Academics
Lower School | PreK–Gr. 5

After School Programs

Shipley Lower School offers two distinct after school programs: Encore Clubs and Later Gator. 
 
Encore Clubs offer opportunities for learning and discovering new passions beyond the typical school day. A rich array of developmentally-appropriate clubs is offered to students in preschool through Grade 5. 

Later Gator aftercare program provides a safe setting where students can play, do homework, and spend time with friends under the supervision of a caring staff.
Later Gator provides a safe setting where students can play, do homework, and spend time with friends under the supervision of a caring staff. On In-Service and Conference Days, Later Gator will be offered from 8:00 am – 3:00 pm. Later Gator offers advanced registration or drop-in service, and students can join Later Gator after attending an Encore Club. 

Sample Schedule
3:00-3:15 pm Snack
3:15-4:30 pm Outdoor Play/Gym 
4:30-5:00 pm Homework/Quiet Activities
5:00-5:15 pm Snack
5:15-5:50 pm Arts & Crafts, Games, Puzzles

List of 7 items.

  • Cost

    • Drop-In Service - $13/hr, one-hour minimum
    • Year - $3,600
    • Semester - $1,800
    • Month - $475
    Shipley also offers childcare on Conference and In-Service Days, as well as during Early Dismissal PD Fridays. Cost includes care until 3:00 pm, regular Later Gator fees apply after that.
    • Conference Days/In Service Days - $68.25
    • Early Dismissal Half Day Care (Until 3:00 pm) - $15/1 child, $20/2+ children

  • Hours

    All Regular School Days, 3:00 – 5:50 pm

    In-Service & Conference Days , 8:00 am – 3:00 pm

    Early Dismissal PD Fridays, 1:00 - 3:00 pm
    (Regular Later Gator Aftercare is available from 3:00 - 5:50 pm)

  • Drop-In Service

    Children may use our drop-in service on any given day. Families are responsible for paying on the same day that they use Later Gator.

  • How to Enroll

    If you wish to enroll your child in Later Gator for the full year, semester or a full month, please fill out the registration form. A completed form is required before your child can attend.

  • Attendance

    Attendance is taken daily at Later Gator between 3:00 and 3:10 pm, verifying changes such as absences and drop-ins. For safety reasons, children must be signed out when they are picked up. If there are any changes in pick-up or attendance, please notify the Lower School office at 610-527-6851.

  • Conduct

    Later Gator and the Encore Clubs are an extension of the Shipley Lower School. Therefore, students are expected to conduct themselves as they would during the regular school day. In addition to rules for safety and following directions, our primary expectation is for the children to treat others the way they want to be treated. Children who cannot follow these rules or who have other disciplinary issues may be restricted from participating in Later Gator and the Encore Clubs.

  • Late Pick-Up Policy

    Once the program ends at 5:50 pm, a 10-minute grace period is allowed, during which time no late fee is applied. After 6:00 pm, late fees apply and should be paid to the attending teacher at the time of pick-up. The charge is $30 for the first fifteen-minute interval (up to 6:15 pm). A $50 charge will be applied for pickups later than 6:15 pm, with no exceptions.
Encore Clubs offer opportunities for learning and discovering new passions beyond the typical school day. A rich array of developmentally appropriate clubs is offered to students in preschool through Grade 5. Clubs meet weekly and are offered Monday-Friday. Students are picked up from classrooms and provided a snack before clubs begin. There are three sessions during the year, fall, winter, and spring.

Time: Clubs run from 3:15-4:15 p.m.

Cost: The registration fee for all clubs is $200 per session. Please see the registration form for specific pricing information.

Cancellation Policy: 
  • If a family drops a club after the first day (one week), they will be charged for the one day attended.
  • If a family drops a club after the second session (two weeks), they will be charged for the two days attended, plus a drop fee of $50.
  • If a family drops after the fourth day (four weeks), they will be charged for the full session.

Spring 2025 Encore Clubs

List of 6 items.

  • Schedule

     
    Mondays
    Tuesdays
    Wednesdays
    Thursdays
    Fridays
    3/10
    3/11
    3/12
    3/13
    Early Dismissal
    3/17
    3/18
    3/19
    Spring Break begins at dismissal
    Spring Break
    3/31
    4/1
    4/2
    4/3
    4/4
    4/7
    4/8
    4/9
    4/10
    Early Dismissal
    4/14
    4/15
    4/16
    4/17
    4/18
    4/21
    4/22
    4/23
    4/24
    4/25
    4/28
    4/29
    4/30
    5/1
    5/2
    5/5
    5/6
    5/7
    5/8
    Early Dismissal
    5/12
    5/13
    5/14
    5/15
    5/16
    Over
    Over
    Over
    5/22
    5/23

  • Mondays

    Crafting Club (Grades 2-4): Ms. Marcee
    Join me for fun with beading, slime-making, rubber band jewelry-making, paper crafts, and object painting.
     
    Fun and Games Sports Club (Grades 1-3): Ms. Whelan/Mrs. Vengels
    This Fun and Games Sports Club is a high-energy club for students who love physical activity and teamwork. If P.E. is your favorite class, this is the perfect club for you! Participants will enjoy a variety of fun games, including bombardment, basketball, floor hockey, tag games, kickball, and capture the flag, among others. It’s all about having a blast, staying active, and playing with friends.
     
    Sculpture Lab (Grades 1-2, MAX 10): Ms. Clinkscales
    Students will explore, discuss, and practice sculpture-making techniques and practices to create works of art. From paper sculptures to clay creations and more, each project will involve observation, exploration, and creative problem-solving.
     
    Sewing and Crafts (Grades 2-5, MAX 15): Ms. Leschinsky
    A typical afternoon in Sewing Club consists of a lot of sewing and a lot of fun! We will learn how to hand sew and then apply what we’ve learned to make fabulous projects.
     
    Spanish Enrichment (Grades PreK-2): Dra. Malavé
    During this club, children will practice and strengthen their Spanish language skills through books, storytelling, and hands-on games.

  • Tuesdays

    Adventures in STEM using LEGO® Materials (Grades K-2, minimum of 12 to Run)
    Let your imagination run wild with tens of thousands of LEGO® parts! Build engineer-designed projects and use special pieces to create your own unique designs! Projects are rotated seasonally to ensure that both new and returning students can explore the endless creative possibilities of the LEGO® building system.
     
    Bollywood Dance (K-5): Mrs. Walecha
    This club is a fun and energetic way for students to explore dance while learning about Indian culture, meditation, and India's geography.

    Fiber Fun (Grades 2-5): Ms. Clinkscales
    Students will explore, discuss, and practice fiber art-making techniques like finger knitting and weaving to create works of art that showcase color, pattern, and design.

    Junior Gator Field Hockey Club (Grades 1-5): Ms. Whelan
    The Junior Field Hockey Club is a co-ed club. Each session will begin with a fun warm-up game followed by a review of the basic skills and rules of Field Hockey. The group will learn how to dribble, dodge, pass, and shoot the ball. Each session will end with a small-sided game that will review the rules and skills taught that day. The goal is to improve skills, gain self-confidence, build relationships with teammates, and encourage fair play in a fun way. Equipment needed for each session: water bottle, shin guards, and a mouth guard. Sticks will be provided.
     
    Pokémon (Grade 3-5): Vineyard Camp
    Welcome to Pokémon: Build & Battle, where the world of Pokémon meets math, literacy, and strategic thinking! This program invites young trainers to explore the art of building powerful Pokémon trading card decks, while developing essential skills in problem-solving, mathematics, literacy, and strategic decision-making. Students will battle each other within a fun, competitive, and supportive learning environment. Each week will focus on building different aspects of the game—deck construction, understanding card abilities, math for calculating damage, reading comprehension for card details, and strategy for winning battles. By the end of the program, students will participate in a culminating tournament where they can showcase their skills!
     
    Soccer Stars (Grades K-3, MAX 20 with two coaches)
    Soccer Stars’ unique curriculum will introduce your child to the game of SOCCER! We focus on teaching the FUNdamentals in a creative manner so kids can have FUN while learning at the same time. Our classes will have a lesson and theme each week. Kids will learn individual skills such as juggling and shooting, along with team building. Our classes include warm-ups, stretches, skill-building, partner skill-building, teamwork, and scrimmages.

  • Wednesdays

    Intro to Knitting - In the Round (Grades 2-5, MAX 10): Mrs. Varner
    In this club, we will learn to knit “in the round” using circular needles. Knitting “in the round” is an easy and fun technique that allows you to make hats, cowls, and other garments. All students will learn how to knit on flat needles and in the round. Students will work on knitting a hat, and in doing so, will learn garter stitch, stockinette, and how to increase and decrease stitches. Students do not need prior knitting experience! 

    All students will need to provide their own yarn. Students should have one skein of bulky weight yarn for the first class. If students have yarn from the previous session, they can use that. Below are some options:
     
    Latin Dance (Grades 3-5): Dra. Malavé
    Salsa, Merengue, Bachata, and Chacha: Come learn about the genres, cultures, and influences while also learning how to dance.
     
    Nature Club (Grades 2-4): Ms. Marcee
    If you love nature, join me in listening to the world around us, sketching plants and animals, outdoor treasure hunts, and building collections.

    Rowing (Grades 3-5, MAX 7) Coach Gavin-Wisniewski
    Rowing is a sport that brings people together like few other activities. In this Intro to Rowing Encore Club, students will learn the fundamentals of the sport in a fun, engaging, team environment. Our State-of-the-art indoor rowing center at the Upper School Campus provides a safe, indoor rowing facility for students to explore this wonderful sport. Parents should be capable of picking up students at the Upper School Campus at our facility adjacent to the parking garage and tennis courts at 4:15 pm. Only a handful of schools across the country are able to offer a program like this, so be sure to take advantage of the great opportunity. Please note there will be no club on March 19 and cost will be prorated. 
     
    Sports Card Club (Grades 3-5, MAX 20): Mr. Wareikis
    Join Shipley’s sports card trading club! Come share some of your sports card collection and have fun trading! The club will include tips for trading, how to look up value cards with a database, organization and overall care, the different types of grading services, and a whole bunch more! While our focus will mainly be with sports cards, trading card games similar to ‘Magic’ and Pokemon’ will be an option if there is enough interest.
     
    Tennis (Grades 2-5, MAX 8): Mr. Caddle
     
    Perler Beads (Grades K-5): Ms. Leschinsky
    Spend peaceful afternoons creating colorful Perler bead creations with me in the library.

  • Thursdays

    Knights, Captures, Action! (Grades K-5): Shining Knights Chess
    Whether you are new to the game, learning to push pawns for the first time, or have played in numerous tournaments and want to sharpen your skills, come to a Shining Knights Chess Club! We have trained numerous state champions and national trophy winners. We have trained even more kids to enjoy the game that they can spend hours playing with friends and family. So, whether you want to win games in your living room against parents or win tournaments in other states, come join us and learn how to play chess or play better chess!

    “DND” Dungeons and Dragons (Grades 3-5): Vineyard Camp
    Have you ever wanted to play the nationally-known game Dungeons and Dragons? Stretch your imagination telling stories with your friends, and build useful creative skills? What about playing the game they do in Stranger Things? Well this is your chance! In this class, we'll be exploring collaborative storytelling through Dungeons and Dragons. Along the way, we'll develop social and emotional skills that will serve us well outside of the RPG.

    STEM Explorations using LEGO® Materials (Grades 3-5, minimum of 12 to run)
    Master your engineering skills with Play-Well TEKnologies and tens of thousands of LEGO® parts! Apply real-world concepts in physics, engineering, and architecture through engineer-designed projects. Projects are rotated seasonally to ensure that even returning students get a new experience, so join us to design and build as never before and explore your craziest ideas.

    Young Rembrandts (Grades PreK-5, minimum of 8 to run)
    During our spring session, your child will learn about design, composition, and illustration using our unique step-by-step drawing method. Besides strengthening your child’s drawing and coloring skills, they will also learn about art history as we present lessons featuring a master artist. The drawings kids bring home are 100% their work, from the first pencil line starting to draw the lesson of the week with step-by-step instruction, to the coloring part. All lessons are designed to be age- and artistic-level-appropriate. The goal is to see improvement in a child’s work throughout the multi-week session and help them grow their self-confidence in their artistic abilities. Our March-May drawing club will teach all new lessons – spring birds, flowers, Frida Kahlo, and more!

  • Fridays

    Bombardment (Grades 4-5): Mrs. Early/Mrs. Vengels

    Junior Baking (Grades K-1): Vineyard Camp
    Discover the world of baking in our beginner's baking class designed for children! Led by our experienced instructors, young bakers will explore the art of baking while fostering creativity and teamwork. Through a carefully crafted series of beginner-friendly activities, children will master the fundamentals of baking. Throughout the course, they will enhance their skills by participating in exciting projects like Cookie Decorating, Fudge Making, crafting Caramel Popcorn, and creating mouthwatering Caramel Apples. Along the way, students will also learn essential baking skills and safety techniques. Join us for a hands-on experience where the joy of baking intertwines with the excitement of learning!

Winter 2024-2025 Clubs

List of 6 items.

  • Schedule

    Monday
    Tuesday
    Wednesday
    Thursday
    Friday
    12/9
    12/10
    12/11
    12/12
    Early Dismissal
    12/16
    12/17
    12/18
    12/19
    Winter Break begins at dismissal
    1/6
    1/7
    1/8
    1/9
    1/10
    1/13
    1/14
    1/15
    1/16
    Early Dismissal
    MLK Jr. Day
    1/21
    1/22
    1/23
    1/24
    1/27
    1/28
    1/29
    1/30
    1/31
    2/3
    2/4
    2/5
    2/6
    2/7
    2/10
    2/11
    2/12
    2/13
    Early Dismissal
    President’s Day
    In-Service Day
    2/19
    2/20
    2/21
    2/24
    2/25
    Over
    Over
    2/28
    3/3
    Over
    Over
    Over
    3/7
     

  • Mondays

    Bombardment (Grades 1-3): Ms. Whelan/ Mrs. Vengels
     
    Dance Club (Grades 1-2): Ms. Way
    Young dancers will explore their creativity, build confidence, and make friends! Through fun routines and engaging activities, students will learn various dance styles while expressing themselves in a supportive environment. Let's move and groove together!
     
    Latin Dance (Grades 3-5): Dra. Malavé
    Salsa, Merengue, Bachata, and Chacha: Come learn about the genres, cultures, and influences while also learning how to dance. 
     
    Sculpture Lab (Grades K-1): Ms. Clinkscales
    Students will explore, discuss, and practice sculpture-making techniques and practices to create works of art. From paper sculptures to clay creations and more, each project will involve observation, exploration, and creative problem-solving.
     
    Sewing and Crafts (Grades 2-5, MAX 14): Ms. Leschinsky
    A typical afternoon in Sewing Club consists of a lot of sewing and a lot of fun! We will learn how to hand sew and then apply what we’ve learned to make fabulous projects.

  • Tuesdays

    Adventures in STEM using LEGO® Materials (Grades K-2, minimum of 12 to Run)
    Let your imagination run wild with tens of thousands of LEGO® parts! Build engineer-designed projects and use special pieces to create your own unique designs! Projects are rotated seasonally to ensure that both new and returning students can explore the endless creative possibilities of the LEGO® building system.
     
    Junior Gator Field Hockey Club (Grades 1-5): Ms. Whelan
    The Junior Field Hockey Club is a co-ed club. Each session will begin with a fun warm-up game followed by a review of the basic skills and rules of Field Hockey. The group will learn how to dribble, dodge, pass, and shoot the ball. Each session will end with a small-sided game that will review the rules and skills taught that day. The goal is to improve their skills, gain self-confidence, build relationships with teammates, and encourage fair play in a fun way. Equipment needed for each session: water bottle, shin guards, and a mouth guard. Sticks will be provided.

    Homework Help/Enrichment Activities (Grades K-2): Ms. Sklow
    Students will be given individual guidance while completing homework assignments and/or enrichment activities to support their learning in reading and math. Activities will be specific to each student and in alignment with the grade level curriculum.  
     
    Recycled Fashion Club (Grades 2-5): Ms. Clinkscales
    Students will explore, discuss, and practice various art-making techniques to create wearable art using recycled materials. From bags, hats, clothing, and more, each project will involve creative problem-solving and exploration with sustainable and recycled fashion practices. Each student will display their finished product(s) at the Spring Arts Night exhibition.

  • Wednesdays

    Intro to Knitting (Grades 2-5, MAX 10): Mrs. Varner
    Students will learn the basics of this wonderful craft while creating their own scarf or set of hand warmers that will keep them cozy for years to come. They will learn fundamental techniques such as knitting, purling, and casting on and off, and then how to add texture and personality to their creations through various knit stitches. Class size is limited so that students can get personalized support as they build their skills. All students will need to provide their own yarn. Students should have three balls of bulky-weight yarn for the first class. Below are some options:

    Rowing (Grades 1-3, MAX 12): Coach Gavin-Wisniewski
    Rowing is a sport that brings people together like few other activities. In this Intro to Rowing Encore Club, students will learn the fundamentals of the sport in a fun, engaging, team environment. Our State-of-the-art indoor rowing center at the Upper School Campus provides a safe, indoor rowing facility for students to explore this wonderful sport. Parents should be capable of picking up students at the Upper School Campus at our facility adjacent to the parking garage and tennis courts. Only a handful of schools across the country are able to offer a program like this, so be sure to take advantage of the great opportunity.  
     
    Sports Card Club (Grades 3-5, MAX 18): Mr. Wareikis
    Join Shipley’s sports card trading club! Come share some of your sports card collection and have fun trading! The club will include tips for trading, how to look up value cards with a database, organization and overall care, the different types of grading services, and a whole bunch more! While our focus will mainly be with sports cards, trading card games similar to ‘Magic’ and Pokemon’ will be an option if there is enough interest.
     
    Tennis (Grades 2-5, MAX 8): Mr. Caddle
     
    Yoga (Grades 2-5, MAX 10): Ms. Leschinsky

  • Thursdays

    Soccer Stars (Grades K-3, MAX 20 with two coaches)
    Soccer Stars’ unique curriculum will introduce your child to the game of SOCCER! We focus on teaching the FUNdamentals in a creative manner so kids can have FUN while learning at the same time. Our classes will have a lesson and theme each week. Kids will learn individual skills such as juggling and shooting, along with team building. Our classes include warm-ups, stretches, skill-building, partner skill-building, teamwork, and scrimmages.  

    STEM Explorations using LEGO® Materials (Grades 3-5, minimum of 12 to run)
    Master your engineering skills with Play-Well TEKnologies and tens of thousands of LEGO® parts! Apply real-world concepts in physics, engineering, and architecture through engineer-designed projects. Projects are rotated seasonally to ensure that even returning students get a new experience, so join us to design and build as never before and explore your craziest ideas.

    Weird Nature Science (Grades 1-3)
    Have you ever wanted to be a scientist? Or to increase your understanding of the natural world? Well, you’re in luck! In this class, we’ll learn about physics and the natural world through fun, easy science experiments. We’ll learn about states of matter, the animal and plant kingdoms, and how the things that we interact with in our everyday lives really work. This is the perfect club if you love science or engineering or just want to get a little messy after school.

    Young Rembrandts (Grades PreK-5, minimum of 8 to run)
    What do sassy bunnies, a scarecrow, Van Gogh, and silly cow expressions have in common? They are all subjects of our fun Young Rembrandts fall lessons! Our students will draw and color a new lesson every week, every session under the step-by-step guidance provided by our amazing staff. Don't let your child miss out–sign them up for our club and watch their artistic abilities improve!

  • Fridays

    Bombardment (Grades 4-5): Mrs. Early/Mrs. Vengels 

    Cooking Exploration (Grades K-2)
    Does your child have a passion for cooking? Are they ready to experience new foods and expand their little palettes? Our students will be engaged while discovering how to prepare delicious international and American dishes safely and skillfully. Our mini chefs will enjoy exploring diverse recipes from Africa, Asia, Europe, and North and South America, while learning food prep tips and tricks they can use throughout their life. During our sessions, your child will play kids' games from other countries, learn food terms from around the world, and receive simple recipes they can use at home. This course is tailored for younger students and focuses on microwave cooking. Recipes include Italian Lasagna, Ghanaian Fufu Dumplings, Japanese Rice Balls (Onigiri), Mexican Quesadilla and Salsa, American Mug Cake, Chinese Chaofan, and French Fondue.
814 Yarrow Street
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010

Phone: 610-525-4300
Fax: 610-525-5082
The Shipley School is a private, coeducational day school for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade students, located in Bryn Mawr, PA. Through our commitment to educational excellence, we develop within each student a love of learning and a desire for compassionate participation in the world.