Telling Stories
Source/Author: Nancy L. Spencer, Head of School
September 02, 2022
Good teachers are storytellers. They know how to capture the attention of one’s audience and excite their imagination through inspired content. To be an outstanding storyteller, one must also be an active listener, to hear the themes that are important and resonate with others. The best storytellers plan ahead but are also flexible as a narrative unfolds.
Mutual trust and strong relationships can thus emerge as a result of the authentic connection that is built when both parties are listening and learning.
When we tell the story of Shorecrest, our themes are driven by our mission, and our stories are shared in various ways. For example, this award-winning video featuring The Experiential School highlighted the environment, the people and the joy experienced by our youngest Chargers. It was a look at daily life shared with prospective families about what their children could expect to experience at Shorecrest. This was a story told without words, from the point of view of our Alpha and JK students. It does an excellent job of evoking an emotional response to an authentic representation of The Experiential School.
Our printed communications also tell the story of Shorecrest. The annual Shorecrest Magazine and summer Spotlight are community-building publications. They offer an overview of the school, historical context, and provide insight to all constituents about aspects of Shorecrest life beyond one’s daily focus. Alumni class notes provide insight into life beyond Shorecrest and reflect the wide-reaching impact that a Shorecrest education offers.
Sometimes the question arises of what kind of story is more compelling: success stories or stories of encountering struggles. Within the journey of a Shorecrest student from Alpha to twelfth grade, students have many formidable and valuable experiences where success is often the result of conquering authentic challenges. So the answer really is both types of stories. Shorecrest students, with the help of their teachers, coaches, advisors and peers, develop the tools to be the authors of their own stories.
As we head into our centennial year in 2023, we will have even more opportunities to write and share the story of Shorecrest. I invite you to share your unique Shorecrest stories with us - fill out the form here to share a favorite story from your time at Shorecrest. Your shared stories could become a part of our school story and may be featured in future publications and centennial storytelling projects.
All the best,
Nancy
