The end of the school year leads us to anticipate new experiences and reflect on the year. Have we learned all we can learn to be prepared for what is to come?  Did we manifest our core values and carry out our mission as a school in this academic year?

Emilia Fieseler of Friedrichshafen, Germany, recently spent five weeks as a guest student in the Upper School of Shorecrest Preparatory School. Her time at Shorecrest was a new experience for her and for the students who got to know her. Emilia’s thoughts on her time at Shorecrest give us a more objective lens for reflection on whether the community at Shorecrest lives up to its philosophy and mission. Emilia shared her impressions and opinions with us.

Making a School Choice     

The sound of children working intently, their laughter on the playground, their happy voices in conversation at lunch, the sight of a teacher helping a student one on one: these are things we all think of, when we think of school. Finding a learning environment where your child is engaged in their studies and surrounded by supportive adults and peers is important to every parent.  Choosing among Tampa Bay’s myriad options can be overwhelming. According to PrivateSchoolReview.com, independent schools like Shorecrest Preparatory School, serve almost 20,000 students in Pinellas County.

Thank you, Mr. Haskell, Mr. Murphy, and Ms. Merritt for the wonderful, warm introduction and for giving me this great honor. I was afraid I was going to be a little late because I couldn’t find my parking space. I decorated and painted it in 1983.

What happened?

Well, I do want you to know how special it is to be back on this campus, a place where I felt safe to explore and learn and grow . . . and become.  

As we think about how much we have to be thankful for and how lucky we are, one can also reflect back to our core values - compassion, in particular. A large part of being compassionate relates to empathy. Though some people are innately empathetic and caring towards others, for many children it is something that needs to be taught and learned. Since young children are egocentric, we must help them become aware of the feelings and needs of others. It is important for them to learn to do good for the sake of helping others, rather than for any reward other than the good feeling they get as a result. They may not even be aware of that intrinsically good feeling unless we talk about it or point it out.

When addressing each of our Core Values with our youngest students, it seemed most appropriate to save integrity for last. Certainly not because it was the least important, but because it is all encompassing. A person with integrity knows the difference between right and wrong and chooses to do the right thing, even when it is a hard choice and/or no one is looking. A person with integrity is honest, trustworthy and has strong moral principles. People with integrity are the ones we want our children to look up to, emulate and become.