Yearbooks Bring Back Memories

Students Enjoying the 2011 Yearbook on August 24

I was surprised when my daughter, Charlotte (TES C' 2007), picked up a copy of the 2011 Trinity Yearbook and poured through it eagerly, thoughtfully, and with lots of smiles.  She's a graduate of Ball High beginning her freshman year at A&M, but despite the distance of years, Trinity's yearbook is still a draw for her.  Not simply a photographic record of a particular year, our yearbook displays the most important traditions of the school.  For generations, familiar annual events have marked the landscape of our calendar: Carnival, class trips, Lessons and Carols, the 5th Grade play, May Fete, Green and Gold games, and Graduation come to mind.  My daughter's smiles tell me she easily returns to the good memories of her days at Trinity.  We should not miss just how important school memories are to our graduates!  In this day and age when a plethora of school choices have risen overnight, Trinity stands out as a place of time-honored traditions.  The various activities portrayed in our yearbook together celebrate life, faith, the innocence of childhood, and the strength of a God-centered, academically-oriented community.  I'm thankful every day for what my children received at TES.

We have some extra yearbooks available at the time of this writing.  The cost is $40 per book and we would love to see them all go to our current families and alumni.

On the Eve of Starting School

At 6th Grade Orientation today, our students received their locker assignments and combination locks. The secret to getting one of these locks to work can seem daunting at first, sort of like learning to ride a bike.  You have to follow the instructions exactly...give the dial a full turn before selecting the initial number, as I recall.  Who hasn't experienced rushing against the clock to get to class only to have their locker combination fail to work on the first try?  Generations of students have mastered their combination locks and learned to think clearly under pressure at their locker.  It's like a mini lesson in character each time....you know the saying, "Whatever doesn't kill you will make you stronger." 

There is a kind of comfort in seeing a new crop of students going through the routines....a sense that all is well and as it should be.  I captured this photo earlier today of a Trinity 8th grader "initiating" his younger brother in the mysteries of the combination lock.

New Faculty at Trinity Episcopal School

Earlier in the week I had the pleasure of leading Trinity Episcopal School's New Teacher Orientation.  Our new teachers are pictured from left to right: Theresa Pistone, Geney Heaton, and Susan Spurlock. 


Theresa comes to us from GISD where most recently she has held administrative positions including that of Technology Coordinator for the district.  She now takes the reigns of Computer Teacher/Technology Coordinator at TES.  A Magna Cum Laude graduate of The University of Houston Clear Lake, she describes herself as "a highly organized, curious and motivated teacher who strives to meet the individual needs of every student."  I look forward to the innovations she will certainly bring to our computer curriculum.


Geney comes to us from Klein ISD where she built a well-respected career teaching Kindergarten.  A fellow Indianan and friend of Trinity teacher Diane Humphrey, Geney was introduced to Galveston some years ago and has now moved to the Island with her husband, Kevin.  She earned the Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education for Hanover College, Hanover, Indiana.  I am impressed by her energy, her experience using technology in the classroom, as well as her background in both Music and Spanish.  Geney will teach our Kindergarten class.


Susan has already served as one of our favorite substitute teachers; she is a Galveston BOI, Ball High graduate, and a retired teacher from GISD.  She is proud to be the parent of a Trinity graduate, Amber, who has served until recently as a captain and attorney in the United States Air Force (JAG).  She states, "sending my daughter to Trinity is one of the best things I ever did for her. Trinity teachers helped her develop study skills to such a high level that she was an excellent student throughout high school and college."  Susan will take a section of 4th Grade alongside her friend and fellow master teacher, Debbie Kelemen.  Her own education includes a Bachelor of Arts from Sam Houston State and a Master of Science from The University of Houston Clear Lake.


Although she is not a new teacher to Trinity, I do want to mention Arden Cragar.  Arden is a current Trinity parent of George (8th), Charlie (6th), and Maggie (2nd) and a former Trinity teacher and director of our Beginning School.  She now returns to the Trinity classroom teaching our PK 4-year-olds.  "Hook 'Em Horns," I've rehired a University of Texas graduate with a B.S. in Applied Learning and Development!


This group rounds out an excellent teaching staff.  We can expect that they will do their part to help Trinity maintain the strong academic culture that has been a fixture in Galveston almost 60 years!