The Peak | Weekly Newsletter | Worcester Academy

• Payments are made through each student’s food service account, which is linked to their ID card. Students should swipe their card at the start of the service line; this is the only accepted payment method. Worcester Academy is partnering with Meal Magic to manage student food service accounts. Any remaining balances from last year have been transferred to the new school year.
• Families can set up or access their account through the Meal Magic Family Portal using their student’s seven-digit ID number, which is listed on the family’s tuition account. We hope this provides a convenient option for day students who arrive early or stay late on campus. Please direct any questions to Marguerite Savage.

• Tardies
  • Parents/guardians may excuse up to five first-period (8:00 AM) tardies per semester.
  • Additional tardies will remain unexcused unless Upper School administration approves them due to extenuating circumstances.
  • Students will be assigned a 30-minute Morning Study Hall for every four unexcused tardies.
• Absences
  • Students may have up to five excused and/or unexcused absences per semester.
  • Six or more absences will result in a grade deduction, as outlined in the Upper School Community Handbook.
  • Students will be assigned a one-hour Morning Study Hall for each unexcused absence.
• Attendance Exemptions
  • Absences or tardies supported by documentation, such as a doctor’s note or college visit registration, or otherwise approved by Upper School administration, may receive Exempt status. Exempt attendance does not count toward the grade-deduction policy.
• Morning Study Hall
  • Thursdays: 7:00–8:00 AM in the Megaron
  • Late Start Thursdays: 7:00–9:00 AM
  • Fridays: 6:30–10:00 PM

• ​​​​​​​Payments are made through each student’s food service account, which is linked to their ID card. Students should swipe their card at the start of the service line; this is the only accepted payment method. Worcester Academy is partnering with Meal Magic to manage student food service accounts. Any remaining balances from last year have been transferred to the new school year.
• Families can set up or access their account through the Meal Magic Family Portal using their student’s seven-digit ID number, which is listed on the family’s tuition account. We hope this provides a convenient option for day students who arrive early or stay late on campus. Please direct any questions to Marguerite Savage.

• Senior portraits are due December 1. Please select one photo and email the digital file to cecily.pulver@worcesteracademy.org, using your student’s full name as the file name.
  Photos should:
  • Be high resolution (at least 640 × 800 pixels / approximately 300 DPI)
  • Use a 3:4 or 2:3 portrait orientation
  • Be submitted as a JPEG/JPG or PNG file
  • Make sure clothing does not have any offensive iconography or messaging

• Juniors: Park in the Providence Street Lot. Shuttle service to and from the main campus is available throughout the day.
• Seniors: Park in the Daniels Gym Lot on the main campus.

• Wednesday, September 16
  • 3:30 PM — Varsity Boys Soccer vs. Buckingham Browne & Nichols — Away
  • 3:30 PM — Varsity Girls Soccer vs. Suffield Academy — Away
  • 4:00 PM — JV Volleyball vs. Noble & Greenough School — Home (Capozzoli Athletic Center, Court #2)
  • 4:00 PM — Varsity Volleyball vs. Concord Academy — Home (Capozzoli Athletic Center, Blackburn Court)
  • 6:00 PM — Girls’ Varsity Soccer vs. Phillips Exeter Academy — FMS Showcase — Home (Morse Field)
• Thursday, September 17
  • 3:30 PM — Middle School Volleyball vs. Bancroft School — Away
• Friday, September 18
  • 3:45 PM — Middle School Cross Country vs. Noble & Greenough School and Thayer Academy — Away
  • 4:30 PM — JV Boys Soccer vs. St. Sebastian’s School — Away
  • 5:00 PM — Varsity Boys Soccer vs. St. Sebastian’s School — Home (Morse Field)
  • 6:00 PM — Varsity Volleyball vs. Rivers School — Away
• Saturday, September 19
  • 2:00 PM — Varsity Field Hockey vs. Thayer Academy — Home (Morse Field)
  • 3:00 PM — Varsity Boys Cross Country, Brush Invitational — Away (Deerfield Academy)
  • 3:00 PM — Varsity Football Scrimmage vs. Milton Academy — Home (Gaskill Field)
  • 3:35 PM — Varsity Girls Cross Country, Brush Invitational — Away (Deerfield Academy)
  • 4:00 PM — Varsity Girls Soccer vs. Tabor Academy — Home (Morse Field)
• Sunday, September 20
  • 1:00 PM — Varsity Boys Soccer vs. Noble & Greenough School — at Suffield Academy

• University of Notre Dame: ND on the Road
  The University of Notre Dame’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions will host two upcoming ND on the Road events in our region. Students and families will learn more about academic, community, and spiritual life at Notre Dame, as well as the admissions and financial aid processes.
  • Providence, RI
    Tuesday, September 22, 2026, 6:30 PM
    La Salle Academy
    612 Academy Ave., Providence, RI
    Register for the Providence Event
  • Shrewsbury, MA
    Thursday, October 1, 2026, 7:00 PM

    St. John’s High School
    378 Main St., Shrewsbury, MA
    Register for the Shrewsbury Event

• United States Military Academy at West Point Admissions Event
  Students interested in learning more about West Point are invited to an admissions presentation covering academics, athletics, Cadet life, leadership development, and the application process. Attendees will also receive tips for becoming a competitive applicant. The event will be hosted by MAJ Kyle Fredrickson, Northeast Regional Commander. Space is limited, and registration is encouraged.
  • Monday, September 28, 2026, 6:00 PM
    Doors open at 5:30 PM
    Lawrence D. McHugh Hall – Room 101
    Hillside Road, Mansfield, CT 06269
    Register for the West Point Academy Event
• NEACAC College Fair at Worcester State University
  Worcester State University will host a New England Association of College Admission Counseling (NEACAC) College Fair on Sunday, October 4. The event is free and open to the public, with ample on-site parking and optional Worcester State campus tours available.
  • Sunday, October 4, 2026, 11:00 AM–1:00 PM
    DeFeudis Wellness Center, Worcester State University
    486 Chandler Street, Worcester, MA
  • The fair will use StriveScan, allowing colleges to scan a student’s barcode and easily send school information. Students should register in advance for a barcode at StriveFair.com.
  • Families are also encouraged to review the College Fair FAQ document for tips on preparing for a college fair and questions students may want to ask representatives.

• To register, families must complete both steps by September 14:
• Complete the Registration Form
• Submit the $60 registration fee through Worcester Academy RevTrak

• Monday, September 14
  • 10:25 AM — Merrimack College
  • 12:30 PM — Boston University
  • 12:30 PM — Albertus Magnus College
  • 1:00 PM — Assumption University
  • 1:30 PM — Hamilton College
  • 3:30 PM — Skidmore College
  • 3:30 PM — University of Pittsburgh – Pittsburgh Campus
  • 3:30 PM — University of Maynooth
• Tuesday, September 15
  • 10:25 AM — Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
• Thursday, September 17
  • 12:30 PM — Boston College
  • 12:30 PM — Trinity College
  • 12:30 PM — Regis College
  • 3:30 PM — University of Galway
  • 3:30 PM — Emerson College
• Friday, September 18
  • 12:30 PM — Westfield State University

Next week, Middle School students will learn about opportunities to step into leadership roles across the school, including Middle School Ambassador, Advisory Representative, Board of Monitors, Battle for the Hilltop Team Leader, and Flag Football Team Captain.

Application details will be sent directly to students via email. Students with questions are encouraged to see Laurin Baldwin.

Classes will begin at 9:00 AM on Thursday, September 24. Families who need to drop students off at the regular time: there will be breakfast available for Middlers arriving between 8:00 and 8:30 AM.

Breakfast is available by RSVP only. Please email Mei Welcom by Wednesday, September 19 to reserve a spot.

We look forward to welcoming Upper School families to the Hilltop for Back to School Night on Thursday, September 10. The evening will begin at 6:30 p.m. in Warner Theater with an opening program, followed by advisory meetings and classroom visits. Families will have the opportunity to meet their student’s advisor and teachers, learn more about their courses, and hear important updates for the year.

• Senior portraits are due December 1. Please select one photo and email the digital file to cecily.pulver@worcesteracademy.org, using your student’s full name as the file name.
  Photos should:
  • Be high resolution (at least 640 × 800 pixels / approximately 300 DPI)
  • Use a 3:4 or 2:3 portrait orientation
  • Be submitted as a JPEG/JPG or PNG file
  • Make sure clothing does not have any offensive iconography or messaging

• Juniors: Park in the Providence Street Lot. Shuttle service to and from the main campus is available throughout the day.
• Seniors: Park in the Daniels Gym Lot on the main campus.

• Monday, September 7
  • 11:30 AM — Girls’ Varsity Soccer vs. Loomis Chaffee — FMS Showcase — Home (Morse Field)
  • 6:00 PM — Girls’ Varsity Soccer vs. Phillips Exeter Academy — FMS Showcase — Home (Morse Field)
• Wednesday, September 9
  • 3:45 PM — Varsity Field Hockey vs. La Salle Academy — Home (Morse Field)
  • 5:45 PM — Boys’ Varsity Soccer vs. St. Mark’s School — Scrimmage — Home (Morse Field)
• Friday, September 11
  • 4:30 PM — Varsity Volleyball vs. Loomis Chaffee — Scrimmage — Away
• Saturday, September 12
  • 2:00 PM — Varsity Field Hockey — Pomfret Play-Day — Away (Pomfret School)
  • 3:30 PM — Girls’ Varsity Soccer vs. Thayer Academy — Scrimmage — Away
• Sunday, September 13
  • 10:30 AM — Varsity Football vs. Lawrence Academy — Scrimmage — Away
  • 12:30 PM — Boys’ Varsity Soccer vs. Milton Academy — Scrimmage — Away

• To register, families must complete both steps by September 14:
• Complete the Registration Form
• Submit the $60 registration fee through Worcester Academy RevTrak

• Monday, September 14
  • 10:25 AM — Merrimack College
  • 12:30 PM — Boston University
  • 12:30 PM — Albertus Magnus College
  • 1:00 PM — Assumption University
  • 1:30 PM — Hamilton College
  • 3:30 PM — Skidmore College
  • 3:30 PM — University of Pittsburgh – Pittsburgh Campus
  • 3:30 PM — University of Maynooth
• Tuesday, September 15
  • 10:25 AM — Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
• Thursday, September 17
  • 12:30 PM — Boston College
  • 12:30 PM — Trinity College
  • 12:30 PM — Regis College
  • 3:30 PM — University of Galway
  • 3:30 PM — Emerson College
• Friday, September 18
  • 12:30 PM — Westfield State University

• Grade 6: 2:45–3:05 PM
• Grade 7: 3:05–3:25 PM
• Grade 8: 3:25–3:45 PM

• Families who visit campus regularly may request a family parking sticker at the front guard shack or email David Borelli, Director of Campus Safety.
• Please note: Campus roadways are one-way during the school day, and the 5 MPH speed limit is strictly enforced for our community's safety.

• September 1: New Upper School students and boarding students
• September 2: Returning Upper School students
  
  Click here for instructions to pre-order your picture package, including the unique order code needed to order online. The code expires at midnight on picture day.
  
  Families who do not pre-order can purchase photos when proofs are available, approximately 4–5 weeks after picture day.

• Drop off Upper School students in front of Daniels Gymnasium. Enter through the main gate and exit through the Aetna Street gate after drop-off.
• Please do not drop students off in front of Walker Hall or anywhere along the Quad.
• All campus roadways are one-way during the school day, and the 5 MPH speed limit is strictly enforced for our community's safety.
• Families who visit campus regularly may request a family parking sticker at the front guard shack or email David Borelli, Director of Campus Safety.

• Juniors: Park in the Providence Street Lot. Shuttle service to and from the main campus is available throughout the day.
• Seniors: Park in the Daniels Gym Lot on the main campus.

• Students in Grades 6– PG are invited to get involved, regardless of previous experience. Opportunities include major and featured onstage roles, behind-the-scenes crew roles, and the live pit orchestra.
• Students interested in participating should review the audition, rehearsal, and participation information in our Google Drive Folder and complete the Cast Auditions & Crew/Pit Orchestra Sign-Up Form.
• We hope to see students from across the Hilltop come together for another incredible all-school production!

• Wednesday, September 2
  • 5:00 PM — Girls Varsity Soccer vs. Acton-Boxboro — Scrimmage — Home (Morse Field)
• Saturday, September 5
  • 10:00 AM — Boys Varsity Soccer vs. Belmont Hill School — Scrimmage — Away (Belmont Hill School)
• Monday, September 7
  • 11:30 AM — Girls Varsity Soccer vs. Loomis Chaffee — FMS Showcase — Home (Morse Field)
  • 6:00 PM — Girls Varsity Soccer vs. Phillips Exeter Academy — FMS Showcase — Home (Morse Field)