Author Jennifer Armstrong and illustrator Roger Roth presented their new book, The American Story: 100 True Tales from American History, to students in the Lower School in late October. Armstrong shared her reflections on life as an author and introduced students to the world of publishing. “By the time I was in first grade, I knew I was going to be an author,” said Armstrong. Roth presented his illustrations and demonstrated his drawing skills to the enthusiastic 4th and 5th graders. Visit Jennifer Armstrong’s Website. Visit Roger Roth’s Website.

Yarnall Gymnasium was the site of a Special Olympics bocce tournament on November 3. The competition was part of Villanova University’s Fall Festival, one of over 300 events offered annually by Special Olympics Pennsylvania (SOPA), and one of SOPA's three major statewide events. Fall Festival is the largest annual student-run Special Olympics event in the world! Shipley students and faculty members volunteered their time as line judges, score keepers, and cheerleaders during the bocce tournament. Other volunteers helped run Shipley’s Olympic Village carnival, which featured games and activities for bocce athletes.

Leo Sewell, whose work is currently exhibited in the Speer Gallery, made presentations to students in the Upper and Lower Schools on November 6. Taking an interest in trash at an early age, Sewell began creating found object art out of his junkyard treasures. Students were treated to a slideshow of his whimsical and witty creations, and gained insight into the inspiration for and process that went into making them. If you have any junk you’d like to contribute to Sewell, please drop it off in the box located outside the Upper School art rooms. Visit Leo Sewell’s Website.

Storyteller Charlotte Alston performed for Lower and Middle School students on November 8. The mbira (also known as a thumb piano) and the 21-stringed kora added musical accompaniment to stories from the African oral tradition. In addition to captivating her audiences, Alston used her performances as a way to educate students about African cultures. Encouraged at an early age by her father to learn and recite the work of African American poets, Alston decided to pursue a career in storytelling after working as a teacher for over twenty years. Visit Charlotte Alston’s Website.