Letter from Dr. Bianco

A volunteer meeting hosted by Parade Staff will be held in person/virtually on Tuesday, January 13 from 5:30-6:30pm. This is when you'll learn about your assignments, get your T-shirt, and be provided with logistics of the parade. 

We're excited to shift our focus this year to this act of service in honor of Dr. King. We hope you will join us!

Fourth Grade Families: Rising Fifth Grade Parent Orientation

On Thursday, January 22 at 8:15am, the Middle School will hold their annual rising fifth grade parent orientation. This is designed for current fourth grade parents/guardians who would like to know more about the fifth grade curriculum and programs. It will be held in the Ohana Community Room on the 2nd floor of Charger Commons with coffee and tea provided. 

Lower School Promotion Policy

To be promoted to the next grade level at Shorecrest’s Lower School, students are expected to:

• Demonstrate good learning habits and a positive attitude towards learning. 

• Meet or be close to meeting grade-level expectations in core subjects, including reading, writing, and math. Demonstrating progress.

• Engage in positive social interactions with peers.

• Show age-appropriate behaviors as responsible citizens.

We are advocates for children and are committed to supporting each child's growth and success. If a student is not meeting these expectations, we want to have conversations with families about  implementing interventions. In some cases, to ensure the best outcome for a child, as the Head of Lower School, I may request a full psychological educational evaluation. Parents or guardians will need to schedule this evaluation within one month of the request. If this is not completed, it may affect the student’s promotion or ability to re-enroll. Test results must be shared with the school. In some cases, contracts for student enrollment may be held until the end of March to ensure significant progress has been made. If necessary progress is not observed or if the School recommends specific student services and a family chooses not to follow those recommendations, it may also result in the non-renewal of the contract.

Upcoming Field Experiences

Recently I asked a kindergarten student what she would tell a JK student they had to look forward to in kindergarten. She thought for a moment and said, “Field experiences.” Music to my ears. These are some of the field experiences coming up:

• Ms. Sheppard’s Class - Animal Hospital, 1/12

• 4th Grade, Henry Plant Train Museum, 1/13

• Kindergarten, Zoo Tampa, 1/15

• Ms. Casano’s Class - Ruth Eckerd Hall, 1/22

• Fourth Grade, Campout, 2/5 and 2/6

• First Grade, Florida Aquarium, 2/19

• Fourth Grade, Pinellas Waste to Energy Facility, 2/19

Schoology

Remember to 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.

Winter Conferences are on Wednesday, February 18. Every family is expected to meet with their child’s classroom teacher. Sign-up sheets for the parent and teacher conference will be posted next week on Schoology. 

Final Thoughts…

Returning to school with purpose feels good. For a child, that purpose is driven first by the essential need to connect and play with friends, a drive that is naturally followed by a genuine love of learning with others. Last week our Lower School community embodied this spirit as students transitioned seamlessly back into their routines after the two-week winter break. It has been a joy to watch them reconnect and dive into their studies with renewed energy.

The week was anchored by a sense of discovery: our third graders enjoyed an enriching field experience at the Tampa Bay History Center, while students across all grades embarked on vibrant new investigations. We concluded the week with a heartwarming Town Meeting presentation by Ms. Avard’s fourth-grade class, who shared their dreams for school for the new year. Our parent community also joined in the momentum, attending a successful presentation on raising financially fit children. I am incredibly proud of how our students have returned to campus; there is a sense of fulfillment in the air as they settle back into the natural joy of learning and community.

I hope everyone has a fabulous week!

With great appreciation,

Lisa 

Dr. Lisa Bianco

Head of Lower School

lbianco@shorecrest.org  

727-456-7518

Mark Your Calendars - 

Thursday, January 15
Wrapping up our discussion of “Raising Mentally Strong Kids” at 8:10am 

Friday, January 16
Charger Chat + SCA Parent Coffee

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

Thursday, January 22
Fifth grade orientation for fourth grade families

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)

Wednesday, February 18
Conference Day (NO SCHOOL Alpha-Grade 8)

Director of Diversity and Inclusion - Meet the Candidates

We are excited to announce that we have reached the final stage of our search for a new Director of Diversity and Inclusion. As a valued part of our school community, your perspective is incredibly important to us during this selection process. We invite you to join us for two "Meet the Candidate" sessions to hear from our finalists and share your feedback on Tuesday, January 20, 2:15–3:15pm and Wednesday, January 28, 2:15–3:15pm in the Ohana Community Room on the second floor of Charger Commons.

These sessions will provide an opportunity for you to hear each candidate’s vision for our school and ask questions regarding their approach to fostering an inclusive environment for all students. Your input helps ensure we select a leader who understands the needs of our families and reflects the values of our community.

Please RSVP to Dr. Anna Baralt at abaralt@shorecrest.org. We look forward to seeing you there!

All-School Calendar

Lower School Contacts