committed
From the beginning, we have remained to our for Trinity…a school encompassing the unique combination of strong academics, Christian ideals and .
vision
tradition, diversity and culture
That vision is
alive and thriving in our students today... - T. Edmund Rast, Trustee Emeritus, Founding Board Chair
a note from the
Head of School
I remember well choosing schools for my children. A couple of questions during the admission process that helped my wife and me select schools for our children were, what do we value and how will a particular school partner with us to support those values? Unfortunately, my children were not able to attend Trinity because we did not live in Charlotte until after they had completed eighth-grade. If we had lived here, my children would have been at Trinity because the mission of the School matches what we value in an education for our children. • Creating scholars through an educational philosophy that challenges children to take responsibility for their own learning, demanding students use higher order thinking skills and promoting curiosity about the world. • Embracing diversity as an essential part of a child’s education by opening his/her eyes to the broader world and helping him/her to develop cultural dexterity, the most important 21st century skill. • Nurturing spirituality in the Episcopal school tradition by proclaiming a respectful appreciation for all human beings as creations of a loving God. • Establishing high expectations for responsible behavior, respect, kindness and integrity through the School’s Honor Code. While my wife and I understood that connecting a school’s mission to our values was a critical component of selecting a school for our children, as educators, we knew that the foundation of any school is its faculty. Their expertise, passion, dedication and professionalism largely determine the quality of the school experience for the children. Successful teachers build close relationships with their students and provide engaging learning opportunities that develop children’s minds, bodies and spirits. Trinity’s exceptional faculty would have given us additional reason to choose Trinity for our children. If you and your family value elements of our mission and expect teaching excellence, I strongly encourage you to take a closer look at this exceptional school where the education of children includes challenging outstanding students and developing spiritually guided ethical citizens. I wish you the best of luck in your search for the best school fit for your child. Sincerely,
Thomas J. Franz Head of School
From the buzz of the
collaborative work of students
in classrooms, to children tending their gardens, to our studentled Greet the Week assembly in Jamie’s Courtyard, to kindergarten and eighth-grade science buddies collecting data about teeth lost and inches grown, Trinity Episcopal School is clearly a distinctive K-8 independent school where everyone is welcome, compassion is greatly valued and our students learn with immense enthusiasm, eagerness and zeal.
Located in the First Ward Garden District of Uptown Charlotte, Trinity Episcopal School enjoys the extended classroom that the Center City offers. Our progressive curriculum and workshop approach encourage students to think creatively and critically, our honor code holds them to the highest standards of personal conduct and our unique programs and service learning partnerships provide lessons that light the way to a noble, productive and Godly life.
What does it mean to be an Episcopal school?
Episcopal schools…
• are created to serve God, to strive for justice and peace among all peoples and to respect the dignity of every human being. • work to be inclusive communities with respect for other beliefs. • value reason as a way to true understanding. • embrace honor, tolerance and intellectual curiosity. • provide a safe and open community in which students can wrestle with the big questions that life presents.
enriching
Trinity offers an educational experience with a strong , small classes with an emphasis on individual needs, and in both composition and ideas!”
spiritual compass
These principles are expressed through…
School Worship
a regular part of school life for all faculty and students that is creative and inclusive
Community Life
where reflection, prayer and matters of the spirit are honored and cultivated and the physical, mental, social and emotional health of all are supported and nurtured
Religious Formation & Study
meaningful, academically-substantive and age-appropriate; and in teaching the Christian tradition, fosters dialogue with other faith traditions
Social Justice
the integration of the ideals and concepts of a just society throughout the life of the School; the embracing and honoring of diversity; the inclusion of community service and service learning as an integral part of the life of the School.
cultural diversity
- Mary Anne Dickson, Trustee and Friends of Trinity Chairperson
Our
Mission
Trinity Episcopal School is committed to the breadth of the Episcopal tradition in both its unity and diversity. • A student of Trinity Episcopal School is challenged to academic excellence while honored as an individual with unique potential. • As faculty and families together influence young lives, students themselves will be affirmed as ambassadors of grace, citizens who live and teach an ethic of service and respect for others. • A student of Trinity Episcopal School is trained in the example of Christ and toward a stewardship of healthy body, lively soul and discerning mind.
Honor
Code
As a member of the Trinity Episcopal School community, I pledge to: • Be responsible for my actions • Always do my best as an individual and as part of a team • Respect the uniqueness and gifts of others • Practice kindness and consideration • Celebrate the joyful, beautiful and enduring • Not lie, cheat or steal I will follow this honor code, and I will help others to do the same as ambassadors of God’s grace and everlasting love. Honor Council The Honor Code is a critical component of life at Trinity. The Honor Council is a group of students and faculty who work to resolve outstanding violations of the Code in a manner that is affirming to all parties involved.
The moment I stepped through the doors, Trinity became a . I was instantly accepted into this different kind of family...like marriage... You vow to look after everyone in the school in good times and bad...to love and cherish them for the rest of their lives. I had found .
part of me
my home away from home
- Catherine Gill, Alumni Class of 2011
Our
Teachers
At Trinity, our children enjoy teachers who reflect our diversity, model our mission and who inspire a passion for learning each day. Trinity teachers consider their work with students to be a special calling and ministry and are blessed by the Holy Spirit with a gift for teaching. They teach, learn and toil here because here is where they believe God has called them to be. As lifelong learners Trinity Teachers are committed to ongoing professional development to further develop and refine their craft. Throughout the school year and during the summer faculty members take part in professional development via workshops, conferences, and on-site training. Our faculty members have an average of 10 years of classroom experience and 50 percent hold advanced degrees. Our student-faculty ratio is 11 to 1.
Creating
Scholars Trinity’s academic program brings all members of the School community to a richer intellectual, spiritual, social, physical and aesthetic awareness through an interdisciplinary and progressive approach to instruction. We encourage the development of such scholarly habits as curiosity, intellectual risk-taking and perseverance. As students make connections across subject areas, they expand their creativity, enhance their critical thinking and problem-solving skills, sharpen their communication and leadership dexterity and develop their independence. We capitalize on opportunities both inside and outside of the classroom to tap the fullest potential of our students. Every student has a hand in shaping Trinity’s landscape, whether it is the potato garden planted and harvested by our kindergartners, the tulips cared for by our third-graders or the pond excavated by our seventh-grade students. Our scholars rendezvous in the Renaissance, sample Shakespeare and perform magic with math. Favorite authors drop in, science projects fall from the sky and art and music fill the hallways. Trinity’s curriculum stimulates intellectual development in a way that inspires passion and sets the tone for lifelong learning. Reader’s and Writer’s Workshop are the backbone of our Language Arts program. Student-centered, differentiated instruction is the norm as we aim to produce proficient, enthusiastic readers and writers. Using the Teachers College (Columbia University) curriculum units of study, we delight as students immerse themselves in “just-right” books and write stories from the heart of their own experiences and noticings.
Book Buddies
Time spent with a good book and a good buddy is something we cherish at Trinity. Our Book Buddy program pairs older Lower School students with our youngest students to act as reading mentors and partners in literature-based activities. This shared reading across grade levels engenders bonds of friendship which permeate school life.
The workshop approach to literacy
continues in Middle School
language arts classes as students grow and maintain an independent reading and writing life. Students focus on expository writing as they dig deeper into grammar and mechanics.
We develop mathematicians using a constructivist curriculum, Investigations in Number, Data, and Space. Instruction is focused on mathematical reasoning while building computation skills. In fifth-grade our students begin a more formal study of algebraic thinking as they prepare to transition to Middle School. In grades six through eight, Math Innovations teaches students not only to reason like mathematicians but to engage in mathematical discourse around problem-solving. Mathematical ideas are presented in a real-world context to help students understand how math is related and relevant in their lives.
In kindergarten through fifth-grade, students explore the rich concepts of science and social studies via the problembased learning units known as Storypath. As characters in a story they become stakeholders in a critical situation – from scientists studying an oil spill in the ocean, to knights protecting a medieval castle under siege, to members of the Boston Tea Party struggling for independence during the American Revolution. Ancient civilizations, geography, American history and world history provide the basis for social studies in Middle School. Students develop higher level thinking skills by understanding why civilizations developed and declined, by analyzing the interaction between peoples and cultures, and by recognizing the enduring contributions of the past to the present.
Students at
Trinity
explore and investigate scientific questions through a hands-on, inquiry-based approach to learning. Weaving and spiraling the content areas in various disciplines and grade levels, students utilize the scientific method to experiment, construct, dissect and create models to prove their hypotheses. Throughout their nine years students are introduced to earth science, physical science, life science, physics, chemistry, biology and the human body.
All students take Spanish in grades kindergarten through five, with an emphasis on both language and culture. Spanish and Latin are offered in Middle School, and students are placed in language classes based on choice and ability levels, with the goal for all students to complete either Spanish I or Latin I by the end of eighth-grade. The K-5 Spanish program follows the Standards of Foreign Language from the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) – communication, cultures, communities, comparisons, connections. Beginning with a focus on oral language development through sounds, poems, songs, stories, total physical response, music art and games, students develop strong listening, comprehension and beginning conversation skills. In middle school they build their vocabulary and grammar, conversing and writing in Spanish about a variety of themes such as family, school, food, shopping and daily routines through the skits, power point presentations and videos. Latin I students travel back in time to do as the Romans did by using Roman Numerals for math problems, by creating mosaics to study art history and by learning the Latin terms for body parts as they study the human body in science class. Latin I does not focus on translating a “dead language,� but rather concentrates on building reading comprehension skills, grammar and vocabulary.
Trinity also partners with the Arts and Science Council, area botanical gardens, McGill Rose Garden, Adopt-a-Stream and others to expand learning opportunities beyond the Trinity campus. An extension of the classroom, our outdoor environment is a place of beauty, education, discovery, study, inspiration and renewal for all to enjoy.
Minds blossom
Wildcat Gardener.
and learning spills into the natural world where every Trinity student is a
Garden projects and the stewardship of nature have been crafted as an integral part of all classroom studies, with the main areas of application in science, math, language arts, reading, social studies, written expression and art.
For example, kindergartners grow vegetables and then count and weigh them as part of their math program before donating them to local hunger coalitions. Third-grade students study hummingbird migration as part of their science and social studies curriculum. Seventh-graders become experts in a field of study and delight in presenting their findings with the rest of the school. Students at all grade levels have contributed to the creation of a “Schoolyard Habitat,� certified by the National Wildlife Federation.
Technology is a tool for both teachers and students, whether it is a Web-based application for math, an online blog to dialogue about a book or any other appropriate use to enhance the teaching and learning at our School. From Lower School to Middle School, Trinity students use technology to research topics, to construct presentations and to learn how to work with a variety of media. Our youngest students use laptops as they discover degrees of angles in geometry and second-graders design slideshows to illustrate their knowledge of the rainforest. In the middle school, Latin students create videos to describe life in ancient Rome and Algebra classes create online accounts to send and receive assignments to their teachers.
Trinity’s middle school program, based on best practices, developmental appropriateness, student voice and ownership, is a bridge from Lower School to High School. The rigorous curriculum is aimed at creating scholars who are independent, see problems from different perspectives, work well as members of a team and can communicate to a wide range of audiences. Core classes, exploratories and electives provide students with a balanced, liberal arts education and prepare them for success in high school.
Without Walls Week (WOW) allows fifth- through eighth-graders to explore a week-long mini-course that often takes place off campus. Building and racing boxcars, digging for fossils at the beach, installing wells in Nicaragua or learning the art of geocaching in uptown Charlotte are just a few of the adventures offered during this week. Middle school students choose from a menu of elective courses each trimester that provides the opportunity to pursue an area of passion or interest at a depth or level of complexity that goes beyond our regular program. The broad categories include the arts, humanities and sciences.
Exploratories
Our middle school students take part in a rich array of cocurricular classes all year long as we intend for students to appreciate and pursue the healthy and aesthetic in life. Art, music, fitness, life skills and faith studies make up the exploratory block and are an integral component and complement to our core curriculum classes.
Art & Music
Trinity’s art program focuses on the creative process rather than the quality of the final product. Throughout the year students study various artists and techniques, creating their own works from ceramic teapots to wire sculpture portraits. All students at Trinity take general music. Beginning in fourthgrade students may choose from one of three ensembles: chorus, stings or band. While emphasizing creativity, music appreciation, musical literacy and performance preparation, the music program provides many opportunities for individual growth and fosters every child’s innate love of music.
Healthful Living & Life Skills
Trinity’s founders believed that all students should have the opportunity to discover and enjoy lifelong activities and sports. The connection between healthy body, mind and soul is everpresent in the weekly programs which include cooperative games, skill development, sportsmanship and making healthy decisions. In the last trimester of fifth-grade, students split into gender-based small groups for the RISE program to develop personal leadership skills that build confidence for the transition to Middle School. Middle school fitness exploratory classes build on the lifelong exercise and fitness habits taught in Lower School while focusing on the skills needed for athletics. Life Skills classes cover such subjects as time management, hospitality and etiquette, sexuality, grief, and how to seek justice and be engaged citizens in the democratic process.
Field Trips
Active and experiential learning is a major focus of our approach, so our classrooms extend far beyond the walls of our School. Day trips to libraries, museums, businesses and cultural sights in and around Charlotte are thoughtfully planned to create integrated learning experiences for our students. Discovery Place, ImaginOn, Children’s Theatre, Latta Plantation, Biltmore House and local farms are just a few of the regular adventures our students experience. Overnight trips begin at fourth-grade and include Earthshine (grade four), Green River Preserve (grade five), Carolina Coastal Exploration (grade six), Virginia American History Tour (grade seven) and lobbying congressional leaders in Washington, D.C. (grade eight).
Nurturing
Spirituality
A Trinity Episcopal School student is “trained in the example of Christ and toward a stewardship of healthy body, lively soul and discerning mind.” The spiritual formation of our students is as integral to a Trinity education as is intellectual development. Through faith studies classes, the School’s chaplains work in concert with the faculty to integrate faith coursework and service to the community into other subject matters. This complements and reflects our belief that all of life has a spiritual dimension. Students participate in a worship experience three times a week: Greet the Week at the start of every school week on Mondays, a gradelevel chapel, and a community chapel every Friday morning where the entire school gathers. Guest preachers and presenters who represent a variety of religious traditions and expressions are part of the annual worship plan. We follow the Book of Common Prayer for our worship format and the Episcopal Lectionary for daily worship.
Chapel attendance is required of all students and faculty, although participation in the Eucharist or Holy Communion is optional. As learning communities founded in a rich tradition of openness and acceptance, Episcopal schools subscribe to an approach to religious education that encourages students to be reflective servants, thoughtful stewards and critical thinkers. While Trinity observes the cherished rites and traditions of the Episcopal Church, we respect and appreciate the diversity that exists within our community.
Twelve Tribes of
Trinity
Another way we build community is through Tribes. These small genderbased groups of students in grades three through five, along with a teacher/ leader who serves as an adult advocate, gather once a week to learn and to model the Trinity Way and Honor Code and to further develop cooperation, collaboration and leadership skills.
Koinonia
(Greek word for “fellowship”) – The nurturing of students expands from Tribes which began in Lower School and continues with Koinonia in Middle School when it is perhaps more crucial than ever. Koinonia is Trinity’s unique program for students in grades six through eight which emphasizes personal development, self-awareness and fellowship.
Guests
It has become a Trinity tradition to open our doors to visitors who enhance the learning experience for our students, teachers and parents. Over the years we have welcomed such well-known guests as: Tony Abbott (poet), Maya Angelou (poet and author), Leah Butler (local Charlotte author), the Rt. Rev. Michael B. Curry (Bishop of North Carolina), Donald Davis (national storyteller), B.B. Delaine (civil rights activist), Yvonne Evans (District Court Judge), Linwood Foust (Superior Court Judge), Shirley Fulton (Superior Court Judge, Charlotte, N.C.), Tom Hanchett (historian), Katherine Hannigan (author), Franklin McCain (famous civil rights activist), Dr. Thomas Moore (musician), Sarah Stevenson (Charlotte activist) and Jim Trelease (author), to speak during classes or at chapel services and special events.
I was struck by Trinity’s emphasis on , but also as important, its focus on the spiritual, emotional and
academic superiority moral education
of the students...I wanted my children Trinity. to
experience
- Claudia Heath, Parent Alumna (Pemberton ’04, Claudia, ’06)
Embracing
Diversity
One of the most beloved stories of Christian scriptures is the parable of the Good Samaritan in which Jesus answers the question, “Who is my neighbor?” Trinity students consider and respond to this question as they engage in service learning projects throughout the year. More than simple service, service learning is a method used to teach our curriculum while instilling an ethic of servant leadership in the hearts of our students. Grade levels (Lower School) or Koinonias (Middle School) partner with local, state, national or international groups, organizations or programs to address real-world issues in ways that inform and/ or are informed by their classroom studies. Trinity students address and seek to meet real community needs. Year-long partnerships create the possibility of relationships that transform charity into mutual service among neighbors. Trinity scholars are becoming good citizens of the world as they answer the call to love their neighbors.
Afterschool
Trinity Episcopal School’s day is filled with wonderful opportunities to learn and grow as a child of God. These opportunities carry on into our Extended Day childcare program Trinity’s Extended Day (TED) program is dedicated to providing a safe, inviting and exciting environment for our students who need care and attention at the end of the school day. Through innovative enrichment programs and a stable and loving atmosphere, our goal in Extended Day is to empower and encourage students to expand their thinking, embrace diversity and engage in learning that will benefit and bless their lives. Trinity provides innovative after school curricula that incorporate MathCats, chess masters, Mad Science, robotics, culinary arts, tennis and community service, as well as a host of other creative programs. A lineup of summer programs provides families with day camp choices to keep minds, bodies and spirits engaged in a comfortable, reliable setting.
Middle School
Athletics
More than 90 percent of our middle school students participate in Trinity’s athletic program. Students can participate in volleyball, soccer, tennis, cross-country, track and field, basketball and golf. A primary goal of Trinity’s Athletic Department is to create an opportunity for each student to fall in love with a sport and experience the camaraderie that comes with wearing a team uniform. In order to give every student that opportunity, we do not conduct skill-based cuts. We are proud of our student athletes. We have high academic standards for them and we expect them all to be quality role models and ambassadors for Trinity Episcopal School.
Educating our children is our foremost
responsibilityas parents and as a community. With Trinity so close to all that Charlotte has to offer, and with this
faculty and leadership,
we not only can educate our children, but we can give them a real
advantage in life.
- Catherine Browning, Grandparent and Trustee
eager to learn
To see these fresh faces, and energized about school - it is just so rewarding. I’ve taught children for many years, and this is the most excited I’ve ever seen a classroom.
Their minds and spirits are just soaring. –Linda Minor, Kindergarten Teacher, observations from the first day of Trinity, 2000
Alumni
Our
Trinity Episcopal School graduated its first class of eighth-graders in 2004. Each year our graduates have gone on to apply and be accepted to area public and independent high schools and boarding schools from Georgia to Rhode Island. The overwhelming feedback provided from our graduates and the high schools that seek them helps us to know clearly that our K-8 program is creating scholars, leaders, confident risk-takers and good, solid contributing members of our society. From high school, our alumni are accepted into universities and colleges throughout the United States, such as Appalachian State University, Davidson College, Duke University, Furman University, North Carolina State University, Sewanee: The University of the South, University of Alabama, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of North Carolina at Wilmington, University of South Carolina, Wake Forest University, Western Carolina and Wofford College.
I really
enjoyed my time at
Trinity, and I think all
of my teachers really helped me
become the student I am now.
-Bethany Brewer, Alumni Class of 2004
750 E. 9th Street Charlotte, NC 28202 T | 704. 358. 8101 F | 704. 358. 9908 www.TEScharlotte.org
Creating Scholars, Nurturing Spirituality and Embracing Diversity in Charlotte’s Center City