Here's this week's TNN

Nov. 6, 2025

Thayer recently welcomed noted planetary scientist
Sarah Stewart Johnson to an Upper School assembly.

All-School Announcements

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

No School Nov. 11
There will be no school Tuesday, Nov. 11, in observance of the Veterans Day holiday.

Thanksgiving Food Drive Led by Juniors

The junior class (class of 2027) and all Upper School advisory groups are engaged in Thayer’s annual Thanksgiving Food Drive on behalf of Quincy Community Action Programs’ (QCAP) Head Start Program. Donations are due on the morning of Friday, Nov. 21. Students have signed up in advisory to contribute at least one food item from this list and are also asked to donate at least $5 to purchase Shaw’s gift cards so that families can purchase a protein to complete their meal. (The school has already purchased these gift cards in $10 increments. Cash donations can be given to a student’s advisor or sent by Venmo to Upper School History Faculty (and Class of 2026 Co-Dean) Heidi Brown (Venmo Account: @Heidi-Brown-120). Please ask your student what they have agreed to contribute to their advisory group's food basket and bring/send them to the grocery store — or your pantry — to select and purchase the items. Thanks to your generosity, our community will provide a Thanksgiving holiday meal for some 500 individuals.

Parents/Guardians Invited to Event on Teen Mental Health

The Peer Education Collaborative will host A Morning With Dr. Lisa Damour Saturday, Nov. 15, on campus. The day of programming in support of teen mental health — initially intended for student leaders, seniors, and their parents/guardians — is now open to the parents/guardians of all Thayer students. Registration is required and space is limited. To RSVP, click here. To learn more about the day’s topics and workshops, click here. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. If families have questions, they can contact Peer Education Collaborative Director Leigh Carroll.

Ski Team Store Info
The Ski Team Store is now live. Get your orders in before the Nov. 9 deadline by accessing the link below:

COED SKIING

USERNAME: THAYER

PASSWORD: SKI25

Grandparents & Special Friends Day

Grandparents & Special Friends Day for both Upper School and Middle School families will take place Friday, Nov. 21. All parents/guardians received an email earlier this month to share the contact information of those who should be invited; however, in case families have not responded yet, this RSVP link allows grandparents and special friends to RSVP directly to the event.

Holiday 'Give and Save' Program Helps Thayer

If you plan to order holiday cards and/or holiday gifts, please know that Minted.com is offering 20% off and a 10% donation to Thayer on all orders placed using the code FUNDRAISETHAYER. Keep in mind: this code is available to use year-round.

Upper School Announcements

No School for the Upper School Nov. 14
There will be no school for the Upper School division Friday, Nov. 14, because of parent/guardian conferences.

Parent/Guardian-Teacher Conferences & Other Events

Upper School parents and guardians received an email Nov. 5 detailing Parent/Guardian-Teacher Conferences on Thursday, Nov. 13, and Friday, Nov. 14. This email included information as to how to use the Pick-A-Time online portal to sign up for individual conferences. The email also touched upon a Nov. 14 blood drive on campus as well as several other November happenings. To read the email, click here.

Thayer Athletics Topic of Nov. 19 Coffee

The Parents Athletic Council (PAC) will host a parent/guardian coffee Wednesday, Nov. 19, from 8:15 to 9:15 a.m. in the CFA’s O’Toole Lobby where Athletic Director Bobbi Moran will offer an inside look into athletics at Thayer Academy — where the school is and where it’s going. PAC invites parents and guardians to submit any questions in advance so they can be included in the presentation; questions can be emailed to PAC representative Kate Bingham P ’27 at pac@thayer.org.

Show Your Pride With Senior Yearbook Ads; Due Date Nov. 15

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.

Middle School Announcements

Middle School Pickup Times Before Thanksgiving Break
Middle School fall sports and co-curriculars ended Nov. 4. As a result, there will be a mix of early dismissals and the start of the division’s activity period. Buses will run at their regular time, departing at 4 p.m. Dates to consider are:

Nov. 5-7: Early dismissal with a 2:45 p.m. pickup
Monday, Nov. 10, and Wednesday, Nov. 12: Activities with a 3:45 p.m. pickup (Please note: There is no school Tuesday, Nov. 11, which is Veterans Day)
Thursday, Nov. 13, and Friday, Nov. 14: Early dismissal with a 2:45 p.m. pickup
Nov. 17-19: Activities with a 3:45 p.m. pickup
Thursday, Nov. 20, and Friday, Nov. 21: Early dismissal with a 2:45 p.m. pickup

The Middle School’s Grand Night Out: Dinner and a Show!

Join the Middle School Wednesday, Nov.19, for a pizza party and the Upper School's open dress rehearsal of Hadestown: Teen Edition. For those who plan to join, organizers will meet in the Forum at 4 p.m. for a pre-show pizza party. The dress rehearsal begins at 5:30 p.m. and will end around 8 p.m. RSVP by Thursday, Nov. 13, to Ms. Hancock.

Xanadu Set for Nov. 14

The Middle School production of the musical Xanadu will take place Friday, Nov. 14, at 7 p.m. in the CFA’s Hale Theater. All Middle School students and families are invited and encouraged to attend the performance. Please note: Those students who are in the musical will have tech rehearsal Monday, Nov. 10; Wednesday, Nov. 12; and Thursday, Nov. 13, from 2:45 to 4:30 p.m. in Hale Theater. On Tuesday, Nov. 11 (Veterans Day), tech rehearsal will be from 1 to 4 p.m. There will be a dress rehearsal Friday, Nov. 14, beginning at 2:45 p.m. and running until just before curtain.

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.

TAPA News

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.

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. Upcoming meetings will be held today (Thursday, Nov. 6) at 7 p.m. and Monday, Dec. 1, at 7 p.m. To access the Zoom link, click here. Organizers look forward to affinity group members connecting and supporting one another. 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 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.

Parent/Guardian Resources

What Thayer Is Reading Now

Upper School Interim World Languages Department Head Marc Rando P ’18, ’20 is reading The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown.

Upper School English Faculty and Bailey-King Author Series Director Denise King P ’08, ’10 is reading Blood in the Water by Casey Sherman.

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

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