News

Spanish 2
Honorable Mention:
Joshua Amasowomwan
Olivia Dobson
Charlie LaFarelle
Sophia Trevino
Ayman Rahman
Grace Walker

Bronze:
Mark Chebli
Charlotte Cox
Christian Villaroman

Silver:
Andrea Olowookere
Tonni Sanni

Gold:
Mariana Fernandes

Spanish 3
Honorable Mention:
Ava Overby
Hazel Wallace
Jordan Klatt

Silver:
Sebastian Gonzales

Spanish 4
Honorable Mention:
Miguel Pereira

Silver:
Cameron Iang

Honorable Mention:
Sofia Gil

On May 23, the 35th graduating class of Trinity will cross the stage at our new venue, the Barbara and George H.W. Bush Convention Center. We are looking forward to celebrating these 44 young people who are prepared to achieve great things in college and beyond.

As a celebratory last day of school, seniors will begin the day with breakfast and an invitation to join the Trinity School Alumni Association. Throughout the day, we will prioritize some time for the things they loved throughout their time in school: Arts and Crafts, a special chapel with their first grade buddies, and some dedicated time to play their favorite PE games. 

We will also conduct their commitment ceremony, highlighting our 44 seniors attending 22 different colleges across 10 states and two countries.

The day continues with a family lunch, a parade and a “clap out.” Seeing our youngest students cheering on their older classmates is a beautiful testament to this place and these accomplishments. 

 

Leading up to commitment day, seniors had applied to 115 different colleges. Of the applications sent to colleges across three countries and 37 states, seniors received 214 acceptances to 93 different colleges. As of this writing, the class has earned $5.88 million in merit-based scholarship offers. 

When our seniors and their families gather at Midland Country Club on May 17, faculty and staff will share testimonials, a Trinity tradition in which students select the person who will speak on their behalf. Without question, our seniors have developed meaningful relationships with all of us who teach and learn at Trinity. 

Seniors and their families will convene at First Presbyterian Church for a special service to both honor and bless the class of 2025. Following the conclusion of Baccalaureate, families will receive their seating assignments for Commencement.

Commencement will celebrate the collective accomplishments of our students. Valedictorian Georgia Molina and Salutatorian Alexandra Anguiano will address their classmates, Mr. Kleinbeck will share a message with the graduates, and seniors earning awards will be recognized.  

We applaud the many achievements of this class, and look forward to highlighting them throughout these special events.

Trinity School of Midland is proud to announce this year’s valedictorian and salutatorian, two young women of impact who will contribute positively to their chosen college communities.  

 

Georgia Grace Molina - Valedictorian 

A student at Trinity since 2018, Georgia “Gigi” Molina has earned the Dr. Premila Singh Johnson Valedictorian Prize. She is the daughter of Rodolfo and JoDee Molina.

At Trinity, Gigi has been an active participant in volleyball and tennis, serving as team captain for volleyball this year. She was honored annually as a Trustee Scholar and graduates with the Challenge Scholar designation. Gigi, the beneficiary of the George and Margaret Farrell Scholarship for her integrity, leadership, courage and work ethic, was awarded summa cum laude for the National Latin Exam and earned a Junior Achievement certificate for her entrepreneurial studies. She has been recognized multiple times in athletics for all-district and all-state, both academically and athletically. Last summer, she was part of the General Tommy Franks Midland Young Leaders Challenge, continuing to build on her leadership skills with the Pfluger Student Leadership Conference. 

Passionate about business, Gigi founded her own scrunchie business before her freshman year and has forged ahead with her studies through her two-year intensive study integrating science, business and the beauty industry.  

Outside Trinity, Gigi earned a certificate of excellence from Partnership Youth Therapy for her reimagined therapy room. A four-year volunteer for the Midland Symphony League Belle Ball, Gigi also shared her time with High Sky Children’s Ranch and helped coach youth tennis campers. She worked part-time at the Racquet Club during her summer breaks.   

Gigi’s college application process culminated with acceptances to Baylor University, Georgetown University, University of Florida, The University of Oklahoma, Southern Methodist University, The University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University, and University of Virginia. This fall, she will attend Texas A&M University in its business honors program.

“Business, with an emphasis on marketing, greatly appeals to me because it focuses on interacting with people, creative ideating, and teamwork,” said Gigi. 

Alexandra Nila Anguiano - Salutatorian 

Alexandra “Alex” Anguiano, this year’s salutatorian, began her Trinity education as a freshman. The daughter of Natalia Duenas and J Anguiano, Alex is older sister to rising freshman, Jay Anguiano.

Like Gigi, Alex is a four-year Trustee Scholar and graduates as a Challenge Scholar, a designation for students committed to rigor and scholarship. Alex has also been recognized with a Farrell Scholarship as well as a Williams Family Scholarship for students who portray outstanding character, leadership and service. As a sophomore, she earned the Rhonda Griffith Durham Award for exemplifying Trinity’s mission.  

Alex is known at Trinity as an avid swimmer, an admission ambassador, and the Charger mascot. In the pool, Alex competed in TAPPS regionals and state every year. She also served as the captain in her junior and senior years. Synthesizing swimming with her academic passions of math and computer science, Alex completed an in-depth, two-year research project on how swimmers could improve their records through targeted training. 

Outside school, Alex is also part of City of Midland swimming. She has been a leader within her club for 11 years, earning spots on the second-highest team for the past three years and mentoring younger swimmers, officiating meets, and working as a lifeguard. She is a four-year Midland Belles volunteer for the Symphony League and a passionate artist (crochet especially). 

 

With acceptances from Colorado School of Mines, Harvey Mudd College, University of Maine, The University of Texas at Austin, UT Dallas, UT El Paso, and University of Washington, Alex plans to study electrical engineering and math. She has chosen Colorado School of Mines as her next educational home. 

"I’ve always loved figuring out how things work and creating solutions from scratch, so electrical engineering and math feel like the perfect fit,” said Alex. “They challenge me, excite me, and let me bring ideas to life.”

As we enter the final weeks of school, our advisory sessions begin to reflect a time of transition from one school year to the next. This week students have watched campaign videos for Student Council elections and next week we will have a dodgeball tournament to celebrate our seniors' last advisory. 

Advisory is an important part of the Trinity School Upper School experience. This year we have successfully implemented many new features and activities during this shared time. We’ve had regular social events, used the #Win-at-Social curriculum, strengthened community and advanced student belonging, we’ve considered ways to make a positive impact locally, and shared insights on things happening in the world around us. Advisory is also a good opportunity for us to monitor student progress and achievement, to discuss individual goals, and to define opportunities for greater success. 

Some topics we have investigated include:

Adaptability	PSAT Prep
Character Development	Relationship Skills
Civil Discourse	Research Skills
Communication	Resilience
Collaboration	Responsible Decision Making
College Readiness	Self-Advocacy
Creativity	Self-Awareness
Emotional Intelligence	Self-Management
Empathy	Social Awareness
Growth Mindset	Social Media and Technology
Leadership	Time Management
Persuasion	Transition to College
Problem Solving

We try to balance our lessons and activities so that students have opportunities to learn, to share ideas, to build relationships, to reflect, and sometimes just to collectively catch our breath. This approach seems to have been successful for us again this year. As we begin planning for the 2025-2026 school year we will continue to identify areas to improve the student experience but will continue to prioritize this time each week. 

In the class of 2025, 44 students applied to 115 different colleges/universities with applications going to three countries, 35 states and the District of Columbia. Our students were accepted to 92 different schools. 

Students submitted 314 applications and received 213 acceptances to date. Though several students have not yet decided on their post-Trinity plans, we project that 30-35 percent of seniors will travel outside Texas for their education. 

Because National Candidate Reply Date is around the corner (Thursday, May 1), Mr. Jones and I will provide an updated overview of this remarkable graduating class in the May 7 Charger. 

Juniors are preparing for their college application process. Over the course of this spring, they have had workshops about various facets of the work ahead, including standardized testing, resume development, teacher recommendation selection, and essay writing. Earlier this week, they were joined by Lyn Fairchild Hawks from College Essay Guy for a session about writing their personal statement. 

Students should mark their calendars for Midnight Madness, which will begin at 10:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 31 and conclude at 12:30 a.m. August 1. A longstanding Trinity tradition, Midnight Madness commemorates the opening of the Common Application and the college admissions season. Provided students are ready, many of our seniors will be able to apply to one or more colleges in early August.    

Expeditionary Learning for the 10th grade class gave our students an excellent introduction to college choice. Designed to show them public, private, large and small universities, the trip included tours of Abilene Christian University, The University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City University, Oklahoma State University, and the University of Tulsa. Sophomores also attended an OU basketball game and visited the Oklahoma City Memorial & Museum. 

During April, sophomores have been doing some PSAT preparation with local testing consultant, Amy Cook. This four-session workshop was designed to introduce test strategies and preparation materials students could use if they wish to supplement their study for the PSAT/NMSQT. 

In early March, the DFW Admissions Regional Network (DARN) visited Trinity for a Midland Swing, six high school college fairs in our area. Our students in grades 10-11 were fortunate to visit with college counselors from University of Alaska - Fairbanks, American University, Angelo State University, Arizona State University, University of Arkansas, Hampden-Sydney College, Kansas State University, Marist College, University of Mississippi, Mississippi College, Mississippi State University, OU Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy, Samford University, The University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University, Texas Tech University, and Washington University in St. Louis.

Students were also invited to the STARS College Fair on April 1 at Midland College, which included Amherst College, Caltech, Case Western Reserve University, Colby College, Columbia University, Northwestern University, SMU, Spelman College, Stanford University, The Ohio State University, The University of Texas at Austin, University of Arizona, University of Denver, University of Chicago, University of Maryland, University of Southern California, Vanderbilt University, Yale University, and Duke University. From its website, “The STARS College Network, which partners with top colleges to ensure that students from rural and small-town America have the information and support they need to enroll and graduate from the college or university of their choice, is doubling its membership to include 32 of the nation’s most prominent institutions. In its inaugural year, the STARS College Network opened doors to higher education for more than a quarter-million students. The expansion this summer will add flagship state schools, historically Black colleges, Ivy League universities, and other selective institutions, spreading STARS’ reach to more regions across the nation.”

Some juniors are already visiting colleges of interest to them and will continue to do so this summer. For families of younger students, college tours can provide helpful context for the junior and senior years. If you are traveling this summer, and you will be near a college campus, you can set up an official information session and tour. Most colleges have a “Visit” tab on their websites and require students and their families to register in advance. Please note any age minimums or restrictions.

Advanced and AP photography students visit Baker Schorr Fine Art. Owner Kathy Schorr, and parents of alumni Thomas Schorr '12 and Hannah Hammond '10 talked with the students about the exhibit of Rodney Smith.

 

The US Craft Maker class mixed indigo and dyed fabric. Indigo dye is an ancient pigment, created through the process of turning leaves from the Indigofera plant into dye.

Click the headline to see more photos!

If you are like me, you are probably getting ready for summer and making all your summer plans. But, if I am being honest, I am a little worried about how I will fill my time, get in my usual steps, balance fun and chores, and keep myself connected to others—clearly I have never had the summer off before!

One thing I know for certain is that I have to start making a plan now to keep myself engaged on all sides of my wellness, and to make sure I avoid the “sit pit” of summer.

If you’ve never heard of a “sit pit” before I usually think of it like rotting in front of a screen from sun up until sundown, while stressing and thinking about the never ending to-do list but not being able to pull yourself out of the funk in order to do any of your list, or really anything at all. 

These are all things that we know, but it’s always good to have a reminder that balance in our routine makes for a true feeling of balance overall! 

At the recent district golf tournament, the Charger men’s team finished 4th overall, Mary Brown secured a strong 10th place finish, and Alex Escamilla claimed the title of District Champion!

Let’s cheer them on as they advance to the regional tournament.

Starting next week, the sophomores will spend four advisory and club sessions (2:35-4:00 p.m.) focused on PSAT preparation. They will take the digital PSAT/NMSQT in October; dates and details will follow. 

Guest speaker and test preparation tutor Amy Cook will be here April 8, 15, 22 and 24 to review the Reading/Writing and Math Sections, including the content and mechanics of these sections as well as test preparation strategies. Mrs. Cook will also have a suggested text for students who want to expand their PSAT preparation into the summer or early fall. 

Our goal at Trinity is to ensure our students go into their junior year feeling more confident about PSAT content with a deeper understanding of what to expect and how to be even more successful.

By graduation, each Upper School student must accrue a minimum of 90 hours of community service. However, at Trinity, serving others extends beyond a graduation requirement, it is a core value that reflects our mission to enrich the mind, strengthen the body, enliven the soul, and inspire servant leadership. Through their service, our students cultivate compassion, develop leadership skills, and create lasting relationships within Midland.

Each grade level in the Upper School partners with a community organization allowing for meaningful, hands-on structured projects completed on campus during advisory or club time.

Still, Upper School students are encouraged to take a self-directed approach by choosing where and how to serve in order to fulfill their service requirement. Our students have volunteered with numerous organizations including Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center, Midland Community Theatre, Meals on Wheels, Midland Memorial Hospital, Midland Teen Court, COM Aquatics, Bush Center Tennis Camps, West Texas Food Bank, Empty Bowls Club, Hope Invasion, High Sky Children's Ranch, We Are the World Day Camp, and the Yucca Theatre, among others.

Our students have truly made a remarkable difference. So far this year, they have contributed a total of 9,826 hours of community service:

Senior Madison Brooks shares her approach to community service, stating, "I've volunteered with various organizations to help make a positive difference in my community. One valuable piece of advice I received through Girl Scouts is the importance of building lasting relationships with these organizations. Rather than volunteering just once, I've made an effort to consistently support a few groups over time, deepening my connection with them through repeated involvement. I enjoy discovering organizations that align with my passions and finding ways to contribute meaningfully to their success. By choosing groups focused on issues I genuinely care about, I'm motivated to stay engaged and informed about their ongoing projects."

Senior Lucas Kim also reflects on his volunteer experience: "When I realized that Trinity requires community service, I saw an opportunity to help the members of my small but almost family-like congregation. Starting my freshman year, I began serving as my church's technician, controlling music and slides during services, which I still do after three years. I also started leading our church's vacation Bible study program during summers and continue running Sunday school weekly. What started as a requirement quickly became a significant part of my life. I'm grateful to give back to the community that has supported me through my successes and challenges."

Our students consistently demonstrate passion and commitment. Junior Hazel Wallace shares her own experience: “I’ve spent the last four years constantly volunteering to teach classes and camps at MCT (Midland Community Theatre) because I took those classes and went to those camps when I was in elementary school and they were what got me into theatre in the first place. Theatre is my greatest passion and something I hope to continue with for the rest of my life, so getting to teach other kids and watch them learn the same love for this art that I learned at their age has been one of the most fulfilling parts of my theatre career so far. It’s shown me what I want to do professionally and taught me that you’re never too young to find what you love!”

According to Mobile Serve, the app used to track and verify volunteer work, the Class of 2025 has contributed service valued at $134,370, a testament to their deep commitment to giving back. While 90 hours of service are required, many of our graduates exceed this requirement.

Our students continue to inspire with their dedication to serve and the positive impact they make in the Permian Basin and beyond. Thank you to all who encourage and support their efforts.

On March 1st, five upper school students participated in the M3 Challenge, a 14-hour math challenge organized by SIAM (Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics) and sponsored by MathWorks. This competition required the students to learn the software MatLab and participate in mathematical modeling that is not directly addressed by our curriculum. At the end of the 14-hour block, the students had created a 23-page report modeling the internal temperature of homes in Memphis, TN, during a heat wave. Although our team was not advanced as finalists, Trinity is proud of their dedication and work output. We hope this will be a catalyst for future teams to participate in math modeling contests. 

Here are some quotes from the challenge weekend experience:

“The M3 Challenge was more than anything a test of our mental fortitude and organizational skills in tackling a large problem and splitting it up into manageable chunks. I am so grateful to have gotten the opportunity through Trinity to do something which broadened my mathematical horizon and increase my interest in a more logistical approach to problem solving, especially in fields which I previously had little to no knowledge in such as air conditioning in Memphis, TN and how many BTUs the human body produced. Overall this is an experience I will remember for a long time to come. It was the most fun thing I’ve done in all of high school” William D. ‘26 (Team Captain)

“It was tiring and difficult but extremely rewarding at the end.” - Mira R. ‘26

“It was fun, I guess. I drank A LOT of coffee.”- J.K. W. ‘26

“I really enjoyed the opportunity to do something I haven’t done before. It was a very different experience from anything that we do in school. I’m excited to see how this year’s experience helps us when we do it again next year.” - Charlie W. ‘26

“It was so amazing to see everyone's unique talents come together to take on the challenge, and it was so satisfying to upload the paper and be able to say that we successfully completed the 14 hour challenge!"- Lauren B. ‘25

“I am really impressed by this group of students and the initiative they took on this contest. They formed a team on their own and self-directed the entire process. They gave up an entire day (14 hours) of their weekend to participate. I think this was a really great experience for our students, and I look forward to seeing what this team can do next year.” - Carly Vollet (Faculty Advisor)

Gigi M. and Joanna T. placed first in girls doubles while Lauren B. and Sofia G. came in second in girls doubles. 

Riley B. and Jacob K. placed 3rd followed by Marshall M. and Matthew S. in 4th place. 

Enqi Z. placed 3rd in girls singles.

Ava O. and Ray Q. are the State alternates in singles. John G. also played boys singles.

As a team, the boys were the runners-up and the girls are District 1-4A Champs! 

Way to go, Chargers! Congrats to everyone!

The end of the school year always feels a little bit like the very rare baseball occurrence of stealing home. It seems to happen so fast that spectators and the other team are left wondering “what in the world just happened”. However, to the runner that just scored and the third base coach that sent in the sign, it was a well-timed and executed play. 

Springtime ushers in a lot of things I love about the work we do in schools, but it is a consistently dizzying pace. Students and teachers are busier than ever this time of the year. Seniors are inching closer to their graduation day. Younger students are looking forward to a more sustained break and requesting courses for the next school year. Teachers are digging in for all the craziness that happens over the last two and half months of the school year. I love guiding students to appropriately challenge themselves and helping students navigate choices when they try to take on too much.  Most importantly, this is the time of year when everything starts to come together. Future decisions get locked in, culminating course work and months-long projects come to fruition, and we take time to reflect and to celebrate successes, both individually and as a community. 

As an Upper School community, we are preparing to “steal home.” Don’t blink, or you might miss it! 

We are excited to invite you to the Midland leg of the STARS in West Texas College Tour, which brings 19 universities here for an evening program and college fair. Join admissions representatives to learn more about academic programs, campus life, and applying for admission and financial aid at a wide variety of colleges and universities across the US. Each of the schools is unique, and they are working together to bring college conversations to you.

 

The event at Midland College will begin with a 45-minute information session, with participating schools providing advice about the college search and application process. Following a short group Q&A, the event will shift to a college fair, where you can chat individually with a representative from each school.

 

Please make plans to attend this important event. 

Midland College
Midland, TX
6:00 - 8:00 PM
Tuesday, April 1

Event Registration Link

On Saturday, March 1st, eight talented Upper School art students represented Trinity School at the Visual Arts Scholastic Event (VASE) at Permian High School. Competing against hundreds of students from Region 18, Rayven Kidd, McKyna Pulley, Madeline Edwards, Amelia Edwards, Modesta Welborn, Guy Harnly, Kamila Tanatar, and Angel Naila showcased their exceptional artistic skills.

Every one of the 10 pieces entered received the highest possible score of 4, a remarkable achievement! Additionally, Modesta Welborn and Madeline Edwards have earned the honor of advancing to the State competition in April.

Congratulations to these students on their outstanding accomplishments—we are so proud of you!

The start of the third trimester also signifies that Expeditionary Learning trips are eminent and that Spring Break is right around the corner. I know students and our Upper School faculty are excited for both. 

Expeditionary learning is an important component of the Trinity School experience and these activities take a variety of forms: from investigating early civilizations in New Mexico — representing thousands of years of human development and millions of years of geological history— to exposure to a variety of college opportunities as students begin the process of thinking about their personal futures, to symbolically encouraging students to take a leap of faith by jumping off the cliffs above the Nueces River or traversing one of the state’s longest zip lines. This formal program culminates with our Life 101 program where seniors are introduced to a variety of skills and strategies that will serve them well in their lives after graduation.

All of these experiences afford the participants the opportunity to grow as individuals, to build self-confidence, and to learn to take calculated risks. Expeditionary Learning allows students to build deeper relationships with their peers and the adults who guide them. These activities help students build trust and a stronger sense of belonging to their community. Along the way, students also pick up skills and strategies that will remain with them throughout their lifelong learning journey.

I am proud to be a part of an educational community that prioritizes these experiences as part of the academic year. We will have fun, we develop transferable skills and we will learn a lot about the world, about each other, and ourselves. When these experiences conclude we will head off to enjoy Spring Break. When we return, we will jump feet first into the last two-and-a-half months of the school year. The days ahead will pass quickly - but we will be intentional in enjoying our shared experiences and challenging ourselves each step of the journey.

Kind Regards,

Timothy A. Jones, M.Ed.

Head of Upper School

The fifth of six Texas Math League exams for Upper School was held on February 11th. Please congratulate our students on their success so far: 

The Trinity School swim team concluded a successful season on Monday at the TAPPS State Championships, delivering outstanding performances and earning top finishes.

Senior Luis Villalobos Matson led the team with a stellar performance, capturing the State Championship in the 200 Freestyle and finishing as the Runner-Up in the 100 Butterfly. 

Fellow senior Alex Anguiano also made a strong showing, placing 9th in the 100 Freestyle and 8th in the 100 Breaststroke.

Freshman Madelyn McBrayer had an impressive debut at the state level, securing Runner-Up in the 500 Freestyle and 4th place in the 200 Freestyle.

The relay teams also showcased their depth and determination. Together Morella Silva, Alex Anguiano, Brianna Moody, and Madelyn McBrayer placed 10th in the 200 Freestyle Relay and earned a 3rd place finish in the 400 Freestyle Relay.

During trimester two each year, Mrs. Patterson and I teach the research paper to our sophomore and senior students, focusing on locating quality sources, organizing important information, narrowing the topic, and writing a cohesive paper. In the past, students would drag their feet and wonder why we spend so much time dedicated to these skills while I repeated this sentence multiple times a day: “Research writing is the type of writing you will need the most in college.” Even for a senior in high school, the idea of academic writing feels remote and nebulous and pointless.

In 2025 and beyond, however, I hope that our students will experience the research process in a new way at  Trinity School because our current seniors will complete their Seek and Find projects, a large-scale investigation focused on a topic of interest. After choosing their subject matter as a junior, the students had a lesson with Carrie Brown to learn about the process of narrowing their Boolean searches to find the best scholarly articles for each topic. Then the students in my classes gathered and read articles for their individual topics, wrote their outlines, and finally drafted a completed paper. But the process will not end here this year. The seniors are now working outside of their English class time to extend their essays into additional research through questionnaires or the scientific process and will present their findings in a graphic representation of their work.

This spring the Seek and Find Academic and Research Program culminates with a final community presentation of each senior’s discoveries in the Upper School where students can answer questions and reflect on the outcomes of their research, making the whole process relevant.  Their products are no longer just a paper written in their English class. Some of our students will reveal models of new products, like a skincare line in original bottles;  some will discuss their scientific research on topics like the connection between personalities and languages; and some will show how they applied what they learned to produce a new skill, like cooking, horse training, or marathon running. 

Come see our seniors on April 30 as they present their research that extends beyond the pages written in the classroom.

Feeling SAD?

Not that kind of sad—I am talking about Seasonal Affective Disorder (depression typically occurring in the winter months). Now, while I don’t think many of us qualify for a clinical diagnosis to this degree, I do think we West Texans might be experiencing something missing. Maybe that something missing is the sun and the warm, walkable weather? Some of us may be experiencing some winter weather blues.

Last week, I remarked to some of my colleagues that something seemed off with Winnie (the therapy dog). She wasn’t acting differently necessarily, but she just seemed a little…off? sad? I tried all the usual things of giving her time off, extra walks at night and in the morning (primarily during dark hours because of scheduling), special treats, and even more love. It felt silly to tell people that the therapy dog seems off whenever she was still her normal self–just doing more of her squeaky yawns and seeming a little pouty and unmotivated. I went through the whole week and finally decided that maybe she had caught the end of trimester blues, even though she still very much wanted to attend school and be a part. 

But then, Friday afternoon rolled around. School was out, the weekend was almost starting, and kiddos were gone so she was off her leash and walking with me to finish up some tasks between the Middle and Upper School. Before I knew it, I heard a whine from her and she was uncharacteristically running away from me towards the recess area. I called to her and she hesitantly stopped, but kept wagging her tail at something I couldn’t see—kids playing football in the back turf area. They quickly welcomed her into the sunshine and supervised football game and she had so much fun catching the ball, being chased, and running circles with them. She was the happiest she had been in at least a few weeks.

Duh–That was it! She missed the sun and movement. 

Winnie and I walk many laps around the track with students during the warm weather–most days clocking around 8 miles. But, it has been so cold and dreary that most of our time is spent in an office with students these days, and walks are primarily in the dark of night.

It made me wonder….how many of us and our students are feeling just like Winnie? Something is off, but we can’t quite put our finger on what. If you are feeling sad for no apparent reason, unmotivated, excessively tired, worried, or just run down, you might be experiencing the Winter Blues. 

Some tips for beating the Winter blues:

As we begin the final month of the second trimester, I have started shifting my focus to the 2025-2026 school year. As families make decisions for next year, I want to share some insights into the daily educational experience unfolding within our Upper School community. I regularly say that Trinity’s Upper School strives to be a learning environment where every student is known, loved, challenged, and supported. I would add ”and prepared for their lives beyond Trinity School.” 

Our approach to teaching and learning is intentionally rigorous and ambitious. We believe in challenging our students to reach beyond their perceived limitations while providing the support and guidance they need to succeed. We know that actively experiencing productive struggle is where authentic learning occurs. In our classrooms, you'll find students building genuine relationships with their teachers and advisors, engaging in relevant learning activities, tackling complex problems, extending the learning of others by sharing their thoughts and ideas, and developing critical thinking skills that will serve them well throughout their lives.

Our students value their independence and the agency provided to them through their Upper School experience. Yet within this freedom lies a commitment and unwavering focus on each student's individual journey. Our college advising process exemplifies this approach – working closely with each family to identify institutions that align with each student's academic interests, personal goals, and abilities. Our process isn't about simply getting into college; it's about finding the right fit where our graduates will thrive and continue to grow.

Our teachers demonstrate this commitment daily through:

The results of this approach are evident in our students' achievements and growth. They're developing not just as scholars but also as confident, capable individuals ready to make meaningful contributions to their future communities. As we look ahead, we remain committed to making decisions that prioritize our students' best interests. We believe this steadfast focus on student success, combined with our appropriately challenging academic program, creates an educational environment where our students can investigate their interests, discover their passions, and further develop the skills they need for future success.

Thank you for your partnership in this important work. 

Timothy A. Jones, M.Ed.

Head of Upper School

P.S. We’ve had a series of Professional Development sessions recently regarding teaching and learning with AI. Translating that learning to my work, I used Claude AI as a brainstorming partner and organizational tool to write this Upper School update. 

We are excited to share that Trinity will host the second annual College Conversations: The Admission Landscape in 2025 on Thursday, January 30.

This night – open to all Trinity parents – will be a frank discussion about the college admission landscape. We will touch on how college admissions has changed, how Trinity students fare in holistic review, and the value of an independent school education. 

Our event begins at 6:00 p.m. (please note time change) in The Commons. Students in grades 9-11 meet with our guests during their advisory to learn more about college admissions. 

A group of Trinity alumni joined the faculty and staff for lunch Tuesday, January 7 and Charger graduates served on a panel for current students on Thursday, January 9. It is always a privilege to connect with our alumni, welcome them back to campus, and hear their insight into what a Trinity student can expect in college. They shared great advice, applicable to both the student and parent experience. Specifically, they mentioned that there is no such thing as too much communication with parents after moving on to college, that you will find your people wherever you go, and that they are thankful for their Trinity experience because they were prepared to succeed in their college classes.

Our most recent alumni from the class of 2024 also recently shared some written advice with our current juniors and seniors.

Answered by Quinton Klingensmith: “I would recommend that juniors starting their college search take some time to reflect on what they personally want in a college. It's important to focus on their own desires, not just what they think their parents expect. Use those personal priorities as a filter in the search process to find colleges that meet their criteria.

I hope this message helps students understand that the college experience is personal, and it's important to search for a place that aligns with their own desires, rather than chasing prestige or the idea of a school based on its football team or reputation.”

Answered by Lance Robertston: “Figure out what majors and programs you are interested in before thinking about particular universities. Once you know, or have an idea, of what you want to study, find the schools that offer the best programs for that.” 

Answered by Ezekial Bajomo: “As someone who spent significant time weighing multiple viable options, I found that it is essential to take the time to reflect deeply on the key aspects that you seek to derive from the college experience – whether it is preparation for a specific career, social opportunities, or intellectual growth. Pay close attention to the factors that will most influence your happiness such as distance from home, weather, academic rigor, and the overall ‘vibe’ of the student body; don't be afraid to trust your gut and lean into a natural inclination toward certain schools.”

Junior Conferences begin Monday and will take place the weeks of January 27 and February 10. During a 45-minute session, the students and parents hear an overview of the college application process so that we have a shared language and context as we go into the next 15 months, culminating with each student’s post-Trinity plan. 

The heart of the Trinity college advising philosophy is fit. The college match means different things to different people; this is normal. Ultimately, we will have discussions about where students see themselves thriving and what path they need to take to achieve personal and professional goals. 

Ongoing communication is highly valued in the college admission process. We feel strongly about the partnership required during these pre-college days and thank you for your support.

Seniors are continuing to hear news from colleges. Trinity students are finishing their college applications, and all students will receive responses from their applications on or before April 1. They then have until May 1 to make their final post-Trinity plan. As of this writing, 100 percent of the seniors who have applied to college have one or more acceptance, and a quarter of the class has enrolled in the college of their choice.   

The Upper School Math Department has had an exciting year, with the introduction of a new course and the launch of another course in a new modality. Math for Business and Social Science is now available as a junior/senior elective. Mrs. Vollet has been diving back into her business minor knowledge from over 20 years ago to bring this course to life!

Meanwhile, Statistics Honors is now being offered as a dual credit course through Midland College, taught by Mrs. Wheeler. These additions mean that all of our senior students (and some juniors) now have the opportunity to enroll in a dual credit math class. Our current dual credit offerings include:

In addition to these new academic opportunities, we’ve introduced competitive math exams for Upper School students. This year, we are participating in the Texas State Mathematics League (TXML). The high school competition consists of six exams taken throughout the year, with our team’s score determined by the top five scores from each test. As of January 13, we have completed four of the six exams, with several students participating in all four. Here are the individual top scorers so far:

As a team, we are in 16th place out of 22 teams, competing against some of the most selective private schools in the DFW area. Considering the competitiveness of the league and the fact that we haven’t held formal practices, I’m incredibly proud of our team’s performance! We will also offer an Algebra 1 TXML test sometime after April 15th. This will be open to any student (8th or 9th grade) currently enrolled in Algebra 1. We may also expand our test offerings to grades 4-8. Stay tuned for future announcements in The Charger if you have students in multiple divisions.

Looking ahead, from February 28 to March 3, the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics will host the MathWorks Math Modeling Challenge. In this competition, teams of 3-5 upper school students work to solve open-ended, real-world math-modeling problems. Scholarships are available for top-performing teams, making this an excellent opportunity for junior and senior students to showcase their skills.

If you’d like more information about our math contests, the MathWorks Modeling Challenge, or any of our course offerings, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Mrs. Carly Vollet at cvollet@trinitymidland.org.