Marilyn Legg Holiday Gift Drive

The 38th annual Marilyn Legg Holiday Gift Drive is underway. Upper School students heard a presentation Nov. 17 announcing the gift drive; students then had the opportunity to take a notecard with a child's name and gift wish on it. Parents and guardians, please check in with your child to see if they did take a notecard, which is a commitment to buy a gift for a child. In most cases this will be the only gift that this child receives this holiday season, and gift drive organizers want to make sure no one is left out. The toys should be dropped off, unwrapped, by Dec. 10 (the earlier the better) in the Hale Learning Center, which is located in Glover Building.

The Middle School received the Marilyn Legg Holiday Gift Drive presentation right after Thanksgiving Break; Middle School students now also have the opportunity to sign up for a notecard with a specific gift for a child in need. 

The drive’s goal is to provide gifts for more than 600 local children. The organizations that this drive benefits are: Department of Child and Family Services; South Boston Neighborhood House; and Quincy Headstart. If you have any questions or would like to make a donation to support this drive, please reach out to Ms. Dunne or Mr. Schneider. Also, if students have lost their notecards, they can always contact either faculty member for the information. Drive organizers thank the Thayer community for its generosity and wish everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving Break. 

Winter Zoom Sports Meeting Cancelled
The Athletics Department’s Winter Zoom Meeting for parents/guardians of student-athletes taking part in the winter sports season — a meeting which had been scheduled for Dec. 8 — has been cancelled. Via email, the department notified families of the move to in-person, team-specific parent/guardian meetings hosted by each team’s coach. These team-specific meetings will take place following an early-season home practice or game. Coaches will reach out with details by Friday, Dec. 5. 

Last Call for Senior Yearbook Ads

Last call for parents and guardians of seniors! There are approximately five pages of senior ad space remaining for the 2026 Black & Orange, the Upper School’s yearbook. If senior parents and guardians would like to order and purchase an ad, please do so as soon as possible by clicking here. Any size from a half-page ad to a full-page ad can be accepted now. Yearbook staff need to close down the ad submissions by Monday, Dec. 15, so these ad purchases will be on a first-come, first-served basis. If you have questions, reach out to Upper School World Languages Faculty Gloria Blanco P ’04, ’05, ’08, ’11, the yearbook’s advisor. 

ACT, SAT Prep for Juniors

Thayer Academy’s Pulsifer College Counseling Center is partnering with Summit Educational Group to offer a variety of options for ACT and SAT preparation for current juniors.

Starting in January of 2026, Summit Educational Group will host a Virtual ACT Prep Class. The course has been specifically designed to give students all the academic skills and strategies they will need on test day. After the practice test, students will receive a detailed Score Report to track progress. The registration deadline for the ACT Prep Class is Jan. 18, 2026, and students can register through the appropriate link.

Also starting in January of 2026, Summit Educational Group will host an In-Person SAT Prep Class on campus. The course has been specifically designed to give students all the academic skills and strategies they will need on test day. After the practice test, students will receive a detailed Score Report to track progress. The registration deadline for the SAT Prep Class is Jan. 19, 2026, and students can register through the appropriate link.

Please reach out to the Pulsifer College Counseling Center with any questions.

Next Science Cafe Is Dec. 8

Emma Morin, who holds a master’s degree in biomedical forensic science from Boston University School of Medicine, will be the next guest speaker at the Middle School Science Cafe set for Monday, Dec. 8. Interested Middle School students should sign up and submit questions for Morin via this Google Form by Friday, Dec. 5; space is limited. During the science cafe, students will be able to eat lunch together in the science room while meeting with Morin. Those with questions can contact Middle School Science Department Head Natalie Young. 

And save the date: Dr. Valerie Whalen, a veterinarian, will be the guest for the Dec. 17 science cafe. A sign-up sheet for that event will be available next week. 

TAPA Holiday Merchandise Sale

Come to the Middle School Forum on Tuesday, Dec. 9, and Thursday, Dec. 11, during drop-off from 7:45 to 9:15 a.m. to get those last-minute holiday gifts including knit hats, pet items, YETI water bottles, clothing, and more. 

End-of-Term Celebration Is Dec. 10

The Middle School will hold its End-of-Term Celebration Wednesday, Dec. 10, from 8 to 9 a.m. in the CFA’s Hale Theater. Students will share what they’ve learned during the first trimester. Middle School families are invited to attend the Dec. 10 event and sit in the upper portion of Hale Theater. 

Yearbook Seeks Baby Photos of Eighth Graders

Attention, eighth grade students: Staff members of Evergreen, the Middle School yearbook, need your baby photos for this year's yearbook. Please send a digital copy of your photo (as a jpeg) to Mrs. Young by Friday, Dec. 19. See Mrs. Young with any questions.

AISNE Middle School DEIB Conference; Participants Sought

The AISNE Middle School Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Conference will take place Saturday, Feb. 7, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Regis College, 235 Wellesley St., Weston. Thayer will bring up to 10 Middle School students to participate in this engaging and meaningful event. If a student is interested and available to attend, families should contact Middle School Engagement & Belonging Coordinator Richie Iskra or Dean of Engagement & Belonging Matt Ghiden in person or via email.

Class Parents/Guardians

TAPA has filled the class parents/guardians roles for all grades and thanks all who volunteered. Keep an eye out for updates from your class representatives. 

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 and/or Cindy Theodore P ’26, the group's facilitators.

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 Annie Pratt P ’26, ’27 if you have any questions or would like to be involved in this group.

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.