Letter from Dr. Bianco

Dear Lower School Families,

The first six weeks of school are important for laying the groundwork for a successful and productive classroom all year long. Since your children arrived in August, our teachers have focused on establishing a strong foundation by building relationships and teaching routines. They have been getting to know their students as learners and intentionally creating a safe, joyful, and predictable classroom community. During the first six weeks, students learn what is expected of them, not just in terms of behavior, but also how to work collaboratively and engage in meaningful learning. By investing time in these early weeks, teachers empower students to take ownership of their learning, feel a sense of belonging, and develop the social and emotional skills they need to thrive.  (This is the start of week six.)

From my observations, it is evident that the children have been working hard, making friends and adjusting to their new grade levels and teachers. For most it is smooth sailing, but there can also be bumps – it is natural. 

During the first six weeks we are reviewing and assessing students (areas of strengths and areas that need to be strengthened). When we feel specific and extended support beyond the classroom is needed, we will reach out. Our goal is always to meet students where they are, and make sure that they are meeting (and exceeding) grade level expectations. 

Early Mathematical Development and Thinking in Kindergarten and First Grade 

If you attended our workshop on early literacy, I hope you will also attend this very special presentation on Early Mathematical Development and Thinking in Kindergarten and First Grade on October 9 at 8:10am.  Special guest expert, Chase Piper, math coach and consultant, from Miami, will be leading this presentation. Please RSVP to LBianco@Shorecrest.org. You will NOT want to miss this parent presentation if your child is in kindergarten or first grade and you have questions about our math curriculum or how to support your child at home.

A Gentle Reminder for Carline Safety

For the safety of all our students, please remember to watch your students walk away from the car once they get out and close the door. 

We also ask that you do not use your cell phone while driving on campus. Your full attention is the best way to protect all of our students and staff. We are concerned with the number of drivers we have seen on their cell phones. Yikes!

Lastly, please drop your child off before 8:00am;  if you arrive after that time adults will no longer be present and you will need to walk your child into the school. Try to drop your child off between 7:30 to 7:45am – there are very few cars.

Book Discussion

It is said that in an ever-changing world, raising strong and resilient kids is more important than ever. Resilience isn't just about bouncing back from setbacks; it's about developing the emotional and mental fortitude to navigate challenges with confidence and optimism. Our book club for parents this year is “Raising Mentally Strong Kids: how to combine the power of neuroscience with love and logic to grow confident, kind, responsible, and resilient children, and young adults,” by Daniel G. Amen, MD and Charles Faye, PhD (Faye is connected with Love and Logic). 

Jennifer Phelps, Director of the Center for Academic Excellence, and Kate Fierce, School Counselor, and I will be facilitating the meetings. Our first one is Wednesday, October 22 at 8:10 am. RSVP to LBianco@shorecrest.org if you think you might be interested in joining us.

Read the first three chapters: Healthy Brains, Mentally Strong Kids Live by Clearly Defined Goals, and Is Your Parenting Style Breeding Mental Strength or Weakness.

Homecoming Week Fun Days for ES and LS

Homecoming Fun Days are around the corner. 

10/20 - Pajama Day
10/21 - Crazy Socks Day
10/22 - Fun Hair Day
10/23 - Favorite Sports Team T-Shirt Day
10/24 - Class Colors 

Class Colors: In the spirit of school unity, all grades are invited to wear their class color on Class Color Day of Homecoming Week, which promotes class unity, and connection to older peers who share the same class colors. The class color travels with the student as they progress through Shorecrest. The colors assigned to be worn by each class are intentionally not Shorecrest green and gold, which are reserved for green and gold day celebrating ONE Shorecrest!

Class of 2034, 4th grade - red
Class of 2035, 3rd grade - purple
Class of 2036, 2nd grade - blue
Class of 2037, 1st grade -orange
Class of 2038, Kindergarten - red 

The Kind Mouse

We will kick off our Kind Mouse  food drive October 20 - November 14. (More information to come.) 

Picture Retake Day

Every once in a while photographs from Picture Day do not come out well. We will have picture retakes on Wednesday, October 29.

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…

Stepping into our classrooms gives me essential insight into the effectiveness of our programs and allows me to truly know our educators as practitioners, our students as learners, and how our curriculum is truly lived out in the community.

With our commitment to being a child-centered school, I am always looking for evidence of the holistic learning we foster: the knowledge, skills, values, attitudes, and dispositions we are collectively teaching our students.

These snapshot visits, from Reading Workshop to PE, and from Art to Inquiry, highlight a clear and inspiring message: learning is a process of experience and action.

This emphasis on active engagement echoes the wisdom of Lucy Sprague Mitchell, founder of Bank Street School: “There is the understanding that comes from knowledge of facts and the intellectual process of working out relationships among facts, which constitutes thinking…. And there is also the learning that comes from a living, gripping experience where a feeling tone is added to thought. This second kind of learning often stimulates the desire for the first.”

I hope you all have a good week. 

From the Clinic - Nut Allergy Awareness, Reminder

We are asking families to be mindful that we have many students with peanut and tree nut allergies which are life threatening. Please refrain from sending any peanut and or tree nut products to school for the safety of all the students. This includes but is not limited to peanut butter, Nutella, and granola bars containing any kind of nut. Thank you! 

How to Order Yearbooks 

If you or your child would like a copy of the 2025-2026 Crestviews Yearbook, which features the full Alpha-Grade 12 school, please place your online order using the link below. Yearbooks are $80. (Families of seniors do not need to order yearbooks. They are a part of the senior fee.)

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: 

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 

COMMUNITY EVENTS

All-School Calendar

Lower School Contacts