High School Travels to Atlanta and Boston

Mary M. Silgals, Editor

High School Trip to Boston 

Students in grades 9 through 12 were treated to an experiential learning experience when the group took a stopover trip to Atlanta, Georgia and a four day trip to Boston, Massachusetts in April. 

First stop: Atlanta, Georgia

 The students’ first stop after landing in Atlanta was to tour the Body Exhibition.  Since the teaching of basic human anatomy and physiology are hallmarks of any child’s education, science teacher, Robin Grieg took the role of facilitator and guided the students through the exhibit. The Exhibition offers a rare school experience in a way no textbook ever could. According to the Exhibition founders, “BODIES...The Exhibition teaches students about the complexities of the human body and the necessity of proper nutrition, regular activity, and healthy lifestyle choices, such as avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption.” From this intriguing exhibition, students traveled on to the Georgia Aquarium where one of the special events of the tour included viewing the beluga whales. After a full day of learning in Atlanta, the students departed in the evening to fly on to Massachusetts. 

Update on Technology

Thanks to the generous donations of the attendees at the Trident Academy Auction, the technology fund-a-need was fully funded. The portable Smart Board has arrived and is in the building. The ten robotics kits are expected to arrive any day.  The funding also allowed for the purchase of 12 iPad 2s and an iPad Learning lab. The learning lab is a compact and durable rolling cart that stores, charges, syncs, and secures up to 30 iPad devices.

After installing apps on the iPads and syncing them to a MacBook Air (use donated by Ms. Silgals), the iPads are already in the hands of our students. For example, Mrs. Loveland’s class had a lesson on the oceans and continents using an interactive app. Ms. Kristiansen’s drama class used the iPads to create their own sock puppet acts. Ms. Silgals’ library skills classes and lower school classes are receiving lessons on how to use the iPads. Lower school teachers will meet next week to be trained on the apps already installed, discuss potential curriculum needs and how to use them in the classroom.

We are excited about the new learning opportunities that are available to us thanks to the addition of the iPads, robotic kits and the portable Smart Board!

Thank You! Trident Academy Auction Attendees

I had the pleasure of presenting a technology package Fund-A-Need at the Trident Academy annual auction. Mr. Simpson, the technology director, and I requested funds for: adding to our robotics program, a portable Smart Board to use in the two buildings where mounted SmartBoards are not available, and for funds for an iPad initiative. The response from the attendees was wonderful. We met our requested funding and received additional funds that will be used to purchase applications (apps) for the iPads.

The ten new robotics kits are on order. The SmartBoard representative and I will be going over our order in the next few days. When the information on the new iPadHD is released this week, we will decide on which model best fits our students’ needs and place an order for at least 10 new iPads.

Mr. Simpson and I would like to thank all those who participated in helping us meet our goal to fund the technology Fund-A-Need. Our students will benefit from you kind generosity. Thanks to all who attended and especially to those who worked on making our auction a great success.

A Student's Love of Writing

Editor's Note: Sara Frances is a 9^th grade student at TA. Over the last several years, she has developed a love for creative writing. I have asked her to, in her own words, write about her love of writing.

I love to write because it involves the use of imagination and it makes me really happy. Also, I love being creative and am really proud of my work when it's finished. I will admit that sometimes I slack off and don't write as much for a certain period of time, but I have a lot of ideas I want to write about in the future. My ideas come from different places depending on the story itself. Some may come from dreams, while others may come from a subject I've studied in school. It just depends.

Preferably, I like writing in my room where it's quiet and there are no distractions. When I try to write while watching TV or something, I end up getting distracted. Writing where it's quiet suits me best but sometimes I try to write in other places as well.

I have a couple of websites that I post my work on. One is called fanfiction.net. Fanfiction is a website where you are allowed to write stories based on different cartoons, books, movies, TV shows, comic books, Anime/Manga, etc. It's almost like making a new episode or chapter. For example, if someone wanted to create a story based on characters from The Hunger Games series, they could post it on fanfiction without having to worry about copyrighting laws or getting into legal trouble. Fanfiction was created for this purpose so it does not violate any major laws having to do with plagiarism or copyrighting. The other website is called TeenInk. TeenInk is where you post your own work with your own characters. There is a fanfic section there too but I prefer to use the website instead. Other people can post comments on your stories on both website commonly known as reviews. These can regard constructive criticism, compliments or nice comments and other things too. You can also read other people's work and post your own reviews. I have read and/or reviewed some pretty well written and entertaining stories on both websites might I add. I hope to become an author one day so I can share my work with the world or at least the country. Of course, there are other websites for posting stories like Deviant Art and ChickenSoothie, but those sites are for other things as well.

Creative writing is one of my favorite hobbies and I even keep a journal at home, but that isn't for writing stories. I may not be the best writer in the world, but at least I try my best.

Sara Frances McAlister

Trident Academy Provides the Latest in Educational Opportunities for its Students with Learning Differences

Mary M. Silgals

When it comes to keeping up-to-date with the most current research and newest educational approaches for children with learning differences, Trident Academy is a leader in the field. The assistive technology lab continues to demonstrate student successes as the program continues to expand. New technologies are reviewed and new initiatives are under discussion. Meanwhile, the new Trident Academy Health and Wellness Center is near completion. Exercise equipment arrived this week and students will soon participate in a training and fitness curriculum specially designed for our students with learning differences.  

Liz Mullen, middle and high school science teacher and I will be attending the Learning and Brain Conference in Boston this weekend. Liz will attend the pre-conference workshop, “Creative Teens/Young Adults: Creative Thinking in the Classroom,” and I will attend the pre-conference workshop, “Instruction & Curriculum Tools for 21st Century Minds and Brains. Over three days of session offerings, we will have the chance to hear more than 40 experts discuss how schools and teachers can provide the cognitive skills students will need to succeed in the new global economy. As stated in conference materials: “To compete, today's students must adjust to rapid technological and social changes, navigate vast flows of information and learn to work collaboratively with diverse individuals and cultures. Experts will discuss some of the cognitive skills, tools, teaching techniques, and 21^st Century curriculum schools can incorporate to better prepare students to succeed in the new millennium.”

A Former Student at Trident Academy Reminisces

Recently, I received an email from a former student, David Tate, who attended Trident Academy for several years before moving out of state. He had attached a story he had written about 911 and how the event reminded him of a special day at Trident Academy. The story also reminded me of how teachers at Trident Academy influence childrens' lives. Here’s his story:

                                      Tragedy And An Exciting Early Christmas Present

            On September 11, 2001, two airplanes crashed into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon was attacked, and an airplane that was bound for the White House crashed in a field in Pennsylvania killing EVERYBODY on board.

            At the World Trade Center, an enormous number of people died. They were civilians and 343 FDNY firefighters including Chaplain Mychal Judge, Chief of Department Peter Ganci, Jr., First Deputy Commissioner William Feehan, 23 NYPD police officers, and 37 Port Authority of New York/New Jersey officers. At the Pentagon, 125 people who were on Flight 77 died, and 64 people who were inside the Pentagon died.

Later, 44 people died on United Flight 93 in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania including famous passenger Todd Beamer who shouted “Let’s Roll!” After those words were uttered, the passengers beat the terrorists who were controlling the airplane. President Bush declared a “War On Terror,” which is still going on and the military (Air Force, Marines, Navy, and Army) went on the hunt after Osama Bin Laden (died in May of 2011), a radical Islamist who was and is believed to be responsible for the attacks.

Three months later in December of 2001, I decided to write a letter to Charleston Fire Chief Rusty Thomas (who retired seven years later in 2008.) Why? Because, I have admired firefighters since I was a child. In the letter I told Chief Thomas that he was a good man and that I appreciated for what he has done for the City of Charleston.

A few days later, when I was in class (I’m not sure which one it was), Mrs. Driver (or some other teacher) came in and told me that someone special was there to see me in the library. Who was it? That certain someone was Chief Rusty Thomas of the Charleston, South Carolina Fire Department. Chief Rusty was in the library waiting to see me. When I saw him, I felt like I received an EARLY Christmas present.

Chief Rusty had his jacket, an Olympic torch and his helmet on the table. It was a marvelous sight! Chief Rusty greeted me, shook my hand and told us about his firefighting career and I told him about reading about him in the “Post & Courier.” He dressed me in his jacket and his helmet. I also told him that I met some of his firefighter friends and heard about some of the other friends he had.

Chief Rusty told me, the other kids, and the teachers why he had the Olympic torch. The explanation he gave was interesting. After the talk in the library was over, the other kids and I got to go outside of the library and I stood in the center of the American flag with Chief Rusty’s jacket and helmet, and the other kids were reaching for the Olympic torch. Shortly after that, I stood in front of the front of the American flag with Chief Rusty while I was in nearly full gear. 

My picture was taken and the news story was published in the Trident magazine. Later, Chief Rusty asked me if I would like to pose as a real firefighter putting out a fire, and commanding firefighters with his radio. It was then time for Chief Rusty to go. Before he left, I told him “Thank you!” and he said that he was happy to meet me. 

In my opinion, the pictures that were taken will go down in Trident Academy history and go down in my firefighter admiration history. This was one of the best things a *ten (now twenty) year old kid (now adult) could ever have, especially during the Christmas season. A few days or months after that special school event, I received a photo album of that famous school event. I still have it and I will keep it as a collectible. I also included other firefighter visits in my album.

What We Did On Our Summer Vacations

One of the most popular writing activities teachers often ask their students to do upon return to school is a short paragraph or two on what they did on their summer vacations. Summer vacation for many of our teachers provides “free” time to explore educational development. Here’s what some of us did on our summer vacations.

Mrs. Waterstradt attended a RAVE-O class in Atlanta.  This program was designed by Maryanne Wolfe, a professor at Tuffs University.  It is a reading program that focuses on vocabulary with an emphasis on multiple meaning words.  The program has been thoroughly researched using children in the 2nd through 5th grades, reading at least one grade below grade level.

Robin Greig and Julie Stephenson began collaborating over the summer on a children’s book about lionfish and invasive species.  They hope to see Leo the Lionfish (working title) on the bookshelves next year!

Therese Kristiansen and Corbin Bettencourt traveled to Pride’s Crossing, Massachusetts to attend the Landmark School Outreach program on expressive language disorders and practical strategies for reading comprehension.

Jo Beth Edwards received training on new computer development software which will help track alumni giving. This new software will be used for the upcoming Trident Academy 40^th anniversary.

Mary Alice Satterfield attended a training course on how to be a trainer for Framing Your Thoughts, a program used at Trident Academy to teach writing. The Language Circle/Project Read Written Expression Curriculum and instructional strategies inspire and energize students as they learn the fundamentals of writing.

Kathleen Loveland conducted a week long session at Trident Academy on writing. The successful Writing Adventures of Seafaring Turtles is in its second year.

Travis Whetzel attended the SCISA Athletic Directors conference in Myrtle Beach.

Marc Simpson conducted a camp for students who wanted to learn about robotics. Students used Alice software to design a three dimensional world. They used LEGO Education’s Robo Lab application to program the robots they built.

Sheila Costello held an Orton-Gillingham Associate level training course for two weeks at Trident Academy. Thirteen attendees came from the Charleston area and from North Carolina, Florida, Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head and Summerville, SC.  

Liz Mullen traveled to Ireland where she learned about geographic formations and the culture.

Mary Silgals attended the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) conference in Philadelphia. She attended sessions that were focused on technology for students with learning differences. She also presented at the Upstate Technology Conference in Greenville, SC in June.