Acorns to Oaks has been a tradition the Shipley community has celebrated for decades. Bringing together not only the oldest and youngest students in the school, but also their families and the community as a whole.
The Acorns to Oaks tradition was first created in the 80s as a way of connecting the different divisions in the student body, focusing primarily on the PreK, kindergarten, and first grade students, or acorns, and the seniors, the oaks.
Traditionally in the first All-School Assembly each year, acorns greet the oaks they are paired with and are given customized pencil cases. In the final All-School Assembly, acorns give graduating seniors their diplomas, marking the end of their relationships as acorns and oaks.
Ms. Manix, Assistant Head of School for Community Engagement, described the importance of the event. She explained how the all school assemblies brought the whole community together to commemorate the start of a new school year and celebrate the end of it as well. Ms. Manix also emphasized the significance of the event to the parents of the seniors, especially for those whose children were acorns, as it shows parents how much their children have grown during their time at Shipley.
COVID has had a huge impact on the Acorns to Oaks tradition recently, since everything was virtual for over a year. By the end of the school year in the spring of 2020, COVID forced everyone to learn online, making the final Acorns to Oaks assembly impossible. To try and preserve the tradition as much as possible, the school had kindergarteners make and send diplomas to the seniors, but of course this didn’t have quite the same effect as an in-person assembly.
In the 2020-2021 school year the Community Engagement Committee tried to revive the tradition by holding in-person assemblies for seniors and kindergarteners while the rest of the students watched a live stream. While this allowed the whole community and parents to see the event, it was not as personal for the parents who had to stay at home.
Finally, on Wednesday, October 6, an assembly was held in-person for kindergarteners, seniors, and families. While students in other grades did not attend in person, the assembly allowed parents to return to campus for the first time in over a year, giving many a chance to see their children participate in the Acorns to Oaks tradition.
Ms. Manix spoke about how much the event meant to her, saying “As a colleague and as a mom, it is just such a heartwarming tradition to watch the acorns and the oaks and their families, and to see the joy and emotions that they find in this moment and in this tradition.” Hopefully the Acorns to Oaks tradition has more events throughout the year that both parents and students can be a part of.
Mighty Oak Jon Myers high-fives his Acorn at the opening All-School Assembly. The tradition of giving acorns pencil boxes endures even if mask wearing is required.
Shipley's Middle School Latin students took the 2022 National Latin Examination with over 100,000 students from around the world. An impressive 26 students earned Latin Award prizes and recognition for excellence. Middle School Latin students also competed in The Philadelphia Classical Society's 83rd Annual Latin Week Competition - Traditional Artistry & Literary Projects on Classical themes. A total of 55 Middle School students won Latin Awards and recognition for excellence.
The Shipley School is proud to announce the appointment of Harry Green as the School’s new Director of Track and Field. This new position will oversee all running programs. Coach Green will be Head Coach of the Varsity Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field teams and the Cross Country team.
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Shipley Middle School science teacher Ace Schwarz has been selected to participate in its 2022 National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Landmarks of American History Workshop, The Space Age on the Space Coast. "I am hoping to bring back what I learn so we can really develop the space exploration aspect of our curriculum," commented Mx. Schwarz.
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Shipley sixth-grader Jordyn Colbert '28 won first place in the 17th Annual Charlotte Miller Simon Poetry Contest, presented by the Ardmore Free Library.
Shipley’s Middle School and Upper School Science Olympiad teams participated in the Southeast Pennsylvania Science Olympiad Tournament. Combined, the teams earned 18 medals and qualified for the State tournament.
The Shipley School’s DEI Strategic Plan goal 3 is to ensure an equitable experience for all members of the community. One initiative of that goal is to create and support affinity spaces for students, colleagues, families, and alumni. Affinity spaces speak to the efforts of not just ensuring equitable experiences, but also creating experiences that foster belonging in our community. Learn more about our efforts to create these spaces.
In 2021, the Shipley Black Alumni Association (BAA) set the goal of raising $100,000 to establish an endowed fund at Shipley to support experiences aimed at educating students about American history and culture through the lens of African-American contributions. By the end of Black History Month 2022, the results are impressive: $55,170 given by 116 donors.
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Looking for diverse texts to read for either yourself or your child(ren)? Shipley's Librarians are here to help with a heaping helping of books to satisfy your literary appetite. Get a list of recommended books for middle school, young adult, and adult books, compiled by Shipley's Library Director Liz Cousins.
Shipley's Director of Rowing, Scott Gavin-Wisniewski discusses the lack of racial and ethnic diversity in the sport of rowing and how Shipley's Rowing Academy is working to counteract that. The program's strategic partnership with Philadelphia City Rowing (PCR) both informs how we advance DEI within Shipley's program, while also advancing equity in the broader Philadelphia community through our support of their efforts.
Shipley’s youngest students partner in sustainability through hands-on science lessons in the natural environment, including Shipley's decade-long partnership with the Lower Merion Conservancy, in which fifth grade students collect and analyze water samples of the local Mill Creek. Learn more about how learning comes to life in Lower School science.
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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.