Head of School Letter: The Month of May

May has arrived, the most anticipated month of the school year! May is chock full of activity as the academic year comes to a close. The days are full of events, with the many rituals and traditions that go along with school life in May. Please check our school calendar for the specific dates and times of all these exciting events. 
 
We kick off May with College Decision Day today, when the Class of 2026 will celebrate their choice of college with festivities and attire, wearing their college t-shirts with pride. To honor our seniors the Middle School students and faculty/staff are invited to wear their favorite college t-shirt as well. Next week Advanced Placement exams will also begin for many Upper Schoolers. The 2026 AP Exams will be administered over the next two weeks and are the culmination of the college-level classes taken by many Upper Schoolers. Over the past three years, approximately 90% of Shorecrest students have scored a 3, 4 or 5 on their exams, with many earning college credits and accelerated course placement at universities because of their success on these AP exams.
 
This month the Experiential School sends out invitations to families to join the students for celebrations of learning based on themes studied throughout the year. One class is having a “Rock Party” based on their JKers’ passion for the study of rocks and gems; another JK section learned about China and their celebration will bring together all the elements they have explored about Chinese culture. At the end of May we will celebrate our JK students' transition to the Lower School with our Bridge Day ceremony, where each Junior Kindergartener walks over the bridge in the Lower School Garden and is greeted warmly by Dr. Bianco and the Kindergarten teachers.

Lower School students can’t wait for Splash Day on Monday! During this outdoor PE water extravaganza, there is a waterslide, games, and lots of fun as everyone gets wet and runs around in the sunshine. (Please be sure that your child has applied lots of sunscreen!) Class performances for Kindergarten and First Grade are also on the calendar for May, with songs and music to be performed in the Janet Root Theatre. The Fourth Grade Moving Up ceremony is a special moment, as it acknowledges the growth and development of our oldest students in the Lower School and celebrates their transition into Middle School.
 
The Middle School is focusing on final projects in the classroom and on stage. Eighth graders will complete their Food Truck project, an RRI supported endeavor in which advisory groups build a business plan for a food truck based on a selected theme. The culmination is a food fair where the actual food product is “sold” to classmates and teachers in the Charger Commons Dining Room, to assess consumer preference and profitability. May 1 is also the final performance of "Orange is the New Glass," with a cast of 6th-8th graders. 
 
During the last week of school, the Middle School Awards Assembly honors students for academic, artistic, and athletic achievement, along with citizenship and contributions to the community. The Eighth Grade Moving Up Breakfast is a special moment to celebrate the transition of our students from the Middle to Upper School. Highlights include student speakers and the morning concludes with a walk over to the Landy Hall deck, where students are welcomed by Upper School administrators and receive their yearbooks.
 
Upper School students are getting ready for year-end exams and presenting capstone projects in their classes, most recently a number of innovative presentations by members of our STEAM Signature Program. The spring athletic season is coming to a successful close, with many of our teams continuing on to postseason district and regional competition. Of course, Commencement is quickly approaching and brings with it the Upper School Awards Ceremony and Senior Celebration Walk, community events that celebrate and honor the Class of 2026, along with other Upper School students. 
 
During the busy month of May, how fitting that we also celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week, a special tradition at Shorecrest when the Shorecrest Community Association (SCA) honors teachers and staff with five days of special treats and messages of support and thanks. The generosity and thoughtfulness of this week are a reminder of the warmth and connection of this supportive community and always prompts teachers to reflect on the meaningful work we do as educators.
 
Happy May!

Nancy