Letter from Mr. Schneider

Dear Upper School Families,

On behalf of the Upper School Faculty, thank you for attending our Conference Day last Wednesday. Though electronic communications are convenient and helpful, these face-to-face opportunities can be really beneficial to building great partnerships with our families.We hope your conversations were constructive and helpful. 

It should be noted that semester one is quickly coming to a close with only three weeks of school before we enter into our semester Exams (Dec 15-19). We hope our students use what time remains to really give that extra push academically. 

Please come see Sam Demma this week!

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

Please note that we will not be running a “late start Thursday schedule” on November 20. Classes will begin at 8:30. 

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," youth keynote speaker and author Sam 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!

Have a wonderful week!

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

Mark Your Calendars - 

Monday, November 17
Dads Night Out

Tuesday, November 18
College Counseling: Money Matters. Learn more about financial aid and affording college from Shorecrest College Counseling and guests. For Upper School families.

Thursday, November 20
Sam Demma Keynote Performances; Not a late start day for students

Mon. - Fri., November 24-28
Thanksgiving Break

Monday, December 1
Holiday Gift Drive Kick-off

Wednesday, December 3
SCA Moms Holiday Night Out
One Night Only: MS & US Thespians Showcase

Friday, December 5
Charger Chat with Nancy Spencer

Thursday, December 11
Winter Band Concert

December 17-19
Semester Exams

Monday, December 22
Winter Break (through January 4)

Monday, January 5
Return to School

Read about how past survey feedback has helped to influence significant improvement across all divisions. [Read the Article in Shorecrest News]

Spring Sports Sign Ups

Spring Sports Sign Ups will take 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.

Juniors

We will begin scheduling junior family college counseling meetings soon.

• Student and Parent Surveys (Due December 2nd)

• Both the Junior Student Fall Questionnaire and Junior Parent Insight Survey are available in Cialfo. 

• Please complete these before your scheduled family meeting or by December 2nd. These surveys serve as important tools to help aid our family meetings and eventually letters of recommendation.

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.

Seniors

Remember to turn in pink sheets and meet with your college counselor to review Common App, STARS, and supplementals before submitting applications. If you need or would like progress/mid-semester/Q1 grades sent to any college, please fill out a gold sheet in the CCO.

Financial Aid Event: Money Matters

• Tuesday, November 18 (New Date) - 6-7:30pm in the JRT

• Learn more about financial aid and affording college from Shorecrest College Counseling and guest speakers from a local college 

SAT/ACT Practice Tests and Test Prep (Revolution Prep)

• PSAT, Now What?: Wednesday, December 3, 8pm-9pm

• Digital ACT Practice Exam: Saturday, November 15, 9am-12:30pm

• SAT Practice Exam: Saturday, February 7, 9am-12:00pm

Details & Register: Revolution Prep Shorecrest Page

College Reps Visiting Shorecrest

College visits have mostly wrapped up for the fall. We may still get a few requests for visits. They will be listed in Cialfo as they are approved. 

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. 

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.)

All-School Calendar

Upper School Contacts