Friday Night Lights

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. Tabor

Friday, Oct. 16: Varsity field hockey vs. Nobles 

Friday, Oct. 30: Girls varsity soccer vs. Middlesex  

Friday, Nov. 6: Varsity football vs. Nobles 

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.

Upper School Makeup Picture Day Is Oct. 19

The final Upper School Makeup Picture Day will be held Monday, Oct. 19, from 7:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. for students in grades 9-12. Mandatory Assembly Dress is expected, and school dress code with a “dressed-up” spirit is appreciated. These photos are used for the Upper School’s Black & Orange yearbook as well as the school’s MySchoolApp platform. 

Parents and guardians will receive ordering information from Smile-Pro Portraits, the photography company. If you have any questions about ordering photos, contact Smile-Pro directly. If you have any questions about photo day or the yearbook, please contact Ms. Blanco, the yearbook’s advisor. 

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. 

Benelli Visiting Writer Series: Desmond Hall To Visit Oct. 19

Desmond Hall, award-winning author of young adult novels Better Must Come and Your Corner Dark, is this year’s guest author for the Benelli Visiting Writer Series. Hall will be on campus Monday, Oct. 19, to address an Upper School assembly and visit Upper School classes. 

In addition to his young adult novels, Hall is also an acclaimed screenwriter and playwright. To learn more about the author, click here. 

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! 

Tuesday, Oct. 13

8:50 to 9:55 a.m.: Rollins College 

10 to 11:05 a.m.: University of Tampa 

11:10 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.: Western New England University 

1:15 to 2:20 p.m.: George Mason University 

2:25 to 3:30 p.m.: Eckerd College 

Thursday, Oct. 15

8:50 to 9:55 a.m.: Connecticut College 

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

11:10 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.: Elon University 

1:15 to 2:20 p.m.: Mount Holyoke College 

2:25 to 3:30 p.m.: Eastern Connecticut State University 

Friday, Oct. 16

8 to 9:05 a.m.: Salve Regina University 

9:10 to 10:15 a.m.: Babson College 

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

2:15 to 3:20 p.m.: St. Mary’s College of Maryland 

Middle School Parent/Guardian Conferences

Middle School Parent/Guardian Conferences will take place via Zoom Thursday, Oct. 15, from 4 to 8 p.m. and Friday, Oct. 16, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. This virtual format offers greater flexibility for parents/guardians and ensures a focused, private conversation about their student’s progress. A reminder: Because of the conferences, the Middle School will have no school on Oct. 16

Conference sign-ups are now open. Registration will close at noon on Tuesday, Oct. 13. Parents and guardians can schedule slots that work for their family using “Pick-a-Time.” If you have any questions or concerns about sign-ups, please contact Ms. Tenney, the Middle School’s registrar.

Middle School Picture Retake Day Is Oct. 19

Monday, Oct. 19, is Picture Retake Day for any Middle School students who missed Picture Day or would like to have their photos retaken. 

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.

Thank-You From the TAPA Board

The TAPA Board extends its heartfelt thanks to all the parents and guardians whose time, energy, and support helped to make this year's Homecoming the best one yet. The board especially wants to recognize this year’s wonderful Homecoming co-chairs, Megan Butow P ’29 and Maribeth Flakes P ’32, without whom this celebration simply would not have been possible.

TAPA is also incredibly grateful to everyone who came out, cheered on our Tigers, and helped create the warm, welcoming sense of community that made the day such a success. Moments like these are what make the Thayer family so special.

If you enjoyed Homecoming, TAPA would love for you to be part of what comes next. Whether you have an hour to spare or want to help plan an event from start to finish, every bit of help makes a difference, and it's a great way to meet other families and get more involved in the Thayer community. Keep an eye out for upcoming TAPA events and volunteer opportunities. Your fellow TAPA members hope to see you there. 

Again, the TAPA board would like to express its gratitude to families for helping to create such an amazing weekend. Go, Tigers! 

Successful Middle School Coffee

TAPA thanks families for a great Middle School Coffee held Oct. 7 in the Forum. The event allowed parents and guardians to hear information on the first trimester as well as tips for partnering with the Middle School in support of students. For a slide deck with resources for families, click here. 

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.

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 and Shirley Laurent
• 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.

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