music department at (978)749-4263 music@andover.edu.

Wellness Week October 22–26

Tuesday, October 23

PSPA Parent Meeting 7 p.m. in Kemper Auditorium. Guest speaker is nationally renowned sleep expert Dr. James Maas, author of PowerSleep: The Revolutionary Program that prepares your mind for peak performance.

Parents’ Weekend October 26–28

October 26 and 27

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.

Friday, October 26

Phillips Academy Orchestra and Band Concert 8 p.m. in Cochran Chapel.

Saturday, October 27

Student recital 3 p.m., in the Timken Room, Graves Hall.

Sunday, October 28

Choral Concert featuring the Phillips Academy Chorus, Fidelio Society, and soloists, 3 p.m. in Cochran Chapel.

Monday, October 29

No classes, College Visiting Day