We were blessed on Wednesday morning by Fr. Andrew Honore’s chapel message about SELF-DISCIPLINE. Ask your child about how Fr. Andrew learned habits of self-discipline in the U.S. Navy before becoming a priest. Also ask your child what assignment he gave everyone to start each day. (Christmas break may be a good time to work on forming some new habits!) Fr. Andrew also reminded us that as we seek to “run the race” like St. Paul, we are not alone. May you and your families be blessed this Advent, Christmas, and New Year by the presence of fellow runners in the Christian life.
December Virtue Focus – Self-Discipline
December 19th, 2019Latin at Lunchtime – Nativity Play
December 18th, 2019Thanks to our 7th and 8th grade Latin students for presenting their Latin at Lunchtime Nativity play today! Fabula optima!
Annual Fund 2019-2020 Week 2
December 12th, 2019
Dollar-for-dollar match ends this month!
We have received $13,790 in gifts which equals $27,580 counting the dollar-for-dollar match. We still need $42,420 to meet this year’s goal, but half of that amount could be raised through the matching funds! So the amount that will get us to our goal is $21,210. The remaining matching funds expire at the end of this month! Every gift counts! To donate to our annual fund drive, please click here.
Worth remembering: You aren’t selling (or buying!) candy bars.
Most schools raise funds by selling goods, products, or services. This practice can place undue pressure on families to reach a substantial sales goal. That goal is, of course, inflated well above the school’s actual need because profits are shared with the company providing the goods. Not so at Trinitas. Every dollar given goes directly to the Christian classical education your child receives, and you haven’t been pressured to sell or buy a thing.
Rook No Further! It’s Time for Chess Club!
December 12th, 2019All students will take part in Chess Club which will take place at 2:05 p.m. on four Fridays: January 10, January 24, February 7, and February 21. Students will be dismissed at the regular time. Homeschool students are welcome and should contact their teacher if they will be participating.
FAQs:
Do I need to bring a chess set to chess club?
Trinitas has purchased new chess sets to be used during chess club, so you do not bring a chess set.
I don’t know anything about chess! How will I participate?
Chess is a challenging game and one you will enjoy. You will enjoy it more if you take some time to learn about it now. Use kidchess and learn a little bit each day or on the weekends.
Start by going to the LEARN CHESS tab and begin with SETTING UP. Remember, use the kidchess website by clicking on LEARN CHESS which is a free section with tutorials and games. Under LEARN CHESS, use the SKILL LEVEL tab to get guidance on your child’s level.
What if no one at home can play chess with me. How can I practice?
Play practice games here: http://www.kidchess.com/play-chess/ezchess/. Use the LEARN CHESS tab to learn the basics or review the basics of the game.
Am I too young to play chess?
All of our students can learn to play chess. Using the www.kidchess.com website is one way to help teach your child the basics ahead of time. Play games using only the pawns at first.
Will I be playing against someone who can play at my level?
Staff and parent volunteers will be matching up partners based on level not age. Competitive students will have a chance to ‘move up the chess ladder’ and compete in higher level play.
December Virtue Focus – Self-Discipline
December 12th, 2019On Monday morning, Protect Young Eyes founder Chris McKenna spoke to Trinitas 5th-8th grade students with an honest and engaging message on technology use. He stressed the fact that nowhere in our lives are good and bad so close together as they are on the internet. He encouraged our students to remember their identity in Christ and the gift of each new day as they seek to love God and others with their digital habits. Mr. McKenna also gave an inspirational talk to parents Monday evening. He provided much to think about and act on, especially as we practice the virtue of SELF-DISCIPLINE this month.
We look forward to welcoming Fr. Andrew Honore as our chapel guest on December 18. Please join us that morning at 8:00 a.m.!
Recommended readings* to read and discuss together:
Grades K-4:
Please (24)
Table Rules for Little Folk (42)
The Goose that Laid the Golden Eggs (47)
The Golden Touch (63)
Grades 5-8:
Intro to Self-discipline (21)
King Canute on the Seashore (67)
Phaeton (69)
George Washington’s Rules of Civility (74)
*Readings can be found in The Book of Virtues, ed. William J. Bennett. Copies can be found on Amazon Smile.
“Try This” ideas for families:
One: Practice self-discipline with technology. Have a family tech-free time each evening or a tech-free day each week.
Two: Be self-disciplined in what you say. When you are tempted to say something negative about someone else, don’t say it, or say something positive instead.
Three: Practice self-discipline with your stuff. As Christmas approaches, now is a good time to give some of your things away to a charity.
Four: Talk together as a family about what SELF-DISCIPLINE is/looks like and come up with your own idea about how to practice it.
CCE Corner – Letting Go of Perfection
December 12th, 2019
Lesson 5. Don’t let the best be the enemy of the good: letting go of perfection
Sometimes our desire for the best education for our children can be problematic. In his essay, “Learning in War-Time”, C.S. Lewis says something we appreciated especially during the early years of Trinitas: “The only people who achieve much are those who want knowledge so badly that they seek it while the conditions are still unfavourable. Favourable conditions never come.”
“Unfavourable” certainly described some of the conditions of our first year. As it turned out, our school moved three times that year. Someone suggested we change our tagline to something more trendy: “Trinitas—a school without walls.” In those early years, we also had a fair amount of teacher turnover for part-time positions – always in August.
Those were pretty significant imperfections. There were plenty of others, but our families were committed to making this wonderful thing work. Sometimes it is easier to persevere when things outside your control happen. But, what about those things that seem to be in your control? What about when, for example, you see imperfections and you feel like you could be doing things better yourself? Or, you think the grass must be greener on the other side of that other school’s fence. You’ve invested time and money and you’re used to doing or having things your own way. First, look for the good (we’ll have more to say about that in Lesson 6). Second, remember to be humble, charitable, and patient. All good things take time.
Protect Young Eyes – 5th-8th Classroom Conversation
December 9th, 2019Protect Young Eyes founder Chris McKenna spoke to Trinitas 5th-8th grade students this morning with an honest and engaging message on technology use. He stressed the fact that nowhere in our lives are good and bad so close together as on the internet. He encouraged our students to remember their identity in Christ and the gift of each new day as they seek to love God and others with their digital habits. If you have a 5th-8th grader, ask what three truths he/she learned today. It was an inspirational talk! Plan to come at 6:30 tonight to hear the important message Mr. McKenna has for parents.
Christmas Gifts and Luncheon for Staff
December 5th, 2019Our One and Only Fundraiser
November 21st, 2019Watch for our Annual Fund flyer in your mailbox! This year’s fundraising goal is $70,000. Friends of Trinitas have offered to match donations received between now and the end of 2019, up to a maximum of $35,000. Please help us to take full advantage of this generous offer and support Christian classical education. Thank you for partnering with us as we seek to prepare students for lives well-lived!
Protect Young Eyes: It Really Is That Important!
November 21st, 2019We’ve been advertising our Protect Young Eyes event for several weeks now, and you’ve probably been asked by a teacher (or two) if you plan to attend. In our efforts to guide students toward all that is true, good, and beautiful, we must be aware of that which is actively working us. The internet is full of helpful information. Digital devices can save us time and connect us to others. But the dangers and distractions cannot be ignored. Protect Young Eyes will open your eyes as it offers you hope! We trust you will come away feeling informed and empowered.
Click here to register for our Protect Young Eyes event on Monday, December 9, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. We will be offering childcare for age 5 and up for current Trinitas families only. Space may be limited based on the number of children and the availability of care providers.