LS Town Crier - December 8, 2025

LOWER SCHOOL

2025-2026

Lower School Town Crier - December 8, 2025

Letter from Dr. Bianco

Dear Lower School Families -

December arrives with a unique blend of energy, joy, and a familiar touch of anxiety; it's undeniably one of the busiest times of the year! Here in the Lower School the day-to-day learning remains strong, but we are also buzzing with culminating shares, important field experiences, assessments, and fun events like the winter band performance, the holiday sing-along, and class parties. As parents, we are navigating the parallel rush of attending events, shopping, planning gatherings, participating in religious celebrations, and preparing for winter break. This weekend I finally put up decorations and sat down to start my holiday cards and a serious to-do list. (Checking off the Holiday Gift Drive gift felt great!) This is the last week to bring in a gift for the drive; you can find all the details at www.shorecrest.org/giftdrive. Thank you so much for your generous support.

SCA Holiday Gift Drive: Impacting Lives Directly - By Lori Auletta, LS Art Teacher

Where do all of your thoughtful gifts go? They are delivered directly by Guardian ad Litem (GAL) volunteers to the children in Pinellas County they represent. These volunteers are court-assigned advocates for children who have been placed in temporary homes due to neglect, abuse, trauma, or abandonment. Your donation goes straight to a child in need. If you have a few extra hours each week, consider becoming a Guardian ad Litem volunteer and give the gift of your time. When I first started teaching at Shorecrest I read a book recommended by Lisa Bianco, "Three Little Words" by Ashley Rhodes-Courter, which inspired me to become a volunteer. In the past five years, I have been rewarded with giving a voice and stability to six children as their cases moved through the judicial system. Learn more: https://guardianadlitem.org/

Fourth Grade Campout

This is the final week to get the permission slip to your teacher, complete the payment, and sign the Pathfinder waiver. For a little inspiration, take a moment to view the video from last year's Fourth Grade Campout.

Biking to School by Katie Georgiadis (parent of Anna and Costa)

Biking to school has become one of our favorite parts of the day! The kids are excited to get ready and head out the door, especially when their friends join the ride. They chat along the way, enjoy a beautiful St. Pete sunrise, and wave to classmates driving by. By the time they arrive at school, they’re in a great mood and have already accomplished something they’re proud of. We’d love to see even more students join in, so consider hopping on your bike or riding with our growing group. Our goal is to make “On Fridays, we bike!” a regular school tradition!

Book Discussion of “Raising Mentally Strong Kids”

Thank you to all of you who attended last week's book group. We had some really good conversations. Our book group will meet on Thursday, January 15 at 8:10am in the Ohana Community Room to finish up the book. Even if you don’t attend the meeting, it is a good book to check out.

Winter Concert

This Wednesday, December 10, our LS and MS bands and LS chorus will perform for Lower School students. Esther Brier, our Band Director, and Rose Supper, our Lower School Music Teacher and chorus director, are committed to nurturing a love of music and collaboration with our young students. This is where it all begins! Families may attend the evening concert on Thursday, December 11 at 7pm in the JRT.

Code with Your Kid Workshops

This week is Computer Science Education Week when we celebrate the Hour of Code. The Hour of Code is a global movement which reaches tens of millions of students in 180+ countries. Coding is not just for computer programmers anymore. Coding promotes critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity and communication skills.

Every year Ms. Deegan and Dr. Baralt host a “Code with Your Kid” workshop for interested families in grades 1-4. Learn alongside your child(ren) as they explore a variety of programming applications and coding software as part of Hour of Code. This workshop is open to students in grades 1-4 only. No younger siblings please. It will be held this week on Wednesday, December 10 from 3-4pm outside Charger Commons. Students should be picked up at the regular dismissal spot and then brought to the event.

Patrol Breakfast

Next week on December 16, LS traffic patrols will be honored with a breakfast and awards. We appreciate their responsibility and leadership as they help keep our younger Chargers safe during arrival and dismissal. Patrols will come to duty as usual next Tuesday morning, they do not need to eat breakfast at home that morning.

Fun Dress Days Next Week:

Every year we like to make the last week before winter break a little special. Next week, December 15-19, the students may participate in some fun dress up/down days, but they can also choose to wear their uniforms.

Monday, Dec. 15 - Wear something plaid or a festive hat or headband
Tuesday, Dec. 16 - Wear something white and blue
Wed., Dec. 17 - Light up the day with lights or a shirt that makes people smile
Thursday, Dec. 18 - Wear your favorite holiday shirt/sweater or Hawaiian shirt and sun glasses
Friday, Dec. 19 - Wear your pajamas or spirit wear

There is no Town Meeting next week, 12/19.

Out of the Classroom and Into the World - Upcoming Field Experiences

Last week fourth graders went to Tampa Bay History Center. This week they are out of the classroom and into the world on their way to the St. Pete History Museum. Tuesday, third graders will visit the Wild Space Gallery that has a special exhibition on Florida wildlife. Kindergarten students will find their way to DK Farms and then to Boyd Hill.

Upcoming Project Shares

Mrs. Carson, 12/8
Mrs. Sheppard and Mrs. Casano, 12/9
Mrs. Weinkle, 12/17
Ms. Schilling and Ms. Avard, 12/18

Final Thoughts…

Before signing off, I have a few important acknowledgments:

A huge thank you goes out to Mrs. V., our Lower School Librarian, and Mrs. Giroud, our MS/US Librarian, for collaborating to bring children’s author Lindsay Currie to Shorecrest this week. Mrs. V. first shared this idea last May, and after reading one of Ms. Currie’s books, I understood why she was so passionate about it! (She is also a Sunshine State Book author.) Ms. Currie was a huge hit with our third, fourth, and Middle School students. It is so important for our children to hear directly from a professional writer, and the students loved her and learned so much about the writing process. Thank you, Mrs. V. and Mrs. Giroud!

I would also like to express my gratitude to the Greenery Committee. So many of us are now enjoying beautiful festive greenery at home. Job well done!

With appreciation,

Lisa

Dr. Lisa Bianco

Head of Lower School

lbianco@shorecrest.org

727-456-7518

As a reminder as we head into Winter Break, if your family is experiencing food insecurity, please reach out to the School so that we may assist you. We have received a generous gift from a donor to provide Publix gift cards for Shorecrest families in need.

Contact Julie Meyer at jmeyer@shorecrest.org, who can provide more information. All requests will be kept confidential.

Mark Your Calendars -

Wednesday, December 10
Winter Band Concert for Lower School students

Thursday, December 11
Winter Band Concert: A Winter Jubilee

Friday, December 19
Holiday Sing-along, Early Dismissal

Monday, December 22
Winter Break (through January 4)

Monday, January 5
Return to School

Monday, January 19
MLK Day of Service (NO SCHOOL)

Thursday, February 5
Third Grade Show for LS
Fourth Grade Campout Overnight
International Festival

Friday February 6
Third Grade Show for Families
Shorecrest Movie Night

Friday, February 13
School Closed / Professional Development for Faculty

Monday, February 16
Presidents Day (NO SCHOOL)

ALL SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS

Financial Aid for the 2026-2027 School Year - APPLY NOW

The Financial Aid portal for the 2026-2027 school year is now open. Past recipients who wish to continue receiving financial aid must reapply annually. All families interested in receiving financial aid must submit an application through FACTS, the external tool used by Shorecrest and many independent schools to determine need.

The application fee is $45 and supporting documentation is required including past year's W2s and tax returns. The application also includes a place to share your family's extenuating circumstances confidentially with the Financial Aid Committee. The deadline to apply for aid for the 2026-2027 school year is January 31, 2026.

Apply Now for 2026-2027 Financial Aid

New Student Applications to Shorecrest

Families who have students they wish to send to Shorecrest for the 2026-2027 school year who are not currently enrolled (e.g. younger siblings) now is the time to apply. The application deadline is February 1, in order to be considered for the first round of admissions decisions.

The re-enrollment process for students who are currently enrolled to commit to returning for the 2026-2027 school year is in February.

Apply Now

Re-enrollment for Current Students

Re-enrollment for the 2026-2027 school year at Shorecrest will take place February 2-16, 2026. This is the time during which currently enrolled families with students who are eligible to return for the 2026-2027 school year are asked to complete their re-enrollment contracts and pay a non-refundable tuition deposit. This deposit and contract hold your child’s seat for the 2026-2027 school year.

Re-enrollment is completed through the FACTS Family Portal. New this year, re-enrollment packets will be assigned by family (not by student), meaning that families with multiple children re-enrolling at Shorecrest will have fewer steps to complete the re-enrollment process.

Volunteers Needed - Holiday Gift Drive

Shorecrest volunteer needs can also be found by clicking Volunteer Info on the menu here, or on the Shorecrest Parent App.

Gift Drive Volunteering

Volunteer Needs

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Hanukkah Lunch

Wednesday, December 10

Shorecrest's International Connection is having a Hanukkah lunch in the Ohana Community Room. Learn about the festival of lights and enjoy a related meal. Thank you to Marti Kurland for arranging a great get together for our community!

RSVP closed. For last minute attendance, email rdarrow@shorecrest.org.

A Winter Jubilee

Thursday, December 11 in the JRT

Shorecrest Bands & Lower School Chorus present A Winter Jubilee! Get in the festive spirit at the concert starring students in grades 2-12.

This event is free and has open seating.

I.C. Coffee Meetup

Parents / Guardians are invited to a casual coffee meetup after drop off on Wednesday, December 17 at Bandit Coffee, 2662 Central Ave, St. Pete

Spirit Night 2026

Mark your calendar for Shorecrest Spirit Night at Chargers Basketball - Friday, January 9, 2026.

A night of community building and cheering on the Chargers with giveaways, food trucks and photos with Sparky the Lightning Bolt as we kick off the new year.

Festivities begin at 4:30pm
Girls Varsity Soccer starts at 5pm
Girls Varsity Basketball starts at 6pm
Halftime Competition during the basketball game sponsored by SPOCS Orthodontics starts around 6:45pm.

SCA Holiday Gift Drive

The Shorecrest Holiday Gift Drive benefiting Hero to a Child is here! For more than 30 years the Holiday Gift Drive has been the School’s signature service event with participation from students and families at every grade level and alumni families. Through the Holiday Gift Drive the Shorecrest community provides holiday gifts to over 270 underserved children through Hero to a Child, which provides advocacy and support for abused, abandoned or neglected children in the Guardian ad Litem Program of Pinellas and Pasco Counties.

Full Details

All-School Calendar

View All Events on the Shorecrest Website

2025-2026 General Calendar

The School Store

Celebrate the holiday season with merch from The School Store. We have ornaments, stuffies, footballs, ties — and of course our usual selection of tees, hoodies and more!

Extended Holiday Store Hours:

December 8-18: 8:30am-4:30pm

December 19: 8:30am-1pm

Holiday Raffle:

December: 8-18, one entry per shopper per day. Prizes include 10 Shorecrest Store $10 gift cards! Winners will be announced December 18 at 11:30am and shared via Shorecrest social media.