Oct. 1, 2026

The 2026 Global Speaker Series kicked off Sept. 30 with a visit from Lisa Damour, PhD, an acclaimed clinical psychologist and best-selling author who discussed why the normal challenges of adolescence can stir up powerful feelings in parents and guardians. For an article on Damour's campus visit, click here.

 


The Calendar at a Glance 

  • Tonight (Thursday, Oct. 1): Upper School Back-To-School Night
  • Friday, Oct. 2: Evening of Alumni Excellence
  • Saturday, Oct. 3: Homecoming/Reunion
  • Monday, Oct. 5: Global Speaker Series: A Visit From Arn Chorn Pond (In-School Event Only)
  • Wednesday, Oct. 7: TAPA Middle School Coffee
  • Monday, Oct. 12: Indigenous Peoples Day (NO SCHOOL)
 

All-School Announcements

Homecoming and Reunion Weekend

Homecoming, TAPA’s largest event of the year, will take place Saturday, Oct. 3. However, the festivities truly begin tomorrow (Friday, Oct. 2) when our cross country runners compete on the Harold B. Hatch Cross Country Course. The boys start their meet at 4:45 p.m.; the girls start theirs at 5:15 p.m. Be sure to come out and cheer them on as they kick off Homecoming weekend. 


Saturday will be a day of both athletic competition and community building. The day boasts a cornhole tournament, a bake sale, food trucks, a petting zoo, and the sale of one-of-a-kind Thayer merchandise. The day is also coordinated with reunion activities. This year will feature the opening football game on Thayer’s new turf field, part of the recently completed multisport athletic complex.  


Middle School students can also join the Homecoming fun as Thayer’s Tiger mascot. Interested students and families can find additional details and sign up by clicking here.


If you have any questions about the day, please feel free to reach out to Megan Butow P ’29. Don’t miss this fun day of Thayer Academy spirit! 


TAPA actively seeks volunteers to help make Homecoming a success. Volunteering is a great way to get involved, meet other members of the Thayer community, and be part of this special event. Please click here to view available opportunities and sign up.


Latest Edition of The General
The September edition of The General, Thayer Academy's student-led newspaper, is available by clicking here.


Upcoming ‘Friday Night Lights’ Dates

The Thayer Athletics Department is thrilled to announce this fall’s Friday Night Lights games to be held on the turf field of the new multisport athletic complex. All games begin at 6 p.m. The dates are: 


  • Friday, Oct. 9: Boys varsity soccer vs. Nobles (Note: This is also the team’s Senior Day celebration)
  • Friday, Oct. 16: Varsity field hockey vs. Nobles 
  • Friday, Oct. 30: Girls varsity soccer vs. Middlesex  
  • Friday, Nov. 6: Varsity football vs. Nobles 


Health Services Info for Families

A reminder from Health Services: If your student will be absent from school due to an extended illness (surgery, mono, etc. ...) or injury (orthopedic injury requiring crutches or a scooter, bone fracture affecting their ability to write or carry their belongings, concussion sustained outside of school, etc. ...), please email USnurse@Thayer.org for Upper School students and MSnurse@Thayer.org for Middle School students. Absences longer than five consecutive academic days require a doctor’s note to return to campus. The Health Services team wants to ensure that your student's return to campus is as comfortable and safe as possible and that they have the accommodations needed to succeed. 


Short-term absences for illness (sore throat, cold symptoms, stomach bug, etc. …) should be reported to John Murphy (jmurphy@thayer.org or 781.843.3580) for the Upper School and to Teresa Tenney (ttenney@thayer.org or 781.380.0513) or Tara Hancock P ’30, ’32 (thancock@thayer.org or 781.380.0513) for the Middle School. 


Global Engagement Family Info Session (via Zoom) Is Oct. 5

Thayer Middle School and Upper School families are invited to an info session Monday, Oct. 5, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. to learn more about Thayer Academy's 2027 travel programs and its unique Public Purpose & Global Scholars Capstone Program. This virtual session is open to both Middle School and Upper School students along with their parents/guardians. Middle School travel programs will be presented from 6 to 6:15 p.m.; Upper School travel programs will be presented from 6:15 to 7:15 p.m. Click here for the Zoom link.


Global Speaker Series Events

Thayer’s Global Speaker Series will hold several events on campus this fall. Remaining speakers include:  


  • Arn Chorn-Pond, a human rights activist and musician, on Monday, Oct. 5 (In-School Event Only)
  • Leo Varadkar, the former taoiseach (prime minister) of Ireland, on Tuesday, Oct. 20. 


More information on these events will be made available in coming weeks.


Register for Private Music Lessons

Registration for the 2026-27 private music lesson program is in progress. Lessons will begin in October. Families interested in their student(s) starting or continuing the study of an instrument should visit Thayer’s private music lesson page and fill out the lesson sign-up form. Lessons are available for voice, piano, guitar, bass guitar, strings, wind instruments, and drums. Weekly lessons meet during an Upper School student’s free period / study hall. Middle School students will meet during their extra-help period, art elective, or study hall. Lessons will begin Monday, Oct. 5.


If you have questions about the program, including pricing and lesson policies, visit the private music lesson page. For other questions, contact Private Music Lesson Coordinator Steve Skop P ’23.


Artwork at Koskores Gallery 
A new exhibit, “Waste to Treasure: An i3C Art Philosophy,” is currently on display in Koskores Art Gallery. The exhibit runs until Oct. 23. 


“Waste to Treasure” offers a timely exploration of themes tied to current environmental and climate crises while also illuminating the optimism that comes from contemplating the beauty of the natural world and the interconnectedness of all species. The eco-minded members of the i3C Collective (artists inspiring Change for the Climate Crisis) transform rejected materials into provocative works that reimagine our relationship with the planet. The exhibit features the work of: Susan Altman, Liliana Folta, Cedric Harper (co-curator), Martha Heller, Rebecca McGee Tuck, Michaela Morse, Jeffrey Nowlin, Anna Pancoast, Adriana G. Prat (co-curator) and Yulia Shtern. 


In Case You Missed It 

Be sure to check out Thayer’s news page to see what’s happening on campus and beyond, including: the start of the Global Speaker Series; a TA Talk on finding one's course; a recent arts reception; and a welcome addition to the Athletics Department.

 
 
 

Hooray for Homecoming!

Want to know the what, when, and where of Homecoming 2026? Click here for a complete schedule of the day's events. And don't forget to sign up to volunteer for one of the biggest celebrations of the school year. Go, Tigers!

 
 

Upper School Announcements

 

Upper School Add/Drop Date Is Oct. 16

The deadline for Upper School students to add / drop/ change levels is Friday, Oct. 16. Students may add / drop / change levels until that date with no notation on their transcripts. After Oct. 16, students receive a Withdraw Pass / Withdraw Fail on their transcripts if they withdraw from a course. If they keep the class and change levels, they take their grade with them into their new class after the add/drop deadline, which is five weeks and three days from the beginning of classes.


Senior Yearbook Ads Now Available

Attention, parents and guardians of the Class of 2027: The Black & Orange yearbook offers an opportunity for families to purchase an ad to congratulate the graduating senior in their lives. The deadline for these senior yearbook ads is Nov. 15; the purchasing process takes place online. For detailed information, including ad sizes and pricing, click here. 


Upper School Back-To-School Night

Attention, Upper School parents and guardians: Back-To-School Night for students in grades 9-12 will take place today (Thursday, Oct. 1) beginning at 6:30 p.m. The purpose of the evening is to give parents and guardians of Upper School students the opportunity to meet their student’s teachers and to learn about course goals, homework expectations, grading policies, and other information related to the curriculum.

 

Parents and guardians will visit their student’s classes that meet on Wednesdays and Thursdays. The night's schedule is available in MySchoolApp in the Files and Forms area.


The night begins with a 10-minute group meeting with a student’s advisor. Advisors will provide a hard copy of a particular student’s schedule for the evening at this time. Advisors will reach out via email with their advising location, i.e. where parents/guardians will meet their student’s advising group.

 

Here’s the Back-to-School Night Schedule:


  • Advising: 6:30 to 6:40 p.m. 
  • A Period: 6:45 to 6:55 p.m. 
  • B Period: 7 to 7:10 p.m.  
  • C Period: 7:15 to 7:25 p.m. 
  • D Period: 7:30 to 7:40 p.m. 
  • E Period: 7:45 to 7:55 p.m. 
  • F Period: 8 to 8:10 p.m 
  • G Period: 8:15 to 8:25 p.m. 
  • H Period: 8:30 to 8:40 p.m 

 

If there is a gap in time on the schedule, that means it’s a free period. For example, if one’s first class is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m., that means that person has A Period free. During free periods, parents/guardians are welcome to visit with other parents/guardians and faculty in the lobbies of both Main Building and Glover Building where light refreshments will be available. 

 

The evening’s schedule is designed to give parents/guardians a glimpse of what their student’s day is like at school. To have an in-depth conversation with a teacher about a student, please email and/or call that teacher to set up an appointment for a later date when the teacher can dedicate more time to such a conversation.


Hale Learning Center Open House at Upper School 

The Upper School’s Hale Learning Center will hold an open house for families today (Thursday, Oct. 1) from 5:45 to 6:15 p.m. at its location within Glover Building. The open house coincides with the Upper School’s Back-To-School Night, and parents/guardians will have plenty of time to get to their first class. The HLC provides additional support to students who may face challenges within the Academy’s rigorous academic environment. For more information, contact Upper School HLC Director Erica Dunne P ’27, ’32.


Benelli Writing Center Info

The Upper School's Benelli Writing Center (BWC) is open and ready to help Upper School students with assignments at any stage of the writing process. Students can schedule an appointment online by going to the "Benelli Writing Center Appointments" box on the Resources page in MySchoolApp. The BWC is located in Stacy B. Southworth Library. Appointments are available every day, including the Tuesday 8 a.m. flex block and most days after school. If you have any questions, contact Ms. Jersild. 


College Process Day / Application Workshop

Attention, parents/guardians of seniors: On Wednesday, Oct. 14, seniors are given a day to work on the college process while the rest of the school has other tasks. Some seniors may take the day to travel to a college campus, others have interviews scheduled, and some will hunker down at home writing supplemental essays. If your student doesn't yet have plans but has work to do on their applications, encourage their presence in the Brickyard. From 10:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m., seniors gather together for food and college application fun in this unstructured yet productive, supportive, and collaborative event. College search resources will be available, and the college counselors will circulate to help anyone who needs it. The Pulsifer College Counseling Center also has an actual college admissions officer "on duty" from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. to support students with applications and essays. There is no RSVP required to attend the workshop, but counselors will ask students to sign up to meet with the college admissions officer as the date approaches.


College Visits Next Week

The Pulsifer College Counseling Center reminds seniors and the families of seniors that college visits to Thayer's campus are underway. Please note: Sign-up is through Scoir, and visits take place during the school day. Seniors should remember to discuss attending a visit — at least 24 hours in advance — with any teacher whose class will be affected by the college visit. Juniors may attend if they have a free period. Seniors can see all pending visits in Scoir. Remember: Colleges want to meet you! 


Monday, Oct. 5 

8 to 9:05 a.m.: Worcester Polytechnic Institute 

9:10 to 10:15 a.m.: Suffolk University 

1:15 to 2:20 p.m.: Bentley University 

2:25 to 3:30 p.m.: Hobart and William Smith Colleges 


Tuesday, Oct. 6

8:50 to 9:55 a.m.: Colorado College 

10 to 11:05 a.m.: Clark University 

11:10 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.: Johnson & Wales University 

1:15 to 2:20 p.m.: Bryant University 

2:25 to 3:30 p.m.: College of Charleston 


Wednesday, Oct. 7

8 to 9:05 a.m.: Virginia Tech 

9:10 to 10:15 a.m.: Wake Forest University 

10:45 to 11:50 a.m.: Trinity College Dublin 


Thursday, Oct. 8

8:50 to 9:55 a.m.: Lehigh University 

10 to 11:05 a.m.: Fairfield University 

11:10 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.: Smith College 

1:15 to 2:20 p.m.: Bowdoin College 

2:25 to 3:30 p.m.: Binghamton University 


Friday, Oct. 9

8 to 9:05 a.m.: American University 

9:10 to 10:15 a.m.: Villanova University 

1:05 to 2:10 p.m.: Springfield College 

2:15 to 3:20 p.m.: Washington University in St. Louis 


 

Middle School Announcements

 

Student Representative Elections

Tomorrow (Friday, Oct. 2) students in grades 5–8 will meet by grade to hear speeches from classmates running to serve as student representatives for the 2026–27 school year. The Middle School is fortunate to have a great group of students stepping forward this year: eight fifth graders running for two spots; seven sixth graders running for three spots; nine seventh graders running for four spots; and 11 eighth graders running for four spots.


Students who are running will have the opportunity to work with Mr. Reid today (Thursday, Oct. 1) to practice and prepare their speeches before presenting to their classmates. It takes a great deal of courage to put oneself forward as a leader and speak in front of one’s peers. Middle School faculty organizers are proud of all the students who have chosen to take this step and look forward to hearing their speeches, supporting their efforts, and celebrating the school’s emerging student leaders.


Election results will be shared with all candidates on Sunday afternoon. On Monday morning, the new representatives will be announced.


Yearbook Ad Info

Attention, Grade 8 parents and guardians: Don't miss out on the chance to place an ad in your child's 8th grade yearbook. Click here for information regarding how to make, place, and pay for your ad. The deadline for all ads and payments is Nov. 1.


Please help to make this year's Evergreen yearbook one to remember. This is always a favorite section of the yearbook for our departing eighth graders. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Middle School Science Department Head Natalie Young, the yearbook’s advisor.

 

TAPA News

Dinner & Dialogue: Connect with Fellow Thayer Families

In partnership with TAPA, the Engagement & Belonging Office is excited to launch Dinner & Dialogue, a new opportunity for Thayer parents and guardians to come together over a meal for conversation, connection, and community building.


These gatherings will offer a welcoming space to meet other families, engage in thoughtful dialogue around topics relevant to the community, share perspectives and experiences, and strengthen connections across Thayer.


Interested in participating? Please complete the brief Dinner & Dialogue Interest Form to let organizers know. Responses will help to identify topics of interest and schedule gatherings at times that work best for the Thayer community.


Upcoming TAPA Coffees

TAPA hosts a number of coffees for current Thayer families throughout the school year. Upcoming coffees include: 


  • Middle School Coffee on Wednesday, Oct. 7, at 8:15 a.m. in the Forum. 


Come meet fellow parents and guardians, ask questions, and learn about some of what will happen this year at Thayer.


Meet Your TAPA Class Parents and Guardians

TAPA is once again excited to support class parents and guardians as they help to strengthen connections and encourage engagement within each grade. Thank you to everyone who has volunteered to serve during the school year.


  • Class of 2034: Sarah Farrell and Mandy Susi
  • Class of 2033: Alexi Singh and Diane Biega
  • Class of 2032: Dan Cohen
  • Class of 2031: Amanda Smallwood and Kaileen Sanner
  • Class of 2030: Caroline Rooney and Susan Saliba
  • Class of 2029: Linnea Holmes and Amy Leerink
  • Class of 2028: Missy Gaultier and Melanie Yates
  • Class of 2027: Ronit Velde and Melissa Cuccinelli


TAPA is grateful to all class parents and guardians for helping to foster a welcoming, connected, and engaged Thayer community.


Invitation to Volunteer

TAPA welcomes all new and returning families to the 2026-27 school year. TAPA’s goal is to support the school through sponsoring various social events and programs, thereby enhancing the school experience for all. TAPA is already planning and preparing a variety of great events this year. A list of volunteer opportunities throughout the year is available for review. 


Here to Help

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at tapa@thayer.org. 


EXECUTIVE BOARD 2026-27

President: Caroline Kuhlman P ’25, ’28

Vice President: Rebecca Baker P ’28

Treasurer: Sandi Petrie P ’30, ’30

Secretary: Sara Torok P ’30

Communications: Jennifer McGuirl P ‘26, ‘29, ‘30

Volunteer Coordinators: Laura Query P ’29, ’31 and Amanda Smallwood P ’29, ’31

Engagement & Belonging Coordinator: Dasan Harrington P ’27 

Middle School President: Kate Nedelman Herbst ’98 P ’31

Middle School Vice President: Maribeth Flakes P '32

Middle School Secretary: Lisa Kazakis P '31, '32

Middle School Engagement & Belonging Coordinator: Ophelia Ardayfio P ’27, ’30, ’33

Middle School Communications: Ashley Fleming P ‘33

Parent Athletics Council (PAC) Coordinator: Kate Bingham P ’27

Parent/Guardian Resources

 

What Thayer Is Reading Now

Upper School English teacher Jaci Sanford is reading East of Eden by John Steinbeck. 

 

Questions about the TNN? Suggestions? 
Please email: 
TNN@thayer.org.

 

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