CLASS ACTS

LEARNING TAKES FLIGHT

PreK classes took time this spring to study insects! They talked about the different parts of an insect, created their own insects using mixed media and welcomed caterpillars into their classrooms! Students observed the caterpillars’ growth and daily changes and then were able to release the butterflies outside!

DEEP IN THE HEART

Fourth-graders presented the inaugural performance of “Tribute to Texas” on May 17, 2022, as a way to commemorate their year-long study of Texas history. Using a little Texas drawl, the students shared facts about our state’s history, sang some favorite Texas songs and even turned the stage into a dancehall showcasing an old-fashioned square dance! The concert closed with a beautifully sung hymn and original lyrics to “Happy Trails” as a tribute to the students’ days in the Lower School.

WILLY WONKA DAY

We’ve got a golden ticket! Second-graders enjoyed a fun day of chocolate, costumes and watching Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to culminate their book study. Reading has never been so yummy!

FRENCH CAFÉ

Kindergartners celebrated the end of their unit on France with a wonderful French Café! They served their parents and tasted a variety of French foods. Following the café, the children put on a presentation of songs and recited lines based on the famous Madeline books. Our students were magnifique! CURSIVE LICENSE

The first half of the year in third grade, students learn the four S’s of cursive—slant, spacing, size and shape. Once they have learned each letter using the four S’s, they are given a writing prompt to copy in their best, neatest cursive. When students have correctly copied and shown mastery of letter formation and connections, they earn the highly coveted cursive license! This means from that day forward they write only in cursive, helping them prepare for fourth grade!

STORYBOOK DAY

The first-grade storybook character day was a blast! The students loved celebrating their love of reading by dressing up as their favorite character that they have read about. Each student shared their books, and the classes each had a costume parade. First grade is fun!

PSALMS PROJECT

Fifth grade students studied ancient Hebrew poetry in the book of Psalms using parallelisms and figures of speech. Using this ancient grammar structure, they then wrote their own Psalm to God. It is a beautiful picture of how we can worship God with words and art!

CAMP OF THE HILLS

Sixth-graders worked hard to help the Camp of the Hills staff prepare their facilities for summer camp. The students did everything from clearing brush to painting to moving rocks and digging trenches for erosion control. They also spent their days doing fun camp activities such as canoeing, swimming, ropes courses and even a Western dance! Then they gathered each evening for worship and teaching times. Acts of service paired with awesome relationship-building are one of TCA’s best treasured traditions!

Our eighth-grade students took over the gym to celebrate 50s Day with a sock hop! They celebrated the end of their history unit by eating burgers at a diner, learning how to twist, doing the stroll and Hula-Hooping.

SCIENCE CLASS . . . ON LOCATION

Seventh-graders visited a local creek to finish out their year of Life Science. They saw ducks, turtles, fish and more, having learned about the ecosystems these animals need to survive. Seventh grade sure is wild!

BUG PROJECT

Every spring, TCA freshmen can be found swinging butterfly nets and hunting down beetles for the annual Insect Collection project. Ninth-graders at TCA have been collecting and classifying insects for decades, and although the requirements and specifications have changed over the years, the heart of the project has always been to marvel at the beautiful creativity and intricacy of God’s design. This long-standing TCA tradition is always a special memory for alumni and parents.

¡DELICIOSO!

After studying Venezuelan culture, our Spanish 3 classes ventured to Pastelitos Hugo, a local Venezuelan restaurant, to sample pasteles, arepas and empanadas! ¡Qué rico!

MENTORS TO MIDDLE-SCHOOLERS

Each year select Upper School students volunteer their time to lead Bible studies for younger Trojans in the Middle School before school on Friday mornings throughout the year. Their time studying God’s Word together, singing and just having fun together is just another aspect of our tremendous sense of Christian community on campus.

Photo: Julie Francis

ACADEMIC HEAVY LIFTING

In freshman biology, students were tasked with determining who is stronger—beetles or humans. Both donned harnesses and pulled sleds of weight. Beetles may be small, but they are mighty and could pull on average 50 to 60 times their body mass. Humans, on the other hand, try as they might, were only able to pull 2 to 3 times their body mass. God’s immense creativity and intricate design was seen in studying how He made each so uniquely.