Letter from Mrs. Hollenbeck

Dear families,

It feels good to witness how children are settling down so nicely, making new friends and exploring our environment at Shorecrest.

From one corner of the playground to the other, they are eager to try new things. In the classrooms, they are being introduced to new materials.

We welcomed Mr. Jacob, from SAGE Dining. Alongside Ms. Erin, he is responsible for serving lunch to all ES students.

JK in particular is now able to line up for lunch at the ES kitchen and proudly carry their trays back to the classroom. They have reached a different level of independence. Alpha students have their lunches delivered to the classroom and both grades enjoy the camaraderie that comes from teachers and friends alike. This is such an important part of the day!

The Unintended Connections: How Play Mirrors Natural Selection

When we observe children in deep, sustained play, we are witnessing a process that shares profound characteristics with natural selection. Both are dynamic, open-ended systems that, while seemingly without a single, pre-determined goal, are endlessly generative.

This comparison helps us understand the power of play as a driver for development and innovation. Much like natural selection:

• Play is Without a Single, Fixed Objective. It isn't a march toward a final product or a specific skill. The purpose of play is the process itself—the exploration, the dialogue, the creation, and the mess. 

• Play Relies on the Here and Now. The possibilities that emerge in play are entirely dependent on the materials, the environment, and the relationships present in that particular moment. A stick becomes a wand, a piece of wire becomes a galaxy, or a clay structure is deconstructed—each possibility is born from the specific conditions available. There is no universal law of how play must unfold.

• Play is Intrinsically Open-Ended. It is a constant state of becoming, with no final form to be reached. Just as evolution is an ongoing process of adaptation and change, autonomous play is a continuous cycle of discovery and invention, ensuring that the "what-ifs" and "I wonders" of childhood never truly end.

This perspective challenges us to step back and trust the process. It reminds us that our role as educators is not to impose a path, but to curate the conditions, the materials, and the relationships that allow this rich, complex, and beautiful "selection" of ideas to emerge.

At The Experiential School our teachers are always eager to identify a myriad of curricular connections that emerge from these interactions and can’t wait to broaden the experiences and set the stage for a lot of collaboration and learning.

Save the dates! 

Shorecrest Fall-O-Ween Costume Parade and Fun Day & “Electric” Fall Festival 

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!

Sincerely, 

Adriana

Adriana Portella Hollenbeck

Head of The Experiential School of Tampa Bay

ahollenbeck@shorecrest.org 

727-456-7541

Mark Your Calendars - 

Tuesday, September 9
International Connection Kick Off

Wednesday, September 10

• Community Committee on Diversity

• SCA Moms Night Out

Friday, September 12
SCA Volunteer Fair

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

Thursday, October 2
Dads Night Out

Safety & Security Drills

A part of our routine is ensuring faculty, staff and students are prepared for an on-campus emergency. All of our teachers review and practice safety drills with students at the start of the year. We also conduct school-wide drills throughout the year to reinforce these important lessons.

We recently held a scheduled tornado drill. In the coming weeks we will be practicing our fire and lockdown drills. Our goal is to empower students with the knowledge of and confidence in our safety and security protocols. 

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. 

Early Experience with Shorecrest College Counseling 

The Shorecrest College Counseling Office offers comprehensive programming to support students and families throughout the college search and placement process. While many College Counseling events are tailored toward particular grade levels, all interested Shorecrest families are invited to attend these College Counseling events this fall:  

First Year Foundation

Tuesday, September 9 @ 6pm
Location: Janet Root Theatre 
Dedicated programming for ninth grade students and their families

Sophomore Strategies 

Tuesday, September 30 @ 6pm
Location: Janet Root Theatre
Dedicated programming for tenth grade students and their families

The Shorecrest Advantage: Exploring Shorecrest's Upper School

Wednesday, October 15 @ 7pm
Location: Virtual
Dedicated programming for families of seventh and eighth grade students 

Welcome Visitors! Please Check In 

All campus visitors are required to check in at the Raymund Center or division main office to receive a visitor badge during the school day. Visitor badges are required to be worn at all times when on campus. 

If visitors do not have a visitor badge visible, Allied Security Officers may stop to offer mobile visitor check-in. Thank you for your cooperation with our campus safety and security protocols. 

All-School Calendar

Experiential School Contacts