Trinity School at River Ridge Annual Report 18-19

TrinitySchools ANNUAL REPORT 2018/2019

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TABLE OF CONTENTS 4

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

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WHO WE ARE

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OUR SCHOOLS

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STUDENTS & ALUMNI WE SERVE

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MEET OUR BOARD

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STEWARDSHIP OF OUR MISSION

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GRATITUDE

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RIVER RIDGE CAMPUS

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT WITH ALUMNI FROM THREE CAMPUSES, 2,370 STUDENTS ARE IN THE WORLD AS TRINITY SCHOOL GRADUATES.

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Dear Parents, Alumni, and Friends of Trinity School, For nearly forty years, Trinity Schools has been offering excellence in education with one clear mission: to train students to be of use to God in the wise care and governance of his creation and in the building of his kingdom by establishing a culture marked by the discovery of truth, the practice of goodness, the creation of beauty, and the development of intellectual and aesthetic habits of mind.

With alumni from three campuses, 2,370 students have gone into the world as Trinity School graduates. They serve as doctors, lawyers, priests and pastors, engineers, homemakers, educators, missionaries, and in hundreds of other ways.

For the last several years, we have been working to bolster our communications with the launch of new web sites for each campus, the creation of Veritas Journal, an online journal of education and human awakening, and several other initiatives.

This newest tool for keeping you informed will be regularly published with content common to all three of our schools as well as content specific to each of our campuses. This first issue also serves as our annual report, featuring an overview of our schools’ history, new initiatives that we have undertaken, a budget report, and a word on our national board.

I hope you find it helpful. If you have any suggestions, please let us know.

In Christ,

Jon Balsbaugh President

WHO WE ARE In 1981 Trinity School opened its first campus, Trinity School at Greenlawn in South Bend, IN. Two schools followed. Trinity School at River Ridge in Eagan, MN opened in 1987 and Trinity School at Meadow View in Falls Church, VA held its first classes in the fall of 1998. From the beginning, it was clear that Trinity would provide not only a different kind of education, but also a different understanding of what it means to be educated.

Early on, the founders realized that it would not be enough to simply take the existing template for education and try to improve upon it. In order to create a genuinely different education, they knew they would have to start from a different foundation.

So instead of merely asking how to “do school” better, the founders of the school began instead with the desired outcome and asked, “What should educated adults in our time really know? What intellectual skills should they possess to deal with the world in which they find themselves? What topics and texts should they have wrestled with?”

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The answers to these questions became the Trinity School curriculum. The mathematics and sciences that have shaped our world, the history and political theory that have brought us to where we are now, and great works of philosophy and literature—we believe all students should encounter these things.

And the way we chose to educate is as important as the curriculum. We believe that education ought to be about awakening, awakening minds and souls to the pursuit of truth, the creation of beauty and the practice of goodness. In fact, we believe that genuine learning only happens when we encounter reality in this way.

In the years since our founding, we have become a national leader in education. Trinity schools have been awarded an astonishing ten blue ribbon awards for excellence from the United States Department of Education. We are widely recognized as early pioneers of what would come to be known as the classical education movement. And our curriculum and philosophy of education have served as the explicit model for dozens of private and charter schools in the United States.

We are honored by this legacy and continue to measure our own success by the kind of young men and women our graduates become. At Trinity School, students become articulate, educated, and inquisitive agents of their own learning. They are well-rounded, dynamic young men and women who we are proud to go out into the world as Trinity graduates.

TO US, THE REAL MEASURE OF EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS IS SEEN IN OUR GRADUATES. AT TRINITY SCHOOL, STUDENTS BECOME ARTICULATE, EDUCATED AND INQUISITIVE AGENTS OF THEIR OWN LEARNING. OUR ALUMNI ARE WELL-ROUNDED, DYNAMIC MEN AND WOMEN. WE ARE PROUD TO HAVE THEM GO OUT INTO THE WORLD AS TRINITY GRADUATES.

OUR SCHOOLS SHARING OUR GIFTS The Trinity Schools curriculum has been adopted by over thirty private and charter schools nationwide serving nearly 20,000 students.

OUR MEMBER SCHOOLS In 2014, Trinity Schools began a fresh initiative in national education—the Trinity Member School Program. In partnership with the Wilberforce School in Princeton, NJ and Trinity Academy in Portland, OR, Trinity Schools provides curriculum, teacher training and ongoing development to independent, like-minded schools.

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STUDENTS

TRINITY AT GREENLAWN SOUTH BEND

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STUDENTS

TRINITY AT RIVER RIDGE EAGAN (suburb of Minneapolis)

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STUDENTS

TRINITY AT MEADOW VIEW FALLS CHURCH (just outside DC)

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STUDENTS AND ALUMNI WE SERVE TRINITY SCHOOLS TOTAL ENROLLMENT TRINITY AT GREENLAWN TRINITY AT RIVER RIDGE TRINITY AT MEADOW VIEW

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ONE OF OUR HIGHEST GOALS IS TO PRESERVE AND ENCOURAGE EACH STUDENT’S SENSE OF WONDER. OUR EFFORTS TO ASK HELPFUL QUESTIONS AND THEIR GROWING ABILITY TO FORMULATE THEIR OWN GREAT QUESTIONS LEADS TO INSIGHTFUL CONVERSATIONS AND DEEPER UNDERSTANDING. TRINITY SCHOOL ALUMNI AND STUDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO LOOK DEEPLY INTO THE WORLD AROUND THEM.

TRINITY SCHOOLS TOTAL ALUMNI

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MEET OUR BOARD Trinity Schools are operated jointly and governed by a national board of trustees. Our board is responsible for overseeing the mission and vision of the schools as well as the financial security of the schools.

Our board members come from many walks of life.

They are professionals with expertise in law, education, business and the sciences. Many are parents of current students or alumni. Each brings wisdom and experience to the management of the schools. Our board meets three times a year to engage in board development, explore new and ongoing strategic initiatives, and review and approve the budget.

Craig Lent, Chair Ph.D. Physics, University of Minnesota, B.S., Physics University of California, Frank M. Freimann Professor of Electrical Engineering and concurrent Professor of Physics, University of Notre Dame Jon Balsbaugh (ex officio) M.A. English, University of St. Thomas, President, Trinity Schools Dan Brewer J.D. Golden Gate University - School of Law, Director of Human Resources and Financial Aid, Trinity Schools (retired) Beth Bulger M.A. English, University of Minnesota, B.A. in English, Carleton University, Freelance Editor, Bulger Editing Johanna Clark Ph.D. Pharmacology, Georgetown University, B.S. in Chemistry, St. Mary's College, Head of School, Trinity Academy Larry Lamanna B.A. in Theology and Liberal Studies, University of Notre Dame, M.A. in International Relations, Yale University, Ph.D. in Political Science and International Affairs, University of Georgia Laurie Magill B.A. in the Program of Liberal Studies, University of Notre Dame, Former Faculty and Administrator at Greenlawn and Meadow View campuses Kevin Ranaghan Ph.D. Theology, University of Notre Dame, Chairman, Branch Relations Council, People of Praise Walt Seale M.A. Teaching Writing and Literature and M.F.A. Creative Writing, George Mason University, Coordinator, Indianapolis, Campus Division, People of Praise

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ATHLETICS COMPLEMENT THE CLASSROOM AND THE VIBRANCY OF THE SCHOOL’S CHRISTIAN CULTURE, AS WELL AS PROVIDE A FORUM THAT ENHANCES OUR STUDENTS’ CHARACTER AND DEVELOPMENT.

STEWARDSHIP OF OUR MISSION Trinity Schools operates a single budget for the nonprofit corporation. With input from local heads of schools, the president presents a budget incorporating each of the operating expenses of the three schools and the expenses of the central office to the Board of Trustees for approval.

The work of the central office involves curriculum development, teacher training, branding and messaging, and other similar functions that are held in common by all Trinity Schools. Moreover, a wide variety of practical financial matters such as payroll, insurance negotiations, and reimbursements are handled centrally to support the schools.

The budget for the central office represents approximately 6% of the overall budget of Trinity Schools annually.

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In order to support a project or need at a local campus, Trinity Schools offer a wide range of ways in which donors and generous benefactors can partner with usfinancially, including restricted donations. All schol arship donations are distributed locally, all capital campaigns are local, and we have a wide variety of ongoing initiatives at each campus. The Director of Development at each local campus works with our benefactors to find a method of giving to the school that honors and maintains the intentions of those benefactors.

TRINITY SCHOOLS 2018-2019 SUMMARY OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

Public Funds

OPERATING REVENUE Tuition and Fees Scholarship and Restricted Giving Public Funds Annual Giving Investment Income Other (misc gifts, affiliate fees, etc.)

TOTAL

$ 9,818,786 $ 871,841 $ 300,298 $ 142,670 $ 120,000 $ 79,677 $ 11,333,272

OPERATIONAL EXPENSES Salary and Benefits (all faculty and staff) Unfunded Financial Aid General Operating Expenses Buildings and Grounds Office of the President Funded Financial Aid

$ 5,728,653 $ 1,783,123 $ 1,439,615 $ 1,324,103 $ 730,000 $ 315,000

TOTAL

$ 11,320,494

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GRATITUDE The Heads of School, faculty, and professional staff at each campus are extremely grateful for the amazing generosity of so many dedicated partners and engaged members of Trinity Schools’ community of learners.

Trinity Schools’ mission to form its students is only possible through the generous partnership it enjoys with current student families, alumni parents, alumni, grandparents, benefactors, and supportive friends in each campus community. It begins with thousands of volunteer hours that support all manner of activities throughout the academic year. From the performing arts and sporting events to student field trips and extracurricular activities to community-building gatherings of all kinds, volunteers enhance and strengthen each campus’ school community.

Trinity Schools also benefits greatly from the varied professional expertise of its parents and alumni who contribute to both the academic and operational life of each school campus. Many partners step forward each year to make a variety of contributions. These include faculty members at local universities offering guest lectures, advisors for a mock trial team or a robotics team, and coaches for athletic teams as well as those who sit on committees both formal and informal supporting strategic, financial, and development goals at each campus.

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Additionally, members of each school community contribute generous financial gifts at all levels. This annual support enables each campus to respond to several important areas of need including unfunded student financial aid, faculty recruitment and development, and classroom enhancements. Generous benefactors also make possible improvements to the academic and athletic facilities. All of these efforts continually work to enrich the experience of the Trinity Schools mission for our students, families, and partners.

TRINITY PROVIDES A CAREFULLY-CRAFTED CURRICULUM. READING GREAT LITERATURE, STUDYING GEOGRAPHY, CREATING MUSIC AND ART, AND STUDYING CALCULUS-BASED PHYSICS ARE JUST SOME OF THE WAYS THAT TRINITY STUDENTS ENCOUNTER REALITY.

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RIVER RIDGE CAMPUS

NATIONAL RECOGNITION On September 26, 2019, Trinity School at River Ridge was named a National Blue Ribbon School with the designation of Exemplary High Performing School.

We received this honor previously, in 1996 and 2008, making us the only high school in Minnesota to receive the honor three times. 45 minutes after the Department of Education announcement, bells rang to end fourth period early, and students, faculty and staff headed to the auditorium. The excitement was palpable as students speculated about what the good news might be.

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This moment served as an opportunity to remind ourselves that the stuff of our ordinary days — solving problems, preparing for the Christmas concert, and conducting Humane Letters seminars — is the living out of our extraordinary vision for education, and that this mission is made possible by the community of families and friends that supports and sustains our community of learners. We celebrated with an all school picture and cupcakes!

NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARS Congratulations to our National Merit Commended Scholars and Finalists! Seven members of the Class of 2020, 14% of its senior class, were recently recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation for their achievement on the PSAT. Cassandra Demlow, Erik Iverson, Charles Nykamp, Abigail Walter, and Carl Yaeger earned the honor of being named Commended Scholars by scoring in the top 3% of the 1.5 million students who took the PSAT nationwide. Erik runs with Trinity’s cross country and track teams. Charles is Program Captain of the Robotics team, and sings in Chamber Singers; Cassie, Abigail, and Carl are musicians in Wind Ensemble. Abigail is a photographer for the yearbook, and Carl leads the Speech Club. Finalists Luke Bormann and Kate Mealey scored in the top 0.5% in Minnesota. Luke is a three-sport athlete and a member of Chamber Singers. Kate is a yearbook editor and participates on the Robotics team as a CADD designer. Congratulations to each of these students.

AT TRINITY SCHOOL, ALL STUDENTS TAKE ART ALL STUDENTS LEARN TO CODE ALL STUDENTS ACT IN A SHAKESPEARE PLAY ALL STUDENTS GET RECESS!

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