School Traditions
At Trinity Academy, students take great ownership in our school traditions. In particular, we ask our Juniors and Seniors to lead the younger students with warm enthusiasm. Over the years we have taken many ideas from our students and faculty and built them into the fabric of each school year. School-wide participation in our traditions helps every student to find his or her place in our community. Below are some of our favorite traditions:
Tree to Tree —
Every year in the fall, students and faculty venture out to Tree to Tree Aerial Adventure Park in Gaston, Oregon, where they participate in aerial obstacle courses and other games as a school. Being outside together doing brave and daring things and cheering each other on is a great way to kick off the school year.
Squads —
Every year, all of the students at Trinity Academy are organized into 8 squads across the grades. Squads are an opportunity to have fun and build relationships and school spirit throughout the year. The Juniors and Seniors fearlessly lead their squads in activities throughout the year, culminating with bigger competition days on ‘Christmas Fun Day’ and ‘Spring Field Day.’
Christmas Fun Day —
On the last day before Christmas break, students participate in lively seasonal games, artistic challenges, and trivia competitions with their squads. The day ends with a lunch feast together.
March Madness —
Following suit of the NCAA, Trinity Academy hosts our own March Madness Tournament. This initiative is led by the seniors, who also fundraise for a senior trip by selling concessions during this event. Anyone in the school who would like can participate, and the teams consist of boys and girls from all grade levels. Maybe even more fun than participating on a team is being part of the rowdy cheering section!
Lernvergnügentag, “Joy of Learning Day” —
One very unique tradition we hold at Trinity Academy is Lernvergnügentag, a German phrase which roughly translates to “Joy of Learning Day”. One exciting aspect of this day is that the students don’t know when it will take place. Students arrive at school expecting a normal school day and are surprised when the faculty offer them a slate of ‘special’ classes such as: Cow’s Eye Dissection: Seeing the Light, Microwave Cooking 101, The Significance Behind the Mandala, Plant Propagation, Finding the Drama in the Bard’s Language, Praise Dancing, Graphic Design in Marketing, Fiction Writing, Koob: A Viking Lawn Game, An Introduction to Biblical Hebrew, Telescopes – Design and Use, Byzantine Chant at a Glance, Collage Art Workshop, The Challenges of Carbon-Free Energy, and many more!
Chess Tournament —
Some of the Trinity Academy chess-loving students and faculty organize a round-robin chess tournament every year. Concentration is essential as students go head to head for the title of reigning chess champion.
Spirit Week —
Every spring during the first week of May we celebrate ‘Spirit Week’ at Trinity Academy. Our goal is to have some fun together and build school unity while still working hard as we get close to the end of the year! Each day has a ‘dress up’ theme. The students are competing with their squads against the other squads for the best costumes and the highest percent participation of squad members.
High School Dance —
In the past couple of years, we began a new tradition of hosting a series of ballroom and swing dancing lessons throughout the Spring semester. The lessons culminate with a Spring Dance at the end of the year to show off all the moves our high school students have learned! Several Trinity Academy former students (now alumni) who were passionate about dance played an important role in establishing this tradition.
Spring Field Day —
Spirit Week culminates on the first Friday in May with Spring Field Day, where the whole school meets at a park for some games, relays, lunch, and fun. This is the grand finale of the Squad Competition for the year, with every Senior hoping to lead their squad to greatness!