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TRINITY 2026 & BEYOND

Strategic Plan

DNOYEB & 6202 YTINIRT

Trinity School

“A school’s true purpose is to challenge children to grow in knowledge, skill, character, and confidence.”

Contents 1. Our Strategic Direction 2. 65 Years of Trinity School 3. How Our Strategy Took Shape 4. Six Focuses, Three Core Values 5. Thank You

Grounded in Purpose. Guided by Values. On May 28, 2026, the Board of Trustees officially adopted Trinity School's new five-year strategic plan. It is a forwardlooking framework built around three core values and six strategic focus areas.

Our Mission We develop curious minds and discerning hearts. Trinity School cultivates academic excellence in a community where every child is known, valued, and unique in their own voice.

Our Core Values Curiosity: We ask big questions, explore ideas, and stay open to what we can learn from one another.

Courage: We stretch ourselves, take risks, and learn from our mistakes as we grow.

Belonging: We welcome every voice and story, building a community where each person feels seen, included, and valued.

Rooted in Wonder. Ready for What’s Next: 65 Years of Trinity School In 1961, Trinity School was founded on a simple yet profound belief: every child deserves to be known, challenged, and encouraged to grow in knowledge, skill, character, and confidence—each according to their own unique strengths and potential. When our doors officially opened that following fall, the entire school was housed in what is now Trinity Hall on our Early Childhood Campus. Sixty-two students entered two classrooms, welcomed by Trinity’s pioneering teachers, Mary Avery and Virginia Simison. From those earliest days, the heart of a Trinity education was already taking shape. Learning was never intended to be an assembly line. It was—and continues to be—a joyful, active, and deeply relational journey, grounded in curiosity, individual attention, and a strong sense of community. That spirit soon outgrew its original home. Recognizing the need for a campus designed especially for young learners, Trinity secured land at 2650 Sand Hill Road and constructed what is now St. Bede’s and our Elementary classroom building. In 1963, the school moved to its new Sand Hill campus, added second grade, and continued to grow year by year. With care and intention, Trinity built a thoughtful K–6 educational journey, celebrating its first graduating class in 1968.

“For 65 years, Trinity has remained grounded in what children need to thrive: meaningful challenge, close relationships, room to wonder, and time to grow.”

Across six and a half decades, the Bay Area has changed dramatically, and the pace of childhood has often seemed to quicken along with it. Through it all, Trinity has remained grounded in a clear understanding of what children need to thrive: meaningful challenge, close relationships, room to wonder, and the time and space to grow into themselves. For 65 years, we have continued to refine a balance that feels increasingly rare: academic excellence without unnecessary pressure. Rigor without rush. Belonging by design. Today, Trinity remains a place where children are deeply known by their teachers and peers; where they are encouraged to ask brave questions, explore new ideas, and find joy in discovery; and where they learn to express not only what they know, but who they are becoming. As we celebrate our 65th anniversary, we honor the students, educators, families, and community members who have shaped Trinity across generations. We also look ahead with confidence and hope, committed to what Trinity has always done best: cultivating curious minds, discerning hearts, and a deep and lasting love of learning that prepares our students for middle school—and for life. With gratitude for all that has brought us to this moment, we invite you to explore Trinity 2026 & Beyond. Warmly, Kate Benson Head of School

Salina Sung Chair, Board of Trustees

“We honor our past by continuing to do what Trinity has always done best: cultivating curious minds, discerning hearts, and a deep, lasting joy in learning.”

Built on Conversation. Guided by Insight: How Our Strategy Took Shape

A great strategic plan does not start in a vacuum; it begins by listening deeply to the people who know and love a school best. Over the past year, the Board of Trustees and Leadership Team partnered with the strategy experts at NoTosh to guide us through a comprehensive, community-wide listening process. To ensure our work was rooted in real, everyday Trinity life, we formed an in-house “Design Team”—a collaborative group of students, parents, faculty, staff, governors, and leaders who served as the listening heart of this project. Together, we listened, gathered data, and looked closely at what makes Trinity distinctive. That research included: Over 70 in-depth conversations conducted directly by our Design Team. 8 different community surveys capturing perspectives across past and present families. Accreditation reports tracking our educational strengths and growth. Over 48 hours of analysis and dialogue. Out of this rich collection of insights came clear, interconnected choices about who we are and where we are going. What follows is not just a plan on paper—it is our shared roadmap for the future, built by and for the Trinity community.

Curiosity

We inspire children to ask big questions, think deeply, and take increasing ownership of their growth. Strategic Focus 1: Learning Made Visible

Strategic Focus 2: Consistency by Design

The Goal: Make our commitment to “rigor without rush” clear, consistent, and meaningful for every child and family.

The Goal: Strengthen and support our faculty so that joyful, inquiryled challenge is thoughtfully and consistently experienced across every grade and classroom.

What Parents Experience: Clear learning pathways, transparent approaches to assessment, and meaningful student portfolios that help you understand where your child is, how they are growing, and what comes next.

What Parents Experience: A coherent, well-aligned curriculum, ensuring that every student experiences the right balance of challenge, support, and depth throughout their Trinity journey.

The Impact for Students: Children develop greater ownership of their learning, building the selfawareness and confidence to reflect on and talk about their progress.

The Impact for Students: Learning that balances academic rigor with the wonder of childhood, helping children develop independence, critical thinking, and a lasting love of discovery.

Belonging

We ensure that every child and family feels seen, known, and connected in a school built on genuine partnership. Strategic Focus 3: Strong Parent Partnership

Strategic Focus 4: Campus Vision & Modern Learning Spaces

The Goal: Strengthen the partnership between school and home through clear communication, shared understanding, and intentional opportunities for connection.

The Goal: Invest thoughtfully in physical spaces that reflect our educational vision and bring our community together.

What Parents Experience: A clear and accessible source for school news, information, and learning updates, alongside expanded opportunities to learn together, connect with other families, and welcome new members into our community. The Impact for Families: A warm and welcoming experience from your very first day—one in which you feel informed, valued, and genuinely connected to Trinity’s mission and community.

What Parents Experience: A longterm vision for bringing our Early Childhood Program together in a single, purpose-designed setting, alongside a master plan for the Elementary Campus that connects the design of our learning spaces to the ways young children learn best. The Impact for Students: Inspiring, highly functional environments designed specifically for young learners to explore, collaborate, create, and thrive.

Courage

We take thoughtful, intentional steps to invest in our people and strengthen Trinity for generations to come. Strategic Focus 5: Investing in our Educators

Strategic Focus 6: Financial Strength & Long Term Stability

The Goal: Continue to attract, develop, and retain outstanding educators through competitive compensation, meaningful professional growth, and a culture in which teachers feel valued and supported.

The Goal: Continue to strengthen Trinity’s financial foundation through thoughtful budgeting, growing reserves, and a long-term endowment strategy.

What Parents Experience: A committed team of expert educators who choose to grow their practice at Trinity and bring their knowledge, creativity, and care to their work each day. The Impact for Students: Daily learning led by passionate, experienced teachers who know your child deeply—as both a student and a person.

What Parents Experience: Governance and multi-year financial planning that support sound decision-making, broaden the school’s financial foundation, and preserve the strength of Trinity’s program over time. The Impact for the Community: Confidence that Trinity’s mission, values, and exceptional educational program will continue to serve children and families for generations to come.

Thank You A strategic plan is only as strong as the voices, trust, and care poured into its making. To our Board of Trustees, thank you for your steady leadership, long-term vision, and unwavering commitment to Trinity’s mission. Your guidance ensures that as we look toward our next 65 years, Trinity remains strong, courageous, and deeply rooted in the values that have always defined our community. To our faculty and staff, thank you for the heart, expertise, and intention you bring to our classrooms each day. You are the reason our students are deeply known, thoughtfully challenged, and surrounded by a true sense of belonging. To our students, thank you for inspiring us with your boundless curiosity, courageous questions, and, most importantly, your joy. You are at the heart of this plan and the reason we strive for excellence in all that we do. And to our parents and guardians, thank you for your partnership, your candor throughout our community listening process, and the trust you place in us. You choose Trinity not only for what your children learn, but for who they become here. This strategic direction belongs to all of us. Together, we step forward into Trinity’s next chapter—curious, connected, and ready for what comes next.

“Education must not simply teach work— it must teach Life.” — W. E. B. Du Bois

Stay Connected We invite you to stay informed and engaged as we bring Trinity 2026 & Beyond to life. Contact Us office@trinity-mp.org (650) 854-0288 www.trinity-mp.org