Trinity Episcopal School seeks to foster the
ability to strive. This
image, one of our 6th Grade students making it to the top of the climbing
wall at Camp Allen, shows the joy that accompanies striving followed by accomplishment. It is also an image of character development in progress!
In order to
develop the character of striving, there must also be times of failure....times when
our students are tempted to give up but instead renew their best efforts.
Sometimes as teachers and parents, the hardest part for us is standing by
compassionately while our children learn to deal with
disappointment....something they cannot learn if we keep rushing in to rescue
them from their dilemmas.
Recently, I
received a mailing from the Galveston Academic Excellence Booster Club, an
organization to which Layne and I gratefully contribute. In 2013, this organization recognized 12
Galveston high school seniors with academic scholarships. It is striking to me that, of these 12, half
are graduates of Trinity Episcopal School!
Trinity only goes through 8th Grade, and is obviously not
responsible for the academic material that produced outstanding GPA’s for these
6 seniors (now in college). It cannot be
a coincidence, though, that our small school has such a disproportionate share
of these honorees.
Long after
the curricular details of a middle school education have faded into the mind’s foundation,
a student’s character remains front-and-center in contributing to success. I believe that Trinity fosters the kind of
character that helps students achieve in high school and beyond. Not giving up easily, having a strong work
ethic, being courageous, demonstrating humility, and being considerate of
others….these are among the virtues that lead to success. More importantly, they contribute to a life that
is worth living. Congratulations to
these 6 members of the TES Class of 2009: Lauren Balentine, Kate Dannenmaier,
Jordan Raschke, Sara Rismiller, William Wheeler, and Bryce Willey. Go Chargers!
