LES MISERABLES

Les MisERABLES

By Samantha DePriest

If you were lucky enough to get tickets to watch the Roaring Dramatics rendition of “Les Miserables” last weekend, than you know what an incredible performance it was! All four nights of performances sold out in both General Admission and the VIP seating. It was a show of all shows and one that will go down in the memory books as one of the greatest Trinity Christian School has ever produced.

Mrs. Perez, Director (Image by Evan Davison)

Director Mrs. Lizzie Perez shares, “What an absolutely honor to spend my first full year at TCS with the most talented and passionate students and parents I have ever met. Last year when we worked together for Beauty and the Beast, Mr. Zarlenga and I looked at each other and knew we had the talent to pull off this incredible show. To that point, they have completely exceeded every expectation - from their talent, to their preparation, their hard work, and more importantly their heart.

Mr. and Mrs. Tapley enjoying the VIP experience at Les Mis. (Image by Evan Davison)

This story comes with so much hope amidst the darkness of this world. Through out we meet and fall in love with characters wrestling and struggling with this idea of, “climbing to the light” smack in the middle of consuming darkness.”

Seniors Josh Taylor and Hannah Gibbs (Image by Shannon Dallas)

Mrs. Perez goes on to share, “If we are honest, in this world we are all The Poor Ones without Christ. Like Fantine we are all searching for anyhing that can solve our problems or fill the void in our lives. Like the Thenardiers, we search for ways where can come out on top, no matter the cost. Like Eponine, we long for things that cannot be and forge any way to make those dreams a reality. LIke Javert even, we hold tighjt on the black and white of this world, gripping to what we can control and losing all sense of reality. And like Valjean, we ALL fall short and listen to the voices that tell us who we are labels as, instead of what we are called to be.

We are all climbing to the light, the true and lasting Light, and thank God hHe sent His Son to save us.

Gabe Rivera carrying Josh Taylor (Image by Shannon Dallas)

I think it is safe to say directing Les Miserables has changed my life for the better. When, like our main character Valjean, you come face to face with grace in your life, my prayer is that you would chose to grasp hold of that grace, not your accomplishments, and cling to the true freedom found only in love.”

From cast to crew and front of house experience, there were 65 incredible students and dozens of devoted parents and staff involved with make up, hair, choreography, VIP experience, backstage crew, technical elements, and actors!

Nick Andrews and Isaiah Ware (Image by Shannon Dallas)

Students auditioned right before Thanksgiving break last year and had a couple of weeks of rehearsal in the Fall. The productions took just over 12 weeks to prepare for. Our Roaring Dramatics received generous support and encouragement from The Logos Theatre, founded by Gabe Rivera’s grandparents and now run by his aunt and uncle.

Wendy Rivera assisting with make-up and wardrobe pictured here with her son Gabe. (Image by Shannon Dallas)

Mrs. Perez is grateful to ALL staff and parents that gave of their time in addition to their day to day roles: TCS Staff. Nicholas Yeakley, Thomas Schatzberg, Chris Litton, Dale Zarlenga, Kiley Huddleston, Jenn Duncan, and TCS parents Amber Poelman, Lisa Wootten, and Clark and Ashley Johnson. A very special thanks also to Jennifer Cook painting the sets and to Mark Cannon for building the sets!  The cast and crew are beyond thankful to photographers and videographer’s Shannon Dallas, Oscar Camejo, and Evan Davison for capturing the events in photos and videos.. And Mrs. Perez is so very proud of senior student Michelina Ryan for her choreography of the entire show!

Mrs. Perez shares, “One of the best and most impactful parts of this show are the conversations our students are starting to have after experiencing Les Mis. Leaning into grace and really wrestling with times when they, like Javert, have been so hard nosed and open to the idea of the TRUE freedom found in the Love of Christ.”

Dr. Anthony sharing closing remarks. (Image by Evan Davison)

TCS Head of School Dr. Anthony attended three out of four performances and was truly inspired. He shared at the end of the performances a vision for a brand new Performing Arts space for our school. We can’t wait to see what God does in the years to come and have faith that it will far surpass anything we could even imagine.

In closing, Mrs. Perez shares “Thank you to all who made this story come to life, from actors to tech, to the experience of the patrons!”

Yosemite GO Week

Yosemite GO Week

By Samantha DePriest

Well we saved the best for last!! It has been such a blessing to learn about each of the 2023 GO Week trips our students and staff went on this past January. The chance for them to share their Faith and serve others while visiting and exploring God’s creation in new places making new friends. With teams visiting 3 different continents, we loved sharing about their trips to Arizona, Ecuador, Europe, South Florida, Montana, Puerto Rico, and Yosemite.

Our Yosemite GO Week team was led by High School Science teacher Mr. Taylor Bouma, High School Counselor Department Head Mrs. Kayla Whittle, and High School AP Geography Teacher/Finance teacher Mr. Brian Fourman. The team ran into some bad weather upon arrival and had to make some last minute adjustments to their trip, but they weathered out the storm and made the best of it. The team of several staff and 50 students visited Dave & Buster’s until the storm passed on, then hiked Land’s End and Golden Gate Park, explored Fisherman’s Wharf and even rode bikes across the Golden Gate Bridge. Exploring the west coast of our beautiful country was both eye opening and memorable for this wonderful group of students and staff.

Mrs. Whittle shared, “It was certainly an adventure! We are so thankful to Joshua Expeditions for ensuring our lodging and safety. We are so thankful for God's faithful hand of protection. The conditions where we were in San Francisco were a little damp/rainy with mild wind as well. The students were phenomenal, we were truly so proud of them! Mr. Fourman led a great devotional on the bus, reminding all our students that even when our expectations are busted, God is in control and His sovereign plan is bigger and better than we can comprehend. Thank you for trusting us as we navigated this challenging situation. As always, safety and care for our students remained our top priority. We love you and your children and were committed to ensuring this experience was quality!”

Mr. Bouma shared, “The weather our group ran into was more than just some "bad weather". We had to deal with what they were referring to as a "bomb cyclone", the first of its kind. Truly just the BEST news you can have when you are 2,000 miles from home travelling with 50 students! However, I think it brought about some great conversations and teaching moments. Our plans will not always go as we hoped. It's about what you are able to do with what you're given and where you are putting your trust. The students had to trust us that we were making the best decisions for their safety and we had to trust the Lord with leading us in making those decisions. 

We really got to see some incredible sights. The west coast has so much to offer with the Golden Gate Bridge to the incredible sunsets and the Pacific Ocean all right there. I think the biggest impact on the students was having to try to keep a positive attitude, while having a completely different trip than they were expecting. Expecting to go to Yosemite, one of the great natural wonders we have, and not even getting to see it was a huge let down. However, the students were still able to make memories and enjoy each other's company in the process. The entire trip felt like overcoming adversity. We had to wing everything the day of. We woke up expecting to go to the Sequoia National Forest only to find out it was closed to the public due to the storms that had just come in. The trip was full of pivoting and making the most out of the situation we were dealt. Always remembering who was in control.” 

Despite the trip not going exactly as they had planned, when we asked some of the students what their favorite parts were, they shared some of their fondest memories.

Elizabeth Derhammer- "My favorite part was walking around Land's End and seeing the sunset over the ocean and riding bikes around San Francisco."

Hollie Batchelor- "My favorite part of the trip was growing closer with people and exploring Land's End."

Chloe Reed- "I loved getting to go to Fisherman's Wharf and shop around. Interacting with all of the sea lions and listening to them bark was also really entertaining."

Mr. Bouma continued, “All in all, when you consider that everything that could go wrong, did in fact go wrong, it was a cherished time with an incredible group of students that I wouldn't trade for anything. I wish things could've gone as planned, but I know the Lord was teaching us all how to trust in Him even when everything else is falling apart. If at the end of the day, all we are able to say we have are the friends surrounding us and our faith in Jesus, I'd say we're doing more than alright.” 

In closing, Mr. Fourman shared, “Through all the weather adversity the team experienced, God’s hand of protection was on us. The team learned patience and understanding as we were forced to change plans multiple times. The Joshua Expeditions team leaders and those behind the scenes at the corporate offices worked tirelessly to adjust our itinerary to make sure we had the best experience possible given the circumstances. That was a blessing knowing that people were looking out for our well-being.” 

"Read Across America Week" at TCS

“Read Across America WeeK” at TCS

By Samantha DePriest

Trinity Christian School celebrated “Read Across America Week” Monday, February 27th through Friday, March 3rd. Each day our Lower and Upper School classroom teachers prepared engaging lessons filled with a wide variety of reading and writing activities for our students.

Our classrooms had several special people visit to read to them. Assistant Head of School Mr. Bass, High School Principal Mrs. Jones, and Lower School Principal Mrs. Randolph to name just a few. They all loved reading to our little Lions and encouraged them to read as many books as they could to compete in the Grade Level Reading contest last week. (Grade level winners to be announced soon)

Mrs. Felkner, our Lower School STEAM teacher, had a fun “Raindrop Plop” Science lesson for our Early Learning classes in GO Church with foam and food coloring, it just doesn’t get any better! Our students loved it!

Themed dress down days were the highlight of the week as well and our students loved getting dressed up almost as much as our teachers and staff!

• Monday: Crazy Hat Day

• Tuesday: One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish

• Wednesday: Wacky Wednesday

• Thursday: Thing 1 and Thing 2 Day

• Friday: Crazy Sock Day

Trinity Church and Trinity Christian School hosts Father Daughter and Mother Son Night

Trinity Church and Trinity Christian School hosts Father Daughter and Mother Son Night

By Samantha DePriest

Last week Trinity Church partnered with Trinity Christian School Parent Teacher Fellowship (PTF) to host a Father Daughter Dance and Mother Son Game Night on Friday, February 24th. The purpose for these fun events was to provide an opportunity for families to spend meaningful time together and make memories that would last a lifetime. 

Due to an overwhelming response, there were 2 dances and both were sold out. What an amazing turn out and blessing for our families! Our Mother Son Game night was full as well and such a gift of time for all in attendance.

Trinity Varsity Football Coach and M46 Dad cofounder Kenny Dallas opened up the Father Daughter Dances with a word of prayer and encouragement to our Dad’s. M46 DADS inspires and equips fathers to intentionally fight for the hearts of their children (M46 Dads). They meet on the last Friday morning of the month here in the Student Center at Trinity Church/Trinity Christian School at 6:30am. The next meeting is Friday, March 31st. Coach Dallas encourages Dad’s to constantly pour into their children and to “fill their cups”.

Our Fathers and daughters enjoyed a special time of dancing, meeting Disney princesses, and enjoying a sweet treat together that included strawberries, marshmallows, pretzels, and graham crackers to dip in chocolate.

Trinity Church Kids Pastor Kami Hellman opened up the Mother Son Game event with a word of encouragement from the story about Bathsheba and King Solomon. King Solomon wrote about the importance of following a mother’s guidance throughout life in Proverbs.

Pastor Kami encouraged our Mom’s to savor every moment with their sons, to embrace their endless energy, and savor their silliness. The Mother’s and sons came dressed up in 4 different colors and broke into teams. Two of the teams made their own ice cream sundaes and took pictures in the photo booth in the High School Multipurpose Room, while the other 2 teams went outside to play kickball in the stadium. Moments after the first 2 groups went outside to play kickball, it started raining cats and dogs. They boys of course loved playing in the rain and getting soaking wet. The Mom’s cheered their boys on for a few innings while taking shelter under the tent. The boys said it was the “BEST NIGHT EVER!” and the Mom’s did too. Once everyone came inside and enjoyed their sundaes, the games continued. Lots of laughter filled the air and we are pretty sure everyone left tired.

Trinity Church Kids Pastor Kami Hellman shared, “As we all know, we can get so caught up in the busyness of life that we forget to slow down and enjoy our families. Our families are a gift from God and we want to treasure the time we have together. Thank you TCS, for your amazing support and involvement in these events. We look forward to hosting these special family events again next year. All of the proceeds benefited our missions-giving through the church and we were able to raise nearly $3,000! We split the money between our youth missions. The first is Speed the Light (link) which buys vehicles for missionaries, helps provides wells, and other vital equipment needed to spread the gospel and our kids missions. The second youth mission we support is Boys & Girls Missionary Challenge (BGMC) which provides missionaries with the funds needed to supplement feeding programs, school fees, and whatever else they need to reach boys & girls around the world with the good news of Jesus! Our goal for Speed the Light and BGMC is $25,000 EACH for 2023! Last year we raised around $22,000 each. With God’s help, we can do it!”

Coach Dallas’s wife, Shannon Dallas, captured so many precious moments at the Father Daughter dance and below are the links for each of the dances for viewing, saving, and printing.

5:30pm Daddy Daughter Dance Pictures

7pm Daddy Daughter Dance Pictures

2023 Trinity hosts Track & Field All Comers Meet

2023 Trinity hosts Track & Field All Comers Meet

By Samantha DePriest

On Saturday, February 25th Trinity Christian School hosted the Track & Field All Comers Meet with 19 schools and over 738 student athletes in attendance. The meet was dedicated to Javier Jenkins who served for 23 years as a staff member at Dominion Christian School. Coach Jenkins is a hero in the eyes of many of our TCS T&F Coaching staff.

Trinity Director of Track & Field and Student Development Coach JP Weaver shares, “Congratulations to each student athlete who is a part of the TCS T&F team.  The coaching staff is motivated about the full effort that resulted in the overall performances in all the jumping, throwing, and running events that were a part of the competition.  The boys and girls teams both finished in the top 3 overall for High School and Middle School. 

Competition Results (2/25): http://milesplit.live/meets/504965

Additionally, the Lion Nation volunteers deserve a huge round of applause for stepping right in the middle of the experience to make the Lion All-Comers Meet a huge success.  Without the involvement from our volunteers, it's impossible to run an event of this magnitude to be successful from all different angles.  

To have all the coaches, spectators, officials and vendors on campus to participate in the event from start to finish was well worth each minute of the 9 hour event.  Personally, I am grateful for the home meet experience that included having over 730 middle and high school student athletes competing on campus this past weekend.  Not to mention, understanding at times, there were over 1,500 people inside the stadium to be a part of the event! 

We faced some adversity at times which included battling it out with the weather starting on Friday afternoon that was consistent throughout the event.  Adjustments were also made during the meet due to technical difficulties, but each volunteer and official didn't miss a beat to continue running the event.”

Photos by Oscar Camejo  

TCS Lion Record Chain Avari Cannon

High School Records

* Avery Ballard broke 600M record 1:55:96.

* Porter Haire broke high jump record at 6 feet 2 inches.

TCS Lion Record Chain Avery Ross

Middle School Records

* Avery Ross broke 1500M record at 5:41:40 and set the record for 600M at 1:59:53.

* Turner Houston set the record for 600M at 1:45:90.

* Avari Cannon broke MS girls high jump - 4 feet 7 inches.

Coach Weaver goes on to share, “There is a great amount of positive energy around campus about this sport. It’s a privilege to have the ability to offer student athletes the opportunity to compete at the highest level in a universal sport.

We are excited about the addition of the new Pole Vole Standards and the 40 new hurdles that have been adopted through our ‘Adopt a Hurdle’ program from parents and Lions Club. The new shot put area has been an awesome addition as well.”

The Trinity Track & Field program is growing each year and alumni have gone on to compete at 12 different colleges and universities including: Anderson University, Augusta University, Berry College, Birmingham Southern, Cedarville University, Columbus State University, Covenant College, Crown University, Emmanuel College, Kennesaw State University, Truett-McConnell University, and University of West Georgia.

Puerto Rico GO Week

Puerto Rico GO Week

By Samantha DePriest

Our Puerto Rico GO Week Team of 32 students and 1 TCS parent was led by High School Principal Kimberly Jones accompanied by Varsity Football Coach Kenny Dallas and High School Spanish teacher Nathan Blevins. This was Mrs. Jones second time leading the Puerto Rico GO Week trip and shared, “Our group served at YWAM (Youth With a Mission) and at the Center Cristiano Casa de Pacto assisting with painting, cleaning, and setting up their converted meeting space. Because of our students help, the center was ready to welcome families for services this Sunday. Praise the Lord! After serving in the community and putting in hours of work each day, our group enjoyed the sights in Old San Juan and even took a catamaran adventure complete with sand, scuba, slides, and smiles galore! We have enjoyed all aspects of our Puerto Rican adventure together!”

Trinity High School Spanish teacher Nathan Blevins shared, “I was able to go on the Puerto Rico trip with Coach Dallas, Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Stiehl (one of the senior's parent) and over 30 of our high school students. It was great to get to know some of our students on a closer level outside of the classroom, as well as get to know some students I did not know at all. We were able to work with YWAM (Youth With a Mission) which is a group that partners with local schools and churches to reach young people. The main focus of our work was helping prepare YWAM's facility for the upcoming school year, which begins in January in Puerto Rico. Our students jumped right in landscaping (mowing, weedeating, cutting down trees with chainsaws, hacking down heavy brush with machetes), prepping and painting fences, doing drywall, pressure washing and clearing out rooms. It was really neat to see our students jump in without hesitation or complaint to do some very tedious and difficult work. 

On a personal note, it was fun for me to get to use my Spanish in a non-classroom setting. I had several conversations with the YWAM leader and it was cool to see how encouraged he was by our group and how our efforts helped energized him and his team for the beginning of their busy season. 

Our group was also able to experience the local culture by walking the streets and markets of Old San Juan, exploring the area near our hotel, and enjoying the beach and a catamaran cruise. 

Overall I think it was a great experience for our group and our students gained a bigger appreciation for how blessed we are. I also think that it gave them a deeper sense of what really matters in life and how happiness is a result of a personal relationship with God!”