MS In the Know - September 2, 2025

MIDDLE SCHOOL

2025-2026

Middle School In the Know - September 2, 2025

Letter from Ms. Grant

Good afternoon,

I hope everyone had a restful Labor Day weekend. Chargers athletics are back in action, our MS musical is starting rehearsals. The students have a full week of rotating classes and are becoming familiarized with their new grade levels.

Grade Level Representatives
We had a grade level rep meeting on Wednesday, August 27. As I mentioned in that meeting, everyone is welcome to volunteer and join. If you are interested in helping out the grade level please reach out to me so I can add you to the grade level email list. You don’t have to be a grade level rep to participate when we need volunteers - just stay tuned for those opportunities. They will be communicated as they come along.

Safety Drills

A part of our routine is ensuring students are prepared for an emergency. All of our teachers review and practice safety drills with students at the start of the year. We also conduct school-wide drills throughout the year to reinforce these important lessons.

Last week, we held a scheduled tornado drill. In the coming weeks we will be practicing our fire and lockdown drills. Our goal is to empower students with the knowledge of and confidence in our safety and security protocols.

ERB Meeting
Please join us on Tuesday, September 16 at 8:15am in the Ohana Community Room if you would like to better understand how to interpret ERB standardized test results. “ERB Testing: Understand our school’s standardized testing and what this means for your child” will be presented by Assistant Head of Lower School Sarah Palazzolo and ERB Coordinator / Fifth Grade Math Teacher Mandy Howell.

8th Grade Science Field Trip Permission slips
Permission slips for the science field trips throughout the year were sent out. Please make sure to return them to Ms. Jeakle as soon as possible.

6th Grade Trip
Permission slips were sent out for the Pathfinders Trip in October. Please fill them out and return them as soon as possible. If you have any questions, please contact your student’s advisor.

Carline Reminder
We reminded the students this morning at our Morning Meeting that cars should pull all the way up to the car in front of them. After you stop, your student can get out and walk to their grade level area.

Have a great week,

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

MIDDLE SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS & EVENTS

Mark Your Calendars -

Thursday, September 4
Picture Day: Grades 5-11

Friday, September 5
Charger Chat with Nancy Spencer

Tuesday, September 9

International Connection Kick Off
First Year Foundation program with College Counseling

Wednesday, September 10

Community Committee on Diversity
SCA Moms Night Out

Friday, September 12
SCA Volunteer Fair

Tuesday, September 16
Third - eighth grade parent presentation: “ERB Testing: Understand our school’s standardized testing and what this means for your child.”

Saturday, September 27
SCA Soiree Beneath the Waves: A Florida Cocktail Odyssey presented by Mann Orthodontics

Tuesday, September 30
Sophomore Strategies - College Counseling Seminar

Picture Day - Middle & Upper School - Thursday, September 4

Students, faculty and staff are photographed annually for the Crestviews yearbook. School picture day for students in 5th-11th grades is on Thursday, September 4. Order forms will not be sent home in advance this year. All photo orders may be made online after photos are processed!

STEAM Club

The Shorecrest Upper School STEAM Club invites Middle School girls to join in an after school partnership with students from Academy Prep (http://academyprep.org/stpete/). Participants will:

Engage in a variety of STEAM-related activities led by the US STEAM Club, Dr. Baralt and Mrs. Giroud.
Work cooperatively on a variety of activities and challenges.
Talk with other girls who share similar interests in science, technology, engineering, art and math.
Spend time exploring and creating in the Shorecrest Makerspace.

There is no cost to join the STEAM Club; however, members will be determined by lottery as space is limited to sixteen Shorecrest girls.

Registration will be open through Friday, September 5, 2025.

Flyer with Full Details

Battle of the Books: Fifth & Sixth Grade Club Info

Do you enjoy reading? Do you like playing games? If so, join the Shorecrest Battle of the Books team!

What is Battle of the Books (BOB)?
Monthly meetings include discussion, games, and Battle practice centered around the 15 Florida 6-8 Sunshine State Young Readers Award books. Students read at their own pace and are not required to read all the books to participate in the club. The club culminates with a live Battle of the Books with participating private schools in May. At our student meetings we'll have fun, play games based on books, and compete in quiz-show-style challenges against each other.

Who can participate?
BOB is open to students in fifth and sixth grades. At the beginning of the year, we function as a book club and have study group meetings every other Tuesday during study hall. After Spring break we take a qualifying quiz to see who makes the competitive team and represents Shorecrest during the official BOB. Students interested in being on the competitive team must read a minimum of three books to qualify. At the final competition, each school may only have one team of 7 players (5 players and 2 alternates).

The SPS Library will have 2 copies of each title available for checkout. Students may also purchase the books, check them out in SORA (a Shorecrest online e-books portal), or get them from their local public library.

*This club incurs a $30 fee. This fee will be charged to your account during the Fall of 2025.

Important Dates:

Tuesday, September 16: Battle of the Books Club Student Informational Meeting - during 5th/6th Grade Study Hall

Monday, September 29: BOB Registration Due

Tuesday, September 30: first BOB Club Meeting (during 5th/6th Study Hall)

Athletics

Basketball Skills & Fun

Starting Wednesday, September 3, Coach Jonathan Tallon is supervising an Open Gym for all students who might want to participate in Chargers basketball at the MS and US levels this upcoming season. Come work on your skills!

The sessions will run Wednesday and Friday from 7-7:45am in the Rec Gym.
Dates: Sept 3, 5, 10, 12, 17, 19, 24, 26 and October 1, 3, 8, 10 and 15.

Winter Sports Sign Ups

Winter Sports Sign Ups are taking place in the Athletics Office Monday, September 15 through Friday, September 19. Any Upper School student wishing to participate in basketball, soccer or cheerleading 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 are important as they 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* 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.

[3rd - 8th Grade] Parent Presentation: ERB Testing Info Session - September 16

Join us on Tuesday, September 16 for a parent presentation for grades 3-8: “ERB Testing: Understand our school’s standardized testing and what this means for your child.” Presented by Assistant Head of Lower School Sarah Palazzolo and ERB Coordinator Mandy Howell.

The event begins at 8:15am in the Ohana Community Room, 2nd Floor of Charger Commons.

ALL SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS & EVENTS

Community Committee on Diversity - Thursday, September 10

Please join us for the Community Committee on Diversity (CCD) meeting on Thursday, September 10 at 3:30pm in the Seminar Room, Charger Commons second floor. This group is open to all community members who are interested in learning more about and being a part of the diversity efforts at Shorecrest. It is also a forum for complex and engaging conversations around timely topics related to diversity, inclusion and belonging.

Additional information coming soon.

Charger Chat

Friday, September 5 *New Date*

The first of a monthly series of casual chats with Head of School Nancy Spencer. After Lower School Town Meeting (roughly 8:30am) in the Raymund Center. Hosted by SCA.

International Connection Kick Off

Tuesday, September 9

All adults in the Shorecrest community are invited to join for coffee after drop-off on Tuesday, September 9, 8:15-10am in the Ohana Community Room, 2nd floor of Charger Commons. Expect introductions, socializing, info about the group and how to get involved.

SCA Moms Night Out

Wednesday, September 10

A chance to relax, connect and enjoy a fun evening with friends new and old. At the new Savoir on Central Ave. from 6:30-9:30!

Tickets are $20 and include light bites plus three drink vouchers.

This event is sold out. To get on the waitlist email sheibein@shorecrest.org

SCA Volunteer Fair

Friday, September 12

Learn about the many ways you can volunteer at Shorecrest and get to know fellow parents at a SCA Volunteer Fair.

After morning drop off in the Charger Commons Dining Room. Coffee and light bites will be served.

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:

College Counseling Meet & Greet

Wednesday, September 3 @ 9:15am
Location: Ohana Room, Charger Commons - second floor
Casual conversation with the 4-person College Counseling team

First Year Foundation

Tuesday, September 9 @ 6pm
Location: Janet Root Theatre
Dedicated programming for ninth grade students and their families

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

Event / Visitor Parking

When visiting campus for an event during the school day, please loop past the football field and Middle School to park on the event parking field adjacent to the softball field. Occasionally event parking may be closed due to heavy rain. If that happens before a large school or class event, alternate parking instructions may be communicated via text message.

Limited open parking labeled "Visitor" is available in the Raymund Center lot, in front of the Middle School office, and on the west side along the median in front of Charger Commons. Visitors are also permitted to park along the fence of Pratt Blvd, weather permitting.

Each parking spot labeled "Faculty" is assigned to a specific faculty or staff member during school hours. Please leave marked "Faculty" parking spaces open for their assigned teachers and staff, who may come and go at various times.

Parking spots labeled with a "Reserved" sign and a named family are reserved at all times for the named individuals. These are one-year opportunities offered for auction at the School's annual Gala.

With campus parking at a premium, we appreciate your flexibility and understanding in sharing these guidelines with others who may come to campus to visit or pick up your child.

Welcome Visitors! Please Check In

All campus visitors are required to check in at the Raymund Center or division main office to receive a visitor badge during the school day. Visitor badges are required to be worn at all times when on campus.

If visitors do not have a visitor badge visible, Allied Security Officers may stop to offer mobile visitor check-in. Thank you for your cooperation with our campus safety and security protocols.

SCA Soiree Beneath the Waves

A Florida Cocktail Odyssey presented by Mann Orthodontics

Saturday, September 27, 7-11pm at FloridaRAMA

You are formally invited to a sparkling evening at this year’s SCA Soiree – Beneath the Waves: A Florida Cocktail Odyssey presented by Mann Orthodontics on Saturday, September 27, at FloridaRAMA.

The event will feature delicious hors d'oeuvres, cocktails, and music. Adults only (21+).
(This is a night of building community. We’re saving the auctions for the springtime Gala.)

Early bird ticket sales conclude on September 5, after that the price goes up to $100/per person.

Buy Tickets

Coffee Cart Fridays on Campus

Join us Friday mornings for coffee on campus! Offered most Fridays throughout the school year, local vendors set up shop outside of the Raymund Center offering coffee drinks for purchase. Enjoy a coffee before Lower School Town Meeting, grab a coffee to go before a SCA meeting or Charger Chat, or take your coffee to shop at the School Store! Coffee carts are available roughly 7:15-9:15am.

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 Shorecrest app is also a hub for Monday Division Heads Letters, Shorecrest News archives and all-school emails, lunch information, links to documents like Handbooks and curriculum guides, and more.

Download the App

School Store Pop Up

Check out the Shorecrest School Store popup shop in the Athletic Center during the volleyball games on Wednesday, September 3 starting at 5:30pm.

Come by and grab hats, stadium seats, water bottles and much 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.