Outdoor learning is expanding on Pine Crest School’s Boca Raton and Fort Lauderdale campuses allowing students and faculty to enjoy the countless benefits and lasting impact of outdoor education and play. 

For 37 years, Mrs. Lisa Weihe has been driving the same route from home to Pine Crest School. A beloved pre-kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Weihe began her tenure when her eldest daughter started pre-kindergarten in 1985. 

Mrs. Janice Reich may not have taken a traditional path into teaching third grade on Pine Crest’s Boca Raton campus, but it is one that is unique and marked by true dedication and service. Born, raised, and educated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Mrs. Reich attended Temple University where she majored in accounting as an undergraduate.

By: Lindsey Keyes ’24

A transformation of the Hudson Library is underway on Pine Crest School’s Fort Lauderdale campus. Used by students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade, the modernized space will soon be as inspiring and engaging as the instruction that happens there. 

Kindergarten teacher Mrs. Barbara Becker has been a valued member of the Pine Crest community since her eldest child walked on campus more than 25 years ago. 

She served as a parents’ association volunteer for many years before joining the Fort Lauderdale campus Lower School faculty in January 2007 as Mrs. Patty Schimpf’s teacher II in pre-kindergarten. 

Admission season for independent schools is well underway. While families look forward to campus tours and face-to-face interviews during a school search, COVID-19 health and safety modifications require these activities to look a little different this year.

Setting your child up for success begins with you! As a parent, you are your child’s very first teacher. School readiness is not just about learning the ABCs and 123s—young children need to learn skills such as: listening to a set of instructions, following multi-step directions, becoming comfortable with routines, sitting quietly for whole group instruction, keeping hands to themselves, and self-regulation. 

An important part of applying for admission to an independent school is getting to know the school and assessing if it is right for your family.

At Pine Crest School, we believe our students must learn to be as agile and adaptable as possible.

High-brain human traits such as global understanding and empathy, deep thinking and learning, and complex problem-solving mindset through collaboration will distinguish our students and set them up for success.

Pine Crest Summer has been the source of summer fun and amazing memories for over 60 years.

As one of South Florida’s longest running summer programs, Pine Crest Summer offers campers ages 4 to 14 a fun and safe environment to play and learn.

Pine Crest Summer offers over 50 camps across our campuses in Boca Raton and Fort Lauderdale - camps in the arts, sports, academics, and signature programs like traditional day camp.

One of our most loved programs, traditional day camp combines all of the elements of summer from swimming, playing games, and making crafts.

What parents love about traditional day camp is the opportunity to pair it with tennis lessons or Elevate, an academic camp geared towards our youngest campers in kindergarten through grade 5. Elevate serves as both a review and extension of grade-level skills based on the needs of the students. 

Do you have a budding artist at home? Does your child sing into a hairbrush, put on shows in the living room, or spend hours editing footage he or she filmed on a cell phone?

By Biddi Solomon ’20

Today’s pre-primary aged students are presented with a variety of different tech tools, many of which we use at Pine Crest School.

The Pine Crest Summer team has assembled spectacular opportunities for students to enjoy during the summer months!

Camp favorites, including fine arts and band, general and specialty sports, and robotics and STEM, are being offered on the Boca Raton and Fort Lauderdale campuses.

Panther Campers for pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students is back on our Boca Raton campus, and our day camp, which takes place on the Fort Lauderdale campus and attracts students from around the world, returns for the 61st year!

Pine Crest formed the School’s first-ever Lower and Middle School FIRSTⓇ LEGO LeagueⓇ (FLL) competitive teams four years ago, and since then, the Panthers have formed eight teams who have made their mark on the South Florida region.

By Kelly Paredes, M.Ed., CIT
Computer Science and Educational Technology Specialist

By Emily Roy ’20

Dance is one of seven Fine Arts offerings at Pine Crest School. From pre-kindergarten through grade twelve, students are exposed to different forms of dance that increase in difficulty over time.

By Julia Karten ’19