Middle School News

List of 3 news stories.

• Competent, Confident, and Capable

  4/16/2026
  Jessi Morgan, Middle and Upper School Wellness Director
  Many of the books, podcasts, and articles that I have been reading over the past year have had a few similar underlying themes—how do we raise successful kids beyond the classroom, why are kids facing increased anxiety and seemingly decreased life skills, and how can educators and parents help equip kids for all that life has to offer beyond just grades. It is clearly a relevant topic in today’s climate. 

  
  

  As I was discussing this with a counselor friend, we talked about how to help children gain the skills necessary for “real life” while also meeting them developmentally where they are. She laughed as she looked down at my notebook and said, “well I guess that sums it up”. She saw that I had written down in large letters “Competence = Confidence = Competence”.

  
  

  This isn’t a groundbreaking or new idea, it is something that has been around for what I assume is close to forever. But, I have it written on my notebook as a constant reminder because there are many times in my personal and professional life that I need the reminder that the more I try to equip the kids I work with with competence, the more confident that they will be in themselves and their abilities, and that will only lead to more competence and capability that will serve them throughout their lifetime. 

  
  

  When I was a “baby social worker” I think it would probably bring me some joy whenever I would hear someone say “I just don’t know if they could survive {insert school, scenario, etc} without you”. Now, it makes me wince a little. I hope that every student I work with I am helping equip with skills, knowledge, and real life experience to cope with issues they face long after I am no longer in their life. 

  
  

  Sure, there are many times that I want to email a teacher and ask for an excuse of work because of a teary circumstance, or a deadline extension on a student’s behalf—but is that really helping them if I do the legwork? What often helps them the most is when we meet with a teacher together, or write an email to their teacher together so that they feel confident that they can handle this, and if it comes up again they usually don’t need me to be a “middle man” at all. In 5th grade this seems overwhelming but if they start that skill now, they have 8 years of stacked experience and confidence by the time they get to a college classroom and have to meet nervously with a professor for the first time. 

  
  

  Our goal is not to remove obstacles for our kids—it’s to walk alongside them as they learn how to navigate those obstacles themselves. That might mean a little more time, a little more patience, and oftentimes allowing them to feel discomfort. But in those moments, they are building something far more valuable than a perfect outcome—they are building competence.
  
  

  And when competence grows, confidence follows. Students begin to trust themselves, to advocate for themselves, and to believe that they are capable of handling what comes their way.
  
  

  So while it may be tempting to step in, smooth things over, or solve the problem for them, the greater gift is helping them learn that they can do hard things—with support, practice, and time.
  
  

  Because ultimately, we’re not just raising successful students—we’re raising capable young people who believe in their ability to handle life beyond the classroom.

  
  

  PS. Christen Timmons and I will be hosting a “Coffee + Chat with Counselors” parent event on May 11th from 8:15AM-9AM in the Chapel. We will be talking about the new book “Capable” by Sissy Goff and David Thomas and giving you a sneak peek at an exciting event coming up in the Fall here in Trinity—stay tuned for more details!
• 

  The Seeds We Plant

  4/8/2026
  Recently, our school came together for an all-school chapel followed by a day of service. Students heard from local nonprofit partners and then stepped into that work in tangible ways: assembling appreciation bags for members of law enforcement, creating self-care kits and coloring Bible verses for our unhoused neighbors through The Field’s Edge, and making bookmarks for children at Rays of Hope.
  
  

  One of the most meaningful parts of the day was watching students work in their Corral Pal groups. There is something powerful about seeing a mix of ages come together with a shared purpose.
  
  

  As the Head of Preschool, my days are spent with our youngest learners, students who are just beginning to understand what it means to be part of a community, to take turns, to help a friend, to notice when someone needs support. These are small beginnings, but they matter.
  
  

  That is what made this day stand out.
  
  

  I had the opportunity to watch our middle and upper school students step into those same ideas in a much bigger way. Supporting younger students is not always easy, and yet there was patience, encouragement, and a steady presence that made a difference. You could see it in the way the younger students responded, how they looked up to them, how eager they were to be included, how proud they felt to be part of something alongside the “big kids.”
  
  

  For our middle and upper school students and families, I hope this day serves as a reminder that the things we begin in the earliest years do not stay small. They grow. The way our older students showed up for their Corral Pals reflects habits of care, responsibility, and awareness that started long ago and continue to take shape.
  
  

  And just as importantly, the example they set now becomes part of what our youngest students are learning. They are watching. They are noticing. They are beginning to understand what it looks like to belong to a community that cares for others.
  
  

  Days like this remind us that growth is not just academic. It is found in the way students learn to see beyond themselves, to support one another, and to step into something larger than their own experience.
  
  Megan Irwin, Head of Preschool

• 8th Grade Special Chapel Service

  4/2/2026
  Eighth Grade Families, 

   

  We are pleased to invite you to a special service honoring our Eighth Graders on Tuesday, May 12th, at  11:30 a.m. in The Beal Gym. During this service, we will share a presentation of memories, including a baby picture of each student, hear a message just for them, and give a special welcome to Upper School. There will be a small reception in the gym foyer immediately following. This is always a meaningful day, and we hope you can join us.  

   

  Please feel free to reach out if needed. 

   

  Blessings,

  Chrystal and Shannon