Imagine What it Would be Like to be a Graduate of Trinity Christian School
Picture the Possibilities. Look far down the road. Imagine, if you will, what it would be like to be a proud graduate of Trinity Christian School. . .
Many of our Trinity students embark upon their TCS experience at the very beginning—in preschool. Still, many others transfer in as new students across all grades, K-12.
So picture yourself, or imagine your child, (or grandchild) at 17 or 18. What would being a TCS graduate mean? Who would you be? How would your world be different?
To begin, consider Trinity’s goal for all of its graduates: to love God, love others, love learning, think and communicate clearly and with confidence, engage culture, delight in beauty, and to walk humbly.
We believe with these attributes, TCS graduates are well-prepared for a Christ-centered future of success, service, and happiness.
Now, let’s take a deeper dive as we picture YOU as a Trinity graduate!
YOUR LOVE OF GOD
“We love him, because he first loved us.”
— 1 John 4:19
TCS is a Christ-centered classical school committed to partnering with parents to engage young minds and transform the lives of students for the glory of God. We seek to find our place in God’s creation and His story of redemption in a fallen world. This draws us into an honest pursuit of truth, goodness, and beauty.
With this focus, every single day, a student learns to submit to God’s glorious authority in his or her life and cultivate a transformative life of prayer. TCS students seek to know the heart of Christ and be transformed into his likeness. They value participation with a local church body, and regard all work as a grateful response to the Good News of Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior.
As you imagine yourself as a graduate of Trinity Christian School, these are the core, bedrock Christian values you will carry with you throughout life.
YOU LOVE OTHERS
“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
— John 15:12-13
As you imagine yourself as a proud Trinity Christian grad, one attribute you will most certainly possess in great abundance is the capacity to love others. You see, this is part of our fundamental ethos at TCS. Every day, we instill the core value in our students to dignify and respect all people as made in the image of God. Each day, our students are taught to practice hospitality, utilizing his or her own God given gifts and resources whenever possible. We instill a philosophy of a life pursuant of service leadership. We inspire students to protect the weak and oppressed. We teach every child to honor authority in thought, word and deed. And these are not just mere words for a blog, we see these acts of kindness and compassion in action every day at TCS. When you graduate, these attributes will be sewn into your very fabric. Imagine it…
YOU LOVE TO LEARN
“Do not train a child to learn by force or harshness; but direct them to it by what amuses their minds, so that you may be better able to discover with accuracy the peculiar bent of the genius of each.”
— Plato
Learning can and should be fun. The fundamental problem with institutionalized, rote education is that the end result is many students dread going to school. Imagine being a Trinity Christian Graduate, prepared to go out into the world with a deep-seated love of learning and a foundational curiosity for life, beauty, and knowledge. This is you as a TCS grad!
All across our integrated curriculum, our extra-curricular activities, and our many off-campus excursions, we guide students to value learning as a lifetime pursuit of truth, goodness and beauty. Students delight in all subjects and disciplines with wonder and awe for the Author of them.
We guide students to undertake with confidence challenging subjects and to read carefully, critically and copiously. As a Trinity grad, you will always seek to understand both sides of an argument with intellectual honesty. You will exhibit a mastery of subjects and excellence in academic pursuits. And recognizing the mind/body connection, you will be physically trained for health, fitness, and strong mental health as a result.
YOU THINK AND COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”
— Psalm 19:14
Professor Carmine Gallo of Harvard University, who is also a highly sought after keynote speaker, and the author of 10 books translated into 40 languages, states that transformational leaders are exceptional communicators. He states: “Ideas are the foundation of success in almost every field. You can have the greatest idea in the world, but if you can’t persuade anyone to follow your vision, your influence and impact will be greatly diminished.”
Look at the gospel of Jesus Christ. In Reverend Thomas Alexander Hyde’s critically acclaimed book, Christ the Orator, he referred to Jesus as “The Orator of the Universe.”
As we aspire to live and walk in the image of the Lord, let us recognize the vital importance of thinking and communicating clearly and effectively.
Across all grade levels at Trinity Christian School, we work to instill confidence in our students, to remind them that their ideas, their voices, their opinions matter. And we ask them to share these thoughts. Often.
Students at TCS blossom quickly as critical thinkers and skilled public speakers simply from daily practice.
At all levels, we guide students to listen actively and to ask probing questions. We instill in them the idea of what it means to truly think clearly and to discern what is true and right. Students at TCS apply Biblically-informed wisdom to all their thinking and are encouraged to be thoughtful, meditative, and reflective. Moreover, to think, write, and speak clearly crosses over to the entirety of the LIberal Sciences, setting students up for a lifetime of success.
YOU ENGAGE CULTURE
“A nation's culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people.” —Mahatma Gandhi.
As you gaze down the highway of life, imagining yourself (or your child) as a Trinity graduate, you will encounter a worldly, well-rounded, thoughtful individual. Through the close study of theology, philosophy and literature, you will have a deep understanding of the progression of Western thought, all the while applying a Christian worldview to your personal and cultural ponderings. You trust in authority, clarity, necessity, and sufficiency of Scripture. You view the career path as a vocation from God and a service to His Kingdom. Each day, you are faithfully present in the world, living in the moment, even amidst any hostility or ambivalence to Christian faith. As a TCS grad, you engage with culture, question it, think about it critically, discuss it intellectually, and foster a curiosity that stays with you for life.
YOU DELIGHT IN BEAUTY
“Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything beautiful, for Beauty is God’s handwriting.”
— Ralph Waldo Emerson
As the image of you as a TCS Graduate comes into focus, you begin to see all the integrated components of the Trinity experience forging an exceptionally well-rounded, well-educated, compassionate person prepared to move on into the world!
It is important to note that all TCS students are taught from day one to live a life of gratitude; to recognize and love, deeply, the beauty as displayed in God’s miraculous creation. You value God’s common grace to humanity via the arts and in society. You now possess the aesthetic sensibility to discern beauty in the arts. As a Christian, you promote, vociferously and with joy, what is beautiful!
YOU WALK WITH HUMILITY
“It is important that we learn humility, which says there was someone else before me who paid for me. My responsibility is to prepare myself so that I can pay for someone else who is yet to come.”
— Maya Angelou
We learn from Scripture to embrace humility as the root of all virtue. Imagining yourself as a Trinity graduate means you understand that virtue is Spirit-led as a result of God’s grace alone. A Trinity graduate demonstrates genuine growth in fruits of the Spirit for the good of others. You, as a TCS grad, seek wisdom every day from godly counsel. You recognize that you are part of a community and seek accountability. You pursue respectful decorum in speech, attitude, and demeanor. Daily, you practice discipline in the training of the mind, body, and spirit.
As you graduate from Trinity Christian School, you are prepared for success, but true success only manifests when we remain humble to our Lord and Creator.
IN CONCLUSION. . .
You have imagined yourself as a proud graduate of Trinity Christian School. You now see the broad range of educational, spiritual, and practical skills and attributes that you have acquired in your time at TCS. You love God, love others, love learning, love to think and communicate clearly and with confidence. You engage culture, delight in beauty, and walk humbly.
You are ready for the next step in life, all through the glory of God.
Your next step?
Give us a call today to learn more or to book a campus visit or shadow day: 808-262-8501 or visit www.tcskailua.net
Why Speech and Debate Matters: Part 4
Why Speech and Debate Matters: Part 4
Written by Rachel Leong, Class of 2016
Ralph Waldo Emerson once said,
“Speech is power, speech is to persuade, to convert, to compel.”
I was terrified to take Speech and Debate. My heart leapt out of my chest, my knees would shake, and my palms would perspire every time I thought about it. A required class that involved arguing competitively? No thank you. Politics? That scares me. Waltzing around in suits in Hawai’i humidity? Hello, stress sweat.
However, once I got past my first tournament in Junior Varsity (JV) Policy discussing economic engagement with Cuba and medical tourism, I realized professional arguing was not as terrifying as I thought it would be. A few laughs here and there from not understanding political terms and pretending like I did made the process not only educational, but lighthearted and fun. From that memorable first round saying, “It’s for the children” multiple times in my concluding speech, I grew and was massively pushed out of my comfort zone all the way to the state tournament in JV Policy in my sophomore year of high school. After one year in debate, I tried my hand at the speech side of the forensics world and fell in love.
I competed in Dramatic Interpretation (DI), Humorous Interpretation (HI), Duo Interpretation (DUO), and Original Oratory (OO). These categories allowed me to play writer, director, choreographer, and actress all in one, with all the creative liberties I could dream of. Speeches ranged from acting out “Bridge to Terabithia” (DUO), to a consolidated version of my senior thesis (OO), to my Nationally-successful piece discussing “Society’s Lack of Authenticity and Fear of Vulnerability” (OO). I felt like I could convey whatever message I wanted to, in the exact way I wanted to. I could curate a piece that was mine.
Needless to say, I was completely hooked for my last two years in high school.
When I became immersed in speech, my aim was to put my entire heart into every single tournament and get that trophy. As the tournaments progressed, I was met with a different reason than success. My coach discussed with me how I was representing not just the school, but the morals and values of a Christian in a secular league. The way I was competing was not the traditional way to succeed in the NSDA, but regardless, I was doing well. I chose to refine skill, content, and wit rather than falling prey to the flash, crass, and cliché that was so easy to win with. I refrained from using any profanity or crude language in a category that thrives on that for success. This shocked multitudes of people who knew that Humorous Interpretation was not a category for many who proclaimed to be Christians. And through God’s will, I won the State title and competed in Nationals with a completely clean piece. Getting that far did not make logical sense. This was when I knew I was a part of something that was out of my control. I began to understand that my skills and abilities brought me to a platform where my role was larger than just little ole’ me.
While my knees still shook and my palms still sweat, I knew that the Lord would speak through however I performed. Terror became a trust in an understanding that this was what I was supposed to say, to this audience, at this moment. Junior year, I won 1st place in Humorous Interpretation, qualified for Nationals and 4th in Dramatic Interpretation. My senior year, I won 2nd in Original Oratory, qualified for Nationals, 3rd in Duo Interpretation and the District Student of the Year Award. While these titles can seem impressive, from the beginning I had learned that nothing I achieved was due to my own abilities. God was using my achievements as a platform for His light and His love.
"I began to understand that my skills and abilities brought me to a platform where my role was larger than just little ole’ me."
It was all for one goal. To embody, speak, and live out the values of Jesus in an otherwise obsessive, achievement-driven world—to speak truth in love (Eph. 4:15). Specifically, in Original Oratory, I found the Lord using me as a vessel for His truth. I worked hard, yes, but I knew that I had to do what He was leading me to do. I made it to the Top 60 in the nation in Oratory. Why? I wholeheartedly believe it is because the people in each of my rounds, leading up to that final room, needed to hear the words the Lord spoke through my mouth.
Fast forward to being a college sophomore, and I am no longer competing in Speech and Debate. Currently I am studying Organizational Communication, minoring in Sociology, and working as an Educational Programs Intern in the Intercultural Life Department, advocating for justice in faith, specifically in areas of racial reconciliation. I invested myself in these areas after seeing the empowerment of young leaders in the NSDA. These were world changers, 16- and 17- year olds, who were starting organizations advocating for women of color, those differently-abled, women in STEM fields, men not fitting the societal masculine mold, the hurt, the oppressed, the poor, the people God calls Christians to intentionally work on loving well. I garnered a heart for the marginalized and oppressed after the Lord “broke my heart for what broke His,” to speak out and remind followers of Christ that loving others does not mean avoidance of the hard and uncomfortable.
"I wholeheartedly believe it is because the people in each of my rounds,
leading up to that final room, needed to hear the words
the Lord spoke through my mouth."
On a daily basis, I use the skills I learned during my time in speech and debate for almost everything. Every speech I give with ease, every controversial conversation I think through cautiously and have the confidence to discuss it came from the long nights of drilling facts into my head, memorization and after-school meetings. Debate gave me the mindset and critical thinking to thoroughly examine life issues, instead of blindly believing everything I hear. Speech gave me a voice to speak out and stand for what I believe in. I would not, I repeat, would not be in this position if I did not have the confidence and tools Speech and Debate gave me.
Just like the characters in The Wizard of Oz, I feel like I gained a heart, brain, courage, and a home. Speech and Debate was by far one of my most favorite memories in high school, and equipped me best for taking on the world.
I will always be an advocate for the values and experience that speech and debate cultivates in students, and I believe that every high schooler will reap more than they realize. Everything that I have accomplished, every plaque, every trophy, every ballot—I attribute it all the Creator who has formed me exactly in this way for the purposes of furthering His Kingdom. His instilling of passions and abilities is only using me as a vessel and testament to His goodness.
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” —Ephesians 3:20-21
A Class of 2016 alumna, Rachel Leong attended Trinity starting in 2008. Now in her second year at George Fox University, Rachel is an Organizational Communications major and Sociology minor. In the future, she hopes to possibly start a Christian non-profit or get her PhD in anticipation of being a Professor in Intercultural Studies (and own a dachshund).
Why Trinity?
Why Trinity?
Written by Carol Awaya, parent and teacher
“Why Trinity?” If you’re like my family, this question resonates in your home throughout the school year as we evaluate each of our children’s’ strengths and needs. “Why Trinity?” What is your answer to that question? Is it because Trinity is the only fully accredited Classical Christian School in Hawaii? Is it because your child has found their niche in a sport that they play, or feel as if they are an integral part of their classroom or house? Is it because Trinity has an academic curriculum that challenges your child and prepares them for college? Maybe you appreciate that class sizes are small, ensuring your child has the appropriate amount of attention and they don’t have the opportunity to fall between the cracks. Maybe your love for Trinity is because of the sense of ohana and community that is fostered here, making the school an extension of your family. Maybe it’s because you know your child is loved by their teachers as they are in your home—even, when the love involves having to put limits on your child or imposing a consequence to shape their heart and grow their character. For my husband and me, all of this matters to us. But most of all, we are striving to raise children with Christ at the center of their lives and praying that they develop a heart of respect, humility, love for others, love for learning, become confident and articulate adults, and develop a heart that serves—much like what the “Profile of a Graduate” outlines.
"...It takes time, energy, discipline, consistency, persistence and hard work to develop an individual of such character. For example, if you want to lose weight, it involves a daily regimen of eating clean, working out, getting enough sleep, minimizing sugar intake, drinking plenty of water, and not giving up. Classical Christian education involves that sort of discipline."
So, what does Trinity’s “Profile of a Graduate” look like? It is a good reflection of what we would like our children to be one day: those who love God, love others, love to learn, think and communicate precisely, engage culture, delight in beauty and walk humbly. Can my husband and I accomplish this on our own? Not apart from the strength and grace of God nor without those who we surround our children with, day in and day out.
I think most of you would agree with me, that it takes time, energy, discipline, consistency, persistence and hard work to develop an individual of such character. For example, if you want to lose weight, it involves a daily regimen of eating clean, working out, getting enough sleep, minimizing sugar intake, drinking plenty of water and not giving up. Classical Christian education involves that sort of discipline. In the Grammar stage, students are memorizing a ton of information through chants and songs to build a bank of information and facts for one to pull from. In the Logic stage they are making sense of the information, putting an order to that information and are making connections. At the Rhetoric stage, while still gaining information, they can thoughtfully express their conclusions and convictions and are able to defend a senior thesis. This does not happen just because our children naturally grow and mature in that way. It takes practice, being intentional, moments of taking one step forward and three steps back, and persevering through challenges. The teachers here intentionally work on training our students to be critical thinkers and life-long learners. Scripture is memorized so that a “branding” takes place in our hearts and that a student can use God’s word to carry them through a challenging part of life or give hope to another in need. The elementary teachers are intentional about teaching through songs and chants because they know it helps the information “stick” so that they may be able to recall that information when they most need it. The school is intentional about training up well-spoken and articulate students via exordiums, our drama club and debate team. Each of these exercises are valuable in themselves, and consequently help develop skills necessary to interview for a job, make an oral presentation in college and help develop leadership skills.
Secondary teachers are looking for ways for our students to serve in our community and serve alongside our children. Our coaches continue to encourage the players to do all things for the glory of God and walk humbly even when they may have earned a Championship win. These are only a few examples of how the teachers and administration impact our children’s lives. As parents, we are grateful for this partnership we have at Trinity. As a teacher, I am also grateful that I have my colleagues supporting and helping me become a better parent and educator. As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17
My husband and I don’t know what the future holds or what will become of our children when they are adults, but we are thankful we have partnered with Trinity to invest in our children’s lives and their hearts. Knowing that they know the Lord and have a relationship with Jesus is the best gift we could ask for. Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1
Merry Christmas!
Recent Posts
Tag Cloud
5th grade academics administration all school all-school alumni athletics big island blog christian christmas class of 2018 classical classical christian classical christian education classical-christian-education classical-education college commencement community coram deo debate discipline donation drama educatio education educational philosophy electives elementary exhibition faculty fine art golf tournament graduates graduation hawaii hawaiian history head of school IB program kaiulani kupuna day leadership makahiki may day missions music office outreach parentsArchives
Looking for more? Read our Grand Tour blog and Athletics blog!