Over the years we have taken great pride in our ability to offer the best possible education to our students. Dedicated to the education of the whole child, we have consistently implemented the programs necessary to offer our students the chance for growth and excellence in the different areas of the curriculum. We are forever committed to this endeavor. 

During the last few years it has become increasingly clear that the athletic program is in need of our attention. We have observed the play of our students and heard the anecdotes and comments of students and parents. It has become evident that we must make some changes in order to offer our students, girls and boys, a consistent and shared experience in athletics that mirrors their experiences in the academic subjects, arts, and other areas. This was borne out in the survey administered by Lookout Management, Inc. and has been seen as well in the early work of the Strategic Planning Committees.

While the matter of the athletic program is a complex issue, much of the concern revolves around the fact that our girls and boys play in different leagues. The girls have been in the InterAc League for Girls since 1983, when the league was founded. The boys played independently of any particular league until about ten years ago when they joined the Keystone Athletic Conference (KSAC). These two leagues reflect very different philosophies, ideologies, and levels of competition.

After careful consideration by our Board of Trustees and Administrative Team, it has become evident that our students and school need to have a consistent shared experience, one that continues to foster the development of traditional rivalries and the pursuit of excellence. Further, it has become clear that having our girls and boys in a common athletic league that practices a common philosophy will clarify our athletic identity, enhance our ability to meet our athletic goals, and better enable us to fulfill our mission. With this in mind, the School, at the direction and with the support of the Board of Trustees, has begun the process of finding one league for all of our students. We are excited about this process. 

We understand that as we pursue this objective, trade-offs and compromises will be necessary. When our girls, our boys, or both change leagues in order for them to be in the same league, some long-standing interschool rivalries may be diluted. This is particularly relevant to our girls, who have played many of the same schools since the inception of interscholastic play at Shipley, well before the Girls’ InterAc League was founded in 1983. I have shared with Heads of other schools in the InterAc League for Girls and the KSAC for Boys our goal to be in one league. Fortunately, they have said that if we leave the InterAc, KSAC or both, they desire to continue our athletic relationship through non-league play and to further develop, celebrate, and enjoy the academic, artistic, and other relationships that we all value so much. It is our intent to ensure that these longstanding rivalries continue to be enjoyed.

There are four possible leagues that would allow us to bring our students together: the Keystone Conference, the InterAc League, the Friends Schools League, and PIAA, which is primarily a public school league. As we investigate each, we are focused on the philosophies of the leagues and the schools in them, the size of the schools, their relative proximity to Shipley, the resources necessary to shift to one league, and our ability to compete effectively and consistently with the schools in the league. The league we choose will need to reflect our academic and athletic philosophy which focuses on challenging and nurturing each individual child, and supports our commitment to educational excellence and the education of the whole child. 

As we pursue this goal, my thanks go to Dan Serfass, our Athletic Director, Jackie Siscone, Girls’ Varsity Basketball Coach and Assistant to the Athletic Director, and others for the wonderful work they have been doing to prepare us for this process. Having already done a significant amount of research about the different leagues, we will make a commitment to the league of choice in the near future. We are hoping that our application to that league will be acted on and accepted by the end of this school year. In order to be fair to any league(s) we might leave and to allow us and it (them) appropriate time to plan for changes, we expect to continue our current league affiliations through the 2004-05 school year.

Needless to say, this process is complicated and important. It will shape our direction in athletics and in so doing have an impact on our community and culture for the foreseeable future. I am sharing this information with all of our constituencies because it is essential that our parents, students, teachers, and alumni be aware of our thoughts and plans. Moreover, I will continue to communicate new information as we proceed with the process. We are excited by the prospect of having our girls and boys in one league and look forward to a future of academic and athletic excellence, shared rivalries, and thriving students.

This issue will be the primary topic of discussion at our next Heads’ Forum on Friday, December 5 at Beechwood House. In order to give it adequate time, we will begin that session at 1:00 p.m. (refreshments at 12:30 p.m.). As always, the forum will conclude by 2:30 p.m. I hope you can make it.

If you have any questions or concerns, please send me an e-mail or give me a call. I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Warmest regards,

Steven S. Piltch
Head of School