A Message from
D. John Watson, PhD
Head of School
August 24, 2012
Mark Your Calendars
 All-School
Stingray Picnic
Friday, August 24, 5-7 pm
 Tropical Storm Isaac
NO SCHOOL
Monday, August 27
 Labor Day
NO SCHOOL
Monday, Sept. 3
 Fall Sports Pictures
Tuesday,
September 4, at school
 Curriculum Night
Grades 6-8
Tuesday,
September 4, 6:30 pm
 Senior Parent
College Meeting
Thursday,
September 6, 7:30 am
HS Common Area
 Curriculum Night
Grades 2 - 5
Thursday,
September 6, 6:30 pm
 Curriculum Night
Preschool – Grade 1
Thursday,
September 11
PS/PK-6:30 pm; K/1st - 7 pm
 Curriculum Night
Grades 9-12
Wednesday,
September 12, 6:30 pm
 6th Grade trip to
MarineLab
Wednesday,
September 12 through
Friday, September 14
 Rosh Hashanah
NO SCHOOL
Monday, Sept. 17
 Early Dismissal
NO Child Care
Wednesday, Sept. 19
Dear Parents,
Welcome to the new year at Seacrest Country Day School!
We have had an incredible first week of school that culminates with the 6th
Annual Stingray Picnic this evening. This morning, we held the first Flag
Ceremony of the year, and my first ever! This week has given me the
opportunity to meet many of you at the New Parent Orientation, on the first
day of school, and in various morning and afternoon carlines. During
divisional open houses Monday, I started out with the Upper School in the
morning and managed to visit (I think!) every teacher / advisor classroom
through 8th grade by the end of the day. Wednesday, I joined the Upper
School for morning meeting and experienced the first “Seacrest Unplugged”
performance of the new year by senior Kelby Fruecht. Honestly, the week
has been a blur of new faces – all of whom smiled, shook my hand, and
wished me well. I ended my first week feeling warmly welcomed. I knew
Seacrest was a great community nine months ago, I just didn’t know how
great until now.
I mentioned above two thriving Seacrest customs – Flag Ceremony and the
Stingray Picnic. One of the very first Seacrest traditions I was delighted to
learn about after my arrival this summer is the “Friday Letter.” It has
evolved from a letter on paper sent home in backpacks to a much more
environmentally friendly electronic version that likely saves a tree or two
over the course of a school year. It will continue to evolve as the year
progresses, I am sure, but will remain a weekly review and reminder of
upcoming events. As in the past, the Head of School will share writing the
Friday Letter every other week with our three division heads: Jennifer
Amico, Caron Staples, and Erin Duffy, Heads of the Lower, Middle, and
Upper Schools, respectively. Seacrest and I are very lucky to have leaders
with such a wealth of experience in their positions.
I must tell you what great kids you have! It has been so much fun meeting
them this week and seeing how comfortable they are with adults in our
community. After many years in boarding schools, I was looking forward to
returning to this type of learning community covering the gamut from
preschool through seniors. What I couldn’t have realized is how much I
missed it and how much fun I would have. Once things have settled down a
bit, I will begin dropping by classes, getting to know my new school better,
and joining in the fun! I am learning firsthand what you have known for
years – that the “Seacrest Difference” is real and tangible and it makes this a
truly great school.
As I write, we are all thinking about Tropical Storm Isaac and its expected arrival on Monday. As you
now know, we will be closed Monday and will continue to watch things closely and review plans and
preparations. Many have expressed concern for Bonnie and me that here we are in the first week of school
and facing our first hurricane. But actually, not true! Hurricane Isabel blew into the Chesapeake Bay
during the second week of school in my second year as Head at my former school. We lost power for a
few days and many trees, but had no real damage or personal injuries. Of course, the kids thought it was
an adventure! At any rate, I am glad that Isaac won’t be my baptism. Even so, I am lucky to have so
many Southwest Florida veterans around me.
My door is always open and I hope you stop by sometime this fall just to chat. I am eager to get to know
all of our families because without your children, Seacrest ceases to have a purpose. Providing the best
educational experience for your child is our purpose, it is my purpose. In fact, I believe providing this
unique and powerful education experience is our common goal, uniting all of us as partners – parents,
teachers and administrators. I look forward to forming that partnership with you in the days, weeks, and
months ahead.
With warmest regards,
John
D. John Watson, PhD
Head of School