December 5, 2024

Calendar of Events

Athletics Calendar

The Weekender

View on The Hive

Updated on Fridays

Per the Academy’s enrollment agreement, the seasonal influenza vaccine is a requirement this year to help mitigate the flu's spread. All students should have received a flu vaccine by Tuesday, December 3.

If your child still has not received their seasonal influenza vaccine but has a flu consent form on file, they should sign into their Medicat Health Portal account and make an appointment for a flu vaccine at the Sykes Wellness Center as soon as possible. 

Thank you for doing your part to help keep our community as healthy as possible. Questions? Email the Sykes Wellness Center. 

To create this production of Kintsugi: Beauty in the Broken, students in the Department of Theatre and Dance’s Identity class generated monologues and vignettes based on their own experiences with various aspects of identity, including race, class, gender, and sexuality at PA and beyond. There will be a workshop performance of the show (which will also be presented on MLK Day in January) in the Theatre Classroom (George Washington  Hall, street level) tomorrow, Friday, December 6, at 7:30 p.m. All are welcome!   

Next month, Phillips Academy is partnering with The JED Foundation to conduct an online survey about student well-being, challenges they may face, and their sources of support. Students will be invited to participate in this survey on Tuesday, December 17, during advising period. Students’ responses are anonymous and will be kept confidential and secure. There is no way to connect their responses to their name, email, or any other information that identifies them. If you allow your student to participate, your student may choose to skip questions or stop participating at any time. The survey typically takes around 30-45 minutes to complete.  

If you do not want your student to participate in the survey, please fill out this form prior to Tuesday, December 10. Students whose parents opt them out will report to an alternative location during the advising period on December 17. 

Topic: The Oliver Wendell Holmes Library (OWHL)—Learn more about the range of support, resources, and programming offered by the OWHL on Wednesday, December 18, at 11 a.m. ET. This information session will highlight the many ways your students can engage with the library and its very knowledgeable staff. Hear about opportunities like workshops, the OWHL Scholar program, the TEDx event, and more. Click here to register.   

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 with their lesson instructor or the Department of Music if they wish to drop lessons. Questions? Email Ms. Allie Ross. 

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

Yearbook Senior Tribute Ad: If you missed the November deadline for submitting senior tributes, there is still time! 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.  

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 email those requests to Naomi Mashburn ’08 before February 14. If you have additional questions as Commencement approaches, please also email Naomi Mashburn 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. 

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. 

PreACT—Saturday, January 18: The PreACT is a preview to the ACT. It tests the same skills and knowledge and can be a predictor of how one would score if they took the ACT. This test does not count in the admissions process and scores are only sent to students. Registration, now open, runs until noon on Wednesday, December 18. Students will receive an email with registration details.

Practice PSAT—Saturday, February 15: The practice PSAT is a preview of the official College Board PSAT that students will take in the 11th grade. It is managed by Compass Educational Group and will simulate the digital PSAT. This test does not count in the admissions process and scores are only sent to students. Registration will take place at the beginning of January.

The results of these two exams can be a guide toward the standardized testing a student pursues in the college admissions process. Click here for more testing information. 

The current issue of the Peabody Institute of Archaeology’s monthly newsletter is now available. If you would like to receive future newsletters directly from the Peabody, sign up today! 

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 volunteer opportunities.  

Get Involved: We are still seeking parents/guardians to represent the Class of 2026 (11th-graders) and Class of 2027 (10th-graders). Nominate someone—or yourself—by using this link. We also need some help with marketing and social media. If you have a little extra time to assist with PSPA marketing activities, please send us an email.  

Shop Campus Closet This Friday: We’ve created a convenient 2024 Holiday Gift Guide. If you are looking for a touch of PA to gift this season, stop by Campus Closet in the lower level of George Washington Hall tomorrow, Friday, December 6, from 2 to 6 p.m. If you cannot make it to campus, you can shop anytime via our online shop.  

Crew members needed in December! If you can take a Campus Closet shift this month, please sign up here. It’s easy and fun.  

Parent-Hosted PSPA Socials: Would you like to host a PSPA gathering in your home near campus? If interested, please send us an email. It’s a great way to get involved while supporting the mission of the PSPA.  

Area Short-Term Lodging: PSPA occasionally becomes aware of rental properties/homes for sale near campus. Please email us for more information. 

Friday, December 6 

Sunday, December 8

Sunday, December 15

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! 

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. 

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. 

Andover Family Directory

2024–2025 Academic Calendar

Class Schedule

2024–2025 Information for Families 

Guide for New Families

Strategies for Student Success