Weekly Update | April 24, 2026

Kindness

Two weeks into my time on campus, I continue to be energized by what I see, hear, and feel at Trident Academy everyday. I see teachers who care deeply, students who are determined and gritty, and a community beaming with strength and potential. However, the most important thing of all that I have witnessed and have been impressed by is kindness.

Many times, kindness is framed as a social value, but in a school environment—especially one that supports students with learning differences—it is also an important cognitive support. Executive functioning skills such as organization, impulse control, flexible thinking, and task initiation are deeply influenced by a student’s emotional state, and when students feel safe, respected, and valued by their peers and teachers, their brains are more available for learning.

Higher-order thinking—analysis, problem-solving, and creativity—requires students to take risks. They must be willing to share ideas, make mistakes, and revise their thinking. In an unkind or judgmental environment, students are far less likely to engage at this level. Kindness, therefore, is not simply about being nice; it is about fostering a culture where intellectual risk-taking is possible. When students encourage one another, listen actively, and respond with

empathy, they are collectively raising the level of thinking in the room.

For the students at Trident Academy, this connection is even more pronounced,

because many of them work harder than their peers to manage attention, regulate emotions, and process information. So, a kind word, a patient partner, or a teacher who models understanding can make the difference between shutdown and engagement. These small, consistent acts of kindness serve as scaffolding, allowing students to stretch their executive functioning skills and engage more deeply in complex thinking tasks.

Have a great weekend! And please take care of yourselves, take care of each other, and take care of your school.

Have a great weekend,

Hacker Burr
Interim Head of School

IMPORTANT DATES:

April 27 - May 5: End of Year Testing. During the next two weeks, our students will have the opportunity to "show what they know". Once finished, the scores will be added to our testing summary sheets and shared with parents at the end of the year.


Our tentative calendar for the remainder of 2025-26

NEW: Our tentative calendar for 2026-27

See all events on our school website calendar

SEAHAWK SCOOP:

Admissions Update

We are receiving inquries daily from interested parents, and we are accepting and enrolling new students for next year. An important part of our admissions process is a two-day shadow visit, which allows a prospective student to get the feel for our school, our teachers, and potential classmates, and allows our teachers to see the student in a classroom setting. There are only a few weeks remaining to schedule shadow visits. 

If you, friends, or family members are interested in applying for a child to attend Trident next year, we encourage you to submit an application soon in order to allow a shadow visit to occur! Visit our admissions process page to learn more.

Uniforms! 
As our students have grown since the start of school, several of them have begun to outgrow their shirts, shorts, and skirts. To purchase Trident Academy gear, please visit our school spirit store here >> Trident Academy Gear. We also have a large collection of gently used Trident-branded items available at school in a variety of sizes.

In addition, with many students wearing identical school-branded items that end up in our lost and found, please be sure your child's Trident gear is labeled with their name.




Summer Enrichment at Trident Academy is designed for rising first through rising eighth grade students who are struggling in reading and/or math skills. This year's courses include Reading Foundations, Reading Comprehension/Applied Writing, and Multi-Sensory Math. In response to parent requests for a longer day, we have also added optional non-academic enrichment sessions.Learn more and register here!

WHAT'S HAPPENING ON CAMPUS:

Field day is always the best day on campus! From relay races and tug-of-war to water games and obstacle courses, it was a day filled with teamwork, sportsmanship, and a whole lot of laughter.

In art class, our students designed their imaginary friends while keeping the planet in mind. This week, they explored the concept of an armature, an internal framework or "skeleton," and engineered them entirely out of recycled materials.
This hands-on project allowed our artists to practice their sculpting techniques while learning about the importance of using materials that don't pollute our planet.

Our 6th graders spent the last two days getting a firsthand look at agriculture in action at Storey Farms! It was an incredible "start-to-finish" experience where our students saw exactly what it takes to run a local sustainable farm.

They followed the entire journey of an egg—from how the chickens are cared for to the processing, packaging, and final steps before the eggs are sold. Seeing the hard work and science behind local food production is such a valuable lesson in sustainability and community! A huge thank you to the team at Storey Farms for hosting our Seahawks and showing us the ropes!

Our high school students headed to the MUSC Neuro MIND Conference this week for an immersive look into the world of brain and spinal health. It was an incredible day of high-level exposure to the medical field, where our Seahawks explored:

• Surgical Precision: Learning the intricacies of spinal procedures and the latest in neurosurgery.
• Preventative Health: A deep dive into helmet safety and the biomechanics of brain protection.
• The Power of Data: Seeing firsthand how coding and data analysis are the "behind-the-scenes" heroes of modern medical research.

Lunch at Vickery’s was the perfect way to celebrate the amazing Mr. Chris and Ms. Kappy! While we’ll miss them both tremendously, we loved getting together to cheer them on as they head off on their next big adventures. Be sure to give them a high-five or a big "good luck" this coming week before they head out! 

~Individual Needs~Academic Growth~Encouragement & Support~Foundation for Life~