MS In the Know - October 27, 2025

MIDDLE SCHOOL

2025-2026

Middle School In the Know - October 27, 2025

Letter from Ms. Grant

Good afternoon,

This week we will be celebrating Middle School Fun Day on Friday, October 31. Each grade level will be involved with grade level and the middle school wide activities. It is a half day of school and we will have a 12:15pm dismissal on Friday.

Friendship Coach Virtual Parent Session

Shorecrest has welcomed nationally recognized friendship coach, educator, and author Danielle Bayard Jackson. Through four engaging workshops Jackson guided students in exploring topics such as navigating social dynamics, improving communication, and managing conflict with kindness. She will present to all middle school parents via Zoom on Tuesday, November 11 at 6:30pm. She will share the work that she did with students. I will share the link when it becomes available.

8th Grade US Shadow Day

The transition to Upper School is an exciting moment! We invite you to schedule an 8th grade shadow visit to preview our Upper School. Students will have the opportunity to:

Visit classes to learn more about our balanced and individualized student experience
Meet knowledgeable faculty/staff committed to your academic and personal well-being
Learn more about our exciting clubs, enrichment trips, and leadership opportunities

Give your student a valuable, confidence-boosting look at their future. Available now through January 31, 2026.

The Shorecrest College Counseling Office offers comprehensive programming to support students and families. Last week they teamed up with Upper School Admin to present: “The Shorecrest Advantage: Exploring Shorecrest's Upper School.” If you missed this dedicated programming for families of seventh and eighth grade students, a recording may be found here.

Schedule a Shadow Visit

7th Grade

We will be holding an informational St. Augustine Parent Meeting on Tuesday, November 4, at 6pm in Mrs. Berland's room (MSAS 101).

Keynote Speaker Sam Demma Visit, Nov. 20

We are excited to announce that Sam Demma will be coming to Shorecrest on Thursday, November 20 to speak with the Middle and Upper Schools during the school day and will have a special presentation to all Shorecrest parents/guardians at 6:30pm in the Janet Root Theatre.

Sam Demma is a best-selling author, entrepreneur, and highly sought-after keynote speaker, particularly within the education sector. He is the creator of The High Performing Educator multimedia platform.

In his book "Empty Your Backpack," Demma uses a powerful metaphor to address the burdens that hold individuals back from reaching their full potential. The "backpack," he explains, represents the accumulation of limiting beliefs, doubts, and the negative opinions of others that people unknowingly carry with them through life.

The core message of the book is a call to action: to consciously "unpack" these detrimental thoughts and replace them with empowering beliefs and consistent, positive actions. Demma emphasizes that achieving one's dreams is not about grand, sweeping changes, but rather the result of small, steady steps taken over time. This philosophy of "small, consistent actions" is a cornerstone of his teachings and is woven throughout the book.

Have a great week,

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

MIDDLE SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS & EVENTS

Mark Your Calendars -

Wednesday, October 29
Picture Retake Day

Monday - Friday, November 10-14
Book Fair

Wednesday, November 12
Fall Conference Day - No school for students; SCA Uniform Sale

Saturday, November 15
Electric Fall Festival

Thursday, November 20
Keynote Speaker - Sam Demma

Scholastic Book Fair November 10-14!

Join us as we transform the Raymund Center into a cozy, fall campground since 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 from November 10-14.

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.

Book Fair Volunteers Needed!

Let’s gather together to ignite our imaginations among the pages of our favorite books!

Book Fair Online Preview

Volunteer with Book Fair

Spring Sports Sign Ups

Spring Sports Sign Ups are taking place in the Athletics Office Monday, December 8 through Friday, December 12. Any Upper School student wishing to participate in Baseball, Lacrosse, Softball, Tennis, and/or Track & Field should stop by the Athletics Office during break, lunch or after school to sign up. MS students 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.

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.

Download the Shorecrest Parent app

All families have free access to the Shorecrest Parent app via the App Store and Google Play.

The Shorecrest Parent app allows families to access all of their FACTS Family Portal information, including a family directory, schedules, billing information, and more.

The app is also a hub for Parent Pages, Athletics Forms and Team info, Shorecrest News archives and all-school emails, lunch information, links to documents like Handbooks and curriculum guides, and more.

Download the App

ALL SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS & EVENTS

SCA Holiday Greenery - sales close Nov 3!

The SCA Greenery Sale offers a stunning selection of festive wreaths to elevate your holiday spirit. The deadline to order is November 3.

Gift Greenery for $25

Share the love by gifting a 22-inch Noble Fir Wreath to Guardian ad Litem! Greenery for Guardian ad Litem caretakers will be distributed at the Holiday Gift Drive event on December 13.

Shop Greenery

Fall Sports Playoffs

Shorecrest Varsity Golf will compete in Districts on Tuesday, October 28 at Cove Cay Golf Club in Clearwater.

On Friday, October 31 and Saturday, November 1, Chargers Swimming and Diving will compete at Regionals. Diving is at Walter Fuller Pool and Swimming is at North Shore Aquatics Complex.

Chargers Varsity Football has a playoff game this week - more details TBD.

Wednesday, November 5, Cross Country will run in the District meet at John S. Taylor Park - 1100 8th Ave SW, Largo.

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.

Volunteers Needed - Sign up to help today!

For Electric Fall Festival: Check-in, raffles, bounce house and more!

Volunteer for Fall Festival

Library Shelfies help organize Haskell Library between class visits by shelving books and other special projects.

Volunteer with Library Shelfies

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.)

Order Yearbooks

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Electric Fall Festival presented by the Cibran and Razook Families

Saturday, November 15, 5–8pm
in & around the Shorecrest Athletic Center

Get ready for an electric evening of fun for the whole family! Join us for Shorecrest’s Electric Fall Festival featuring music, games, and activities for all ages. Your $15 ticket includes a bounce house, DJ, golf, petting zoo — and that’s just the beginning! Food trucks will also be on site with delicious dinner options available for purchase.

Get Fall Festival Tickets!

International Festival

The annual International Festival hosted by International Connection will be Thursday, February 5. This exciting event brings our diverse community together to celebrate global cultures through food, music, dance, games and unique artifacts.

This event is 100% organized by parent volunteers with the goal of showcasing the rich diversity of our Shorecrest community.

The registration deadline is January 29, 2026.

Middle School Musical

Shorecrest Middle School Performing Arts presents “All Shook Up - Young@Part” an Elvis-themed musical starring students in grades 6-8 on November 6-8 in the Janet Root Theatre.

Ticketing information is coming soon.

Upper School Fall Play

Shorecrest Performing Arts presents "Vintage Hitchcock: A Live Radio Play" on Thursday, November 13 and Friday, November 14 at 7pm in the Janet Root Theatre.

Ticketing information is coming soon.

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.

The School Store

It's fall and hopefully that means cooler weather is on the way. Come by the School Store for long-sleeved shirts, jackets, hoodies and more.

School Store Hours

Shop the School Store for Shorecrest spiritwear, gifts, snacks, drinks and more!

Mon-Thurs 11:00am - 4:30pm
Friday 8:00am - 4:00pm

Credit cards, checks, and Apple Pay accepted (sorry, no cash or SAGE accounts). Students under grade 9 must have parent/guardian present to purchase during the school day.