Letter from Mrs. Hollenbeck

Let It Go: Bittersweet Lessons from a Butterfly's Transformation

The air in Ms. Dominique and Ms. Taylor’s classroom has been buzzing — or perhaps I should say, fluttering — with a unique blend of excitement, wonder, and just a touch of melancholy. Our extended project, the care and observation of a Black Swallowtail caterpillar named Guapo, reached its spectacular, yet bittersweet, crescendo.

What started as a simple discovery on a parsley plant blossomed into a profound, student-centered, living lesson. This experience is a perfect example of how our commitment to nature-focused practices, open-ended materials (in this case, the very caterpillars and their habitat), and taking the time to slow down and look close yields incredible pedagogical richness for our protagonists.

The Dance of Difference: Growth and Observation

When we first brought the caterpillars inside, the children became instant, devoted caretakers. Two classes were involved in this project: Ms. Dominique’s Alpha and Ms. Blair’s JK.

They created curated environments—their habitats—and engaged in constant, empathetic observation. Soon a natural divergence became apparent: Goldie, in Ms. Blair's class, grew much faster, while Guapo, in Ms. Dominique's class, remained the smaller companion.

This difference became a powerful, organic opportunity for dialogue. The children noticed the variation and wondered why. Was Goldie eating more? Was Guapo shyer? The teachers brought the full parsley plant into the habitat for Guapo, ensuring a constant, fresh food source. We didn't intervene to make them the same; instead, we treasured their unique pace, reinforcing the truth that everyone follows their own timeline—a powerful lesson in embracing multiple perspectives and respecting individual needs. The children learned to observe, compare, and hypothesize.

The Unfolding Metaphor: Transformation and Letting Go

Both Goldie and Guapo eventually found their spots to form their chrysalides—or cocoons, as the children lovingly call them—the quiet, mysterious phase of transformation.

And then, just last week, a surprise! The smaller caterpillar, Guapo, emerged first—a magnificent Black Swallowtail butterfly. The smallest one made the biggest, most beautiful change. Transformation, as we know, is not always easy to grasp at this age, but seeing the empty chrysalis and then the stunning winged creature made the concept concrete and palpable. 

The final, and perhaps most difficult, lesson was that of release. Guapo, the butterfly, was ready. His behavior in the habitat—fluttering, pushing, clearly trying to get out—gave us the unequivocal indication that the time had come to fly free.

Gathered around the habitat, the children's conversations were a beautiful mix of joy and sadness. "He needs to go find his mom," one child declared. "I will miss Guapo!" said another.

And so, to the sound of Elsa's iconic anthem from Frozen, "Let It Go," we opened the habitat. Guapo took flight.

It was bittersweet.

Building a Collective Sense and New Humanism

As educators deeply engaged in the mission of NAREA and the spirit of Reggio Emilia, we see this moment as a powerful enactment of care. We worked as a community to sustain life, we entered into dialogue about its needs, and we collectively made the ethical choice to prioritize Guapo’s liberty over our desire to keep him.

This is more than a science lesson; it’s an exercise in empathy, civility, and belonging—not just to our classroom, but to the larger web of life. It teaches us that love sometimes means letting go, and that growth often requires leaving behind the old shell. The children learned, in the most profound way possible, that being a protagonist in the world means understanding the needs of others, even a small, beautiful butterfly.

Mother Nature is indeed the ultimate teacher. Her lessons, like Guapo's flight, are designed to stick with us, creating a deep sense of connection and a new idea of humanism. We will continue to treasure the multiple perspectives and rich conversations this tiny, magnificent Black Swallowtail sparked.

Now we keep waiting for Goldie… More lessons there as well.

Fun Friday Farewell

We know that parents often wonder if teachers have magical powers.
The answer is, “YES.”
If you need evidence, ask your children about Ms. Markunas' and Ms. Summer’s performance at Fun Friday Farewell.
And in case you are also wondering if magic is real, the answer is also, “YES.”

Fun Friday Farewell, Take 2

Have you read the Elephant & Piggie book series?

On this Friday, Piggie was going but Elephant was not happy about it.

“Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait…,” said Elephant.

The truth is, friends like to be together.

ES children also like to be together and this past Friday we celebrated in style.

Our guests Jess and Tommy Garvin performed one of the children’s favorite stories while dressed as Elephant and Piggie. Laughs and giggles filled the room. We even had time for a talkback, in which we discussed parts of the story, costume making and the use of cordless microphones.

Jess and Tommy, thank you so much for sharing your talents - and Kit - with us!!!

Sincerely,

Adriana & The Experiential School Team

Adriana Portella Hollenbeck

Head of The Experiential School of Tampa Bay

ahollenbeck@shorecrest.org 

727-456-7541

Mark Your Calendars - 

Wednesday, October 29
Picture Retake Day

Friday, October 31
Fall-O-Ween Parade & Fun Day - 11:30am Dismissal 

Monday - Friday, November 10-14
Book Fair

Wednesday, November 12
Fall Conference Day - No school for students; SCA Uniform Sale

Saturday, November 15
Electric Fall Festival 

Monday, November 17
Virtual Open House (ES - Grade 4): Learn more about the opportunities your child can discover as a member of our Experiential School and Lower School communities at Shorecrest - age 3 through fourth grade. You’ll hear about the curriculum and student life. RSVP HERE

Thursday, November 20
Keynote Speaker Sam Demma 

Cake Decorating: Fun Friday Farewell Notice

On December 5, Pastry Chef Jovana Boksen, aka Cyler’s mom (Alpha - Thompson), will be our special guest for Fun Friday Farewell.

• Jovana will talk to the children and do a Cake Decorating Demonstration.

• Chef Erin Baehman, from SAGE, will bake cupcakes for the children.

• We will be providing vegan cupcakes for the students with dairy and egg allergies.

Please let Adriana know if you have concerns or questions about this plan.

Scholastic Book Fair November 10-14!

The Shorecrest Scholastic Book Fair is a fun, hands-on way for children to discover new books and deepen their love of reading. The Experiential School students are also going to be a part of this experience, which will start with the classes visiting the Book Fair with their teachers to create their wish lists.

Our Media Specialists, Casey Giroud and Alexis Ver Eecke, have teamed up to create a cozy, inviting book fair experience that your child won’t forget. 

Visiting the Book Fair means seeing an area of our campus totally transformed: the Raymund Center will be filled with books and the stories they will tell. These are new memories to be made and a wonderful opportunity to engage children and families.

• Experiential School students can make purchases only if accompanied by their parent / guardian. Please do not send money with your child as they will not be able to purchase books on their own.

• Families may come during the day and take their child to the Book Fair.

• Parents are welcome to communicate with homeroom teachers to let them know when they might be checking a student out to visit the Fair.

• Books make wonderful holiday gifts, and we invite parents to come by anytime. 

• All proceeds benefit our school library and allow us to purchase more books for our students.

The long-awaited Scholastic Book Fair will be open for business from Monday, November 10, to Friday, November 14! Come browse for your next great read between 8am-4pm daily. The Book Fair will also be open during Conference Day on Wednesday, November 12, from 8am-4pm. 

We're also excited to host the Public Library on campus! Stop by their table on Wednesday, November 12, between 8am-2pm. You can easily sign up for your very own public library card right there on the spot.

Let’s celebrate the joy of reading together!

Yearbook Photos

Families should have received a link to view photos directly from Mr. KamraMan, the yearbook photographer. Purchases may be made online. 

Every once in a while photographs from Picture Day do not come out well, or students are absent on picture day. We will have picture retakes on Wednesday, October 29. A registration link for retakes was send directly from Mr. KamraMan via email. You may also register for retakes here (don't worry about the time slot, teachers will know who to send and when, based on your RSVP and their class schedule!)

If your student was absent they will be registered to be photographed on retake day automatically.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Keynote Speaker: Sam Demma - “Empty Your Backpack” - Thursday, November 20 

Shorecrest is pleased to welcome keynote speaker and author Sam Demma to campus on Thursday, November 20 for three unique performances - one for Middle School students, one for Upper School students, and an evening event for all Shorecrest parents/guardians. 

A dynamic, high-energy performer known for his signature giant red backpack, Sam will guide students through his keynote “Empty Your Backpack,” a powerful message about overcoming fear, building resilience, and leading with empathy. Through stories, humor, and reflection, Sam encourages students to let go of what weighs them down and take small, consistent actions toward excellence and meaningful living.

Families are also invited to an evening parent session, “Lightening the Load: Helping Kids Build Resilience and Empathy,” where Sam explores how caring adults can help children navigate the pressures they carry and foster a family culture of understanding and connection.

Schedule of Events: 

10:35-11:35am: Upper School* Assembly Performance (also open to parents)
*Thursday, November 20 will NOT be a late start day

2:15-3:15pm: Middle School Assembly Performance (also open to parents)

6:30-7:30pm: Parent Evening Performance [RSVP here] 

Learn more about Sam Demma at samdemma.com/videos.  

Donor support for this opportunity was inspired by the Pyxis Fund. 

Share Your Voice: Head of Upper School Search

As we look ahead to build on the Upper School's strong foundation, we have engaged the search firm RG175 to help identify a visionary new leader for the 9th-12th grade Upper School to succeed Head of Upper School Erich Schneider in July 2026. There will be multiple opportunities for all community members to participate in the search process. 

You are invited to first share your perspectives through the Upper School Head Search Community Survey. This anonymous survey is conducted by our search consultant, Adam Peichert of RG175. Your feedback will help inform the position profile and ensure that the search reflects the qualities and priorities most important to our community. The survey will remain open through 5pm on Tuesday, October 28, and should take about 5 minutes to complete.

On Tuesday, November 11, there will be three sessions for members of the community to meet directly with RG175.

1:30 – 2:30pm: Trustee Session in the Ohana Community Room
2:30 – 3:30pm: Parent/Guardian Session in the Ohana Community Room
3:30 – 4:30pm: Upper School Faculty Session in the Ohana Community Room

Thank you for taking the time to contribute your voice to this important process. Your insights will play a meaningful role in shaping the future leadership of the Upper School.

All-School Calendar

Experiential School Contacts