PHILLIPS ACADEMY
ANDOVER
May 2013
Dear Phillips Academy Families living in and near Andover,
This September Phillips Academy will welcome approximately 79 new international students to our community. While the
term “international student” by definition refers to the non-US citizen, many of our new students are Americans or joint US
citizens living outside the United States. There are also a few students, who recently moved to the U.S. and are still
adjusting to the American way of life and culture. Twenty-one years ago, we started a Host Family Program, which has
proved to be very rewarding for both, the participating students and their host families. The number of families involved has
tripled during these years. In 2012-13 one hundred and fourteen students connected with one hundred different families,
most of whom were located near the school. While the experience has been different for each student, every student
participating in the host family program has affirmed the value of the program and urged that it continue.
On the reverse of this page is a brief description of the different categories of host families we seek. Also enclosed is a
form you may fill out and return to me. As you will see, various levels of involvement are possible. I will call families to
discuss each situation before final placement. Once placement has been made, I will send out information so that your
family can contact the new international student in late August. I will also send to the host family suggestions on hosting an
international student that may prove helpful. This year, I expect to be matching students and families starting in July, so
please let me know how I can contact you during that time if you will not be at home. Just write the information on the back
of the reply form. Unless you serve as a Labor Day Week Host Family, you will meet your student for the first time at a
dessert reception on Thursday, September 5 at 6:30 p.m. in Upper Left, Paresky Commons.
Families of students from ALL grades are needed as I seek to match international students with PA counterparts their age.
It is very important to note that choosing to host an international student needs to be a family decision. Your child
must also want to participate in this program and want to establish a relationship with the host student. Please
make sure that your family has the time to meet the guidelines suggested for host family activities/support as listed
in the primary (#1 Occasional and Vacation Host Family) description.
If you ask the question "What would I like for my child were she/he thousands of miles away from home?", then I am sure
you can understand the value of the host families for our international student body. The relationship usually leads to mutual
enrichment, understanding and enjoyment.
I encourage you to consider participating in our host family program. Should you have questions or special concerns and
wish to talk with me or a recent host family, please contact me at my office (978) 749-4254 or at home during the evenings:
(978) 687-6183 or via email storabi@andover.edu . Finally, if you do decide to become a host family, please visit:
http://www.andover.edu/parents/volunteers_cori.htm. Due to recent legislation, all academy volunteers must be CORI
checked, must complete the volunteer driver’s form and read and sign a brief sexual harassment information form. Details
regarding this process and the necessary forms can be found at the aforementioned website. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Susanne Torabi
International Student Coordinator
PHILLIPS ACADEMY
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT HOST FAMILY PROGRAM
This September Phillips Academy welcomes approximately 79 new international students* to our student body.
These young men and women will enter all four grades 9 through 12. Some have previously lived and studied in the
U.S., but many have not. Several come to Phillips Academy via our traditional exchange programs; others come to us
totally on their own. Most of them are a long way from their homes and their families. In 2013-2014 new
international students will be coming from 27 countries: Albania, Australia, Belgium, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada,
China, Dominica, England, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Italy, Jamaica, Mexico, Saudi Arabia,
Scotland, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Syria, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam.
All of us who have traveled abroad or who have sent our children to other countries know the importance of warmth
and generosity received in a foreign land. We would like to extend this type of hospitality to these young people,
who will soon be "at home" with us in Andover.
Families of students from ALL classes are needed to match international students with PA counterparts. Please note
that choosing to host an international student needs to be a family decision. Your son/daughter must also want to
participate in this program and want to establish a relationship with the international student.
I. If you live within one hour of Phillips Academy:
1. Occasional and Vacation Host Family: While school is in session these host families may invite students for an
occasional meal off campus, help them set up their rooms, provide transportation for nearby errands, include them in
family celebrations and outings, help them understand and participate in American holidays, take care packages for
them at appropriate moments during the year, make weekly calls/send weekly e-mails just to see how things are
going, provide an extra layer of support and kindness, etc. In addition, those who volunteer in this group may also
provide a home stay during one (most commonly Thanksgiving) of the school vacations. Four families will be asked
to begin their hosting over the Labor Day Weekend – please see #3 below.
2. Occasional Host Family Only: Families near PA volunteer to provide the family hospitality mentioned above, but
do not offer to serve as a host family over any of the school vacations.
3. Labor Day Host Family: Families host our traditional exchange program students (one-year seniors/postgraduates from France, Germany, Italy, and Spain) who are invited to arrive on Friday, August 30. By spending a
few day with a host family prior to the start of their special orientation (Wednesday, September 4), they will begin at
PA with most of the "jet lag" behind them and a more smooth transition to study and life at Andover.
4. Vacation Host Family Only: See below.
II. If you live near Phillips Academy OR anywhere in the continental USA
4. Vacation Host Family Only: These families offer to provide a home stay during one or more of the school
vacations: Thanksgiving (Nov. 22 – Dec. 4), Winter (Dec. 18 - Jan. 6), or part thereof, and Spring (Mar. 6 - March
24). We seek family stays both in and outside the New England area, especially during winter and spring
vacations. Those families selecting this category of participation have no formal obligations to the student when
school is in session.
*At Phillips Academy we define “international student” as any student who lives outside the United States. Thus the group
includes U.S. citizens, dual-citizens, and non-U.S. citizens.
If you are interested in participating in the Host Family Program, please return ASAP.
Matching of students and families will take place during July and August. If you have questions, contact Susanne Torabi.
Office Phone: (978) 749-4254
Fax: (978) 749-4256
E-mail: storabi@andover.edu
PHILLIPS ACADEMY INTERNATIONAL STUDENT
HOST FAMILY PROGRAM
Parents' names______________________________________________________________________________
Address___________________________________________________________________________________
Street
City
Zip
Home
Best time
Work
ETel:(_____)_______________to call:_________________ Tel:(____)_______________mail:________________________
To help in the matching of student and family, please complete the following fully, write on the reverse, or attach a note to this page.
Family interests/hobbies:______________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Your child's name:__________________________Year of graduation:________ No. of years at PA:___________
His/her interests/hobbies:______________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Name, age and gender of other children:___________________________________________________________
Pets:____________________________________________Religion, if applicable:________________________
Any languages you speak at home and/or prefer: ___________________________________________________
Please check the appropriate blanks:
* For families who live within one hour of Phillips Academy:
1. _____ We would like to be an Occasional and Vacation Host Family. (#1 in program description)
We could host during: _____Labor Day Week;
_____Thanksgiving vacation;
_____Winter vacation;
_____ Spring vacation.
2. _____ We would like to be an Occasional Host Family Only. (#2 in program description)
3. _____ We would like to be a Labor Day Host Family Only. (#3 in program description)
* For families who live within one hour of PA and anywhere in the continental USA.
4. _____ We would like to be a Vacation Host Family Only. (#4 in program description)
We could host during: _____Thanksgiving; _____Winter vacation; _____ Spring vacation.
 For all hosting scenarios: we prefer a _____ boy, a _____ girl, _____ either boy or girl.
If the country of origin is important to you, if you have a different phone number, where you can be reached during July/August, if you have a
special questions or information I should take into consideration, please let me know. Placement of students will take place during the summer.
Host families will meet their host student for the first time at a dessert reception on Thursday, Sept. 5 at 6:30 p.m. in Paresky Commons.
Please return this form ASAP to
Susanne Torabi, International Student Coordinator, Phillips Academy, 180 Main St., Andover, MA 01810
storabi@andover.edu or fax 978 749 4256