Shipley celebrates special 125th anniversary on SWAMP Night

Bryn Mawr >> One hundred twenty-five years ago the Shipley Sisters – Hannah, Elizabeth, and Katharine Shipley – created a school committed to educational excellence and character development.
On Jan. 25 (1-25), Shipley celebrated its 125th anniversary with all aspects of its school mission on full display by holding a celebration to honor what makes Shipley the school it is – the student body, aka as “The Swamp” during sporting events.
“It is a great night to bring the Shipley community together in the winter sports season to cheer on our teams and show all the families in the Lower School, Middle School and Upper School what Shipley is all about,” said Shipley Athletic Director Mark Duncan. “It’s more special than ever since it was the 125th anniversary.”
Throughout the day and evening, Shipley held various events and ceremonies on and off the playing surface to mark the special occasion and showcase the abilities and diversity of the community.
“That’s what this night is about,” said Shipley Head of School Steve Piltch, who is in his 27th year and will be retiring at the end of the school year. “Our school is about providing an opportunity for kids to find out who they are, where they are going to go, and that’s something different for everyone. Kids make a difference in different ways, and if there is anything we like to think is common is that they are going to learn how to make a difference, however that is.”
Prior to the Shipley boys’ and girls’ basketball doubleheader the school held a ribbon cutting ceremony was held to commemorate The Commons, the school cafeteria being Green Restaurant Certified, meaning everything from appliances to the utensils and plates are checked to see if they are environmentally responsible by the Green Restaurant Association.
Conducting the ribbon cutting was Lila Saligman, a member of the environmental club and environmental head of the student body.
“It’s so awesome that Shipley has done so much this year to increase their sustainability, like switching from plastic utensils to metal utensils,” Saligman said. “As part of environmental club and the environmental head of the student body, it makes me so happy to see everyone embracing and caring about our environmental impacts and responsibility.”
To accompany the ribbon cutting ceremony, the environmental club sponsored environmental-themed games, movies and announcements in the commons.
To cap off the night, the Shipley boys’ and girls’ basketball teams tipped off against Germantown Friends in FSL action. After the Gator girls posted a convincing win, the Shipley boys team had to fend off a pesky Tigers squad to post an important win.
In between the boys’ and girls’ contest, Shipley presented each of the players who have scored 1,000 career points with a commemorative jersey with the Gators logo and 125 on the front and their total points on the back.
Those who were able to make it back to campus included: Frank Thomas (accepting for daughter Sarah (1,099 points); Lori Demito (1,023 points); Joanne Howard (accepting for son Ky); Erin Venafra (12,90 points); Alexandra King (1,013 points); Alexandra Lennon (1,018 points); Karen Fortune (accepting for daughter Martine) (1,046 points); Quazzie Johnson (1,202 points) and current seniors Anna Camden and Lauren Ross.
After honoring the players, the school presented outgoing Head of School Steve Piltch with a jersey of his own with the number 27 on the back signifying the number of years he proudly served the Shipley community.
“My family and I have loved being here 27 years,” Piltch said. “While I wqs touched with the jersey they gave me it’s all about the students. I have had the privilege of watching each of our 1,000 point scorers. They are good players who made a difference in our program, but they are terrific people and that’s what it’s all about.”