The bags are packed, buses are loaded, and children are (mostly) ready to hit the road. This isn’t the beginning of summer vacation, it’s the start of the overnight experiences for Shipley’s fourth, fifth, and sixth grade students and their teachers. Even Upper School Student Government leaders, deans, and administrators participate in their own overnight trip. Early in the school year, teaching colleagues, deans, and students head to various off-site locations for team bonding, learning, and, of course, fun. But what from the outside might look like a fun sleepover experience and time away from school is much more: it is where relationships are forged, communities are built, and a sense of community and well-being are created.
The fourth and fifth grade trips are experiential and purposeful, true embodiments of Shipley’s definition of educational excellence. On these trips, students are accompanied by science teacher Dan Del Duca, who uses the outdoor locations as extensions of the classroom. At the College Settlement Outdoor School in Horsham, fourth graders dedicate one whole day to environmental science. Fifth graders learn about watersheds and successions, doing bay and swamp studies in the Chesapeake, at Echo Hill Outdoor School in Maryland. “Curricularly, it’s hands-on, but more than that. You get a context about how environmental conditions affect your life and how you can be part of making a difference, making a change,” explains Lower School science teacher Dan Del Duca.
While there is a clear educational component to these two trips, spending time in the outdoors and participating in team-building adventure courses is an experience that builds both the individual and collective well-being of our students and colleagues. Mr. Del Duca says, “Being outside in the woods is an experience that helps with mindfulness. We went on a tree walk and observed sounds, spaces, and animals. There is something very special about being outdoors. It’s a place where you can really learn about yourself and the trappings of daily life can fall away.”
Our students work together as a team, recognizing each other’s strengths, learning things about themselves and their classmates, and bringing this new knowledge, understanding, and sense of belonging back to the classroom. When students feel this sense of belonging and community, they are free to learn. Similarly, the sixth grade overnight trip serves both curricular and well-being purposes. The trip was conceived as a way to help incoming sixth grade students build community and bond as they enter Middle School. The sixth grade year is a transition year with many students entering the Shipley community from other schools and returning students moving up the road from the Lower Campus.
Understanding the impact of social and emotional factors on academic performance, teachers were looking for a way to help students develop resilience and an understanding of their classmates, build some leadership skills, and have fun while doing so. Enter the Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC). Students participated in team-building activities, played purposeful games led by the PEEC staff, and traversed a low ropes confidence course, where they could take small but safe risks. Students also completed a bat, beaver, and water study, which culminated in a town meeting where students practiced sharing and listening to diverse viewpoints in a healthy debate about building a dam.
Sixth grade teachers have seen a difference upon returning from the trip. “Friendships are stronger, and we see a big change with our new students,” says Sixth Grade Dean Sarah Stehman. “They have strong friendships that are not just with new students (as they are when they first come to Shipley); they have strong friendships with our returning students, too.”
In the Upper School, Student Government leaders, committee heads, and the adults who advise them have a comparable experience when they go to The Shawnee Inn in East Stroudsburg, PA. The goals of this trip are twofold: First, to train students in leadership skills that these young adults will need as members of Student Government (like public speaking and event planning). Second, to build a sense of community and trust among this group since this is the first time they will be working together. Students are involved in various activities connected to developing as leaders and growing as empathic people, establishing connections, and building a sense of belonging.
“This is a wonderful opportunity to get to know the group, start planning our priorities for the year, and offer training on how to be leaders,” explains Dean of Students Anna Dejdar ’04. “We are able to come back to these lessons and sessions throughout the year, and I have seen a true togetherness form.” For all three divisions, these trips pack a lot more than just clothing and a chance to be with friends in nature. They are, indeed, a short walk to our mission and motto and reflect Shipley’s unique approach to educational excellence and achievement by helping students develop the skills and character traits to support their well-being—as individuals and as a group.
At the College Settlement Outdoor School in Horsham, PA, fourth graders took their environmental studies into the woods, where they also completed team-building activities and spent time connecting with each other and their teachers.
Fifth graders learned about watersheds by doing bay and swamp studies in the Chesapeake, at Echo Hill Outdoor School in Maryland.
Fifth graders learned about watersheds by doing bay and swamp studies in the Chesapeake, at Echo Hill Outdoor School in Maryland.
The sixth grade’s trip to the Pocono Environmental Education Center was conceived as a way to help incoming sixth grade students build community and bond.
The sixth grade’s trip to the Pocono Environmental Education Center was conceived as a way to help incoming sixth grade students build community and bond.
The sixth grade’s trip to the Pocono Environmental Education Center was conceived as a way to help incoming sixth grade students build community and bond.
Upper School Student Government leaders and their adult advisors kicked off the school year in the Poconos, with workshops to foster collaboration and build leadership skills.
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.
To know Betsy Leschinsky (or Mrs. L, as the kids like to call her) is to love her. She is humble about her role in Shipley becoming a leader in social emotional learning, but Mrs. L’s sweet, gentle demeanor and small stature belie a giant in our community. Learn more about Shipley's beloved Lower School SEED Teacher, Betsy Leschinsky.
Carter Barnhart ’10 is the co-founder and CEO of Charlie Health, with the goal of providing high-quality, personalized mental health treatment to a broader population through a virtual intensive outpatient program (IOP) that combines group, individual, and family therapy sessions delivered entirely online. In 2022, Carter was named to Inc. Magazine’s Female Founders 100 list for her work to rapidly grow Charlie Health.
Chris Lengthorn, Shipley's Director of Squash, dedicates his career to pursing two simple goals: to bring squash to the people and help them achieve whatever their definition of success may be. "I teach students how to manage setbacks and overcome adversity through hard work, discipline and resilience." Learn more about Coach Lengthorn in this Q&A.
When Helen “Honey” Beuf ’78 lost her daughter to suicide, she turned her grief into action. Working with a good friend who is a movie producer, Honey and her other daughter, Tess, decided to produce a documentary film called My Sister Liv. In making the film, Honey says she became aware of unmet needs of kids in learning about suicide prevention and mental health.
Shipley is lucky to have two of its own at the helm of a re-energized Alumni Engagement Office after a two-year hiatus from hosting regional and major events. Aly Mason ’07 took over the role of Director in September 2022, joining Assistant Director Ali Schwartz ’10 in the shared endeavor of connecting with alumni of all ages through robust alumni programming.
“New” traditions can mirror those from the past. And while times may have changed, the goal remains the same: To create a sense of belonging, connection, and school spirit. Learn about two "new" 2022-2023 school year initiatives aimed at generating more school spirit across the divisions.
In Jeff Addis's interdisciplinary Grade 11 Honors American Studies History course, students explore American identity through history, literature, and art. In a recent poetry project, students used visual culture and art to work on writing and voice. Throughout the course, Addis tries to make history real for students, helping them find where their identity and lived experiences overlap with the things they are learning.
Shipley's Middle and Upper School Science Olympiad Teams competed in the Pennsylvania Southeast Region Science Olympiad Tournament on March 11 at Penn State Abington. The teams earned 12 top-three finishes, earning spots at the State Tournament in April.
At the 2023 Philadelphia Flower Show, Shipley’s commitment to excellence was on full display through the prize-winning work of the Sprouts, Upper School Horticultural Ecology students, and the Middle School Gardening Club. Shipley alumni also made their mark, with Betsy Hastings Block ’83 and Laura Butera '08 contributing in big ways to the event's success.
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.