Save the Date

The Big Event
Feb. 22

Relay for Life
Mar. 28-29

Shorecrest
General
Calendar
for
2008-2009

Winter Music Concert

On Thursday, December 6, musicians from the Middle and Upper Divisions gathered in the Janet Root Theater for the annual Winter Concert.

This year, in addition to the Beginning, Intermediate and Concert Bands, the performance also featured the Middle Division Broadway Chorus under the direction of Michael McCarthy (a Broadway performer himself) assisted by his equally talented wife, Stephanie. The chorus put everyone in a holiday mood with a beautiful performance of "Walking in the Air" from "The Snowman" along with several other seasonal favorites.

The fourth grade Beginning Band opened the evening with a "rocking" performance that showed off the exceptional talents of these young musicians. The Intermediate Band followed with two numbers that demonstrated that the group was equally at home with symphonic and pop music styles.

Shorecrest sophomore Yesol J. mesmerized the audience with a beautiful piano solo that revealed only a small part of her many talents. She also plays violin and baroque recorder! The Concert Band added some excitement to the evening with a scintillating performance of Khatchaturian's "Sabre Dance."

The "All that Jazz Band" got the place jumping with a finger-snapping version of the R&B classic "Comin' Home Baby." The Concert Band's final piece paid homage to the music of J.S. Bach. The evening ended with all participants joining with the audience in a rousing rendition of "Frosty the Snowman." The audience's enthusiastic response to the final number provided the perfect finishing touch to a delightful evening of music.

Message from Mr. Murphy

Pass It On

In his newest book, Five Minds of the Future, Dr. Howard Gardner identifies "Respect" as one of the five areas of thinking important for leading a fruitful life. The book is very thought provoking. I hesitated to pull out two sentences to highlight the topic of respect; however, these statements reminded me of the importance of the work parents and teachers share. Dr. Gardner writes:

"By the age of five, at the latest, the lines for friendship and hostility, group inclusion or group exclusion, love or hatred, have already been drawn…."

"By the time that young persons become adolescents or young adults, their attitude toward others is pretty well fixed; barring extremely unusual circumstances, one's stance toward other groups is unlikely to change fundamentally…."

If one accepts these observations from a man renowned worldwide for his theory of multiple intelligences, then the value of early childhood and elementary education increases exponentially. The messages, signals and lessons parents and teachers of young children present will last for a lifetime. This puts a premium on having parents and teachers who are committed to having their children grow up in a society that values respect. How are we prepared to meet this challenge?

Every time I visit the Alpha (3-year olds) and Jr. Kindergarten and kindergarten classes, I am impressed with the ability of our teachers to guide very little children into productive activity. Anyone who has ever managed a birthday party for little children knows there is a lot to do to help youngsters to share, take turns and sit quietly.

Nonetheless, the children at Shorecrest are fortunate to have well-educated, talented, creative and infinitely patient teachers who love helping young children develop in a happy and healthy environment. During the past three years in the first days of school, I have witnessed a miracle seeing the Early Childhood Center and kindergarten teachers assemble 14-20 children and, after a few hours have them engaged in fun and productive activities as if the children had been doing so forever.

We all realize that unless the parents of our youngest children are spending time with their children and teaching them how to listen, how to help and how to be with others, our work would be infinitely more complex. Of course, the work of a parent is never completed. Again, I will refer to the thoughts from Dr. Gardner. Our efforts to employ an honor code and to have our students treat each other with respect cannot happen unless our parents are teaching and expecting respect.

We are in the season of the year that honors the tradition of giving. I hope we all continue to share with our children the gifts of love and respect for the different people they encounter.

Service Learning

Four R's in the Upper Division

Recycle • Reuse • Reduce • Rethink

Four new recycling collection centers have been added to the Upper Division lunch area to help students recycle.

The newly formed Green Team, led by sophomores Rachel B., Hallie A., and Crawford H., has been busy raising awareness and organizing to take the collected items to the drop-off centers.

Junior Emily M. said, "The recycling efforts are going very well in the Upper Division. Students constantly remind each other to recycle instead of just throwing out their bottles or cans. It's a great success!"

Others on the Green Team, including Kyle W. and Jaci R., are focusing on "reusing" and "reducing" aspects of conservation. The Green Team's goal is to get the entire Shorecrest community "rethinking."

Food Bank Volunteers Needed

Food is central to so many of the celebrations at this time of the year, and the St. Petersburg Free Clinic's Food Bank provides hundreds of holiday food baskets to those in need in our local community.

The Food Bank needs volunteers to sort food items in preparation for their holiday food distribution. If you're available to work after school, 3:30-5 p.m. beginning on Wed., Dec. 12 through Dec. 19, please contact Su Stevens.

This is a great activity for the entire family - even the young Shorecrest students, 42 inches and taller, are welcome to lend a hand.

Please contact Su Stevens, Director of Service Learning, at sstevens@shorecrest.org or 727-456-7510 if you have any questions or need more information about any of these service activities.

Shorecrest Parent Association

Stephen Manella and Wendy Drexler discussed Internet safety and answered parents' questions at the Dec. 6 SPA meeting.

Athletic News

Upcoming Games and Meets

Girls Varsity Basketball

On Friday, Nov. 30, the Chargers traveled to play a tough Keswick Christian team and lost by the score of 69-34.

Sandy L. led the team with 8 points followed by Rachel S. and Natalie S. with 6 points each.

The Chargers hosted Indian Rocks Christian on Tuesday, Dec. 4, and upset the Eagles in a tight game 38-33. The team stayed close the whole game and finished strong for the win. Jasmine C. led the scoring with 12 points. Becky D. also added 7 points to the winning effort. Congratulations to the team and coaches for an outstanding win!

On Wednesday night, Dec. 5, the Chargers again won against Clearwater Central Catholic at home. Leading scorers for the Chargers were Sandy L. with 12 points and Jasmine C. with 10 points. It was a great team effort and the team is improving game to game.

Girls JV Basketball

The Girls JV Basketball team played Keswick Christian on Friday, Nov. 30, and lost 30-19. Stephanie G. led the team in scoring with 9 points, followed by Sarah E. with 6 points. It was a physical game and the team never quit playing hard.

On Tuesday, Dec. 4, the Chargers played Indian Rocks Christian and lost 39-24. The scoring was led by Stephanie G. with 8 points. Sara W. and Sarah E. each added another 6 points to the effort. They played a much tougher game than the first time earlier in the season.

The Chargers hosted Clearwater Central Catholic on Wednesday, Dec. 5, and lost 29-15. Rachel T. led the scoring with 6 points. Ann Marie F. also added 4 points. The team's skills are improving each game.

Girls Middle Division Basketball

The Middle Division Lady Chargers were challenged on the hard courts twice this past week, first by St. Paul's on Friday, Nov. 30, and then by Out-of-Door Academy on Monday, Dec. 3. We fell short in both tests, but made some big gains in our own game.

So far this season the following players have put points on the board: Sydney B., Tori C., Lauren D., Brandy S., and Lexy S. Many others are making their presence known on the defensive side of the ball with rebounds and steals. Come out and support the Chargers!

Boys Varsity Basketball

Last Thursday, Nov. 29, the Boys Varsity Basketball team traveled across the bay to Tampa to take on Carrollwood Day School. Winning 49-8, the Chargers held the Patriots scoreless in the second half. Carter S. and Brian M. led the Chargers in scoring with 14 points apiece. Daniel W. and Jack S. each had 8 points.

On Friday night, Nov. 30, they traveled to Keswick Christian. The game was close until midway through the fourth quarter when the Crusaders pulled away and won 37-27. Jack S. led the Chargers in scoring with 15 points.

This past Monday evening, Dec. 3, the team headed south to Sarasota to battle Out-of-Door Academy. Like their previous game, it was close until midway through the fourth quarter when the Thunder pulled ahead and won 39-26. Jack S. again led the Chargers in scoring with 15 points.

Boys Middle Division Basketball

On Monday, Dec. 3, the Chargers traveled to Out-of-Door Academy and won 40-25. A tenacious full court press rattled the opposition early and often, and the Chargers cruised to victory. Luke B. had 10 points and Nick N. and Luke N. had 8 points each. Zak S. added another 4 points to the winning effort. Everyone on the team saw action in our third win of the season.

The Middle Division boys team is composed of eight returning eighth graders including: Luke B., Jake B., the twin towers of Luke N. and Nick N., Dan A., Zak S., Joey S., and Jack M., plus new eighth graders Dakota H., Carson R. and Jason K. We have new underclassmen Johnny K., Austin S. and Alex W. The future looks bright for Shorecrest Basketball with a strong class of young men who have dedicated considerable focus and energy to the sport.

Fall Sports Award Winners

The Varsity Volleyball team has had their "End of the Year Celebration," and their awards have been announced.

• Co-Most Valuable Player - Kim N.
• Co-Most Valuable Player - Rachel S.
• Most Improved Player - Kate C.
• Coaches Award - Ali F.

Baseball & Softball Player and Parent Meeting

Any athlete interested in playing Varsity Baseball or Varsity Softball must attend a meeting on Monday, December 10 in the Janet Root Theatre at 6:30 p.m. Athletic Director Phil Hayford will be addressing the group regarding the new FHSAA policies on mandatory steroid testing.

All athletes and parents must sign a permission form to be able to practice or play Varsity Baseball or Softball. The testing will only include high school athletes. Contact Coach Hayford if you have any questions.

Winter Sports Team & Individual Picture Dates

The following is the schedule for team and individual photos for all winter sports teams:

Friday, Dec. 7 in Crisp Gym

• Girls Middle Division Basketball - 3:20

Monday, Dec. 10 on Haskell Field

• Girls Varsity Soccer - 3:15
• Boys JV Soccer - 3:45
• Girls JV Soccer - 4:10
• Boys Varsity Soccer - 4:30

Tuesday, Dec. 11 in Crisp Gym

• Boys Varsity Basketball - 3:30
• Girls JV Basketball - 3:45
• Girls Varsity Basketball - 4:00

Wednesday, Dec. 12 on Florida Power Field

• Girls MD Soccer (Green Team) - 3:20
• Girls MD Soccer (Gold Team) - 3:35
• Boys MD Soccer (Green Team) - 3:50
• Boys MD Soccer (Gold Team) - 4:05

Thursday, Dec. 13 in Crisp Gym

• Boys MD Basketball - 3:20

Videos of Athletic Events

Varsity and Middle Division football games as well as Volleyball games are available with highlights included for $20 each by ordering directly from www.Stefio.TV or by calling 528-3180.

Request for Athletic Photos

Just a reminder that E-Bytes is always looking for good photos of Shorecrest students' athletic events. We prefer to receive them in digital format. Please e-mail the original, unedited file to clingman@shorecrest.org.