And, We’re Off!.....

The first day of school is both a milestone and a whirlwind, and that’s how it was for Trident Academy on Monday.

Ten new students were welcomed into the Trident family and all were back and smiling for Day Two – a good sign!  Especially since we set the standard high with music, balloons, and a luncheon cook-out waiting for them again today.

“Watch us Grow” was our theme for opening day, a theme that has many meanings.  Each division planned and planted a garden and will be responsible for tending and nurturing to “watch it grow.”  Our faculty will, in turn, be doing the same with our students, guiding their growth and learning this year.  And of course, all of us are focused on a growing school, with more students and more opportunities to learn.

We’re announcing some new initiatives to take learning beyond the classroom.  EXPLORE! will take our Upper School students into the community one day each week to learn what our expansive Charleston “classroom” has to offer.  We will be visiting a wide array of Charleston organizations, from preservation to airplanes, energy to medicine, and lots of things in between.  EXPLORE! is a program meant to spark new interests and passions and perhaps set our students on a career path they’d never considered.

Upper School students will be meeting with me this week to talk about their leadership in the school.  This year, they will be our leaders as we share announcements, special news, say our pledge of allegiance, and raise the flag.  I anticipate our older students will serve as mentors to their younger schoolmates, as well as suggest activities that make us a stronger school community, and participate in decisions that affect their school life.  Working with students is one of my favorite aspects of being a head of school, and I am looking forward to getting to know this small but mighty group!

The beginning of the year always brings a vast array of change – new students, teachers, administrators, programs, and initiatives. Our counselor and dean of students Leigh Ann Oliger has announced her decision to accept a position with the Charleston County School District, effective August 29.  Leigh Ann has been an important colleague to the Trident staff and a valued mentor to our students.  She will be missed but we wish her well in her new position.  Ezra Cowan will fill Leigh Ann’s duties as Dean of Students, effective immediately and I will be reevaluating her other responsibilities and perhaps determining some new priorities.  College counseling and planning is strong objective, as is “transition planning” as we take an active partnership role in determining the next step for your student.  I also believe we could all benefit from a strong professional who is skilled in the psycho-educational arena. Determining the best way to bring these resources to Trident, and the best people, is at the top of my “to do” list.

Please frequently check this blog to keep up to date on what is happening at Trident.  I look forward to being with all of you as we watch us grow throughout the year. 

Curriculum Changes

Evaluating curriculum is an ongoing process for most private and public schools.  In recent years, a focus on “twentieth century learning” and the release of the Common Core standards has created thoughtful discussion and debate about what all students need to know.

Read more about the Common Core.

Our evaluation revealed very few differences in the standards we have taught compared with the standards set forth in the Common Core. This finding allowed us to turn our discussions to methodologies, assessment and the use of technology that set Trident apart from other schools.

Trident Academy has long excelled in the “delivery” of the standards - in our methodology (Orton-Gillingham, multi-sensory, styles differentiated), our materials (Math-U-See, SuperKids, various manipulatives and assistive technologies), and assessment (variety of testing methods, project-based learning, rubrics). Our defined population of students allows us to deliver the Common Core curriculum with methodologies, materials, and assessments that are individualized to our student group. No other school, public or private, can do this with such focus. We will be making enhancements that we hope will benefit our students and faculty as they work together.

Teachers will continue to focus on how to differentiate our methodology, materials and assessment (MMA) for each Core standard to create a variety of methods appropriate to our students.  For example, a lesson in poetry might be delivered in audio, on video, and in document form to accommodate the learning differences of our students.

As a result of this evaluation, our assessment process will give parents a clear understanding of the curricular goals of each grade and subject, identified areas of curricular concern, and identified methodologies and materials to address the concerns.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at sclerici@tridentacademy.com.