Letter from Mr. Schneider

Dear Upper School Families,

Homecoming Week kicked off last Friday with an exciting pep rally hosted by Seniors Kaelie Dieter '26 and Braden Stone '26. With cheering from the Little Sparks, Middle School and Upper School cheerleaders, a storming of the gym through the locker tunnel by our fall sports teams, a faculty Masked Singer competition, and multiple competitive games with contestants from grades K-12, our students have been primed for a fun-filled and spirited week. A few hours later we hosted the big Homecoming Football event that doubled as Senior Night for our Cross Country, Golf, Cheerleading and Football Teams. Before our Chargers handily defeated Foundation Christian Academy, I had the privilege of assisting Head of School Nancy Spencer and outgoing Homecoming Queen Eve Bonnemort ‘25 with crowning our 2025 Mr. Spirit and Homecoming Queen during a half-time presentation. Congratulations to Mr. Spirit Asher Walton ‘26 and Homecoming Queen Kaelie Dieter ‘26 and to all of our amazing Homecoming Court nominees! We look forward to their reign over our upcoming Homecoming Week competitions!

Of special note, our final event of Homecoming Week will be the Homecoming Dance in the Rec Gym 8pm-10:30pm on Saturday, October 25.

• Students must arrive by 8:30pm and stay until 10pm

• Tickets to the Homecoming Dance can be purchased here

• If your child wishes to bring a guest who is not a Shorecrest student, a guest permission slip must be submitted by the October 23 due date 

PSAT

Last Wednesday was a day of academic testing for grades 9-11 as they sat to  take the all-digital PSAT 9/9 and the PSAT. The all digital format of these tests went very well. Credit goes to Alice Hathcoat, our AP / PSAT Coordinator, for her organization, and to our tech team who ensured that students and proctors were prepared and had a glitch-free administration. We look forward to seeing the results of those PSAT exams. Meanwhile, our twelfth graders had an opportunity to bond at the St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club. This year’s group took their shuffleboarding seriously, playing right up until the end while also enjoying lunch and the opportunity to prepare for Homecoming events. Appreciation goes to Dean Alexander, Fatima Morlando and the twelfth grade Advisors for organizing and participating in that event. 

Midterm Exams Details

For planning purposes, we would like to share information on Midterm Exams (Dec 15-19). 

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.

We hope to see you there!

Yearbook Photos: grades 9-11

Families should have received a link to view photos directly from Mr. KamraMan, the yearbook photographer. Purchases may be made online. 

Every once in a while photographs from Picture Day do not come out well, or students are absent on picture day. We will have picture retakes on Wednesday, October 29. A registration link for retakes will be sent later this week directly from Mr. KamraMan, and if your student was absent they will be registered to be photographed on retake day automatically.

Have a wonderful week!

Erich Schneider
Head of Upper School
eschneider@shorecrest.org
727-456-7529

Mark Your Calendars - 

October 20-24
Homecoming Week Fun Days

Tuesday, October 21
Blood Drive
Shore to Shorecrest Packet pickup

Wednesday, October 22
International Connection Potluck

Saturday, October 25
Shore to Shorecrest 5k
Homecoming Dance 

Wednesday, October 29
Picture Retake Day

Wednesday, November 12
Fall Parent and Teacher Conferences (No School for Students)

Saturday, November 15
Electric Fall Festival 

Seniors

Remember to turn in pink sheets and meet with your college counselor before submitting applications. All early applications (November 1 application deadline) pink sheets should already be turned in. 

Juniors

Consider applying for the Coolidge Scholarship which is a full-ride, presidential scholarship that covers a student’s tuition, room, board, and expenses for four years at any accredited college/university. Apply by December 16, 2025 @ Coolidge Scholarship

SAT

For the SAT taken on November 8, the deadline to register is October 24.

College Reps Visiting Shorecrest

In order to attend visits with college representatives, your student must sign-up in Cialfo at least 24 hours in advance. Simply log-in and look for the list of colleges that will be joining us this fall. Check back often as the list continues to grow each day! Meeting with the visiting college reps is a great way to learn more about each institution and show your demonstrated interest. Many colleges track attendance at programs such as school visits. 

College Visits:

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.)

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

Upper School Contacts