Upper School Update 11.7.23

Upper School Families,

It is hard to believe that the First Trimester is already winding down. Starting today we are reviewing for our exams, and a week from now we will be closing the book on the first third of the school year. As we prepare for Thanksgiving, I wanted to share some of the things that I am especially thankful for this year. 

Ambitious Teaching and Learning:

We have accomplished a great many things since the beginning of the school year and have much to be proud of so far. It all starts with the ambitious teaching and learning that occurs in our classrooms each day. Having spent time in each classroom since the beginning of the school year, I am well pleased with the level of student engagement that I see, the quality of instruction and pedagogical approaches that occur in our classrooms, and the high quality of student work that is consistently produced. 

Educating the Whole Child and Providing Student Choice:

I am encouraged by the adaptations we have made this year to our advisory and club programs and am excited to see those continue to improve.  as the level of engagement and agency increase by the nature of the offerings and programming. Our advisories have heard from guest presenters, focused on social and emotional learning, introduced lessons designed to strengthen community and belonging, and discovered opportunities to partner with the greater Midland community to make a lasting impact.

Achievement Beyond the Classroom:

Of course, our time is not only spent in the DeCompeigne and in academic classrooms. Our students have performed well in the fine arts and athletics. In fine arts our students have excelled in competitions and in their fall performances. These achievements and opportunities will only increase as the school year continues. Our athletic teams have done well this fall, qualifying for the playoffs in Volleyball and Football. Our students have received honors and awards for their performances, including an All-State qualifier in Cross Country, and many All-District recognitions in Volleyball and Football. Winter athletics are already off to a great start.

We’ve also successfully navigated the PSAT administration, Homecoming week with all the associated extra festivities, a college fair, and monthly socials. 

Navigating Challenges:

The year has not been without challenges, but I am thankful to be part of a resilient community that faces them head on. Every challenge presents an opportunity for growth. This is an important trait for us to model to our students as they prepare for the world beyond Trinity School. 

The Ability to Be Creative and Lean Into Our Independence:

We are always looking ahead to identify ways to grow and improve. During the second and third trimesters, we have plans to trim our club time to once weekly, allowing dedicated study halls for Grades 9 & 10 and time for our Seek and Find small-group ideation to occur in Grade 11. Supporting their developmental preparation for college, students in Grades 12 will begin earning additional discretionary time as long as they are in good behavioral, attendance and academic standing. We are also spending time evaluating our course offerings and discipline tracks and will be shaping what opportunities exist for 2024-2025 and beyond.

Supportive Families:

Thank you for supporting the work that we do here on campus, for partnering with us in encouraging your children, and for helping us hold them accountable to our community’s expectations. We are blessed by these students. They work hard, are generally happy, and support each other along the way. Our students make the work that we do fun and meaningful. Their approach to learning begins at home; thank you for instilling those values in your children and thank you for sharing them with us.

With Gratitude,

Timothy A. Jones, M.Ed.

Head of the Upper School