• For families participating in the musical, please review the information in the Weekly Announcements section below.

• Encore Clubs begin next week! Please review the schedule and policies on the website as well as the information in the Announcements below.

• If you plan on having your child/ren attend Later Gator on the upcoming early dismissal day, please register them using the form on the After School Programs page.

• Use this link to purchase tickets for the Lower School musical.

• If interested, register your child for the upcoming field hockey, baseball, or basketball clinics! More information is below in the Announcements section.

Further information on checklist items can be found below.

CONFERENCES

Thursday, December 4, 4:00-7:30pm

Friday, December 5, 8:00am-3:00pm

Conferences for the fall semester will take place tonight from 4-7:30pm and all day tomorrow. Further information on conferences can be found on this document. Please review your child’s report ahead of your conference; information on report access was sent out on Tuesday. If you need assistance with access to Pick-A-Time or your child’s report, please contact Brady MacManus.

The Book Fair has been moved to the lobby, so please feel free to shop if interested! Volunteers have also laid out items from our lost and found along the courtyard windows near the front desk; please take a moment to check if any of your child’s belongings are there.

Later Gator on conference day is full. If you have any questions, please contact Paula Farrell.

4TH GRADE TRIP TO TARGET

Tuesday, December 9

Following their bake sale, the 4th grade will head to Target to purchase gifts for Foster Angels on Earth as part of their annual service project. More information has been sent out by the grade level coordinator.

COORDINATORS AND HOMEROOM VOLUNTEERS

Wednesday, December 10

8:30 am

Beechwood House

Our final meeting of the fall semester will be on the 10th! As always, this meeting is open to all parents and guardians who are interested in engaging further with the Lower School. If you’d like to join virtually, please use this link.

EARLY DISMISSAL

Friday, December 12

Classes will end for the day at 1 pm. We will have a special session of Later Gator from 1-3 pm, and regular Later Gator will follow from 3:15-5:50 pm. We ask that you register your child if you plan to have them stay for Later Gator. To register your child/ren for the special session on early dismissal days, please use the form on the After School Programs web page. 3:00 pm dismissal will be at Beechwood.

If you have any questions about Later Gator on these days, please contact Paula Farrell.

LOWER SCHOOL MUSICAL

Friday, December 12 - 7:00 pm

Saturday, December 13 - 3:00 pm

Anything can happen if you let it! Join us for this year's Lower School musical production of Mary Poppins Jr.! Featuring the talents of our fourth and fifth-grade students, this year's production is full of music, heart, and joy. With iconic songs and unforgettable dance numbers, these performances are perfect for the whole family!

To purchase tickets for the LS Musical, Mary Poppins Jr., follow this link.

LOWER SCHOOL APPRECIATION BREAKFAST

Wednesday, December 17

7:45 am

Organized by our Coordinators and Homeroom Volunteers, the Colleague Appreciation Breakfast is a way to spread holiday cheer and celebrate the Lower School. Further information will be sent out by Grade Level Coordinators.

WINTER BREAK

Saturday, December 20 - Sunday, January 4

Winter break begins at dismissal time on Friday, December 19; there will be no Later Gator after school that day. Happy holidays, happy new year, and enjoy the break!

SAVE THE DATE - MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. SERVICE DAY

Monday, January 19

10:00 am-12:00 pm

Please save this date as Shipley will be doing a morning of service between 10 am and 12 pm on Monday, January 19. More information to come in the following weeks!

LOWER SCHOOL MUSICAL UPDATES

• Reminder: Costume Drop Off, Sound Check, & Spacing Rehearsal in Riely Theater on Upper Campus tomorrow from 2-4pm. Pickup and Dropoff is in the Montgomery Lot by the Piltch Commons.

• A Show Week Schedule was sent by Mrs. Clark in a separate email.

• Parent Volunteer Opportunities

  • There are still opportunities available for families to get involved with the musical next week! Please follow this link for a form to sign up.

AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS

Winter Encore Clubs begin meeting next week! Please note that information about clubs, including the schedule and cancellation policy, can be found on the After School Programs page on the Shipley website.

For families who have registered their child for Zumba Kids, Pokémon, or Bollywood Dance clubs, please note that these clubs have unfortunately been cancelled due to low registration. There are still open spots in several other clubs; please check the registration link on the website (linked above) to see what remains available.

If you have any questions about Encore Clubs, please contact Paula Farrell.

NOTES FROM STUDENT SUPPORT

Take a look at this age-by-age guide (2-8) from PBSKids for Parents to help your child develop greater self-awareness, self-control, and self-confidence.

Please reach out to Catherine Mallam with any concerns about your child’s social-emotional well-being.

NOTES FROM THE NURSE’S OFFICE

Here is a helpful resource from CHOP on navigating “sick season,” which can often follow holiday gatherings, travel, and changes in sleep patterns.

UPCOMING SPORTS CLINICS

Field Hockey

January 10 and 24, February 7 and 21, March 7 and 14

1:00-2:00pm

Small Gym - Grades K-2

Big Gym - Grades 3-5

Join Varsity players and coaching staff for a field hockey clinic. We will focus on basic game-play skills, small-sided games, and having fun! Bring shin guards and mouthguards. If you need to borrow a stick, please let Coach Katie know. Please use this form to register.

$30 per session or $150 for all six - Shipley students will be billed through the business office. Non-Shipley families, please send a check payable to The Shipley School - Athletics - 814 Yarrow Street, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010.

Baseball

January 11, February 8, March 1

9:00-10:30 am

Yarnall Gym (or Wolfson Field, weather permitting)

For grades 3-5

Athletes should bring their own glove, bat, and water. Get ready for spring baseball with skill-building and fun as we cover defense and hitting with Shipley Baseball players and staff. Please use this form to register.

$60 per session or $150 for all three sessions. Shipley students will be billed through the business office. Non-Shipley families, please send a check payable to The Shipley School - Athletics - 814 Yarrow Street, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010.

Basketball

January 19

9:30-11:30 am

Yarnall Gym

For grades 3-8

Join the Shipley Basketball teams and coaching staff for a morning of dribbling, passing, and shooting skill work. We encourage players of all skill levels to attend and look forward to getting in the gym together! Please use this form to register. This program is free of charge, but athletes must be registered to participate.