25 Years of Trinity
“Trinity Episcopal School will be a school of distinction… a cornerstone of the community.” - Founding literature
For 25 years, the community of Trinity students, families, and staculty has worked to fulfill that founding vision of Trinity.
During this 25th school year, we will look back on the faces, traditions, and events that have shaped the Trinity story. Check back throughout the year as we look through the TES photo album below.
During the first weeks of school, Trinity students have been getting to know their grade-level’s service learning partner for the year, continuing a tradition of learning about the needs of our community neighbors, from food insecurity to housing.
Service learning began as one partnership and has since blossomed into a program across all grade levels.
The act of serving others teaches Trinity students to be stewards of and advocates for their community, and reflects our Episcopal identity by promoting respect the dignity of all people.
For 25 years, the oak tree has towered over Trinity.
Faces have come and gone, learning cottages gave way to the main building, but the tree has always been there for yearbook photo backdrops, class experiments and lessons, and a place for shade during recess.
The first of our three core values, creating scholars means more than simply making sure that students know information. For 25 years, Trinity's teachers have inspired students to think critically, problem-solve, and be curious about the world around them.
“Go outside and face the east and greet the day with some kind of blessing or chant or song that you made up yourself.”
Those instructions from the book “The Way to Start the Day” by Byrd Baylor laid the foundation for a Trinity tradition: Greet the Week.
Wildcats gather each Monday as a community for school announcements, songs, scripture, the Honor Code, and more. This Trinity staple began as a morning routine in founding staculty member Chris Weiss’ 5th Grade classroom.
“You had to go out and greet the day before Morning Circle began,” she recalled. “I can actually picture them trickling out, standing on the deck facing east, and closing their eyes, saying a prayer or something else.”
This routine made founding Academic Dean Liz Whisnant wonder if the entire school could do it. “It really then took on a life of its own,” Dr. Weiss said, as new elements became a part of the gathering, such as the Lord’s Prayer and music.
What began on the deck of learning cottages 25 years ago continues today in the courtyard, sometimes in the gym or the field.
“I am so glad Trinity is still honoring this tradition,” Weiss said.
As Trinity begins its 25th school year, we look back on previous first days of school. Does anyone remember Father Smokey’s tradition of being in a different costume each year on the first day?
