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Friday, November 22: Students may depart campus after 3 p.m. for Thanksgiving Break.
- November 23–December 3, Thanksgiving Break: Students must depart by noon on Saturday, November 23 (except for students involved in post-season play).
- Tuesday, December 3: Dorms reopen at 8 a.m. Boarding students must return by 8 p.m.
- Wednesday, December 4: 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 15: This a conference day (a Monday schedule). Teachers will be available in their classrooms during the regularly scheduled time. These are “open hours”; students can come and go as needed.
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From Monday, November 18, through Friday, November 22, 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 18: Period 7 meets 8:30–10:30 a.m.; *Math meets 12:30–2:30 p.m. Athletics and rehearsals follow.
- Tuesday, November 19: Period 1 meets 8:30–10:30 a.m.; Period 2 meets 12:30–2:30 p.m. Athletics and rehearsals follow.
- Wednesday, November 20: Period 3 meets 8:30–10:30 a.m. Athletics and rehearsals follow.
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Thursday, November 21: Period 6 meets 8:30–10:30 a.m.; *Science meets 12:30–2:30 p.m. Athletics and rehearsals follow.
- Friday, November 22: Period 4 meets 8:30–10:30 a.m.; Period 5 meets 12:30–2:30 p.m.
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*For additional details, click here.
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Term 1 ends at 3 p.m. on Friday, November 22. 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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Travel Options for Thanksgiving and Winter Breaks |
PA is offering transportation at Thanksgiving Break and Winter Break 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).
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Thanksgiving Break: Buses will depart from campus at 4 p.m. on Friday, November 22, and return Tuesday, December 3, departing NYC at 11 a.m.
- Winter Break: Buses will depart from campus at 4 p.m. on Thursday, December 19, and return to campus
Sunday, January 5, departing NYC at 11 a.m.
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For additional details, bus forms, and commonly asked questions, please review the Thanksgiving and Winter Breaks Travel FAQ. This information has been posted on PAnet for student access and in 2024–2025 Information for Families.
Payment: Bus payments will be made through FACTS. The final reservation list for Thanksgiving Break will be submitted to the bursar on Friday, November 22. Please expect an email from the bursar the week of December 2 that details what you owe.
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 and to Boston’s South Station. Details on how to make a reservation with FlightLine can be found in the Thanksgiving and Winter Breaks Travel FAQ.
Questions? Email Claudia Scofield or call 978-749-4124.
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Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Reminder
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This is a reminder that all students are required to receive their seasonal influenza vaccine by December 3, 2024. As outlined in the Academy's enrollment agreement, the seasonal influenza vaccine is a requirement this year to help reduce the spread of seasonal influenza, especially in light of a significant outbreak last February.
Families can satisfy this requirement in one of two ways:
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- Submitting proof of a flu vaccine from an outside provider via the Medicat Health Portal.
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Have the student receive the vaccine at the Wellness Center. A parent/guardian must sign the flu consent form in the Medicat Health Portal under the “Forms” tab.
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Students can sign into their Medicat Health Portal account to schedule an appointment for the Flu Clinic.
Thank you for doing your part to help keep our community healthy. Questions? Email the Sykes Wellness Center.
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LITW: Final Push to the Deadline! |
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| We saw an uptick in Learning in the World (LITW) applications and affiliate expressions of interest last weekend. The final due date is tomorrow, Friday, November 15, at 5 p.m.
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A few notes about the next steps:
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Notifications (invitations to participate in LITW and approval to proceed with affiliate applications) will be sent out by LITW the week of December 9, and we request all RSVPs by Monday, December 16. Due to this quick turnaround, please be confident in your student’s ability to participate, comfortable with their ranked choices, and aware of your available financial resources to make an experience possible.
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A Permissions Packet will be shared with families soon thereafter. The first piece—Form 1—and a deposit will be due December 20 for all programs.
- Other forms and payments are due on the following schedule:
- March break programs:
- January 31, 2025: Second payment and Form 2
- February 21, 2025: Final payment and Form 3, if applicable
- Summer programs:
- February 14, 2025: Second payment
- March 28, 2025: Final payment, Form 2, and Form 3, if applicable
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We intend to give families as much time as possible to ensure their students’ primary care providers are able to review records and advise them on travel. If your student’s primary care provider requires an in-person visit, please try to schedule one for when they are home with you, and you can attend together.
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For international travel programs only, a third form—Form 3—grants consent for travel of a minor. In accordance with the Hague Abduction Convention, this form must be witnessed, signed, and notarized by a notary public. If you cannot find a notary public near you, you can try one of these online notaries: https://www.notarize.com/ and https://notarylive.com/. This will be due February 21 for March break programs and March 28 for summer programs.
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Find more answers to your questions on the Take Action page. Still have questions? Email Mark Cutler, director of LITW.
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Families, please see below for upcoming deadlines related to instrument rentals and private lessons.
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 your student would like to make a special request to travel with their PA rental (by car only), they need to email Ms. Allie Ross no later than tomorrow, Friday, November 15.
Music Instrument Rentals: Students who have rented an instrument and will not be taking music lessons or participating in an ensemble during Term 2 (winter term) must return their instrument by Monday, November 18. Instruments not returned by this day will accrue fines. If you or your student have questions about renting an instrument, please email Mr. Carl Johnson in the W.B. Clift Music Library.
Private Lessons: The Add/Drop deadline for Term 2 lessons is Friday, December 20, at 5 p.m. If your student is interested in lessons and they did not request them during advising period, they should complete a request here.
Lesson Continuation: New this academic year, lesson enrollment will continue into the next term unless otherwise requested. Students must contact their lesson instructor or the Department of Music if they wish to drop lessons. Questions? Email Ms. Allie Ross.
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Theatre & Dance Presents: Nüwa in Fairyland |
After getting cast as Puck in his high school production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Benji dives deep into method acting to prepare for his role. In the enchanted forest of foggy adolescence, he runs into a stranger: the Chinese creator goddess Nüwa (女娲). Will she help him navigate his heritage as a transracial adoptee, or will her call to return home trap Benji in fairyland forever?
This THD901 independent project production is co-directed by Wendi Ying ’25 and Melinda Wu ’25.
Showtimes:
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Friday, November 15, at 7:30 p.m.
- Saturday, November 16, at 7:30 p.m.
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Venue: Evans DeFelice Theatre Classroom, George Washington Hall (lower level)
This event is first-come-first-served seating. We recommend arriving 30 minutes prior to showtime to secure your seat for the show. All persons in your party must be present to claim their seat—there is no saving seats and no late seating.
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Theatre & Dance Presents: Kintsugi: Beauty in the Broken |
Students in THD910, co-taught by Linda Carter Griffith and Allen Grimm, created the production of Kintsugi: Beauty in the Broken, directed by EV Heck ’25. The ensemble generated monologues and vignettes based on their own experiences with various aspects of identity, including race, class, gender, and sexuality at PA and beyond. Our exploration culminates in a show created by the class for MLK Day.
Workshop Performance:
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- Sunday, November 17, at 1 p.m.
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Venue: Evans DeFelice Theatre Classroom, George Washington Hall (lower level). All are welcome!
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Families of seniors! This section keeps you in the loop about the important events and milestones of your student’s final year.
November Events and Deadlines
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Senior Portraits: Mark Lawrence Photographers will be on campus until 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 Pot Pourri yearbook. Students received an email from the Student Activities Office earlier this week to sign up for a sitting. You 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: The deadline for submitting senior tributes is
tomorrow, Friday, November 15. 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.
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2025 Commencement: We are excited to welcome the families of the Class of 2025 to celebrate Commencement on June 1. 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 to Naomi Mashburn before February 14. If you have additional questions, please contact Naomi Mashburn ’08 in the Office of Alumni Engagement via email or call 978-749-4225.
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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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.
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Mass. Archaeological Society Lecture at the Peabody
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Join the Massachusetts Archaeological Society Northeast/Gene Winter Chapter for a lecture by Dr. Kate Minniti, a field archaeologist and senior member of the NYU-UniMi archaeological expedition in Selinunte, Italy. Minniti will present a lecture titled “Greeks and Phoenicians in Selinunte: Neighbors, enemies, fellow citizens” on Tuesday, November 19, at 7 p.m. at the Robert S. Peabody Institute of Archaeology. The event is free and open to the public.
For those who are unable to attend, the lecture will be streamed live via Zoom. To request a link or for more information, please email the Massachusetts Archaeological Society.
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Shop Campus Closet This Friday: Stop by Campus Closet from 2 to 6 p.m. tomorrow (lower level of George Washington Hall) for Andover gear for your whole family—or shop online 24/7.
Volunteer for Campus Closet: Please sign up here to help in the shop for a few hours in November or December.
Get Involved: The PSPA is seeking support in marketing and social media. If you have some time to help out, please email us. Interested in being a class representative for the Class of 2026 or 2027? Please fill out this form.
Parent-Hosted PSPA Socials: Interested in hosting a PSPA gathering in your home near campus? Please email us!
Area Short-Term Lodging: The PSPA occasionally becomes aware of rental properties or homes for sale near campus. Please reach out via email.
The Parents of Students of Phillips Academy (PSPA) is a nonprofit, parent-run organization 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.
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Spiritual & Religious Gatherings |
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1–1:25 p.m.—Muslim Student Association (MSA) Jummah Prayer: Led by Noureddine El Alam. Meditation Room, lower level of Cochran Chapel (enter from left side of building)
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5:15 p.m.—Jewish Student Union (JSU) Shabbat Celebration: Led by members of the JSU and Rabbi Joshua Greenberg. Come for blessings over candles, challah and grape juice, sharing and fellowship. All are welcome. Paul’s Room, Paresky Commons (second floor)
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5:30–6:30 p.m.—MSA Dinner & Discussion: Led by Noureddine El Alam and members of the MSA. All community members are welcome to join this gathering. Ada’s Room, Paresky Commons (second floor)
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- 6 p.m.—Protestant Worship: Led by the Reverend Gina M. Finocchiaro, Protestant chaplain. All are welcome for this time of scripture, prayer, music, and spoken reflection. Cochran Chapel
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6:15 p.m.—Catholic Mass: All are welcome to join the PA Catholic community for Mass on Sunday evenings when school is in session. 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 24 in Stamford, CT: Domus Non Sibi Project with Karen Humphries Sallick ’83, P’14, ’17, Elizabeth Siderides Theofanidis ’77, P’08, Amy Lord Wilkinson ’76, P’05, ’06, and Torrance York ’84
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December 4 in Chicago: Andover’s Foundation & Future with Head of School Raynard S. Kington, MD, PhD, P’24, ’27
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December 10 in New York: Andover’s Foundation & Future with Head of School Raynard S. Kington, MD, PhD, P’24, ’27
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December 13 in New York: Hudson Guild Holiday Non Sibi Project with Thao Nguyen Kelly ’07 and Garth Williams ’97
- December 15 on Campus: Annual Lessons and Carols Service & Pre-Service Reception
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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!
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Join the Andover Family Directory |
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. Should you need assistance with resetting your Hive login information, 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.
© 2024
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