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Friday, November 21: Students may depart campus after 3 p.m. for Thanksgiving Break.
- November 22–December 2, Thanksgiving Break: Students must depart by noon on Saturday, November 22.
- Tuesday, December 2: Dorms reopen at 8 a.m. Boarding students must return by 8 p.m.
- Wednesday, December 3: Term 2 classes begin for all students.
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End-of-Term Schedule & Details |
As we approach the end of the Term 1 (fall term), please note the following:
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- Friday, November 14: This a conference day (a Monday schedule). Teachers will be available in their classrooms during the regularly scheduled time. These are “open hours,” meaning students can come and go as needed.
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From Monday, November 17, through Friday, November 21, each class will meet once, according to the special schedule below. All classes will meet in person, and attendance is required for all students.
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Monday, November 17: Period 7 meets 8:30–10:30 a.m. Period 3 meets 12:30–2:30 p.m. Athletics and rehearsals follow.
- Tuesday, November 18: *Math A meets 8:30–9:50 a.m.; Math B meets 10–11:20 a.m. Period 2 meets 12:30–2:30 p.m. Athletics and rehearsals follow. (*Please be sure your student knows where their math class is meeting.)
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Wednesday, November 19: Period 6 meets 8:30–10:30 a.m. Period 4 meets 10:45 a.m.–12:45 p.m. Athletics and rehearsals follow.
- Thursday, November 20: *Language A meets 8:30–9:50 a.m.; Language B meets 10–11:20 a.m.; Period 1 meets 12:30–2:30 p.m. Athletics and rehearsals follow. (*Please be sure your student knows where their language class is meeting.)
- Friday, November 21: *Sci A meets 8:30–9 a.m.; Sci B meets 10–11:20 a.m.; Period 5 meets 12:30–2:30 p.m. All students may depart campus after 3 p.m. (*Please be sure your student knows where their science class is meeting.)
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*For additional details, click here.
Term 1 ends at 3 p.m. on Friday, November 21. All fall term work must be submitted by the assigned deadline; instructors are not permitted to accept any additional work from a student after 3 p.m. Any possible exception to these policies—if a student falls ill, has a family emergency—must be approved by the director of studies in collaboration with the chief medical officer.
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Thanksgiving Break Travel: Back-Up Plan Recommended |
We encourage boarding families to make a back-up plan with a day student or local boarding family in case of travel disruptions. Our extended PA community has been wonderfully generous in the past, and students whose flights were canceled or delayed have often stayed locally with friends or relatives. If you have any questions, please reach out to your student’s cluster dean. Contact information for cluster deans can be found under the Student Team section in The Hive.
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Travel Options for Thanksgiving and Winter Breaks |
PA will offer transportation to and from New York City—with a stop in Darien, Connecticut—at Thanksgiving and Winter breaks. Students can sign up for one-way travel ($100) or roundtrip ($160).
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Thanksgiving Break: There are NO seats left on the outbound bus on 11/21. Families will need to find other transportation options. There are a limited number of seats on the return bus on Tuesday, December 2, departing NYC at 11 a.m. Email Claudia Scofield to check availability.
- Winter Break: Buses will depart from campus at 4 p.m. on
Thursday, December 18, and return to campus Sunday, January 4, departing NYC at 11 a.m.
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Morning Drop-Off Procedures |
A reminder to families—to keep traffic flowing smoothly and ensure student safety, please follow these guidelines during morning drop-off:
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Pull all the way forward to the designated drop-off area.
- Drop off your student quickly and safely.
- Exit immediately so other families can do the same.
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Thank you for helping us maintain a safe and efficient process! Your cooperation makes a big difference.
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Reminder: Mail, Package, and Same-Day Delivery Policy |
Mail Services would like to remind families of the guidelines for sending mail and packages to students, as well as same-day deliveries.
Mail and Packages: Please send all mail and packages to this central address—not directly your student’s dorm—using the following format:
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Student’s FULL Name (no nicknames, please)
Phillips Academy
Dorm Name
180 Main Street
Andover, MA 01810
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Do not use the street address for the dorm. Deliveries made directly to dorms create safety and security issues and risk damage or loss. Starting Monday, January 5, any packages found at dorms or other campus locations will be collected and donated or discarded.
Same-day grocery deliveries are not accepted and will be thrown away. These items often arrive without names, require refrigeration, and are left in random locations, creating waste and safety concerns.
Families are encouraged to review the Mail Services Policies. Thank you for your cooperation. Questions? Email Mail Services.
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Families, read on for reminders related to musical instrument rentals and private lessons for winter term.
Music Instrument Rentals: Music students who have rented an instrument and who will not be taking music lessons or participating in an ensemble during Term 2 must return their instrument by Monday, November 17. Instruments not returned by this day will accrue fines. If you have questions about renting an instrument, please contact Mr. Carl Johnson in the Guo & Yang Music Library.
Traveling with PA Instrument Rentals: Please note that rentals from PA’s collection are generally not permitted to leave campus and requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. If you would like to make a special request to travel with your PA rental (by car only), please email Ms. Allie Ross no later than Friday, November 14.
Private Lessons: Friday, December 19, at 5 p.m. is the ADD/DROP deadline for Term 2 lessons. If students are interested in lessons and they did not request them during advising period, please complete a request here. Lessons will roll over to the next term. Students must be in contact with their lesson instructor or the music office if they wish to drop lessons. Questions? Email Ms. Allie Ross.
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Local Families: Neighbors in Need Food Drive |
Every year, the Office of Community Engagement sponsors a Thanksgiving food drive to benefit Neighbors in Need, a longtime community partner that works to feed thousands of families in the Merrimack Valley throughout the year. Campus adults, through departments and families, generously donate food items and gift cards that we then deliver directly to Neighbors in Need.
Given the recent changes affecting SNAP benefits and an increased demand for food assistance, we’re inviting local families to join the effort. Donations can be dropped off by students in our office over the next two weeks, or families may come to campus during designated times on Monday, November 17.
Questions? Please email Monique Cueto-Potts, director of the Office of Community Engagement.
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Thank You for Participating in the A-E Challenge! |
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Thank you so much for an outstanding showing from our families in this year’s Andover-Exeter Challenge! Although we came up short to Exeter this year, our community of families, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends rallied together to raise an impressive total of $470,958 for the Andover Fund.
Andover is grateful for the over 300 families who participated in this year’s challenge.
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Your generosity and enthusiasm continue to make a lasting impact—thank you for showing your Big Blue pride and commitment to our school. We’re halfway toward reaching our participation goal and hope we can count on your support later this year!
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Theatre & Dance Department Presents: The SpongeBob Musical
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Come join your favorite citizens from Bikini Bottom in their natural habitat as they sing and dance their way out of looming catastrophe! This wacky and heartfelt musical was a hit on Broadway and features songs from an eclectic range of songwriters (David Bowie, T.I., Cyndi Lauper, John Legend, Panic! at the Disco, and more).
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The SpongeBob Musical reminds us that when all seems hopeless, we can find a solution through friendship, community, inclusivity—and science!
Showtimes:
Thursday, November 13, at 7 p.m.
Friday, November 14, at 7 p.m.
Saturday, November 15, at 7 p.m.
Venue: Tang Theatre, George Washington Hall (first floor)
This event is first-come, first-served seating. We recommend arriving 30 minutes prior to showtime to secure your seat. All persons in your party must be present to claim their seat—there is no saving seats and no late seating. Families of students involved in the production can check in with the house manager (or any event staff) to receive priority seating.
Saturday! THD210: Monster Mayhem Showcase
Showtime: Saturday, November 15, at 5 p.m.
Venue: Evans DeFelice Theatre Classroom, George Washington Hall (lower level)
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Deadline Extended! Yearbook Family Tribute Messages: Celebrate your senior with a tribute page in Pot Pourri! These personalized messages are a fun tradition and a great way to honor your student’s journey. The deadline to submit is Monday, December 15. Tribute pages, available for an additional cost, must be created and purchased following the instructions in the Class of 2026 Info Flyer. We hope you’ll consider participating!
Senior Yearbook Portraits: Every senior can have a portrait in the yearbook. Portraits are due by Wednesday, January 7 (we will confirm receipt). If your student had their photo taken by the campus photographer, that photo will be submitted automatically.
To submit your own photo of your student, email it to us with the file named as FirstLastPortrait.jpg (example: ChrisCapanoPortrait.jpg). Please send the largest size possible (at least 300 dpi), without watermarks. Most families choose a simple background and a vertical head-and-shoulders pose, but there’s no official standard—select the photo you and your senior prefer.
Note: If no portrait is submitted, the yearbook will use your student’s BlueCard photo.
Class Rings: You can purchase a class ring for your senior through our vendor, Herff Jones. Questions? Please email Mike McCann.
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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 Oasis Recap: We were delighted to see so many seniors attend Senior Oasis! Thank you to the many PSPA parent volunteers who set up and managed the various stations and activities for the students to enjoy.
Faculty Appreciation Event: We will host an appreciation event for faculty and staff on Friday, December 12, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Underwood Room. Join us in celebrating our incredible faculty and staff with a sweet afternoon treat as we show gratitude for their dedication to our students and community. Be on the lookout for a sign-up sheet to volunteer—your help will make this event extra special!
Campus Closet
Shop for PA gear on Fridays from 1 to 5 p.m. on the lower level of George Washington Hall—or anytime online with free dorm delivery. All proceeds from Campus Closet fund the work of the PSPA. Want to help? Volunteer for a November shift.
Get Involved with the PSPA:
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- Sign up here to stay informed.
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Follow us on Facebook (@Parents of Students of Phillips Academy (Andover) and Instagram (@pspa_campuscloset).
- Subscribe to our newsletter for updates!
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| Read the latest headlines and happenings from campus at Andover Today.
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Catch the Latest in the Athletics Newsletter |
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Enjoy photos of student-athletes and fans, team news, and player and event highlights in Andover Athletics News.
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Spiritual & Religious Gatherings |
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1–1:25 p.m.—No Jummah Prayer this week.
- 5:15 p.m.—Jewish Student Union (JSU) and Muslim Student Association (MSA) Dinner: The JSU & MSA will host a casual dinner together. Baldwin Cloister, lower level of Cochran Chapel (enter from left side of building).
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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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November 17—Virtual: Navigating a Changing Climate in Higher Education
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November 19 in Washington, DC: Big Blue Connections with Jenny Savino P’21, ’24, Director of Alumni Engagement
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November 20 in Baltimore, MD: Big Blue Connections with Jenny Savino P’21, ’24, Director of Alumni Engagement
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November 23 in Stamford, CT: Domus Thanksgiving Non Sibi Project with Torrance York ’84
- December 4 in London: Toast the Holidays with the Eight Schools Association
- 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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December 11 in Seattle: Toast the Holidays with Deputy Head of School for Academics and Student Affairs Merrilee Mardon, PhD, P’27
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December 11 in New York: Hudson Guild Holiday Non Sibi Project with Thao Nguyen Kelly ’07 and Garth Williams ’97
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December 14 on Campus: Lessons & Carols Pre-Reception & Service with Head of School Raynard S. Kington, MD, PhD, P’24, ’27, and Peter T. Daniolos, MD, P’24, ’27
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December 15—Virtual: Blue Runs Deep: Business Consulting
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Keep an eye on the Academy’s Events Calendar for more campus and regional gatherings.
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Join the Andover Family Directory |
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Want to find other Andover families in your area? Log in now using your Hive credentials. The directory is opt-in; families must log in to be visible to others. You can find tutorials on how to use the directory here. Forgot your password for The Hive? Use the Self-Service Password Reset Portal. Need more help? Reach out to the Technology Help Desk by email or call 978-749-4357.
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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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