Letter from Mr. Schneider

Dear Upper School Families,

Our first full week of school was an opportunity for students to begin establishing routines. We had our first Monday Morning Meeting. Led by Student Council Co-Presidents, Kaelie Dieter ’26 and Luke Lavoie ’26, this weekly assembly of the student body and faculty includes important academic and co-curricular announcements, details of upcoming events, as well as fun games and performances designed to strengthen our community and showcase our student’s talents. This past week also included our first of many safety drills (a tornado drill). Every year we train our faculty and students on safety protocols, including what to do during tornado, fire and lockdown events. 

We are taking steps to ensure our dress code is consistently upheld. Last week we focused on re-establishing expectations, but moving forward we will be more strictly enforcing policies. Beginning this Tuesday, students not in compliance will receive a detention. Please be aware that accumulating three dress code detentions will result in a referral to the Conduct Review Committee. We are reminding students of the key areas of concern, which include shorts, skirts, and pants made of sweatpant material; shirts that do not cover the midriff; shorts and skirts that are too short; and athletic shorts with drawstrings or elastic waistbands. This is not meant to be punitive but is necessary to maintain a consistent and respectful learning environment for all.

Picture Day on Thursday

Thursday, September 4, is school picture day (Grades 5-11). We have a new photographer this year. Order forms will not be sent home in advance as in past years. All orders will be made online after the photos are processed. 

Upper School Back to School Night - Thursday, September 4!

We look forward to seeing you Thursday night. We will begin at 7pm in the Janet Root Theatre. After a brief presentation, you will meet your child’s Advisor. There, you will follow your child’s academic schedule and meet their teachers. 

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.

Student Drivers

Our students have been doing a great job with driving and parking on campus. While we will continue to remind students of the rules, please help us reinforce the following:

• Drive slowly (15MPH). Be very careful at the crosswalks on campus.

• Follow the direction of our Facilities and Campus Safety staff that are assisting with traffic. They will report poor driving to us and there are many cameras available to help us identify drivers and their vehicles.

• Watch for pedestrians and bikers on the First Street sidewalks. Stop and look behind the stop sign.

• All student vehicles on campus are required to be registered and should have a small registration sticker inside the driver-side windshield. Students can come to the US office to register and receive their sticker.

Relaxation Techniques for Students

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

Student TWIUS

Each Sunday, Student Council Secretary Ellie Beatty ’27 will send an email to the student body with a student version of TWIUS (This Week In Upper School). This publication includes schedule reminders, early dismissals notices for co-curricular activities and links to important documents. It also contains notices of service opportunities and important 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 take ownership of their educational experience, please make it a point to encourage your child to read the TWIUS email each and every Sunday. 

Have a wonderful week!

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

Mark Your Calendars - 

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

Wednesday, September 10

• Community Committee on Diversity

• SCA Moms Night Out 

Friday, September 12
SCA Volunteer Fair

Tuesday, September 16
Summer 2026 trip info session 

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

Tuesday, September 30
Sophomore Strategies - College Counseling Seminar

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:

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. 

All-School Calendar

Upper School Contacts