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Best-selling author Casey Sherman visited Thayer April 16 as the
guest speaker for the Bailey-King Author Series. For more, click here.
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The Calendar at a Glance
- Tonight (Thursday, April 23): Spring Theater Production
- Friday, April 24: Friday Night Lights (Girls & Boys Lacrosse)
- Thursday, April 30: The Last Hurrah! (Senior Dinner)
- Friday, May 1: Last Day of Classes for Seniors
- Friday, May 8: Thayer Academy Film Festival (TAFF)
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TAPA's ‘Picnic in the Park’ Fac/Staff Appreciation Luncheon
Each year the Thayer parent and guardian community proudly comes together to celebrate and thank Thayer’s exceptional faculty and staff. These dedicated individuals play a vital role in creating the nurturing, inspiring environment where students learn and thrive. Teacher Appreciation Week offers the perfect opportunity for the community to express its gratitude, and this year TAPA is excited to host a “Picnic in the Park” Luncheon in their honor.
On Wednesday, May 6, TAPA volunteers will transform the Tiger’s Den into a vibrant neighborhood park complete with picnic tables, lemonade and iced tea stands, and delicious picnic‑themed fare. As in years past, the luncheon will include fun surprises, a grand prize drawing, and time for parents/guardians to personally express their appreciation to faculty and staff.
This special event is only possible with the support of Thayer’s parent and guardian community. To help make it a success, TAPA organizers kindly request a suggested donation of $25 per child. Donations may be made via Venmo to @Linnea-Holmes-1 (last four phone digits: 9135) or by check payable to Thayer Academy. Please include “TAPA/LUNCHEON” in the memo or Venmo description.
If you have any questions or are interested in volunteering for this fun and rewarding event, please contact your Class Parent or reach out to Rebecca Baker P ’28 or Pia McKinnon P ’28, ’31. TAPA would love to have you join in the celebration!
Thayer Academy Film Festival Is May 8
Organizers are excited to announce that this year's Thayer Academy Film Festival (TAFF) will take place Friday, May 8, at 6 p.m. in the CFA’s Hale Theater. Students, faculty, staff, and parents/guardians are welcome to attend and encouraged to submit their own films. Submissions are now open; to submit a film, click here. For those looking for inspiration, click here to visit the TAFF website and watch past submissions. Entries can range in genre and length – anything you make is perfect! Please reach out to Mr. Knox with any questions.
Senior Service Trip to Peru; Donations Sought
On May 20 a brave group of 13 seniors will travel to Cusco, Peru. This is the 18th year that Thayer students will participate in this trip. During its time in-country, the group will work with children in Aldea SOS and Aldea Juan Pablo II. The students will also visit various schools in the city as well as spend time in Huilloc Alto — a remote indigenous village in the Sacred Valley.
Trip organizers ask the Thayer community to donate the following items for this amazing trip:
- Board games (with all the pieces)
- School supplies (both new and gently used)
- Art supplies (new and gently used)
- Soccer and volleyballs (new or used) and ball pumps
- Warm (not summer) clothing for newborns through age16 (male and female).
Finally, if anyone has old iPhones, laptops, or tablets (with charging cords), organizers would be grateful for these donations as well. The orphanages and schools that these seniors visit are always incredibly grateful for whatever technology that the students can provide.
Donations can be placed in bins located in Cahall, in the Brickyard, and on the second floor of Main Building (outside Main 208). Please direct any questions to Upper School World Languages Faculty Terri Lukens P ’24, ’27. Donations will be accepted through Friday, May 1.
Celebrate Your Graduate & Give Back to Thayer
Attention, families of seniors: Planning your graduation cards? Use code FUNDRAISETHAYER at Minted.com to get 20% off your order. Plus, Minted will donate 10% of the proceeds to Thayer. (P.S. This code works year-round for any occasion.)
In Case You Missed It
Be sure to check out Thayer’s news page to see what’s happening on campus, including: speech team kudos; info on Thayer's new varsity football head coach; and the recent Bailey-King Author Series.
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Lacrosse Teams To Take
Center Stage Friday Night
Both the girls and boys varsity lacrosse teams will play tomorrow (Friday, April 24) under the lights at Kendall Field.
The girls team will take on Milton Academy at 4:15 p.m. while the boys squad will square off against BB&N at 6:30 p.m. Go, Tigers!
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| Upper School Announcements | | |
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Course Registration 2026-27
Course registration for current 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students has begun. The course selection process began April 10 with school and class meetings. Students are having conversations with teachers and advisors. The system will be open until Monday, April 27, at 4 p.m. Students must submit their course requests by that point. Parents/Guardians will get information about how to view and sign off on course selections next week. Parents/Guardians should reach out to their student's advisor with any questions.
Senior Project Info
Attention, senior parents and guardians: Permission slips for Senior Project, a graduation requirement, are currently active in MySchoolApp. Please read through all the information and sign the forms promptly. They are due tomorrow (Friday, April 24). Every senior — regardless of whether their project is community service, an internship, an on-campus experience, or one of Thayer's trips — needs to have the form signed by all parties.
Benelli Writing Center Fellows Sought Sophomores and juniors interested in becoming Benelli Writing Center fellows next year can access the application form by clicking here; the application form is also available in the Weekly Notices. Applications are due Wednesday, April 29. The BWC is looking for students who enjoy all types of writing and are skilled at explaining the writing process and giving helpful, constructive feedback to their peers. While writing fellows need to be strong writers, they do not have to be straight-A students or be in Honors or AP classes to qualify for this position. If students have any questions, they can contact Ms. Jersild or Mr. Kuhlmann.
BISCCA College Fair (Juniors Only) Is April 26
Attention, families of juniors: The Boston Independent School College Counseling Association (BISCCA) will hold a juniors-only college fair Sunday, April 26, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Babson College in Wellesley. Join juniors from the independent schools in the Greater Boston area in exploring about 140 colleges and universities from around the country and the world. To view the full list of participating schools, click here.
The event will run from 1 to 4 p.m., but to minimize overcrowding, Thayer juniors are asked to attend from 2:30 to 4 p.m. There is a presentation about the financial aid process scheduled for 2 p.m. Please note that parents/guardians are not permitted during the fair (with the exception of the financial aid presentation), so they should plan to bring a book or visit a local coffee shop to pass the time. Juniors need to register in advance by clicking here.
Boston National College Fair Is April 27
The Boston National College Fair will take place Monday, April 27, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston. This fair includes hundreds of colleges and universities from around the country and across the world; to view a list of participating schools, click here. Students should register in advance by clicking here.
‘Exploring Summer Opportunities’ Workshops — Slide Decks
The Global Engagement Program and the Pulsifer College Counseling Center recently co-hosted the second “Exploring Summer Opportunities” workshop for Upper School students. The focus of the late March workshop was to help students explore resources for finding and applying to summer volunteer and job opportunities. To view the slide deck from this presentation, click here. Please note: More will be added to this slide deck as additional summer job and volunteer opportunities arise.
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| Middle School Announcements | | |
Next Science Cafe Is May 1
The next Middle School Science Cafe is scheduled for Friday, May 1, with Dr. Ayesha Abdeen P ’28, ’30, ’32, an orthopedic surgeon at Boston Medical Center. Interested Middle School students should sign up and submit questions for Dr. Abdeen via Google Form by Wednesday, April 29; space is limited. Students will be able to eat lunch together in the science room while meeting with the presenter. Contact Mrs. Young with any questions.
Middle School Arts Night Is May 1
Middle School families are invited to take part in this spring’s Middle School Arts Night Friday, May 1, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the school. This evening celebrates the dynamic work Middle School students have created this term across the arts.
As the last arts night of the school year, the May 1 event offers a meaningful opportunity to gather as a community and recognize the creativity, discipline, and growth that Middle School students have demonstrated. Families are invited to explore the gallery spaces at their own pace throughout the evening. Students participating in performances will receive specific arrival and call times in advance.
Students may remain on campus after sports and study hall. Supervision will be provided, and pizza will be available for those staying. If your child plans to remain at school for dinner and the event, please email Ms. Palmer by Wednesday, April 29, so that organizers can plan accordingly. Also, feel free to reach out Ms. Palmer if you have any questions about the night.
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TAPA Board Positions
TAPA supports many beloved community events throughout the school year, including Homecoming, The Last Hurrah! senior dinner, the 8th Grade Dinner, and transportation to and from Prom, just to name a few. Serving on the TAPA Board offers a unique opportunity to stay informed, help shape new initiatives, and support meaningful experiences for students and families. TAPA is always eager to welcome dedicated volunteers to participate in the planning, development, and management of these events by serving on the board.
If you’re interested in a board position, please contact TAPA President Caroline Kuhlman P ’25, ’28 to learn more about available roles, responsibilities, and time commitments.
TAPA Scholarship Applications
Attention, all senior parents and guardians: please note that TAPA provides scholarship opportunities for those students who have demonstrated interest in, experience in, or aptitude for community service. Scholarships will be awarded at Last Chapel in June.
TAPA encourages all to apply. The deadline to apply is Thursday, April 30; for an application form, click here.
Class Parents/Guardians
Did you know each Thayer class has two class parents/guardians who are there to help families connect with their students’ class activities as well as general Thayer events? If you don’t currently get emails from your class parent/guardians, please reach out and make sure they have your correct email and that they are not blocked. To access a list by grade, click here.
LGBTQ+ Parent/Guardian Affinity Group
The LGBTQ+ Parent/Guardian Affinity Group welcomes any parent or guardian who identifies as LGBTQ+ or any parent/guardian of a student who identifies as LGBTQ+ or their allies. Please email Caroline Kuhlman P ’25, ’28 if you have any questions or would like to be involved in this group.
Parents of Color Affinity Group Join the Parents of Color Affinity Group for meaningful conversations and community building. This group is intended for any parent or guardian who identifies as a person of color as well as parents or guardians of students who identify as people of color. Organizers look forward to affinity group members connecting and supporting one another. To access the Zoom link for these meetings, click here. For more information, contact Sandra Joseph P ’27, ’30 and/or Cindy Theodore P ’26, the group's facilitators. The affinity group’s remaining meeting schedule is as follows:
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TBD (Internship / Job Fair Event)
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Thursday, May 7 (Family Paint Night)
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Monday, June 1 (End-Of-Year Celebration)
Christian Affinity Group
The Christian Affinity Group welcomes all parents and guardians who identify as Christian as well as those who have children who identify as Christian. The group is a supportive community where members can share their faith, connect with one another, and participate in meaningful discussions and events. Please email the group’s facilitator, Annie Pratt P ’26, ’27, if you would like more information. The affinity group looks forward to welcoming families into its community.
Jewish Parent/Guardian Affinity Group
The Jewish Parent/Guardian Affinity Group is intended for any parent/guardian who identifies as Jewish as well as any parent/guardian of a student who identifies as Jewish. Questions? Contact Hilary Waxman P ’26, the group's facilitator.
Invitation To Volunteer
TAPA welcomes all new and returning families to the 2025-26 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 busy 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 or contact any member of this year’s executive board. For more info and helpful resources, visit the TAPA page on Thayer’s website.
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What Thayer Is Reading Now
Benelli Writing Center Director Karen Jersild is reading The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell.
| | | Thayer Academy | 745 Washington St. | Braintree, MA 02184 US | | | | |