Dear Shipley Families,

As we enter the winter months, we want to remind you how Shipley will communicate delays and closures due to inclement weather:

Notifications: Families will receive an automated phone call, email, and text if school is closed or opening late. This information will also be posted on Shipley’s website and shared on social media. We will decide to open on time, open late, or close the School based on the best information available and will notify families of a closure or delay by 6:00 am.

You can update your emergency notification contact information by logging into ShipleyNet and clicking on the Emergency Alerts tile on the Resource Board.

Use your best judgment: Because our families travel from over 80 different zip codes—and road conditions can vary greatly across the region—we recognize that not every family’s situation is the same. Even when Shipley is open, please use your best judgment based on conditions in your area and bring your child to school when you feel it is safe to do so. In the case of a late opening, please do not arrive before the announced opening time.

Early dismissal: Should weather or another situation require an early dismissal, the School will communicate directly with families through our emergency notification system. Depending on conditions and district decisions, families may choose to pick up their children earlier in the day. 

Transportation: The School will remain open as long as students are in the building or on campus. Students will be supervised and kept safe until dismissal plans are clearly established. For the latest information about district buses or other transportation, please contact your district transportation office directly.

Thank you for your attention to these procedures and for working with us to keep our community safe. We appreciate your partnership and flexibility throughout the winter season.

Sincerely,

Ian Craig

Head of School

TO DO ITEMS:

• Complete the Phoenixville/Philadelphia Bus Survey

PHOENIXVILLE/COLLEGEVILLE & 30TH STREET STATION BUS SURVEY

As we continue exploring ways to better support our students and families, we are considering the addition of two morning bus routes—one serving the Collegeville/Phoenixville area and another from 30th Street Station in Philadelphia. If there is enough interest, we hope to begin these routes in the new year. The cost for the second half of the 2025–2026 school year would be $750, with a projected full-year cost of $1,500 for the 2026-2027 school year. 

To help us assess the feasibility of this service, complete this brief survey. Your input will guide our planning and ensure we understand the needs of our community.

LOWER SCHOOL MUSICAL: MARY POPPINS JR.

Friday, December 12th at 7:00 pm

Saturday, December 13th at 3:00 pm

Riely Theatre

Join us next week for this year's Lower School musical production of Mary Poppins Jr.! Featuring the talents of our fourth and fifth-grade students, this show is full of music, heart, and joy. 

To purchase tickets,  follow this link.

PARENT BOOK CLUB MEETING - AUTHOR VISIT

Friday, December 12

8:30 am

This month’s book club meeting will be a special gathering, as author Elise Juska will join to discuss her book Reunion: A Novel. If you’d like to attend, please fill out this brief RSVP form. Please reach out to Jenn Phiambolis with any questions.

HOLIDAY TOY DRIVE

December 1 - December 15

Our holiday toy drive is back again this year! We continue to partner with Mercy Neighborhood Ministries to provide toys for children in their Pre-K programs.  

If you would like to participate in the drive, please sign up here. Please note the following:

• We ask that your gift be close to $25 so that each child receives a gift of a similar value. 

• Please tag your gift with YOUR name AND the child's name. 

• Please DO NOT wrap your toy. The Upper School’s student-led Service Learning Committee will have a wrapping party for students in the Upper School on Wednesday, December 10 and 17 to wrap the gifts. 

• Drop off your gifts in the Main Lobby of your child’s division. Thank you!