Letter from Mrs. Hollenbeck

Dear families,

The heart of each classroom at The Experiential School is a place where literacy isn't just about the ABCs and 123s, but a vibrant, living force that emerges from every corner of our shared day. I know many of you are curious about how we approach this foundational part of your child's education, especially when you see our little ones so deeply engrossed in building, creating, and simply being with one another.

We believe, as Loris Malaguzzi so poetically described, that children have "one hundred languages." And it is through these languages—the spoken word, the painted line, the sculpted clay, the rhythmic dance, and the whispered secret—that literacy begins to take shape. It's not a dry subject to be taught from a textbook, but a rich tapestry woven through our daily life, starting with the most profound of human connections: dialogue.

The Spoken Word: Our First and Foremost Tool

Literacy begins with listening. It begins with the respectful, unhurried conversations we have with your children. When a child recounts their day, or struggles to explain a feeling, we are there to listen, to model proper word choices, and to help them find the words that perfectly fit their thoughts. We treasure the way children articulate their joy, their frustration, and their curiosity. The nuances of language, the way a change in tone can alter the meaning of a sentence, the powerful choice of a specific word—these are all lessons in literacy that are learned in real-time, in authentic exchanges. We also recognize that literacy is not just about what we say, but also how we say it, and what we don’t say. Interpreting the body language and expressions of others is a critical part of communication, and we see children learning this every day as they navigate their friendships and collaborations.

Stories and the Magic of Materials

Walk into each of our classrooms, and you'll find a world waiting to be explored. We intentionally fill our spaces with open-ended materials—recycled wood pieces, stones, fabrics, wire, and light. These are not "toys" with a single purpose, but provocations for the imagination. A collection of smooth river stones might become a family of traveling turtles. A stack of reclaimed cardboard and string transforms into a city of skyscrapers.

And with every creation comes a story. The child building the city isn't just stacking boxes; they are telling a tale of bustling streets, heroic rescue vehicles, and friendly neighbors. We listen to their narratives, and sometimes, with their permission, we transcribe their words. This is where the magic truly happens. Your child sees their own spoken words given a new life on paper. They see their unique ideas translated into the symbols we call letters and words. This process is deeply personal and empowering. It connects their creativity directly to the written word, making literacy a natural and vital extension of their own self-expression.

From Names to Narratives: The Emergence of Symbols

You might notice how quickly your child learns to recognize their own name. This isn't just about rote memorization; it's about belonging. Their name is a profound symbol of their identity, a word they see every day on their cubby, at circle time, or on a piece of their artwork. It's the first sight word that holds deep personal meaning, and it becomes a gateway to understanding that symbols carry information.

From there, we branch out. We notice when a child is interested in a specific letter and we follow their lead. We might write the names of their friends, or the words for objects they are particularly fascinated with—"tree," "sky," "robot," "dinosaur." We don't drill them with flashcards, but rather, we weave these words into their projects and their play. In this way, sight words are not an abstract concept, but are words that live and breathe in their world.

We believe that this holistic, deeply relational approach to literacy respects the unique pace and passions of each child. By honoring their hundred languages, from the grandest story to the smallest sigh, we are not just teaching them to read and write; we are helping them discover the power of their own voice and the joy of a life filled with meaning, connection, and narrative.

Fun Friday Farewell

On Friday, Ms. Corinne and I hosted our first Fun Friday Farewell, which is a nice way to celebrate the end of a busy week of learning.

This past Friday we had two goals: introduce the Farewell concept to the new children and sing together. I brought one of my wooden puppets, Alegra, who helped Ms. Corinne and I celebrate the special moment.

One Alpha student walked past me at the end of the day as she was walking to carline and said, “Best movie ever!”

We will consider that a positive Rotten Tomatoes score.

Sincerely, 

Adriana

Adriana Portella Hollenbeck

Head of The Experiential School of Tampa Bay

ahollenbeck@shorecrest.org 

727-456-7541

Mark Your Calendars - 

Saturday, September 27
SCA Soiree Beneath the Waves: A Florida Cocktail Odyssey presented by Mann Orthodontics

Thursday, October 2
Dads Night Out

October 10-13
Fall Long Weekend, No School Friday & Monday

October 20-24
Homecoming Week Fun Days

Wednesday, October 29
Picture Retake Day

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

Saturday, November 15
Electric Fall Festival (More Info coming soon!) 

Quick Reminder About School Uniforms

The dress code has been established to promote a sense of community. Students are expected to arrive at school dressed in Shorecrest attire. 

Everyday Wear

Any of the following Lands’ End options may be chosen for everyday wear:

Tops

• Knit shirt, evergreen or white with school logo (long or short sleeve)

• Mesh shirt, evergreen or white with school logo (long or short sleeve)

• White Peter Pan blouse (school logo, optional)

• Pullover or cardigan sweater, evergreen with school logo

• Sweatshirt, evergreen with school logo from Lands’ End

• Fleece jacket, evergreen with school logo 

• White Rash Guard long-sleeve shirt (school logo, optional)

Bottoms

• Khaki pants

• Khaki shorts

• Khaki capris

• Khaki chino skort

• Khaki 2-button stretch skort

• (Alternative khaki bottoms are acceptable if they help our young Chargers with potty independence.)

• Skirts and Dresses

• Mesh Polo dress, evergreen with school logo

• Knit ruffle bottom dress, evergreen with school logo

• Plaid jumper (school logo, optional) worn over a uniform top

Shoes/Accessories

Students must wear closed, rubber-soled shoes with socks. Shoes should be slip-on or have velcro closure - and not tie with laces, for health and safety reasons. Sandals, platform shoes, and backless shoes are not permitted except for some special events. Shoes must be kept on during school hours at all times. 

It is recommended that students wear biking shorts under their jumpers or dresses. Tights or leggings may be worn on cold days. Any color socks, leggings, bike shorts to go under dresses, or tights are permitted. Belts are not recommended unless they are easy for the student to unfasten quickly.

Spirit Wear 

(Only on Fridays or if part of a special day, which will be communicated in advance by the teachers)

Every Friday is Spirit Day at Shorecrest! Students and teachers may wear any shirt that has a Shorecrest logo, specifically Shorecrest Spirit Wear, camp, intramural or uniform shirts. These should be worn with uniform, Spirit Wear or denim bottoms. Other recreational clothing should be reserved for after-school wear. Spirit wear may be purchased from our on-campus School Store. All clothing should be free of holes and tears.

Visitors on Campus Reminders

All visitors during the regular school day, from 7:30am-3:30pm, are required to check in at a school office or at the main reception desk in the Raymund Center. 

Please Note:  For the safety and security of our students, anyone seen on campus during School hours without a visitor badge will be reminded to obtain one or asked to leave campus.

ES Lunch Dates

Beginning October 6, you're welcome to schedule lunch dates with your children. Experiential School Lunch is from 12-12:30pm. 

Important Notes:

1. To schedule a lunch date, contact your child's teacher directly.

2. You can only check your child out for lunch. All parents must sign in at an office to get a visitor badge before meeting their child.

3. After your lunch date, you'll need to sign your child back in at the ES office.

4. The designated area for lunch dates is at the picnic tables under the green canopy, outside the Lower School dining hall.

Special Lunch or School Lunch?

1. You're welcome to bring a special lunch from home or from your favorite restaurant, but if you'd like to eat the school lunch provided by SAGE, here's what you need to know:

   • After you sign in at the office, you'll receive a card to present to a SAGE staff member at the dining hall checkout.

   • You can pay for your lunch with cash or use MySchoolBucks.

2. Your child's school lunch will be in a to-go box so it's easy to transport from the building to the picnic tables.

To save time, we recommend getting your lunch from the dining room first and then heading to the ES building to meet your child. You can get your lunch as early as 11:30am.

Save the Dates!! 

Homecoming Week Fun Days for ES and LS - October 20-24

During Homecoming Season, the whole school celebrates in many different ways. The Experiential School and the Lower School will have some fun days so get ready for…

10/20 - Homecoming - Pajama Day

10/21 - Crazy Socks Day

10/22 - Fun Hair Day

10/23 - Favorite Sports Team T-Shirt Day

10/24 - Class Colors: In the spirit of school unity, all grades are invited to wear their class color on Class Color Day of Homecoming Week, which promotes class unity, and connection to older peers who share the same class colors. The class color travels with the student as they progress through Shorecrest. The colors assigned to be worn by each class are intentionally not Shorecrest green and gold, which are reserved for green and gold day celebrating ONE Shorecrest!

JK Class of 2039: PURPLE

ALPHA Class of 2040: BLUE

Shorecrest Fall-O-Ween Costume Parade (October 31) and Fun Day & “Electric” Fall Festival (November 15)

At Back to School Night you learned from the video of our two SCA co-Presidents that we have moved our annual Fall Festival to Saturday, November 15. However, we will still have a “Fall-o-ween” costume parade and fun in our classrooms on Friday October 31 following the morning carline. Families can view our costume parade, go to work, pick up students for early dismissal at 11:30am and then have an amazing Halloween evening.

Here’s an important note regarding costumes:

Costumes should be appropriate for the school environment and considerate of young children. No scary costumes, toy weapons or sight-obstructing masks, please. It is important that your child’s costume allows them to comfortably and safely walk the distance of the parade route and back. When considering the choice of costume, take into account your child’s ability to walk with their class and other children without costume support. 

More details to follow!

Shorecrest Vaccine Policy 

Recently proposed changes to State of Florida vaccine mandates do not apply to private schools. Shorecrest has no intention of changing its vaccine policy for students. 

All-School Calendar

Experiential School Contacts