from a very important group of people in the life of our school… the
parents. Actually, I’ve seen this all year long, and it has greatly encouraged me. But, these past several weeks have really highlighted for me the investment that parents make, not only in the education of their own children, but in the classroom, on field trips, for activities after school, and for the benefit of teachers, staff, and many other children.
This partnership between school and parents might seem commonplace for those who have been with Trinity for some time. But, for me, it has been refreshingly new. My own parents were engaged with me personally and took an interest in my education, but I hardly ever saw parents present on campus during the school day. There was little evidence of a
shared vision or commitment between the families and the school.
My readings on private, Christian education taught me to expect something
different, but what I’ve witnessed at Trinity this year has exceeded my
expectations and been a true joy for a first year Headmaster.
In particular, I want to mention a small group of parents who have faithfully served the school this past year as Parent Teacher Fellowship (PTF) committee members: Pikake Kimata, Patti Starkman, Caro Wilson, and Donna Wisenbaugh. Now, they will be the first to tell you that all the parents make up the PTF, and it’s the heart shared by the greater group of parents and their collective service to the school that has made our fellowship
so rich. But, I’ll add that the smaller group of committee members has set the stage for much of that fellowship
to occur in the first place, through their encouragement, communication, and coordination. Given the assorted
classroom and school-wide events throughout the school year and the complexity of our own lives, we need some people who are actively encouraging this fellowship. So, thank you PTF committee for your service this year!
As we look to next year, the PTF will be electing a new committee at their year-end meeting on 27 May.
We are seeking four new parents who want to:
- facilitate opportunities for parents and teachers to communicate and fellowship
- encourage the Ohana feeling our school enjoys so much
- participate in the strategic planning of school events
- have some added input on changes to school services that better support the families
Fundamentally, the PTF is helping to build a culture of mutual care and trust. If this sounds appealing,
then please contact Pikake Kitmata this week or next, as she prepares for the 27 May meeting.
Stephen Sprague
Headmaster