Pillars March 2023

COACHES LEAD TO SUCCESS

FROMTHETOPOFTHEPILLARS

AMESSAGEFROMPRINCIPALCATHYLANCASTER

Spring has come quickly to the Blessed Trinity campus, and graduation is quickly approaching. We are halfway through the season of Lent and hope that you have been enjoying our social media campaign "40 for 40" highlighting what makes Blessed Trinity such a wonderful school and community. This time of year, our campus is packed with events almost every evening. We have a large group of students and faculty members who will be traveling to Italy for Spring Break in a few weeks.

Our Fine Arts students have held dance, band and art concerts as well as the winter play, “Just Another High School Play.” Be sure to mark your calendars for the upcoming spring musical, “Little Shop of Horrors,” on April 14 & 15 as well as our spring band and choral concerts taking place on May 4 & 5. Our Campus Ministry team has been busy planning another Kairos retreat which will take place March 17-19 as well as the much anticipated Senior Retreat happening in April.

Spring sports are in full swing and our ten athletic teams keep our fields, courts, track and athletic directors extremely busy. Speaking of athletic directors, congratulations to Ricky Turner for being honored by the Georgia High School Association and receiving the Sportsmanship, Ethics, Integrity of Excellence Award.

Two of our most important fundraisers are happening this Spring, the annual Auction and the Athletic Association’s Annual Golf Tournament. The funds raised annually between these two events benefit our students in a variety of ways, and I hope you will consider attending one or both.

Athletic Director Ricky Turner

SENIOR SPOTLIGHT JACLYN JOHNS

BlessedTrinity’sthree-sportathlete,JaclynJohns,embodiesallthatthemissionoftheschool shouldaccomplishinastudent.Sheisagentle,quietleaderthatexcelsonandoffthefieldin everythingsheisinvolvedin.HerathleticabilityhasnotonlyhelpedearntheFlagFootball teamitsfirstStateChampionshipwhereshereceivedtheMostValuablePlayerAward,ithas alsoearnedheranappointmenttotheUnitedStatesNavalAcademywhereshewillplay lacrosseintheFallof2023.AsadaughterofanAirForcepilot,Jaclynhopestofollowinher father’sfootstepsandbecomeanavalpilotinherownright.

ThistalentedTitan,theyoungestoffourgirls,hasafamousathleteinhernotsodistantpast. Jaclyn’sgrandfather,JohnnyGresham,wasaHallofFamefootballplayeratGeorgiaTech. He’sthereasonwhyJaclyn,arunningbackonBlessedTrinity’sstatechampionshipflag footballteam,wearsthenumber30onherjersey.Inthatchampionshipgame,Jaclynscored thewinningtouchdowninasecondovertimeandwasnamedMostValuablePlayer.Blessed Trinity'sflagfootballcoach,BrandonHarwell,describesJaclynas“aspecialplayerand person”Hecontinues,“forsomeonesoincrediblytalented,sheisveryhumbleandismuch morecomfortablegivingcredittoherteammatesthanacceptingpraiseforhercontributions totheteam'ssuccess Onandoffthefield,JJmakeseveryoneinourprogrambetter

Jaclynhasbeenplayingbasketballsincetheageoffour,the longestofanysportplayed.AsapointguardonBlessed Trinity’sbasketballteam,JJhelpedtheteamreachtheSweet16 playoffsinthisyear’sStateChampionships.Whenaskedto sharehisthoughtsonJJ,CoachTimRountreesimplystated,“I don’thaveadaughter,butifIdid,I’dwanthertobelikeJJ.”

Duetothebasketballteam’ssuccess,Jaclynislatetostartthe lacrosseseasonTheBlessedTrinitylacrosseteamiscomingoff ofa2022statechampionshipwithhopestowinitallagainthis year.FirstyearlacrossecoachDustyGunnisexcitedtocoach Jaclynthisyear.Gunnadds,“Jaclynisanextremelygifted athletethathastherarecombinationofspeed,agility, coordination,anddesire.Thethingthatismostimpressive aboutJJ,however,ishergenuinehumility.Shenevergivesthe impressionthatsheisbetterthananyone.Withallofher accomplishments,Jaclynalwaysputstheteamfirst.Sheisa greatpersonandagreatteammate.”

Jaclyn’sfavoritesubjectsinschoolaremathandscience.She hopestostudyengineeringattheNavalAcademy,although sheisnotyetsurewhatengineeringpathshewillchoose. JaclyncreditsBlessedTrinityAPCalculusteacherAmyMuller forchallengingherandencouraginghertoexcelinthe rigorousmathclassMullerstates,“WithallthatJaclynhas goingon,Iadmirehowsheneverlosesfocusonwhatis importanttoher,andoneofthosethingsisacademics.Sheis anincredibleathleteandatthesametimeanincredibleAP Calculusstudent.Ihaveenjoyedeverymomentofhavingher inmyclassroomthelasttwoyears.Iknowsheisgoingto EXCELatthenextlevel.GONAVY!”Jaclynisamemberof theNationalHonorSociety,hasbeenapartoftheschool’s HabitatforHumanityclub,andiscurrentlyontheBlessed Trinityyearbookstaff.

Quote Harwell

OutsideofBlessedTrinityandfarfromtheathleticfields,Jaclyncanbefoundridingdirtbikeswithherfatherinher freetime.TheirfavoriteyearlyeventtakesplaceonthepropertyofmusiclegendLorettaLynninHurricaneMills, Tennessee.Atthecompleteoppositeendofthisspectrum,JaclynandhermotherhavebeeninvolvedintheNational CharityLeagueforthepast6years.Thisgroupofmothersanddaughtersservesvariouscharitiesandcausesinthe localcommunity.“SheembodiesallofthevirtuesourschoolandCatholicfaithrepresent,”addsCoachHarwell,“she willmakeanoutstandingfutureleaderasanofficerintheUnitedStatesNavy.”

"She has the biggest smile and lights up a room. "

BTHAPPENINGS

April14&15-FineArtsPresents"LittleShopofHorrors"

April27-29-SeniorBreakfastandRetreat

April29-AnnualAuction"Carnival"

May4-SpringBandConcert

May5-SpringChorusConcert

May8-AthleticAssociationGolfTournament

May13-Graduation10:30am

@blessedtrinitycatholic blessed trinity catholic @btcatholic

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK

Eachyear,Catholicschoolsacrossthecountrycelebrate Catholic Schools Week. This week-long celebration focusesonadifferentaspectofCatholicschoolseveryday highlightingeverythingfromthestudentstothefaculty andstaffaswellasthecommunity.TheCampusMinistry team at Blessed Trinity created a week of service opportunities and it was a great success. Ignite Club collected over 700 new and gently used books for neighboringMimosaElementarySchool,theTitansof Mercyclubhadstudentscreatevalentinesforneighboring residentsofSt.GeorgeVillageandPaxChristimembers andvolunteerscreatednotesofappreciationalongwith sweettreatsforBTfacultyandstaff Mrs Podijilandher SmashersonFoundationledaserviceprojectbenefitting children undergoing radiation treatments by having volunteerscreateradiationcalendars,notesandbracelets, theInteractclubheldacollectionofpackagedsnacksfor local firefighters and first responders, Kairos leaders organizedagiftcardcollectionforseminariansofthe ArchdioceseofAtlantaandCampusMinistryroundedoff the week with sandwich making for the homeless of Atlanta.Mrs.LancasterandMr.Bardenalsoaccompanieda group of Blessed Trinity ambassadors to the annual ArchdiocesanCatholicSchoolsWeekMassatSt.Brigid CatholicChurchinJohn’sCreek.

Makingadifferencethrough Faith,ExcellenceandService

Opening Doors

ManyofthedonorsintheBlessedTrinitycommunitygive becausetheywanttomaketheschoolandcommunitybetter. Othersgivebecauseit’safamilytraditiontopayitforward.For BTparents,SaraandChrisLamon,itwasaconversationwith BlessedTrinity’sChaplainDeaconAveryDanielthatsparkeda desiretodonateasetofdoorstobeaddedtotheschool’schapel. Thedonationofthedoorsalongwithmanyotherliturgicalpieces weretheresultofa2021iGiveCatholiccampaignandwerethe firstmajoradditiontotheschool’schapelin20years.Thedoors wereinstalledthispastNovemberandArchbishopGregory HartmayerblessedthemwhenhevisitedBlessedTrinityin January

TheLamonsfeltthattheadditionofdoors tothechapelwasverysymbolic.“It’sthe firstthingyousee,saidSara,the symbolismbehinddoorsiswhatbeing Catholicis,openingyourfaith”This donationisawaytoshowtheirchildren theimportanceofgivingback,especially toaschoolandcommunitythathasbeen anessentialpartofwhotheyareandhow theyhavegrown.Theirmessagetoothers, accordingtoChris,aboutgivingissimple.

“Itissoimportanttodonate,toparticipate. Everybodywinswhentheyparticipatenotjusttreasure,buttime.Ittakesallofus tomakethisplacewhatitis,Blessed TrinityCatholicHighSchool.Moneyand timewellspent.Ourfamilyisbetterforit.”

“Each one of us is called to make Jesus known to those who still do not know Him…It means opening a door.”

Pope Francis

Opening Minds

TheOfficeofCatholic SchoolshostedaTheology BowlonFebruary28atthe ChanceryoftheArchdiocese ofAtlanta.BlessedTrinity’s team,coachedbyTheology teacherAngelaHartwell, includedseniorsRobert Bond,RachelMiller, HBTodd,SheilaMeadows andChristinaSweeney.

SevenCatholicschoolsfrom themetro-Atlantaareawere presentforthecompetition, includingBlessedTrinity. Thestudentscompetedina round-robinstyle tournamentthatincluded questionsaboutchurch history,saints,sacraments, theOldandNew Testaments,andmanyother realmsoftheCatholic Church.

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

COLLABORATING IN HARMONY

Forthefirsttimeever,bandsfrom4archdiocesanschools collaboratedonthestageatBlessedTrinity Bandsfrom QueenofAngelsandSaintJudetheApostleperformed underthedirectionoftheircurrentbanddirectors,Brad NelsenandJeffSimpsonwhileSt.PiusXandBlessed Trinity performed separately and then were brought togethertoperformunderthedirectionofBT’sDirectorof Bands,BradNelsen,andSt.PiusX’sDirectorofBands,Ian Labreck.Thetwodirectorshavewantedtobringstudents togetheronstageforawhileandwerefinallyabletomakeit happenonFebruary28.Thiswasagreatopportunityto allowparentsandstudentsfromthefeederschoolstoseeall thatthehighschoolbandprogramshavetooffer inthearchdiocese.

TheannualAlumniandStudentworks concertisanarrayofworkssolelycreated bycurrentBlessedTrinitystudentsand alumni.Thisyear'sconcertfeatured choreographyfromMonicaHogan Thysell'08andGiaMongellBinner'10as wellasalumniperformersMerrinFoley '22andMollyLambert'21.Allthework createdwasbothstudentdesignedand choreographed.Theshowisalways inspiringandfunandagreatwayto supportthefabulousandtalentedworkof ourdancestudentsandFineArtsprogram.

ALUMNI & ALUMNI & STUDENT WORKS STUDENT WORKS DANCE CONCERT DANCE CONCERT

Michael Reynolds swimming & diving

InmyfirstyearasheadcoachfortheBlessedTrinitySwim&Diveteam,I amthrilledwithhowwedidWhenIarrivedatBT,myfirstgoalwasto moveustoanewlocationfortraining,andwearethrilledtobeatthe CherokeeCountyAquaticCenter.Thoughthe30minutedriveand78 tripsintheBTBusarenotperfect,thisteammadethemostoutofit!We cameintothisseasonwithayoungandhungryfreshmanclassthathas proventhatthefutureisbrightforBTSD.Theseasonreallypickedup steamaswewontheChillyGrizzlyInvite,hostedbyCreekview,and turnedbackaroundafterthestartof2023aswewontheNorthwest GeorgiaRegionChampionshipforourcombinedBoys&Girls!Tobeina divisionlike6A,wewerehappytobeoneofthetopprivateschoolsinour divisionforboththeBoysandGirlsteams.Theboysfinished15thandthe girlsplacedin10thatthestatechampionships!Theseasonwasalso highlightedbyaschool-recordperformancebyMatthewGrayinthe500 Freestyle.

BehindtheClipboard

firstyearheadcoaches

MyfirstyearasheadwrestlingcoachatBTthisyearwasextremely enjoyable.Ifeltthatthebiggestdifferencebetweenbeingtheheadcoach andtheassistantcoach,besidetheadministrativeduties,wasbeingthe decision maker. We have a tight-knit coaching staff and everyone's opinionwasalwayswelcomedforalldecisionsthatneededtobemade.As theassistantcoach,Iwasabletooffermyopinionandthenwaitforthe verdict,butastheheadcoachIhadtomakethedecisionbasedonthe othercoaches'opinions.

MyfirstseasonasheadcoachwashighlightedbyoursuccessattheState Tournament.Wehadthreestateplacersincludingastatechampionanda staterunner-up.Wefinishedeighthinthestatewhichisextremely impressive because of the recent classification bump to 6A. Another highlightisthatwewereabletoincreaseourprogramnumbersby18% withonlya1%attritionrate,IshouldnotethatIamamathteacherhere Thiswrestlingprogramisgoingtobestrongforyearstocomewithour growingJuniorTitansprogramWehonorthefirstyearwrestlerswhoare braveenoughtotrythehardestsportinwhichahighschoolercantake part.

Jameson Contratto wrestling

3 A U C T I O N

TICKETS: TICKETS:

General Admission - $150 General - $150

Rio Table - Sold Out Rio Table - Sold Out

Grand Rio Table - $2,000 (2 remaining!)

DONATIONS: DONATIONS:

We are in need of several items for our We are need several items silent auction - vacations, experiences, silent auction vacations, experiences, entertainment, gift certificates, etc entertainment, gift certificates, etc

Click here for a suggested list of items! Click here for a suggested list of items!

SPONSORSHIPS: SPONSORSHIPS:

Become an Auction Sponsor and enjoy a Become an Auction Sponsor and enjoy a Grand Rio Table for 8! Grand Rio Table for 8! Click here to Click here to read all of the sponsor benefits read all of the sponsor benefits

ADVERTISING: ADVERTISING:

Want to advertise your business?!

Want to advertise your business?!

Consider purchasing a digital ad that Consider purchasing a digital ad that will be seen by our entire school and will be by entire school and alumni community! alumni Click here for more here more iinfo nfo

Click here for a list of Click here for a list of frequently asked questions! frequently asked questions!

Join

Grand Rio Table - $2,000 (2 remaining!) Click here to purchase your tickets! Click here to purchase your tickets! 2 0 2

Thisyear'sCareerDaywasanamazingsuccessthankstoour 23 speakers, 9 of which were Blessed Trinity alumni. Studentsweregivenalistofspeakersaheadoftimeandasked tochoose3sessionsthattheywouldliketoattend.The speakersrepresentedmanydifferentcareersincludinghealth andmedicine,businessandentrepreneurship,lawandstate government,engineering,architecture,military,finearts, counseling and youth ministry. Blessed Trinity alumni representedincluded:JackiDeBacco‘07, CarolineKellyGrubbs‘08,VictoriaTrentInman‘04, AndrewKnuckles‘14,GiaMongellBinner‘10, MichelMonty‘07,CaitlinIvieWebster‘11, AnnaWatkinsYates‘13,andMichaelYates‘13

Signing Day Signing Day Signing Day

BASEBALL

RyanNovak-MiamiUniversity(Ohio)

FOOTBALL

KieranDavis-EastCarolinaUniversity(NorthCarolina)

DeldrickFranklin-KennesawStateUniversity(Georgia)

NickPearson-UniversityofKentucky

SkyeRichardson-UnitedStatesAirForceAcademy(Colorado)

RyanSnipes-UnitedStatesMilitaryAcademy(WestPoint,NY)

DrewStephenson-CentreCollege(Kentucky)

MavrickTorrico-PrincetonUniversity(NewJersey)

ColeWeaver-MiamiUniversity(Ohio)

GOLF

EmilyWaldrop-SweetBriarCollege(Virginia)

SOCCER/TRACK & FIELD

JojoMiller-MassachusettsInstituteofTechnology

BrysonHosea-UnitedStatesMilitaryAcademy(WestPoint,NY)

OnWednesday,February1,2023,12BlessedTrinityseniorssignedNationalLetters ofIntenttocompeteinathleticsatthecollegiatelevel.Thankyouforallyouhave doneforBlessedTrinityAthletics.Wecan'twaittoseewhatyoudointhefuture! BlessedTrinityCatholicHighSchool