Experiential School
Explanations of some of the annual events for Upper School students:
Convocation - first day of school:
Upper School opens the school year with a Convocation Ceremony in the Janet Root Theatre. Mr. Erich Schneider, Head of Upper School, welcomes and addresses the Upper School. Mr. Schneider and Mrs. Anne Michelle Frey, Academic Dean, then initiate the signing of the Honor Book by the senior class.
Club Fair - early fall:
Club Fair provides students with the opportunity to explore and celebrate club interests in a fair that is similar to that of a college-campus run Club Fair. Booths are created and led by club leadership; students walk from booth-to-booth to engage in activities and conversation related to the club’s purpose on campus. The event provides students with the information they need to sign-up for clubs.
Special Olympics - fall:
Shorecrest hosts a yearly Special Olympics event on campus. More than 300 Special Olympics athletes, coaches, and Unified partners participate in the day’s competition. The mission of Special Olympics Florida is to provide year-round sports training and competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for people with intellectual disabilities who wish to participate, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in the sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community.
Special Olympics at Shorecrest includes a service component planned, designed, and run by student leaders in the Upper School. Students from grades 5-12 create an “Olympic Village” where athletes and their families play carnival games and enjoy activities. Upper School Student Council organizes the 100 students who sign up to volunteer. The planning, engagement, and excitement surrounding Special Olympics showcases our Core Values.
Homecoming Week & Dance - Oct/Nov:
Homecoming is one of Shorecrest's oldest traditions. The spirit-filled week is planned by Student Council with games, competitions, and dress-up days designed to bring the community together to celebrate the Green and Gold. Spirit Week ends with an all-school Pep Rally pepping up the student body for a Friday Night Football game. The Homecoming Dance for grades 9-12 (usually Saturday night on campus) is a fun-filled night with dancing and music. The timing of Homecoming varies depending on the football schedule for that year.
Black Author Read-In - Feb:
An invitation is extended to students and faculty to participate and celebrate the literary achievements of Black authors by listening to and participating in a nationwide read-in. The official results of the day are recorded in a registry with the National Council of English Teachers.
Holiday Gift Drive - Nov/Dec:
The whole school is asked to be a part of this charity outreach every year benefiting children in the Tampa Bay area foster care system through the Guardian ad Litem program.
100 Days until Graduation:
The senior class sponsor organizes a celebration for the graduating class to celebrate the calendar milestone of only 100 days until Graduation. This event is the first of many celebrations for the senior class.
Service Week and Junior GPS - spring:
Students from the Class of 2010 initiated an annual service program for all Upper School students and faculty members, with dates generally set for spring semester. Students immerse themselves in service projects or trips with non-profits and educational institutions. Some of the places Chargers have helped others include: Benison Farm, Friends of Strays, Pinellas County beaches, The Kind Mouse, Pinellas Youth Farm, Reach St. Pete, RVR Horse Sanctuary, Seaside Seabird Sanctuary, Tampa Bay Watch, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Oglala Lakota Nation on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, and more. The purpose is to connect our students with meaningful opportunities to serve their community.
Students in 11th grade participate in Junior GPS during this week. Junior GPS is a four-day experience hosted by the College Counseling Office to officially launch the college application process. It is designed to cover the essentials of the college journey.
Celebrate the Arts Week - April:
A decades-old tradition to showcase the School’s commitment and value of visual, performing, and literary arts. The artistic achievements of Shorecrest students are proudly displayed throughout the school.
Prom - spring:
Prom is a yearly, off-campus dance for the junior and senior classes. The junior class plans and designs the dance. The formal evening includes dancing, eating, and music.
Awards Ceremony - May:
An Awards Ceremony is held annually to highlight achievements of students and faculty. Most notably the Shorecrest Core Value awards are given to students who consistently exemplify a core value; and the student selects one faculty member to be awarded who has served as the core value’s role model to them. This is usually held the Friday before Commencement.
Senior Celebration Walk - May:
Typically on the Friday before Commencement, the Seniors take a celebration walk through campus as the entire school community lines up to cheer them on. Parents are welcome to join.
Commencement (aka Graduation) - May:
Commencement is the culminating event of the school year, and the hard work and achievements of the graduating class are celebrated. Students in the graduating class enjoy hearing speeches from at least five student speakers, a student-selected Honored Community Speaker, and the Outstanding Senior selected from the graduating class of ten years ago.
