School News

Chorus Students Attend District Chorus Festival 

March 2010

Ten middle and upper school students attended District XI Chorus Festival February 18 – 20, 2010. Participation in this event was by audition only.  During the weekend, the Trinity students along with others from Fairfax County Public Schools and Paul IV rehearsed with a guest conductor and presented a concert on Saturday afternoon.  All together, there were about 350 students in attendance.  Trinity students who attended were:  Jonathan Bading, Veronica DiMauro, Laura Messerschmidt, Emily Cole, Lucy DiMauro, Rachel Hutzenbiler, Lauren Hoots, Emily Kangelaris, Cheryl Leow, and Anna Troutman.  In addition, three of our juniors and seniors auditioned for All-State Chorus.  Anna Troutman was chosen to be an All-State Representative, and Emily Cole was chosen as an alternate.  All State Chorus will take place April 29 and 30, and May 1 at the Sheraton Premiere Hotel at Tyson’s Corner.  Congratulations to all of these students who put forth their best effort!

Trinity Art Students Receive Honors
February 2010

Nearly 100,000 students accepted the challenge to submit work to The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards for review by professional artists, writers, educators, and creative-industry leaders. More than 30,000 students earn regional awards (silver key), and 1,000 students will earn national awards (gold key). For 2010, the following Trinity students were recognized for excellence in their work:
•Gold Key: Christina Brooks (Grade 12): “Lost”
•Gold Key: Alice Keith (Grade 8): “Watercolor Still Life”
•Gold Key: Ashley Yoo (Grade 8): “Two Faces”
•Certificate of Merit: Carissa Coy (Grade 7): Reprousse’
•Certificate of Merit: Ashley Yoo (Grade 8): “Self-Portrait”

The Awards offer students recognition, exhibition, publication and scholarship opportunities. The judges will recognize students based on the following criteria: originality, technical skill and emergence of a personal vision.

Building Dedication Held on November 1
November 2009

A dedication ceremony was held on Sunday, November 1, for the new gymnasium and performing arts building. Included in the program were remarks by two seniors, Chaney Mullins and Patrick Lynch, both of whom attended Trinity since first grade. Those in attendance included Sharon Bulova, Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, and John Cook, Braddock District Supervisor. The new building includes a gymnasium which seats over 900 spectators and a performing arts wing which includes instrumental and choral rehearsal rooms, practice rooms, and a stage.

New Gymnasium and Performing Arts Building Open
September 2009

Trinity's campus has a decidedly different look for the start of the 2009-2010 school year. Students and parents were invited to tour the completed Phase II Building during Back-to-School Open House on September 4. The new building includes a gymnasium which seats over 900 spectators and a performing arts wing which includes instrumental and choral rehearsal rooms, practice rooms, and a stage with a full complement of lights and sound.

Upper School Student Chosen as a Delegate in Boys State
May 2009

Eleventh-grader, Daniel Amico, has been chosen to serve as a delegate in Virginia’s Boys State. Boys State is a one-week summer course, sponsored by the American Legion, which encourages students to study and apply the principles of sound government at the local and state levels. During the program, delegates experience the political process by developing party platforms, conducting mock elections, and ratifying different policies and procedures.

Trinity Seniors Awarded National Merit and National Achievement Scholarships
May 2009

Michael Baker and Scott Renner have been awarded National Merit Scholarships.  Esther Jackson has earned a National Achievement Scholarship. As National Merit and National Achievement Scholars, each student has earned a 2,500 college scholarship. Over 1.5 million students enter the National Merit Scholarship Program each year, but only 8,200 are awarded scholarships. Of the 150,000 students who enter the National Achievement Scholarship Program each year, only 700 earn a scholarship.  Congratulations, seniors!

Lower School Students Win Video Contest
May 2009

Jack and Ross Grigsby, both fifth-grade students, recently won first place in the Lights, Camera, Active video contest.  The contest was sponsored by the Chris Dudley Foundation, an organization which supports children and young adults who participate in active sports and who also have been diagnosed with juvenile diabetes. To see their video, “Triple Threat,” click here. Congratulations Jack and Ross! 

Upper School Student Wins DAR Essay Competition

May 2009   

Eleventh-grade student, Anna Troutman, has been honored for her essay submitted to the Daughters of the American Revolution essay competition.  Essays submitted to the competition addressed the perils that Christopher Columbus and his crew experienced on their expedition.  Anna’s essay was named the winning essay for the Pentagon Chapter.  Her essay then placed second in the district competition that followed. Trinity students have participated in this annual writing contest for the last two years, and each year a Trinity student has won the local competition.

Foreign Language Week
March 2009 

During the week of March 30, the foreign language students in the middle and upper school celebrated Foreign Language Week. Each morning, students were asked a trivia question about various languages, history, and culture. Students were also challenged to write an essay or a poem about their interpretation of the week’s theme, “Many Hands, Many Voices, One Mission.” Eighth-grader, Anna Preston, wrote the winning poem.  Tenth grader, Sarah Pratt, and eighth graders, Katie Koth and Trevor Telesz, earned Honorable Mentions for their submissions.

Guest Readers Participate in the Lower School Read-A-Thon
March 2009  

“Caution: Readers at Work” was the Read-A-Thon theme for the lower school.  In addition to reading in their own free time, lower school students also enjoyed hearing guest readers read to them in the library.  Students in the fourth and fifth grades were delighted to have Dr. Vanderpoel read to them, and the kindergarteners enjoyed their time with Mrs. Anger.  Several parents and faculty members also brought stories to life with their lively and enthusiastic renditions of childhood favorites.  Thank you so much to all of our guests!    

 Trinity Seniors Named Finalists in National Merit Scholarship Program
March 2009 

Trinity seniors, Michael Baker, Esther Jackson, and Scott Renner, have advanced to the finalist pool for the National Merit Scholarship Program.  Scholarships will be awarded later this spring.

Upper School Student Honored in Essay Contest
March 2009 

Eleventh grader, James Caron, was recently awarded an honorable mention for his essay submitted to a writing contest sponsored by the Bill of Rights Institute. Thirty-one thousand students, representing six thousand schools from around the country, submitted essays.  Students were asked to answer the question, “What civic value do you believe is most essential to being an American?” Not only did James earn an honorable mention, but he also earned a cash award and was cited in a recent Washington Post article.       

Trinity senior, Esther Jackson, has been named a finalist in the National Achievement Scholarship Program. The National Achievement Scholarship Program was created in 1964 to honor academically talented Black American high school students, and it awards undergraduate college scholarships to the most outstanding participants in each annual competition. Congratulations, Esther!

Upper School Student Competes in State High School Debate Tournament
January 24, 2009

Trinity senior, Nicholas Freiling, competed in the annual speech and debate state tournament for the National Forensics League on Saturday, January 24, at the University of Virginia. With more than 40 schools represented and over 400 student competitors, it was the largest debate tournament in the United States. Nicholas competed in the Student Congress event and was awarded 3rd place in the Senate Chamber. He was only half of a point away from winning the entire event.  He was also named the first alternate delegate to the National NFL Debate Tournament in June. Congratulations, Nicholas!

Upper School District Chorus
November 15, 2008

Each year Trinity Christian School sends members of Trinity’s Upper School Chorus to District Chorus Auditions where they compete with approximately 350 other students from various Fairfax County high schools. This year, auditions were held on November 15, at Centreville High School.  Of the eleven Trinity students who auditioned, eight were selected and will attend District Chorus on February 19, 20, and 21.  They will rehearse with a guest conductor for the three days and will present a concert for the public on the last day at 12:00 noon at Fairfax High School.  Congratulations to 2008-2009 District Chorus students:  Emily Cole, Christina Clenance, Lucy DiMauro, Rachel Hutzenbiler, Lauren Hoots, Emily Kangelaris, Patrick Lynch, and Patrick Weaver.

Middle School District Chorus
February 2009  

Six Trinity middle school students will be participating in Middle School District Chorus in February: Jonathan Bading, Chase Blankenship, Veronica DiMauro, Melanie Kangelaris, Kimberly Osborne, and Molly Weaver.  The Middle School District Chorus is comprised of students from various Fairfax County middle schools.  Middle School District Chorus students will rehearse with a guest conductor on February 20 and 21 and will perform a concert for the public on February 21 at 11:30 AM at Fairfax High School.  Congratulations to those students who will be representing Trinity Christian School!

    Upper School Drama Presents Third Annual Blank Stage Showcase
December 6, 2008

On Saturday, December 6, Upper School Drama presented the third annual Blank Stage Showcase to a full audience of family, friends, and others from the community.  The program included 10 group and individual  performances which were prepared by the students with minimal direction and incorporated no props, costumes, sets, or lighting.  Students interpreted one-act scenes from various sources including: Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, the Disney movie Newsies, Cry the Beloved Country by Alan Paton, J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, and the biblical story of Rebekah.   The program also included some pieces from previous years’ shows: The Christmas Carol (abridged); two poetry readings, The Charge of the Light Brigade and the Children’s Hour; a scene from the Greek tragedy, Trojan Women; and the show-stopping Seuss story, Green Eggs and Ham.  Upper School Drama now begins preparation for the spring production of Singin’ in the Rain, premiering April 23 and 24, 2009.

Mr. Petzrick Named "Teacher Of The Year"
December 8, 2008 

Upper school science teacher, Mr. Kip Petzrick, has been named “Teacher of the Year” by Virginia’s 10th District of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.  Mr. Petzrick’s nomination was sent to the VFW district competition after he was selected “Teacher of the Year” by VFW Post 9478 of Sterling, Virginia.  His nomination packet now moves to state-level judging.  Clayton Cooper, current 12th grade student and Command Color Sergeant of Trinity’s Color Guard, submitted Mr. Petzrick’s initial nomination to the Sterling post.  For taking the initiative to submit the application, the VFW post presented Clay with a certificate of appreciation. Congratulations and best wishes, Mr. Petzrick!

Junior Mid-Course Celebration
October 21, 2008

On Tuesday, October 21, the sophomore class hosted the tenth-annual Junior Mid-Course Celebration for current juniors, their parents, and administrators and trustees.   The breakfast ceremony provided an opportunity for the junior class to celebrate reaching the halfway point of their high school career.  For those students who purchased class rings, parents used this time to present the ring to their child. Families also enjoyed the opportunity to privately honor one another.   Dr. Vanderpoel delivered a message on self-examination and presented the junior class with copies of Love Rules: The Ten Commandments for the 21st Century by Stuart Bonnington and Joan Milne.  Congratulations to the junior class and a special thanks to all those who helped organize this wonderful event!

Upper School Students Recognized For Academic Achievements on the NMSQT
September 2008

Several Trinity upper school students were recently recognized for their academic achievements on the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.   Michael Baker, Esther Jackson, and Scott Renner were named Semifinalists for their performance on the exam and are eligible to continue the competition for National Merit Scholarships, which are awarded in the spring of 2009.  Alexandra Bahn, Clayton Cooper, Jacob Meindertsma, and John Rushing earned letters of commendation for their performance on the exam.   Of the 1.5 million students who completed this exam, only 16,000 were named Semifinalists and only 34,000 students earned letters of commendation.  Esther Jackson was also recognized by the National Achievement Scholarship Program for her performance on the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.  Congratulations to all! To read more about the awards, click here.

TCS Color Guard Presents Colors
September 24, 2008

On September 24, 2008 Trinity's Color Guard had the honor of presenting the colors at the annual banquet of the National Military Community YouthMinistries at Fort Myer in Virginia.  The banquet involved militaryservice men and women and other civilians from across the United States. It is an honor for our Color Guard to be asked to play such a visible role in a wonderful program.

Upper School Student Wins DAR Essay Competition

 September 30, 2008 

Four Trinity students participated in the Christopher Columbus Essay Contest, sponsored by the Pentagon Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.  A panel of judges reviewed essays entitled "How did the Four Voyages of Columbus Change our Perception of Geography and Alter World Economics?" by Gabrielle Boggs, Christina Kangelaris, Fleming Saunders, and Katherine McHugh, assessing them on grammar, historical accuracy, and overall presentation.  The judges selected Katherine McHugh's essay as the Chapter winner and Fleming Sauders's as the first runner up.  Katherine's essay went on to win the regional competition and advanced to the state-wide competition held in April by the Virginia DAR, where she again took first place.  Congratulations to these students and to Mr. Phillips, their World History teacher, for their fine work on these essays.

Lower School Student Wins Gunston Hall Plantations's Christy Hartman Myers Writing Award
June 13, 2008

Christy Hartman Myers (1969-2006) a graduate of Lake Braddock High School and Virginia Tech where she completed a Master’s degree in early childhood education became the Associate Director for the Institute for Children’s Literature. In her memory, the staff and volunteers of Gunston Hall sponsored a writing contest for 4th grade students. All 4th graders who visited Gunston Hall Plantation with their classes or took part in Gunston hall Outreach programs in their classrooms are eligible to enter the competition for the Christy Hartman Myers Writing Award.  Many students in the Washington DC area took advantage of this opportunity. Trinity Christian School’s 4th grader, Nicole Wood won first place in this writing contest. She was honored by members of the Education Association of Gunston Hall Plantation.

Preparations are being made for Trinity Christian School to open its first Kindergarten class in the fall. This modified full-day program will introduce young children to the lower school academic program as a wide variety of experiences of discovery, learning, and fun through developmentally appropriate center activities are provided. Students will be offered art, music, and science instruction by the lower school specialists within the kindergarten classroom setting. As we continue to pursue excellence for mind and heart, we thank the Lord for all of His provisions and for the opportunity to offer this program beginning in 2008-2009.   

 Commencement 

June 10, 2006 

Commencement exercises were held for Trinity's sixth graduating class on June 10 at Truro Church in Fairfax. The twenty-eight students in the Class of 2006 received their diplomas with  over 200 family and friends in attendance. Three students, Peter Peckarsky, Emily Roe, and Michelle Rouillard qualified as Honor Graduates by maintaining a 4.0 GPA during their upper school years. Headmaster Emeritus James Beavers provided the invocation, and Trinity's Headmaster, David Vanderpoel, presented a challenging message to the graduates.

Clarence Thomas Visits Campus
May 2, 2006

Trinity Christian School was honored this year with the presence of Associate Justice Clarence Thomas of the United States Supreme Court. Students of the Middle and Upper Schools assembled to hear something of his life story. Justice Thomas also invited students to ask him questions. In his talk and in the free-ranging question-and-answer session that followed, Justice Thomas strongly urged students to work hard in whatever field they should choose, and to begin that pattern of self-discipline by working hard in school.

Trinity Senior Named Finalist In National Achievement Scholarship Program
March 2009