Messages from Head of School

I hope you had a blessed July 4th holiday with the ones you love. What a great day to remind us what a great gift we have in our country and the freedom and liberty that we enjoy.

We have had a full house at the Caddows as family is in town from Arizona and Oklahoma for the wedding of our son, Ian, this Saturday to Jacey Massetto! If that name sounds familiar, it should! Jacey is Mrs. Massetto's daughter! It is another Trinity wedding – I believe that makes seven Trinity weddings! - but who’s counting? We are beyond thrilled for their impending marriage.

This has been one of the most exciting summers at Trinity for a number of reasons. One of the good things to come out of the Covid phase was how our fellow Christian schools in our area and throughout the country came to together to share strategies, get legal advice, and to pray for one another.  The relationships forged through that time were invaluable and I was grateful to meet so many excellent leaders. Someone who was always available was the President of the Association of Classical, Christian Schools, David Goodwin.  I was recently told by ACCS that I was being considered as a potential new addition to the board. And after a short nomination and election process I am very humbled to have been selected as the newest member of the ACCS Board of Directors. I am honored to be able to help guide the mission and vision of the ACCS.

We took 16 of our faculty and administration to the ACCS conference in Frisco, Texas on June 22-25. It is so encouraging to attend the ACCS conference and be with over 300 other schools who are also walking this journey of classical, Christian Education. The Association is experiencing one of the biggest explosions in its history. In years past, the ACCS would field 30 inquiries for people seeking to start a classical, Christian school – this year that number is over 100. There are several school leaders in the West that we met at the conference. Schools are being opened in Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Arizona and California; we are actively talking with start-up schools in Venice and San Francisco. We will also be hosting one of the 12 ACCS Regional Administrators Summit meetings at Trinity on October 13-14.

Another development in the surge of classical, Christian schools is the recent release of Battle for The American Mind, co-authored by ACCS President David Goodwin and FOX News commentator Pete Hegseth. It outlines the story of political and cultural forces that have shaped education over the last century and why classical, Christian Education is the best way to educate children. The book recently hit the #1 spot in the NY Times Bestseller list and is driving a nationwide conversation about classical, Christian Education. I recommend this book very highly as a way to continue to understand the classical, Christian Education movement and how Trinity is part of the larger effort to revitalize education in America.

We at Trinity could not be more excited for all the families that the Lord is bringing to us. This summer is proving to be one of our busiest as we are adding many more families than in recent years.

Enjoy the rest of your summer! We look forward to seeing you all soon and beginning another wonderful year at Trinity!

What a glorious time of year for Trinity Classical Academy! The long journey of an academic year at Trinity is coming to a close and with it comes the pleasure and delight of a year well done. Spring has arrived and we once again witness the fruits of our labor.

Last week our seniors gave us all a vivid representation of their years of rigor and dedication in their studies with the presentation of their Senior Theses. Once again, our students provided us with a poignant, coming-of-age moment for each of them as they fulfilled one of the most taxing and challenging exercises they have been charged with at Trinity. The Senior Thesis stretches each senior to their own capacity and I am so very pleased for them and encouraged by who they have become through the process.

We heard from what are now experts on a wide range of issues, from why we should reconsider the death penalty in America to an examination of how strict parents should be, or not be, during the high school years. We learned about why the government might have the power to mandate vaccines, our biblical duty to address climate change, why we should reconsider colonizing other planets, and why celibacy may be superior to marriage. How do we solve the homeless crisis in our country, should we be eating genetically modified foods, should Christians forbid or condone interfaith marriages and a number of other topics of depth and relevance to us.

All of these were thought-provoking, challenging messages delivered by Trinity's twelfth graders - students who have been trained in the art of rhetoric and who have devoted long hours and much thought to enlightening us regarding something about which they are passionate.

Congratulations Seniors. You have run the race and fought the good fight. Your thesis presentations were outstanding. Each of you braved the stage and delivered your thoughts to a gathering of our community. Each of you had your own trepidations but you have accomplished something significant and worthwhile. You embraced the struggle and by stepping up to the podium and delivering your thoughts and beliefs, you are forever changed. You went up to speak as one person and you came down another. Whatever happens in the years to come, you will have that experience of accomplishing something very daunting and finding the reward to be great, despite the fear. Well done!

Thank you to our seniors for proving once again that by striving for excellence, not perfection, and by leaning on the Lord and engaging with the people of God, you can do great things.

Thank you senior parents for your persevering prayer, guidance, encouragement and love upon our seniors through this process.

We are grateful to our Senior Thesis faculty: Mr. Weichbrodt, Mr. Ramquist and Dr. Ungureanu, for their thoughtful instruction and guidance.

We also want to express deep gratitude toward the Senior Thesis advisers for their investment in our students throughout this project.

Blessings to you all in this last chapter of your journey here at Trinity. It has been a delight to walk with you and we will be sad to see you go, but we rejoice in all the Lord has in store for you in the next chapter of your journey.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11

I recently met with a family who is considering Trinity for their children. Of all the ways that we try to reach families about Trinity, this family noted that the most impactful view of Trinity was “The video with you in the crane!”. For all the high-mindedness about the Trivium and logic and rhetoric and all our talk about classical education and virtue, wisdom, purpose and courage, this family’s enduring image of our school is me and Nurse Christer in a cherry-picker, providing a bit of …levity (get it). Thank God for some laughter, even as we are about the serious business of education.

These last two years have seen a torrent of news items that have shaken many of us to our core. Each day brings another astonishing development that we could worry and fret about - especially the sad and chilling and mis-guided changes one sees in education these days, particularly public education. But we can’t despair or get discouraged; we must press on, finding delight in our students and one another.

The state does not grant any of us peace and liberty. Instead, it seeks to stir people up and keep us in constant state of dependence and fear, for this gives life-giving sustenance to the state. Those of us who live in this ever-ballooning state are being conditioned to a constant simmering unease…like wondering what to believe or worry about the latest crisis. Or our more personal worries – will my child be able to deliver his Senior Thesis? What about that looming test? To what college will my child be accepted?

Spiritual liberty and the inner peace of man with God and His creation is not in the state’s interest. In times of turmoil and tumult, we call on God and His structures - family, church and community that He has established to help us through our nagging uncertainties.

So many of us are trying to live upright lives and we constantly run up against our biggest impediment: fear. We tell ourselves that we care deeply about the problems of the world and we pray earnestly for change for the better. I know, because I can at times be afraid. But sometimes I laugh. I CHOOSE to laugh, free of fear. This past spring break I didn’t listen to nearly as much news as I usually do, and somehow God kept the world turning. And I laughed more than usual – praise the Lord!

If we really want to make a difference in our culture, then we will put a bridle on our fear and worrying. Like the woman in Proverbs 31:25, “She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.” Yes, laughter, not taking ourselves too seriously, is God’s prescription for facing the times we live in – or any times for that matter. Focusing not on the troubles in the world and how they could consume us but on “the inner peace that comes from man with God and his Creation”. We can laugh at the days to come.

Years ago, Douglas Wilson, pioneer of classical, Christian education, spoke at our school. He was very informative and inspiring and we spoke at the conclusion of his talk. He said, “I do a lot of speaking engagements at a lot of schools and they all seem to be doing essentially the same things – but you at Trinity – you seem to be having fun.” I laughed.

Each year, we deliberate and confer as a group of leaders what our verse for the year will be.  We cycle through our pillars and each year we choose one – virtue, wisdom, purpose and courage – to focus on throughout the school year. This year, we decided to focus once again on courage. There is always a certain amount of trepidation when we ask the Lord to teach us about anything, but asking Him to enlighten us about courage is particularly foreboding. Because we will not just read a passage or two about courage, or meditate on the meaning of courage, or philosophically read about the concept of courage. No, God doesn’t work that way. Rather, He gives us opportunities to be courageous. He gives us scenarios and instances and whole chapters in our lives to BE courageous, not just intellectually understand what courage is.

Our verse for the year is Joshua 1:9, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

I feel that I have been asked to be courageous on numerous occasions throughout this school year, perhaps more so than any other. And I thought that my reserves of courage had been used up, but God says there is more to be done and more times that will require courage. And as the cloud of Covid seems to have finally lifted from our lives, we find our world seemingly turned upside down by a war thousands of miles away with implications that we are all feeling here on our own doorstep. And fear once again begins to creep into my thoughts, my day, my life. 

I fear that our families will be so unduly affected by the pandemonium of the world, by the economic pressures of the day, by the ambiguity of the future, that they will be compelled to leave – to leave California and to leave Trinity, not because they want to, but because they feel they must. 

How much more so it is in the lives of our students, who seem to be growing up in a world that for the last two years has been marked by fear, chaos, disease, uncertainty, loss, division and bloodshed.

And through it all, they continue to participate in class, complete assignments, win and lose ball games, sing and dance and play, write a thesis, laugh and love their friends. 

God has made us resilient and he reminds us to stand firm. He COMMANDS us to be strong and courageous, to not be dismayed. WHY? Because He is with us, wherever we go. We are to stand firm. We are to cling to Him during times of fear, and lock arms with one another so we can stand firm together, bearing one another’s burdens. We are to be courageous.

Joshua 1:9 comes to us as Moses, the great leader of the Israelites has died and God is encouraging Joshua to lead the people into the land that he has promised them. Thy people have lost their leader, have been wandering for years and now face the prospect of entering a land filled with hostile giants who seek to destroy them. The Lord commands them three times, “Be Strong and Courageous…I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

And the people answered Joshua, “Whatever you have commended us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go.” And the people took up the rallying cry, echoing what the Lord had spoken exclaiming, “Only be strong and courageous!”

I am glad for our verse this year and the encouragement it provides in these days.

Christian Classical education is experiencing an historic boom the likes of which we have never seen.  The classical education model has a tradition steeped in the great books, the liberal arts and the natural sciences that extends back through the ages. While the appeal of this type of education is obvious to us, why the sudden resurgence in our society? It is the unexpected outcome of Covid’s disruption of the American public education system.

As many schools moved their curricula and their teachers to remote learning, parents saw, many for the first time, exactly what was being taught to their children. And too often, they did not like what they saw: declining standards, hollowed-out curricula, politicized and damaging lessons and an overall lack of meaningful content.

Remote learning exposed the reality of American public education: that too many students are being left uneducated and unprepared for college, the workplace or to just live a meaningful life in a peaceful, fulfilling way. Many were aware of these problems in education before the pandemic, but time spent at home peering over the shoulders of their children, revealed the seriousness of the crisis. In 2021 some school districts saw such a precipitous decline in all aspects of student learning, that they began eliminating graduation requirements all together. Others suspended math and reading requirements explaining that suspending these standards would aid students from marginalized communities by essentially making things easier for them. 

But math, reading and writing are human skills that all who are educated can learn.  Lowering the bar, or removing the bar altogether, does a disservice to students and their communities. Misguided developments such as this make it clear why parents are desperate for alternatives. Many are finding hope in Christian classical education, which has always sought to cultivate wisdom, virtue and eloquence.

The number of Classical schools is growing, but in many cases, demand is overwhelming the supply. At the 30 Great Hearts Academies, the largest public provider of K-12 classical education in Texas, there are over 13,000 students on the wait list for enrollment. Other institutions are stepping in to fill demand. Hillsdale College, a classical liberal-arts college that promotes the founding of classical charter schools around the country, welcomed three more classical schools to its existing twenty.

Classical Academic Press, which provides classical education curricula, has experienced an 82 percent increase in requests for materials since 2019. Schole Academy, an online classical academy, has experienced a 155 percent growth in enrollment since the 2019-20 school year. The Association of Classical Christian Schools is also experiencing a record number of inquiries from around the world from parents seeking classical learning for their students’ education.

Unlike contemporary politicized teaching, Christian classical education studies the great human ideas and texts as a source of common ground across cultures. Important issues such as identity, gender, race, class politics, equality, sovereignty, and human rights, become illuminated and contextualized in the face of fundamental questions about the broader human experience. What are freedom and liberty? What is justice? What is a good society? What are right and wrong?

No person can live a fruitful life without confronting these questions. This is why parents of all stripes are turning to classical academies. Parents, many for the first time, are finding schools that help each student learn what it means to be human and to embrace the pursuit of a good life. 

The pandemic has left tremendous damage in its wake. But it is also leading to a transformation in education that will ultimately benefit so many more children with a bright future.

Thank you for having me back. It’s always encouraging to return to a community of such faith and strength, especially in the face of our pandemic. I had a lot to think about when preparing for this evening, and it is a real honor and privilege to speak to you all, so I hope you’ll forgive me for keeping it as concise as I could manage.

In my opinion, the most difficult moment of being a student at Trinity was the very last. When my peers and I crossed that stage on graduation night, we had never before been challenged, but were now being sent hurtling towards a new life, a new world, and new difficulties. While I’m sure current Trinity students would assure me that they are indeed being challenged, they don’t have to do their own laundry.

But seriously, the academic, social, and spiritual challenges that arise from the transition into college are real, and can strike some students deeply. As far as classes go, Trinity was the best preparation I could have gotten. The high volume of dual-credit and AP courses were intense enough that some lower division courses are just too easy now. While getting that degree is by no means automatic, dual-credit classes especially have gotten me there sooner. Many of my peers graduated with an associate’s degree in hand, and I myself completed more than a year’s worth of credits during high school.

Academic challenges still exist, but I have felt prepared and confident in meeting them, thanks very much to my teachers at Trinity. When I first made it to UC Davis, I knew no one, didn’t have communities, and was in an entirely new environment. It took direct action and real effort to fix all that. But by being proactive, I quickly found good friends, clubs, and even a church.

Since then I have only excelled, much to the credit of the Lord and His grace, and the self-confidence I learned here at Trinity. Really, all of the values taught during my time here have served me well in college. Though they can sometimes be difficult to uphold, I have done my best to retain wisdom, virtue, purpose, and courage, and they have not let me down. That basis, that strong foundation, was something given to me by the Trinity faculty. The Trinity faculty and administration truly poured into me their care, consideration, and passion; discipling us, guiding us, and teaching us the eternal surety of God and Scripture. Were it not for the formative influence of such righteous minds as Dr. Phillips, Dr. Selby, Dr. Ingle, and countless more, I might very well find myself lost, confused, and drifting further from the Lord each day, as too many Christian students are today.

That said, going to a secular university can challenge many, especially Christians. Though certainly to a better degree, even Christian universities cannot compare to high school when it comes to providing their students the same shelter and protection from that earthly world out there which gnaws at our morals and tempts our fool hearts. College life offers young adults greater freedom than they have ever tasted before, and some are overwhelmed. But parents, take heart, the Trinity faculty are invested in the faith and spiritual wellbeing of their students, your children. They will teach, train, and empower them to leave this place and suffer no doubt, but remain strong and boldly Christian in our increasingly secular culture, in college and beyond.

Besides the spiritual, college life also presents students with an academic challenge. For myself, that is pursuing a major and minor at an accelerated track in order to begin graduate studies that much sooner. A lot of fun, I know. That being said, the only reason I’m even capable of engaging in classes and conversations multiple years ahead of other students my age is because of Trinity. Not only did the rigors and difficulties of a college preparatory workload prepare me for university classes and topics, but the classes I took at Trinity were worth college credit. Many from my graduating class completed a full associate’s degree at Trinity, and even I will be a first-year junior in the spring. That especially has been helpful for me, as it saves me money on tuition and gets me closer to a graduate program, and eventually a career.

And academically, the work ethic and focus I learned at Trinity have helped me succeed in classes purported to be far more difficult and time-consuming than I have found them. While some of my peers were panicking during finals week, faced by multiple exams in addition to pages and pages of essays, all due at once; I was calm, knowing that nothing – and I mean nothing – can compare to the terror of having to submit a 40-page thesis to the audit of Mr. Weichbrodt in order to graduate.

But seriously, Trinity gave me skills in research, study, and focus which have made a heavy college workload lighter than junior year. When I sat down for my first college history class, we began at the time when the first hominids crawled from the sea and slowly transformed into the humans we now are. What I’m talking about is evolution and secular education. Though these things can often seem like the boogeyman for Christian students going into college, I have a message that is more hopeful. Though a college education is not inherently Christian like at Trinity, neither is it anti-Christian. I personally have not encountered any seething professors ready to ban Christians from their classes. What I have experienced is Christianity in the scholarly sense, presented alongside all other religions as equals.

Being a history major, religion is often a neutral topic, and everyone understands that, no matter our beliefs, we are here to collaborate and learn in an academic environment free from obstacles. Sure, my classes all have evolution as the presumed theory for the origin of mankind, but thanks to the involvement of Dr. Phillips in my education, it can’t bother me. Once again, it may be my own personal experience and university, but there are very few direct challenges to my faith. Rather, everyone accepts everything. When I sit down in a room of 500 peers to learn about science or history or language, my Christianity comes up just as often as the atheism, islam, buddhism, etc. of my peers. My classmates care far less about my religion, and far more about the group project we have due next week. In fact, rather than religion being a divide, the diversity of my classes leads to richer thought and discourse. When I sit down to discuss Russian history, it is not to battle Lenin, Marx, and Stalin, but to learn about another place, another time, another world outside of my own, so that by becoming well-rounded and well-read, I may better understand and overcome the true challenges to my faith and lifestyle which are yet to come. As Aristotle wrote, “ It is the mark of an educated mind to entertain a thought without accepting it.” Though what I describe may sound difficult, and not every college experience is the same, I can assure you that I continue to thrive academically, socially, and spiritually.

In 2021, Forbes ranked UC Davis as the #4 public university in the nation. While it is true that I could have instead gone to a Christian college, I feel confident that Davis is the right place for me, and Trinity has given me the strength to fear no evil which may come my way.

That said, I encourage you, parents, not to fear for your child’s soul should they leave Trinity for a secular university, the Lord shall not forsake them, as they should not forsake the Lord. As I mentioned before, Trinity’s education not only prepares students for a college workload, but directly contributes to their degree, now more than ever with the increasing number of AP and dual-credit courses offered here. At graduation, many of my peers left with an associate’s degree already completed. I myself will be a first-year junior come springtime, and will be using all that time and money saved to pursue graduate education that much sooner. To close, I will remind you of Joshua 1:9. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” The Lord shall be with these students now, and forever. Amen.

Dear Trinity Parents,

It has been a joy and blessing to welcome your students back to school this New Year!  We stand firm in our commitment to the education and care of your children and we press onward and remain flexible through each new challenge during this season. 

Let us now, more than ever, value and hold dear our traditions.  Our annual Vision Night is a significant opportunity for our community to come together and to reaffirm our mission and discern the plans for our school this year and for years to come.

We will gather for Vision Night on Monday, January 24th at 6:30pm at Grace Baptist Church.  Per our Partnership Agreement we require that one parent attend Vision Night.  We will meet in the main worship area with plenty of space to spread out as you feel comfortable.  

Please plan on arriving by 6:15pm so you can get checked in and seated as we will start Vision Night promptly at 6:30pm.  Please make sure to check in as attendance will be taken and tracked. Vision Night packets are online!  You will be able to download, print, fill out, and submit all forms from the dedicated Vision Night webpage.  

We thank you for your prayers and presence at Vision Night.  Let us come together in hope and prayer—for our children, our school, and each other. 

In Faith,

Liz Caddow
Founder and Head of School

Happy New Year! I trust you had a blessed and rejuvenating holiday and are excited to be back on campus. The Caddow family was happy to be together and enjoyed time with our three children and soon-to-be daughter-in-law. We have had a handful of Trinity alumni who have married each other, but this one hits closer to home, as Ian will be marrying Mrs. Massetto’s daughter, Jacey! We are very excited to welcome Jacey and the Massetto family into our family in July!

Our faculty and staff returned early and trained and prepared for an exciting return to school for our students last week. We were blessed to have Dr. David Goodwin, President of the Association of Classical Christian Schools (ACCS), speak to our faculty and staff. He spoke on the courage that we as Christian, classical educators need at this time to serve the next generation. Our faculty was also blessed to have Dr. Annie Baghdayan, Executive Director of the National Center for Disability Education and Training lead workshops on differentiated instruction in the classroom - it was a day well spent!

In an effort to keep everyone safe, there are now two testing opportunities each week and there are lots of medical grade and N95 masks available to anyone who needs one.

Many people choose to make New Year’s resolutions. In thinking about that, I think about the root of resolution being resolve, and resolve is something we have every single day at Trinity. Our faculty and staff resolves to press forward in our mission to educate and disciple your children, embracing any challenges as opportunities. There is resolve to further the mission of the Kingdom for Christ, in how we love and serve one another, and prepare students for life as a disciple of Christ. I am grateful every day for the opportunity to partner with Trinity families to reach the next generation for Christ, prepare them for college and for what the Lord has for them after that.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Isaiah 9:6.

Our Kindergarteners and TK'ers rang in the Christmas season at Trinity with an inspiring concert singing praises for the birth of our Lord. As we celebrate Christmas and the miracle of God becoming incarnate, we join with Christians around the globe who accept this event as fact, because our lives have been forever changed by it. We believe in a God who can affect events in the world because to believe otherwise is worse than no belief at all. We believe that this one miracle was only the beginning.

As we pray this holiday season for our families and friends, for loved ones, for the world and for ourselves, we need to remember and believe again that God is still doing miracles. A miracle is an event in which the redemptive purpose of God is clearly made manifest. Christ coming to earth as a baby, then dying for our sins, then rising from the dead, is a miracle because God chose to intervene in the natural course of events for a transcendent reason. It isn’t puzzling of confusing. It simply means that we live in a world where the natural and the supernatural exist together.

As a result of God’s great intervention into our world, we realize that every prayer we utter is, at its core, a request for a miracle. A request for God to insert himself into the natural order of our lives. We ask God to bring something more than what is being provided by all our human effort and resources. A prayer is asking God for a miracle.

Christmas is a time to celebrate God’s biggest miracle, the one that forever changed the world, but more than that, changed each one of us. God is still doing miracles; we need only to ask.

This Christmas, I invite you to trust again in the miracle of Christmas. Love those around you as He has loved us. And sing. And pray.

From all of us at Trinity, blessings this Christmas.

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
– Psalm 100

November has become a month of gratitude. There are many opportunities to reflect on how thankful we are for God’s blessings. There are many things at Trinity to be thankful for.

I am grateful that school has been up and running for a few months and our students are learning in the classroom, on the stage, field, courts, playground and field trips! The hope is always that they are thriving at every level.

One of the highlights of this season is Grandparents Day which is next Thursday, November 11^th. It is a time to invite our treasured grandparents, family and friends to see just what is happening at Trinity. We are so grateful for our Trinity grandparents and their engagement in our community and their support of our mission to raise the next generation with virtue, wisdom, purpose and courage. It is a delightful day and we look forward to seeing our whole community, all generations at this wonderful event.

Grandparent’s day is also Veterans Day and we will also be honoring those who have served in the armed forces of our country and the 15 Trinity alumni who currently serve. Veterans Day is a time for us to pay our respects to those who have served. For one day, we stand united in respect for our veterans. This holiday started as a day to reflect upon the heroism of those who died in our country's service.

And then in just a few weeks, right before we break for Thanksgiving, is our Fall Fun Day on Nov. 17^th! I know this is a day for which our students are grateful. It is a celebration of the end of the first trimester. There will be games, a giant slide, a petting zoo, and of course the highly anticipated PowderPuff football game and cheer competition. Don’t miss it! It is truly one of the best days of the school year for everyone on campus.

And finally we look forward with anticipation to Thanksgiving, a welcome respite from school and an opportunity to gather with those we love. Thanksgiving in the Bible means to respond to God's goodness and grace with gratitude. The word for giving thanks in the Old Testament means to raise hands to God in gratitude.

In this season of gratitude and Thanksgiving, what are you grateful and thankful for?

Blessings to you and your family in this season. 

We are a little over a month into the school year and I praise God for the rhythm of the school year. Every day of learning is filled with wonder and joy, challenges and opportunities.

Classes are in full bloom. My senior Honors Government class is a wonderful experience. It is a culminating class where I see our seniors employ all that they have learned at Trinity, from writing and speaking persuasively, to their understanding of history and God’s Word, to the maturity of their intellect and personalities to bear on the issues of our day. It is delightful and hopeful to see them grapple with the ideas of our world and weigh them as to whether they bring life and freedom, or misery and pain, to people. Ideas have consequences and it is a great privilege to journey with them.

Our sports teams are doing well with our football, volleyball, and cross-country teams all posting some great victories. Be sure to join us this Saturday as the Trinity Knights football team (5-1) takes on Big Bear (6-1) in a huge league matchup at Valencia High School at 6pm. It’s a rare home football game for us and sure to be a great time for the Trinity community to come together. 

Other things to look forward to in the life of our school include our Homecoming Celebration and Football game on 10/16 at 6pm at Valencia High School.  

We are also very excited to have all our Trinity Grandparents, friends and families join us for Grandparent’s Day on Thursday, November 11 on campus. This day will include our first Corporate Time, classroom visits, a wonderful brunch, and a time to celebrate with the extended Trinity family. I am thrilled that my mother and my in-laws will be joining us from Arizona to celebrate Grandparent’s Day with us.  

Thanks to all of our families for your continued prayers and support in what continues to be a challenging season to navigate. As always, we are committed to DOING SCHOOL, thoughtfully and safely. Your support and encouragement means the world to me and all of our staff who are striving to make each and every day at Trinity inspiring and excellent.   

What a joy it is to have all our students back on campus for another great year! We thank God for his provision and wisdom in enlightening us as to how to do school in these challenging days.

We welcome over 100 new students this year to Trinity! This is the most ever to join us in one year in our history. We pray that this school year is illuminating and fruitful as you pursue your studies at Trinity.

As we approach the school year, you may wonder what it is that will sustain us, encourage us and help us make this an outstanding year of learning, growth and friendship for our students. It is the Lord’s faithfulness and provision that has seen us through the years.

The Lord has always provided for our school and that is why I love to remind everyone of our story:

In September of 2001 we opened our doors with 28 little people Kindergarten thru 2nd grade, 26 families and 3 faculty and staff at Valencia Open Bible Church on 15th street in Newhall – the entire facility was smaller than our current Kindergarten play space. We began with just a handful of people with the idea of a Christian, classical school that would shape the hearts, minds and souls of children, seeking to know noble ideals - the true, good and beautiful. Our school was established to lead students to a “virtuous” life through the pursuit of virtue, wisdom, purpose and courage. We have faced significant challenges to the survival of our school throughout our 20 years, but the Lord has blessed each step we have taken and looking back, we see the mark of His hand in all that we have done.

This school year will present new challenges, many new people, new ways of doing things as well as many old, tried and true ways of doing things. Every year is an adventure and we boldly dive into this one with our mighty Lord guiding our steps. Be encouraged that He desires this to be a great year for each of our students and we will endeavor to fulfill His call and care for each student he has placed at Trinity.

Every year is an adventure. Chesterton once said “An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered.” All of you have taken great consideration in sending your children to Trinity. In many ways it is indeed an inconvenience, especially when there is typically a ‘convenient’ choice right down the street that might expect less of you or your child. But we have chosen the adventure, and adventure takes courage! So jump into the adventure – be courageous – come visit your child’s class, volunteer to serve lunch, drive to a field trip, cheer at one of our ball games, help with homework, take a meal to a classmate's family, take in a wonderful concert, spend time with you child’s teacher, give to our mission, pray with a fellow parent, say "please forgive me" to someone, bring your whole family to Grandparent’s Day, speak with our alumni, read one of The Great Books yourself, appreciate a student art creation, hug someone who needs it, and above all love, bless and encourage your children as the learn and grow this year.

I thank God that Trinity is a place where we can live out our faith. It is a place to serve and be served. It is a place where we can take all that we read and know from God’s word and APPLY it, because we’re together nearly every day! it is a place that God has created and it needs your prayers, your support, your encouragement, and your presence every day.

Thanks for joining us in the 21st year of our journey. Praise be to God who leads us.   

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:9

Class of 2019 Baccalaureate and Graduation, Disneyland, 8th grade promotion, receiving and signing yearbooks, textbook return, awards, and celebrations have been our students' lives the past couple of weeks. Today we had the Olympics and picnic, and tomorrow we will promote our 6th graders to Logic School and say goodbye to all of our young friends until August.

BUT, there is so much still going on this summer! Many of our young friends will attend summer camp or summer sessions at Trinity. Many of our Upper School friends have camps, academic opportunities, volunteer efforts and club activities that they are looking forward to. Many will go on family vacations, make trips to the beach and/or the pool to beat the SCV's summer heat, and enjoy some rest, relaxation, and extra time with friends and family, homework-free. The Caddow Clan is looking forward to time with family and friends.

There will be some minimal school work as each student in 6th-12th grades has a reading assignment to complete and Varsity sports hold practices over the summer so lots of students will spend some of the summer break preparing for next year. Grammar School students have the opportunity to participate in a voluntary summer reading program.

There will still be plenty of activity on campus as our administrative staff is working to prepare for 2019-20 and summer camp will be in full swing. This is the last newsletter that will go out this school year, but be aware that we will communicate reminders via email/Trinity Message, so remember to check your email regularly.

Our front desk will be open M-Th from 9am-12pm between June 10-Aug 8, with the exception of July 1-12, when all school offices will be closed. Regular hours (8am-3pm) will resume on August 12.

My prayer is that our students, families, faculty and staff enjoy a safe summer, filled with a combination of rest and fun activities, and come back August 22nd rejuvenated and excited to see what God has in store for them for the 2019-20 school year.

As we have just celebrated Memorial Day, it seemed fitting to acknowledge our military-minded graduates. We have had graduates join the military, some have gone on to participate in ROTC in college and we have been honored to have five Trinity graduates earn Congressional nominations and appointments to military academies - United States Military Academy at West Point, United States Naval Academy and the United States Air Force Academy. 

Our first student to receive an appointment was Spencer Klehn, class of 2014. He attended West Point and is now a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army and he is in flight school to fly helicopters. My son, Ian Caddow, class of 2016, has just finished his 3rd year in the U.S. Naval Academy. Caden Kulp, class of 2017, just completed his second year in the U.S. Air Force Academy.

Academy students receive what amounts to a four-year full ride scholarship. They also receive modest pay while attending. In return, when they graduate with a stellar education, they will serve our country as an officer in the given military branch for a minimum of 4-5 years (depending on which academy they attend). Military academy admission is very competitive, with low acceptance rates from 7-12% depending on the academy and the year. In addition to high grade point averages and test scores, candidates must meet medical and physical requirements and they must also obtain a congressional nomination. 

This year, the United States Air Force Academy Admissions Liaison, Colonel Scott Coon, attended our Baccalaureate chapel to present appointments to Andrew Dever and Shane Lintereur. He described the process of appointment, the obligation to serve, and he also said that it is clear these students were schooled surrounded by excellence. He was very impressed with our ceremony and the caliber of people that have just graduated with academic honors, as well as honors for citizenship and character.

I am so very proud of our graduates who are going on to serve our country and who are currently serving.

Finishing the race is a metaphor that the Apostle Paul uses in Scripture. II Timothy 4:7 says "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." He's referring to the race of life as a follower of Christ. We use the metaphor in many ways in life, but the most important being as a follower of Christ. 

We are finishing the race of this 2019-20 school year. Some are finishing the race of Grammar School. Some just finished the race of producing creative films or completing a theater production (with excellence I might add). Some are finishing the race of their time at Trinity and are completing final exams, and preparing for commencement exercises this Saturday. We are coming close to finishing the race of purchasing the property on which our campus sits. We are fighting the good fight on a daily basis of completing responsibilities, with a faithful attitude...getting ourselves and our children off to school and work, eating, getting exercise, household chores, whatever it may be.

At this time of year, when so many things are ending, and final products are showcased (thesis presentations, awards banquets, film festival, theater, yearbook, concerts, graduations), I am reminding myself and all of us at Trinity to finish strong. Don't grow weary of doing good. There is still much to do as we close out this school year. There are events to attend, finals to take, and work to do, all while looking forward to summer vacation and keeping our eyes on Jesus, even as our children move on to the next grade, next school, or next phase of life. It can be bittersweet. How dare they grow up so fast?

Mr. Caddow and I have Ian at the United States Naval Academy; Hannah, who is a senior and is about to graduate; and Lily, an eighth grader who is about to move on to the Rhetoric School. They each have their own God-given gifts and plan for their lives. Your children have their gifts and God also has a plan and purpose for their lives. I pray that our faculty is an encouragement to your students to live for Jesus, and seek Him in all that they do, so that whatever their "race" is at this time in their lives, they run with endurance, with their eyes fixed on Jesus (Hebrews 12:1-2). Let's do this!

Countdown:
Seniors - 4 days until graduation
8th grade - 10 days until promotion
6th grade - 15 days until promotion

Summer is coming! Fix your eyes on Jesus; keep running your race. He is with you!

Our Fine Arts program at Trinity really shines this time of year. Whereas athletics has games all year long that we attend and support, Fine Arts works all year long to produce amazing things that we witness here as the year is coming to an end. There are recitals, art displays, performances, and a festival.

Last week we had our Musicale, which consisted of individuals who had worked all year on their instruments and they performed with courage in a recital format. On Friday, one hundred students traveled to Fullerton for the Forum Music Festival. Crimson Choir and Orchestra were awarded GOLD. Choral ensemble, Choristers and Jazz Band were awarded silver. There were individual awards as well and you can read about those details in the story posted on our website.

Last night was our Fine Arts Banquet, where all of our Rhetoric School Fine Arts students celebrated a year of the arts well done. Individuals were awarded Most Valuable Artist, Most Improved Artist, and Director's Awards for each class. Andrew Dever was selected as Artist of the Year and the Scholar Artist of the Year was awarded to Spenser Rapier. It was a wonderful night of celebration and recognition for achievement in the Arts.

Coming soon we have two performances of Jungle Book by our theater department, the annual Film Festival  and two Spring Concerts. We will also hear from our Choral Ensemble at our Baccalaureate Chapel and our Orchestra at Graduation. And we will hold in our hands the product of almost a year of graphic design and photography efforts in the form of the yearbook.

I love that our school celebrates the arts, along with academics and athletics. The creativity and beauty of the arts truly reflects a creative and beautiful God. It is an act of worship to participate in the arts. The education our students get is complete and well-rounded, and always with Christ at the center.

On Friday, our community came together for our annual Spring Gala. This year the theme was "The Secret Garden - the Key to Pursuing Excellence" and it was beautifully done! Thank you all for your support of this very special event in the life of our school. Our children are blessed by everyone's efforts and generosity.

The Spring Gala is a wonderful way to celebrate the mission of our school and enjoy the company of friends in our community and beyond, while raising resources to support our ongoing efforts for our children. We were blessed to recognize Dr. Richard Riesen of In Christo Vera Educatio Foundation (ICVE). The foundation has supported 44 of our Rhetoric School students since 2011 through financial scholarships. ICVE has given over $600,000 to Trinity students who qualify academically and financially.

All proceeds raised at our Spring Gala go toward furthering our mission. We were blessed to share the attached videos, one produced by Mark Gould, Trinity's Film and Media Elective Teacher, the other by Trinity Junior Isabel Antillon. Both are wonderful and highlight our students and what we hope to accomplish in our mission with them.

The evening concluded with a very lively Live Auction and an opportunity to Fund the Vision, followed by some fellowship and fun on the dance floor!

Many thanks to our Development Department and Gala Coordinators for the months of planning and preparation, to our sponsors and bidders for their generous support, and to the army of volunteers who helped them to make the event outstanding.

One of my great joys is teaching and I am privileged to be able to continue to teach at Trinity, in addition to my other responsibilities as Head of School. I enjoy having our seniors in my Honors Government classroom, reading the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, portions of the Federalist Papers and other original documents as we learn about our United States government, its history, and how it functions today.

I particularly enjoy teaching from the documents that originated from our forefathers and from live people who have something to share about our government, whether it be at the local, state or national level, or even if it be a bigger picture concept like appreciating our democracy in light of an alternative like communism.

Recently, we've had a few special visitors. Trinity parent Mrs. Martin shared her testimony about growing up in Cuba and what it was like to live in a communist country and the risks she took to escape from it. She shared her experiences last semester as well and her story was published on our website if you'd like to read more about it. She is truly an inspiration and brings perspective and appreciation to those of us who know no other life than having grown up in the United States of America.

Last week, we had Special Agent Jon Mosser from the FBI. He is Team Leader for the FBI's Hazardous Evidence Response Team so he is on the front lines when there are biohazards or bomb threats and sometimes suits up in the protective gear like the rest of his team. (I always wanted to be a spy!) He brought insight and passion to our students as he shared the history of the FBI, its function in government today, career opportunities, and more. Students were prepared with excellent questions and they engaged him in Q & A for a good part of the class period. I am very grateful to Mr. Mosser (husband of our Art teacher Mrs. Mosser and Trinity parent) for his time last week and for his service to our country. If you'd care to read more details, you can find a story on his visit here.

Also last week, we had Newly elected Assemblymember Christy Smith (Democrat), who was kind enough to spend time sharing her experiences in government, her hopes for changes in California during her term, political opportunities for students to experience, and what she believes are the biggest issues facing our state today. Again, our students were well prepared with questions and kept her engaged in Q & A for quite some time. There are more details about her visit in the story on our website.

Next week, I am pleased to welcome Trinity Alumni parent, Annette Peterson, Los Angeles District Attorney. she will speak specifically to the fourth-eighth amendments. In the past, we've had Mr. LaFrance (Trinity parent), who is an attorney and spoke about article 3 and the Judicial branch of government.

I'm so happy for our students that their education includes special visitors like this, and what they bring to the classroom in passion, information, and personality. You can't get all of that in a textbook!

While in Grammar School, field trips are intentionally chosen for their value educationally and purposefully related to our curriculum. Once students are in Upper School, we choose some of our field trips for those reasons as well, such as the Museum of Tolerance, Mann Biomedical, the Getty Villa and, of course, our cumulative senior trip to Italy. We also incorporate service-oriented field trips. Serving others is something we encourage our students to do as good citizens and, in particular, as followers of Jesus Christ.

Our students serve at Children's Hunger Fund, Hope Gardens, the Los Angeles Mission, Carousel Ranch, Hart Games, as well as a graffiti clean up in Santa Clarita. Several of our Rhetoric School students are in California Scholarship Federation (CSF) and National Honor Society (NHS), which also involves a lot of community service. They served at the Hope and a Future Run, collected donations for the military, homeless shelter, animal shelter and for children's hospitals. They also participated in the River Rally, which was a cleanup of the river beds in Santa Clarita.

We have a club that meets at lunch that knits scarves to give away. They call themselves the "Made with Love" club and have given scarves and hats to the senior center, homeless and military.

We had a group that spent their Spring break in Mexico building a home for a needy family. 

Our students enjoy serving others and volunteering. We know that many of our students serve at their churches and in their community outside of what they are doing through Trinity.

Most importantly, this blesses them as they serve the Lord through serving others. In addition to the personal enjoyment that comes through serving, there is an additional benefit to this kind of service when it comes to applying for college. When evaluating prospective students, colleges and universities look not only at grade point averages (GPAs) and test scores (SATs, ACTs), but they look at the whole student. Community service is part of what is considered. Colleges want to accept students who are going to be involved on their campus and serving others is one indicator of the good character of a student.

I am so proud of our students and all that they are able to accomplish. They are students, athletes, musicians, artists, and they work hard. Some earn money babysitting or in other endeavors, including part time jobs. And in addition to all they do at school, they find the inspiration and time to serve others. It's a blessing to offer them opportunities to serve together during some of their field trips because I believe that it gives them a taste of what it is to see a need and to fill it and how they feel about themselves when they serve. 

Saying goodbye to seniors - or should I say "the process of saying goodbye" over their final year - is bittersweet. In particular for those who have been here since they were very little (this year there are fourteen of them who have been here since kindergarten), they have a lifelong relationship with Trinity, with our teachers, with each other, and with me. These relationships have been cemented over the years in the classroom, the courts and fields, the playground/lunch area, on field trips, in electives, and through doing hard things together - like the senior thesis. We traveled to Italy together and further strengthened bonds on the cobblestone roads, the terraced hills, the Mediterranean sea, and over lots of pasta and gelato.

Last week at our final Corporate Time of the year, one of the highlights was seeing our seniors perform the Senior Song. The Senior Song is a Trinity tradition going back to the first graduating class of 2012. They take a familiar song and re-write the lyrics to personalize them, often naming teachers and specific events they recall. It's very personal to them, and totally entertaining. This year, they used the song "September" by Earth, Wind and Fire, repeatedly asking "do you remember...?" You can watch a video of their performance HERE. (song lyrics here)

The senior year is a year of firsts and lasts. First time doing a thesis, first trip to Italy, first time participating in Senior Nights for athletics...and last Corporate Time, last Senior Night, last Ball, last performances, last games, last finals. From here to the end of the year, there are lots of final things, lots of bittersweet feelings in this process of saying goodbye. And since I have a senior myself again this year, the process is even more personal. Not only is my own daughter graduating, but in this class are many of her close friends, many of whom I've known for over a decade.

Launching them is a privilege. Praying for them is an honor, as we express our trust in God who has a purpose and a plan for their lives. I have said hundreds of prayers over this class this year. And I will continue to pray for them until the day they graduate and beyond.

I encourage you to come and watch as many senior thesis presentations as you are able, as you will be amazed at what our students are able to do. You will learn what they are passionate about and and how they communicate their passion persuasively. You can join me in praying for them as they do this hard thing, and finish well. They begin at the end of April and a schedule with specific times, topics and presenters will go out.

There are many other events to attend as the year comes to a close over the next seven weeks. Music festival, banquets (Athletics and Fine Arts), theater production, Spring concert, Olympics, promotions, baccalaureate chapel, and more. I hope that even in this busy season, you can make room in your calendar to attend these events. Time goes quickly. You don't want to miss a thing.

Grammar School students start out with benign arguments, such as, "what is better - Strawberries or Watermelon?" "Dogs or Cats?" "Blue or Green?" As they mature, they learn to develop their argument to support their opinion. By Logic School, they are taking formal logic, learning about fallacies, and taking the natural tendency of a 12 or 13-year-old to argue, and developing their skills to make a logical and solid argument.

In Rhetoric School, the art of Rhetoric is a main focus of the curriculum. The senior thesis is the capstone of a Trinity education, demonstrating a student's ability to research, write, and thoughtfully present an argument. This prepares them well for college and for life.

One of my favorite ways to see both sides of an argument is a debate - a good, healthy debate. In addition to senior thesis, all seniors take an Honors Government class. I have the great privilege of teaching one of the Honors Government classes and discussing big ideas. We've gone from arguing about a preference for a particular fruit, color or pet to arguing big national topics like healthcare, poverty and the electoral college.

We don't use a textbook in our class, but rather we study original documents like the Constitution and the Federalist papers. We memorize the Bill of Rights. It's important that our students graduate knowing what the Founding Fathers documented and how we have evolved...even how we were designed to evolve because Constitutional amendments are part of the process. We enjoy talking about the hard things that face our country today and debating Democratic and Republican positions.

This week in class, we enjoyed a live debate between representatives from our local government. On the Democrat side, we had Mr. Ryan Valencia, Assemblywoman Christy Smith's campaign manager and a district representative for her office. On the Republican side, Mr. George Andrews is the Chief of Staff for Assemblyman Tom Lackey's office. After introductions, the gentlemen listed on the board what they believe the top three issues are that California faces. 

Republican:
1. Affordability (housing, business, healthcare)
2. Water
3. Homelessness/Poverty

Democrat:
1. Campaign Finance Reform
2. Healthcare
3. Poverty/Income Inequality

As you can see, there is overlap in the issues and so there is some agreement as to what the issues are. There was also some agreement as to how to approach some of the issues. The debaters were gentlemen; they were respectful and kind. Their opinions differed as they discussed regulations and reforms. They noted that issues are extremely complex. For example, the border crisis is an immigration issue, but is also a drug issue, a humanitarian issue and a healthcare issue. Homelessness is a poverty issue, a housing affordability issue, a mental health issue and a drug issue.

After both sides stated their positions and had a chance for rebuttal, students asked very insightful and intelligent questions. I was very proud of all of them, their preparation, engagement, and their thoughtful and respectful questions. After addressing the top issues as defined by the visiting debaters, I invited students to ask any questions they wanted - which led to a discussion of significant issues like abortion, illegal immigration, the electoral college system, minimum wage and President Trump's strategy with North Korea. Wow! It was an impressive list of concerns from our young people. 

We finished the morning with gratitude to Mr. Andrews and Mr. Valencia. They ended by pointing out that the purpose of the debate was to demonstrate differences between the parties, but they wanted the class to know that both sides agree on many things and work together well in this district. Despite the National narrative on some issues, and the divide between the parties' ideals, the local government is proud to work together to make things better for the district and for California. There are many issues in a state as large as California, with the 5th largest budget in the world! "California could be a nation of its own based on size and budget," Mr. Valencia said. They both want California to be sustainable in its growth and infrastructure and to be a better place for families and small business for this generation and generations to come.

Blessings to you! I hope that everyone has enjoyed a week of rest and rejuvenation for their minds, bodies, and souls!! This week begins our last quarter and truly the home stretch of a very fast moving school year! We started our day with the Doxology as we do every Monday. It was nice to be back at school and to welcome our seniors back from Italy as well. 

Our Rhetoric School enjoyed a Pep Rally at lunch which included a fun game and the honoring of all the Varsity Spring Sports teams - Baseball, Softball, Track, Golf and Swim. I learned today that Trinity Swim has not lost a meet since 2015! We are blessed to have so many athletic options at our little school and to have student athletes who work hard on the field (or in the pool, on the course, on the track, in the gym) and in the classroom. Many of them play instruments or participate in other fine arts as well. It makes me tired just thinking about all that our students do!

So, back from break, and back to work! Just a couple of short months and we'll be sending off another class of graduates, welcoming a lot of little ones to Summer Camp, and praying for new and returning families as we begin planning the next school year. I know - you're just looking forward to summer, so I won't jump ahead too much. (But I can't help but be excited!)

I invite you and encourage you to attend our final Corporate Time presentation of the year. It's next Friday, April 12th at 8:00am, so don't drop off and drive away. Stay a little while and enjoy seeing our students present what they have learned this year. This day is also the last Corporate Time ever for our seniors. The tradition is that they sing their "senior song" and we pray for them and their futures and what God has for them even as they prepare to leave us.

We are ramping up for the Spring Gala on May 3rd, which is our biggest fundraiser. It's also a beautiful and enjoyable evening to spend with friends and supporters of Trinity. It's truly one of my favorite nights of the year. Our theme this year is "Secret Garden" and it is sure to be spectacular. I hope you have bought your tickets and are bringing friends. 

I am so grateful for the job I have, the people I work with, the students and families and all the people that make up Trinity. I am finishing this year strong and I know you are with me!

We have been enjoying many wonderful sights in Florence, including the beautiful countryside, the Duomo, the Ufizzi Gallery, one of the world's top art museums, and Dante's house. The seniors who are in Dante house always like getting a photo in front of Dante's real house. (see photo in Scenes of the Week at the end of this newsletter).

We are enjoying fellowship, delicious food, gelato, and a lot of walking! Students are delighted to see what they have been talking about for years in their classes. Much laughter and joy abounds as we walk the streets! It is such a joy to see their faces light up like little children when they walk into the cathedrals and museums and even just walking around the city.

We are in Cinque Terre today and for two days, we will be hiking the coast of the Mediterranean! Some of the students will even enjoy a dip in the cold water. I am experiencing so much joy and gratitude - what a special time!

One special moment was when we sang the Doxology in the Pazzi chapel in Santa Croce and it sounded so beautiful. Mr. Leigh has posted that on the Facebook private group page - Trinity Parents and Families. It's really worth looking it up! It sounds amazing! 

Jeremiah 29:11 is a very well-known verse in the Bible because it's a promise from God to His people. As God's people, we are reminded that He has a plan for us and it is to prosper us and not to harm us; to give us a hope and a future. Many believers consider this their "life verse."  At the Imago Dei School (Imago Dei is Latin for Image of God), we know that all people are created in the image of God. People with special needs are often marginalized in our society but not in God's Kingdom. He has a plan for everyone and a hope and a future for all his people. 

For these reasons, when we decided to do a 1k/5k/10k run as a fundraiser for Imago Dei School, we decided to name it "Hope and a Future Run". The run is to raise funds that can be applied to tuition to assist families who want a hope and a future for their child with a developmental disability. Part of our mission when starting Trinity was to serve the entire body of Christ in our student body, which was the genesis for the founding of our Imago Dei School, now in its eighth year. Our goal is to serve students who have a variety of learning needs so that they can be prepared to reach their God-given potential. 

Our entire Trinity community is changed and blessed by serving our students in Imago Dei. There are opportunities at each level for our Trinity students to come alongside their peers in special education and develop friendships and serve as peer mentors. They support and encourage their friends in everything from elective classes and social skills, to athletic competitions like the Hart Games. 

Our little valley has many families and businesses who are supportive of the special needs community. But more needs to be done! March is National Developmental Disabilities Awareness month so it is time to get the word out and support students with special needs. We are still raising funds for the Hope and a Future run up through March 15th. Text IDS to 71777 and give today to support the Imago Dei School offering scholarships to families who wish to attend but need financial assistance.

I always enjoy the showcase of talent that is displayed at our annual talent night. But this year was truly the best! The 80's theme was silly and a true joy to watch! It was a blast from the past to see some 80's friends visit - Billy Joey, Little Mermaid, and Green Day to name a few.

Talent Night represents our community so well; it is a pursuit of excellence, not perfection, performed for an encouraging audience. Students demonstrate the courage to try, to have fun, and to share their God-given talents with all of us. It's an excellent example of "doing it afraid," which is one of my favorite sayings/reminders. Of course, the Rhetoric School Houses each performed and they did not disappoint. 

It is a joy to gather as a community and celebrate one another’s talents and encourage others in them - from the youngest to the more mature, the entire audience enjoying such a wholesome evening of entertainment. It was a packed house with standing room only to enjoy songs, dances, a little comedy, and even some board breaking with a live Tae Kwon Do demonstration!

If you missed it, you can watch it on our YouTube channel! Just click the link below.

Talent Show on YouTube

Photo Gallery

Merriam Webster defines appreciation as: a feeling or expression of admiration, approval, or gratitude, as in "I want to express my appreciation for all you've done." This week, our faculty and staff are grateful recipients of the admiration, approval, and gratitude of all of you, represented by the PTF (Parent-Teacher Fellowship). It is truly a wonderful thing to know how to express appreciation to others as well as to be on the receiving end of this kind of expressed gratitude. Voltaire said, "Appreciation is a wonderful thing. It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well." 

Our nation recognizes teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week, which is a week-long celebration in recognition of teachers and the contributions they make to education and society. In an effort to avoid parents feeling pressured to make extravagant gestures, at Trinity we have always encouraged the simplicity of handmade cards or a flower from the garden at home. For the past several years, the PTF has taken on Teacher Appreciation week in an effort to represent the appreciation and gratitude of all families and they provide some lovely extras for our faculty and staff. This week we are enjoying Vibe coffee, a pancake breakfast, gifts and a luncheon, all supplied by PTF on behalf of families. Thank you! We are grateful for how generous and kind our parents are!

We teach our children manners from when they are young - to say please and thank you, to give thoughtful cards and gifts to others, to write thank you notes for birthday gifts, and more. Having an attitude of gratitude is a wonderful way to combat selfishness and entitlement. It only take a little bit of perspective to see how blessed we are in this lovely California city that we call home. According to Entrepreneur.com, science tells us that grateful people are typically happier people, since being grateful makes us more optimistic and reduces negativity. The website lists five simple ways to show gratitude every day: 
1. Write in an abundance (gratitude) journal
2. Express gratitude in person, verbally and/or with a cup of coffee or a lunch out
3. Show respect for those around you - smile, show kindness, be patient, listen
4. Don't complain - when feeling frustrated and tempted to complain, try focusing on something positive
5. Volunteer in your community - an act of kindness does more good for you than for those you're serving

We are so grateful to have some of the best teachers there are. They are not only well educated and passionate about their subject and craft, they are passionate about the young people that they have in their classrooms each day. Teaching is truly an investment in the future of our country and the Kingdom and I agree wholeheartedly with John Wooden who said, "I think the teaching profession contributes more to the future of our society than any other single profession." Our teachers wouldn't be able to accomplish all that they do without our dedicated staff that supports them. Our PTF does a great job showering all of them with appreciation. Our attitude of gratitude starts with thanking God for all He gives to us. Psalm 95:2 - Let us come to Him with thanksgiving. Let us sing psalms of praise to Him.

At Trinity Classical Academy, we talk about "classical education" at faculty meetings, at Information Meetings and at Trinity U. Sometimes we refer to it at PTF meetings and other gatherings, but it's not unusual to hear a parent ask, "please tell me again what classical education is and how I can explain it to a friend." 

In a nutshell, classical education is a time-tested method of teaching done in three stages - the grammar, logic and rhetoric stages. The stages are reflective of the natural developmental stages of children:
The Grammar phase (K-6th grade) - considered a "Poll-parrot" stage - children are excited about new facts, they like to explain, figure out, relate their own experience and tell stories. They like collections, chants and clever, repetitious word sounds. They easily memorize and can assimilate another language well. 
The Logic phase (7th-8th grade) - considered a "Pert" stage -  students judge, critique, debate, and are critical. They show off their knowledge and want to know the "why?" for most things, the "behind the scenes" for facts. They think and act as though they know more than adults.
The Rhetoric phase (9th-12th grade) - considered a "Poetic" stage - students are concerned with present events, especially in their own lives. They are interested in justice/fairness; they move towards special interest topics. They can take on more responsibility and independent work, can synthesize information; they desire to express their own feelings and ideas and are generally idealistic.

An easy way to understand this is:
Grammar stage - student is a sponge; they want to see the dots all connected and have someone show them how they connect. 
Logic stage - student wants to see the dots, but wants to begin connecting them himself.
Rhetoric stage - student is able to synthesize all he has learned, not only connecting the dots, but producing them as well.

Taking these stages into consideration, and the natural way students learn at these stages, we use teaching methods that correlate with their inclinations. For example, at the grammar phase, there are lots of chants and memorization; at the logic phase, there are research projects and debates. And at the rhetoric phase, there are worldview discussions and written papers. 

With the Trivium as its framework, classical Christian education is also characterized by rich exposure to the history, literature and culture of Western Civilization. Students are immersed in the “Great Books” of our Christian tradition and Western cultural heritage. In the Logic and Rhetoric phase students read fewer “textbooks” and more original source documents and literary works, especially in history and literature. The languages of Western Civilization, especially Latin, are at the core of their academic studies. The arts are evident, not only in Art, Music and Theater classes, but woven throughout Literature and History classes as well. The development of a thoroughly Biblical worldview is an underlying aim of every lesson and class.

You can find a brief synopsis of classical education on our website, so you can understand the basics and share the link with a friend if you have trouble remembering how to explain it yourself.

Enhanced Vocabulary and Mastery of English
Latin is the root of 60% of our English words. It makes sense, then, that Latin is the surest way to gain mastery over the English language. Latin teaches the student the foundation on which English is built. Latin students actually learn English grammar more effectively and comprehensively in Latin than they do in English grammar class.

Foundation of Romance Languages
Latin is the basis of all the Romance languages including: Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian.

Greater Thinking and Learning Skills
Studying Latin enhances a student’s overall learning and thinking skills. Latin requires precision of thought and attention to minute detail. The discipline of learning Latin trains students in analytical and logical thinking skills. Each sentence is an intellectual puzzle that can be solved by the analysis and synthesis of many pieces of information.

Higher SAT Scores
Students of Latin have significantly higher SAT scores than students of other foreign languages. The test results for the Verbal portion of the SAT clearly show the Latin advantage.

Latin in Literature and Historic Documents
The literature and historic documents of Europe and the United States (e.g. Geoffery Chaucer, William Shakespeare, Thomas Jefferson and John Calvin) contain so many Latin phrases and classical allusions that they often cannot be fully understood and appreciated without a good background in Latin.

Cultural Legacy
Our society’s intellectual infrastructure – its science, philosophy, politics, law, medicine, drama, art – are heavily influenced by the classical world. Reading the classical texts helps us to understand who we are as Americans and members of Western Civilization. Reading the ancient writings of Greece and Rome helps to understand many of the influences that have shaped our culture.

Improved Writing Skills
Latin improves a student’s writing style. Reading and writing Latin is an exercise in brevity, precision and economy. The great classical writers of Greece and Rome (Virgil and Cicero) were incredibly disciplined in their habits of expression. Extensive exposure to them and imitation of their style make students better writers and speakers.

Last week at Vision Night, I shared some things that are worth repeating. Even if you attended, perhaps you are not an auditory learner, so you will be blessed by seeing the words in writing. 

Credit for this example goes to Pastor Garrett Craw, Trinity Dad, who captured in a few sentences, the essence of what we are doing through our mission at Trinity:
In 869, in a time of darkness, England’s King Edmund and his Christian army stood against the great pagan, fierce Viking army. He was captured and when he refused to renounce Christ he was then beaten, shot full of arrows and beheaded for his defiant faith. But this one act of defiant faith would be remembered and acted upon and within 300 years the Vikings would no longer bow to Thor and Odin, but to King Jesus through their conversion.  In this current time of growing darkness, the work we are doing here at Trinity is an act of defiant faith – in our halls and on our campus, an emerging generation is taught be to dragon slayers, singing and feasting as we go. May our act of defiant faith echo with thunder a century from now.

I wanted to say those words out loud that night and they bear repeating now, for they pierced my heart and so deeply resonated with my soul, making me want to shout "Geronimo! Amen!" Paratroopers say “Geronimo” when jumping, for that is truly an all in, no looking back scenario. And Amen means "So be it".  I would also add, "Please help us Jesus!" King Edmund’s testimony makes me resolute in the pursuit at Trinity and spurs me, and I believe most in our community, onward, calling us to come together as the Lord’s army for this generation in pursuit of our mission. Defiant Faith!
 
So, how does this defiant faith work with hope? I started my Vision Night message with the story of King Edmund and ended with a quote from one of my favorite giants in the faith, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who addressed faith and hope. He said, "A Faith that does not hope is sick. It is like a hungry child who will not eat or a tired person who will not sleep. As certainly as people believe, so certainly do they hope. And it is no shame in hoping, in hoping boundlessly. Who would even want to talk of God and not hope? Who would want to talk of God without hoping one day to see Him?.... And why should we be ashamed of our hope? We will one day have to be ashamed, not of our hope, but of our miserable anxious hopelessness that trusts nothing to God, that in false humility does not grasp where God's promises are given, that is resigned to this life and cannot look forward to God's eternal power and glory. The more people dare to hope, the greater they become with their hope; people grow with their hope - if it is hope only in God and his sole power. Hope abides."
 
It is this determined hope in God's power and glory that fuels our defiant faith for each day. We march from our homes each day, with our children in tow, some days feeling great success simply because they have shoes on their feet. Every day has its challenges that require some measure of hope and faith. Some days, we recognize our need for Him more than others. Some days, that hope is all we have. Marching forward as God's army is different each day, but one thing is consistent. We are not alone. Please help us Jesus, to be determined in our hope and defiant in our faith.

Ever since we founded Trinity in 2001, vision has been central to our development and growth. We began with a vision to become a K-12 Christian, classical, college preparatory academy serving the Santa Clarita Valley and beyond. That vision was fulfilled in 2012 when we graduated our first class of 10 seniors. The vision is different than the mission, as the vision can and does change as circumstances change. The mission, however, can remain the same, as ours has. The mission of Trinity Classical Academy is to offer a challenging education grounded in the Christian faith and the classical tradition to produce young men and women of virtue, wisdom, purpose and courage. We have adjusted our vision as we have grown in an effort to accomplish our mission.

Every year we begin the school year with Dedication Night, which is an opportunity to pray and dedicate the year and our faculty, staff and families, to the Lord. We also share some of the logistics for the beginning of the school year and some of the things to look forward to in the first semester. Then at the midway point, after the first semester final exams, we gather for Vision Night. At Vision Night, we do a brief recap of where we have been, celebrate achievements, and then share the vision for the rest of the school year and beyond. It's an opportunity to talk about big picture things like facilities and new programs, as well as to remind families of annual events like the Spring Gala and the Hope and a Future Run. We hear from an alum and from the current student who is the winner of the Oratory contest. Both speeches always inspire me to keep doing what we're doing, as we witness some of the results of a classical, Christian education.

At Vision Night, we always sing "Be Thou My Vision" as it is important that we are all reminded that our vision comes from the Lord, and He not only directs our paths and our purposes, but He IS our vision. He is the One we look to, and look through. We seek to please Him in all that we do and all that we are. From our founding, He has been my guide and through much prayer and perseverance, He guides us still. He has guided us from a tiny school of 28 students to the K-12 program with over 500 students that fulfilled the original vision. And He has guided us through every development, facilities/expansion issue, every new teacher or staff member we hired, every new family that came through our doors, and we know He is guiding us to the next developments that we are pursuing.

He has given us a vision for Trinity and we are pursuing it diligently, in hopes that each of our students will discover their purpose and have a vision for their own lives that they can lay at the throne of Christ and boldly pursue that to which He is calling them.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a Baptist minister, a social activist, a civil rights leader and a Nobel prize winner. Yesterday, our nation honored his life and legacy. He is famous for his non-violent protests and inspiring sermons and speeches. He was the first African American to be named "Man of the Year" by Time Magazine and the youngest person ever awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. And he donated the more than $54,000 prize money to the civil rights movement.

In 1964, he joined the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, an event aimed to draw attention to the continuing challenges and inequality faced by African Americans and it culminated in his famous "I Have a Dream" speech, a spirited call for peace and equality that many consider a masterpiece of rhetoric.

He was assassinated in 1968 and after years of campaigning by activists, Congress members and his wife, Coretta Scott King, in 1983 President Ronald Reagan signed a bill creating a U.S. federal holiday in honor of King. Martin Luther King Day was first celebrated in 1986.

There are hundreds of his inspiring quotes that can be found with a simple Google search. They are seen on social media as memes that continue to inspire readers. His top 10 quotes were published in 2016 based on what Twitter said were the most often Tweeted phrases. His words are worthy of repetition, even if only as a small snapshot of the values for which he stood:

"The time is always right to do what is right."

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."

"I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear."

"Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase."

"Forgiveness is not an occasional act; it is a constant attitude."

 "Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?''

"Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity."

"We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope."

I am moved by his example and the many sacrifices he made to stand firm for what was right. He was a true man of God. I'll end with a prayer that he prayed that we can all apply to our lives: "Use me God. Show me how to take who I am, who I want to be, and what I can do, and use it for a purpose greater than myself."

I could not be more proud of our Imago Dei students and the teachers who guide and direct them to be all that they can be. This past week, the long awaited "Great Dei" coffee company opened to anxious faculty and staff, ready to support the students and get their caffeine fix.

In 2011, Trinity Classical Academy launched The Imago Dei School (Latin for “image of God”), a unique kindergarten through twelfth grade program for students with learning and developmental disabilities that provides a supportive environment in which students can develop intellectual, academic, spiritual, social, emotional, and vocational skills. 

Last year, the Imago Dei School received a grant to help open two on-campus businesses to be run by our Transitions students, assisted by the Imago Dei high school students and overseen by Imago Dei teacher Mr. Tim Smith. The Transitions students are graduates of the Imago Dei School and are "transitioning" to work and life. The opportunity to run small businesses that are supported by Trinity will help them develop job skills such as customer service and money handling, which will help them gain employment. The hope is that these businesses will become profitable and be an employment option for students who complete Imago Dei's 18-22 year old post high school Transitions program.

Mr. Smith has done an excellent job overseeing the t-shirt screen printing, and helping the students to learn the necessary skills. He has gone along with students on the city bus to Salt Creek Grille, where they are employed, as part of the program with the Department of Rehabilitation, to help them gain job skills and a proper work ethic. After waiting for the back-ordered cappuccino machine, and completing taste tests in December, Mr. Smith has now helped oversee the launch of the Great Dei Coffee Company.

I never cease to be amazed at what God has done through Megan Howell, Tim Smith, and the rest of the Imago Dei team. We all want to see every student reach their full potential in Christ, and it's very exciting to see what God is doing in the lives of these young people. 

Great Dei is open for business Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:30-10:15am. Stop by and say hello, and get yourself a cup o' Joe.

As I opened my devotional on New Year's Day, the Word jumped right out at me! Isaiah 43:19 - I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland. I started the new year with a reminder not to worry about the changes and resolutions and challenges and all of life's concerns that I will face this year. He is in control and we can take comfort in knowing that the changes we face are all under His authority!

There is nothing wrong with making a New Year's resolution but we have to know that we cannot do anything new and different unless we submit ourselves to the authority of God. In God is in the Manger, by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, he is quoted as having given a New Year's sermon where he said, "At the beginning of a new year, many people have nothing better to do than to make a list of bad deeds and resolve "from now on..." - but, how many such "from-now-ons" have there already been! ...they believe that on their own they can make a new start whenever they want. But...only God can make a new beginning with people...therefore, people cannot make a new beginning at all; they can only pray for one. Where people are on their own and live by their own devices, there is only the old, the past. Only where God is can there be a new beginning."

Yesterday, we were blessed to join together with all of our staff and worship, take communion, pray, and be inspired to begin the new year with enthusiasm for all that God is calling us to do. We enjoyed a talk from Dr. John Mark Reynolds, Founder, CEO and President of the St. Constantine School - a fully integrated K-16 classical, Christian program in Houston, TX. I had the privilege of meeting Dr. Reynolds when he was at Biola University, running the Torrey Honors Institute, which he founded. Several of our upper school faculty attended Torrey Honors when in was in charge there. Reynolds spoke to us about Virtue and honored and esteemed what we are doing here at Trinity, as we seek to fulfill our mission which includes producing students who possess virtue.

As we began school today, we started with praise to God in our Doxology, where all students, teachers and staff came into the hallways to sing together, as we always do at the beginning of each week. We had a chapel service as well, which set our minds on God and helped us to prioritize what is most important. We do our work to the glory of God - students, teachers, staff and administrators alike. And we trust in Him that He is doing something new and we can trust in His goodness and love even as we do not know His plan.

I pray daily for Trinity and our families and know that many of you do as well. I am blessed to be on this journey with you as we begin 2019 and thank you for your faithfulness to Trinity.

Tis the season to celebrate, and in this country we celebrate in grand style with decorations and food and gifts and family. At Trinity, we celebrate with concerts, food, friends and fun. But what are we celebrating really?

We were blessed to enjoy a magnificent Christmas program on Thursday. Seeing the fruit of the hard work put in over the last few months was truly amazing. All of our music groups, from chimes to choirs, and from guitar to the orchestra - it was all on full display, and all to the glory of God. Our Grammar School students, under the direction of Mrs. Jennifer Brown, put on a spirited show "Jingle Bell Beach" which shared the Good News in a creative, inspiring and most excellent way. 

Faculty and staff are enjoying a season of celebration on campus as they coordinate Christmas parties in classrooms, Christmas sweater contests, and parade around with their Christmas Mugs. On Wednesday, we will enjoy a Christmas luncheon together and on Friday, with great anticipation, we will have our alumni join us for a Christmas brunch. I look forward to seeing each of them and hearing about how they are doing. Some of them will join us early for a panel discussion to bless our juniors and seniors as they share their experiences transitioning from Trinity to college and the work force.

In all of this celebration, it's easy to lose sight of what we are celebrating. Even when we sing Christmas carols and talk about baby Jesus, and the manger, and the Christmas story, it's easy to see it as just a story without seeing the purpose of the story. It's important to remember that what we're celebrating is the reason Jesus came, the reason He left His throne in heaven, the reason he condescended to be born a human baby, and that reason is redemption. Redemption is rescue. He came to rescue us.

In Bonhoeffer's advent sermon in a London church in 1933, he told a story of a mine disaster:

     You know what a mine disaster is. In recent weeks we have had to read about one in the newspapers. 
     The moment even the most courageous miner has dreaded his whole life long is here. It is no use running into the walls; the silence all around him remains...The way out for him is blocked. he knows the people up there are working feverishly to reach the miners who are buried alive. Perhaps someone will be rescued, but here in the last shaft? An agonizing period of waiting and dying is all that remains. 
     But suddenly a noise that sounds like tapping and breaking in the rock can be heard. Unexpectedly, voices cry out, "Where are you, help is on the way!" Then the disheartened miner picks himself up, his heart leaps, he shouts, "Here I am, come on through and help me!" I'll hold out until you come! Just come soon!" A final, desperate hammer blow to his ear, now the rescue is near, just one more step and he is free. 
     We have spoken of Advent itself. That is how it is with the coming of Christ: "Look up and raise your heads because your redemption is drawing near."

He has rescued us, He has given us hope, He has set us free. He is so much more than a baby in a manger. He is our Savior, our God, our Deliverer! HE is the reason we celebrate!

In this culture of "holiday trees", Santa Claus, and commercialism, it is truly a blessing to work in a place where we can talk about Jesus. I love the magical stories of Santa Claus, and I also love giving gifts and decorating our tree. The lights, decorations, Christmas cookies, shopping and all the busyness and beauty of the season come upon us all, whether believers or not. At this time of year, it's especially exciting to be a believer. At Trinity, we have a good time celebrating! We have Christmas concerts, an Alumni Breakfast, the Christmas Mug Club for the faculty and staff, classroom parties, Christmas sweater contest for our Rhetoric School, and our staff also enjoys a Christmas luncheon before going on break. It's busy and it's a blessing to celebrate! It's a special blessing to celebrate with other believers who enjoy the frolic and fun, even while having a reverence for our Savior and a joy about sharing His story.

It's a story we've read and heard many times in our lifetime, a story we've shared with our children, the greatest story ever told - the story of a baby born in a manger, a baby who was God incarnate. And therein lies a great mystery. The mystery of Jesus will always be such this side of heaven. Dietrich Bonhoeffer states, "That...is the unrecognized mystery of this world: Jesus Christ. That this Jesus of Nazareth, the carpenter, was himself the Lord of glory; that was the mystery of God. It was a mystery because God became poor, low, lowly, and weak out of love for humankind, because God became a human being like us, so that we would become divine, and because he came to us so that we would come to Him."

As we continue celebrating this season at school this week and next, I pray we won't get too busy to remember the mystery of the Christ child and our mission to share the good news.

At Trinity, we often feel like we are in a "crazy" season, or having a jam-packed day, or week. At this time of year, there is much anticipation for Christmas. There are parties and concerts to attend, there is a break from school, there are college students coming home, or grandparents visiting, there are gifts to buy, goodies to bake, and vacations and celebrations to plan. We are all anticipating, expecting and waiting. Advent is a season of waiting. 

"Advent" is derived from the Latin word adventus, meaning coming. It is the season that lasts four Sundays leading up to Christmas. Christians around the world celebrate the coming of Christ in a manger in Bethlehem and also await the second coming of Christ in the clouds as the judge of the world. Advent calendars, advent wreaths and advent candles are all traditional symbols that helps us to remember for what and for Whom we are waiting.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, one of my favorite authors and theologians, wrote letters from prison during the Christmas season. Some of his letters and sermons have been compiled into a devotional called God is in the Manger. A letter to his fiancee on December 1, 1943 states, "I think we're going to have an exceptionally good Christmas. The very fact that every outward circumstance precludes our making provision for it will show whether we can be content with what is truly essential. I used to be very fond of thinking up and buying presents, but now that we have nothing to give, the gift God gave us in the birth of Christ will seem all the more glorious."

We look forward, we expect, we wait. We work hard while we wait for our break; we love others while we wait for the One who loved us first; we celebrate that He came in a manger while we wait for Him to come back for us.

On any given day at Trinity, with over 560 students, and over 150 faculty and staff, things are bound to happen! There are so many wonderful things that happen every day, in the classroom, at recess, on the athletic field and at music rehearsal. But there are also so many things crammed into every given day that it can feel a little "crazy" at times. 

Fall Fun Day is a day that expresses on the outside what I sometimes feel on the inside. It's wild, it's crazy, it's busy, it's fun, and it's a special day. It's not a day that I can hold to a tight schedule or worry about the details. I've chosen instead to "embrace the crazy". I'm able to do that because it's a day that appears crazy on the surface, but is really a well-oiled machine that is organized by our amazing PTF and teachers; it is manned by over 100 volunteers, and it is super fun! The PowderPuff football game and cheer is something to which the Upper School students looks forward. It has been a crazy competition from the beginning but each year we learn how to make it more controlled (i.e. professional referees) for the safety of our students.  We've been able to do that without taking out any of the fun!

You may have heard me talk about the "genius of 'and' vs. the tyranny of 'or'" and there are many ways that the "genius of and" expresses itself at school. Many of our faculty and staff wear many hats. They are parents and teachers, coaches and volunteers, administrators and friends, administrative team and mentors, serious about school and serious about having fun! We have music 'and' athletics; there are students to whom academics comes easy 'and' students who need some extra support; we have serious work to do 'and' we hope to make it fun as often as possible. The Imago Dei School is perhaps the best example of the "genius of and" - we can have a private Christian school AND we can have a school for children with special needs, even if no one else is doing it.

Fall Fun Day is the perfect way to end our first trimester of hard work with an especially fun day. It's an opportunity to see the "genius of and" at work and to embrace the crazy. We're just returning from a week long Thanksgiving break and I am ready to work hard and inspire the students to work hard for the four weeks we have until Christmas break...one day at a time, with determination and perseverance, trusting that God has good things in store for us as we put Him at the center of our days and prepare for the season that celebrates our Savior.

As the Head of School for Trinity, I am encouraged on a daily basis by a multitude of things. It is a great privilege to partner with our parents, faculty and staff to serve the next generation.

Before we founded Trinity, I was a teacher at a local junior high school. Teaching was what I had always wanted to do. As a little girl, I played school with all my stuffed animals and my dog Sox, using all of my dad's lesson plans, grade books and textbooks. I loved playing school and pretending to be a teacher. I cannot believe I actually get to do it for a living and life's calling.

When we first started Trinity, we had only K-2nd grade, so in only our second year as a school, we had third grade and needed to begin teaching Latin. I learned just enough to teach Latin to our first class of third graders. I taught Latin for three years before we were able to find a good Latin teacher and I put my full focus on administrative duties and growing our school, but I missed teaching. A few years ago, I filled in for our Government teacher one day and the passion for the subject and the students grabbed a hold of my heart and I didn't want to let go. Soon I took over the class on a regular basis and I’ve been teaching Honors Government to our seniors ever since. 

Yesterday, at our all school Corporate Time, my heart overflowed. Seeing our students present something attached to their learning and our curriculum inspires, encourages and blesses my teacher’s heart. It is the greatest gift in the world to see children learn and catch fire to an idea or concept.

To have my own 12th grade class present, with zeal and passion, something that we have been learning in Honors Government overwhelmed me with gratitude. They presented the Preamble to our U.S. Constitution and I was proud to know that it is bigger than just memorizing a few paragraphs to present in public. They learned our Preamble, they committed it to memory, they will be able to recall it, and they know they are responsible for helping to secure the blessings of liberty for themselves, and to pass to the next generation things they have learned at Trinity. Sometimes I can't believe what Jesus, by his grace, allows to happen through our school. 

I am blessed to be a part of Trinity's faculty, grateful for our community, and privileged to serve our students.

Next week is Veterans Day and while we always celebrate it at Trinity, this year will be a new and exciting kind of celebration. It is the 100^th anniversary of the first Armistice Day (which we now call Veterans Day) and we will combine it with Grandparents Day. We will honor our veterans, active service men and women, and first responders. Many of our grandparents will be honored in those categories.

The Armistice of 11 November 1918 was the armistice that ended fighting on land, sea and air in World War I between the Allies and their opponent, Germany.

Veterans Day is an official United States public holiday, observed annually on November 11, that honors military veterans; that is, persons who served in the United States Armed Forces. It coincides with other holidays, including Armistice Day and Remembrance Day, celebrated in other countries that mark the anniversary of the end of World War I; major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, when the Armistice with Germany went into effect. The United States previously observed Armistice Day. The U.S. holiday was renamed Veterans Day in 1954.

On Monday, November 12, Trinity will be hosting a combined Grandparents Day and Veterans Day celebration.  We will welcome grandparents, family, friends and community to enjoy a Corporate Time presentation, Fine Arts presentations during the Grand Brunch, and classroom visits.

In the evening, at 7:00pm, we are blessed to have Colonel Bartolomea, USMC, speak to us.  The last time we had a military speaker (General Berger), it was amazing and our families loved him and what he had to say. I am super excited to have the Colonel speak, as I know he will be awesome too!

Grandparents Day is an important day in the life of our school and Veterans Day is an important day in our country and I am very pleased to be combining the events into one day, so we can celebrate and honor those who are so deserving.

Grandparents Day is a holiday created by federal proclamation in 1978, passed by Congress and signed into law by President Jimmy Carter. It is celebrated each year on the first Sunday after Labor Day, so it falls between September 7 and 13.

Most family holidays are associated with traditional activities, but Grandparents Day has no real traditions to claim. This leaves some families wondering whether they should celebrate Grandparents Day at all and, if so, how they should do so. At Trinity, while we do not celebrate on the day that it is noted on the national calendar, we have made a tradition of celebrating our grandparents!

The purpose of Grandparents Day, according to the original proclamation, is "to honor grandparents and to give grandparents an opportunity to show love for their children's children." Notice that the celebration flows two ways: Grandchildren honor their grandparents, and grandparents honor their grandchildren.

At Trinity, we fulfill that purpose and enjoy seeing the love and celebration flowing both ways. We choose a day each year to invite Grandparents and special friends (since we know that not everyone has Grammies and Papas that can attend) to visit school and see what the students are learning. It's a sort of  "open house" where they visit classrooms and attend a "Corporate Time" presentation, where each grade demonstrates something they are learning, so guests get a snippet of what is going on in each grade level. Fine Arts groups play during the Grand Brunch for the enjoyment of all.

As in the purpose of the original proclamation, we honor our grandparents. We thank them for all they've done to support and encourage their grandchildren in their Trinity education. Some grandparents even help financially with tuition and/or extracurricular activities. We thank them with a lovely morning, designed to celebrate them and to share a little bit of school with them.

This year, for the first time, we're combining our Grandparents Day celebration with Veterans Day, which is on November 12. Many Trinity grandparents are veterans themselves and we can give them double honor as we thank our veterans for their service. Many people have Veterans Day off work, so we hope that by holding our celebration on this day, more families and friends will be available to attend.

I look forward to sharing more about Veterans Day and how we integrated it with Grandparents Day next week.

Saturday was our annual Homecoming, and, as always, I love welcoming back our alumni – these former students are people that I have known for some or all of their childhoods, and I grew to love them all. I love seeing their faces, hugging them, and hearing how they're doing in their respective schools and careers.
 
Homecoming (or hoco, or HoCo) is a tradition in high schools and colleges in our country. It's named for the coming-home of the alumni and is tailor-made for the social customs of the given schools and reflects the values of the school. Some schools hold dances and elect Kings and Queens, some have entire weekends or weeks devoted to their alumni. There is a certain amount of school spirit and nostalgia attached to the event that alumni can reflect on as they visit their old stomping grounds.
 
For us, the focus is on the people. We want our alumni to want to come back, to want to visit with us, to participate in traditions like the alumni/faculty volleyball smackdown, to feel special and to enjoy what we still have to offer to them. This year, in response to some of their feedback, we gathered a panel of Trinity parents who are professionals that stand out in their field. Many colleges offer "distinguished alumni" panels where alumni who stand out in their field come back to speak to the students. For us, our alumni are still too young to be "distinguished" in their careers yet, so we invited parents to be on our panel. The alumni had exclusive access to the "Alumni Networking" panel, where they could hear from Trinity parents like T Meyer (Wealth Management Advisor), Chileshe-Nkonde-Price (Cardiologist), Mark Williams (Composer) and Andrew Wilson (Architect). They were also able to ask questions and network with these professionals.
 
We know our alumni value the relationships they have at Trinity, both with their peers and with the faculty and staff. They come back to see each other and to enjoy being "home" at Trinity, where they are known and loved. They got to enjoy food and fellowship, friendly competition on the volleyball court, some professional networking, a Varsity Volleyball Playoff game, and a football game, where they were honored and appreciated. I pray they enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed having them home.

Besides being a time for our alumni, it is a fun day for our whole Trinity community, as we plan the event to include students of all ages and their families. We had bounce houses and breakfast in the morning and we enjoyed watching the faculty and alumni play volleyball. Many headed to The Masters University for a Varsity Volleyball playoff game in the afternoon and then reconvened at Fillmore High school for the football game, lots of yummy dinner and snack options, Senior recognition, a Grammar School banner competition and some exciting cheerleading for girls of all ages, as our younger friends joined our Varsity Cheerleaders for the night. It was wonderful to see so many of our families enjoying the day together!

I remember learning to write in school, learning to form letters between lines on a paper, with those ascenders (like d and h) and descenders (like g and p). It mattered back then. Do your mothers and grandmothers have beautiful cursive writing but like me, sometimes you cannot read your own handwriting? These days, the time we spend typing and texting may actually be detracting from our ability to compose a legible note.

Trinity is taking the time to teach D'Nealian and require the use of it. D'Nealian is a style of printing that is designed to ease the transition to cursive handwriting. Students begin learning cursive in 3rd grade and are required to use it on writing assignments throughout high school, with exceptions made for some transfer students who never had the opportunity to learn it. Sometimes, prospective parents will ask me at an Information Meeting, "How often will my 2nd grader get to be in the computer lab?" I always take the opportunity to explain the importance of children writing with pencils in their hands. There is a connection between the brain and the hand, and the fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination are practiced while the mind is telling the hand what to do. Do you remember making flash cards for study aids? Did the act of writing help you to remember what you wrote? Having a pencil in hand helps one to think. Children learn patience, discipline and the rewards of practice, which will be foundational for everything else children need to learn.

We intentionally do not have computer screen time in the grammar grades. It is an unneeded distraction for our young friends to work on a screen at school and, statistically, it is not shown to improve learning in reading, writing and math. Some of our little ones are better on a computer, iPad or phone than I will ever be because they get plenty of screen time at home and it seems to come naturally to them. And whatever we could teach them will soon be obsolete. Our time is better spent learning to print and to write cursive, and to develop the thought process that comes with handwriting.

In every school year, there are annual biorhythms: August is full of energy, excitement, new uniforms and backpacks, new teachers and classes; May has the energy of celebration of achievement and the anticipation of summer vacations. At certain predictable times in between, there can be sort of a slump, a kind of loss of energy, a case of the "blahs". Early October is one of these times, and as the first energy dip in the new school year, it warrants attention. By this time, the honeymoon is over, the first quizzes have been graded, the first round of colds has hit, Fine arts groups are well underway for rehearsals but no performances yet, and for many students (and parents), school is just school again. At Trinity, we make an effort to remind our students, and each other, that there is much to be excited about and we want to keep the momentum going.

We've had our first pep rally, first service project, our first games against our rival, SCCS (which reveals the amount of energy our students, parents and faculty possess!), our first field trips, and some exciting classrooms activities (see this week's stories and Scenes of the Week for birds, fish and frogs). These are fun things we've done amidst the necessary (dare I say less fun) stuff like standardized testing, homework and SAT prep. We are ramping up for Spirit Week and Homecoming next week and those events help keep up the energy and momentum on campus.

Once we're in November, it seems that we are rolling along at a faster pace as we run towards Grandparents Day, Fall Fun Day, and Thanksgiving break. By the time we hit Thanksgiving break, we will have been in school for 11 weeks with no real break, and we will all welcome some time to rest, enjoy family, and reflect on the many gifts God gives that we are thankful for.

Between Homecoming and early-mid November, we must be intentional about our attitudes and momentum as we may struggle to keep up the energy in the post Spirit week/Homecoming let down. If we are paying attention, we can rekindle those fires, and as we study together, worship together, compete in good-natured House games and competitive sports, serve our community and churches, and spend time with loved ones, we can make it to the next break with a joyful attitude.

The medieval model of classical education is so much more than teaching subjects or skills, or preparing people for the workforce. In fact, in order to be a valuable member of a workforce, it's important to know what's good and true and beautiful. If we prepare good people, they will perform well in life, both personally and professionally. We want to prepare students for college academically but we are more concerned with who they are when they get there. We want to do what our mission says: produce young men and women of virtue, wisdom, purpose and courage...young men and women that colleges want on their campuses, businesses want to hire, parents would want their son or daughter to marry, and who will be raising up the next generation for service to Christ, to our community, and to our country. This is how our little school in Santa Clarita can change culture for the Kingdom.

So how do we develop and educate these young people? Classical education begins with the belief that Christ is sovereign over everything. So He must be integrated into every part of our curriculum and our community. We must recognize His fingerprints on History, as we see how He prepared the world for all that He would do; we see the amazing order of the world God created in math and science. We experience a relationship with Him as we study His word but also as we interact with others in a loving and gracious way - something that students learn on the playground, in group projects, in fine arts ensembles, on the athletic field, and many other venues.

Grammar, Logic and Rhetoric are more than just the classical buzz words that make up the trivium. They are purposeful seasons of learning development, and therefore the tools of learning that we utilize in our school. All subjects have a "grammar" - the fundamental rules and core knowledge of each subject, and young children enjoy the chants, songs and routines that foster this learning. "Logic" is the ordered and logical relationship of particulars in each subject - and 7th and 8th graders are at the developmental stage of asking questions and discovering the how and why of everything. "Rhetoric" is the stage where the grammar and logic of subjects can be clearly communicated. Our 9th-12th graders are learning every day how to speak and write effectively and persuasively. 

Trinity has graduated seven classes so far and every graduate has been accepted to a 4-year university. Some of our alumni are in the workforce making an impact. A few have gotten married. Some are engaged to be married. Some are in the military serving our country. Some have come back to teach at Trinity and impart what they've learned on your students. Some are still in college earning their degrees, making an impact where they are. It's very exciting to see who and what our students are becoming. They are a generation of culture changers and they are already making a difference.

USC vs UCLA. Harvard vs Yale. Berkeley vs Stanford. Annapolis vs West Point. And in our little valley, it's Hart vs Valencia and Trinity vs SCCS. Rivalries have a reputation. Mascots being stolen, insults spray-painted on campus and other grudge-related acts. Even without those crazy (and sometimes illegal) pranks, rivalries can be strong! And it is so with ours against Santa Clarita Christian School.

We've had two games recently against SCCS - football and volleyball. And I have found the psychology of rivalry interesting. You might notice that in big college rivalries, there is some similarity between schools. USC and UCLA are both big Los Angeles prestigious universities. Harvard and Yale are both Elite East coast schools. Annapolis and West Point are both military schools who have a similar motivation to produce defenders of our country. For Trinity and SCCS, we are both K-12 private Christian schools here in Santa Clarita. Another element that creates rivalry is the frequency of head-to-head games. We get to play SCCS often and those games are the best attended. Finally, we are pretty evenly matched with them in most sports. These three components (similarity, frequency of meeting, and parity) create energy which fuels intense excitement in the stands.

Rivalries are tradition and they create a feeling of family. When everyone is cheering together, wearing their school colors and rooting for the same outcome, there is a feeling of camaraderie. There is an energy in the stands where students, parents, faculty and alumni are bound together in celebration and competition for events like the Faith Bowl, which create memories and tradition. 

Since SCCS and Trinity are both Christian schools, we hope to have a respectful and yet exciting rivalry that honors the Lord. It's fun to be loud and united in competition, but we don't want to lose sight of what we have in common and that's spreading the gospel. It was a beautiful thing to witness the school choirs sing together at the Faith Bowl. It's a blessing to gather on the field or court to pray together before a competition. It's a joy to know that while we play (or cheer) for our school, we are all doing it to the best of our ability for an audience of One!

We look forward to finishing our season with athletic teams at all levels.

It's so special to be in a place where we can intentionally teach our students about their Father and Creator. Under Dr. Dixon's leadership, we are adding an additional layer this year to our spiritual life on campus with the catechism. It's a joy for my soul to witness our students of all ages learning about our Lord.  Not only in the classroom, but on the playground, in athletic competitions, fine arts groups, and with intentional times like chapel. With our big kids, we've started our discipleship groups. I started my group with the senior girls last week and it's very encouraging to see how many girls want to be seeking the Lord together on a regular basis during their lunch hour.

We discussed what they would like to use this time for and two things we are considering are Tim Kellar's devotional on Psalms, and a "40-Day Journey" with Deitrich Bonhoeffer, breaking down the Psalms.

Sometimes I get stuck on an author and that happened this summer with two authors. I've been reading Ken Follett - historical fiction is my favorite! I also read a few of Dietrich Bonhoeffer's - "God is on the Cross",  "Letters and Papers from Prison", and "The Cost of Moral Leadership".

Another book I recommend is "Do it Scared" by Scott Allan. If you're going to have an impact, you're going to have to put yourself out there. Our kids are doing that on a regular basis. Our football players did it Friday night, Fine Arts students do it regularly, our little people do it when standing up to say their bible verse in class, and our seniors just started their work on their senior thesis. Trust me, every single one of them does that afraid. You build courage while you're doing it.

Today is September 11th and it’s a day of remembrance for our country. This morning we honored our military, first responders and those who lost their lives on this fateful day in 2001. I’m so proud of our Young Americans for Freedom students for their commitment to make this event happen each year. They do a beautiful job!

We founded Trinity in 2001, so it was just a few days after school started with our 28 little people, that we all sat watching the news in horror. I wondered what would become of these young people, what would become of Trinity, what would happen in our country. I could never have imagined what God would do here at Trinity. Seventeen years later, we are thriving. Those little people have graduated years ago, and are finishing up college or have already finished and are working. I have no doubt that some of them will have little people of their own and in a few short years, we could have second generation Trinity students! I continue to be amazed at what God is doing here at our “little school” founded in 2001 in a tiny church on 15th Street in Newhall. 

Wally and I were blessed this weekend to attend 2nd Class Midshipman Parents' Weekend at the US Naval Academy, where our son, Ian, is a junior.  We were able to sit in on a couple of his classes, attend the Navy vs. Memphis game, and have dinner with the juniors and families in his company.  It was a very special time!

All of our students are back on campus this week, after a week of Spiritual Emphasis, team-building, worship, discussion and fun. We are prayerfully moving into the school year, laying all of our people and our facility at His feet. We trust Him to continue to work in and through our people. Join us to pray any time. We meet on Wednesday mornings at 8:00am in the lobby.

I hope you enjoyed your long weekend and, after attending Back-to-School Night, are fully prepared for the first semester of school. Since yesterday was Labor Day, I thought I'd remind you that Labor Day has been an annual celebration of American workers and their achievements since 1894. Average Americans at that time worked 12-hour days, seven days a week just to provide basic necessities for living. Even children as young as 5 or 6 worked in mills, factories and mines! Can you imagine our little kindergarten friends working in mines? You can read more about Labor Day here.

I am very excited for this week for our students as it's an important time in the life of our school, when we carve out time to focus on our relationship with God and with our peers at school. On Friday, our Logic School had their Spiritual Emphasis Day; today our Rhetoric School headed to Forest Home for the rest of the week, and our 4th-6th graders will have a special day on Thursday. Before much time passes at school, we want to remind them how to be good friends, how to build friendships, how to honor God in their actions and choices, and how to grow in their love for God. This sets the tone for the school year, the upper school students enjoy the team-building games, and the grammar school students enjoy their treats and interactive time with Mr. Richardson and me.

I hope you will take advantage this year of the special times with our administrators. We want to be available to answer questions and connect. There are opportunities throughout the year for:
Mornings with Massetto
Checking in with Richardson
Coffee with Caddow
IDS Connection
Dunkin with Dr. Dixon

These dates are all on the calendar. You can get to know other parents and get to know our administrators and their hearts for your students and for their work here at Trinity. If you can make yourself available, I highly recommend attending. 

One last thing: I invite you to join me and others to pray! We have a prayer group that meets to pray over our school every Wednesday morning at 8:00am in the school lobby and we also have a Moms in Prayer group that will be meeting on Tuesday mornings. Contact Mrs. Strader at danistrader@msn.com for more info on that. 

I pray blessings on your week! 

Welcome back to school Trinity families! I am so excited to be back after a fun and full summer. Wally and I were blessed to spend time with our entire family in Arizona this summer. Our son Ian was visiting from the US Naval Academy and we enjoyed some time at the beach with him. Our girls, Hannah and Lily, played lots of volleyball and basketball while I read several historical fiction novels and Dietrich Bonhoeffer biographies. Our middle child, Hannah, is a senior this year and I'm so excited for her and can't believe how fast time flies.

As we embark on our first full week of school, I'm reminded why I love being here so much! It's the people! Our littlest students to our biggest, parents around campus, and an amazing faculty and staff!

At Trinity, we love our students and we are so happy that they love to be at school. We know that one of the best ways to teach children is to model the qualities we hope they develop. Our teachers are fantastic mentors and role models.

I pray that your family will be blessed this school year by what happens in the classroom, after school, in fine arts, athletics, and at home.