One Day at TCA
6:30 a.m.
The day starts with the Bible at TCA. Chief Academic Officer Dr. Fran Legband leads an earlymorning Bible study for female faculty and staff. The women meet twice a month on Thursday mornings and study a different psalm at each meeting. On this day, the lesson is on Psalm 23.
“I love teaching the Bible, and I love sharing hearts with fellow believers over God’s Word. Some of the ladies have commented how much they enjoy beginning their day in God’s Word. It’s a fun group of teachers and staff from each school division, administration and the business office.”
- Dr. Fran Legband
6:35 a.m.
Middle School cheerleaders get an early start on what will be a full day with a before-school practice. While they rehearse, several of the cheerleaders’ mothers work on the sidelines to prepare decorations for the pep rally that will take place that afternoon. Throughout the day, many parents and students volunteer their time, often in ways that typically go unseen or unrecognized, to make everything that happens at TCA possible.
CHEER PHOTOS BY KEVIN McCONAGHY
7:02 a.m.
Assistant Director of Security Greg Fanucci arrives to work in his blue 1950 Chevrolet Deluxe. Members of the security team are among the first people to arrive for work each day. The five full-time employees on the security team are all former Dallas police officers with more than 150 years of combined experience. In addition to TCA’s own security officers, active-duty police officers are on campus throughout every school day and during many after-school events. Together, they work to ensure that our students stay safe.
7:04 a.m.
Facilities Manager Rick Nobra and Director of Campus Operations Perry Roman touch base at the start of another busy day. The TCA facilities team receives an average of 40-50 work requests each day. By assisting with events and ensuring that the buildings and grounds are well-maintained, safe and efficient, they serve a critical role in keeping the school day running smoothly.
7:25 a.m.
The moon sets in the west. October 17 happened to be a full moon and the largest “supermoon” of the year.
PHOTO BY JEFF McWHORTER '05
PHOTO BY KEVIN McCONAGHY
PHOTO BY KEVIN McCONAGHY
7:40 a.m.
Head of Lower School Anne Badger ’90 greets students as they arrive. No matter the drop-off location, each TCA Lower School student is warmly greeted every day by teachers and administrators. Even before the day’s learning begins, kids are seen individually and called by name.
7:37 a.m.
Members of the security team are spread across campus, directing traffic and helping pedestrians cross streets. Twice each day, the TCA security team skillfully orchestrates carpool, moving 800-900 cars through campus in just 45 minutes. The security team also manages all 887 TCA parking spaces, configuring special reserved spots for dozens of special events from Admissions Previews to Grandparents Day.
7:42 a.m.
Students drop off donations of winter clothing at the Lower School entrance. For over 35 years, TCA has collected food and clothing donations in four annual drives to help people in need. The junior class led the winter clothes drive, with over 40 students volunteering more than 45 hours of their time. Generous TCA families contributed dozens of warm coats and blankets to the Network of Community Ministries.
7:47 a.m.
In the morning carpool line, Dads Club members humbly serve by opening doors and helping children get out of their vehicles. More than 240 fathers of Lower School students are in the Dads Club. Besides providing this “Dads on Doors” service at different times during the year, the Dads Club serves in other ways, including Christmas caroling in the LS in December and helping with field day in the spring.
7:45 a.m.
Head of School Dr. Jeff Williams ’88 greets students as they arrive for the day.
“So many great things happen every day at TCA. But my favorite part of each day is getting to interact with the people in our school community: our students, our amazing faculty who do such a great job of educating and truly caring about students, and the parents who serve and support the school in so many different ways.”
- Dr. Jeff Williams '88
7:49 a.m.
Frances (Russell) Allen ’10 walks her first-grade daughter, Evie, to class before heading to teach her own classes as an Upper School visual art teacher. The Allens are one of TCA’s many legacy families, or families where a current student has at least one parent who graduated from the school. This year, there are 138 legacy families at TCA, representing 250 current students. The number of alumni who choose to send their own children to the school — or, like Mrs. Allen, come back to work here – is a testament to the quality of the TCA experience and helps add to the sense of community here.
8:00 a.m.
Cross country athletes compete at the TAPPS 6A District Championships in Fort Worth. Coach Marcus Moore led the Trojans to excellent results, with senior Eliot Brookshire running a career-best time and earning All-District honors. Eliot recalls, “The best part about the district championships was seeing the effect of all the work put in up to that point.” Runners Hayden Dunn, Vanessa Dessommes and Sophia Herd also ran their best times ever.
7:57 a.m.
Since the TCA Upper School now enjoys phone-free school days, students lock their silenced phones in YONDR pouches before their first class. At the end of the day, they visit unlocking stations as they exit the building. The cell phone-free day is designed to minimize disruptions during class and promote in-person friendships. Students now spend their passing periods and lunchtimes socializing as the sound of laughter and chatting fills the halls.
8:03 a.m.
Members of the Upper School band warm up for practice. Band Director Rachel Hartgrove leads 77 total band members in Middle School and Upper School. She says, “My favorite thing about leading the band is to see those light bulb or ‘aha!’ moments. It is truly amazing to watch our kids in high school grow into role models for the younger students and to be able to share in their joy as they level up in their playing abilities.” Throughout October, the band practiced for Homecoming. For Homecoming this year, the band launched a new Alumni and Staff Band tradition, welcoming alumni and faculty to play alongside current students at the game.
PHOTO
KEVIN McCONAGHY
PHOTO BY KEVIN McCONAGHY
CROSS COUNTRY PHOTOS BY JAY PARKER
8:15 a.m.
Inside Rod Morris Studio, a cast and crew of fourth-graders communicate the day’s news to their fellow Lower School students. KTCA is a student-run daily broadcast that includes news, weather and sports reports followed by a devotion led by a Lower School administrator. Fourth-grader Jane Worley recalls, “My favorite part about doing KTCA is that it is good practice for the future.” Head of Lower School Anne Badger ’90 says, “My favorite part of KTCA is spending special time with our fourthgraders and seeing them shine with their unique talents and personalities. I also love that we start every day in God’s Word and pray together as a community.”
8:15 a.m.
At the same time, students in classrooms throughout the Lower School watch the live KTCA broadcast. Besides keeping students up to date on school events and activities, KTCA also leads classrooms through the pledge of allegiance and prayer.
PHOTO BY KEVIN McCONAGHY
8:20 a.m.
Marbles roll across tables and the smell of hot glue fills the classroom as seventh-grade science students build elaborate structures in the style of Rube Goldberg machines. Each group is tasked with putting together different simple machines – pulleys, levers, ramps, wheels and the like – to set off a mouse trap. Teamwork and hands-on examples help students understand the different roles and uses for each simple machine.
8:33 a.m.
A member of the janitorial crew cleans the Lower School rotunda. At almost any time of the day or night, you will find people working diligently to care for and maintain the facilities that TCA has been blessed with.
8:37 a.m.
Fifth-grade students learn how to create PowerPoint slides with animated and interactive elements during STEM class in preparation for their upcoming presentations about ancient Egyptian culture. Lessons learned in STEM prepare students for all other aspects of their classroom experiences as well as provide foundational skills that will serve them even after they leave TCA.
8:23 a.m.
Eighth-grade students take turns teaching their classmates about one of the seven “I Am” statements Jesus makes in the Gospel of John. They present what they have learned about the significance of Jesus’s claim based on the historical context of Israel and the promises of God to provide a Messiah. Their modernday analogies—things like presenting donuts to drive home Jesus’s claim to be the bread of life—make the rich, life-altering words of Jesus important and impactful in their everyday lives.
PHOTO BY HAVEN BURGOON '16
BIBLE PHOTOS BY HAVEN BURGOON '16
PHOTO BY JEFF McWHORTER '05
PHOTO BY HAVEN BURGOON '16
8:39 a.m.
Upper School art students work with a variety of materials to create impressive sculptures. The arts program at TCA is widely recognized as the best around, developing students’ God-given creativity and creating what Visual Arts Head Jon Millet ’84 refers to as “art theologians.”
8:40 a.m.
Lower School Counselor Emily Eyre reads Moose the Worry Mutt Goes to Doggy Daycare to a class of second-grade students. In the book, written by local counselors Dr. Jaime Crowley and Dr. Kristen Ohlenforst, Moose becomes terrified while listening to Fret the Flea’s whispers and fears. Moose learns to “bark back” to Fret, just as we talk back to our fears with truth.
Mrs. Eyre is a Licensed Professional Counselor and play therapist who has worked at TCA for eight years. She meets individually with students and parents in her office and provides monthly guidance lessons for preK through fourth grade. These lessons focus on emotional wellness, peer relations and healthy coping skills for our many feelings.
Mrs. Eyre grounds all her lessons in biblical truth. Through various books and lessons, she reinforces several key points each year. Students become familiar with her common sayings: “All feelings are OK! Yet, we want to show our feelings in helpful, not hurtful, ways.” “Our thoughts control our feelings. We fight our feelings with truth.” “We find truth in the Bible, from wise counsel and from facts.”
PHOTO BY KEVIN McCONAGHY
LS COUNSELOR PHOTOS BY JEFF McWHORTER '05
8:44 a.m.
Members of the SAGE Dining crew are busy preparing lunch. SAGE workers are among the first people on campus every morning, beginning meal prep for all students, faculty and staff—about 1,700 people. Each day, they offer multiple delicious entrées, sides, soups, salads, sandwiches and a special build-yourown Seasonings Station in each of the three cafeterias on campus.
8:47 a.m.
Assistant Head of Middle School Brian Spence ’98 greets students in the hallway between classes. Although this is his first year as an administrator, Mr. Spence is a longtime Trojan who both graduated from TCA and has served with the TCA faculty for almost twenty years. He credits TCA with “not just changing my life, but saving my life” as a teenager, particularly noting the love and prayers of several teachers and coaches. After graduation, Mr. Spence pursued college, mission work and marriage before returning to TCA as a Bible and PE teacher as well as coach of multiple basketball, cross country and soccer teams.
Combining fist bumps and jokes with boundaries and discipline, he reminds students of his own testimony as a former student who saw his fair share of trouble.
“I always tell kids: if you don’t get your act together, you might wind up a principal one day!” In his new role, Mr. Spence brings his gregarious warmth to shepherding Middle School students through the travails of what TCA calls “the meaningful middle.”
PHOTO BY HAVEN BURGOON '16
8:50 a.m.
PE Teachers Brandon Graham and Alex Williams lead the fun in preK physical education. A game of “scooter tag” provides an opportunity to develop spatial awareness skills as well as strengthen leg and core muscles.
8:56 a.m.
Upper School students connect with each other in the hallways between classes. With a cell phone-free school day, students find friends and build face-to-face relationships instead of staring at phone screens. Hallways fill with talk and laughter, as seen here with juniors Izzy Karr and Sloan Broekemeier and seniors Reece Walker and Miranda Aviles.
PE PHOTOS BY JEFF McWHORTER '05
US HALLWAY PHOTOS BY JEFF McWHORTER '05
9:02 a.m.
At an Upper School Preview, prospective future Trojan families hear from current US students. The students on the panel are members of the admissions prefect committee, which is led by the admissions prefect, senior Jaylan Beckley. In addition to the seven prefects and their committees, there are many other ways at TCA that students can take on leadership roles, learning important skills and serving others in the process. For example, two other students on the panel, seniors Chloe Copeland and Hudson Smith, are in the Honors Leadership class. The course includes on-campus internships, guest speakers, case studies and service projects.
9:01 a.m.
Eighth-grade Speech and Drama class takes a wild turn as students are coldcalled to practice their debate skills on increasingly interesting topics. Who was the first to enjoy ice cream, George Washington or Abraham Lincoln? Which show is better, Bluey or Dora? Would you rather have feet for hands or hands for feet? Led by Marcelle Hamilton, students quickly determine their side of the debate and develop their arguments. The hilariously ridiculous topics crack up their audience and help the debaters hone their knowledge of debate structure and tactics.
PHOTO BY HAVEN BURGOON '16
US PREVIEW PHOTOS BY JEFF McWHORTER '05
9:15 a.m.
Students in the Honors Entrepreneurship and Marketing Strategies (HEMS) class learn how to set up and grow a business. Incorporating branding, design, financial literacy, advertising and more, the HEMS course equips business-minded learners to honor Christ in the marketplace. Students create a business plan from scratch and bring their vision to reality using multiple software programs from the Microsoft, Adobe and Google suites.
9:10 a.m.
In a Modern Humanities class, Zoe Ellen Azzi enchants sophomores with the story of the Counter Reformation. The TCA humanities program integrates the study of history and English along with government, economics, ethics and more while asking the great human question: “What is the good life?” Students seek wisdom everywhere from Dante’s Inferno to Shakespeare’s plays to modern political cartoons, joining the eternal conversation while witnessing God’s manifold revelations of Himself in time.
9:18 a.m.
Humanities Teacher
Kaitlin Yep takes freshman on a guided tour of Homer’s Greek epic poem The Odyssey. Though the story of Odysseus’s decadelong journey to return to his wife, son and kingdom may be ancient, the universal themes of family, learning, hospitality and longing for home resonate with each new generation.
PHOTO BY HAVEN BURGOON '16
HUMANITIES PHOTOS BY HAVEN BURGOON '16
HEMS PHOTOS BY JEFF McWHORTER '05
9:20 a.m.
PreK students enjoy recess on a playground designed especially for them. New this fall, the early childhood playground combines colorful play equipment with expansive shade structures and artificial turf for yearround fun. Slides, climbing walls, swings and the merry-go-round are perfectly sized for our littlest Trojans and conveniently nestled between the preK classrooms and the Lower School. This new dedicated early childhood play space was made possible by generous donations from the TCA community.
9:22 a.m.
Upper School students learn about physics and their own physical abilities in a stairwell-based lab exercise. The students calculate their own horsepower output based on their weight, the height of the stairs and the amount of time it takes to climb the stairs. It is not uncommon to see class activities at TCA happening outside of the classroom, because research shows that getting students moving can improve concentration and retention.
PHYSICS PHOTOS BY KEVIN McCONAGHY
PReK PLAYGROUND PHOTOS BY JEFF McWHORTER '05
9:30 a.m.
In 3D Design, art students collaborate on the creation of two outdoor cactus sculptures for the school, using a variety of tools and techniques to transform the clay. Other students in the class use needle and thread to embellish contour line drawings of everyday objects, turning the 2D drawings into 3D pieces. Led by Adria Warner ’95, the 3D Design class teaches Upper School students how to work with different materials to construct and sculpt both decorative and functional art.
9:45 a.m.
Third-grade students visit the library to hear a story and check out their own books to read. LS Library Media Specialist Lauren Dean is in her first year at TCA, but she has 20 years of experience as a librarian and teacher, including five years at a Christian school in Albania. With three libraries on campus and a full-time Lower School reading specialist, TCA strives to develop both reading skills and a lifelong love of literature in all students.
9:47 a.m.
Eighth-grade Latin students perform skits based on the story of Domitilla. Domitilla skits are a longstanding annual tradition at TCA. By acting out what they are reading and visualizing the story, it brings the Latin they are learning to life. Teaching Latin in Middle School helps students better understand the foundations of modern languages, and the culture and history that they learn alongside the language helps them develop into well-rounded and classically literate students.
10:05 a.m.
First-graders rotate through literacy stations. During the literacy block, each student takes part in different activities, including reading books, working through phonics activities and utilizing iPad apps that are personalized to the student’s specific learning needs.
THIRD-GRADE LIBRARY PHOTOS BY HAVEN BURGOON '16
PHOTO BY JEFF McWHORTER '05
PHOTO BY KEVIN McCONAGHY
10:06 a.m.
The student worship team meets before chapel to warm up and pray together. Led by Kendall Ellis, worship team leaders sing and play guitar, violin, piano, drums and more to the glory of God. From selecting songs to early-morning rehearsals, their dedication is a blessing to the Upper School community.
10:10 a.m.
The entire Upper School gathers for chapel in the Performing Arts Center. Chapel provides spiritual refreshment and recharging amidst the busy days of modern life. US students have chapel twice a week; typically, one day features worship through music led by rotating groups of students, and the other includes wise words from Christian speakers. Recent speakers include alumni Isaac Agumadu ’19 encouraging students regarding submission to God’s will as well as current TCA parent and former West Point professor Michael Harrison sharing God’s faithfulness on his journey to Iraq, the White House and then a career in cybersecurity. New this year, seniors are bravely stepping up in chapel to share their testimonies of God’s provision and faithfulness in their lives.
10:28 a.m.
Students close out chapel in song with a reminder that God will always be with them through the trials of life.
PHOTO BY JEFF McWHORTER '05
10:40 a.m.
Jennifer Ross leads a group of first-grade students into her music classroom while playing a ukulele and singing a Bible song. She then takes the students through an eight-step musical workout, including vocal warmups, movement, keeping the beat and making up their own music.
Mrs. Ross has been teaching elementary music for nearly 20 years, with 10 years focused on early childhood music education. The research-based curriculum she uses is designed to help children prepare to become musical in three ways: being “tuneful” by singing correctly and beautifully, “beat-ful” by keeping the beat and meter of music, and “artful” by being expressive with music.
“At TCA, our mission is to encourage joyful, independent musicmaking so that students enjoy music for life. The ultimate aim for our program is that your children would continue to enhance their lives with music.”
-Jennifer Ross
10:37 a.m.
Every day, students at TCA are surrounded by Scripture in classrooms, athletic facilities and hallways. Having Bible verses posted on walls provides continual reminders of the truths contained in God’s Word.
Here in the Lower School, the fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:2223 represent many of the virtues that students learn about over the course of the year. For example, throughout the month of October, students were taught about the virtue of self-control.
10:49 a.m.
Kent Pendleton teaches students how to look for code patterns in other students’ work in Honors Python Programming. Now in his 38th year at TCA, Mr. Pendleton himself continues learning in order to keep up with changes in computer science. Mr. Pendleton calls computer programming, or "the ability to talk to a machine and get it to do what you want it to do,” a “superpower,” and he helps empower students to shape the future of our digital world.
PHOTO BY JEFF McWHORTER '05
PHOTO BY JEFF McWHORTER '05
PHOTO BY KEVIN McCONAGHY
10:50 a.m.
Seniors Ava Dewey and Zoe Wong share their presentation in Senior Bible. The course, taught by Jeremy Gregory, is designed to equip students with deep roots in Christian apologetics and worldviews before launching into college and adult life. Fellow classmates are all smiles as they look on, providing an encouraging audience for the student presentations.
10:56 a.m.
Bonjour and bienvenue à la classe de français! Dr. Solange Kemajou guides her French III students in a reflection. At the junior class level, she speaks to her students in French only. Raised as a native French speaker in Cameroon, Madame Kemajou has a Ph.D. in Francophone Studies and shares both this academic excellence and her deep Christian commitment with her students each day.
10:57 a.m.
Honors Biology students take part in a diffusion and osmosis lab activity. The lab includes an inquiry section where the students design their own experiment. Inquirybased learning activities give students the opportunity to think like scientists and develop problem-solving skills using techniques that they had previously learned in the biology lab.
PHOTO BY KEVIN McCONAGHY
SENIOR BIBLE PHOTOS BY JEFF McWHORTER '05
PHOTO BY JEFF McWHORTER '05
11:09 a.m.
In Middle School library class, students explore a variety of databases, learning essential skills for locating credible articles for research. With information so readily available online, the ability to identify reliable sources is more important than ever.
11:05 a.m.
Senior Soren Ouimette takes the stage in the Performing Arts Center to practice public speaking skills in front of his classmates. A new US humanities elective designed by Ginger Harris, Speech and Debate helps students develop skills to inform, persuade and inspire. TCA cultivates the Roman ideal of “the good man, well-spoken,” an orator whose apt rhetorical skills combine with strong moral character to deploy eloquence for good.
11:15 a.m.
In Lynne Klein’s preK classroom, the littlest Trojans lie down for rest time quipped with pillows and nap mats. With familiar blankets or furry friends from home, preK boys and girls settle in for a cozy nap to prepare them for a refreshed afternoon of fun and learning.
PHOTO BY KEVIN McCONAGHY
PHOTO BY JEFF McWHORTER '05
PHOTO BY JEFF McWHORTER '05
11:24 a.m.
In David Goerk’s art class, seventh-grade students work on a project where they merge their self-portraits with images of trees they found and drew on campus. Through the artwork, students were encouraged to see their connection to Jesus as the vine and to bear good fruit. The class looked at imagery from the Psalms, John 15 and Galatians 5 as inspiration for the project, which was titled “Fruitful.”
11:19 a.m.
In the Middle School library, enthusiastic students select prizes earned through independent reading. They accumulate rewards by tracking their reading time and completing activities after finishing each book.
11:25 a.m.
Middle School students in Crysta Crum’s High-Tech Robotics class build carnival-style “high striker” devices that measure the amount of force applied. The hands-on learning helps them understand the physics and mechanical processes involved. Soon, they will show off their newfound knowledge and skills when they invite other students to play the carnival games they have built using software and simple machines.
PHOTO BY JEFF McWHORTER '05
PHOTO BY KEVIN McCONAGHY
PHOTO BY KEVIN McCONAGHY
11:49 a.m.
Fifth-grade moms volunteer to make and pass out popcorn to fifth-grade students at the end of lunch. This snack is a fun treat for students to remind them they are loved and cared for.
11:46 a.m.
Homecoming in Texas would be nothing without decorated mums, and TCA’s mums would be nothing without the dedicated group of moms carefully handmaking each personalized mum for our Upper School students. They say it takes a village, and this village makes incredible mums that showcase each student’s interests and extracurricular involvements. Like so many areas of TCA, Homecoming would not be the storied community tradition it is without the selfless work of hundreds of parent volunteers who carve out time to serve our school.
MUM PHOTOS BY JEFF McWHORTER '05
POPCORN PHOTOS BY JEFF McWHORTER '05
12:16 p.m.
Amy Swanner ’90 teaches fifth-graders how to think through word problems and multiply decimals. Middle School teachers find multiple ways to make their subjects interesting and applicable, from a medical-themed “order of operations” day to a mock restaurant where students have to calculate their own bill.
12:24 p.m.
Sixth-Grade History/English Teacher Melissa Smith discusses the concept of a “mulligan.” The term “mulligan” originates in golf and refers to redoing an errant shot. October 17 happens to be “National Mulligan Day,” a day for second chances or rectifying past mistakes.
11:55 a.m.
David Dancer ’04 and Brittany Dancer join their first-grade son, Dak, in the cafeteria for lunch. The Lower School offers parents the option to dine with their children on campus once each semester, giving families a special time to connect during the school day.
“One of the most crucial elements in learning is making a mistake. When we realize our mistakes, we can use that as an opportunity to gain a better understanding. Learning is in the struggle, and sticking with something that is difficult develops our minds and trains us for the future.”
-Melissa Smith
PHOTO BY JEFF McWHORTER '05
PHOTOS BY KEVIN McCONAGHY
12:47 p.m.
PreK students spend their time learning about the world God has created. On this day, class is all about apples and the joy of apple-picking in the fall. As they talk about the differences between red, green and yellow apples and the God who has made each of them, smells of cinnamon and spice waft through the classroom. Homemade applesauce waits for the students to wrap up their lesson. What better way to learn about God’s creation than tasting and seeing that what He has made is good!
12:41 p.m.
Middle School students get a midday break at recess, giving them an opportunity to exercise, socialize or rest. Our creative MS team provides many different outlets for students during their recess break. From crafts, card games and reading inside the MS library to gaga ball, basketball and good old-fashioned tag outside, students enjoy choosing which activity will best help them tackle an afternoon of learning.
APPLESAUCE PHOTOS BY HAVEN BURGOON '16
1:05 p.m.
From 1:05-1:25 p.m. each day, Monday-Thursday, Upper School students have a period of downtime called backwork. TCA offers a demanding, college-preparatory curriculum as we seek to educate and develop the whole person for the glory of God. This open period in the middle of the day for our Upper School students provides time for them to meet the challenges of rigorous curricula. Students use this time to squeeze in final reviews before next period’s math test, visit teachers to ask clarifying questions about a confusing part from history class earlier that day or get a head start on that night’s homework. Many students retreat to the quiet of the US library to knock out work, find a new book or work on the puzzles laid out on tables for those who just need a break.
1:00 p.m.
There are many centers of life in the Upper School, but none as well-attended as our school store, Big Blue, in the period after US lunch. Every afternoon, students meander over to the MCB to stop by Big Blue for a snack or sweet treat to top off their lunch and to catch up with their friends in the middle of a busy school day.
1:14 p.m.
Third-grade students sing from hymnals during Elizabeth O’Brien’s music class. They learn how to read music using traditional hymns about the glory and steadfast love of God.
1:18 p.m.
Third-graders accept the mission to engineer a stand capable of supporting the weight of a pumpkin using only plastic straws and tape. Teaching second- through fourth-grade STEM, Aileen Vidaud cooks up challenges that develop problem-solving skills while kids
1:20 p.m.
Fourth-grade students settle in for DEAR Camp. DEAR stands for “Drop Everything And Read,” and that is exactly what the students do; they bring pillows and snacks and stretch out all over the classroom floor to get comfortable for reading. DEAR Camp is a special time at the end of each quarter for fourth-grade students to enjoy reading and reach their Accelerated Reader goals. Accelerated Reader is a program that helps students in grades 2-4 strengthen their independent reading skills, fostering a love for reading and supporting the development of proficient readers.
PHOTO BY KEVIN McCONAGHY
PHOTO BY KEVIN McCONAGHY
DEAR CAMP PHOTOS BY JEFF McWHORTER '05
1:30 p.m.
Tiny Trojans love center time! In preK, carefully planned activities combine work and play as kids build fine motor and spatial reasoning skills as well as practicing communicating with classmates.
1:35 p.m.
Developing the whole child for the glory of God is a beautiful mission — and also one that requires significant investment. The TCA Foundation works every day to raise funds to further that mission, supporting a wide range of initiatives including Student Tuition Aid, campus and facilities enhancements, professional development for TCA faculty, and support for athletic teams, fine arts and co-curricular programs.
1:36 p.m.
Batter up! In PE class, Lower School students enjoy getting to play on the new baseball field turf. This recent enhancement, made possible by generous TCA families, was inspired by the philosophy that athletics are a training ground for building Christ-like character in student athletes.
PReK CENTERS PHOTOS BY JEFF McWHORTER '05
PHOTO BY HAVEN BURGOON '16
PHOTO BY KEVIN McCONAGHY
1:45 p.m.
Debra Jones leads AP Chemistry students in exploring the ionization of copper(II) sulfate, or CuSO4. The TCA Upper School offers 15 Advanced Placement classes, with several advanced sciences including AP Chemistry, AP Biology and AP Physics. AP classes offer university-level curricula, and students in these courses can take AP tests to earn college credit for the work they do at TCA.
1:42 p.m.
When computers go on the fritz, students go straight to Tech Stop to find a friendly face and a skillful solution. Located in a prominent spot on the main Upper School hall, Tech Stop is manned each period by a student trained to greet, record and troubleshoot computer problems. The Tech Stop interns typically solve the problem and send the student back to class within minutes. Tricia Westover ’86 and Laxmi Francis oversee the Tech Stop interns, provide advice on difficult cases and provide training on everything from printer maintenance to setting up new student devices.
1:50 p.m.
In the Upper School math department, Amber Stuart’s freshmen calculate speed using word problems about boats, walking and wind. Using distance, rate and time, they arrive at solutions together with time for a few laughs along the way.
In a classroom nearby, Allison Freet helps a sophomore navigate calculations. Because research has shown that practicing math while standing at the board increases learning, this technique is found in many math classes in the TCA Upper School.
PHOTO BY KEVIN McCONAGHY
AP CHEMISTRY PHOTOS BY JEFF McWHORTER '05
US MATH PHOTOS BY KEVIN McCONAGHY
1:55 p.m.
Brooklyn (Hill) Smith ’12 teaches a student in the Upper School Academic Resource Center, or ARC. The ARC in each school provides a specialized testing center as well as individual attention for qualified students. In the US, Karen Jensen and Mrs. Smith join forces with parents and classroom teachers to offer encouragement and support for a broad range of learners.
1:54 p.m.
The Advanced Drama class reflects on the previous night’s Dessert Theater show, Cakes and Mistakes. For the Advanced Drama class, the fall Dessert Theater show is always a lighter, comedic performance that provides an opportunity to build camaraderie and kick off the theatrical year together. On this day, Kristi Robison-Rasnic and her students pondered the strengths of their recent performance as well as areas for future growth.
2:01 p.m.
Beans, peas and herbs grow in a planter outside the Lower School. The garden is part of an after-school enrichment gardening club for students in kindergarten and first grade, led by Jennifer Ross. Kids in the gardening club learn how food is grown, what plants need to thrive, which parts of the plants we eat and how important pollinators are for food production. They also grow in patience and have fun. The kids added miniature items to the garden for those who look closely to enjoy.
PHOTO BY JEFF McWHORTER '05
ADVANCED DRAMA PHOTOS BY KEVIN McCONAGHY
GARDEN PHOTOS BY KEVIN McCONAGHY
2:20 p.m.
In science class, kindergarteners engage in discovery and exploration as they learn about magnetism, polarity and the law of attraction in a playbased activity that brings delight to their faces.
2:12 p.m.
Fifth-graders hand-build animal vessels in art class. The hollow clay sculptures would later be fired and glazed to look like ducks, beavers, elephants or other animals, with many of them used as coin banks.
2:28 p.m.
Camille (Langford) Walker ’82 and Mary Helen Nine prepare flowers to decorate for an event.
Mrs. Walker is one of more than three dozen TCA alumni who now work here every day. As director of campus events and volunteers, she plans or assists with over 200 events each year. From Grandparents Day to the faculty Christmas luncheon to graduation receptions, Camille’s team sets the scene for many TCA core memories. As an alumna, Camille carries many happy TCA memories with her into work each day, but the most significant ones revolve around relationships. “My overall impression that I left TCA with upon graduation was just how close the TCA community was, from faculty to staff to parents. It was wonderful to be a part of,” she recalls. Now, years after members of the class of 1982 threw their graduation caps into the air, Camille continues to create memorable moments for new generations of TCA families.
“My coworkers are a dream team and so much fun! In addition, having the privilege to work alongside so many volunteers from our parent community is a huge blessing; I am inspired by their hard work.”
- Camille Walker ’82
2:30 p.m.
Hundreds of Middle School students and parents fill the MCB gym for a MS pep rally. MS cheerleaders perform the routines and stunts they practiced that morning; the MS band plays; and several students, coaches and administrators take the mic to pump up the crowd and honor the athletes who will be competing that evening. Some of the students (and adults) show their school spirit with fun costumes. There is plenty of school spirit on display, and cheering on TCA is both a fun aspect of student life and a great way to build a sense of community.
2:50 p.m.
TCA’s Middle School dance team, the Belles, fly high as they perform for an appreciative crowd at the pep rally.
PHOTO BY JEFF McWHORTER '05
2:51 p.m.
Kendall Ellis leads honors chorale students during the day’s last class period. Mr. Ellis has filled a number of roles at TCA during his 13 years here, using his creative gifts and technical knowledge to serve the school in multiple ways. He currently holds the job titles of Upper School choral director, worship arts director and Performing Arts Center coordinator.
3:10 p.m.
Students in the After-School Care program settle in for a slower pace as they tackle the day’s homework and play on the playground under the care of teachers who supervise and support our students while they wait for their parents. The ASC program provides childcare for families who need extra time in the afternoons before picking up their children from school. Besides helping parents with their schedules, it provides extra time for teachers to instruct, laugh and play with students.
2:55 p.m.
Fourth-graders in neon vests line the LS afternoon carpool route helping younger students load into cars at the end of the day. Their familiarity with the carpool system equips them to lead their less experienced schoolmates. This longstanding tradition of service at the end of the day teaches servant leadership to the fourth-grade class and encourages younger students.
CHOIR PHOTOS BY KEVIN McCONAGHY
CARPOOL PHOTOS BY CLARISSA BERRY '19
ASC PHOTOS BY HAVEN BURGOON '16
3:15 p.m.
Kindergarteners shout “kihap!” as they practice kick combos in a Tae Kwon Do enrichment class led by fourth-degree black belt David Abadie. The class helps students build confidence, focus and respect. TCA offers dozens of after-school enrichment classes each fall and spring, from academic extensions (like science, handwriting or art) to athletic explorations (like pickleball, golf or soccer). The enrichment classes provide a convenient extracurricular option for TCA families.
3:25 p.m.
Lower School students draw and paint after school as part of a “Kids Create! Art Exploration” enrichment class. Led by Kindergarten Teacher Carrie Kunkel ’00, the class allows children to experiment with different art materials and processes while learning some art history along the way.
3:30 p.m.
In another form of after-school enrichment, a student learns how to play guitar in a one-on-one lesson. Down the hall, several other students are taking private piano lessons.
PHOTO BY JEFF McWHORTER '05
PHOTO BY JEFF McWHORTER '05
PHOTO BY HAVEN BURGOON '16
3:32 p.m.
Students gain presentations skills in Kelly Sullivan’s “Fifth-Grade Skill Builders” after-school enrichment class. The class teaches vocabulary recall, writing mechanics, reading comprehension, organization and test-taking skills.
3:41 p.m.
After performing at the pep rally, the Belles are far from done with the day. They practice in the MCB cafeteria to get ready for football in the evening. Many spaces around campus are multi-purpose, and when the cafeterias are not serving lunch they also host practices, PE, Bible studies, enrichment classes, staff meetings and special events.
3:45 p.m.
JV cheerleaders start their afternoon practice with a stretch routine and warmup. In the weeks leading up to Homecoming, the girls work on perfecting a routine that they will perform during the Homecoming pep rally. This is one of the highlights of the year for JV cheer and is eagerly anticipated by all members of the team.
PHOTOS BY KEVIN McCONAGHY
BELLES PHOTOS BY KEVIN McCONAGHY
JV CHEER PHOTOS BY HAVEN BURGOON '16
3:47 p.m.
Moms of eighth-grade cheerleaders tear down decorations and clean up after the Middle School pep rally. The MCB gym will shortly be filled with volleyball players and spectators, and the excitement of the pep rally winds down as moms transform the space from a western hoe-down theme back to an athletic gym for our JV and varsity volleyball teams.
4:15 p.m.
Junior Kendall Truitt practices her shot. The season hasn’t started yet, but varsity girls basketball players are busy preparing under the leadership of new Head Coach Rodney Belcher.
4:21 p.m.
During practice, Trojan cheerleaders lift a flyer in the air, careful to execute their stunt safely and precisely. Varsity cheerleaders spend countless hours building TCA spirit, from leading the crowd under the Friday night lights to decorating the Upper School on pep rally days. In addition to painting signs, hanging streamers and selecting football game dress-up themes, varsity cheerleaders build community by including all Upper School students in entertaining pep rally games. In December, their hard work and hours of practice were rewarded with a second straight state championship.
PHOTO BY KEVIN McCONAGHY
PHOTO BY JAY PARKER
PHOTO BY JAY PARKER
4:30 p.m.
Unity Prefect Ella Eubanks joins a meeting of the TCA Board of Trustees, leading things off by sharing a devotional about what she is learning from the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10:38-42. The trustees, who are unpaid volunteers, meet once a month to provide strategic planning, set overall policy and provide oversight of the school and its mission.
4:35 p.m.
Varsity football players practice during a bye week for the team. During practices, all players wear Guardian Caps on their helmets. A Guardian Cap is a soft padded shell that covers the outside of the hard helmet. The extra padding provides an additional layer of protection against injuries in practice.
PHOTO BY JAY PARKER
PHOTO BY JAY PARKER
PHOTO BY KEVIN McCONAGHY
BOARD MEETING PHOTOS BY KEVIN McCONAGHY
5:00 p.m.
The seventh-grade football team takes the field against All Saints’ Episcopal School in Tom Landry Stadium. The stadium has new turf for teams to play on; this fall, TCA became the first school anywhere to have a new playing surface installed that is approved for use by both the NFL and FIFA.
5:15 p.m.
Holly Hatton and Kevin Burch work in the Tom Landry Stadium press box during the seventh-grade football game. Every athletic event requires people working behind the scenes to run scoreboards, manage graphics on video boards, make PA announcements and play music during breaks.
5:20 p.m.
At the same time as the seventhgrade football game, the JV girls volleyball team takes on Nolan Catholic in the MCB gym.
Playing on new court surface with new nets, the Trojans emerge victorious over the visiting Vikings.
5:25 p.m.
In the stands, members of the Varsity team sign miniature volleyballs to hand out to fans. The players tossed signed volleyballs into the crowd before every home match this year.
PHOTO BY KEVIN McCONAGHY
PHOTO BY KEVIN McCONAGHY
PHOTO
6:05 p.m.
In the grass field behind the Middle School and the Tom Landry Stadium home stands, younger students gain experience by playing 7-on-7 flag football.
6:00 p.m.
The Trojan Belles perform at halftime of the seventh-grade football game. The Belles are led by first-year coach Bella Bradley, who is professionally trained in a wide range of dance styles and teaches those skills to her Middle School students.
6:11 p.m.
Back at the ongoing Board of Trustees meeting, Alumni Association Board President Tyler Galvin ’15 gives an update on recent alumni events and initiatives. The TCA Alumni Association Board is made up of 15 dedicated alumni who share a passion for bringing fellow graduates back to campus. Their mission is to foster meaningful connections within our alumni network while celebrating the legacy of TCA. The board organizes a variety of events throughout the year, including Homecoming, alumni athletic games, networking opportunities and prayer meetings. Their efforts help ensure that TCA alumni remain a vibrant and integral part of our community.
PHOTO BY KEVIN McCONAGHY
PHOTO BY JAY PARKER
PHOTO BY KEVIN McCONAGHY
PHOTO
BY
KEVIN McCONAGHY
6:44 p.m.
The sun sets on Tom Landry Stadium as seventhgrade players and coaches leave the field after a postgame prayer. Although the young Trojans lost the game, there are lessons to be learned in both victory and defeat, and they will use this experience to grow as players and as young men.
6:51 p.m.
While waiting for the eighth-grade football game to start, parents, grandparents, teachers, students and alumni enjoy getting to gather and socialize in community, catching up with old friends and making new ones.
6:53 p.m.
Fans head to the concession stand between games. Sophomore students and their parents volunteer at the concession stands at many of our home athletic events. The money made from concessions throughout their sophomore year goes toward funding their senior trip.
7:00 p.m.
Trojan athletes and the crowd at Tom Landry Stadium rise to sing the National Anthem together. At every home game, Trojans pray communally and sing the national anthem before starting the night’s game.
7:01 p.m.
Playing under the lights of Tom Landry Stadium, the eighthgrade football game versus All Saints’ Episcopal School begins. The Middle School fields a total of 24 sports teams, in addition to TCA's 25 Upper School teams, all under the guidance of Athletic Director Steve Hayes.
“TCA athletics is an integral part of the school’s mission to develop the whole child for the glory of God. Whether it is learning humility in victory, courage in defeat, being a part of a team that depends on you or simply the value of learning how to work hard for a competitive goal, there are few better places to learn these qualities than the TCA athletic program.”
7:14 p.m.
Back in the MCB gym, the varsity volleyball team takes on Nolan Catholic in a very competitive, back-and-forth game. The Trojans battle back from behind to win a close first set. They lose the second set, rally again to take the third set, and lose the fourth to face a tiebreaking fifth set.
- Steve Hayes
PHOTO BY JAY PARKER
PHOTO BY KEVIN McCONAGHY
PHOTO BY KEVIN McCONAGHY
7:55 p.m.
Eighth-grade cheerleaders perform a routine during halftime of the eighthgrade home football game. After an early start to a full day, including leading and performing during a pep rally and tirelessly leading sideline cheers to encourage the crowd to root for the Trojans, the cheerleaders wrap up their busy day with one last big performance that shows off their hard-earned skills and school spirit.
8:32 p.m.
The eighth-grade football team gathers on the field to hear from coaches after a loss. As the stands empty and the student-athletes come off the field, family and friends meet up with players to offer words of encouragement before heading home together.
8:45 p.m.
The varsity volleyball team celebrates together after winning the decisive fifth set, 15-6, to emerge victorious over Nolan Catholic. The varsity girls improved their record this season under first-year coach Audrey Sacarello. Ellie Lord and Olivia Whorton earned First Team All-District honors. Nataleigh Brown, Natalia Kattan, Anya Ouimette and Zoe Wong were named Second Team All-District, while Emma Ruth Ball, Sarah Wong and Karys Karlow received All-District Honorable Mentions.
PHOTOS
KEVIN McCONAGHY
PHOTO BY JAY PARKER
PHOTO BY KEVIN McCONAGHY
PHOTO BY KEVIN McCONAGHY
9:00 p.m.
The moon again shines down on the TCA campus. Although quiet now, it is not completely empty; here and there across campus, people are hard at work cleaning up from the day’s events and preparing classrooms, hallways and athletic facilities for another full day tomorrow. Before the sun rises, the school will again be bustling with activity as a new day brings new things to learn, new memories to be made and new chances to make an eternal difference in the lives of the students who come here.
© 2025 TRINITY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY, PRINTED BY MILLET THE PRINTER, DALLAS, TEXAS
