Public Speaking Skills Start Early at Trinity School

At Trinity School public speaking skills start early and continue through 8th grade. 
In preschool the student of the week brings in a poster about themselves.  They present the poster to their classmates and talk about what makes them special.  There are also performances for the parents at Halloween, Christmas, and at the end of the school year.

In kindergarten the big event in the spring is the 3 Piggy Opera.  This is the musical version of the Three Little Pigs performed on the music room stage by the whole kindergarten.  Family and friends enjoy many pink refreshments in the kindergarten classrooms after the play. 

Another highlight of the kindergarten year is the Saint Project.  Students choose a saint to research and present to the class.  For the class presentation the children dress as their saint.  After each student's presentation Mrs. Buckley asks the class if they have any questions or compliments.  Mrs. Buckley reports that there are no questions - only compliments.  At Trinity the students are so used to speaking in front of the class that this is a fun assignment for them.

The parent of one of our recent graduates reports that at Loyola High School public speaking is required in Freshman English class.  Her son told her that all of the Trinity boys thought this was no big deal while students from other schools really struggled.   At Trinity School you really do learn everything you need for life in kindergarten!

Trinity Students Get Ready for Earth Day

Trinity School enjoys finding new ways to celebrate Earth Day.  This year the 5^th grade will be sewing and germinating seeds in the Green House.  A variety of seeds were used: Herbs, Vegetables, and Flowers.  This is the first time students will be using the new Green House.  In order to be “green”, they recycled old newspaper to create their own seed starter planter pots.  No plastic pots needed!  These pots are easily transported into the ground when ready and are biodegradable.  We should have lot’s to harvest when we return to school in the fallJ 

Trinity School Virtue of the Month April: Integrity

Virtue of the Month for April: Integrity



Integrity is a virtue for moral decision making. 

It is doing what God expects of you.











Three Basic Ingredients of Integrity:
1. Telling the truth
2. Keeping one's promises
3. Taking responsibility for one's behavior














A person who has integrity:
Stands for something
Has strength of will
Is moved by God to do what is right

Trinity Virtue of the Month for March: Humility

Virtue of the month for March: Humility

Humility is the virtue that recognizes that by ourselves we are nothing: all comes from God.

To be Humble:

• Know yourself - be honest
• Truthfully acknowledge your accomplishments
• Give credit where credit is due
• Down-pay self importance
• Don't brag
• Recognize your limits
• Recognize the talents of others

If we relied totally on God, we would never sin.

CHOOSING HUMILITY IN AN ARROGANT WORLD
 
The humble wait patiently, while the arrogant want it now.
The humble demonstrate kindness, while the arrogant don't even notice the need.
The humble are content, not envious or jealous, while the arrogant feel they deserve more.
The humble honors and esteems others, while the arrogant brags on himself.
The humble does not act unbecomingly, while the arrogant's manners are rude.
The humble shows a servant spirit, while the arrogant demands to be served.
The humble are not easily provoked, while the arrogant are quick to take offence.
The humble quickly forgive a wrong suffered, while the arrogant can't rest until they even the score.

WHICH ONE ARE YOU?

Virtue of the Month February: Forgiveness

Trinity Virtue of the Month February: Forgiveness

Forgiveness is to pardon the wrongs done against us or to seek pardon for wrongs that we have done to another.

When the apostles asked Jesus to teach them how to pray, he included these words:
  "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us."

Ask to be forgiven, to forgive others, and to forgive yourself because peace cannot exist without forgiveness.

Search the Bible to find the many times when Jesus forgave others.

Read the Parable of the Lost Son:

  Luke 15:11-32

Jesus forgave his murderers when he hung dying on the cross when he said,
"Father, forgive them: They don't know what they are doing."

Forgiveness gives you freedom, joy, and peace - without it, revenge, anger, and bitterness.

THE FOUR PROMISES OF FORGIVENESS:
1. I will no longer dwell on this incident.
2. I will not bring up this incident again and use it against you.
3. I will not talk to others about this incident.
4. I will not allow this incident to stand between us or hinder our relationship.

Saxon Math Program

The Saxon Math Program at Trinity School

Before any new program is introduced at Trinity School, a thorough study and evaluation takes place.  The Saxon Math Program was no exception.  This program was reviewed and studied for two years.  Next a pilot program was initiated in the fourth grace.  In the succeeding year, the principal and two primary teachers travelled to a school district in Pennsylvania to view the Saxon Math Program in action at several schools.  Great enthusiasm for the program was expressed by teachers from all levels of experience.  The principal then arranged for an in-service program for the teachers.  After this, Trinity was ready to launch the program in the primary school, a grade at a time starting with the kindergarten.  A few years later, the middle school math teachers recognized the value of the Saxon Math Program through the progress and success of the students coming from the primary school and so the Saxon Math Program continued in the middle school.  Currently, the Saxon Math Program is used through the sixth grade.  Pre Algebra is taught in the seventh grade.  Algebra and Honors Algebra are offered to the eighth graders.  The strength of the Saxon Math program lies in its cyclic development.  With each lesson, a new concept is introduced, not mastered.  Students are then given daily opportunities to practice the new skills as well as practice all past skills presented.  This process keeps skills fresh and leads to automaticity in math.  Since the inception of the Saxon Math Program, the Trinity students’ math scores on the standardized test have notably increased.  In a recent survey of ninth grade Trinity graduates, 64% of the responders were placed in Advanced Algebra, Algebra II or Geometry.

How are advanced math students challenged?

Students who complete their work before the class ends are directed to engage in other challenging activities:

• The Saxon web site offers challenging activities at each grade level.
• Every primary class has sets of math palettes that offer extended math activities.  Teachers may adjust these offerings based on the math topic or the student’s level of achievement.
• Third grade teachers enrich the program by incorporating advanced Saxon supplementation and Skill Builders Math.
• Fourth grade teacher have created math packets from various resources that provide math challenges.
• The Moby Max computer program offers a pre-test and places the student in the level achieved with questions and problems to advance their math skills. 
• Two additional math enrichment opportunities: “Explain Everything” and Singapore Math are available to students in grade 1-4.

 

Trinity School Virtue of the Month for January: Perserverance

January Virtue of the month: Perseverance

Perseverance is the will to see things through in spite of fear, obstacles, hard work, or discouragement.

A person who practices perseverance shows commitment and determination and demonstrates persistence and endurance.






Do you practice perseverance in these situations?

• Being faithful to your volunteer commitment
• Never missing a drama rehearsal unless ill
• Attending all sport team practices
• Signing up for a job or activity and completing it
• Doing your part in a group assignment
• Setting a goal and reaching it

Practice, Practice, Practice

Perseverance in prayer.  Ask and you shall receive.  Keep on asking!

Choose to persevere ... rather than quit.