As we hit the 99th summer at Phillips Exeter, things are looking a little different than before. First off, there’s the new name: Exeter Summer. There will still be classes across campus this year, but the name emphasizes the distinction of welcoming students to an enrichment program. 

There is a new permanent office for Exeter Summer, located in Tattersall House on Water St., just next to St. Anthony’s Bakery.

There are new classes, including Writing the College Essay, Environmental Science, and Philosophy for Everyday Life.

There’s a new website for Exeter Summer (www.exeter.edu/exeter-summer), and new Facebook and Instagram pages, as well            (facebook.com/PEAExeterSummer &                   instagram.com/pea_exetersummer).

Of course, some things are same. There were will be youth arriving here from every quarter—this year’s crop of kids hail from 36 states and 53 countries, and have come to take advantage of the Academy’s offerings and to experience life away from home in an academically rigorous environment. Out of the total student body, 44 percent of students are international.

With roughly 95 percent of the student body new to the school, the Summer Session continues to change and draw new students. 

Middle school students at Exeter will take three courses arranged around a central theme, while the Upper School, made up of high schoolers, can take up to three courses that range from humanities courses like Adventure Literature to science courses like Genetic Engineering.

Access Exeter clusters include the Shape of Things, in which students will learn geometry, chemistry, and 2D & 3D art; and the Classics, in which students will learn Latin and Greek, as well as some history and mythology. There are eight total clusters for students to choose from. 

Teachers at Summer School, many of which also teach at PEA’s regular session, utilize the Harkness method to lead discussions on course material, and encourage students to debate, collaborate, and discover around the Harkness table. 

As the name change also reflects, Exeter Summer is about having fun, too. The ‘Deans of Fun’ have a jam-packed lineup of fun activities planned, including minigolf and trips into Boston.

But if students can take anything away from this summer, Director Elena Gosalvez recommends they actively seek to meet people and make friends, since the weeks sometimes seem to fly by.