Head of School Letter: Fall Milestones and Traditions
Source/Author: Nancy L. Spencer, Head of School
October 13, 2023
October brings cooler weather and so many activities for all Shorecrest students!
Next week is Homecoming Week, with the theme of a “Very Haunted HoCo.” Upper Schoolers will compete by grade throughout the week with games, costumes, posters and a food drive to earn points for the coveted Homecoming Cup. All students have special spirit dress for the week, with Thursday’s class color day. Rotating through the grades, each class wears either purple, red, orange or blue – a color that stays with their class throughout their time at Shorecrest.
In addition to Homecoming festivities, next week also brings key college application dates for Seniors, along with the administration of the PSAT for sophomores and juniors. Ninth graders will take their PSAT 8/9 later this spring. They will use their day next week to bond as a grade, heading off to TreeUmph! Adventure Course, an exciting venue for team-building through ropes courses, tree climbing and perhaps even a zip line! The goal is for the class to connect, boost individual confidence and build lasting bonds.
Middle Schoolers are busy preparing for their fall musical "Disney’s Beauty and the Beast Jr." The cast of sixth-eighth graders has been rehearsing tirelessly to give audiences a delightful show intended for all ages. We are very excited to watch the show and listen to the amazing songs from this beloved musical. The 2nd Annual Hess Library Pumpkin Painting Contest is also generating a great deal of excitement in the Middle School! Students love this opportunity to express their creativity and paint their own pumpkin, spooky or not.
Today the Lower School launched its annual four-week food drive for The Kind Mouse, a local food pantry serving Pinellas County families in transition. The Kind Mouse provides non-perishable foods for children so they will not go hungry over the weekend. Our connection to The Kind Mouse goes back many years and students have the opportunity to volunteer with this worthy organization throughout their years at Shorecrest.
There are two exciting events to mention from The Experiential School. First, a puppet show with student puppeteers debuted, with enthusiastic classmates watching and cheering along. Next week, some of our JK students will venture out on their very first field trip. Their destination is a local lumberyard, to explore and learn about materials. However much fun they have at the lumberyard, however, we know that riding the bus will be a highpoint of the adventure for many of our younger Chargers!
Lower and Experiential School teachers are preparing for this Saturday’s STEAMakers Open House, where we invite families with toddlers through fourth graders to the Shorecrest campus. Current students and parents are welcome to join in the fun alongside our prospective families for a campus playdate with hands-on Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math activities with some of your favorite Shorecrest teachers.
All the best,
Nancy
