Shorecrest Preparatory School Blog

Core Values in Action - Holiday Gift Drive

Posted by Dr. Jean Spencer-Carnes on Dec 13, 2018 2:00:00 PM

Empathy among young people is a popular conversational theme these days. Indeed, educators across the country have noticed a need to teach basic moral values in the classroom. An article by teacher Paul Barnwell in “The Atlantic”, expounds the reasons for that trend, and gives examples of teachers taking lessons outside the classroom and into the community to give students valuable moral insight. Mr. Barnwell notes that while schools say high moral standards are embedded in a rigorous curriculum, it’s rare to see those values in action.

At Shorecrest Preparatory School, in St. Petersburg, Florida, the core values held by the school are actively modeled. The largest single demonstration of our community's commitment to Responsibility, Respect, Integrity, Knowledge and Compassion happens every year at the holiday season. Students, faculty, administrators and parents join together to provide gifts to children in foster care. 

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Topics: Education Best Practice, respect, traditions, Core Values, culture, Holidays, Service Learning, Community, Parent Involvement, Volunteer, Empathy in Schools, Education with Values

Helping out after Hurricane Michael

Posted by Diego Duran-Medina on Nov 28, 2018 11:00:00 AM

Just over a year ago our Shorecrest community was preparing for the worst, as Hurricane Irma barrelled toward St. Petersburg. The stress, worry and difficult choices of evacuating and keeping loved ones safe made for a harrowing couple of weeks. We were lucky. The hurricane passed us by, and the damage was far less than anticipated.

This year our state was not so lucky. Schools in the panhandle and Gulf were deeply affected, when Hurricane Michael made landfall in October. Calls for help went out across the state and country, and the Shorecrest Community decided to take action. Through contacts made by our headmaster, Mr. Michael Murphy, we focused on the needs of Holy Nativity Episcopal School in Panama City, Florida. 

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Topics: Core Values, Service Learning, Student/Faculty Perspectives

It Takes A Community To Do Community Service

Posted by Diego Duran-Medina on Mar 17, 2017 2:30:41 PM

With another on the books, now is the perfect time for reflection. It’s easy to be so detail-driven that we miss the greater picture of what this week means. Service Week is heavily focused on our students, families and our community partners.

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Topics: Inside Shorecrest, High School, Service Learning

The Unintended Positive Consequences of Service Week

Posted by Diego Duran-Medina on Mar 10, 2017 8:00:00 AM

This week is a whirlwind of activity as we prepare for Service Week. Amongst the last minute preparations, I’ve been doing my best to keep a healthy perspective on what it is that we do as a school when we undertake a large scale project like Service Week, when I help place, mobilize and support 360+ people with much help from my colleagues and community partners.

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Topics: Inside Shorecrest, Service Learning

Beyond Community Service at Shorecrest

Posted by Diego Duran-Medina on Feb 28, 2017 5:56:20 PM

Visit an independent school website at random and search for “service.” Odds are that you will encounter a wide range of service experiences, from encouraging service with no numerical requirement for graduation, to Service Days, sometimes around the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday or the beginning of semesters, and perhaps other impactful service events that tend to be the exception rather than a rule.

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Topics: Service Learning