After Hurricanes Helene and Milton tore through St. Pete, the damage dealt the Shorecrest campus a heavy hand, leaving students and faculty alike to deal with the aftermath.

     Due to the loss of school days allocated to hurricane recovery, Shorecrest administration had to make significant changes to the 2024-2025 schedule, including shifting service week from mid-April to the end of the school year and adding another school week to the schedule.

   “[The shift is] obviously inevitable due to the hurricanes, but it’s unfortunate because some people won’t be able to go [on their planned service trips], and I think it’s such a great experience,” junior Lily Davila said. 

      Although some students are unhappy with the change, having service week after finals does benefit the student body, as well as teachers and faculty.

     The four additional school days resulting from this change will greatly benefit the Shorecrest community. The move gives more time to fit necessary material before exams, especially for AP classes. Additionally, moving service week to the end of the school year allowed important dates to remain the same, such as commencement and finals.

     Another benefit is the uninterrupted flow of school. “When we have big breaks in the middle of the school year, such as service week, it creates a situation where teachers are rushing to schedule tests,” Assistant Head of the Upper School Anne Michelle Frey said.

     The influx of tests before a break puts pressure on students. Pushing service week to the end of the school year will help teachers spread out their assessments, creating a more steady flow of work for students. Teachers can also introduce more material with fewer interruptions in the second semester, allowing students to stay focused.

      With AP exams now before service week, students and teachers will have more time to prepare. “We wanted to ensure that our teachers, especially our AP teachers, will have adequate time to cover all important material,” Head of Upper School Erich Schneider said. 

      AP exams require students to know the material before exams, and the hurricanes delayed this learning. These extra classes will allow students to catch up on the material and prepare for their AP exams.

      However, attendance during Service Week could fluctuate, as students have trips planned that week. Junior GPS and Service Week are important, mandatory events for Shorecrest Upper School students, and missing them could put students at a disadvantage.

     Another negative is the heat difference between April and May in Florida. Outdoor Service Week activities may be more difficult in hotter temperatures.

     Service Week will still help students achieve their service hours while making a positive impact on the community, both at Shorecrest and across the US. The necessary change will make a positive difference in both students’ productivity and the amount of material covered. Students will feel more prepared for exams while still giving their time and energy to give back to the community.