Letter from Mr. Schneider

Dear Upper School Families,

What a great start to the school year. Students are ready and energized and it is so great to see a full school of faculty and students and to hear voices and laughter in the hallways again (summer is too quiet!) While we officially returned to school last Wednesday, I would like to share with you a few important events that preceded our big first day.

August 14 was our Senior Parking Lot Party. With plenty of popsicles in hand, Head Dean and 12th Grade Dean, Stacy Alexander, organized and chaperoned this exciting traditional event whereby our Seniors paint and personalize their assigned parking spaces behind the ST Building. This was the first of many events to come that will celebrate the Class of 2026. 

Head Dean Alexander and Assistant Head and Academic Dean Frey held their Student Leadership Institute, bringing together the Honor Council, Student Council, and Student Ambassadors on Monday, August 18. It proved to be an energizing and inspiring start to the upcoming school year. Students gained an understanding that leadership is defined by the intentional choices they make to positively impact our community. Throughout the institute, participants actively explored their Personal Values and Character Strengths, using these insights to guide the development of their individual Leadership Philosophies. Nancy Spencer and I  provided valuable insights, which left our student leaders well-prepared and motivated for the year ahead. An example from one of our student leaders, “With courage, gratitude, love and fairness as my main character strengths, I attempt to lead with excitement and appreciation. I choose to value authenticity and discipline in my leadership, showing honesty to all of my peers.”

On August 19, we launched our Ninth Grade Orientation with students and parents. After a presentation in the JRT, the 9th graders went on guided tours with our Student Ambassadors, met their teachers, and were trained on their school issued laptops. The next day the 9th graders went on a retreat to Vertical Ventures and to Sunrise Lanes for bowling. The goal was to provide an opportunity for them to bond and to get to know their many classmates that are new to Shorecrest.

On August 14 and again on August 19, the College Counseling Office hosted Senior Recharge. 68 members of the Class of 2026 attended the three-hour session where they reviewed strategies on how to get organized for the college application process and received a comprehensive calendar of fall application deadlines. The attendees also learned about how to prepare for visiting college campuses and upcoming presentations from admissions representatives visiting Shorecrest, worked on sections of the Common Application (Profile, Family, Education, Testing, Activities), and received tips about managing the socio/emotional aspects of the college process.

Wednesday, August 20, was our official first day of school. As is our tradition, we began the year with our Convocation Ceremony - a formal dress occasion for the student body. Reminiscent of our Commencement Ceremony in May, the Class of 2026 processed into the Janet Root Theatre. The ceremony began with a welcome from Head of School Nancy Spencer, followed by a speech by our Honor Council President, Nicholas Canizares ‘26. The Class of 2026 was then called one by one to the stage to sign our Honor Book and agree to our Honor Pledge: 

I agree to be responsible and respectful, to act with integrity, and to show compassion in my pursuit of knowledge and in my interactions with others. 

The ceremony ended with an address from me where I stressed the importance of practicing resilience linking each of our Core Values (Responsibility, Respect, Integrity, Knowledge and Compassion) to becoming a confident and resilient adult. Grades 9-11 signed their Honor Pledge during Advisory on Thursday. 

The remainder of the day Wednesday provided students with a brief opportunity to meet each of their teachers during short class periods. Thursday and Friday were our first two days of classes. We are now officially back!

Late Start Thursdays
Upper School will begin our Late Start Thursdays schedule this week on Thursday, August 28, at 9am. View complete details on the bottom of the Daily Schedule.

Schedule Changes
The drop/add deadline for courses is September 17. Students who wish to add or drop a course must do so by this date by meeting with Dean Frey.

This year a new policy has been introduced to better support transitions from an honors course to a college prep course. The deadline for these changes has been extended to October 15, allowing students additional time to adjust to the honors curriculum and determine whether it is the right fit. No schedule changes of this type will be permitted after October 15.

New Families to Shorecrest
Please come to our New Family Coffee this Wednesday at 8:30am in the Ohana Room (2nd Floor of Charger Commons). There you will have an opportunity to meet the Upper School Administrative Team, hear more about our program and ask questions.

Relaxation Techniques for Students
Starting this week on Tuesday, science teacher and coach, Bernie Kozlowski will be offering lessons on relaxation techniques for students. Encourage your child to attend these short but helpful sessions designed to provide easy tools for reducing stress. 

Student TWIUS
Every Sunday, Student Council Secretary Elli Beatty will send an email to the student body with a student version of TWIUS (This Week In The Upper School) - linked below. This publication includes schedule reminders, early dismissals notices for cocurricular activities and links to important documents. It also contains notices of service opportunities and important dates and information from the College Counseling Office. It is a must read for all students. With the goal of teaching our students to be responsible and to take ownership of their educational experience, please make it a point to encourage your child to read that TWIUS email each and every Sunday. 

Upper School Back to School Night
Mark your calendars for Upper School Back to School Night, September 4. We will begin at 7pm in the Janet Root Theatre. After a brief presentation, you will have the opportunity to follow your child’s academic schedule and meet their teachers. See you there!

Have a wonderful week!

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

Mark Your Calendars - 

Wednesday, August 27 

• Upper School new families coffee

• Dads Night Out

Monday, September 1
Labor Day - SCHOOL CLOSED 

Wednesday, September 3
College Counseling Meet & Greet

Thursday, September 4

• Picture Day: Grades 5-11

• College Counseling Senior Launch (for 12th grade parents/guardians)

• Upper School Back to School Night

Friday, September 5
Charger Chat with Nancy Spencer

Tuesday, September 9

• International Connection Kick Off

• First Year Foundation program with College Counseling

Tuesday, September 16
Summer 2026 trip info session 

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

Carline Safety and Reminders

Student Announcements

Student-specific announcements are shared by Student Council every Sunday in an email called "TWIUS" (This Week In The Upper School). This page is regularly updated by our Administrative Assistant, Fatima Morlando. 

New Faces in the College Counseling Office!

Over the summer we welcomed two new additions to the CCO Team! Mr. Richard Aufderheide and Mr. Aidan Steinly are both excited to have your students back on campus and to have the opportunity to get to know your families. Please stop by and welcome them to Shorecrest! 

[Meet all new Faculty and Staff]

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. Visits will begin the week of August 25. Check out the list of amazing schools who have already booked visits with us. 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:

Upcoming College Counseling Events

Meet & Greet - Wednesday, September 3, 9:15–10:15am in the Ohana Community Room on the 2nd floor of Charger Commons.

Senior Launch - Thursday, September 4, 6-7pm, Janet Root Theatre. For parents/guardians of the Class of 2026 only.

First Year Foundation - Tuesday, September 9, 6-7:30pm, Janet Root Theatre. For students and families of the Class of 2029.

Sophomore Strategies - Tuesday, September 30,  6-7:30pm, Janet Root Theatre. For students and families of the Class of 2028.

Revolution Prep Resources

Free online practice exam schedule:

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.

All-School Calendar

Upper School Contacts