TWIUS - October 5, 2026

UPPER SCHOOL

2026-2027

This Week in Upper School (TWIUS) - October 5, 2026

Letter from Mr. Hoyle

Dear Upper School Families,

Welcome to October! My wife’s birthday is on Halloween, so we take spooky season very seriously around our household. I’m looking forward to a fun month ahead in the Upper School!

At our Monday Morning Meeting, we announced our Homecoming Court. The Class of 2027 voted on their representatives for Mr. Spirit and Homecoming Queen. All Upper School students will vote for their Mr. Spirit and Homecoming Queen to be announced on Friday, October 16 at halftime of the Homecoming Game. Congratulations to Ellie Beatty '27, Chris Every '27, Ryan Flugel '27, Claire James '27, Cassan Johnson '27, Sofia Lee '27, Abriella Mills '27, Michael Mizrahi '27, Rishi Patel '27, and Ana Verano '27.

Tonight our College Counseling Office presents Junior Journey for eleventh grade students and their parents/guardians. The evening will introduce Cialfo, our college counseling platform, and cover what the college search will look like, how students will work with their college counselor and what comes next.

Tuesday night is Senior Night for Varsity Volleyball! Come out for the home game against Delphi Academy at 6:30pm and help us celebrate our seniors.

Tuesday-Thursday this week, a professional videographer will be on campus capturing life at Shorecrest, including our classrooms and students in action. It is not a formal dress day, but students should come dressed to represent the Shorecrest community well.

Finally, this is the first of two four-day weeks. There will be no classes this Friday, October 9, while our faculty participate in our fall professional development day. School will also be closed Monday, October 12.

Looking ahead, our 9-11 grades will be taking the PSAT on Wednesday, October 14, starting promptly at 8:30am. Students will receive an email from Anne Michelle Frey with their room assignment. Students should have their computers fully charged and get a good night’s sleep. Once students are done with their PSAT, they are done for the day. We encourage students to take the time to prep for Homecoming festivities or catch up on schoolwork. They are also free to be picked up from school. 12th grade will participate in our traditional adventure to St. Pete Shuffleboard for some fun and class bonding.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at bhoyle@shorecrest.org with questions, comments, concerns or even if you just want to say “Hello.”

Have a great week!

Brendan Hoyle

Head of Upper School

bhoyle@shorecrest.org
727-456-7529

UPPER SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS

Mark Your Calendars -

Friday, October 9: School Closed, Professional Day

Monday, October 12: School Closed, Fall Long Weekend

Wednesday, October 14: PSAT for grades 9-11

Thursday, October 22: Shorecrest Fund Giving Day

Tuesday, November 10: Yearbook photo retake day (Grades A-11)

Health & Safety Notice - Mosquito Treatment

In light of the recent Florida Department of Health alert regarding mosquito-borne illnesses and local dengue cases in Pinellas County, Shorecrest has expanded its mosquito control protocols on campus. This includes treating campus ponds and drainage areas, and careful monitoring and elimination of small areas of standing water across campus.

Families can help by applying an EPA-registered insect repellent at home before the school day. Students may also wear long sleeves and pants for added protection.

Tangled up in HoCo

Let your hair down and get Tangled up in HoCo.

You're invited to our Tangled-themed Homecoming Dance on Saturday, October 24, in the Shorecrest Rec Gym. Step into a world of glowing lanterns, endless music, and delicious treats for a night that's pure magic!

The evening begins at 8pm and ends at 10:30pm. Be sure to arrive by 8:30pm to ensure you don't miss a single moment of the cosmic fun (students must stay until 10pm).

If you’re bringing a guest who isn’t a Shorecrest student, remember to submit your guest permission slip by noon on Thursday, October 22.

Tickets are $25 online in advance and $30 cash at the door. If you plan to bring an outside guest, your tickets must be purchased online.

Get Hoco Dance Tickets

Winter Sports Clearances Due October 5

All athletes wishing to participate in a WINTER SPORT must be CLEARED through the athletic clearance system NO LATER THAN 3:30pm on Monday, October 5. Those who don't meet this deadline will be ineligible for participation in practices/games going forward until the athlete is CLEARED through the system.

Please use this Athletic Clearance Guide when completing the 2026-2027 Athletic Clearance. Following these instructions will ensure that the athlete is cleared on the first attempt. And please remember that athletes (not parents) are required to complete or retake 4 video courses as part of the clearance each year. The videos take about 10-20 minutes each, so please allocate time to get these done ASAP.

If your child has decided not to participate in a Winter Sport they previously signed up for please email athletics@shorecrest.org to let us know.

If you have any questions, please reach out to athletics@shorecrest.org or 727-456-7538. We're happy to help.

Student Announcements

Student-specific announcements are shared by Student Council every Sunday on a site called "Student TWIUS" (This Week In The Upper School). This page is regularly updated by Dean Stacy Alexander.

Student TWIUS

College Compass

Junior Journey

Monday, October 5, 6pm in the JRT

For junior students and their parents/guardians. Will cover topics including: introducing the college counseling system Cialfo, what the college search will look like, working with your college counselor and next steps.

Seniors

Turn in pink sheets by October 15 for all schools with a November 1 early application deadline

SAT/ACT/Test Prep

Digital SAT Practice Exam: Saturday, October 24, 9am-12pm, live online

Colleges Visiting Shorecrest

Juniors and seniors are welcome to attend in-person college visits during the school day. In order to attend college visits, you must sign-up in Cialfo (Visit tab) at least 24 hours in advance. 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.

View College Visits List

Tampa Bay Area College Events

U.S. Naval Academy Candidates Dinner (9th-12th grade) - Wednesday, October 14
Location: FeatherSound CC
For details email: sswift@1987.usna.com

Virtual College Information Sessions

College Athletics Recruitment: 5 Tips For Navigating The Process

Tuesday, October 6, 8pm

Virtual presentation by Revolution Prep and NCSA College Recruiting. Featured Speaker: Julian Jenkins (NCSA). For 8-11th grade families.

Discover Upstate New York (Colgate, Hamilton, Skidmore, Syracuse, Union)

Tuesday, October 27, 8am Student Registration Parent Registration

Tuesday, October 27, 7pm Student Registration Parent Registration

The Shorecrest Advantage: Exploring Shorecrest Upper School

Virtual on October 14, 7pm

Geared towards parents/guardians of 8th graders; open to all Shorecrest families. Hear from members of the Upper School Administration and the College Counseling Office about the various academic and extracurricular opportunities available for students in the Upper School at Shorecrest; plus the benefits of Shorecrest's college counseling program.

JOIN LINK

Up next:
Sophomore Strategies - January 12, 6pm, in the JRT
CCO Lunch and Learn Webinar Series - January 27, February 24, March 24

ALL SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS

Share your voice: Middle School Head Search

Parents/Guardians are invited to attend a parent meeting on Wednesday, October 7 at 2:30pm to share your perspective with search consultant Adam Peichart from RG175 as we embark on a search to find our next Head of Middle School. In the Ohana Community Room on the 2nd floor of Charger Commons. Please give yourself time to park and head upstairs.

Community Committee on Diversity - Save the Date

Please join us for a Community Committee on Diversity (CCD) meeting on Wednesday, October 14 at 3:30-4:30pm in the Ohana Community Room, on the 2nd floor of Charger Commons. 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. More details coming soon.

MS Performing Arts presents "Frozen JR"

Do you want to build a snowman? See Shorecrest Middle School Performing Arts' production of Disney's “Frozen JR” starring students from sixth, seventh and eighth grades. Performances will be November 5-7, in Shorecrest's Janet Root Theatre, with Thursday & Friday performances at 7pm and a Saturday matinee at 2pm.

“Frozen JR.” is based on the 2018 Broadway musical, and brings Elsa, Anna, and the magical land of Arendelle to life, onstage. A story of true love and acceptance between sisters, “Frozen JR.” shares the tale of the emotional relationship and journey between Princesses Anna and Elsa. When faced with danger, the two discover their hidden potential and the powerful bond of sisterhood. With a cast of beloved characters and loaded with magic, adventure and plenty of humor, “Frozen JR.” is sure to thaw even the coldest heart!

Ticket sales will begin October 22. More details to come.

The show features all of the memorable songs from the animated film, with music and lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, plus five new songs written for the Broadway production. Book by Jennifer Lee. Based on the Disney film written by Jennifer Lee and directed by Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee.

4th Annual Shore to Shorecrest 5K Run / Walk

presented by Dermaclinique: Dr. Priya Nayyar, M.D.
Saturday, November 7, 2026

Finish a 5K from the location of the original Shorecrest Outdoor School to the current campus.

5K Start: 8am
Start Line: Flora Wylie Park
Finish Line: Shorecrest Campus

Also returning: the Sparky Sprint presented by Oman Construction, for children 8 years and younger & the Wellness Village presented by Florida Orthopaedic Institute!

Enjoy a morning of movement, community and Charger spirit!

More Details // Sign Up!

International Festival

Save the Date to volunteer to represent your country and culture. Thursday, January 28!

The annual, parent-run International Festival is hosted by International Connection. This exciting event brings our diverse community together to celebrate global cultures through food, music, dance, games and unique artifacts. We would love to have you join us in bringing this special event to life! This event is 100% organized by parent volunteers with the goal of reflecting the rich diversity of our Shorecrest community.

MS / US Summer Trip to France

Join a French coast-to-coast adventure - Summer 2027!

Mark your calendars: a Shorecrest Côte-à-Côte trip through France is being planned for May 31, 2027. The trip is open to any Middle School or Upper School student passionate about learning and experiencing new cultures; Spanish-speaking students are welcome too.

Questions? Contact Middle School French Teacher, Mme Simon, at hsimon@shorecrest.org

Trip Information

SCA ANNOUNCEMENTS

SCA Holiday Greenery

SCA Holiday Greenery sales are officially open for 2026! Bring the beauty of nature into your home with festive wreaths, swags and ornaments. Orders are open now through Monday November 2. Browse our catalog, including brand new bow and ornament options. All proceeds benefit the Shorecrest Community Association.

SCA Greenery Details

SCA Holiday Wrap & Sip Masterclass

Elevate Your Gift Wrapping This Holiday Season! In a 2-hour, hands-on workshop you will master the secrets to crisp edges, flawless folds and the perfect Tiffany bow. Your $35 ticket includes expert step-by-step instruction and all wrapping materials, plus holiday nibbles and mocktails. Space is limited to ensure a cozy experience. We will meet on Tuesday, December 8 from 12-2pm in the Ohana Community Room on the 2nd floor of Charger Commons. Secure your spot today!

International Connection Events

Shorecrest's International Connection is hosting a relaxing morning for parents/guardians to move, breathe and connect. Join us on Wednesday, October 28 at 9:30am for yoga led by a Brazilian Shorecrest parent. Hosted by International Connection at Shore Acres Rec Center, 4230 Shoe Acres Blvd NE. Stay for Turkish tea after yoga!

RSVP for Yoga

Shorecrest's International Connection is hosting a Diwali lunch on Thursday, November 12 at 12pm at the authentic Indian restaurant, Lajawab Indian Cuisine, located at 2705 54th Ave N, St. Pete. Everyone is responsible for ordering off the menu for themselves.

There is limited seating so please only RSVP if you can commit, and if your plans change please release the spot for someone else.

RSVP for Lunch

School Store Hours

Mon-Thurs: 11am-4:30pm
Fri: 8am-4pm

The Shorecrest School Store has new items and has restocked dresses, tees and Dri Fit tees. Stop by and have a look.

The School Store is cash-free; credit cards, checks, and Apple Pay accepted. Students under grade 9 must have parent/guardian present to purchase during the school day.