Letter from Dr. Bianco

Dear Lower School Families,

Our Experiential and Lower Schools’ Fall-o-ween and Costume Parade is this Friday, October 31. The school day begins as usual, but in costume. Drop your children off in carline wearing their costumes and with a change of clothes for later (spirit or fall themed tops and uniform or jean bottoms). By 8:35am, LS classes will start to line up for the parade. Charger Blvd. will be closed, so please have your child dropped off by 8am, then find parking if you plan to view the costume parade. There will be coffee available compliments of SCA, as well as a coffee cart with specialized coffees. After the parade Lower School students will attend class as well as enjoy fall related fun activities. Remember it is early dismissal; pick up is at 11:45.

Please view the attached map for parking locations and the parade route. Upper School student parking spaces near the baseball field and event parking will be available. Staff will be directing cars. Please park only in designated areas - NOT in the front parking lot or Faculty spaces. Carpooling is strongly encouraged. More information (which has already been shared for a few weeks) is below the calendar events on this page.

If it rains, the costume parade will be canceled.

Costume Guidelines  

Costumes should be appropriate for the school environment and considerate of young children. No scary costumes, toy weapons or sight-obstructing masks. 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. 

A Sweet Lesson in Science and Sustainability

Years ago our second graders successfully wrote a grant to establish a bee hive on campus, a project that's still thriving and supports our “Plants and Pollinators” investigation. Last Wednesday our dedicated bee keeper, Josh, returned to show this year's class the exciting extraction process: how we harvest the honey, taking it from the hive to the jar. It typically involves several steps: Removing the frames from the hive; uncapping the wax cells (removing the wax layer that seals the honey); spinning the frames in a machine called a honey extractor to use centrifugal force to draw the honey out (pictured below); straining or filtering the honey to remove wax bits and debris; and, bottling or jarring the finished honey. What a great lesson!

Final thoughts…

Friday, Mrs. Hensler’s third grade students shared their non-fiction books they had written, serving as both authors and teachers to Mrs. Sheppard's first graders. The activity was a resounding success. In a post-experience reflection, the third graders shared that they loved having a real audience and teaching the first-grade students about their topics. They were especially encouraged to write more after the event, noting that they enjoyed the engagement and thoughtful questions asked by the younger children. While many admitted to feeling nervous initially, the enthusiastic reception and genuine interest served as a powerful boost to their confidence and pride in their work.

November Parent Presentations - 

Executive Functioning Skills in the Digital Age: How Parents Can Help Their Children (K-4)
Tuesday, November 4 @ 8:10am in the Ohana Room

Have your child’s teachers ever talked to you about the skills of task completion, emotional regulation, handling transitions, organization, and following directions? Join Miriam in a discussion about the importance of executive functioning skills to success in school (and life) and how they are impacted in our digital age. Leave the presentation with practical suggestions and strategies to help your entire family and partner effectively with teachers. This parent presentation is on Tuesday, November 4, 2025 at 8:10 in the Ohana Room. It will be led by Miriam Pardoll, Dean of Student Support Services for The Center for Academic Excellence and Student Well-Being. 

Mathematical Thinking and Development (2nd & 3rd Grade) 
Wednesday, November 19 @ 8:10am in the Ohana Room 

Thank you to all who came for our parent workshop with Chase Piper, math consultant, coach, and educator. Mr. Piper shared a wonderful family site: mathathome.mathlearningcenter.org. Check it out.

Christine Oman, second grade teacher, and Jessica Ford, third grade teacher, will pick up where Chase left off; they will provide an overview of Bridges in Mathematics for grades 2 & 3 on Wednesday, November 19. Save the date and join us in the Ohana room at 8:10am. RSVP to LBianco@Shorecrest.org.

Scholastic Book Fair November 10-14!

Join us as we transform the Raymund Center into a cozy, fall campground because everything is fun with “s’more books.” From preschool selections to contemporary bestsellers, our Scholastic Book Fair will be curated up to eighth grade. Books also make great holiday gifts. 

The Scholastic Book Fair will be in the Raymund Center open for business from Monday, November 10, to Friday, November 14! Come browse for your next great read between 8am-4pm daily. The Book Fair will also be open during Conference Day on Wednesday, November 12, from 8am-4pm. 

We're also excited to host the Public Library on campus! Stop by their table on Wednesday, November 12, between 8am-2pm. You can easily sign up for your very own public library card right there on the spot.

Share Your Voice: Head of Upper School Search

As we look ahead to build on the Upper School's strong foundation, we have engaged the search firm RG175 to help identify a visionary new leader for the 9th-12th grade Upper School to succeed Head of Upper School Erich Schneider in July 2026. There will be multiple opportunities for all community members to participate in the search process. 

You are invited to first share your perspectives through the Upper School Head Search Community Survey. This anonymous survey is conducted by our search consultant, Adam Peichert of RG175. Your feedback will help inform the position profile and ensure that the search reflects the qualities and priorities most important to our community. The survey will remain open through 5pm on Tuesday, October 28, and should take about 5 minutes to complete.

On Tuesday, November 11, there will be three sessions for members of the community to meet directly with RG175.

1:30 – 2:30pm: Trustee Session in the Ohana Community Room
2:30 – 3:30pm: Parent/Guardian Session in the Ohana Community Room
3:30 – 4:30pm: Upper School Faculty Session in the Ohana Community Room

Thank you for taking the time to contribute your voice to this important process. Your insights will play a meaningful role in shaping the future leadership of the Upper School.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Keynote Speaker: Sam Demma - “Empty Your Backpack” - Thursday, November 20 

Shorecrest is pleased to welcome keynote speaker and author Sam Demma to campus on Thursday, November 20 for three unique performances - one for Middle School students, one for Upper School students, and an evening event for all Shorecrest parents/guardians. 

A dynamic, high-energy performer known for his signature giant red backpack, Sam will guide students through his keynote “Empty Your Backpack,” a powerful message about overcoming fear, building resilience, and leading with empathy. Through stories, humor, and reflection, Sam encourages students to let go of what weighs them down and take small, consistent actions toward excellence and meaningful living.

Families are also invited to an evening parent session, “Lightening the Load: Helping Kids Build Resilience and Empathy,” where Sam explores how caring adults can help children navigate the pressures they carry and foster a family culture of understanding and connection.

Schedule of Events: 

10:35-11:35am: Upper School* Assembly Performance (also open to parents)
*Thursday, November 20 will NOT be a late start day

2:15-3:15pm: Middle School Assembly Performance (also open to parents)

6:30-7:30pm: Parent Evening Performance [RSVP here] 

Learn more about Sam Demma at samdemma.com/videos.  

Donor support for this opportunity was inspired by the Pyxis Fund. 

All-School Calendar

Lower School Contacts