Frequently Asked Questions

What is your statement of faith?

Why are you ecumenical? What do you see as the advantages to such an approach?

Your school has daily prayer together? What do you do during that time?

Is classical education only for gifted students?

What do you do with students that are either above or below grade level in a particular subject?

What are your class sizes?

How much homework will my child have?

Why do you teach "dead" languages such as Latin and classical Greek?

How do students taught in the classical tradition perform on standardized tests?

Classical schools typically use the Trivium, which is a curriculum that has three stages: grammar, logic, and rhetoric. Since Trinitas does not have a high school, it employs only the first two phases of the Trivium. In light of this, wouldn't it be stretching things to say that Trinitas is a genuinely classical school?

What if my child is older and has not been classically educated? Will it be prohibitively difficult for him or her to "get up to speed" in subjects such as Latin or grammar?

Do you offer physical education, music, and art?

Do your students wear uniforms?

Do you have a hot lunch program?

What extracurricular opportunities and special events are there at Trinitas?

What are tuition costs for a single child?

Do you have a benevolence fund?

Do you provide busing for students?

Are you a member of any classical associations?

What is your statement of faith?

As an intentionally ecumenical community, Trinitas Classical Association finds its unity in the beliefs articulated in the Nicene Creed. This rule of faith, proclaimed by the first and second Ecumenical Councils (at Nicea in 325 and Constantinople in 381), is a confession common to Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant traditions alike. The creed as it was originally handed down by the Council is translated as follows:

We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible;

And in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Only-begotten, Begotten of the Father before all ages, Light of Light, True God of True God, Begotten, not made, of one essence with the Father, by Whom all things were made:

Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and was made man;

And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried;

And the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures;

And ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father;

And He shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead, Whose kingdom shall have no end.

And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, and Giver of Life, Who proceeds from the Father*, Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, Who spoke by the Prophets;

And we believe in One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.

We acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins.

We look for the Resurrection of the dead,

And the Life of the age to come. Amen.

*Most Western churches (both Roman Catholic and Protestant) include the phrase "and the Son," reflecting an addition approved by a local Council of the Spanish Church in 589.

In addition to the teachings concerning the Holy Trinity, creation, the incarnation and virgin birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and bodily resurrection confessed in the above creed, we also hold those truths believed by Christians of every time and place. Among these, we mention specifically the following:

• There is no salvation apart from Christ Jesus who said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6)


• The Holy Scriptures are "given by inspiration of God, and [are] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Because we are deliberately ecumenical, the forms of prayer and worship that we use reflect beliefs common to Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant Christians. Different devotional traditions (lifting the hands, bowing the head, making the sign of the cross, etc.) are respected, and we encourage teachers and students to pray as they are accustomed to do at home and in church.

Whereas differences with respect to belief and practice do exist among Christians, we believe that beliefs specific to particular Christian denominations are most appropriately taught in the homes and the churches. When diverging beliefs and practices are appropriately discussed in the course of usual academic study, our teachers do not promote the views of any one tradition over another. Rather, our teachers aim to cultivate among our students an understanding and appreciation of both the variations within and the fundamental unity of the Christian faith.

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Why are you ecumenical? What do you see as the greatest advantages of such an approach?

The answer to this question is probably best summarized in the following true story. Recently, a Trinitas student was reading some history and was very disturbed by the treatment of Catholics under Protestant rulers and vice-versa. When asked why he found this so upsetting, he said he thought it was because he has friends from both groups.

Sadly, Christianity is today marked by deep divisions. Because of this, we at Trinitas believe that we need to accomplish two things. First, instead of fixing upon the divisions within Christendom, we need to celebrate the common faith that binds Christians together. The issues that bind us are far greater than those that divide! By celebrating these, we believe that we can take steps toward being a positive Christian witness in a religiously fractured world. Second, when we have differences, we need to learn how to dialogue with each other in charitable and respectful ways. For in doing so, we learn from each other and are often blessed by one another.

At Trinitas, we are dedicated to Christian education. So, our goal is to educate children in such a way that they are formed by the richness of our faith. But we also realize that we live in a pluralistic world. So, we also desire to prepare our children to live in this world. We can think of no better way to accomplish these goals than to provide for our children an education in which they are simultaneously grounded in the fundamentals of the faith and interacting daily with children from different branches of Christianity. We should add, lastly, that our approach is not one that champions "lowest common denominator" Christianity. Christianity is a rich faith. We have no wish to minimize this. Rather, we gather together daily at Trinitas with our respective confessional identities, thanking God for the faith we share and learning from our respective differences.

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Your school has daily prayer together. What do you do during that time?

We begin our day together around the Word of God and prayer. Every day we hear a reading from on of the Gospels and pray a Psalm, the Lord's Prayer, and either the Apostles' or Nicene Creed. We also join our voices in song, employing music that spans the whole history of Christianity, ranging from ancient hymns to the best of contemporary music. In addition, each week we hear short lessons about great figures in Scripture and the history of the church. On these days, Morning Prayer is a mixture of song and story and is an integral part of our character develpment curriculum. Parents and siblings are welcome to pray with the students and aid in whatever way they can; lending their voices in song or providing musical accompaniment are just two examples.

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Is classical education only for gifted students?

Classical education is an excellent way to educate children whatever their abilities. Gifted children will do well in many different educational environments. They can excel at Trinitas, as we provide a challenging and robust academic environment. Classical education works with the natural development of the child and teaches fundamental skills in grammar, logic, rhetoric, history, math, and science. This knowledge is helpful to everyone ; it is knowledge that forms the basis of good thinking. Moreover, classical education communicates these skills in a way that is accessible and enjoyable, as we use chants, songs, and activity-based science. Finally, at Trinitas, we stress that education is holistic, engaging the entire person. And so we aim to provide a moral and spiritual grounding in the Christian tradition for our students. This grounding is invaluable for every student - whatever his or her academic ability may be.

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What do you do with students that are either above or below grade level in a particular subject?

In short, we try to accommodate them. Subjects such as Latin, reading, and math are taught at the same time period throughout the school so that students may be placed in the appropriate level. We believe this affords enough flexibility for students who need either an extra challenge or extra grounding in a particular subject. Our teachers are also happy to work with students and parents to provide whatever assistance is needed.

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What are your class sizes?

Kindergartners have their own class. Other classrooms have combined grades 1/2, 3/4, 5/6 and 7/8. Combined class sizes range from seven to twelve students at the current time.

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How much homework will my child have?

That will depend to some degree on the child and his or her grade level, but we desire to strike a healthy balance. We are committed to academic rigor and challenging our students, so there is homework. However, children are not mere minds, so we encourage students to pursue activities apart from academics and to spend time with their families. Ideally, the amount of homework given should not prevent this.

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Why do you teach "dead" languages such as Latin and classical Greek?

We teach Latin and classical Greek because they provide a terrific educational foundation. More than fifty percent of English vocabulary is taken from Latin. All the romance languages (Spanish, French, Portuguese, etc.) are based on Latin. Moreover, the study of Latin and Greek demand a very high level of competence with grammar. By learning these languages early, our students have a facility with grammar unmatched by most high school students. It is commonly noted that acquiring this competence with grammar stretches and strengthens the mind. As some like to put the matter, learning Latin and Greek are to the mind what physical education is to the body. Most children even find these languages fun.

By studying Latin and Greek students also gain valuable insight into the achievements of the Roman and Greek worlds (sculpture, architecture, sport, religious and political life, etc.). Finally, according to the National Committee for Latin and Greek, the study of Latin and/or Greek can also help student performance on college entrance exams. For example, high school students with two or more years of Latin typically score 140-160 points higher on the SAT than their Latin-less peers. The College Board (the publishers of the SAT) found that students with a background in Latin or Hebrew tied with higher scores in critical reading skills than students with a background in any other language. Students with a background in Greek scored next highest.

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How do students taught in the classical tradition perform on standardized tests?

The data indicates that students taught in classical schools perform very well on such tests. More specifically, students trained at classical schools perform in the top 10-15% on national tests, such as the Stanford Achievement Test and the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). (See Andrew Kern and Gene Veith, Classical Education: Toward the Revival of American Schooling , p. 24.) Many attribute these results, at least in part, to the study of Latin. For example, studies conducted by the Educational Testing Service show that Latin students consistently out perform all other students on the verbal portion of the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT).

In the Spring of our 2009-10 academic year, Trinitas students in Grades K-8 took the Iowa Test of Basic Skills to measure objectively their aptitude in vocabulary, reading comprehension, language, math, science, social studies, and using sources of information. These tests, which we began administering in the 2006-07 school year, provide a standard for comparison with other mainline schools.

When compared with students taking the same test at the same level nationwide, the composite average of every class ranked significantly above grade level as seen in the following table:

This means that our fourth grade class as a whole performed as well as the average seventh grade class would in the second month of its school year taking the same test, and so on. In many of the individual test components, our classes ranked far above their grade level. This was the case with our seventh and eighth grades, which tested at a college level (grade 13+) in reading, language, and science skills, and our sixth through eighth grades, which all placed three to four years ahead of their grade levels in mathematics.

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Classical schools typically use the Trivium, which is a curriculum that has three stages: grammar, logic, and rhetoric. Since Trinitas does not have a high school, it employs only the first two phases of the Trivium. In light of this, wouldn't it be stretching things to say that Trinitas is a genuinely classical school?

Our fundamental mission is to provide the best education we can for our students. At this point, we believe that we can do this by providing our children with a K-8 school. We realize that expanding beyond that would be a major undertaking. Of course a classical secondary school may be the natural outgrowth of Trinitas as it is presently configured. We are also exploring the option of working with other local high schools, many of which are excellent, to provide a "classical track" within which our graduates might complete the final stage of the Trivium. We believe that a school can be genuinely classical without offering the full Trivium. In fact, many of the members of the prominent classical school associations are K-6 or K-8 schools. For now, we are focusing our energy and resources on these grades, believing that it is better to be excellent at fewer things than mediocre at many.

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What if my child is older and has not been classically educated? Will it be prohibitively difficult for him or her to "get up to speed" in subjects such as Latin or grammar?

When an older student transitions into classical education, there is typically an adjustment period in which that student is introduced to new material and educational methods. With a little work, the transition is one in which students typically come through extremely well. Most importantly, we are committed to shepherding students through this process. So, for example, if your child has not had any Latin, he or she will be put in the beginning Latin class. If he or she is motivated to move to a higher grade level, private tutoring is an option. Our teachers, you will find, are generous with their time. They are happy to provide extra help when the need arises.

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Do you offer physical education, music, and art?

Yes. All Trinitas students have regular classes in physical education, music, and art.

Students at Trinitas have physical education two times per week where they learn to play such games as basketball, soccer, and field hockey as well as practice other skills related to physical fitness and good sportsmanship. Students also participate in the Fifth Third River Bank Run Junior and the Grand Rapids Kids Marathon.

In addition to singing each morning during morning payer, Trinitas students have weekly music classes where they are taught to read music, practice choral song, explore instruments, and study music history. Students in grades 3-6 also play the recorder. All Trinitas students have the opportunity to perform in various programs throughout the year and to enjoy field trips to the GR Symphony.

All grades have weekly art classes where they are taught technique as well as art appreciation and art history. Students are provided explicit instruction and guided in imitation as well as encouraged in the expression of their individual creativity. The results are impressive. 

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Do your students wear uniforms?

Yes, and our teachers do too. We believe that uniforms are helpful for numerous reasons. In our experience, they contribute to a sense of community. It also helps minimize the perception of socio-economic differences among students. Finally, it helps convey to students that there is a difference between being at school, on the one hand, and being at home or the neighborhood playground, on the other. And, we might add, we think our students look quite sharp in their uniforms.

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Do you have a hot lunch program?

We currently offer two meals per week and we plan to increase that number as Trinitas grows. We are committed to keeping the cost of school lunch affordable. The current cost ranges from $1.75 - $2.50 per meal.

Trinitas is in the process of implementing a hot lunch program in line with a vision which affirms the Christian teaching that our bodies are not our own but belong to God. Nourishing and maintaining our bodies, then, is part of our responsibility to be good stewards of God's creation. When it is economically feasible we choose organic, local, and seasonal items. We also try to support local businesses when we buy prepared foods. To accommodate all members of our community and to encourage healthful eating, we provide a vegetarian option for each meal. We seek to help children develop good life-long eating habits by offering nutrient-dense, low-fat, and low-sugar food choices whenever possible. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products are encouraged.

We also recognize that eating can itself be an educational opportunity and that what we eat can be related to our courses of study. Accordingly, we will periodically work with faculty to coordinate the school lunch program with specific learning opportunities. Students currently study nutrition as part of their classroom curriculum and we hope to eventually incorporate an "edible school yard."

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What extracurricular opportunities and special events are there at Trinitas?

At Trinitas, students have the opportunity to participate in field trips (parents and siblings are welcome too), spelling bees, speech meets, Christmas and Easter programs, Grandparents' Day, Fine Arts Night, Young Authors Festival, Science Fair, Trinitas Thoughtful Reader book clubs, Skateboard club, and family volunteer nights at Kids Food Basket.

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What are tuition costs for a single child?

Kindergarten is offered at $3,200 per year and grades first through eighth are $5,300 per year. In an effort to attract and assist families with multiple children, Trinitas Classical School now offers a multi-child discount. Families paying 100% tuition for their first two full-time students will receive a 10% discount on their total tuition obligation upon the enrollment of their third full-time student and a 20% total tuition discount upon the enrollment of their fourth and subsequent full-time students.

Fees for the homeschool partnership are: Latin $350, Science $450, Art/Music $250 per semester. If a homeschool student is enrolled in all three, the fee is $900 per semester (a savings of $150 per semester). Classical Greek and Logic are each offered for $300 per semester.

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Do you have a benevolence fund?

We are committed to being a school that displays socio-economic diversity. God's kingdom, after all, displays such diversity. But we are a young school with limited financial resources and we are also committed to fiscal responsibility. So, we currently have limited monies for families who need financial assistance. If you would like your child to attend Trinitas and are unable to afford full tuition, please talk to us about the matter. There are often creative solutions to such problems. Likewise, if you would like to contribute specifically to a benevolence fund, please talk to us about the issue. This is a wonderful way to further God's kingdom.

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Do you provide busing for students?

No. Parents are responsible for providing transportation to and from school. Carpooling is an option. Many Trinitas parents have found they enjoy driving their children (some even come from quite a distance). This also provides parents a regular opportunity to stay in touch with their children's teachers and with fellow parents.

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Are you a member of any classical associations?

We are members of the Association of Classical and Christian Schools (ACCS). Our faculty regularly attend classical education conferences.

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