Joey Fisher ’27 eludes St. George's defenders Oct. 10.

Global Speaker Series Event Rescheduled for Oct. 30

Due to illness, the first Global Speaker Series event of the school year needed to be rescheduled and is now set for Thursday, Oct. 30, at 7:30 p.m. in the CFA’s Hale Theater. There, renowned professor and social scientist Robert Putnam will discuss the power of social capital and the need for civic engagement to ensure students’ and democracy’s futures. To RSVP, click here. 

Upper School Parent/Guardian Social 

The Upper School Parent/Guardian Social will be held Thursday, Oct. 23, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Student Commons. To RSVP, click here. 

Show Your Pride With Senior Yearbook Ads

Attention, parents and guardians of the Class of 2026: The Black & Orange yearbook offers an opportunity for parents and guardians 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 more information, Click Here.

Picture Retake Day Is Oct. 20

Picture Retake Day for the Upper School will be Monday, Oct. 20. Please note: SmilePro will only be on campus that day from 7:30 a.m. until the end of lunch, or approximately 1 p.m. 

College Visits Have Begun

The Pulsifer College Counseling Center reminds seniors and the families of seniors that college visits to Thayer's campus are underway. Sign-up is through Scoir, and visits take place during the school day. Seniors should remember to get permission — at least 24 hours in advance — from any teacher whose class will be affected by the college visit. Juniors may attend if they have a free period. To see the full list of colleges that will be on campus, Click Here.

Parent/Guardian Conferences; No School Oct. 17

Middle School Parent/Guardian Conferences will take place via Zoom today (Thursday, Oct. 16) from 4 to 8 p.m. and on Friday, Oct. 17, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. There is no school on Friday, Oct. 17, at the Middle School only due to these conferences. If you have any questions regarding these conferences, please reach out to Ms. Tenney. 

Middle School Parent/Guardian Social 

The Middle School Parent/Guardian Social will be held Friday, Oct. 24, from 7 to 9 in the Student Commons. To RSVP, click here. 

Middle School Fall Social Is Oct. 24

The Middle School will hold its fall social Friday, Oct. 24, from 7 to 9 in the Forum. Come dance and hang out with friends at the social; there will be a DJ, games, and more. Pickup and drop-off will be in the Middle School Loop. The social is for all Thayer Middle School students (Grades 5-8). Families should complete this form if their student plans to attend that night. 

Next Science Cafe Is Oct. 27

Hannah Pearson, a marine biologist at Island Creek Oysters, will be the guest of the next Middle School Science Cafe Monday, Oct. 27, during that day’s lunch period. Interested Middle School students should sign up and submit questions for Ms. Pearson via this Google Form by Friday, Oct. 24. Space is limited; students will be able to eat lunch together in the science room while meeting with Ms. Pearson. For any questions, contact Mrs. Young.

Scholastic Book Fair Begins Oct. 27

The annual Scholastic Book Fair at the Middle School is almost here. Students will be able to shop at the fair beginning Monday, Oct. 27; the fair will end Friday, Oct. 31. Purchases can be made with a Scholastic eWallet account, a credit card, Apple Pay, or a Greenlight card. Parents and guardians are strongly encouraged to create an eWallet for book fair purchases. To create an eWallet account, visit the Middle School Scholastic Book Fair website. For a quick overview about how a Scholastic eWallet works, click here to view a short video.

A few English teachers have created eWallet accounts where books can be purchased for their classroom libraries. If families would like to donate to a teacher’s eWallet account, they can find those teachers’ individual account links here. Click on the account link and follow the directions. If you have any additional questions about the book fair, please email Middle School Librarian Blodine Francois. 

Halloween Costume Guidelines

All Middle School students are welcome to wear a costume for Halloween on Friday, Oct. 31. There will be an optional costume parade and Halloween celebration during Extra-Help. 

The Middle School encourages students to be creative and build a costume from what they have. Students wearing a costume that day will need to be able to sit and participate in class or they will need to remove it during classes. Students planning a group costume should be mindful to be inclusive — exclusions can be hurtful. Please note: 

• No bare shoulders or midsections
• No dressing up as a certain race or culture 
• No weapons of any kind
• During classes, masks need to come off
• No riding/wearing roller skates, skateboards, or wheeled shoes 
• Follow normal school rules

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 Faculty Natalie Young, the yearbook’s advisor.

Picture Retake Day Is Oct. 20

The Middle School’s Picture Retake Day is Monday, Oct. 20. Thayer will again be using SmilePro. If families have any photo-related questions, they can contact the company at info@smilepro.com.

Class Parents/Guardians

TAPA has filled the class parents/guardians roles for all grades and thanks all who volunteered. Keep an eye out for details regarding grade-specific socials 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. Join the affinity group for a family meet-up on Sunday, Nov. 2, at 5 p.m . at Sacco's Bowling, 45 Day St., Somerville.

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. The next meeting of the affinity group will take place Wednesday, Oct. 29, at 7:15 p.m. via Zoom. 

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 already planning and preparing a variety of great events this year. A list of volunteer opportunities throughout the year is available for review. 

Spirit Jackets Available 
Thayer students can order these jackets directly through Jostens at any time during the year. There are several jackets to choose from, starting at $161.50. You can see the jackets on their web page to learn more. If you have any questions, contact Jostens Representative Kate Toman; she can also be reached at 508.248.9095.

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.