Lower School Student Council: Giving Back to Shipley
Holly Caldwell
Lower School Student Council representatives dutifully brainstorm ideas as they huddle over their lunch trays. They’ve been given the task of introducing the guest of honor at an upcoming event. Each student confidently voices an opinion before the groups pitch their ideas to Dr. Tim Lightman. This is a practice they’ve become comfortable with, as LS Student Council meets each week to plan school-related activities, such as the assembly where they will honor Shipley’s Director of Security, Mr. Robert Meals, who has served as a volunteer firefighter for decades.
Since joining Student Council, these students have honed their collaboration skills and developed programming for fellow students while also serving in leadership roles alongside Dr. Lightman by participating in Shipley-held events, such as meeting with prospective families at the Pre-K and Kindergarten Admissions Day. Although a diverse group in many respects, they seem to have one trait in common—each wants to give back to the Shipley community. The desire to serve their school was a running theme in each student’s one-page personal statement, an essential component of the Student Council electoral process which takes place in October.
In this campaign message, students are asked to address what being a member of the Shipley community means to them, why they wish to serve on the Council, and the character strengths that will make them a good representative. Many describe an eagerness to give back to the community that has helped them so much, with one student describing the Shipley community as feeling “like warmth on the coldest days.”
They read their essays in a public forum before the election takes place via secret ballot, with each student allotted two votes. But teachers also remind them to really consider the content of each campaign message and reflect on who will make the best representative. In addition to the representatives elected by the fourth- and fifth-grade classrooms, Dr. Lightman and the classroom teachers choose the remaining Council members. To help ensure fairness and participation, students who are elected in their first year may not run again the following year.
As these students coped with change, whether adjusting to a new school or moving to a new home, each highlighted how Shipley was a center of support where they felt free to share their ideas and be themselves. And when asked to outline their goals for this year’s Student Council, they agreed that, above all, they want “to strengthen their community, make school the best it can be, and lay the groundwork for future kids.”
🇮🇹 Last month, 13 students and 2 teachers had the trip of a lifetime in Italy, exploring Paestum, Pompeii, Mt. Vesuvius, Naples' Museo Archeologico Nazionale, and Rome's historical sites and museums, experiencing Italian culture, history, and art!
12 Shipley Spanish students had an unforgettable adventure in Spain, exploring Madrid, Zaragoza, and Barcelona, and immersing themselves in local culture and iconic landmarks. ¡Recuerdos para toda la vida! 🇪🇸
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A quiet powerhouse in Shipley’s Athletic Department, Katelyn manages the moving parts of anywhere from 12-15 teams per season. While that may seem chaotic—she sticks to her spreadsheets and checklists, plans for various scenarios, and thrives under pressure, all while presenting a calm demeanor.
Christine Greenwood held various roles at Shipley, spanning a tenure of 36 years, most notably as an art teacher and the advisor of The Beacon and the Yearbook. She will retire at the end of the 2023-2024 academic year.
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Shipley's Middle and Upper School Science Olympiad Teams earned many medals at the Pennsylvania Southeast Region Science Olympiad Tournament on March 8 at Penn State Abington.
This year’s alumni exhibition features work from the Sky Paintingsseries by Shipley alum Peter Makela ’04 and will be on display in Speer Gallery from April 9 to May 5. Celebrate the fine arts at Shipley with an artist reception in Speer Gallery on Friday, May 3, 2024, from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. The Alumni Artist Reception is part of Alumni Reunion Weekend and is open to family and friends of the Shipley community, we ask that you please register online or contact alumni@shipleyschool.org with any questions.
Discover how our theater program nurtures student voice, confidence, and leadership. From sixth grade silliness to Upper School self-awareness, our students learn to express themselves with empathy and creativity, embodying our mission of compassionate participation.
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Shipley Middle Schoolers Anderson Knipe ’28 and Lily Pressman ’28 presented their joint research on young stellar objects at the 243rd Meeting of the American Astronomical Society held January 7-11 in New Orleans, Louisiana
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.