Head of School Letter: Camping with the Fourth Grade

I was lucky enough to be included in last week’s fourth grade overnight camping trip at the Camp Dorothy Thomas campsite in Riverview, Florida.  I joined 51 fourth graders and the dedicated fourth grade team of Mrs. Husenitza, Ms. Schilling, Mrs. Summer, Ms. Horton and Mrs. Bhuyan—along with Lower School Head Dr. Bianco, Lower School Dean of Curriculum Mrs. Palazzolo, Third Grade Associate Teacher (and EMT) Ms. Leavengood ’17, Director of Diversity Mr. Fludd, and my two amazing cabinmates: Lower School Counselor Ms. Fierce and School Nurse Conroy. 

The camping trip provided me with a valuable opportunity to spend time with students and faculty as a participant in Shorecrest’s outdoor experiential learning program. Throughout the trip all of us stepped out of our comfort zones in a variety of ways - facing challenges, discovering strengths and making lifelong memories along the way. 

I knew it was going to be a great trip the moment I heard singing on the bus as we headed to the campgrounds. Though I didn’t recognize a single lyric of the song the kids were belting out at full volume, their enthusiasm was contagious. Before we knew it the bus rolled through the front gate and we were unloading sleeping bags and duffels and getting ready to eat lunch. The afternoon flew by, filled with activities and adventures. My favorite parts were the hike with numerous bird sightings and the quiet solo times spent journal-writing.

While there were many things that we did in groups, there were also ample moments for one-on-one interactions. In the early evening I was walking down a sandy path from the cabins back to the main lodge with a student. He turned to me and asked, “Is it hard to be the Head of School?” “Sometimes,” I said, “but I love it.” He nodded and we continued walking together, talking about different aspects of my job. It was a special moment, the kind of genuine conversation that can arise when you step away from the usual routine. It was a reminder of why I love being an educator: the opportunity to listen and connect with students on a personal level. 

Another moment that stands out from the trip was a late-night knock on the door to the room where Ms. Fierce, Nurse Conroy and I were staying. My bed was right next to the door so I quickly opened it, hoping that the others would not be disturbed. Two girls, flashlights in hand, looked up at me. “We can’t fall asleep,” they whispered. “Do you want me to tell you a story?” I asked. Nodding in unison, they headed back to their bunk beds and scrambled into their sleeping bags. 

For the next fifteen minutes I softly told them the story of a little girl named Sally, whose Old English Sheepdog, Sadie, was best friends with an orange cat named Morris. Sadie and Morris were teased by a crow who made their lives miserable until they figured out that the bird simply wanted to be friends with them and was jealous of how much fun the two of them had together with Sally. Finishing the story with a quiet yet emphatic “The End” I smiled, having watched both girls drift off to sleep. I carefully tiptoed out of the room. 

One of the last activities of the camping trip was a board breaking ceremony. Throughout the trip each student had decorated a wooden board of things they felt were holding them back. Breaking the board symbolized something they discovered about themselves, a powerful recognition of growth and achievement. As each student took a turn, their classmates cheered them on with encouragement and applause. It was a wonderful experience and a reminder, as Dr. Bianco says, of “the magic that happens when children step outside their comfort zones.”

So much thanks and gratitude goes out to the adults who supported our students and enabled them to have this unique camping experience. And kudos to our impressive fourth graders, who took on challenges and threw their whole selves into the experience with enthusiasm and resilience. 

All the best, 

Nancy