School News

Our virtue of the quarter is a virtue with two parts. COMPASSION has an affective part (heartfelt sympathy) and an effective part (action to relieve another’s distress). As you read, talk, and think about compassion look for ways to cultivate feelings of sympathy and practice acts of mercy. You can use the suggestions in our Virtue Home Connection poster or come up with your own.

Our 3rd and 4th grade class continues to work on building character and community with Altus Adventures on Tuesdays in October. Their session this week, “Self-Control and Taming the Tongue” focused on James 3:4-5, 10.

Parents, ask your son or daughter to tell you what any of the “fingers” stand for in the ‘five finger contract’. Also ask your student to tell you about a game he or she played with Altus and (hopefully!) one thing that he or she learned.

Altus Adventures, in addition to leading our 7th/8th leadership event this weekend, will be working with our 3rd/4th class throughout the month of October to help build friendship and character.

The first session, “Reaching Out,” will center around James 2:1. Parents, here are some follow-up questions and conversation starters to learn more about your child’s experience.

Share with your child about a time in which you went out of your way to include someone, or someone else included you.

Ask your student to think of a time and share it too. If your student can’t think of one, ask him or her to make a plan to reach out to someone and share how it goes!

Dear Trinitas Parents,

First and foremost, I want to thank you for exercising greater diligence when evaluating symptoms of student illness at home. The extra ounce of caution you are using and the time you are taking to call the office to talk through symptom evaluation only increase our chances of keeping classrooms open to in-person learning. Some of you have reached out with questions about the impact of your travel plans over breaks and holidays on your child’s return to the classroom. Thank you all for the care that you are showing for your child’s classmates and teachers and for the school!

Second, I want to make sure you are aware of a change that will impact our kindergarten through 6th grade. This past Friday the governor announced a change to the mask requirement for public and nonpublic schools under Executive Order No. 2020-185, which requires all students in K-12 to wear masks while in the classroom when the region is in Phase 4 of the MI Safe Start Plan. The new requirement goes into effect on Monday, October 5. Barring any changes to the order or to our regional risk level, all students will be required to wear masks in the classroom beginning next Monday. Please take time to talk to your child about the change–as our teachers will be doing in the classroom–and acquire enough masks to allow for a clean face covering every day.

This change won’t be easy for many students, and it will be more challenging for some than for others. Know that we will be watching over your children and watching out for them. Teachers have already been spending more class time outside this fall. Expect that to increase. Transitions between classes might route students outside whenever possible so that they can take a “mask break” as they move. Perhaps if we can find a canopy solution to provide a little overhead shelter, we may be able to spend time outdoors even on drizzly days like today. All of this will mean that weather-appropriate attire is even more important than before. In the end, know that we are very aware of the impact this change will have on our students and that we will keep a close eye on the overall wellbeing of every child.

Best regards,
Peter Marth

Update: This event has been rescheduled for Monday, October 5. All other details remain the same.

Donuts with Dad is a favorite fall tradition at Trinitas! We hope dads (or VIPs) can join us on the morning of Wednesday, September 30, from 7:45 a.m. to 8:15 a.m., for drinks, donuts, and fellowship. Please note that this event will be held outdoors. Dress for the weather, and if you’d like to sit while eating and drinking, bring blankets or camp chairs. If your child is a big breakfast eater, please think like a Hobbit and treat this as “second breakfast”. Following donut time, dads and VIPs are welcome to stay for a special outdoor Morning Prayer at 8:15 a.m.

As with any outdoor event, the weather may alter our plans. Please watch for any necessary updates as the day approaches.

Additional important details:

Read the rest of this entry »

Though we are unable to invite guests to the school building, we still plan to celebrate Grandparent/VIP Day and honor the special people in our students’ lives by sharing a short video and gift. To participate, please complete the form sent in the all-school newsletter.

Grandparents or VIPs are still welcome to pick up students at dismissal, if they want to enjoy lunch together. Please contact the office if your child(ren) will be picked up by someone else at dismissal on Wednesday, October 7. Without parent authorization, we are not able to release a student to anyone other than a parent.

Grandparent/VIP Day is still a half day that marks the beginning of our fall break. Dismissal will be at 11:35 a.m. There is no school on Thursday, October 8, or Friday, October 9.

When Jesus spoke to his disciples to tell them he would be with them only a little longer, he gave them this commandment: “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love on another.” John 13:34-35

As we focus on the virtue of COMPASSION throughout this quarter, let us remember that loving one another isn’t optional; it’s a commandment. Let us live so that our words and actions demonstrate to everyone that we are disciples of Christ.

We were not able to celebrate our students’ impressive 2019-2020 achievements at an awards night last spring, but we will recognize them at lunch on Friday, September 25.

Congratulations to all! Well done!

Special School Events

Speech Meet – Joanna L., Noah W., Samuel B., Timothy G., Ellie G., Ivana R., Abby G., and Sophia S.

Spelling Bee – Isla M., Noah I., Ellie G., Fiona M., Justin M., Truman M., Beatrice V., and Lily T.

Geo Bee – Tommy K., Sam H., Samuel B., Aaron B., Gabriel F., Ellie G., Sophia S., Lily T., and Vency R.

National Mythology Exam

Gold Medalists (perfect score) – Justin M., Lily T.
Silver Medalist (96-99%) – Sophia S.
Bronze Medalists (90-95%) – Gabriel F., Abby G., Ivana R., Vency R.

National Latin Exam

Intro:
Lily T. – Ribbon & Certificate for Outstanding Achievement and Special Certificate for perfect score
Ayanna S. – Ribbon & Certificate for Outstanding Achievement
Ivana R. – Ribbon & Certificate for Outstanding Achievement

Latin I:
Sophia S. – Gold Summa Cum Laude
Jacob M. – Silver Maxima Cum Laude

Special Honors

Humanities Award for Bible, reading/literature, grammar, writing, and history: Justin M.

Perfect Attendance (no absences AND fewer than 3 tardies, including in Zoom):
Ellie G., Emily G., Timothy G., and Justin M.

Honorable mention for only one or two days missed:
Samuel B., Gabriel F., Abby G., Tommy K., Jacob M., Jonathan M., Isla M., Sophia S., and Malcolm S.

Preparing students for lives well-lived means preparing them to think, to act, and to love well. Virtue formation is an important part of who we are and what we do at Trinitas. We are moving to a Virtue of the Quarter (rather than a Virtue of the Month) schedule this year to give everyone more time at school and at home to work on forming habits of virtue.

While bad habits can be formed quickly, good habits take time! We strongly encourage families to acquire The Book of Virtues, edited by William Bennett, or The Children’s Book of Virtues (for grades K-2) and to read these inspiring stories together. Our virtue for the first quarter is COMPASSION.

Watch for updates and “Try This” ideas to come home soon. We will also make connections to our virtue focus in our Classical Christian Education Corner features, the first of which appears this week.