Monthly Update | May 1, 2026

What Comes Next

As we approach the final stretch of the school year, this is a natural moment to both celebrate where we are and thoughtfully prepare for what comes next. Over the past weeks, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside our faculty, staff, and leadership team, gaining a deeper appreciation for the strong foundation that defines the Trident Academy community. That foundation—built on care, expertise, and commitment to students—positions us well for an exciting and intentional next chapter.

Here are a few of our strategic priorities looking ahead:

• We will be refining how we recruit, support, and retain exceptional educators and staff. Our goal is to strengthen talent acquisition processes so that we continue to bring in individuals who not only demonstrate professional excellence but also align deeply with our mission. 
  
• We will place renewed focus on organizational clarity, ensuring that roles, responsibilities, and systems support both accountability and collaboration at every level of the school.
  
• We are committed to deepening our use of best practices and data-informed decision- making. By more consistently measuring student growth and program effectiveness, we can better tailor instruction and support to meet the needs of every learner.
  
• We will continue to expand and refine our executive skills curriculum—an area that remains central to our students’ long-term success both in and beyond the classroom. In the months ahead, families will begin to see thoughtful enhancements to our campus and facilities, designed to better support learning, accessibility, and community connection. 
  
• We will be investing more intentionally in how we tell our story—strengthening our marketing efforts and overall brand awareness so that more families can discover and benefit from the unique impact of our program.

These efforts are not about changing who we are, but about building on what we do best with greater clarity, consistency, and purpose. I am grateful to be part of this moment of transition and growth, and I look forward to partnering with all of you as we continue to support our students in reaching their fullest potential.

Parents we encourage you to come in and learn more if you have any questions on the above priorities. 

Please RSVP here to join me at one of the following Q&A sessions: 

• Thursday, May 7 at 8:05 a.m.
• Thursday, May 7 at 2:00 p.m.
• Friday, May 8 at 8:05 a.m.

Have a great weekend,

Hacker Burr
Interim Head of School

IMPORTANT DATES:

April 27 - May 5: End of Year Testing. Through much of next week, 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.

May 4 - 8: Teacher Appreciation Week. We are in the home stretch of the school year and want to show our amazing teachers our love and appreciation in a big way. Parents, please check your email for an April 29 message from TAPA for more details about the plans!

May 13: Seahawk Day of Giving


Our tentative calendar for the remainder of 2025-26

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. The last day for a shadow visit is Thursday, May 14, but we will continue to accept applications throughout the summer.

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.

Our Students Are Growing --

We're Collecting Gently Used Clothing

As the school year comes to a close, you're welcome to thin out your child's closet by donating his or her gently used Trident-branded clothing to our school. Please drop off your clothing items at our front desk or send them in with your child. We will let parents know this summer when we set a date for a used clothing sale before the new school year begins.

WHAT'S HAPPENING ON CAMPUS:

Our students are having so much fun exploring their creativity thanks to our amazing art teacher. From innovative projects to hands-on techniques, the studio is buzzing with inspiration.

To master inches, feet, and yards, our students headed out to measure our school. There’s no better way to understand scale than by seeing it in person—and the highlight was definitely getting hands-on with measuring tapes and the measuring rollers!

STEM activity: The Bucket Tower Challenge. Our students put their engineering skills to the test, building towers out of straws to see just how much weight they could hold before buckling. This challenge was a hands-on exploration of balance, stability, and structural integrity.

It was incredible to see our young engineers troubleshoot their designs to create the strongest towers possible!

Our students had the opportunity to share their favorite memories with Mr. Chris and Ms. Kappy as we officially celebrated their last day at Trident Academy. From funny stories to heartfelt thank-yous, it was the perfect send-off for two people who have meant so much to our school.
~
"We both appreciated the love we felt in the gym today through your words, cards, and thoughts. You are all so very special to us. You each have a special place in our hearts and it will be there forever. Please know that. This is not goodbye, because you are all family, and we love you. We will be back! Hugs to you all! Have an amazing summer. When it gets too hot, come sit in the river with us!

See you soon, Mr. Chris and Ms. Kappy"

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