Changes to Grading Scale

There will be a change to Andover’s grading scale for the 2020–2021 academic year. For an explanation and details, please read this message from the Dean of Studies. Students were informed of this change in an email sent yesterday.

Moving Out

Collegeboxes Deadline Is Tomorrow

Boarding students who plan to use Collegeboxes to store their items and have not signed up must do so by tomorrow, Friday, November 13. Students who signed up by November 9 are entitled to packing kits (boxes, labels, markers). Packing kits have been delivered to some students; two more deliveries will occur within the next few days.

Students who sign up with Collegeboxes by tomorrow can request boxes from the Office of Physical Plant (email Claudia Scofield with the number of boxes needed). Students are responsible for packing and labeling all items BEFORE leaving campus. Collegeboxes will pick up the items, place them in storage, and deliver them to the student’s dorm room just before they return to campus in February. There are costs associated with this service.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if my student has medications at the Sykes Wellness Center?
Your student should contact the wellness center early next week to arrange to pick up medications or other items.

When do students need to be out of the dorms?
All students must be moved out of the dorms by noon on Saturday, November 21.

When can they start moving out?
Most boarding students will leave Friday, November 20, after their final class. Students may, however, arrange to leave earlier (and complete their term remotely). If you would like your student to leave before November 20, please contact their class dean as soon as possible.

Can family members or friends enter the dorms to help with move-out?

No. To protect other students living in the dorms, boarders will need to pack their belongings and carry everything outside the dorms themselves. Ideally, they have followed our guidance to only bring what they are able to carry by themselves.
Family members or friends should remain in or near their vehicles; they should not be walking around campus. While on campus, they must wear masks.

Can students store any belongings in the dorm or on campus?

No. Students must take everything with them. They cannot leave anything behind—not in the room, not on the walls, not in the basement. We cannot store any items on campus, nor can we ship any items for students. Any items left behind will be donated or discarded.

Travel at the End of Fall Term

Transportation to airports and South Station—After many years of providing professional, safe, and reliable transportation service for our students and adults, Flight Line, Inc. will cease operations on November 14 as a result of the ongoing pandemic. They have been an incredible partner and will be sorely missed.

We reached out to Sir Charles Limousine and they will provide shared van service for PA students. Families can email Jody’s Travel or call 978-887-9102 to arrange for Sir Charles Limousine service to Boston Logan or Manchester, N.H., airports, or to Boston’s South Station.

Buses to NYC and Darien, CT—Phillips Academy will offer transportation to New York City, with a stop in Darien, Connecticut, on Friday, November 20, at 3:45 p.m. (the last day of fall term). The cost is $90. Drop-off occurs at the service plaza in Darien and at Dock 2 at the Port Authority Bus South Terminal in New York City. Please read this document for more information and to access the bus form. C&J Bus Lines has successfully transported our students at breaks for the past few years. Only PA students will ride this bus. Students—who will be spread out on the bus to maintain social distancing—must stay masked for the entire ride and sanitize their hands getting on and off the bus.

If you have questions or need more information on dorm move-out or travel, email Claudia Scofield or call 978-749-4124.

Parent Survey Results

In October, Phillips Academy’s Office of Institutional Research team administered separate surveys to students, parents, and faculty to gain insight into the student learning experience in the first weeks of fall term. Participants included 73 percent of the student body (835 students), 847 parents and guardians of 702 unique students, and 77 percent of faculty (171 faculty members). Click here to see an executive summary of survey data.

Standardized Testing Updates

Due to the latest campus plans for winter term, the Academy’s 2020–2021 standardized testing calendar has been updated. Phillips Academy will no longer be hosting any PSAT, SAT, or ACT exams during winter term. Interested students are encouraged to seek opportunities to test near their homes.

January 16 Pre-ACT—There is not another option for this exam.
January 26 PSAT (for those who did NOT take it in October)—Check the College Board website to identify local schools offering the test and then contact the schools directly to inquire about availability.
February 6 ACT—Log onto the ACT website to see local availability for registering or changing the location of an existing registration.
March 13 SAT—To sit for this exam, which occurs during spring break, log onto the College Board website to see local availability for registering.

The Academy intends to host standardized testing in spring term if health and safety protocols allow.

April 17 ACT (Uppers only)—Register on the ACT website using the special location code (219260); boarding and day students are guaranteed registration.
April 27 SAT (Uppers only)—No subject tests; registration is an internal PA process. Debra Colombo, director of standardized testing, will reach out with instructions closer to the date.
June 5 SAT—National test day with some subject tests available; register directly through the College Board website.

PSPA Fun Tomorrow Night

Thank you to all who joined us for our first-ever Virtual 5K. We loved seeing your photos from various corners of the world and sharing them with the PSPA community! Winners will be contacted soon.

Virtual Mixer & Trivia Night—Friday, November 13, at 8 p.m. EST: Yes, virtual mixers are back by popular demand, thanks to the popularity of our Family Weekend PSPA mixers. Please join us virtually tomorrow evening! Our event will start with a casual trivia game as an icebreaker. Then we’ll go into breakout rooms so you can meet or reconnect with fellow parents one more time before all students are home for winter term. You can play the trivia game using your internet browser—or download the free Kahoot app onto your phone. Zoom link for event. Passcode: cJAi5A

Upcoming Religious Services & Events

Jewish Shabbat Service and Jewish Student Union (JSU) Meeting—Friday, November 13, 5:30–6:30 p.m.: Led by Rabbi Michael Swarttz. All are welcome! Zoom link.

Muslim Student Association (MSA) Dinner—Friday, November 13, 6 p.m.: Advisor: Mr. Noureddine El Alam. MSA will sponsor a virtual club dinner every Friday. Everyone in the community is welcome. Join Zoom meeting.

Protestant (Ecumenical) Service—Sunday, November 15, 6 p.m.: Led by the Reverend Gina M. Finocchiaro, interim Protestant chaplain. Music by Michael Belcher and others. All are welcome! Zoom link.

Roman Catholic Worship—Sunday, November 15, 6:45–7:30 p.m.: Worship with the Catholic community at Andover, followed by fellowship and discussion led by Dr. Mary Kantor and the Catholic Student Fellowship (CSF) leaders. All are welcome. Zoom link.

You Are Invited!

November 12: A Conversation with Megan Greene ’97 and Tedd Parker P’23
November 17: Meet Our 16th Head of School, Raynard S. Kington, MD, PhD, P’24, Hosted by the Pan-European Regional Leadership Team
November 18: Spotlight on Equity & Inclusion: Andover Bread Loaf & PALS
November 18: To Make Visible: Art and Activism, 1980–2000, an Addison Gallery Talk
November 19: A Conversation with Susan Chira ’76 and Dr. Flavia Vidal P’16, ’21
December 1: A Conversation with Allison Kemmerer, Interim Director of the Addison Gallery of American Art
December 2: How to Non Sibi—A Toolkit for Our Virtual World
December 3: Reclaiming the Lost Legacy of J.O.J. Frost, a Book Talk with Bethe Lee Moulton ’66
December 9: Meet Our 16th Head of School, Raynard S. Kington, MD, PhD, P’24, Hosted by the Southern California Regional Leadership Team
December 15: Meet Our 16th Head of School, Raynard S. Kington, MD, PhD, P’24, Hosted by the Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia Regional Leadership Teams

All events are virtual unless otherwise noted. Please join us!

Parent Bulletin Archive »

Phillips Academy
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Andover, MA 01810

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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.