Making the Holiday Brighter for Families
Annually, fourth graders are involved in an intensive service project where they learn the value of working hard to make the holidays brighter for others. Students raise money doing a variety of odd jobs and sponsor a bake sale that this year netted in excess of $3,200 for seven families (which included 24 children and 7 mothers), who receive support through Episcopal Community Services. ECS’s mission is, “[To] help individuals and families with multiple needs overcome the impact of poverty. The human service agency of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania, ECS has served people of all faiths since 1870.”

Students Design Coloring Books
Tenth graders in Shipley’s Upper School spent a free period creating coloring book pages for a special coloring book for children staying at People's Emergency Center. The books were donated along with crayons to PEC, an agency serving homeless women, teen girls, and their dependent children in Pennsylvania. Students responsible for coordinating the service project are 10th grade service representatives, (left) Elise Mercier and Norah Maxwell.

Eisenhower Fellow Shares In a Cultural Connection With Students
Dalia Khalil, Eisenhower Fellow and Director for Egyptian Association for Educational Resources, spoke to students in an assembly about Egypt and the similarities American teenagers and Egyptians teenagers share. As an Eisenhower Fellow, Ms. Khalil spent six weeks traveling the US, visiting schools, universities, and conferences in a cultural connection bridging two continents. Ms. Khalil also had a chance to attend some classes where students were able to ask pointed questions about Egypt’s concerns and goals for the future in the areas of education and technology, the Middle East conflict, and the role women play in society.

Robotics
Each year the Shipley Gator Bots take on the national First Lego League challenge to build and program a Lego robot to perform certain prescribed tasks. Under the coaching guidance of Gary White, Network Administrator in the Technology Department, and Derrick McMichael, Middle School math teacher, this year’s team of four girls and seven boys worked for several hours each Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday to prepare for competitions in Delaware and Pennsylvania. As of mid-January, they had moved from seventeenth out of fifty to eighth out of fifty-one and won a first place for innovative design. “What we’re doing,” says Gary White, “is exposing these kids to problem solving, to working together. We’re encouraging an interest in math, science, and engineering. We’re planting seeds.”

Grammy Nominee, Scot Sax, Performs for Middle School
Scot Sax, local musician, performed and shared how he first became interested in music in a special assembly for the Middle School. Sax first picked up drumsticks at the age of seven and wowed his family with his talent. By the age of fourteen he was performing in coffee houses with his band. Eventually, he started another band, Wanderlust, and toured the country performing and later settling in LA to pursue a musical career. He has moved back to the area and continues to write. Currently, a song he co-wrote for Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, “Like We Never Loved At All,” is rising on the country music charts. The song is up for a Grammy Award as Best Country Collaboration With Vocals. Carolynne McKenna became the impromptu roadie helping with backstage details. At the end of performance 8th grader, James Brownstein, had a chance to show off his talent as he assisted on drums to Sax’s singing. Sax left the students with sage advice on following their dreams, “Don’t do anything less than what you really want to do.”

If you haven’t already, check out the pre-winter break boys’ and girls’ basketball tournament details in sports highlights. Toys for Tots Toy Drive and Coaches Against Cancer.

January 2005