October 23, 2024

Calendar of Events

Athletics Calendar

The Weekender

View on The Hive

Updated on Fridays

We are very excited to welcome families back to campus this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, Oct. 25-27. We are anticipating a typical New England fall weekend, crisp and cool, so please be sure to plan/pack accordingly and wear comfortable shoes—Phillips Academy is a walking campus! 

Your student may go off campus this weekend: Requests for overnight permission must have been submitted by Sunday, October 20, through the REACH system. 

Reminder that there are no classes on Monday, October 28 and Tuesday, October 29.

Full Family Weekend schedule: The Family Weekend schedule can be found by using the Andover Event Guides App, available through the Apple App Store or Google Play (for Android users). A printed Family Weekend schedule will be available at registration.

You may customize your weekend visit by using the My Schedule option within the guide. 

Grasshopper Night tickets: For information on how to get tickets to Grasshopper Night, go here. 

Parking: Please reference this campus map for parking options.

Wi-Fi access: To connect to campus Wi-Fi, select PA-OPEN-GUEST. No username or password is required.

On-Campus Registration/Check-In Hours: Friday, Oct. 25 from noon to 7 p.m., and Saturday, Oct. 26 from 7 a.m. to noon, at the Oliver Wendell Holmes Library (OWHL).

Saturday “Classroom Visits”: Schedules for Saturday morning’s Classroom Visits are available online in BlueLink. Simply log onto The Hive and click BLUELINK near your student’s photo. The Family Weekend Schedule is available on the entry page. To expedite campus check-in, please consider taking a snapshot or screenshot of the schedule and storing it on your phone—or bring a printed copy with you.

Be sure you can log in to the Hive before you arrive on campus: Questions? The Technology Help Desk—available weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. by email or phone (978-749-4357)—can assist with login issues or forgotten credentials.

Please Note: Individual teacher conferences will not be available: Given the number of events scheduled throughout the weekend, teachers, house counselors, and advisors are unable to hold individual conferences with parents.

More Family Weekend questions? Please reference these Frequently Asked Questions or send us an email. 

Supporting Spiritual and Religious Life at Andover: Join us for a webinar on Thursday, October 31, at 11 a.m. ET to learn more about spiritual and religious opportunities available to your student.

This is a great chance for families to discover how Andover fosters an inclusive environment for all—whether students are deeply religious, spiritual, or exploring life’s big questions—and how we support their spiritual and ethical growth within a diverse and caring community. You’ll also have the chance to meet our chaplains, who are dedicated to guiding students on their spiritual journeys. Following the general session, we will host breakout rooms with each chaplain and advisor. Families will be able to ask questions and engage in deeper discussions. Click here to register.

Phillips Academy will offer transportation at Thanksgiving and Winter Breaks to and from New York City (NYC), with a stop in Darien, Connecticut. Students can sign up for one-way travel ($100) or roundtrip ($160).  

For additional details, bus forms, and commonly asked questions, please review the Fall and Winter Breaks Travel FAQ. This information has been posted on PAnet for student access and in 2024-2025 Information for Families for parents and guardians. 

For transportation to Logan (Boston) and Manchester (N.H.) airports or Boston’s South Station, arrangements can be made with private taxi and limousine service providers. A list of service providers regularly used by members of the PA community is available here and in 2024-2025 Information for Families. FlightLine offers a shared car service exclusively for PA students for one-way travel to Logan or Manchester airports ($55.85) and to Boston’s South Station ($53.25). Details on how to make a reservation with FlightLine can be found in the Fall and Winter Breaks Travel FAQ.

Questions? Contact Claudia Scofield via email or call 978-749-4124.

Registration for AP exams is open now through Friday, November 8, at noon, and will reopen from Wednesday, February 5 through Wednesday, March 5, at noon. The exams run May 5–16.

Phillips Academy students will be sent an email from the Phillips Academy Standardized Testing Office with registration instructions. Exam fees will be paid through the Course Material Account and are processed later in the spring. This year, most AP exams will be in a digital format with students testing on their own device.

Please note that AP exams are optional and not required for college applications. Student grades and classwork are more important than AP exam scores. The exams require a significant amount of preparation and missed class time just before final assessments. Please be aware that AP exams are later in the month this year and will bump up against end of semester activities. Students who are unsure about taking AP exams should speak to a teacher or College Counselor. Students should not register for more exams than they are sure to take. For specific information on registration and exam dates and fees go to here. 

Questions? Email Deb Colombo, director of Standardized Testing. 

The catalogue of Learning in the World (LITW) programs for the March 2025 Spring break and summer 2025 is available on our website. There are a total of 15 faculty/staff-led offerings and numerous opportunities with a dozen affiliates to excite and inspire all participants! Whether or not LITW is in the cards for your global citizen this school year, consider speaking with your student about pursuing LITW sometime during their PA career.

Last week, students received a LITW planning worksheet that they are invited to fill out in consultation with their advisers while they are engaged in the course selection process for winter term. It provides insight and space for them to reflect on the topics of:

Please chat with your child about their desires, ambitions, interests, and apprehensions related to LITW, and encourage them to join a program at least once while they’re at PA.

Questions? Email Mark Cutler, director of LITW.

Families of seniors! This section keeps you in the loop on important events and milestones of your student’s final year.

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 at the Oliver Wendell Holmes Library on Friday, October 25 (4–7 p.m.) and Saturday, October 26 (8 a.m.–noon). Questions? Please email Mike McCann.

2025 Commencement: We are excited to welcome the families of the Class of 2025 to celebrate Commencement on June 1, 2025. For a complete schedule of events and FAQs, please visit the Commencement webpage. 

If you have any accessibility needs (ASL interpreter, wheelchair, among other accommodations), please make those requests before February 14, 2025. If you have additional questions, please contact Naomi Mashburn ’08 in the Office of Alumni Engagement via email or call 978-749-4225.

Senior Portraits: Mark Lawerence Photographers will be on campus from Tuesday, November 12, through Friday, November 15, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The sitting fee is $30, payable via credit card. Photos taken will be submitted directly to the yearbook. Students will receive an email from the Students Activities Office one week prior so they can sign up for a sitting. Families are also welcome to submit your own portrait of your student by email to PA Senior Portraits. The deadline for submitting portraits is January 1. If no photo is submitted, the student’s BlueCard ID photo will be used. 

Yearbook Senior Tribute Ad: Our senior tribute pages in the Pot Pourri yearbook are a fun senior tradition; the yearbook staff hopes you’ll consider participating. Space for tributes to seniors, which are submitted by their family, is available through the yearbook for an additional charge. Follow the directions on the Class of 2025 Yearbook Info flyer to create and purchase your ad. The deadline for submitting senior tributes is Friday, November 15. 

PA yearbooks are now on sale! All families are encouraged to order a 2025 Pot Pourri by clicking PA Yearbook. If prompted, enter school code 3591. Yearbooks—full color and typically about 300 pages—will be delivered to campus in May.

Friday, October 25

Sunday, October 27

Parents of Students of Phillips Academy (PSPA) is a parent-run nonprofit that hosts social gatherings, educational panels, and engagement events throughout the year for students, families, and the broader PA community. Please sign up here to be notified about opportunities to volunteer. 

PSPA General Meeting and Family Weekend Social—Friday October 25, 10:30 a.m.–noon: Join us at the Andover Inn for the PSPA General Meeting and enjoy refreshments while mingling with fellow PA parents. To register, click here. 

Also on Family Weekend: We look forward to welcoming you to these PSPA-sponsored or co-sponsored events (see the Family Weekend Schedule of Events for descriptions):  

Campus Closet

Shop this Family Weekend: Stop by Campus Closet, located on the lower level of George Washington Hall, for Andover gear for your whole family—or shop online 24/7. Check out our PINK PA gear and support Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Family Weekend Special Hours:

Friday, October 25, noon – 6 p.m.

Saturday, October 26, 12 – 5 p.m.

Sunday, October 27, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Volunteer Over Family Weekend and Beyond: If you can help with a shift during Family Weekend, please sign up here. If you’re able to volunteer for a shift in the shop in November or December, please sign up here.

Get Involved: The PSPA is seeking support in marketing and social media. If you have some time to help with these activities, please email us. Interested in being a class representative for the Class of 2026 and 2027? Nominate yourself or someone else, using this link. 

Parent-Hosted PSPA Socials: Interested in hosting a PSPA gathering in your home near campus? If so, please email us. 

Area short-term lodging: PSPA occasionally becomes aware of rental properties or homes for sale near campus. Please reach out via email.

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!

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. 

2024–2025 Academic Calendar 

Class Schedule

2024–2025 Information for Families 

Guide for New Families

Strategies for Student Success