MS In the Know - December 8, 2025

MIDDLE SCHOOL

2025-2026

Middle School In the Know - December 8, 2025

Letter from Ms. Grant

Good afternoon,

“The 7 Days Before Break” starts on Wednesday, December 10, and will end on Thursday, December 18. I let the students know today what the week will look like. I am providing you the schedule in advance to help with any dress code modifications and so they don’t spring it on you at the last minute.

Wednesday, December 10 - Holiday Ugly Sweater Contest (jeans or uniform bottoms)

Thursday, December 11 - Favorite sports team shirt (jeans or uniform bottoms)

Friday, December 12 - Guess the Candy (Shorecrest Spirit Wear day)

Monday, December 15 - Holiday Themed Dress (no pajamas)

Tuesday, December 16 - Snowman Scavenger Hunt (regular uniform day)

Wednesday, December 17 - Holiday Socks (regular uniform day)

Thursday, December 18 - Sweat pants day with Shorecrest Spirit Wear tops

Friday, December 19 - Spirit Wear and early dismissal

New Club Offerings in January

The students will have the opportunity to change clubs in the new year for the next semester. Included here is the list of clubs available for the students. Please discuss these with your student. They will be choosing their clubs this week in CPR.

Spring Clubs

Snowflake Soiree

Seventh and eighth graders, save the date for the Snowflake Soiree on Friday, January 30, from 6-8pm in the MS Breezeway! More details to follow…

Have a great week,

Kris Grant
Head of Middle School
kgrant@shorecrest.org
727-456-7526

MIDDLE SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS & EVENTS

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 -

Thursday, December 11
Winter Band Concert: A Winter Jubilee

Friday, December 19
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)

Friday, January 30
Snowflake Soiree (7/8th grades)

Thursday, February 5
International Festival

Friday February 6
Shorecrest Movie Night

Friday, February 13
School Closed / Professional Development for Faculty

Monday, February 16
Presidents Day (NO SCHOOL)

Spring Sports Sign Ups

Spring Sports Sign Ups are taking place in the Athletics Office Monday, December 8 through Friday, December 12. Any Middle School student who intends to participate in Baseball, Lacrosse, Softball, Tennis, and/or Track & Field will sign up during their PE classes.

These sign ups help coaches and the Athletics Office know how many students are interested in participating in a particular sport. The Athletics Office also double checks that the students who signed up have completed all their athletics paperwork before the first practice/tryout takes place. This helps to ensure that all students are eligible to participate from day one of the new season.

Spring Sports Info

ALL STUDENTS WISHING TO PARTICIPATE IN A SPRING SPORT MUST BE CLEARED THROUGH THE ATHLETIC CLEARANCE SYSTEM* at least 72 hours BEFORE THEIR FIRST PRACTICE. Click here for the Athletic Clearance Guide to help you with this process.

*The Athletic Clearance system is used for collecting athletic physicals and other important Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) information for student participation in sports.

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.