July 22, 2021

  Dear Parents,

     I hope you are all having a restful, enjoyable summer.  Don’t forget to attend Mass.  God would love for you to visit His house!  Thank you for trusting Trinity Catholic School with God’s most precious gift, your child. We are pleased that you have chosen Trinity to continue the education of your child, which you have begun in your home. In keeping with the teachings of the Catholic Church, we welcome our partnership with your family in this teaching ministry.

      This summer mailing is the first of many communiqués you will receive this year. Each is important and relevant to your child’s success at Trinity. We encourage you to respond to and initiate communication with your child’s teachers and the school administrative team frequently throughout the year.

     We want to welcome our new teachers and staff to our Trinity Family:

• VPK/PreK 4 - Faith Viti has a BS in English Education and a Master of Science in Curriculum and Instruction. While attending FSU, she worked at Trinity as a Substitute Teacher, BTB and Summer Camp counselor.  Viti has strong volunteer experience and looks forward to sharing her faith with her students.
• VPK/PreK-4 - Jenny Llaque recently moved with her husband and children, from Miami. She has 15 years of Early Childhood teaching experience, is bi-lingual, and an involved and faithful parishioner.  She has her AA and is certified with her VPK Director credentials. 
• Kindergarten Teacher - Hannah Martin has a BS in Elementary Education and a Master of Science in Curriculum and Instruction. While attending FSU, she worked at Trinity as a BTB and Summer Camp counselor.  Martin comes to us with experience in classical education. 
• 5th Grade Teacher - Sarah Whisenhunt is a Trinity alumna, with a BS in Elementary Education and a Master of Science in Curriculum and Instruction. While attending FSU, she worked at Trinity as a BTB and Summer Camp counselor.  Whisenhunt comes to us with experience in classical education and will be the lead teacher in Math, Science and Social Studies. 
• 2nd Grade Instructional Aide- Hannah Novack is a recent graduate of FSU, with her BA in Editing, Writing, and Media. She has extensive experience with children, babysitting, and teaching VBS at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Fort Walton, and volunteering as a reading buddy at the Public Library.

     We also want to welcome our 80 new students to our Catholic Community.  The International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Program (MYP) for Grades 6-8 is a nationally and internationally recognized program that prepares students for advanced achievement with higher level learning, communications, and collaborative skills. This increases academic rigor and discipline for our Middle School students.  We are excited about our growth as a school.  We will have our accreditation visit from the International Baccalaureate team in the Fall.      

     Trinity is offering VPK (Florida’s free Voluntary PreKindergarten program) for our 4-year-old students in Pre-K4.  This voucher will help parents of 4-year-olds with tuition.  We are happy that this program is available to help make a Catholic Pre-School education available. We are adding a third VPK class this year!

     Although summertime is a break from the usual rigor of school, it is important that your child maintain the skills learned during the school year. It is expected that Trinity students will engage in educational pursuits even during the summer. Summer Learning information is posted on the Trinity website for the grade your child will be entering in August. The packets are intentionally designed to benefit our students and help them retain the skills they have learned throughout the year. Practicing these skills will insure an easy transition to the next grade for your child. Summer packets must be completed and returned the first day of school, August 9^th.

     Information will be included in your Orientation Packet on August 5^th and 6^th to help you formulate a plan to satisfy the annual 25-hour Volunteer Service Hours requirement. Service Hours are valued at $15 per hour and unrecorded hours will be charged to your account at the end of the school year. The contract you signed when you registered at Trinity includes the liability for these hours or payment in lieu of hours.

     Attached, you will find information about our after-school care program, Beyond-the-Bell. This program is for parents who need or want after-school care and enrichment for their child. In order for your child to participate in this program, the registration form must be completed and must be submitted to the office by August 1^st.

     The Parent/Student Handbook will be available online only at our website, www.trinityknights.org by August 5^th.  You may download your own personal copy. It is important to note that the Parent/Student Handbook is a contractual agreement between home and school, and therefore must be read carefully. Both parents and students should consider and discuss the rules and policies it contains before signing the Handbook Governance Agreement Form. This form will be enclosed in your Orientation Packet (one per child) and must be returned to his/her homeroom teacher no later than August 13^th.

     Orientation Days will take place as follows:   

August 5, 2021

9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. – New Families

10:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – A – H (Last Names)

August 6, 2021

9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. – J – P (Last Names)

10:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – Q – Z (Last Names)

     Please proceed with your child to his/her classroom to meet with the teacher.  Family Orientation Packets will be available in your child’s Homeroom class.  If you have multiple children, it will be in the youngest child’s Homeroom.  You and your child(ren) may then leave for the day. Students do not have to wear uniforms for Orientation, but parents are reminded that their children should dress in appropriate attire. Students may NOT attend Orientation without an adult family member.  Attendance will be taken.

     The first day of school for all students will be Monday, August 9^th.   All students in Grades 1 – 8 are expected to be in complete school uniform. Please follow the drop-off procedures described in the Orientation Packet. All students are required to have a nutritious lunch which should be sent from home. Outside food deliveries are not allowed. The Beyond-the-Bell After School Care Program will begin on Monday August 9^th for those students who are registered.

     We realize that all of your questions about school matters will not be answered here, so please feel free to check our website or call the school office (850-222-0444) with any questionsorconcerns.

     You, the parents, are the primary educators of your child. We can only assist you in your responsibility. The mission of our school is – “to teach the Catholic faith within a challenging academic curriculum, laying the foundation for all students to grow in Christian maturity, integrity, and knowledge.” Together, we will form our children in the true sense of Christian citizenship.

Yours in Faith,

Tommy Bridges

Principal