School News

 

Our One and Only Fundraiser

November 21st, 2019

Watch 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, 2019

We’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.


Spelling Bee – Monday, January 13

November 21st, 2019

It’s time to start preparing for the Spelling Bee! There are three lists this year, categorized by level of difficulty instead of grade. Students in 1st/2nd will be working with the Level 1 list. The 3rd/4th students should review Level 1 but study Level 2 and Level 3. Students in 5th-8th should study Level 2 and Level 3.

Click on each level to see this year’s words: Level 1, Level 2, Level 3

For study tips, click here.


GeoBee – Coming in January!

November 21st, 2019

Trinitas is registered for the National Geographic GeoBee! The GeoBee is designed to inspire students’ curiosity about the world. Our school bee will be held the last week of January, and all students will be participating. Grades K-2 will get a taste of the GeoBee with classroom activities and quizzing, including grade-level appropriate questions. Grades 3-8 will compete in classroom rounds much like the Spelling Bee. The questions are oral, prepared by National Geographic, and cover a wide range of geographic topics. While 3rd graders will get one year of practice, 4th-8th graders will compete for slots in the school finals. Our school champion will advance to the next level of competition, an online qualifying test to determine competitors in the State GeoBee.

Tips to prepare for the GeoBee, for Grades 3-8 (and eager, younger students):

Start with a world map, globe, and atlas – become very familiar with the continents, countries, states and provinces, then the largest islands, largest bodies of water and other major physical features (mountain ranges, deserts, lakes, rivers), and major lines of latitude and longitude.

Use blank outline maps of the world, continents, and states – test yourself by attempting to fill them in. The GeoBee Study Toolkit contains some outline maps, as well as sample GeoBee questions. The Toolkit is a great place to start.

Take as many practice quizzes as possible – there are countless multiple-choice, online geography quizzes and games. National Geographic offers a daily, online GeoBee Quiz, a free app called the GeoBee Challenge App, and more at https://www.nationalgeographic.org/education/student-experiences/geobee/study/.

Prepare flashcards or another technique to memorize the capitals of the countries, capitals of the fifty United States, and state nicknames. And memorize basic earth facts, such as the highest, lowest, and deepest points around the world, and other earth “extremes.”

Build your knowledge – A good atlas or geography reference book makes maps come alive with other information that can be beneficial to know for the GeoBee, such as population, religions, languages, animal and plant life, climate, economics, and monuments unique to different parts of the world. Knowledge of world history is also a bonus.


Sharing Our Gifts with the School of Promise

November 21st, 2019

It is a Trinitas tradition to partner with a charitable organization during the holidays as a way to express our gratitude for the Lord’s many blessings and a way to bless others in need. This year we will again be sending a financial gift to the School of Promise in Thailand.

We are excited to see how the school has grown since we first developed a relationship with them. The founder of the school visited Trinitas a few years ago and spoke at our chapel. The school is actively working to break the cycle of poverty and oppression in Thailand by providing an excellent school rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Thai students learn from Christian teachers who truly love them and who share God’s love with them inside and outside of the classroom. Our collection will go directly to the school to support their wonderful ministry.

Gifts may be brought to the office. If giving cash (no coins, please), mark the envelope with your family name. Checks should be made out to “Hope International Schools”. During Morning Prayer, your student will be able to place an ornament on our tree in recognition of your donation. Our students will also make cards for the School of Promise students and will pray for them!

Click here to learn more about the School of Promise.


November Virtue Focus – Honesty

November 21st, 2019

We continue to focus on HONESTY this month. The upcoming Thanksgiving break would be a good time to read together from The Book of Virtues and to talk about what it means to be honest and a person of integrity.

Click here for the recommended readings and “Try This” ideas for putting honesty into practice!


CCE Corner – BaseCamp Live Podcast

November 21st, 2019

We all want our children to have an active faith, but did you know that only 10% of young adults report having such a faith?

Listen to this recent podcast from BaseCamp Live to learn how to help your child (and you) cultivate and keep a vibrant and resilient faith by being part of something good, true, and beautiful that is bigger than you. It addresses important factors like access to secular culture, alienation, and rejection of authority.


School Pictures and Retakes

November 21st, 2019

School pictures were sent home last Friday. All students received a proof sheet with a portrait ID and access code that allows you to view photos and place orders on the Lifetouch website. Retakes are scheduled for the morning of Wednesday, December 4. Please let the office or your classroom teacher know if you wish to have a retake.


Uniform Notes – Lands’ End Coupon Code & Online Store

November 21st, 2019

All Lands’ End orders will be 50% off from November 23 to December 3 when you use the promotional code ADMIN50 and PIN 1203. Grand Rapids has a new Lands’ End store located in the Shops at Centerpointe. They do not carry uniform items in the store, but if you order from their kiosk, you will receive free shipping.

Now is the time to order your Trinitas t-shirts, sweatshirts, and jackets from our online store. The store will close on December 4.


Information Meeting for Girls Basketball

November 21st, 2019

Girls in 6th-8th grade are invited to join the West Michigan Lutheran middle school basketball team. There will be a parent meeting on Monday, November 25, at 5:50 p.m. in the school gym. Please contact the office if you would like more information or the game schedule.