Mrs. LeighAnne Oliger is the recipient of a Scholarship award from the Beta Upsilon Chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa Sorority. The scholarship was given "to support your efforts towards your educational goals to receive a masters degree in guidance counseling." The award was presented to Mrs. Oliger by Ms. Janet Hughes, scholarship chairperson and Ms. Barbara Halsey, treasurer. Mrs. Oliger is the second grade teacher at Trident Academy.
Upper School Awards Day - May 11, 2007
Proud students gathered in the multi-purpose room Friday, May 11, to received recognition for their hard work and effort this school year. Mrs. Keri Peterson’s Spanish Club raised money throughout the school year, and presented its first annual scholarship to Spanish student Gaelan Lynch. The Phyllis Stackable Scholarship Award to a high school student was presented by Mrs. Deborah Bowker to Gaelan Lynch. Seniors were honored and their college acceptances announced. Miss Ripley Bowker is the 2006-07 valedictorian of the senior class. More photos.
Students Hold Tribute to Mr. Harrington
On May 10, students gathered in the multi-purpose room to honor Mr. Harrington for his fifteen years of service to Trident Academy. Present and former students took to the podium to share their reflections on Mr. Harrington's influence on their personal and school lives. Primary students presented a charming book to Mr. Carrington that they created which contained suggestions on what Mr. Harrington ought to do on his retirement. Middle and Upper School students wrote Mr. Harrington personal letters which were presented to him in a binder. Former Board of Director Mr. Larry Collins addressed the group along with his son, Lawrence. a graduate of Trident Academy. More photos.
Teachers Appreciation Week
What do all Trident teachers possess? Clean cars! Thanks to all the TAG volunteers who worked Friday, May 4th, the final day of Teachers Appreciation Week, to show their appreciation for their student's teachers at Trident Academy. Not only did all the teachers have their cars cleaned, they were treated to breakfast on Monday, professional massages during their breaks on Tuesday, catered lunch on Wednesday, and an afternoon tea on Thursday. Mr. Gettys won a drawing for an evening stay at the Vendue Suites compliments of Mary and Hagood Morrison. Thanks to all the parents and coordinator, Mary Meeks, who spoiled us during Teachers Appreciation Week!
May Teacher Spotlight
May’s Teacher’s Spotlight focuses on a teacher who is completing her third year at Trident Academy. Ann Hall has shown a natural talent for teaching 6th grade social studies and English and 8th grade South Carolina history. A graduate of Appalachian State with a B.A. with honors in English, Ann is looking forward to receiving her MAT in English from the Citadel this fall.
“I became an educator because I love to read, to be informed about the world and its many cultures and to contemplate art and music, and I want to bring that to the classroom to encourage young people to know themselves and to know how to express themselves in meaningful ways. Students learn in different ways, and it is the job of any good educator to reach out to as many students as possible using varying techniques and assessments.”
Ann is a licensed tour guide for the City of Charleston. She is a member of Phi Kappa Phi Honorary Society, National Council of Teachers of English, and the South Carolina Council of Teachers of English.
She is married to Ben Hall who is an educator on the Spirit of South Carolina tall ship. Her hobbies include reading, gardening, researching for her lesson planning, and playing with her yellow lab, Abigail.
Trident Academy Summer 2007
Associate Level Orton-Gillingham Training
Dates for the Associate Level Orton-Gillingham training sessions have been announced. This extensive course will be held June 11-14 and June 18-21 by Sheila Costello, M.S. Fellow AOGPE. The course fulfills the course work requirement of 60 hours. The course includes: reading and reading disability: characteristics of the dyslexic learner, the Orton-Gillingham approach, informal assessment, the student profile, keeping student records, structure of the English language: phonology, multisensory teaching and much more. For more information, please contact Sheila Costello at scostello@tridentacademy.com or 843-884-7046 Ext 19. Course Description.Brochure.
5th Grade Students Receive Champions of the Environment Award in Columbia
5th grade students attended the DHEC Champions of the Environment annual banquet in Columbia on May 3. At the banquet, awards were given for the top projects that were submitted to the competition during the 2006-07 school year. Forty-five schools submitted their projects in hope of winning the monthly competition of Champions of the Environment. Trident students won the October competition. Of the five final awards presented at the banquet, Trident Academy's 5th grade won an honorable mention award and a check for $500 to continue their work on recycling. Teachers Katie Ryan and Ms. Paula Urbano accompanied the students.
Trident Academy Art Instructor Paula Urbano Chosen to Participate in the "Turtles on the Town" Art Project
“Turtles on the Town” is a public art project sponsored by the SC Aquarium. Over 200 amateur and professional artists submitted art ideas to decorate life size fiberglass turtles to be displayed during Piccolo Spoleto and auctioned off at the end of the summer. The proceeds benefit the loggerhead turtle rescue program at the Aquarium. Ms. Paula Urbano was among the 35 artists selected based on her “camouflage” turtle, a mosaic design including an egret, moon and baby turtles which will decorate the turtle that is 5 feet tall and as wide from flipper to flipper. Some of Ms. Urbano's Upper School students have already helped her with cutting all the glass she has bought so far. Check back in the near future to see the progress on the turtle.
Charleston Headmaster to Retire
Trident Academy Headmaster Colonel Myron C. Harrington, Jr. has announced that he will retire at the end of the 2006-07 academic year. Col. Harrington has served Trident Academy for 15 years and is the longest serving Headmaster in the history of the school. In addition, he is the longest serving Headmaster among the thirty-two schools that comprise the Palmetto Association of Independent Schools (PAIS) as well as among the Charleston area schools that belong to the South Carolina Independent Schools Association (SCISA).
Trident Academy Upper School Students
Hiking the Grand Canyon
Fifteen Trident Academy Upper School students along with Assistant Head, Betsy Fanning and Coach Travis Whetzel are on a school trip to the Grand Canyon from April 21-April 26. Accompanying them is Flat Stanley from Ms. Wheat's 3rd grade class. Additional photos. Flat Stanley photos are on Ms. Wheat's classroom web site.
2007 SCISA Teacher of the Year - Katie Ryan
For the second year in a row, a Trident Academy teacher has been selected Lower School Teacher of the Year by the South Carolina Association of Independent Schools. The award was announced by SCISA Executive Secretary Larry Watt at the Teacher of the Year Banquet held Tuesday, April 17 at Orangeburg Country Club in Orangeburg, South Carolina. Katie teaches fourth and fifth grade science and social studies. Her students recently received the DHEC "Champions of the Environment" award. Katie, a graduate of Wake Forest University in Education, worked on her masters degree at George Washington University prior to moving to Charleston. She continues her masters degree work at The Citadel.
Trident Academy Celebrates D.E.A.R. Day
April 12 marked the second annual national D.E.A.R. Day at Trident Academy. Students came to the library to celebrate children's author Beverly Cleary's birthday and to "Drop Everything and Read." D.E.A.R. Day is sponsored by national organizations including the National Education Association, Reading Rocket and the Association of Library Services for Children. Students and their teachers read silently for thirty minutes after listening to Ms. Silgals, the librarian, tell them about Beverly Cleary and her books. D.E.A.R. Day
Thank You!
When Dr. Joe Karoly arrived at Trident Academy to deliver the eight new Smartboards the school purchased, he was greeted by students who were eager to help him move the boards into the building. In appreciation for his support, he was presented with a Thank You! card that was signed by K-12 students and teachers.
Christi Sanford and Legare, the Lowcountry Lizard
On March 29, K-5 students gathered in the library to hear Christi Sanford talk about the process by which a book is written and published. She read her three books about Legare, the Lowcountry Lizard to the students and showed them her original drafts of the stories. She then talked about how Legare's personality evolved when she collaborated with the illustrator, Warner McGee. Trident's own lizard, who remains nameless at this time, was also a vistor in the library. To learn more about Legare, you may contact Mrs. Sanford by email: clsandford@comcast.net. Additional photos.
Welcome Reception Held for New Headmaster
Trident Academy parents and faculty greeted Headmaster Joe Ferber at a reception held in his honor on March 15th at the school. Prior to the reception, Mr. Ferber visited with the administration, faculty, and staff and observed a typical school day. Board members attending the reception welcomed Mr. Ferber and introduced him to Trident Academy parents.
Mr. Ferber will officially start his tenure as Headmaster on July 1st.
Artist Clay Rice Returns to Trident Academy
Clay Rice, a former Trident Academy student, returned to Trident Academy as a special guest of art instructor Paula Urbano to talk to students about his life as an artist and musician. He demonstrated his talent in cutting silhouettes and performed music from his upcoming album. Students shared with him their own art work they had created in art classes.
Mr. Rice attended Trident Academy in the seventh and eighth grade prior to moving to Myrtle Beach. After graduating from high school, he pursued a music career in Nashville, Tennessee. His love for silhouettes came naturally from his grandfather, Carew Rice, a renowned silhouette artist.
MDA Fund Raiser at Trident Academy
K-12 students at Trident Academy gathered together in an assembly to hear representatives from the Muscular Dystrophy Association talk about their annual shamrock campaign to raise funds to send children with MDA to summer camp. Each homeroom received a donation kit to assist in raising money for the MDA program. Students will be selling shamrocks during the month of March. As shamrocks are sold, they will be on display throughout the school.
Update: Bags O' Bags Project and the DHEC "Champion of the Environment" Award
The NBC news affiliate film crew for Columbia, South Carolina television arrived Wednesday, November 30, to film the "Champion of the Environment" commercial. Students in Mrs. Ryan's 4th and 5th grade science classes were film "actors" for the day. The commercial will be aired in Columbia, SC.
Photo: Students are celebrating their new designation as "Champions of the Environment".
Integrating Technology in Education with Smartboards
Dr. Joe Karoly from Multi-Media Service conducted a technology workshop on January 3rd at Trident Academy during the teachers' workday. Trident teachers received special instruction on how to use the new Smartboards installed at the school. Teachers were instructed on basic use of the hardware and software. Dr. Karoly demonstrated how to integrate lessons using traditional methods of instruction and by using the interactive technology Smartboards offer.
South Carolina Conference of Teachers of English- Kiawah Island Resort
Mary Alice Satterfield, a South Carolina Master Teacher and faculty member at Trident Academy, presented at the annual conference of the South Carolina Council of Teachers of English at Kiawah Island Resort on January 26, 2007. Her writing workshop, “It’s Concrete, But Not Carved in Stone,” provided attendees with a concrete procedure for building skill as a writer using a structured, sequential approach delivered in multi-sensory methods that can benefit all learners. The South Carolina Council of Teachers of English is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the improvement of English and language arts instruction in South Carolina.
Annual Trident Auction and Oyster Roast
Trident Academy hosted its annual auction and oyster roast fundraiser Saturday, February 24 on the Trident Academy campus. After the silent auction attendees feasted on oysters and barbeque and then gathered in the multi-purpose room for the live auction. Prior to the live auction, Dr. Joe Karoly from Multi-Media Service, announced to the audience that he would match dollar for dollar any contributions toward the purchase of Smartboards for the school. In addition to the silent and live auction proceeds, parents, friends and faculty, along with Dr. Karoly's generous offer, raised funds for the purchase of eight new Smartboards for Trident Academy classrooms.
Trident Students' Bags O' Bags Project wins the DHEC "Champion of the Environment" Award
Congratulations to Katie Ryan, science teacher, and Paula Urbano, art instructor, and their 4th & 5th grade students for winning this month's DHEC "Champion of the Environment Award." Katie's and Paula's classes will receive a $500 award and their students will have guest roles on a DHEC commercial aired on WIS TV. Lynne LaSalle from the SC DHEC Bureau of Water will present the award and certificates to the students at the school. The project will be eligible to receive an overall award in May. For more information about the project visit the teachers' web sites. Recycling Project, Art Class, and DHEC Champion of the Environment.
South Carolina Outstanding Young Americans
Congratulations to Lisa Difabio. Lisa has been selected as a South Carolina Jaycees Outstanding Young American. The category from which she will receive her award is "Outstanding Young Educators." Each year, the South Carolina Jaycees honors individuals based on their achievements in their chosen field as well as their contributions to the community. SCOYA winners are eligible to advance to the national competition TOYA (Ten Outstanding Young Americans)! Past TOYA winners include: Bill Clinton, Al Gore, Gerald Ford, Richard Nixon, Peyton Manning, Elvis, and many other distinguished young professionals who now enjoy national recognition in their respective fields. The SCOYA awards ceremony was held on November 11 in Greenville, SC.
Orton-Gillingham Meeting Hosted by Trident Academy
On October 14, Trident Academy, one of only ten schools in the United States accredited by the Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practioners and Educators, hosted the Academy Of Orton-Gillingham Practitioners and Educators Fellows' Seminar. Angela Wilkins, President and Fellow/AOGPE, opened the annual meeting.
The keynote address: "Essential Commonalities of O-G Seminal Works: Samuel Torry Orton, M.D., June Lyday Orton, Anna Gillingham, and Bessie Stillman, Paula Rome and Jean Osman" was given by Jean Foss, Fellow/AOGPE.
O-G Fellows from a cross section of the United States toured Trident Academy prior to attending a reception held on their behalf.
Congratulations to Mary Alice Satterfield - SCISA Master Teacher
Mary Alice Satterfield has been recognized by the South Carolina Independent School Association (SCISA) as a Master Teacher. SCISA is a non-profit association of 96 independent schools founded to establish accreditation standards, coordinate athletic and academic competitions and raise funds for member organizations. This is the second year that SCISA has sought to honor educators as Master Teachers.
Lisa Difabio, primary teacher at Trident Academy, was named Lower School Teacher of the Year by the South Carolina Independent School Association. "The Teacher of the Year Committee is looking for teachers who are going above the standard," explained SCISA Executive Larry Watt. Lisa, a graduate of the College of Charleston, has taught kindergarten through second grade at Trident Academy for seven years.
Twenty-eight years of teaching, the number of years Lalla Boatwright has taught middle and high school students, is a career milestone that many teachers will never reach. Twenty-one of those twenty-eight years, Trident has been the beneficiary. Prior to arriving at Trident, Mrs. Boatwright worked seven years at Belton Middle School as a civics and US History teacher. A graduate of Furman University Mrs. Boatwright majored in English with a minor in History. She continued her education at the University of South Carolina and received a Masters in Library Science. In addition to civics and US history, she has taught South Carolina history, geography, psychology, government and economics, current events, British literature and English. She has also taught LEAD classes. When asked her favorite subjects to teach, her answer is British literature and US history.
Her philosophy of teaching students with learning disabilities is simple: they (students with learning disabilities) are no different from any other child. “They are capable of learning and enjoying learning if lessons are made fun. Students respond to caring teachers. The difference is in the approach teachers must take in instruction, a more hands-on approach. A variety of ways to present the materials must be used. Students even teach you their road to learning. It’s a good thing!”
Mrs. Boatwright uses a cause and effect method of teaching history, not just a memorization of facts and dates. “It’s the why and what has happened, how it affects them in their personal life today, which makes history interesting to students.” She finds this is also true in teaching literature. “Students find connections to their personal lives to hang the story on. The same themes are adapted to fit today’s images. Star Wars is yesterday’s King Arthur. Heroes are heroes; they have just traded their armor for spacesuits.”
Reading and hand work (crewel and cross-stitch) are Mrs. Boatwright’s spare time hobbies. Her own family history and heritage, which includes her love for gardening and horseback riding, are the mainstays of her life.
Six Trident Academy Teachers Participate in the Lowcountry Writing Project
"Writing today is not a frill for the few, but an essential skill for the many." This statement by the SMU School of Education is also reflected by the recent College Board decision to add a writing skills component to the SATs. The National Council of Teachers of English adds, "Writing teachers should themselves be writers." Six teachers from Trident Academy recently took an additional step to ensure that their students receive the best in writing instruction. They opted to sharpen their own skills by participating in the Fall Institute of the Lowcountry Writing Project.
Lt. Col. Mike Gosnell Presents Trident Academy with United States Flag
Trident Academy students attended a special video presentation by Lt. Col. Mike Gosnell on Tuesday, November 28, during advisory period. Lt. Col. Gosnell is a member of the United States 14th Military Airlift Squadron home stationed in Charleston, South Carolina. He has flown numerous C-17 aircraft on missions to Afghanistan and Iraq. During his trips to Iraq, he would fly an American flag in the cargo bay of his aircraft. Upon returning to the United State, he presented this flag to Trident Academy and to his son's primary class teachers, Ms. Difabio and Ms. Powell.
January Teacher Spotlight - Katie Ryan
Energetic, eager, and enthusiastic are the three E's that best describe Katie Kjellstrom Ryan. Katie, a graduate of Wake Forest University in Education, worked on her masters degree at George Washington University prior to moving to Charleston. She continues her masters degree work at The Citadel. She comes to Trident Academy via First Baptist School in Mount Pleasant.
Katie teaches fourth and fifth grade science and social studies. Her students recently received the DHEC "Champions of the Environment" award.
Katie finds by incorporating the Orton Gillingham method of language instruction into her science and social studies class, her students are provided a unique learning environment. With her own long term goal of obtaining a doctorate in science/medicine, she also finds teaching science and social studies to elementary students as being rewarding. "Students have an expectation of having fun when they come to class. Students collaborate using their strengths and challenging their weaknesses. Group leaders often are students who are passive in other areas of study."
In her spare time, Katie is a Pilates instructor. Her hobbies include running, reading, and traveling. She is married to David Ryan, a surgery resident at the Medical University of South Carolina.
November Teacher Spotlight - Paula Urbano
Soft-spoken, introspective art instructor, Paula Urbano, is in this month’s teacher spotlight. Paula gives credit to former teacher, Dr. Kurka, as the person who was instrumental in helping her choose art as a life long profession when she attended Harborfields High School in Long Island, NY. After Paula graduated from high school, she joined the prestigious Student Art League of New York City. She attended the School of Visual Arts in New York City and received her bachelor’s degree in art and education from Stoneybrook University of New York. She completed graduate classes at South Hampton College in New York.
Paula sees art as “multi-faceted” providing students with learning options which open their creative talents, talents which they may not be aware exist. “Exploration of different media allows a child to find a particular area in which they can succeed and explore their own creativity.” What she likes about teaching at Trident Academy is the variety of art mediums that she uses. No day is ever the same. Students come to the class open to new adventures. What has surprised her most about teaching children with ADHD is their ability to focus on their tasks. This has been most obvious when students use wood-burning tools, cut glass or use a scroll saw. “They are intrigued by the instruments they are permitted to use.”
Paula prefers the outdoors, and when she has the opportunity to spend free time, she prefers fishing and boating. She participates in “Clean Sweep” and loves to volunteer in other art and environment fund raising opportunities.
SCISA Math Meet
Two Trident Academy teams of four students each participated in the South Carolina Independent Schools Association Middle School Math Meet in Orangeburg, S.C., October 17 at the SCISA Headquarters. All students, took a one hour multiple choice written math test consisting of 50 questions. Then, each team member, one at a time, participated in the speed round. Congratulations for a job well done at the SCISA Middle School Math Meet!
October Teacher Spotlight - Sheila Costello
Sheila Costello comes to Trident Academy by the way of the Carroll School in Lincoln, Massachusetts. At the Carroll School she completed an extensive Orton-Gillingham training program that included a full-year training course and a 450 hour internship, an extensive supervised practicum. During her ten-year stay at the Carroll School, Sheila took a two-year sabbatical in Australia where she lived and worked in Adelaide. She returned to the Carroll School where she became head of the training and tutoring program. Sheila is a Fellow of the Academy of OG Practitioners and Educators. She conducts summer training sessions in Tennessee, Alabama, Massachusetts, and South Carolina.
Sheila received her BA from the University of Surrey in Biochemistry and Nutrition and her MS from Northeastern University in Medicinal Chemistry. She spent twelve years doing hospital laboratory research after graduation. She became interested in learning disabilities when her daughter was diagnosed as being dyslexic.
In her non-existent spare time, she loves knitting and sewing, and she would love to rediscover hiking.
Sheila is the department head of the Trident Academy LEAD department.
Monthly Parent Group Night
On October 26 at 7:00 pm in the school library, parents are invited to attend a workshop presented by Trident Academy on the topic: "How Do We Know When it is Time to Go?: Transitioning to Another School." Assistant Head Betsy Fanning and Lower School Director Joanie Gerken will conduct the parent meeting. If interested in attending or for more information on the monthly parent group nights, please contact Debra Ryan in the Trident OutReach office at 375-0479.
Modern Dads: How Men's Lives Are Changing and Why It Matters to Families
John Badalament, Ed.M., an international lecturer, conducted a seminar at Porter-Gaud on October 12th in the Gwynette Auditorium. Trident Academy and Porter-Gaud School, in conjunction with the Palmetto Association of Independent Schools (PAIS), were co-sponsors of this event. Mr. Badalament's documentary film, All Men Are Sons, aired nationally on PBS. He is a graduate of Harvard's Graduate School of Education and is presently writing a book about fatherhood. For more information from Mr. Badalament's research read: Why Schools Need to Engage Modern Dads and Modern Dads: What All Schools Need to Know About the Next Generation of Men.
September 11th Remembrance
Trident students commemorated the fifth anniversary of the terrorist attack on the New York City World Trade Center and the Pentagon by gathering by the school flag pole for an assembly. Mr. Harrington spoke briefly about the importance of remembering those who were affected by the events on the historic day. Students listened attentively, paused for a moment of silence, and recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
TAG Event
Trident parents, faculty, staff, and board members are cordially invited to attend the annual Wine and Cheese Party sponsored by the Trident Academy Guild. The event will be held Tuesday, October 17th, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Carolina Yacht Club, 50 East Bay Street, Charleston. Please R.S.V.P to Lael Byrd at 884-7046.
Congratulations to Keri Peterson - Charleston County Spanish Teacher of the Year Finalist
The Citadel's Tau Iota Chapter of Sigma Delta Pi, the National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society, has announced Keri Peterson as one of three 2006 Lowcountry Spanish Teacher of the Year finalists for Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester Counties. The three finalists will attend an awards ceremony at The Citadel on October 10, 2006 (during National Hispanic Heritage Month) at 7:00pm, when one teacher will be named the 2006 Lowcountry Spanish Teacher of the Year.
Trident Academy Starts 35th Year with a Cruise
On the first day of in-service, Monday, August 14, faculty and staff started the 2006-07 school year with a fun-filled reception in the multi-purpose room. Greeted by the Commander of the school, Myron Harrington, and his second lieutenant, Betsy Fanning, each cruise goer received a lei as they boarded the USS Trident Academy. The cruise, leaving the Port of Trident Academy, was a festive beginning to the school's 35th year.
Barbeque Dinner/Open House
A barbeque dinner was held August 17 on the campus grounds for parents and family. Students picked up their schedules, visited classrooms, and met their teachers for the new school year.
5th Grade Students Receive Champions of the Environment Award in Columbia
Charleston Headmaster to Retire
Christi Sanford and Legare, the Lowcountry Lizard
Trident Students' Bags O' Bags Project wins the DHEC "Champion of the Environment" Award
South Carolina Outstanding Young Americans
Orton-Gillingham Meeting Hosted by Trident Academy
Congratulations to Mary Alice Satterfield - SCISA Master Teacher
Six Trident Academy Teachers Participate in the Lowcountry Writing Project
Monthly Parent Group Night
Modern Dads: How Men's Lives Are Changing and Why It Matters to Families
September 11th Remembrance
Barbeque Dinner/Open House
