Tucked away in an unassuming room of Shipley’s Main building, Mardi Gras beads drip from the ceiling; their quiet rhythm disrupted by interlocking planks of wood, rafters nefariously swirling in a storm. The hum of a box fan deafens the clatter of torrential rain, recorded footage unveiling the destruction Hurricanes Katrina and Ida left in their wake. Shipley students enrolled in Interpreting Data for Art Installation produced these elements as part of their end-of-year exhibit.
Offered for the first time during the 2021–2022 academic year, this interdisciplinary course combined iterative design with data collection and analysis. Upper School teachers Wendy Eiteljorg ’86, Tania O’Donnell, and Elizabeth Zodda instructed students how to use data on multiple levels to interpret the world around them. Since representation inherently involves interpretation and this alters how data is understood or even approached, they stressed the value of learning and thinking in the ways of multiple disciplines.
While students carefully selected elements to represent core principles of 3D composition for the final project, some appeared as “happy accidents.” As the floor became riddled with debris during the creative process, students realized that it was a true depiction of the damage left behind. Working within the intimate space, they collaborated down to the very last detail. They carefully devised data points, using blue fabric to illustrate the level to which floodwaters rose in the city of New Orleans, and artistically depicted the structural integrity of the city’s levees—ruptured in the case of Katrina, intact during Ida.
Given the flexibility within the curriculum, teachers entwined student interests, such as school life, personal identity, and other topics, with those of the scientists, artists, and researchers they were studying. Students noted that they had never taken a class like this, calling it “an artistic thinking space without the need for as much high-level art making.” This pedagogical strategy helped students develop transferable skills which could be applied to different disciplines and real-life situations, an essential cornerstone to Shipley’s goal of preparing its students for a constantly changing world.
Students chose to address climate change for their large-scale exhibit, in which they compared two of the most destructive hurricanes to ever make landfall in the state of Louisiana. Their names—Katrina and Ida—were plastered on the walls, a somber memoriam to the hundreds of lives lost. As students narrated their final reflections, each traced how humans interact with space and place, ranging in scope from the big city to the individual—a coincidence not lost on their three teachers.
Momentous events like natural disasters not only devastate the natural landscape but also have an enduring impact on individuals in that they reveal the fragile and beautiful interconnectedness between humanity and the environment. In many ways, interdisciplinary study courses like Interpreting Data for Art Installation mirror this interconnectedness because they reinforce essential hallmarks of building community and demonstrating empathy. Because at the heart of it, we are all connected.
This year’s Upper School Spring Musical is Mean Girls, a modern adaptation of the classic movie from 2004. Shipley theater star and Beacon writer Colin Harkins ’23 tells us why audiences should be excited to see the show March 2-4, 2023 in Riely Theatre.
Shipley’s theater program is excited to announce that it will partner with Broadway Green Alliance, a corporation that tries to bring more sustainable and environmentally friendly practices into theaters all around the country. Read more in this article originally published in the Beacon student newspaper.
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.
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.