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A Note from Ms. Reinman
A Note from Ms. Reinman
December 4, 2025
Dear Middle School Community,
The holiday season brings out the cook in me. I’m a terrible cook, yet each year I try. When I was a college student, I signed up to partake in International Dinner. I discovered a recipe for some delicious chicken with Thai sauce and did everything the recipe instructed me to do. Yet, when I took the chicken out of the oven, it was disastrously undercooked. Being what I thought was resourceful, I fried what had been baked so that, at the very least, I would be able to serve food that was safe to eat. At the dinner, everyone lined up for a taste of Thailand. But no one came back for seconds. Last week, many decades later, I made carrots for Thanksgiving. Sitting amongst the grander offerings of turkey, stuffing, and candied yams was my small plate of fully cooked carrots. I was so proud. I hope that you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving.
What is it about our mistakes that makes them so memorable? While they are reminders of our limitations, perhaps it is because they show us the myriad possibilities that lie ahead if we just try. One of the joys of middle childhood years is trying, and this is what our children do every single day. With this joy in mind, I invite you to attend the joint Gr. 7 and 8 presentation of Shakespeare Monologues next Tuesday, December 9 after school. I had the opportunity to watch a rehearsal earlier this week. They tried, and they triumphed.
As this is the mid-year point of our school year, in the next few weeks, I will be checking in with all new families to ask how your family’s transition to Shipley has been. To all, I offer a meeting to discuss your child’s progress this year and/or to help plan for the next academic year. For those whose children are in Grade 8, I ask you to save January 28 on your calendar. It is our next Coffee and Conversation, where we will be discussing Transitioning to Upper School.
Until then, I wish you a joyous season as we approach the new year.
Sincerely,
Chantra Reinman
Head of Middle School
CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS
7TH AND 8TH GRADE DRAMA PERFORMANCE
Tuesday, December 9
3:45 pm
Doc Morinelli Theater
The 7th and 8th grade students will be reciting Shakespeare monologues.
6TH GRADE IFLY TRIP
Friday, December 12
8:30 am - 12:30 pm
Please see this email from the 6th grade team for more information.
EARLY DISMISSAL ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12
Friday, December 12
1:25 pm
Please note that on this day, students are dismissed at 1:25 pm so that teachers can attend Professional Development. Supervision is available in the Piltch Commons until the regular dismissal time.
7TH AND 8TH GRADE SPEAKER
Monday, December 15- Please note this was rescheduled due to illness
12:00-12:50 pm
Riely Theater
Ruth Kapp Hartz, survivor of the Holocaust, will speak to the 7th and 8th-grade students about her experiences. She is the author of Your Name is Renee and director and producer of A Legacy of Goodness, a DVD about her rescuers.
Should you wish to have your Gr. 6 child also attend, they are welcome to do so, but we ask that you accompany your child. As Gr. 6 students have not formally had a Holocaust education yet at Shipley, this may be the first time they hear about it.
We will offer space for students who wish to process this further immediately after the session with Mrs. Fick, who serves the dual role of counselor and MS Belonging and Connection Co-Coordinator. Our history teachers and advisors will also continue conversations within their classrooms about resilience, courage, and strength.
MIDDLE SCHOOL INSTRUMENTAL WINTER CONCERT
Thursday, December 18
7:00 pm
Riely Theatre
Come enjoy this concert featuring the Grades 6-8 Strings, Band, and Percussion Ensembles. Concert attendance is mandatory for all ensemble members, and concert attire is all black. There’s also a pre-concert social for parents/guardians at 6:15 pm.
Please note the Middle School Choirs will be performing with the Upper School on January 29th at Church of the Redeemer.
WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENTS
MIDDLE SCHOOL COMMUNITY COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENT
Help the MS Community Council's efforts to promote middle school togetherness on campus. Please encourage your child to hang out with friends while supporting our Varsity Girls Basketball Team on Wednesday, December 10 at 4:00. They may stay for some or all of the game, buy some candy concessions, and enjoy a sense of community as we cheer on our school!
BASEBALL CLINIC
January 11th, February 8th, March 1st
9:00-10:30 am: Grades 3rd - 5th
11-12:30 pm: Grades 6th - 8th
Yarnall Gym (or Wolfson Baseball Field, weather permitting)
Get ready for spring baseball with skill-building and fun as we cover defense and hitting with Shipley Baseball players and staff. Athletes should bring their own glove, bat, and water. Cost is $60 per session or $150 for all three sessions. Shipley students will be billed through the business office. Sign up here!
PARENT COFFEE AND CONVERSATIONS: THE JOURNEY OF A MATH STUDENT FROM MS TO US
Here are the slides from November’s Coffee and Conversations.
THE LEARNING CHILD SPEAKER SERIES PRESENTATION
Here is the slideshow from the Learning Child Speaker Series presentation on memory and attention.
Here is the Learning Child Speaker Series blog written by Chantra Reinman on Memory and Attention.
RUBE GOLDBERG SUPPLIES NEEDED
Sixth-grade science classes will be creating Rube Goldberg machines in a few short weeks, and we need your help collecting materials! We are looking for the following supplies:
Paper towels and toilet paper rolls
Cardboard
Dominoes
Empty thread spools
Please reach out to Ace Schwarz or Devin Halligan if you have any questions.
TWO WEEKS AT-A-GLANCE
Recent Instagram Posts - Follow Along to See What's Happening at Shipley!
Recent Instagram Posts - Follow Along to See What's Happening at Shipley!
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