A Love Letter to Shorecrest
Source/Author: Adrianne Finley Odell, Assistant Head of School
May 19, 2017
Dear Sparky,
One of my favorite traditions at Shorecrest is when the faculty and staff meet in the Janet Root Theatre at the end of the school year to honor those who are retiring or leaving our community. After a variety of year-end business that needs to be discussed, Mr. Murphy opens up the floor for those present to offer specific appreciations to individuals that they work with. It is a beautiful tradition because it reminds all of us of just how special a place Shorecrest is. Not a year goes by without laughter and tears as we acknowledge the incredible people we work with each day who have become part of our extended family.
So many of us have children who are students at the school or children who are alumni. We helped each other through dark and difficult days and celebrated with each other the many joys we experience in our lives. Each year when this day takes place I offer some of my own appreciations.
This year, however, will be a little more difficult as I prepare to leave this wonderful place to begin a new position at a school in Evanston, Illinois. So often, we fail to recognize the amazing people in our lives in an appropriate way because we get caught up in the busyness of our day-to-day activities. It would be impossible for me to leave here, however, without telling you how much I love you and appreciate you and our incredible community. Because you—Sparky—embody our community, this is my love letter to you.
This year, however, will be a little more difficult as I prepare to leave this wonderful place to begin a new position at a school in Evanston, Illinois. So often, we fail to recognize the amazing people in our lives in an appropriate way because we get caught up in the busyness of our day-to-day activities. It would be impossible for me to leave here, however, without telling you how much I love you and appreciate you and our incredible community. Because you—Sparky—embody our community, this is my love letter to you.
I remember when I first arrived in Saint Petersburg, and a wonderful family opened their home to me and gave me a place to live until the rest of my family joined me from Maryland later that summer. It was my first experience to learn about the generous and compassionate nature of our community. My daughter was to join the seventh grade that year, and because of the Parent Ambassador Program she had friends before the first day of school, making her transition to Shorecrest so seamless. Her advisor, teachers and coaches in Middle School went above and beyond to support her as a new student and she soon made even more friends through participation in cross country and soccer—sports where the older children reached out with respect, involving the younger ones.
As I began my tenure at Shorecrest, I was overwhelmed by the intense dedication of parents who volunteered freely and gave generously to support an inspired education environment. Parents, grandparents and alumni rolled up their sleeves to help out whether they were making calls for support of the Annual Fund during one of our phonathons, or hosting a gathering at their home to raise awareness about the campaign for a new Athletic Center. And while we should be the ones thanking them, they were often coming by the “Advancement Cottage” (OK—those who know me have put up with me calling it a “cottage” because somehow that makes working in a trailer sound better)—they were coming by to thank us. I think they knew that our team likes desserts—and I especially appreciated the chocolate/peanut butter buckeyes at the holidays!
The creativity of our families has always impressed me as they imagined and implemented fun events to bring our community together. And we found ways to celebrate achievements together—whether they be student achievements or community achievements—like raising the funds for a new Athletic Center!
A memory that will be forever emblazoned in my mind is seeing the wide-eyes of children in awe as they walked into the Athletic Center for the first time in 2011, appreciating that they soon would have the opportunity to play basketball or participate in PE in that beautiful new space. I will also remember our groundbreaking ceremony for that building and how everyone came together as a team to make that event so special.
Not all schools are like this, you know. In many places, faculty and staff would not lift a finger to help out with a non-academic event. At Shorecrest though, the members of our facilities crew showed up before dawn setting up chairs for the event—with smiles on their faces!! Our middle school music teachers were thrilled when I asked them if the Junior Thespian troupe would perform and they rehearsed many times until they knew it was just right. Our kindergarten teachers engaged our youngest learners (now fifth graders) to write thank you notes that they delivered in person (along with flowers) to donors the morning of the event. And we all celebrated at the conclusion by having—what else—dirt pudding!!—in small metal pails with gummy worms, handed out by members of our staff who all showed up to help out!
One of the things that I am constantly amazed at is the commitment to improvement by our faculty and staff. It is impossible to walk across this campus without seeing evidence of ways that teachers have reimagined their program to better support teaching and learning! The Shorecrest of 2017 resembles little of what I experienced when I arrived here in 2010. The teachers are continuously exploring new ways to engage the minds of our young learners. Project-based learning, robotics, makerspaces, interdisciplinary classes, STEAM, new academic schedules, global scholars program, and a medical sciences program are all new just in this short period of time—and they are all programs that have been spearheaded by teachers who are motivated by the desire to better engage students in the love of learning.
Sparky, you have a special way of involving members of our community and providing support when it is needed. There were many times over the past few years when I needed support as a mom and my daughter needed support through challenging times. You were there to corral the faculty to help. When we needed to bring everyone together to support our athletic teams and raise the roof on spirit, you led the way! When it was time to celebrate our 90th anniversary of the school, you gathered all the students and faculty on Haskell Field to form a giant SPS to mark the occasion. When our Upper School students and parents were anxious about the college admissions process, you held our hands and showed us the way ahead. When our students were engaged in service around our community, the country and the world, you were right there beside them. When we needed to get everyone to rally around a family who had lost a loved one, you engaged the Shorecrest Cares group to provide meals and other needs for a grieving family. And when it was time to say goodbye to our seniors this year, you began a new tradition and led the Senior Celebration March through campus so children of every age could celebrate our graduates’ grand achievement and wish them well as they begin their college career for which Shorecrest prepared them so well.
And now, I take my own proverbial senior walk. Thanks for holding my hand in friendship along the way. Thank you for accepting me and welcoming me into this family that I love. I will be forever grateful for the opportunity to be a part of your family and I trust that you know that although I won’t be on campus every day, I intend to remain a part of our special family.
With Love,
Adrianne
With Love,
Adrianne
