Thayer teams kicked off their ISL seasons on Homecoming.

Thayer Photos Available Online

This year, the communications office will be posting photo albums to a Smugmug account that you can view here. All of the photos are free for you to download, or you can order prints directly through the Smugmug site. We hope you enjoy seeing these glimpses into Thayer life, and be sure to check back often as we continue to add more images.

Back-To-School Night

A reminder: The Upper School will hold its Back-To-School Night tonight (Thursday, Sept. 25) at 6:30 p.m. 

Hale Learning Center Open House at Upper School 
The Upper School’s Hale Learning Center will hold an open house for families tonight (Thursday, Sept. 25) at 5:45 p.m. in the Glover Building, #214. The open house will take place right before the Upper School’s Back-To-School Night. The HLC provides additional support to students who may face challenges within the Academy’s rigorous academic environment. For more information, contact Upper School HLC Director Erica Dunne P ’27, ’32.

Oct. 3 Is Final Day for Add/Drop

A reminder to families of Upper School students: Per the Student Handbook (Page 54), the final day to add or drop a course without a withdrawal notation on the transcript is the Friday of the fourth full week of the term. This year that date is Friday, Oct. 3. Students should reach out to their teachers and/or their advisors with any questions. Students can get the Add/Drop form from Ms. Gately, Ms. Pena, or Mr. Murphy.

Boys Basketball Meeting

There will be a meeting Monday, Sept. 29, from 3:30 to 3:50 p.m. in the Tiger’s Den for any Upper School students interested in playing boys basketball. Students will have the opportunity to meet Evan Carlson, Thayer’s new boys varsity basketball head coach, and understand the Open Gym vs. Open Practice opportunities taking place in Memorial Gym.

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.

College Application Workshop

Attention, parents and guardians of seniors: On Wednesday, Oct. 15, seniors are given a day to work on the college process while the rest of the school has other tasks. Some students 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 does not 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 will 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 be circulating to help anyone who needs it. No RSVP required.

Financial Aid Workshop for College Is Sept. 30
The Pulsifer College Counseling Office is once again partnering with College Money Method to provide comprehensive financial aid support and education. All sessions will be offered virtually. This year’s first session is Succeeding in the Financial Aid Process: A guide for seniors applying for need-based aid and merit scholarships. The session will take place Tuesday, Sept. 30, from 7 to 8 p.m. Registration is required. While this session is targeted towards seniors and their families, any Thayer family is welcome to join. College counselors will offer more targeted workshops for different grade levels as the year progresses. If you have any questions, contact Associate Director of College Counseling Nellie Brennan Hall. 

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.

Benelli Writing Center Info
The Upper School's Benelli Writing Center (BWC) is open and ready to help Upper School students with assignments at any stage of the writing process. Students can schedule an appointment online by going to the "Benelli Writing Center Appointments" box on the Resources page in MySchoolApp. The BWC is located in Stacy B. Southworth Library. Appointments are available during and after every school day as well as during the Tuesday 8 a.m. flex block. If you have any questions, contact Ms. Jersild. 

Sign Up for Stock Market Simulator Series 

Students are invited to take part in a Stock Market Simulator Series, a business co-curricular offered this school year. Sign-ups are underway; the sign-up link will also be in the Upper School's weekly student announcements.

Interest in Middle School Robotics? 
Organizers are trying to see if there is enough interest to start a Middle School competitive robotics team. Any eighth grade student interested in joining such a team should send an email to Mrs. Stallings. The team would meet from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays in the Upper School robotics lab. Interested eighth graders would need to make sure they have permission from parents/guardians as well as transportation. Students and parents/guardians can email Mrs. Stallings or Mrs. Macauley if they have questions.

Middle School Bring ‘N’ Share Is Sept. 30

The Middle School will hold its Bring ‘N’ Share community potluck on Tuesday Sept. 30, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Middle School. Join the Middle School community for an evening of cuisine, culture, connection, and dance with Rodney Lopez. The whole family is welcome. Organizers encourage families to bring a dish to share that represents one’s family's background or heritage. To RSVP and sign up to bring a dish, Click Here.

Student Representative Info
This week students were introduced to the student representative process in the Middle School. The Middle School is excited to have students apply and run for class positions. If your student is interested in serving as a student representative, please encourage them to apply and take advantage of this opportunity.

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.

Thanks for a Great Homecoming

TAPA would like to extend its sincerest gratitude to all who contributed to making Homecoming a resounding success. Whether you volunteered your time, attended the events, or made a generous donation, your support was invaluable.

It was a special day of community and school spirit where we came together to cheer on our Tigers and celebrate with one another. Your presence and enthusiasm made it a truly memorable occasion.

Thank you for your generosity and for being a vital part of the Thayer community.

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. 

Friday Night Lights Is Oct. 10

TAPA's Parent Athletics Council (PAC) and the Athletics Department are excited to host a fall spirit event for the entire Thayer community. On Friday, Oct. 10, Thayer's going back under the lights as the varsity football team hosts St. George's on Ward Donner Field with a 7 p.m. kickoff. Food trucks will provide food for purchase, and there will be giveaways throughout the night. Wear your orange and black, and don’t miss this fun-filled Tiger Spirit event.

First SEED Session Is Oct. 7

TAPA once again offers SEED (Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity) sessions this year. SEED creates conversational communities that drive personal, organizational, and societal change toward greater equity, diversity, and social justice. All meetings fall on Tuesdays from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Bakker Reading Room of Southworth Library, and the first meeting is Tuesday, Oct. 7. A sign-up sheet is available for those who would like to join the conversation. 

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+.

The affinity group will host a coffee Monday, Sept. 29, at 8:15 a.m. for those who wish to gather in conversation. Please email Caroline Kuhlman P ’25, ’28 for the meeting’s location, if you have any questions, or if you would like to be involved in this group. 

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.

The affinity group will hold a coffee hour Tuesday, Oct. 7, at 9:45 a.m. This event will be hosted off-campus at the home of a parent or guardian. Please email Annie Pratt P ’26, ’27 if you would like the address for the coffee hour or if you would like more information.

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. 

Thanks for Another Great Coffee
A special thanks to all who attended TAPA's Middle School Coffee this past Wednesday where parents and guardians heard from Middle School Director Galen Hamann P ’31. This wraps up TAPA's fall coffee series. See you in the spring!

Varsity Letter Jackets Available 
Everything old is new again, and that includes the return of the varsity jacket. The jackets are custom-made for any Thayer varsity athlete and can be ordered 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 at 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.