Letter from Dr. Bianco

Thank you so much for attending our annual Back to School Night. I enjoyed seeing returning families, meeting new parents, and sharing a few words about why the Lower School is so vital. Ages five - ten mark one of the most critical periods of rapid brain development, making these years the true cornerstone of your child’s educational journey. I loved the feeling of having the Janet Root Theatre filled with all of our students’ families. It is the only time in the Lower School we are all together in the JRT. I hope the information the teachers shared was helpful. I saw lots of smiling faces as I moved from classroom to classroom. I thought it was a good night, but I am always open to feedback regarding what could make the event better.

When I first started teaching, many years ago, it was as a Specialist. I loved working with a range of children and getting to know them over time. I worked with 4 - 14 year olds, and because my teaching was grounded in the visual, performing and literary arts, I believe I often saw the very best of children. 

Missing from our evening presentation were our amazing Lower School Specialists. These are the educators who specialize in one particular area – that is why they are so special. They teach your children Art, Music, Physical Education, Spanish, Social Emotional Learning (SEL), STEAM and Library. These educators are a very important part of your child’s education over the next five years and beyond. They will teach and get to know your children as they grow and develop, and the relationships that they will have will no doubt be meaningful and longlasting. 

Specials are a significant part of being able to teach the whole child and providing opportunities for students to be stretched and challenged, as well as to find their interests and passion. I hope you will get to connect with and know these teachers as well throughout this school year.

Lunch With Your Child

You are welcome to come have lunch with your child. When you arrive, please stop at the front office to check in with the receptionist (Emily Arthur). You will need a valid photo ID. The Office will give you a lunch ticket to present when you pay for your lunch, and they will share our lunchtime agreements. Lunch payments may not be made in cash. Read on for new instruction to pay through FACTS:

SAGE Payments Moved to FACTS

Starting this school year, visitor's lunches as well as à la carte/Grab and Go breakfast items will need to be purchased through your FACTS financial account in the parent portal. This replaces SAGE MySchoolBucks. You can load pre-paid dollars for you or your student to use at any time via FACTS. 

How to load pre-paid funds to a student account:

• Log into FACTS family portal

• Navigate to Financial on the left menu, and then select Add Funds on the center of the page. (Please note that you may be asked to login again. If you are a Shorecrest faculty/staff member, be sure to log into your personal account.)

• Next you will be directed to a screen where you can add funds for each of your students separately. Under Payment Amount, type the amount of funds you would like to pre-load for each student:

• On the next screen you will be directed to enter your credit card or ACH information to complete the purchase. Please allow up to 24 hours for the funds to show up as available for purchases.

If you have remaining pre-paid dollars in your SAGE MySchoolBucks account from last year, we will be transferring the credit over to your FACTS account in the coming weeks. The account is not usable at the School Store – only for SAGE items in the Dining Room.

If you have questions or need help with setting up SAGE prepay in FACTS, please email the Shorecrest Business Office at studentbilling@shorecrest.org.

Where to eat:

For parents with children in grades K-3, please eat with your child at an available table outside under the Lower School canopy. This is a special time for students to enjoy lunch with their family, so we ask that they do not include a school friend on these days. In addition, students need to follow our lunch rules. They cannot play around during lunch – it is not recess time and it is not fair to the other children. They need to remain sitting like the others and enjoying your company. In addition, we ask that the lunch area remains a tech free zone. In other words, no cell phones should be visible during lunch. 

Lunch Schedule: 

11:00am Second grade
11:15am Fourth grade (in MS/US Dining Room)
11:35am Kindergarten
12:10pm First grade
12:45pm Third grade

A Message From Senora Emili – Global Explorers

You are warmly invited to an informational meeting about two exciting adventures offered through our Global Explorers program. Discover how these programs build connections and open up the world for our students!

Host an International Student (4th Grade Families):
Welcome a visiting international student into your home for 10 days in February. This unique homestay experience allows your family to build lasting international friendships and share cultural traditions right from home.

Informational Meeting about hosting: Wednesday, September 9, 8am
in Lower School Spanish Classroom LS110
for 4th grade families
RSVP by September 4 to Sra. Emili Jaime-Allwood: ejaime-allwood@shorecrest.org.

Travel to Spain in Summer 2027 (All Lower School Families):
Join us for an unforgettable family trip to sunny Spain! Experience vibrant culture, historic sights, and exciting adventures together.

Informational Meeting about the Spain trip: Thursday, September 10, 8am
in Lower School Spanish Classroom LS110
RSVP by September 4 to Sra. Emili Jaime-Allwood: ejaime-allwood@shorecrest.org

Reserved Parking

If a parking space is labeled FACULTY, please do not park in it. Park in event parking near the softball field.

Grade Level Representative Meetings

Grade level representatives help coordinate parent volunteers for class and grade level activities and events. Thank you to all who volunteered. Reps are asked to attend a few meetings with the teachers. They also have 2 meetings with the Head of Lower School. This time will be used to update Reps, check in with one another, share information, and plan. Our first meeting will be Thursday, September 17 at 8:10am and the second one is Wednesday, October 28 at 8:10am - both in the Ohana Community Room on the second floor of Charger Commons. 

Safety Drills

During the first week of school we practice fire, tornado and lockdown drills (classrooms and all the Specialists). Every month there will be a drill or two. Our goal is to empower your children with the knowledge and confidence they need to stay safe.

Schoology

Each week read your child’s teachers’ pages on Schoology to learn about what’s happening in the classroom. Read the Specialists' pages as well: Art, Music, STEAM, PE, Spanish, SEL and Library.

Final thoughts…

As I mentioned at BTSN, people make a place. You, your wonderful children, and our faculty and staff make Shorecrest an outstanding learning community for young people. We are deeply fortunate to have a Lower School faculty and staff united around a shared Mission, vision, and approach to teaching and learning. Our students have had a wonderful start, and as they take root, they are sure to blossom. There is a calm confidence across campus right now – what I would describe as a true "feeling of unanxiousness." I love it! And, in a world full of possibilities, so many exciting opportunities lie ahead for your child.

Thank you for your continued support, partnership, and trust. Please feel free to reach out with any questions or just to connect. 

With great appreciation,

Lisa 

Dr. Lisa Bianco

Head of Lower School

lbianco@shorecrest.org  

727-456-7518

Mark Your Calendars - 

Wednesday, September 2: Yearbook Picture Day

Monday, September 7: Labor Day, School Closed

Wednesday, September 9:

• College Counseling Meet & Greet

• Informational Meeting about hosting a visiting international student for 4th grade parents/guardians

Thursday, September 10: 

• Kindergarten parent/guardian presentation “Supporting Your Child’s Early Literacy Development” 

• Informational Meeting about a LS summer trip to Spain 

Tuesday, September 15: Third and fourth grade parent/guardian presentation
“ERB Testing: Understand our school’s standardized testing and what this means for your child,” presented by Sarah Palazzolo and Mandy Howell. Starting at 8:10am in the Ohana, 2nd Floor of Charger Commons. 

Monday, September 21: International Day of Peace
LS students may wear peace-themed shirts with uniform bottoms, or their uniforms.

SCA Mahjong Morning

• Thursday, September 3, 9am at Bay Club Women's Boutique, 4401 4th Street N, St. Pete.

Beginner lessons and open play available. The link will take you to the instructor's calendar. Select September 3 and there will be 2 events to pick from​. Proceeds benefit SCA! RESERVE TODAY

Dads Night Out *new date!*

Get together with fellow Shorecrest Dads to kick-off the new school year & NFL season! Nothing fancy, everyone buys their own drinks and such. The intent is to provide an opportunity for everyone to get to know each other in a casual and social setting.

• Thurssday, September 10 at 7pm at Ferg's Sports Bar & Grill, 1320 Central Ave, St. Pete

RSVP to Wes Watkins at shorecrestdads@shorecrest.org. Not a school-sponsored event. 

SCA Volunteer Info Breakfast

Learn how YOU can get involved with SCA this year. Coffee and lite bites provided!

• Friday, September 11 at 8am in the MS/US Dining Room, Charger Commons.

Grandparent Gathering - Pizza Night!

Calling all Shorecrest Grandparents! The Grandparent Gatherings group invites you to enjoy an informal evening to connect with fellow grandparents, make new friends, and share the joy of your grandchild’s journey at Shorecrest.

• Wednesday, September 16, 4:30pm at Colony Grill, 670 Central Ave, downtown St. Pete

Please RSVP by Friday, September 11, to Sarah Heibein, Associate Director of Advancement-Community Partnerships at sheibein@shorecrest.org.

International Connections Coffee Meetup

• Friday, September 18, 8:15am at Foxtail Coffee Co. 730 4th St N.

Shorecrest's International Connection (I.C.) is hosting a coffee meet up after morning drop-off. Open to all parents/guardians, grandparents, faculty and staff interested in international culture and cultural enrichment, including families who were born outside the US, who have spent time living abroad, who speak different languages at home or simply have an interest in this topic.

SCA Moms Night Out 

• Wednesday, September 30 7-9pm at The Mandarin Hide: 231 Central Ave N, St. Pete.

Limited tickets available, click to get your today!

All-School Calendar

Lower School Contacts