Coming from two completely different backgrounds and cultures, Vijay and Carolyn Srinivasan wanted “something different, something more open” for their four children, Sanjay ’28, Maya ’29, Priya ’31, and Aanya ’33, who had previously attended an independent Catholic school.

“We want our children to view the world with an open mind and be accepting of everyone,” Carolyn says, noting how strongly Shipley’s philosophy—with its focus on promoting global citizenship and compassionate participation in the world —has resonated with her family.

“We also want our children to have the freedom to be themselves, explore their interests, and fulfill their potential, as well as make mistakes and learn from them,” adds Vijay, Advisory Dean at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

As front-line health-care workers at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, both Vijay, an Attending  Physician in the Division of Critical Care Medicine, and Carolyn, a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist in the Division of Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology, have treated their fair share of children with coronavirus infections amid the ongoing pandemic, including those with multi-system inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C).

The Srinivasans say they were extremely impressed with Shipley’s transition to Shipley Learns Online last spring and its commitment to the health, safety, and well-being of all community members upon their return to campus in the fall.

“We’re able to care for sick children at work, knowing our children are safe and getting an exceptional education,” Carolyn says. “We’re so grateful for the teachers—their experience, dedication, and resilience—and the opportunity to learn, grow, and adapt as parents. Through its unwavering commitment to academics, fine arts, and the growth mindset, Shipley has created an extremely positive and transformative learning experience in the midst of a once-in-a-lifetime event for our generation.”