Here's this week's TNN

Jan. 08, 2026

Maddie Hayes ’27 minds the net during a 5-3 victory over St. George's School before Winter Recess. For photos, click here.

The Calendar at a Glance

Wednesday, Jan. 14: TAPA Coffee (See TAPA Section for details)
Friday, Jan. 16: End of the semester at the Upper School
Sunday, Jan. 18: Girls Basketball at TD Garden (See All-School Section for details)
Monday, Jan. 19: No School (MLK Jr. Day)
Tuesday, Jan. 20: No School (Upper School / Middle School Review Day)
Friday, Jan. 30: The Valicenti Cup (Begins 5 p.m. at Thayer Sports Center)

All-School Announcements

Go, Tigers!

See all upcoming games, matches, and meets for Thayer teams in the Athletics section of the website.

New Pottery Exhibit

at Koskores Gallery

“The Plume Is the Painter: 40 Years of Redox Reactions on Clay” is now featured in the Koskores Gallery. The display — a solo exhibition of the work of Bob Green — will run until Jan. 30. An in-school reception will take place Tuesday, Jan. 13, from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. in the gallery.

Green has worked with clay for 30 years; he resides and works in Western Massachusetts as a full-time studio potter who teaches Raku and pit-fired pottery workshops. In his work, he continuously explores refining organic elements into classical vessel forms, investigating clay's malleability and fire's ephemeral effects on surfaces.

Cheer on Girls Varsity Hoops at TD Garden

Thayer’s girls varsity basketball team will take on Milton Academy Sunday, Jan. 18, at 5:30 p.m. at TD Garden in Boston. The entire Thayer community is invited to cheer on the Tigers at this historic venue. Click here to secure your free tickets to the game.

First Priority Deadline for Travel Program Is Jan. 15
The First Priority deadline for the programs of Shoulder-to-Shoulder (an organization which partners with Thayer) is Friday, Jan. 15. Students in grades 8 through 12 should apply by this date for the best chance of getting their first-choice program. More than a trip, these experiences allow students to build authentic relationships with inspiring leaders and local communities while engaging in hands-on learning in areas like conservation, education, sustainability, and marine biology. The tech-free environment and small group setting (10-12 students) foster reflection and connection.

Applications are open now (rolling admissions through May 1), but programs fill quickly. Click here to explore 2026 programs and apply.

All Invited to Jigsaw Puzzle Night Jan. 9

Thayer will hold a Jigsaw Puzzle Night Friday, Jan. 9, at 6:30 p.m. in Cahall Dining Hall. The friendly competition is open to all members of the Thayer community: Middle School students, Upper School students, their parents/guardians, faculty, and staff. Cost is $25 per team; first-place, second-place, and third-place teams will have $300, $200, and $100, respectively, donated to the charities of their choice. Additionally, the winning team will receive a $100 gift card to the restaurant of their choice. Put together a team of about five people. Those interested in participating should fill out the Puzzle Night Form to submit the team name, the name of the team’s designated charity, and the names of team members. There is limited space for up to 24 teams, and registration is on a first-come, first-served basis; please make sure to sign up soon. Those with questions should reach out to Mr. Chiari or Ryan Lally ’26.

And an update: As of this afternoon (Thursday, Jan. 8), 20 teams had registered for the event with four spots still open.

Thayer Community Invited to Theater Celebration

Break a Leg Theater Works, a nonprofit which serves as a community partner with Thayer, will hold OVATION, a two-day celebration of the organization’s 10th anniversary. The event will take place Jan. 18 & 19 on campus in the CFA’s Hale Theater. The celebration — dubbed “part masterclass festival, part reunion, and part performance spectacle” — will offer classes, a guest star panel Q&A, a benefit concert, and a meet-and-greet. Whether you’re preparing for auditions, building skills, or simply wanting to train with industry professionals, OVATION offers something for every age and experience level.

The Thayer community is invited to take part in this two-day event, and Thayer students will receive a 30% discount (Discount Code: THAYER30). Click here to visit the Break a Leg Theater Works website to view the full schedule, artist bios, and class offerings as well as register for anniversary celebration.

Join the “Calling In” Book Club

Be part of a school-wide conversation ahead of Loretta J. Ross’ Feb. 26 Global Speaker Series visit and the Tiger Unity Summit. The book club will explore Calling In: How to Start Making Change with Those You'd Rather Cancel, a powerful guide to empathy and justice by Ross, an activist and educator. Discussions are slated for today (Thursday, Jan. 8) and Thursday, Feb. 5. Again, the author visit and Global Speaker Series event will take place Feb. 26. All are welcome; to sign up, click here.

Upper School Announcements

Boston Gap Year Fair Is Saturday at Nobles

The Boston Gap Year Fair will take place Saturday, Jan. 10, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Noble and Greenough School in Dedham. The fair will start with a Gap Year 101 presentation from consultant Jane Sorouhan from J2 Guides. There will then be time for attendees to walk around and talk with roughly 25+ vendors from domestic and international programs. There are also great summer programs for younger students, too. Click here to register. Click here to watch a promotional video.

College Counseling Presentation & Admissions Director
Panel Discussion Scheduled for Jan. 12 in Thompson Hall

Attention, parents and guardians of juniors: The College Counseling Presentation & Admissions Director Panel Discussion will take place Monday, Jan. 12, at 6 p.m. in Thompson Hall at the Middle School. Thayer college counselors will discuss the college counseling and admissions process, which will provide information about the college search, the planning timeline, standardized testing options, and other relevant resources.

The presentation will include a panel discussion with admissions directors from a variety of colleges. They will share their thoughts about the college process and answer questions about college planning and admissions. Parents and guardians are encouraged to invite their juniors if they're available that evening.

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.

Middle School Announcements

BWC Writing Assistance Available to Grade 8 Students

Attention, parents/ guardians of eighth grade students: Through a collaboration between the Middle School Library and the Upper School’s Benelli Writing Center, eighth graders now have the opportunity to receive writing guidance from BWC fellows through workshops. The partnership introduces eighth graders to the peer-to-peer support that BWC fellows provide to Upper School students.

The workshop appointments will take place in the Benelli Writing Center, which is located in Southworth Library on the Upper School campus, on Tuesday, Jan. 13, from 8:10 to 8:45 a.m. Families can click on the date to sign up their student. Students can sign up directly by using the links or by clicking on similar links in the Middle School Announcements. Students are encouraged to register early to allow BWC fellows at the Upper School time to review student work prior to the workshop; eighth graders should sign up at least 24 hours prior to the workshop date. The registration deadline for the Jan. 13 workshop is by 10 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 12.

While attendance is not required, all eighth graders are welcome to attend a workshop. Mr. Seymour and Mr. Liebsch are encouraging their U.S. History and Civics students to take this opportunity to review their research papers with an Upper School BWC fellow. If you have questions, contact Middle School Librarian Blodine Francois or BWC Director Karen Jersild.

TAPA News

TAPA Coffee Is Jan. 14

All parents and guardians are invited to join Head of School Chris Fortunato P ’26, ’28 and Upper School administrators for coffee and conversation Wednesday, Jan. 14, from 8:15 to 9:15 a.m. in the O’Toole Lobby of the Center for the Arts.

If you would like to submit questions in advance, please send them to Director of Special Events and Parent Programming Renee Forsythe.

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, ’30 and/or Cindy Theodore P ’26, the group's facilitators. The affinity group’s remaining meeting schedule is as follows:

Today (Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026)
Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026
Monday, March 2, 2026
Wednesday, April 1, 2026 (Potential In-Person Meeting)
Early June 2026 (Date TBD) (End-Of-Year Celebration)

Christian Affinity Group Coffee Hour Is Feb. 3

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.

The affinity group will hold a coffee hour Tuesday, Feb. 3, at 9:45 a.m. off campus at the home of a parent/guardian. Please email the group’s facilitator, Annie Pratt P ’26, ’27, if you would like the address to the gathering, have any questions about the affinity group, or 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.

Parent/Guardian Resources

What Thayer Is Reading Now

Editorial Director Craig Salters ’86 P ’24 is reading The League: How Five Rivals Created the NFL and Launched a Sports Empire by John Eisenberg.

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

Join us online

Thayer Academy | 745 Washington St. | Braintree, MA 02184 US

Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice