From Seed to Plant: Lessons in Sustainability Start in Shipley’s Pre-K
The Pre-Kindergarten’s “From Seed to Plant” interdisciplinary spring project centered around the questions, “How Do We Take Care of Nature?” and “How Does Nature Take Care of Us?” Ecology lessons in the classroom were complemented with hands-on learning and gardening experiences in the Lower School’s courtyard and newly-installed vegetable beds.
“Our approach in Pre-K combines project-based learning with collaborative and dramatic play. Lessons are filled with active and engaging activities that focus on children’s natural desires to explore, investigate, and make connections with the real world,” explains Pre-K teacher Tina Wattles, who worked closely with fellow faculty members Lauren Weitzel and Monserrat Toledo Díaz on the project. “Seeing the results of Pre-K’s labors was just as inspiring to us as it was to our students! Their efforts and understanding of all they learned reflect Shipley’s mission of fostering compassionate participation within the school community that our youngest students can now confidently take with them into the world.”
The “From Seed to Plant” project is an excellent example of the kind of integrated societal learning that is encouraged through Shipley’s sustainability program. “The concepts of fostering plant life, creating livable habitats for birds and wildlife, creating green spaces in our communities, serving others, and all the topics they touched on are important on their own, but are made so much more so when they are nested inside one another in a project like this one,” reflects Environmental Sustainability Coordinator Tamar Norquist. “The teachers, in their wisdom, understand that learning has the most meaning when it is contextualized in a way that students can relate to. All of the teachers and students in Lower School are lucky beneficiaries of this excellent project.”
After an extensive international search, Head of School Michael G. Turner announced the appointment of Chantra Reinman as Shipley’s next Head of Middle School, effective July 1, 2023.
In the Lower School Student Council, fourth and fifth graders hone leadership skills like collaboration, public speaking, and planning as they help with divisional assemblies and other student-led initiatives, while serving as student representatives at admissions events and more. Though the group is diverse, they all have one thing in common: a desire to give back to Shipley.
Shipley's Middle School Boys' and Girls' Squash teams competed at the National Squash Championships in Philadelphia, finishing ninth and 20th, respectively.
Congratulations to Shipley senior Zion Alexis ’23 for receiving numerous awards in the 2023 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, presented by Philadelphia Writing Project, including a Gold Key for his poem, "black boy, PREP SCHOOL." Read the poem and learn more about Zion, his interest in creative expression, and how Shipley has pushed him to grow as a writer in this Q&A.
Head of School Michael Turner announced that Rebekah Adens will be Shipley’s next Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, effective July 1, 2023.
Middle School science teacher Ace Schwarz was one of 10 educators selected to participate in the 2023 NASA/IPAC Teacher Archive Research Program (NITARP), which partners small groups of educators with a research astronomer for original, year-long, authentic research projects.
On Saturday, December 3, Shipley’s Upper School Science Olympiad team participated in the 2nd Annual Dick Smith Memorial Invitational. Competing in the B Division, Shipley’s Upper School team finished 31 out of 74 teams. Several students also placed in individual events.
Chess team members Srijan Velamuri ’23 and Adithi Srinivasan ’25 earned first and second places, respectively, at the Interscholastic Chess Tournament, hosted by Shipley on December 9, 2022.
What happens when you combine passion, professional learning, and appreciation of beauty and excellence? You get a teacher who brings enthusiasm and energy to her classroom and students who learn while doing. Learn more about how Middle School Latin teacher Anne Smith shares her passion for mosaics, Roman history, and the Latin language with her students through multiple modalities.
It’s common to associate colors with emotions, as Kathryn Otoshi does in her book, One. Dr. Harley Givler asked his third grade students to imagine what the book's characters and their emotions would sound like as a musical composition. The third graders performed the composition for their PreK Book Buddies, sharing lessons in emotions, tolerance, and being an upstander, as well as inspiring a love of music.
On Friday, December 2, Shipley hosted the Philadelphia Area Math League for Independent Schools 2022 Playoffs. As a result, the Gators finished fifth out of ten teams in the group category and Bambi Tang ‘23 finished first in the individual category.
You can see Lower School Art Teacher Bonnie Goldstein's new work in "Beyond Boundaries" an exhibit on display at 705 West Printshop + Gallery in Jenkintown. An opening reception is being held on Sunday, December 4 from 2:00 - 5:00 pm.
With over 70 clubs and activities to choose from, Shipley's Upper School students can enjoy a broad range of areas to discover and develop their passions and interests. Student writer Andrew McCarthy ’23 shares details about six of them in this article, originally published in the December 2022 issue of the Beacon, the Upper School student newspaper.
After rigorous auditions, five Shipley musicians have been accepted into auditioned choral and band ensembles including the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association District 11 Chorus, the American Choral Directors Association National Honors Choir, and the Philadelphia Youth Symphonic Band.
Catch Theater Director Phillip Brown as he stars in the Lantern Theater Company’s Philadelphia premiere production of The Royale by Marco Ramirez, onstage through December 11, 2022, at St. Stephen’s Theater.
As we head into the holiday season, it is important to remember to help those who struggle with food insecurity. To address this issue in our local community, The Shipley School organizes a yearly Turkey Drive that takes place in November. Read more about Shipley's annual Turkey Drive in this article, originally published in the November 2022 issue of Shipley's student newspaper, the Beacon.
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.