Preschool students work in an outdoor classroom, modeling paintings after the work of Monet. Kindergartners sew thoughtfully designed quilts alongside their parents and friends. Eighth graders create ROV prototypes out of PVC. High schoolers paint a mural at a community garden during Service Week. These and similar scenes are the norm at Shorecrest Preparatory School, where the arts are inseparable from other subject areas. “With our commitment to project-based learning, there are elements of art in almost everything our students do,” says Shorecrest Headmaster Mike Murphy.
The arts are such a critical component to the Shorecrest curriculum that for nearly 30 years, the school has dedicated an entire week each spring to their study across the pre-k through 12th grade St. Petersburg school. Known as “Celebrate the Arts,” the 2017 weeklong series of events runs from April 17-22 and features a teach-in with more than two dozen local artists, music and theatre performances, student artwork displayed throughout the school and juried in Middle and Upper School, and a campus exhibition of work by internationally recognized printmaker and graphic artist Barry Goodman. The week culminates with the Shorecrest spring musical production, “Les Misérables” with performances on April 20, 21, and 22.
Mr. Murphy continues, “Like academic excellence and physical well-being, creative achievement is a core part of our mission at Shorecrest. Celebrate the Arts week is a tradition that allows students, teachers, and parents to come together with each other and with artists in our community to honor all of the ways the arts impact us.”
Celebrate the Arts at Shorecrest begins on Monday, April 17, with events through Saturday, April 22. For a full list of events, performance times and featured artists, please visit www.shorecrest.org/CTA.
About Shorecrest:
Founded in 1923, Shorecrest is a coed, nonsectarian, PK-12 independent school in St. Petersburg, FL. In a safe, student-centered environment, Shorecrest educates a diverse community of students to become lifelong learners in the pursuit of personal and academic excellence, physical well-being, creative achievement and the development of a commitment to social responsibility. Shorecrest graduates empathetic, independent thinkers who succeed at the university level, pursue their passions, and lead purposeful lives. Learn more at www.shorecrest.org.