Name: Reed Currently Attending: Tulane University Years at Shipley:7 Activities & Positions Held: Student Life (Head), Action Research, Varsity Baseball (Captain), Will Trippley Tutoring, Chess Club, Glee Club.
Reflections on Shipley I came from Radnor Middle School in seventh grade, which has around 300 kids. I felt extremely lost and forgotten at Radnor. I was almost emotional at the end of my first day at Shipley. Shipley made me feel like school was fun, and that I was a part of a community. I was very fortunate to meet my best friends on the first day of school, all 98 of them. The small, dynamic classrooms taught me how to never hide behind someone else, and how to be active in a classroom. Shipley also taught me to never be one dimensional. I am involved in many different types of extracurricular activities. My “aha” moment at Shipley was watching Sam Sessoms, Shipley’s all-time leading scorer in basketball history, dance on stage at our musical. At that moment I realized that there is no push back about trying new things at Shipley. You can make your life how you want to make it, and Shipley has all the resources for you to do so. Risks are worth taking, and I am sure that Sam will tell you he is happy that he took a risk, and Shipley is happy as well.
Who was your most influential teacher and why? My most influential teacher would be Mr. Goren. Honors Chemistry was the hardest class I ever took, and Mr. Goren helped me get through it. Mr. Goren pushed me to do the best of my ability. With his thorough and consistent mentality, the class was often frustrating, but he demanded us to do it right. In that, it brought out the best in all of us, and we were very fortunate to go through that experience with him.
What was your most memorable experience at Shipley? I think the most memorable experience at Shipley was being paired with my acorn, Onieka. Onieka was simply a ray of sunshine. I thank Shipley for giving me that experience of developing a relationship and being a role model for a younger child.
What are your plans for the fall of 2019? I will be attending Tulane University. I will be majoring in economics with a minor in marketing.
What is your future ambition and what led you to this ambition? I hope to go into sales or account management. I have always loved working with people, and I was very happy when I was asked to be on the admission ambassador team. The admission ambassador team led me to the conclusion that I want to be in sales or account management. They taught me how to sell a product to consumers, yet they did it in a way that felt right. They taught me to never lie about Shipley and to point out its weaknesses as well. I am very grateful for the ambassador program!
What does Courage for the Deed; Grace for the Doing mean to you? I believe that motto tells you to take risks and to have a good time while doing it. You will slip a fall, but at least you are trying. The courage to try is all that matters.
What impact or contributions do you think you have made at Shipley and in the larger community? Shipley has taught me to never back down from a challenge, and how to point out a problem. I was at the beach on Memorial Day weekend and saw the trash left behind by all of my fellow teenagers. I started picking up trash and throwing it in the trash can and then was so frustrated by the neglect for the environment, that I asked the police officers for trash bags. I spent the next six hours cleaning up the beach and filled up 33 trash bags. Shipley has taught me that if you see a problem, then fix it.
Complete this sentence: Shipley has prepared me to… always have a positive attitude wherever life takes me, and to be comfortable in almost all situations of learning.
Contour line drawing is more than a classroom exercise, it demands unwavering concentration, forging connections between the artist and their subject, creating a unique interplay between the pen and paper. A poignant reminder that art isn't merely about what we see; it's about how we see it and the stories we can convey through the lines we draw.
Explore the world of renowned artist Rory MacArthur at The Speer Gallery in a mesmerizing exhibition on loan from the West Collection. Discover MacArthur's journey into glyphs and abstraction, where he crafts perfect glyph-like objects using color, shape, surface, and form in an age inundated with symbols.
In an effort enrich Shipley’s Theater Arts Program, significant changes are underway, touching every aspect of the program—from personnel to scheduling. Learn more about the exciting changes underway in Shipley's Theater Arts.
Meet Sergio Jackson, Shipley’s Director of Athletic Performance, who inspires the community to move and thrive. Learn about his journey from a college athlete to Shipley, where he creates an inclusive and empowering environment for the community. You will also discover how he applies his guiding principles of strength, energy, resilience, and gratitude (SERG) to help students achieve their health and wellness goals.
Departing Director of Physical Plant and Security, Bob Meals, shares his fond memories and gratitude. This place isn't just a workplace; it's a home," he emphasized, having lived on campus for 25 plus years. The family-like environment, the friendships, and the connections with students, families, and coworkers are what make this place so unique."
Join us on Saturday, September 30, for this day-long celebration that will include a kids’ carnival, free community barbecue, athletic events, Kona Ice, and more. Festivities begin at 10:00 am! Carnival, Kona Ice Truck, 5th grade smoothies, and Middle School bake sale proceeds will support Shipley's 22-year partnership with The Brain Tree Primary School in Uganda.
Shipley's very own Director of Bands, Dr. Harley Givler was recognized as a finalist in the 10th Annual Philadelphia Youth Orchestra Music Institute Ovation Awards. He and the nine other finalists were nominated by current and former students who wrote essays on “How My Music Teacher Changed My Life.”
Shipley’s Asian Student Alliance (ASA), led by co-presidents Amber Feng ’24 and Anne Gu ’25, recognized Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month with programming for Upper School students, including a presentation about AAPI Heritage Month by members of the ASA, and one by guest speaker Elvis Zhang ’17 about his life as an entrepreneur and Asian American.
Capping their stellar season, the girls’ played Springside Chestnut Hill Academy in the Final League game, only this time the tables turned and Shipley was victorious.
Shipley's Middle School Latin students took the 2023 National Latin Examination with over 100,000 students from around the world. Thirteen students earned Latin Award prizes and recognition for excellence. Middle School Latin students also competed in The Philadelphia Classical Society's 84th Annual Latin Week Competition - Traditional Artistry & Literary Projects on Classical themes. A total of 30 Middle School students won Latin Awards and recognition for excellence.
The Upper School Administration recognized the outgoing and incoming student leadership officers and presented students with academic, athletic, and leadership awards at the annual Closing Awards Ceremony.
"How can we use the language of art to explore our feelings and beliefs? What do I care about and how can I bring that idea to life? What do I want to communicate?" These are just a few of the questions that Shipley’s Studio Art 3 Honors students grappled with as they completed their protest art assignments. Learn more about this project and how students discover their voice as artists to speak about something they care about.
Shipley’s Middle School Science Olympiad team finished 11th out of 36 middle school teams that participated in the recent States competition. Though it may not have been as good as the outcome the team wanted, the Olympians and coaches came away from the experience with much more than a trophy or gold medal. Learn more about what makes the Science Olympiad experience such an amazing one.
Defining scientific research questions and the process of inquiry is an important part of Middle School science. Beginning in sixth grade, students define their questions, then design experiments to help them answer these questions. Eighth graders recently traveled to Saunders Woods to do this work as part of their ecosystem assessment project—just one example of how authentic assessments create meaningful learning experiences.
Shipley’s Track and Field team made School history by participating for the first time in the historic Penn Relays at Franklin Fields on April 27-29, 2023. The Gators ran with courage and grace, making a memorable first impression at this year's Penn Relay Carnival. Before the races, the team and coaches made a promise to each other: "Focused teammates, committed to run for each other," and that is precisely how they competed.
Shipley's Middle and Upper School Science Olympiad Teams competed in the Pennsylvania Science Olympiad State Tournament on April 22 at Penn State Altoona. Fourteen teams earned medals during the tournament.
The Shipley Honors Combo won first place in the Small Ensemble Division 2 category at the National Jazz Festival, held April 22 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. Trumpeter Aidan Peterson ‘24 won an Outstanding Musician Award and also earned the Judge’s Choice Award.
Ninth grade marks a special milestone that presents a host of different challenges. To more effectively meet students’ needs and ensure that they will thrive within the classroom and beyond, Shipley revamped its advisory program by forming a specialized team to guide ninth graders through this transitional time.
The Shipley School is a private, coeducational day school for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade students, located in Bryn Mawr, PA. Through our commitment to educational excellence, we develop within each student a love of learning and a desire for compassionate participation in the world.