What Trinity means to me

Known as Ms. T to her students, Thalia sits alongside Pre-K student Caroline as she observes how a plastic bag repels water, not allowing the glove or her hand to get wet during a lesson on absorption.

By Thalia Scott, Early Elementary Science Teacher

It is hard to believe that my relationship with Trinity spans more than two decades. It seems like only yesterday, and yet also a lifetime ago, that my oldest son, Linzy, entered the then three-day Three’s program in 1998. The following year, my daughter, Kaitlin, began the Two-Year-Olds program. Although my twin boys, William and Zachary, were never officially Trinity students, they were fondly known as the “Trinity Twins” since they were born in 2002, the same year that Trinity moved to our current location. While my two oldest children attended Trinity, I witnessed the dedication and love that they received from every person in the building. The School’s sense of community and mentality of “it takes a village” were shown on a daily basis in small and large ways. One of the biggest was when I was on a three-month bedrest during my pregnancy with the twins—which ultimately resulted in their premature birth—and the Trinity family supported my family with never-ending meals and constant playdates. They even organized carpools for my older children. As parents, we all shared a commitment to Trinity’s mission and vision, and that commitment was reflected then, and today, in each family’s willingness to volunteer whenever and wherever needed at the School. Throughout my years as a parent here, I dedicated my time to several events and programs, taking on roles such as Room Parent, Grade Level Representative, and jewelry co-chair for Spotlight on Art. In fact, so many of my days were spent at Trinity that when I served as a host family in 2002 for incoming Head of School Stephen Kennedy, he thought that I was a paid employee. After Kaitlin completed her Trinity journey as a Second Grader in 2006 and Linzy completed his Sixth Grade Leadership year in 2008, I became a teacher at Trinity because I couldn’t accept the fact that I was relieved of my volunteer duties since my children were no longer students at Trinity. I started out as a long-term substitute teacher, which led to my acceptance of the Early Elementary Science Teacher position in 2012. And today, I continue to teach eager young scientists in the Early Learner, Pre-K, and Kindergarten classes. It has been a joy to share my love of science with students over the last decade, especially as I know firsthand how a childhood passion can grow into a career. At an early age, I was always curious about how things worked and what would happen if I altered them. I grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada, where the temperature could reach up to 112 degrees during the summer. At the age of five, I designed and conducted my very first experiment upon hearing a meteorologist on the local news say that the weather was so hot you could cook an egg on the street. After cracking two dozen eggs on the sidewalk, I discovered that it was, indeed, hot enough to cook an egg! My passion for science continued to grow throughout my elementary, middle, and high school years. I attended Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia, then graduated from University of Nevada, Las Vegas with a Bachelor of Science in biology. I began my career in science as an environmental specialist for the United States Environmental Protection Agency, then became a stay-athome mom after having Linzy.

In April, Pre-K students observe how wax paper repels water and how the water forms a mobile bubble on top of the wax paper during Thalia’s lesson on how different objects can repel water. In spring 2017, then-Early Learners excitedly watch the bubbly chemical reaction when baking soda is combined with dish soap and vinegar.

I really enjoyed being a stay-at-home mom, which allowed me to involve myself deeply at my children’s schools. And it has been a privilege to experience Trinity both as a parent and a faculty member. As a teacher, I continually experience the work that goes on behind the scenes to create ideal learning environments and see the individualized attention given to each child’s needs. It makes me even more grateful for the time and effort that Trinity Teachers put into making sure that my children blossomed into their best selves. Twenty-three years ago, when my husband and I were approached by Linzy’s teacher to consider letting him move to the five-day Three’s instead of Pre-K, we were skeptical. However, under Trinity’s guidance and experienced knowledge, we reluctantly agreed and gave him the gift of time. This turned out to be one of the best decisions we made for our oldest son, as he soared in his following grades. Linzy, who now works as an immigration and civil rights attorney in New York after graduating from The Lovett School and Vanderbilt University, often speaks about his proudest moments at Trinity School. This includes his leadership roles speaking at a Parent Visitation program, performing with the choir at Carnegie Hall, and redesigning the Pre-K Olympic bobsleds for his Sixth-Grade capstone project, which, amazingly, are still in use! He still maintains his Trinity friendships and even shared a house with a Trinity friend while he was in law school. My daughter, Kaitlin, also a Lovett School graduate, graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is a Doctor of Occupational Therapy candidate at Boston University. She cherishes her Trinity friendships and fond memories of going on the Gingerbread Man hunt, participating in the Pre-K Olympics, watching The Nutcracker, and doing the famous Turkey Dance during the Thanksgiving assembly with her Kindergarten class and Ms. Emily [Winship]. My “Trinity Twins,” William and Zachary, are Woodward Academy graduates and freshmen at Hampton University and Temple University respectively. I also have so many fond memories here. And as we celebrate 70 years of Trinity’s existence this school year, I distinctly remember celebrating the School’s 50th anniversary 20 years ago and helping all of the students form a huge “50” on the field. I have witnessed many enhancements throughout the years, such as the addition of weekly special classes, the Idea Lab, a makerspace, and individual laptops for everyone, ensuring that our students are well-equipped in an ever-changing world. Even with all these changes, Trinity remains steadfast in keeping the child as the focus and delivering a top-notch education that prepares its students for life way beyond our gates. More than 20 years after I first stepped foot on a Trinity campus, it is a joy to be able to ignite and witness the science sparks in our youngest students. Their natural curiosity and eagerness to learn creates a perfect backdrop for exploring the world all around them. Every day, I am fortunate to enjoy the excitement my students bring to class, whether we are discovering a new concept or sharing their discoveries outside of school. The best part of my time at Trinity School is that I am surrounded by a community of like-minded individuals who give our students room to comfortably explore, ask questions, seek answers, and be leaders in their individualized ways. And I am inspired every day by our amazing students, who leave Trinity’s gates happy, confident, and compassionate; well prepared for the next step of their educational journey; and ready to make an impact in their community.

In 1998, Thalia, her husband, Linzy Scott III, and their daughter, Kaitlin, pose for a photo with Linzy on his first day at Trinity. In 1998, Thalia brings Kaitlin along for Linzy’s third birthday celebration in his three-day Three-Year-Olds class.

In 2000, Thalia holds the book that Linzy made to introduce himself during his time as “Friend of the Week” in Pre-K. In 2001, Thalia poses with Linzy and Kaitlin on their first day as a Kindergartner and member of the Three-Year-Olds program respectively.

The Scott family poses for a photo in 2017: William, Zachary, Linzy, Thalia, Kaitlin ’10, and Linzy ’08.