Trinity’s first Team Benefield reunites

Members of Trinity’s original Team Benefield take a group photo with Thomas Benefield during their Class of 2016 Reunion.

By Thomas Benefield, Fifth Grade Associate Teacher

Eight years ago, I accepted the position of Fifth-Grade teacher at Trinity School. It would be my first homeroom in three years, and I was excited to have a core group of students to get to know, watch grow, and have fun with. What a great first group I received that August of 2014! One of the hardest parts of being a Fifth-Grade teacher is once the year is over, I don’t get to see many of those kids anymore as some choose to stay for Sixth Grade and others matriculate to other schools. Luckily, Trinity brings all its former students back together during their senior year of high school. I’ve been able to keep up with a few of them through their parents’ social media accounts, but many I had not heard about or from since they completed Fifth Grade in May 2015. I can’t overstate how I have been looking forward to my first class at Trinity’s senior reunion for the past seven years. If you know me, you know how I feel about my students, and if you’re a teacher you know that every kid that comes through your door has a piece of your heart, and sometimes we never get to see those pieces again. Well, let me tell you that when you do, especially after seven years apart, the missing piece fits right back into place. You remember little things they did as 10- or 11-year-olds and wonder if they still do them. You remember how they grew and changed over a school year. You remember how you challenged them, and they sometimes challenged you. Of my 20 homeroom students that year, 14 of them made it back for the reunion in May, 13 in time for a class photo. These young men and women were going on to Auburn, UNC, Columbia, BU, NYU, Penn, Tulane, Georgia Tech, and other as-of-then undecided locations.

This reunion is just one way the phrase “Once a Trinity child, always a Trinity child” plays out. Seeing so many of the students from the Trinity Class of 2016 was such a joy, and the setting for the reunion could not have been more fitting - the new Outdoor Learning Center for Trinity’s Early Elementary students. Seeing these 17- and 18-yearolds making their way around this awesome space was so fun. After the group pics and food happened, two of my former students approached me and asked if it would be okay to go back and play in the tree. “I mean, I’m sure we CAN, we’re just not sure if it would be socially acceptable,” one said. “Get out there and play, man,” I responded enthusiastically. For at least 10 minutes that is what they did. Climbing, laughing, talking, and letting their inner little kid back out for a bit. Upon exiting the tree, one turned to look at it and said, “That is a good tree!” When it was time for me to go, I made my way around to my former students, wished them luck, told them how great it was to see them, and successfully held back some tears. I’m so excited for them, their potential is limited only by their drive, and this group’s drive is STRONG. Athletics, academics, and philanthropic endeavors are just a few of the areas these young women and men have excelled in since leaving Trinity School, and will, without a doubt, continue to do so.

Avery, Bobby, Cricket, Edward, Frank, Jack, Logan, Matthew, Nora, Owen, Rachel, Walton, William, and Xander - I don’t know if you realize how much it means to me that you seemed as happy to see me as I was to see you, but rest assured, you filled my cup to the brim with enough left over for a to-go cup. Asia Bay, Campbell, Ella Grace, Elle, Kelsey, and Mollie, we missed seeing you, but I know you’re on to great things, too! As I told you in May 2015, my door is always open to you, and once Team Benefield, always Team Benefield. You have a faithful, cheering supporter here!