In the Episcopal tradition of academic excellence and inclusive community, Palmer Trinity School commits to the following strategic priorities.
Curriculum
To design and implement educational programs – both local and international grounded in relevance that will shape individuals who reason independently and who act collaboratively to accomplish and resolve conflict.
Made visits by Middle School Chairs and Academic Dean to our feeder schools.
PTS hosted a Collaboration event with 5th & 6th grade teachers, curriculum directors on January 19th; Revitalizing partnerships that began before COVID.
Include a focus on the work and role of CELT in each Professional Development meeting.
Dedicated four Professional Days, monthly Collaboration Meetings, and six Late Starts to this goal, in addition to monthly Department and Academic Council meetings.
Essential questions and models from innovative programs and leading educational organizations are provided in all meetings to guide and support collaboration.
Accepted nine New Course Proposals for ‘23-’24 as of January 2023.
Gathering momentum for exploration of a Leadership / Global / Entrepreneurial “Pathway” of coursework to serve PTS’ unique population.
Made noteworthy changes to our course offerings and graduation requirements to suit the needs of our students
Additions:
Foundations level courses in English Grades 6-7; Math Grades 6-8
Honors level courses in Grade 8: Math, English, and History; Science ‘23-’24;
Foundations level courses in Grade 9: English, Math, and History
Continue to build newly established Contemporary Studies; department with the addition of Upper School Leadership course, Marketing and Student Publications course;
Modification of lab requirements in the Upper School to better serve the student community.
Will host Rediker Training at PTS.
Collecting and reviewing students' use of time on middle school semester assessments to help us address test-taking skills.
Joined Global Education Benchmark Group (GEBG) as a Leading Partner School (2022-2024) through the G.E.B.G’s E.E. Ford Grant.
This two-year role allows 7 teachers to participate in virtual classes, 1 educator to serve on an advisory board, and 2 students to participate in virtual student-led classes.
Participation by (20) Students and (6) faculty in three Round Square travel events (England, Canada and Kenya).
Model United Nations remains the most active Club on Campus with more than 90 participants. PTS participates and leads both locally and regional conferences.
Round Square virtual conference on pollution led by 10 students with 200 students from 12 countries.
Proposing a course elective in diplomacy and international relations beginning ‘23-’24.
Led 18 domestic and international travel experiences on 6 continents.
Hosted Round Square exchange students at partner schools in Peru and Germany.
Piloted three semester courses online, in Summer, 2022. After reflection and revision of course work and approach, we will offer two courses again in Summer, 2023 - Foundations in World Religion and Wellness.
Adopting Project Lead the Way Biomedical Science course electives to offer a Pathway of course work for students interested in the related fields.
Received STEM School of Excellence Recognition for the third year in a row by ITEEA (International Technology and Engineering Educators Association).
Community
To embrace our School Community, defining it as those who can know one another and be known, and to safeguard our communal health while practicing hospitality, empathy, and leadership rooted in service to others.
Held weekly early morning Holy Eucharist Services for Faculty and Staff.
Planned and executed Chapels over the entire semester:
Collaborated with the Mexican Parents to create altars for the Day of the Dead and invited the Mexican Consulate to present on the cultural significance of the celebration.
Invited Rabbi Fisch from Temple Judea to present and educate on the High Holy Days of Judaism during Chapel.
Hosted the Palmetto Bay Community to celebrate and honor the local Veterans with an All School Chapel with the Mayor of Miami Dade County as the guest speaker.
Collaborated with the Performing Arts Department to create a service of Lessons and Carols for the Annual Tree Lighting Service.
Continued to message Lead with Love mantra through ongoing Chapels and School Gatherings.
Chaplain presented two workshops at the Biennial Convention for the National Association of Episcopal School in San Antonio, Texas, in November 2022 and to the Independent Schools of South Florida on "The Mental and Emotional Aspects of Education in the 21 Century."
Chaplain continues to teach Christianity courses in the Postmodern World.
Hosted focus groups for middle school students to discuss issues around inclusion and belonging.
Utilized peer counselors all year for students who are dealing with challenges at school and request or may benefit from meeting with an older PTS student.
Implemented first year of PTS’s specific advisory curriculum - a scaffolded approach to discussing relevant topics and issues in 6-12th grades aligned to the Portrait of a Graduate.
Supported an education-based program modeled by student-athletes, parents, and coaches.
Implemented Concussion Program in August 2022.
Commenced a “Captain’s Circle” student-athlete Leadership Group, September 2021.
Expanded our HUDL video to include film for player/coach review and college recruiting, August 2021.
Hired New Athletic Trainer, Dr. Freer, and implemented rehabilitation at PTS, August 2022.
Upgraded our football helmets to Riddell and lacrosse helmets to Cascade to follow sport safety and best practices, 2021-23.
Upgraded Hall of Fame and Record Boards to digital displays, July 2022.
Athletic Director attended the National Athletic Directors Conference in Nashville, TN, December 2022.
Held three specifically designed Wellness Chapels for students.
Hosted Internationally acclaimed and Internet Safety advocate Alicia Kozak who spoke to students.
Redesigned the DEI Team's web presence to more fully and accurately communicate the school's DEI efforts and initiatives to all members of the community.
Engaged in proactive and sustained dialogue with various groups who have expressed the need for greater inclusion in our community (including alumni groups, parents of African American students, parents of LGBTQIA+ students, and parents of Jewish American students). Dialogue has resulted in programming (such as our Jewish American Heritage Month, Black History Month, and upcoming Pride Month convocations).
Embarked on a rewrite of the entire Mosaic program to create differentiated lessons for each grade level to remove redundancies and ensure age-appropriate pedagogy and content that builds on previous understanding from year-to-year.
Expanded student participation in and development of the Mosaic program, by including student leaders in advisor and student facilitator training.
Hired Admission Officer to help with diversity recruitment.
Completed podcast by Associate Head of External Relations for real estate company to communicate the School’s mission.
Continue to provide opportunities for families to visit school outside of the typical open house times. Multiple tours, morning and afternoon information seasons. Provide virtual meetings and virtual interviews for added flexibility.
Have become test optional to drop the cost barrier of testing for underserved communities.
Continue to meet with Relocation Managers to connect to families moving to Miami.
Hired new Alumni Relations Coordinator, which is an alumna, to continue building Alumni community.
Continuing to update the alumni database with current and accurate contact information and strengthen the Class Agent program.
Engage alumni by reaching out to them personally, with the expectation to bring them back into the PTS community such as hosting social events, featuring them in articles, speaking to our students and touring the campus.
Relaunch the PTS Alumni Mentor program, fostering mutually beneficial partnerships and meaningful connections.
Promoting alumni leaders through continued Alumni Board work and engagement in additional committees.
Faculty
To explore and secure pioneering ways to attract, retain, and develop Mission-driven Faculty who inspire, empower and challenge students to embrace Palmer Trinity’s Portrait of a Graduate.
Hosted 2nd Annual Gratitude Week and added the following quality of life opportunities:
Hosted numerous PTPA sponsored events for Faculty and Staff
Increased generous Holiday Bonus
Provided Thanksgiving Turkey/ Ham and Holiday Bread
Hosted a variety of celebratory events on Campus
Head of School Holiday has been added to the calendar.
Hosted/Hosting Faculty Forum Series:
Art of Communication Three (3) Events Fall, 2022
Personal Finance, Real Estate, and Investing Three (3) Events Spring, 2023
Offered New Teacher Mentoring Program; Engaging Monthly Meetings with directed Topics.
Scheduled to host our first (inaugural) Hiring Open House on Saturday, March 4th, 2023
Establishing contacts with Barry University and University of Miami’s Schools of Education to explore the possibility of teaching internships/ observation requirements fulfilled through PTS.
Continue to build record-breaking Annual Fund foundation intentionally ensuring the highest quality student experience.
Continue to increase alumni participation through such strategies such as: the March Madness Alumni giving challenge, and increased alumni social and professional opportunities.
Utilize "Give Miami Day" as an opportunity to cultivate other constituencies for support of Palmer Trinity School.
Building upon our "24 Hour Giving Challenge", to school pride and philanthropic support.
The Endowment has grown over the last 10 years from $200k to $15M to better weather market downturns and to be able to pay off debt, fund programs enhancements and faculty professional development--Patrick Roberts H.F. Roberts Global Learning Endowment (new 2022/23).
The school has grown annual fund to over $1M to fund new programs, initiatives, learning spaces to better serve our community.
Introduced policy to increase endowment through all capital projects with designated dollars.
Land and Facilities
To leverage our campus footprint to maximize learning opportunities for our community — both its unparalleled facilities and distinctive Florida grounds — creating independent natural and built environments that enrich the mind, nurture the body, and refresh the spirit.
2023 Master Plan update in progress to reflect new projects built per 2014 master plan and as built to date revisions per the Soaring to Greater Heights Campaign. Pattern book to accompany in progress highlighting guidelines and standards for future improvements for consistency.
Director of Sustainability working with the science department to develop a sustainability statement in progress.
New vendor Waste Management engaged to improve waste stream efficiency and provide data for students to use in the classroom.
Kipp Field House achieved net zero energy footprint through solar panel installation. Monitoring of energy consumption being used in curriculum and ongoing.
Five (5) Electrical Vehicle charging stations installed on campus with two (2) new stations in the student parking lot in progress.