Marilyn Legg Holiday Gift Drive

The 38th annual Marilyn Legg Holiday Gift Drive is underway. Upper School students heard a presentation Nov. 17 announcing the gift drive; students then had the opportunity to take a notecard with a child's name and gift wish on it. Parents and guardians, please check in with your child to see if they did take a notecard, which is a commitment to buy a gift for a child. In most cases this will be the only gift that this child receives this holiday season, and gift drive organizers want to make sure no one is left out. The toys should be dropped off, unwrapped, by Dec. 10 (the earlier the better) in the Hale Learning Center, which is located in Glover Building.

The Middle School will receive the Marilyn Legg Holiday Gift Drive presentation right after Thanksgiving Break; after that, Middle School students will also have the opportunity to sign up for a notecard with a specific gift for a child in need. 

The drive’s goal is to provide gifts for more than 600 local children. The organizations that this drive benefits are: Department of Child and Family Services; South Boston Neighborhood House; and Quincy Headstart. If you have any questions or would like to make a donation to support this drive, please reach out to Ms. Dunne or Mr. Schneider. Also, if students have lost their notecards, they can always contact either faculty member for the information. Drive organizers thank the Thayer community for its generosity and wish everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving Break. 

Semi-Formal Photos Available

Upper School students recently enjoyed a fantastic semi-formal event Dec. 10 at the Marriott Boston in Quincy. Click here to view photos from that great night; click here to enjoy other photos from the Thayer Academy Photo Albums. 

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. Remaining Dates to consider are: 

• Friday, Nov. 21: Early dismissal with a 2:45 p.m. pickup

Post-Break Early Dismissal Times

Following Thanksgiving Break, the Middle School will have early dismissal days on Monday, Dec. 1, and Tuesday, Dec. 2. Dismissal time will be 2:45 p.m.

Fall Arts Night

The IDEA Department invites the Middle School community to this fall’s Arts Night, which will take place today (Thursday, Nov 20). Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with refreshments and formal programming starting at 6 p.m. The night’s program includes time blocks for student presentations. Arts Night is organized as a gallery event, meaning families can experience the work from other sections and activities at their leisure. If parents/guardians would like their student to stay through the after-school study hall, Arts Night organizers are also providing a pizza dinner. The students have done such great work this term, and the IDEA Department can’t wait for families to experience it. 

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.

Holiday Merchandise Sale Dec. 2 & 3; Volunteers Sought 

TAPA’s annual Holiday Merchandise Sale will take place Tuesday, Dec. 2, from 3 to 6 p.m. and Wednesday, Dec. 3, from 1 to 4 p.m. in the CFA’s O’Toole Lobby. Don’t miss the chance to get never-before-seen Thayer merchandise. 

Also, TAPA seeks volunteers to help out on both days. On Dec. 2, there are two shifts: Set-Up & Sell from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.; and Sell from 4 to 6 p.m. On Dec. 3, there are also two shifts: Sell from 12:45 to 2:45 p.m.; and Sell & Breakdown from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. To volunteer, click here. For questions, contact Rebecca Baker P ’28. 

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. The next meeting will be 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.

Parents' Independent School Network Update

The Parents’ Independent School Network’s (PIN) November meeting featured Mike Domitrz from the The Center for Respect discussing "Creating a Culture of Caring Relationships." Award-winning speaker, author, and president of The Center for Respect, Domitrz is an expert at helping schools create a culture of respect. He shares concrete skills to help students speak up for themselves, intervene on behalf of others, and respond in a respectful manner — foundations for building a healthier school culture. A recording of this meeting is available for the Thayer community at this link. Please note: this link will be live for two weeks. 

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.