Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Fields of Faith
Friday, October 1, 2010
Middle School Matters
Happy Homecoming Friday!
We enjoyed a great homecoming week here at Trinity, complete with our annual parade and pep rally. Everyone seems to be looking forward to enjoying the game tonight as we take on the Catholic Knights!
Here are some important reminders as we go into the weekend:
SAIS Visit Next Week
We are looking forward to welcoming a visiting team from the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS) next week as we complete requirements for dual accreditation. Trinity is currently accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) but will soon be accredited by both SAIS and SACS. Many thanks to Laura Williams, our accreditation coordinator, for helping us get ready for this upcoming visit. Check back next week for a full report.
Driving and Parking
We are asking that you please be very careful when approaching Trinity through our surrounding neighborhoods. Please remember that children are walking to Vaughn Road School and will sometimes need to cross the street without the aid of a crossing guard.
Additionally, please be careful not to park in teacher spaces (especially in the Willett Hall parking lot) when attending or leading a Bible study before school. We have visitor spaces along the left side of the front drive, and in the parking lot directly adjacent to the south end zone of Boykin Field, our football stadium. Thank you for your attention to both of these matters.
Art Contest Winners
Our art department is at it again! Several of our middle school students have won prizes in recent art contests around town. You may see the list by clicking here. Many thanks to Jennifer Bricken and Becky Miller for the outstanding job they do teaching our art students each day!
Achievement Testing
Please remember that achievement testing for the middle school division will be Tuesday, October 12, and Wednesday, October 13. Both of these days will be half-days, with a 12:00pm dismissal. Lunch will not be served. We will discuss achievement test preparation in next week's post.
Tests for Next Week
6th Grade:
Tuesday - Social Studies, Science
7th Grade:
Wednesday - Civics
Friday - Old Testament
8th Grade:
Monday - Science
Tuesday - Algebra I
Wednesday - English
Friday - US History (Weeks)
We enjoyed a great homecoming week here at Trinity, complete with our annual parade and pep rally. Everyone seems to be looking forward to enjoying the game tonight as we take on the Catholic Knights!
Here are some important reminders as we go into the weekend:
SAIS Visit Next Week
We are looking forward to welcoming a visiting team from the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS) next week as we complete requirements for dual accreditation. Trinity is currently accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) but will soon be accredited by both SAIS and SACS. Many thanks to Laura Williams, our accreditation coordinator, for helping us get ready for this upcoming visit. Check back next week for a full report.
Driving and Parking
We are asking that you please be very careful when approaching Trinity through our surrounding neighborhoods. Please remember that children are walking to Vaughn Road School and will sometimes need to cross the street without the aid of a crossing guard.
Additionally, please be careful not to park in teacher spaces (especially in the Willett Hall parking lot) when attending or leading a Bible study before school. We have visitor spaces along the left side of the front drive, and in the parking lot directly adjacent to the south end zone of Boykin Field, our football stadium. Thank you for your attention to both of these matters.
Art Contest Winners
Our art department is at it again! Several of our middle school students have won prizes in recent art contests around town. You may see the list by clicking here. Many thanks to Jennifer Bricken and Becky Miller for the outstanding job they do teaching our art students each day!
Achievement Testing
Please remember that achievement testing for the middle school division will be Tuesday, October 12, and Wednesday, October 13. Both of these days will be half-days, with a 12:00pm dismissal. Lunch will not be served. We will discuss achievement test preparation in next week's post.
Tests for Next Week
6th Grade:
Tuesday - Social Studies, Science
7th Grade:
Wednesday - Civics
Friday - Old Testament
8th Grade:
Monday - Science
Tuesday - Algebra I
Wednesday - English
Friday - US History (Weeks)
Have a Great Weekend!
GO CATS!
Friday, September 24, 2010
Middle School Matters
It has been an exciting day here at Trinity! We began with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for our new Media Center, and then had a ground-breaking ceremony for the new lower school addition. The halls were filled with excitement for both of these ceremonies, and it was great to see the new technology in the Media Center being used just minutes after all of the dignitaries and guests left the room. Look for coverage of these events tonight on WSFA-12 and WAKA-8.
Becky Shepherd, our guidance counselor, has been visiting classes in order to help our students figure their current GPAs. We are making worksheets available to you so this may be done at any time. Simply click the link to access and print the worksheet:
Middle School Semester GPA Worksheet
Middle School End-Of-Year GPA Worksheet
Please remember to consult the Trinity Website for homecoming information. There are many activities going on next week and you'll certainly want to remain in the loop. The most important announcement, of course, it the fact that Friday of next week is a half-day. I hope you can make it out to our homecoming festivities and game. It promises to be a great time!
Mark your calendars: October 12 and 13 are testing days in the middle school and will be half-days. Students will dismiss at 12:00 noon, and lunch will not be served.
You have heard me mention Common Sense Media on this blog many times, and for good reason. The folks over there provide a plethora of valuable information for parents, and I will continue to send you helpful tidbits as I find them. This week, the focus is on to what extent we should "snoop" into the online activities of our children. You may access the article by clicking here.
Here are our tests for next week:
6th Grade: None
7th Grade:
Wednesday - English
Thursday - English Vocabulary
8th Grade:
Wednesday - US History (McLemore)
Thursday - English
Please remember to check individual teacher blogs and wikis
by clicking the tab at the top of this page.
Have a great weekend!
Friday, September 17, 2010
Middle School Matters
Happy Friday!
We have had another good week here at Trinity, complete with a Partner with the Principal luncheon and the election of our Student Council for this year. Keep reading to find out more.
Partner with the Principal
Many thanks to Thomas and Jodie Champion for opening their home to the parents of our 7th grade students Wednesday. It was a pleasure to meet with so many of you and I enjoyed our time together. Thanks for your support of Trinity School!
Student Council Elections
This week, the middle school division held an all-out campaign for our student council positions for this school year. Our halls have been lined with colorful and creative posters, and the students did an outstanding job with their speeches at lunch each day. Congratulations to all of the candidates for a job well done! I am very proud of each of you!
Here are the results of our voting today:
Congratulations Stan Milton!
Congratulations to Stan and Misty Milton on the birth this week of their daughter, Mary Mason. She weighed in at 7 lbs. 2 oz. and was 19 1/2" long. Mother and baby are both doing well.
College Day
Please remember that we will dismiss at 12:00pm next Tuesday, September 21 as our upper school students observe College Day. Middle school students will not be served lunch next Tuesday.
Social Networking
We live in a digital world where communication is instant. While this can be good, it also poses problems to parents trying to raise their kids in a far different world from the one in which they grew up. Common Sense Media provides some helpful suggestions for dealing with social networking and your middle-schooler. You may access the article by clicking here. While on their site, you might want to check out the tons of other great resources they have to offer.
Tests Next Week
Here are our tests for next week. Please remember that Tuesday is a half-day.
6th Grade:
Tuesday - Social Studies
7th Grade:
Friday - Civics, Pre-Algebra/Math 7
8th Grade:
Monday - Algebra I
Friday - Pre-Algebra
As always, remember to check out the Teacher Blog and Wiki tab at the top of this page. If you are receiving this post in an email, you may access the live blog site by clicking here.
We have had another good week here at Trinity, complete with a Partner with the Principal luncheon and the election of our Student Council for this year. Keep reading to find out more.
Partner with the Principal
Many thanks to Thomas and Jodie Champion for opening their home to the parents of our 7th grade students Wednesday. It was a pleasure to meet with so many of you and I enjoyed our time together. Thanks for your support of Trinity School!
Student Council Elections
This week, the middle school division held an all-out campaign for our student council positions for this school year. Our halls have been lined with colorful and creative posters, and the students did an outstanding job with their speeches at lunch each day. Congratulations to all of the candidates for a job well done! I am very proud of each of you!
Here are the results of our voting today:
Trinity Middle School
Student Council
2010-2011
President - Carter Vance
Vice President - Jarrett Moseley
Secretary - Betsy Byrne
Treasurer - Anna Lee Curles
8th Grade Representative - Madison Cornett
7th Grade Representative - Wilson Shanahan
6th Grade Representative - Will Windham
Congratulations Stan Milton!
Congratulations to Stan and Misty Milton on the birth this week of their daughter, Mary Mason. She weighed in at 7 lbs. 2 oz. and was 19 1/2" long. Mother and baby are both doing well.
College Day
Please remember that we will dismiss at 12:00pm next Tuesday, September 21 as our upper school students observe College Day. Middle school students will not be served lunch next Tuesday.
Social Networking
We live in a digital world where communication is instant. While this can be good, it also poses problems to parents trying to raise their kids in a far different world from the one in which they grew up. Common Sense Media provides some helpful suggestions for dealing with social networking and your middle-schooler. You may access the article by clicking here. While on their site, you might want to check out the tons of other great resources they have to offer.
Tests Next Week
Here are our tests for next week. Please remember that Tuesday is a half-day.
6th Grade:
Tuesday - Social Studies
7th Grade:
Friday - Civics, Pre-Algebra/Math 7
8th Grade:
Monday - Algebra I
Friday - Pre-Algebra
As always, remember to check out the Teacher Blog and Wiki tab at the top of this page. If you are receiving this post in an email, you may access the live blog site by clicking here.
Have a great weekend!
Monday, September 13, 2010
College Day
Parents,
Please remember that the middle school will dismiss at noon next Tuesday, September 21, as our upper school observes College Day. Middle school students do not participate in College Day events.
Have a great week!
Please remember that the middle school will dismiss at noon next Tuesday, September 21, as our upper school observes College Day. Middle school students do not participate in College Day events.
Have a great week!
Friday, September 10, 2010
Middle School Matters
Good Afternoon!
I hope your Friday has been a good one!
Here are some important announcements for next week:
Come Join Us for the Middle School Blast!
Here is a message from Ann Amster, PTO president for this year:
Monday, September 13, our middle school football team will play MA at home. So, come cheer on our Wildcats, and enjoy some food and fellowship. The MS game begins at 5:00, and the JV will play immediately following. Pizza and cake will be served to the MS students on the practice field from 6:00-7:00, allowing our football and volleyball players to join in on the fun. The concession stand will be open for everyone throughout both games.
Admission to the game is free for Trinity students and $5.00 for adults who do not have a Trinity Booster Pass.
Thank you for your support of Trinity, and GO WILDCATS!
Thanks to Leah Johnston and her team for planning this event.
Wildcat Watch
Our Wildcat Watch Bible study for 7th grade boys begins September 14 at 7:00 a.m. in Willett Hall. Breakfast will be served.
Tests for Next Week
6th Grade:
Tuesday - Science
Wednesday - Math, English
Thursday - Social Studies
7th Grade:
Tuesday - Math 7, Old Testament
Wednesday - Science
Friday - Old Testament
8th Grade:
Monday - US History (Franklin, McLemore), Latin
Wednesday - US History (Weeks), Science
Never Forget
It was a typical morning at Jefferson Davis High School. I was in my office gathering materials needed to teach my music appreciation class. As I headed out the door into the band room, the phone rang. Usually, I wouldn't take a call just before class, but expecting one, I quickly grabbed the receiver. My percussion instructor was on the line and he told me to turn on the TV - a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City.
I envisioned a small prop plane which had somehow gone terribly off course. I could not have imagined what I would see when I hit the power button on the television set mounted on the wall at the front of the room.
My students and I watched in horror as the second plane slammed into the tower. It became quite evident that this was no accident and that we were under attack.
School effectively shut down at JD that day as we were all glued to our sets watching events unfold. As teachers, we didn't know what to say or how to answer the questions the kids posed to us. The biggest being, simply, why?
One year later, I prepared a halftime show to honor the memory of those who lost their lives on Septebmer 11, 2001. The memory was still fresh and emotions still ran high. Cramton Bowl fell silent as taps was played, and many were moved to tears.
With each passing year, however, we hear less and less about the tragic events of that day. In fact, a large portion of our students here at Trinity are too young to have any memory of what we so commonly refer to as "9-11." We call it "Patriot Day," and rightly so. But we must never let it become just another "day."
In the midst of our football games and fun this weekend, I encourage you to spend some time remembering the events of September 11, 2001. Let's make sure our children understand that ever since our founding, we have had to fight for our freedom in this country. Help them to honor and appreciate those who are in harm's way even now to protect my right to compose these words, and your right to send your children to a Christian school. Let us never forget.
May God bless you richly, and may God bless America!
I hope your Friday has been a good one!
Here are some important announcements for next week:
Come Join Us for the Middle School Blast!
Here is a message from Ann Amster, PTO president for this year:
Monday, September 13, our middle school football team will play MA at home. So, come cheer on our Wildcats, and enjoy some food and fellowship. The MS game begins at 5:00, and the JV will play immediately following. Pizza and cake will be served to the MS students on the practice field from 6:00-7:00, allowing our football and volleyball players to join in on the fun. The concession stand will be open for everyone throughout both games.
Admission to the game is free for Trinity students and $5.00 for adults who do not have a Trinity Booster Pass.
Thank you for your support of Trinity, and GO WILDCATS!
Thanks to Leah Johnston and her team for planning this event.
Wildcat Watch
Our Wildcat Watch Bible study for 7th grade boys begins September 14 at 7:00 a.m. in Willett Hall. Breakfast will be served.
Tests for Next Week
6th Grade:
Tuesday - Science
Wednesday - Math, English
Thursday - Social Studies
7th Grade:
Tuesday - Math 7, Old Testament
Wednesday - Science
Friday - Old Testament
8th Grade:
Monday - US History (Franklin, McLemore), Latin
Wednesday - US History (Weeks), Science
Never Forget
I envisioned a small prop plane which had somehow gone terribly off course. I could not have imagined what I would see when I hit the power button on the television set mounted on the wall at the front of the room.
My students and I watched in horror as the second plane slammed into the tower. It became quite evident that this was no accident and that we were under attack.
School effectively shut down at JD that day as we were all glued to our sets watching events unfold. As teachers, we didn't know what to say or how to answer the questions the kids posed to us. The biggest being, simply, why?
One year later, I prepared a halftime show to honor the memory of those who lost their lives on Septebmer 11, 2001. The memory was still fresh and emotions still ran high. Cramton Bowl fell silent as taps was played, and many were moved to tears.
With each passing year, however, we hear less and less about the tragic events of that day. In fact, a large portion of our students here at Trinity are too young to have any memory of what we so commonly refer to as "9-11." We call it "Patriot Day," and rightly so. But we must never let it become just another "day."
In the midst of our football games and fun this weekend, I encourage you to spend some time remembering the events of September 11, 2001. Let's make sure our children understand that ever since our founding, we have had to fight for our freedom in this country. Help them to honor and appreciate those who are in harm's way even now to protect my right to compose these words, and your right to send your children to a Christian school. Let us never forget.
May God bless you richly, and may God bless America!
Thursday, September 9, 2010
New Teacher Blog and Wiki Link Page
If you are reading this blog post in an email, please click here to see the live blog for a very important design change. You will notice a tab entitled "Teacher Blog and Wiki Links" located directly above the most recent blog post. Clicking this tab will take you to a page which holds links to blog and wiki sites for each of our middle school teachers. You may want to bookmark the new page as a handy resource for finding out what is going on in your child's classes.
I hope you find this new addition to "Middle School Notes" to be helpful.
Have a great day!
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