AUGUST 29, 2019
Opening day at Brooks is always exciting — and it's coming up quickly! Get details and reminders below.
See You on Tuesday or Wednesday at Opening Day!
The start of school is almost upon us! Don't forget to check out the opening week schedule , and remember that arrival procedure differs for each student: 

  • New families: Please enter campus via the middle/service entrance, park in the hockey rink lot (or behind Wilder Dining Hall) and proceed to the gym for registration. If you are a boarder, you will be directed to your dorm after you register.
  • Returning boarding students: Go directly to your dorm for registration (please note traffic patterns below).
  • Returning day students: Only attend registration at the gym if online summer forms are incomplete.

Please note: On Wednesday, Sept. 4, dress is casual all day. Students will be participating in games and a scavenger hunt outside, so we recommend that they wear comfortable clothing. There is no need to change for the advisor-advisee dinner in Wilder Dining Hall at 6 p.m. 

If you have any questions about arrival day, contact Vicky Matheson in the Deans' Office: (978) 725-6299. 
Are You Finished With Your Forms?
Before your arrival next week, please make sure the following are complete:

  • Registration forms Summer registration forms, ImPACT testing and student health information were due on July 15. If these forms have not been completed we will ask you to complete them at registration on your arrival day. Plan ahead, save time, avoid long lines and complete them before you arrive! More information and links are available in OnBrooks>Groups>Summer Registration.

  • Magnus health care forms Most forms are found inside Magnus, our healthcare management system, and are required for your student to participate in many facets of campus life. In addition to health forms, you will find the Deans office transportation form giving permission for students to go off campus, as well as others. All of these need to be completed in Magnus and can be accessed from your parent account in OnBrooks. Click on “Resources” and select the orange-colored Magnus logo to enter this system. For more information or questions about health related forms, please contact the Health and Wellness Center.

  • Annual contact-information form All families are asked to complete the annual summer registration form for every student. This is found in OnBrooks>Groups>Summer Registration>Topics>To Do. A direct link is available here for your convenience. 
Campus Traffic Rules Upon Arrival
New Families : As mentioned above, you must first stop at the gym and will then be directed to your dorm. 

Returning families :

  • If you are moving your child into Blake, Chace, PBA, Hettinger East, Hettinger West or Peabody, please enter campus using the North Entrance and proceed directly to the dorm. Traffic down past Chace, PBA and dorms on this road will be one-way with an exit in front of Peabody to Russell Drive. 
  • If you are moving into Thorne, Whitney or Merriman, please enter campus using the middle Service entrance, proceed to the four corners, and turn left toward the dorm. Main Street will be one-way toward the library and will be for unloading purposes only. Please park only on the right hand side of the road. 
  • If you are moving into Gardner, please enter campus using the South Entrance, go left at the fork and travel around the science building to the back side of Gardner for unloading. 
We're Here to Help!
There will be plenty of opportunities throughout the day on Wednesday to ask questions of faculty and staff but know, too, that our current parents would love to be of assistance as well. There will be a parent table in the Wilder Dining Hall between 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. that you can visit to hear about volunteer opportunities and pick fellow parents' brains. No question is too mundane or silly! 
Join Us at the Parent Reception on Wednesday
All parents are invited to the Parent Reception at the residence of Head of School John Packard and Kim O’Neill Packard ‘87 on Sept. 4 at 3:30 p.m.
EEE Update
As some of you may know, North Andover is at a "moderate" risk for Eastern Equine Encephalitis, a virus transmitted through mosquitos. Please click to read about the measures Brooks' is taking to protect students.
Students' Opening Days Activities, FYI
  • New students are asked to take a swim test, administered on campus, when they first enter Brooks. Students will not be allowed to participate in the sailing or crew programs unless they have passed the swim test. Students who are not proficient swimmers should indicate so and will not be asked to participate in the swim test. It will be administered Sept. 5 as part of orientation. Students should bring a bathing suit and towel.
  • Also on Sept. 5, students will be participating in activities by grade level. The third form (9th grade) will be going with faculty to Project Adventure in Beverly, Mass., to get to know one another and enjoy a day of problem-solving, team-building and fun! The fourth form and fifth form will remain on campus for a morning of team-building activities and challenges sponsored by Wit and Grit. The sixth form will be working with the college office team to kick off the college process.
  • Afternoon activities for all programs will start the afternoon of Sept. 5.
View Class Schedules in OnBrooks
Students and parents can browse through classes, teachers' and schedule blocks in OnBrooks .
 To view as a student : Sign in and look under "Progress" and on your "My Day" landing page. 
To view as a parent : Sign in and click on the name of your student. Next, click the "Progress" button. 
Course-Change Period
The course change period for student classes extends through the first two weeks of school, and will close on Sept. 21. All students considering a course change should contact Academic Dean Susanna Waters .
Don't Forget: Medications Go to the Health and Wellness Center
During check-in, please remember to bring all medication -- including vitamins, protein powders, supplements and over-the-counter medicines -- to the Health and Wellness Center.
Notes From the College Counseling Office
Fifth-form parents and sixth-form parents , please read the afore linked letters from Dean of College Counseling Andy Campbell about upcoming communications and workshops.
Opening-Weekend Student Party
Brooks' opening-weekend event for all students is on Sept. 7. We will begin the evening with a BBQ dinner, followed by games and activities on the indoor turf, and will end with a dance. The theme this year is "Brooks Beach Bash" so students may wear beach-themed (such as Hawaiian shirts) if they’d like. Please contact Student Activities Coordinator Laura Hajdukiewicz with any questions. There will also be a field day on Sept. 8. All students (boarders and day) are encouraged to attend! See the opening week schedule for details. 
Is Your Student Interested in Music Lessons?
If your student would like to participate in music lessons -- for an instrument or voice -- during the 2019-2020 school year, please click here for information regarding sign up and other details.
Stay Connected!
Please join our Brooks School Parents Facebook page . We hope it will be a great resource that is active with questions, advice and information-sharing.
School Store Hours
While you're on campus, come visit the school store! The hours for Brooks' first week of school are: 

  • Tuesday: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. 
  • Wednesday: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. 
  • Thursday: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. 
  • Friday: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. 
  • Saturday: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Upcoming Events
  • Sept. 4: Arrival and Registration, Parent Reception
  • Sept. 5: Students' Activities Day
  • Sept. 6: Classes Begin
  • Sept. 26: Reception for "Environments, Cultures and Wildlife at Risk" art exhibit
  • Sept. 28: Admission's Fall Visit Day
  • Oct. 18-19: Family Weekend
Follow Brooks on social media for news, photos and more!