Trinity Voice - Spring 2016

VOICE

THE TRINITY

MAGAZINE

2016 Taste of Latin America Festival at Trinity

DEEPLY ROOTED IN OUR SPIRITUAL 2

FOUNDATION

As a preface to our goals within our Deeply Rooted; Nurturing the Future Strategic Plan, we state some assumptions which speak directly to the foundation or roots of Trinity:

We seek to create a community among students, families, and staff that fully lives into the Trinity Episcopal School Mission and enhances the experience of every student. We understand that this School is: • An Episcopal school that observes Last month, as I wandered the cherished rites of the Episcopal Church, including its tradition of the building observing the amazing reason, openness, and acceptance; and work our teachers do with students, nurtures spirituality as an integral I stumbled upon two classes of 7th dimension of children’s development, graders and 2nd graders who were thereby preparing them to share their dissecting squids together. As the intellectual and creative talent for the fulfillment of God’s purpose; 7th graders guided and helped our • Called to a ministry of education in 2nd graders, some of whom were a the example of Jesus and as stewards bit squeamish, one could feel the joy, of God’s children; curiosity, leadership and love that • One whose leadership invests time makes Trinity such a special school. and treasure in grappling with what it means to be created unique and in the The founding of Trinity, the inspiration image of God; that brought it to Uptown Charlotte, • Summoned to develop engaged and the impressive group of people servant leaders who enhance civil -- Episcopalians, business and civic discourse and decision-making; leaders -- who gave us a jumpstart in • Meant to be a diverse, inclusive order to begin delivering our mission is community whose priorities and actions reflect our Mission’s aspirations a remarkable story that I love to share even when requiring sacrifice; during Admission season and in the • Intended to educate and employ a rich broader community. I find great joy in diversity of individuals who reflect sharing that, in an Episcopal school, the surrounding community; we are fortunate to have our spiritual • Committed to making Trinity pillar as the foundation of our program Episcopal School financially accessible and everything we do for children, to all of Charlotte’s children; faculty, staff, families and the city of • Dedicated to the K-8 model as the best Charlotte. setting in which to deliver our Mission; • Set purposely in the City’s urban While the obvious connections to our center in order to serve the whole spiritual pillar come from Chapel and region and to benefit from the Faith Studies, our creating scholars academic and service learning and embracing diversity core values partnerships and relationships that come with this location; and stem from our spiritual pillar as well. Just as we ask children to take • Committed to having a talented and passionate faculty and staff responsibility for their learning by and to providing them with constructing their own meaning as exceptional professional development part of our educational philosophy, opportunities.

the trinity voice / spring 2016

Tom Franz Head of School Wildcat Since 2011

our Episcopal identity asks students to use faith, text and reason to construct meaning during their spiritual journeys. Through our embracing diversity core value, we aspire to be an open, welcoming and inclusive community, following the example of Jesus. Moreover, our service learning work is inspired by what God calls us to do, and our Honor Code creates a culture for our school and provides expectations of our students to take this code beyond 8th grade and share it as a way to live in the world.

As you think about Trinity and share your family’s story in the community, I hope you are able to identify the importance of the spiritual context for what we do. Thank you to the founders, the pioneers, the current families, all the faculty and staff and, of course, the students who have grown the seed from a vision to a deeply rooted school that is transforming the lives of children -- academically, socially, emotionally and spiritually.

IN THIS

ISSUE

LIGHTING THE FIRE FROM ROME TO LONDON

08 TES GARDEN REVOLUTION In the shadows of the skyscrapers in Uptown Charlotte, a revolution fueled by dirt and community is afoot...

TELLING OUR STORY ON STAGE

2015-16 BOARD OF TRUSTEES Philip C. Colaco, Chair Caroline M. Stoneman, Secretary Joseph W. Pitt Jr., Treasurer Kobi Brinson The Rev. Kevin S. Brown

Trinity’s Hispanic families hosted faculty/staff, parents, students and alumni for this year’s Taste of Latin America festival in March.

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A TASTE OF LATIN AMERICA

The Trinity Voice Magazine is a publication produced by the Advancement Office of Trinity Episcopal School in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Volume 1, Issue 2

BRINGING HISTORY TO LIFE A unique partnership with the Levine Museum of the New South.

Marketing Communications Manager Jessica Masanotti jbmasanotti@tescharlotte.org Annual Giving & Alumni Relations Manager Nancy Tribble ntribble@tescharlotte.org

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Advancement Assistant & Special Events Coordinator Katie Keels kkeels@tescharlotte.org

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A RIVALRY FOR THE AGES A look back at one of Trinity’s favorite traditions...the 8th Grade vs. Faculty Basketball Game

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EXTREME MAKEOVER:

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WHAT BRINGS THEM BACK

Hope Haven Edition

Trinity alumni return to campus to work and volunteer.

Alumni News & Notes_p.18 28 13

Martha M. Eubank Edward Exson John F. FitzHugh Kenneth A. “Thold” Gill III Claudia F. Heath Elizabeth O. Kiser Albert P. Lindemann III

MOMENTS LIKE THESE

As Trinity’s Class of 2012 looks graduate from high school this spring, TES Athletic Director David Martin shares an alumni memory.

Stephen A. Mayo Cynthia Oates T. Edmund Rast The Rev. Ollie V. Rencher Casey Rogers David R. Tate

Tracy Watts Court Young EX OFFICIO Thomas J. Franz, Head of School David Matvey, PA President

Our Mission Trinity Episcopal School is committed to the breadth of the Episcopal tradition in both its unity and diversity.

A student of Trinity Episcopal School is challenged to academic excellence while honored as an individual with unique potential.

As faculty and families together influence young lives, students themselves will be affirmed as ambassadors of grace, citizens who live and teach an ethic of service and respect for others.

A student of Trinity Episcopal School is trained in the example of Christ and toward a stewardship of healthy body, lively soul and discerning mind.

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Director of Advancement Emily Johnson ejohnson@tescharlotte.org

LIGHTING THE FIRE

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FROM

ROME

TO

LONDON

Five years ago, Trinity Episcopal School established the Light the Fire grant for teachers and administrators to experience “out of the box” professional development opportunities.

Available to all faculty and staff who have been at Trinity for at least three years, this grant is customized and driven by the applicant’s passion and interest. Each grant experience represents an opportunity for the recipient to accomplish a dream, further Trinity’s mission and ignite the fire of curiosity within our students. Our 2015 grant recipients were Lisa Baldini, Middle School Latin Teacher, and Jay Masanotti, 5th Grade Teacher.

ALL ROADS LEAD TO ANCIENT ROME With my Light the Fire grant, I traveled to Rome, Pompeii, Herculaneum and Orvieto to gain a sense of Roman civilization through experiential learning. With the hope of planning future Trinity student trips, I looked to the 7th and 8th grade Latin curricula for guidance and inspiration when arranging my itinerary.

In 7th grade, Trinity’s Latin students learn about ancient natural disasters such as the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius.

We spend the year exploring the archaeological evidence left behind by the Romans. Only a visit to the archaeological parks of Pompeii and Herculaneum can truly demonstrate the horrors that the people experienced and the magnitude of destruction, and also the legacy of the Roman people. By walking through the houses of Herculaneum where the original paintings are still visible and the mosaic floors undulate from the shifting earth, I was able to better imagine what it was like on that August day in 79 AD. I was particularly inspired by the mosaic floors in the excavated houses, and my 7th graders are currently working to create their own mosaic masterpieces. By hiking the crater of Mt. Vesuvius, I was able to learn more about the geology of the region and make stronger connections between Trinity’s Latin and Science curriculum for 7th grade.

One of my biggest goals as a teacher is to help students understand how history shapes and impacts the modern world. Our 8th grade Latin students analyze Roman history and its effect on American culture. The curriculum spans cultural topics such as government,

entertainment, engineering, arts/architecture and religion. On my trip, I was able to explore the Roman Forum, Colosseum, Pantheon, aqueducts, catacombs and Vatican galleries, among other things.

Also as part of my trip, I participated in Gruppo Storico’s Gladiator School. I learned about the life of a gladiator, basic fighting techniques and Roman military strategy.

My 8th graders are currently learning about Roman military innovations and will soon try their hand at these same gladiatorial techniques. Students will consider how violence in entertainment can affect a society, both Roman and our own. All of this is essential to give students a modern-day context into which they can place the Latin language. These experiences deepened my understanding of a city, built upon layers and layers of its own history, in a way that reading could never do.

My Light the Fire experience made it possible for me to experience ancient Roman culture by exploring archaeological remains in situ (in its original place) and in museums. I was able to stroll along the Via Appia Antica amongst the tombs of the people who have shaped our society and visit an active archaeological excavation in Orvieto, where I could see and touch remains that no one has seen for two thousand years. Those are powerful experiences and ones that inspire a person to think about the legacy he/she will leave behind. I am so thankful for my Light the Fire experience. In the summer of 2017, I hope to take a group of Trinity students to Italy, to be inspired and enlightened in the same way I have been.

And if my legacy is that I have inspired one student to travel the world, then I have succeeded.

Lisa Baldini Middle School Latin Teacher Wildcat Since 2010 Jay Masanotti 5th Grade Teacher Wildcat Since 2008

TEACHING SHAKESPEARE THROUGH PERFORMANCE

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As a recipient of the Light the Fire grant, I had the extraordinary opportunity to study Shakespeare in London.

The Teaching Shakespeare through Performance (TSTP) scholar program was made possible through a partnership between the English-Speaking Union of the United States (ESUUS) and Shakespeare’s Globe Education. The program’s focus is to engage students in approaching the works of the greatest playwright ever, William Shakespeare, through lively action.

the trinity voice / spring 2016

The course is for middle and high school English or Drama teachers from across the U.S. Trinity is one of very few elementary schools that attempts to not only teach Shakespeare to 5th graders, but also to produce a full-length theatrical stage production.

The trip was simply amazing. The education staff at the Globe Theatre, the very place that continues to set the bar high for keeping the ethos of Shakespeare alive, was second to none. I took away practical techniques for our students in the areas of voice, movement and approaching challenging texts. What was once seemingly unapproachable for myself as an educator has become very tangible and teachable.

Personally, the trip changed my life. It lit a fire within me that had never been given enough air to breath. I performed on the Globe stage and was immediately taken with the stage. It was only a matter of months upon returning that I decided to audition for a local production for the first time in my life. To my surprise, I was cast in Theatre Charlotte’s Dracula. I am so thankful for the Light the Fire grant and how it changed my approach to teaching Shakespeare, renewed my joy in the classroom and ignited my passion for theatre.

As the spring rolls around, I look forward to presenting the revamped Shakespeare curriculum with the help of our wonderful performing arts department at Trinity.

Past Light the Fire recipient Megan Postle has already been invaluable in helping retool the curriculum. The students have thoroughly enjoyed the vocal and movement exercises we’ve done in class so far, and I look forward to delving deeper into the lively action approach as we start Actor’s Theatre this month. The true litmus test will come in the beginning of June when the 5th graders take their place on the stage for their community performance.

Hence, I shall now exit, stage right.

But, before I make my leave, I offer you this invite: “...a motion [that] much imports your good; Whereto if you’ll a willing ear incline, What’s mine is yours and what is yours is mine.

So, bring us to our palace (Dickson Dining Hall on June 2, 6pm); where we’ll show what’s yet behind, that’s meet you all should know.”

BY THE

NUMBERS Through the Trinity Fund, annual gifts make a direct impact in the classroom and our community. Trinity is committed to supporting our teachers’ continuing education and growth through professional development, providing opportunities for our teachers to be lifelong learners

2500

The number of hours that Trinity’s faculty & staff participated in professional development last year!

- Epilogue, Measure for Measure

OUR 2016-17 LIGHT THE FIRE RECIPIENTS ARE... >> Maggie Ritter, 3rd Gr. Teacher, will travel to Finland to attend the Council for Creative Education Workshop to learn about the highly successful Finnish education system. >> Mara Rosenberg, 4th Gr. Instructional Assistant, will travel to Chicago this summer to participate in the Second City Training Program Intensive to learn all elements of the improvisational process including ensemble, environment, object work and more.

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Faculty & staff completed the Making Learning Visible & Making Thinking Visible programs from Harvard University.

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Faculty enrolled in graduate programs.

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Faculty & staff participated in the Dismantling Racism Workshop, sponsored by Race Matters for Juvenile Justice in Charlotte.

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GET INTO CHARACTER Local Charlotte actor, producer & instructor Sidney Horton leads Trinity’s 3rd grade students through a series of exercises to help them get into character and prepare for the vignettes they will perform at the Levine Museum of the New South.

PEACEFUL PROTEST Trinity 3rd graders pictured, who are now in 8th grade, reenact the Woolworth lunch counter protest that took place in Greensboro, NC, in the 1960’s. This vignette has proved to have a lasting impact over the years as our students bring this emotional and powerful day in Civil Rights history to life.

BRINGING HISTORY TO LIFE Each year, Trinity’s 3rd graders work with Sidney Horton to write the vignettes for each exhibit at the Levine Museum of the New South. They learn the history behind the events and try to put themselves in the shoes -- literally and figuratively -- of the characters in order to re-enact those powerful moments in Charlotte’s history.

I hear and I forget. I see and I remember.

I do and I understand.

- Confucius

Trinity’s long-standing partnership with the Levine Museum of the New South is a perfect example of how our school has the longest hallways in the city. The exhibits in the museum truly become an integral part of the students’ learning in a meaningful way.

Our performance this year will be on May 10. Be sure to ask a 3rd grader about this transformative experience.

This is by far my favorite project all year long, taking the Trinity students down to Levine. There’s no better way to learn about history than to bring it to life.

I absolutely love this program!

- SIDNEY HORTON

Mandy Rencher 3rd Grade Teacher Wildcat Since 2000 Maggie Ritter 3rd Grade Teacher Wildcat Since 2011

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A UNIQUE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LEVINE MUSEUM OF THE NEW SOUTH

Trinity 4th grade student, Elise Exson, reflected on her experience reenacting the scene at the separate-but-not-equal water fountain. In this vignette, Elise’s role was an African American woman choosing to drink illegally out of the “white only” water fountain and ultimately being arrested for this action. She shared, “It made it come alive so I could see it before my eyes. If you were just told about it, it would be harder to think about how hard and horrible it was.

It helped me to understand it in a different way.”

BRINGING HISTORY TO LIFE:

From the tenant farmers of the cotton fields to the bustling Charlotte skyline, students learn about the history of Charlotte and the New South. After learning about the growth of Charlotte from farmland and textile mills through the struggles of the Civil Rights era, students are ready to take on a role.

One group of 3rd graders becomes the children working in a cotton mill. They learn, as they are acting, that not all children in the South were able to go to school or receive an education. Another group of children take on the challenging job of becoming the four young men who sat at the Woolworth lunch counter in Greensboro, NC, and refused to leave in peaceful protest

for civil rights. What would it be like to sit there having insults and food hurled at you because of the color of your skin? Other children have to imagine what it was like to work behind that lunch counter or to be a customer in the restaurant.

With Sidney Horton’s guidance, the children write each skit to act out the scenario as they imagine what life was like at that time.

the trinity voice / spring 2016

Have you ever looked at a museum exhibit and wondered what it would have been like to live in that historical time and under those circumstances? For the past 15 years, Trinity’s 3rd grade students have been able to do exactly that at the Levine Museum of the New South. With the help of local actor Sidney Horton, students bring the historical exhibits at the Levine Museum to life by becoming characters in various vignettes. Mr. Horton is a fixture in the Charlotte theatre community as an actor, director and instructor at theatres including Children’s Theatre and Actor’s Theatre. He shared, “This is by far my favorite project all year long, taking the Trinity students down to Levine. There’s no better way to learn about history than to bring it to life. I absolutely love this program!”

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In the shadows of the skyscrapers in Uptown Charlotte, a revolution fueled by dirt and community is afoot...

For the past two years, our gardening program has gone through a revitalization, building on the initial groundwork laid out by the founding families of Trinity with our goal being that every student plants on campus every year. We have been intentional with connecting the curriculum of each grade level with its tasks in the garden and have found that giving certain grade levels

The 8th Street Friendship Garden The 8th Street Friendship Garden is a partnership between Trinity and St. Peter’s Episcopal Church.

Our harvest total in 2015 was just over 1,400 pounds of food donated to Friendship Trays.

Founding parent Nancy Duncan still gives great direction in the garden and helps keep us growing 365 days a year. The involvement of the entire school, Kindergarten through 8th Grade, has made this donation to others in our community possible.

THE

GARDEN

REVOLUTION responsibility has created ownership within the three gardens on our campus (8th Street Friendship Garden, Earth Quilt and the 5th grade raised bed garden). More than ownership, however, these gardens have grown a richer community among our students, from Kindergarten to 8th grade.

Sean Casey Middle School Science Teacher Wildcat Since 2013 Margaret Rudisill Middle School Science Teacher Wildcat Since 2007

Here’s a peek into some of our gardening work this year...

8th Street is our largest garden and consequently sees the most activity throughout the year. In the fall, 3rd graders and their homeless friends from Urban Ministries helped the garden tremendously by doing the tedious job of picking leaves off the sweet potato vines, a culinary delicacy that is special to Friendship Trays.

Kindergarteners and 8th graders followed this work by planting Irish potatoes in late February, and we are hoping for a great harvest in early June.

Meanwhile, the 1st graders planted peas in the raised beds as they told the story of the Princess and the Pea from their Fairy Tale plays. The 1st grade will also continue the tradition of their annual plant sale in May, which not only teaches students to care for plants from seed to seedling, but also reinforces math skills and allows them a partnership with middle school. Proceeds from the sale will benefit an organization of the 1st grade’s choice.

In more seed news, our 2nd graders started carrots from seeds and then harvested 140 pounds of carrots in late February! 2nd grade has also taken on the responsibility of donating produce to Friendship Trays as part of their Service Learning. The 4th grade continues to maintain their herb beds at the 8th street garden, planting herbs that connect to their Colonial America unit.

Although they have picked some herbs to dry in the classroom, the majority of the herbs are being donated to Friendship Trays.

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Finally, the 6th graders continue to be the driving force in the 8th Street Friendship Garden, working in both science classes and Service Learning to become gardening leaders. Our current harvest includes turnips, potatoes, beets, cabbage, kale and swiss chard.

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The Earth Quilt

Under the leadership of Sean Casey, parent Olga Faison and the 3rd Grade Team, the Earth Quilt (the small garden on your right as you drive into Trinity) has flourished. This year, the 3rd graders started seeds for cabbage, swiss chard, kale, brussel sprouts and turnips under the light carts and then transferred them to the Earth Quilt. Looking for flowers blooming in the spring? Nasturtiums will return again this spring and grace the cross of the Earth Quilt with their beautiful draping flowers. As always, the incredibly aromatic rosemary bushes and lemon balm plants continue to be mainstays in the Earth Quilt.

The 5th Grade Raised Bed Garden

Earlier this fall, we approached MS Math Teacher Mr. Thornton about the need to build two more raised beds for the 5th grade to grow plants outside their windows, so his STEM elective researched what was needed to build the beds and the approximate cost of the construction.

They also worked on a proposal, which they presented to Facilities Director Mr. Jenkins. After a successful bake sale with the 5th graders in March, Mr. Thornton’s STEM elective took a trip to Home Depot to purchase supplies. The beds are currently being built by Mr. Thornton and his students, and we hope to see healthy plants growing later this spring, giving the 5th graders a chance to get their hands dirty.

We are so grateful for the support of the community in this gardening revolution.

As our program continues to expand, we invite you join our battle cry, “Wildcats grow here!�

We welcome all ages to join us in the garden. Please email Margaret Rudisill (mrudisill@tescharlotte.org) if you would like to be put on our email list.

8TH GRADE

VS. FACULTY A RIVALRY FOR THE AGES

Grady Smith Middle School Social Studies Teacher Wildcat Since 2006

Trinity’s first faculty basketball team in 2004.

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very spring, the world holds its breath as one of the great sports rivalries of all times unfolds in Charlotte, North Carolina.

In the tradition of North Carolina vs. Duke or the Lakers vs. the Celtics, the annual 8th Grade vs. Faculty Basketball Game at Trinity Episcopal School has provided untold thrills and inflamed untapped passions for the past 13 years.

1ST QUARTER: FASHION Starting with the very first game in 2004, students and teachers quickly realized it was not how well you played, but how great you looked.

The chaotic pre-game warm-ups (stretching exercises for the faculty) allows ample time for students, faculty and staff to show off their athletic fashion sense as the lower school chants “Go 8th Grade...Go 8th Grade!”

The first game featured the faculty in tube

Josh Thornton Middle School Math Teacher Wildcat Since 2003

socks, tiger tattoos and homemade Wildcat t-shirts. Later years saw warm-up pants, tennis skirts, spirit shirts, mismatched sneakers, head-bands and jogging shorts.

Students responded with crazy socks, assorted jerseys, pajamas, hats, wigs, super-hero costumes, eye black and homemade t-shirts sporting random numbers and amazing nicknames.

Fashion MVPs include Tom Drake and his multi-colored wig, Connell Maloney’s ‘11 camouflage sniper suit and Casey Choinere’s ‘16 Batman/Superman unitard.

There is no way to possibly recognize all the amazing shots, incredible hustle, gritty defense and incredible team play that has occurred since 2004, nor describe all the missed lay-ups, frightening face-plants, errant passes and strange officiating.

Instead, here are “four quarters” worth of highlights and hijinxs. To all the alumni and faculty who played over the last 13 years in this incredible community-building event: thanks for the memories!

2ND QUARTER: THE BETS With March Madness in full swing around the date of the game, everyone starts believing in the underdog.

Even knowing the spotless faculty record in this game, (13-0 for those scoring at home) it never fails -- there is almost always a confident student who thinks “this is their year” to beat us.

For those who were even more confident, a friendly wager was made. The Class of 2006 started the tradition of the shaved head with a bet from Dylan Weimer and Nick Wall who

both earned a nice colored mohawk while sitting center court with the whole middle school watching.

Since then some bad bald gamblers include Chris Bradham ‘09 after Baccalaureate, Bobby Miller ‘11, Dylan Lee (Dil Pickle) ‘14 and most recently William Morris ‘16 in the courtyard.

Other memorable bets include Henry McDonald’s ‘12 red hair, Teddy Gardner’s ‘11 spray tan and the day Sam Hobbs ‘15, Monk Stoneman ‘15 and Malik McCrae ‘15 had to wear a cute plaid jumper for the school day.

Josh Thornton is the only faculty member to play in all 13 games, followed by 12 from Jen Rankey, Tracy Onze and Chris Weiss. The most minutes played is a tie between Grady Smith, David Martin and Kevin Martin (“The Ringer”). Most fouls committed during a career would be Anna Okrah, who is the only faculty player to hit a buzzer-beater and also be in foul trouble in the same game.

Random honors: • Tallest player: Kevin Wetter (6’8”) • Oldest player: Bill Stepien (90) • Youngest player: Nancy Tribble (12) • Most shots taken: Kevin Martin (100) • Most free throws while being pregnant: Emily Rietz • Most technical fouls: Grady Smith (2) (hanging on the rim, what? and beating his son William, no really?)

• Longest Scoring Drought: Jen Rankey, 10 years, but broke her streak by scoring the first points of the 2015 game.

• Most games played by husband and wife: Jay & Jess Masanotti (6)

David Martin holds the record of longest field goal with his half court underhand toss at the buzzer. However, Jason Martin holds the record for most free throws missed in the 4th quarter (7). Mike Primiani holds the record for most points scored over 3 years with 40.

Most bogus calls from a referee goes to Father Smokey Oats, but his record is being chased down from the tandem of Tom Franz and Jabari Spruill. Janet Lazarus leads for most times to

Chris Weiss has all of the rest of the numbers broken down into pie charts and Venn diagrams (the one that shows the correlation between trash talking and pulled muscles is my favorite), but that’s better for night time reading.

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trip over the half court line and traveling violations.

She would also hold the record for shortest, but that record still belongs to Jason Martin’s shorts.

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3RD QUARTER: FACULTY LEGENDS & RECORDS

4TH QUARTER: CLOSE CALLS & CLUTCH KIDS

Random student records: • Most games played by one family: The Hoovers (4) (Lelia ‘05, Alex ‘08, Julia ‘08 & Grace ‘16)

It is a fact that the faculty is STILL undefeated, but that doesn’t mean that there haven’t been close calls.

• Most points scored by one family: Tie - The Lloyds (Emma Grace ‘12 & Jeb ‘16) and the Dalrymples (Elizabeth ‘07, Carolyn ‘08 & Eddie ‘10)

The class of 2006 had a 10-point lead at one time and had a buzzer-beater 3 by Molly Miller (off a set play drawn up by Jason “Benedict Arnold” Martin) go in and out of the basket. The class of 2013 had a chance to take the lead twice, but James Ferguson and Tyler Grier couldn’t get shots to fall. The class of 2016 was a “no-call” away from hitting a game-tying three from Jeb Lloyd. The Class of 2013 ended the game with 20 players on the court.

Ever since the rules changed with the all-girls and all-guys quarter, the students try to make a run when the all-girl line comes in. The Class of 2015 girls were so tough on the faculty ladies, the adults only got it past half court one time in two-minutes of play. Both Class of 2014 and 2015 girls’ teams cut down the double-digit leads into one-possession games within last two minutes.

• Most 3-pointers in a game: Boys - Brian O’Bannon ‘05 (3), Girls - Sophie Collins ‘16 (1) • Most field goals from a faculty assist: Anna Kilguss ‘13 (1) • Girls who should have played on the all-boys line: Andy Smithey ‘12, Pemberton Heath ‘04, Mimi Schrimsher ‘14, Erin Owens ‘14, Rachel Schleicher ‘15, Alaija Hoskins ‘16, Isabel Kelligrew ‘13, Landon Shelley ‘13, Kate Cox ‘15 and Courtney Stabingas‘06 • The faculty nightmare team: Zion Hendrix ‘14, Nate Jones ‘06, Brandon Johnson ‘06, Donovan Patterson ‘12 and Marcus Plair ‘12 • The gym mice squad: Stephen Good ‘09, Davis Ryan ‘15, Nora Duncan ’13, Laura Wade ‘09 and Katelyn Powell ‘16 • The “I just played because they made me” team: Steve Barilovits ‘04, Morgan Weintraub ‘16, Abby Davenport ‘11, Ellie Johnson ‘16 & Will Wroble ‘16

After the buzzer sounds and the good sportsman handshakes and pictures take place around mid-court, the students and faculty limp to the Dickson Dining Hall or Jamie’s Courtyard for refreshments. The trash-talking starts anew and the stage is set for the next great 8th Grade vs. Faculty Basketball Game.

There is no doubt that we have forgotten more about this game than we have remembered, and we hope we have not left out some amazing play or player. If you feel cheated somehow, shoot an email with your favorite 8th Grade-Faculty game memories to Josh Thornton at jthornton@tescharlotte. org or Grady Smith at gsmith@tescharlotte.org and we promise to work on a follow-up article, if not a coffee table book. Until next March, keep practicing and thanks again for the best memories ever.

A TASTE AMERICA

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OF LATIN

Cristina Warlick, Trinity Parent Wildcat Since 2005 Barbara Cantisano, Trinity Parent Wildcat Since 2011 Dalia Hernandez, Trinity Parent Wildcat Since 2011

We wanted to give our children a sense of pride for their culture and heritage. What better way to do that than to give them the opportunity to share their culture with their friends!

- Dalia Hernandez, TES Parent On a beautiful Friday night in early March, the Hispanic families of Trinity Episcopal School came together to host an event we called A Taste of Latin America. We shamelessly borrowed the name from a very popular WOW week offering where kids learn a little about the Hispanic culture through music, dance and food. Sounded just like our kind of party!

The idea for the event was hatched last year over the course of our regular monthly meetings, “Cafe con Padres” where Trinity’s Hispanic parents meet to forge friendships, sometimes practice English and to talk about all things Trinity. (If you think Trinity can be a mystery as a newcomer, try it as a newcomer AND coming from a different culture.) We wanted to give something back to Trinity--something that perhaps showcased the rich fabric of cultures that our Hispanic families represent.

This year, we decided to create an event similar to a traditional Latin American town fair--food at various stands, games, live music (yes--we even had mariachis!), and even a real “paleta” or popsicle cart complete with a ringing bell. We created a mix of vendors and homemade items to entice our guests including tacos provided by a Trinity family that has a taco stand, homemade tamales, and an assortment of homemade rice dishes reflecting Peruvian, Dominican, Ecuadorian and Mexican styles of preparation.

And desserts! There was flan, alfajores, cheesecakes, rice pudding and paletas.

Many families also took on the task of learning and perfecting dances from various countries such as Ecuador, Mexico and Peru.

Perhaps because it truly felt like our event was created by many loving hands, the evening was a huge success! We had more than 250 people attend.

We would not have been able to do this without the monetary support of Trinity’s Parents’ Association, which enabled the event admission to be free. Nor could we have done it without the physical support of the many middle school students and Trinity alumni volunteers who helped run the games, work the food stands and make the tri-folds.

Uncertain of the event logistics, we tested the festival with middle school families last year. About 20 Hispanic families decorated the Dickson Dining Hall to look very inviting, made LOTS of food, organized crafts for the kids, performed dance demonstrations and even created very elaborate tri-folds about the different countries represented by our families. This year, we took a big leap of faith and opened it to the entire Trinity community.

We felt prepared by the lessons learned from the previous year. For example, we learned that teenagers eat A LOT! We were astounded by the speed with which the authentic Hispanic food, prepared by the families, was consumed.

We learned that kids and parents in our community were eager to learn more about Hispanic culture--we had great turn out and people stayed for the entire program. We also made some great partnerships with the Spanish language teachers and learned that the middle school students were eager to help us make this event a success.

Lastly, we definitely would not have had such a wonderful night without the love and support of the Trinity families who came out to learn a little about our Hispanic culture through music, dance and food. We hope to see you next year!

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ON STAGE Before Trinity had a theatre arts program or even a picture of what this program would become, our students were already actors. Storytelling is at the core of our learning environment at Trinity, where children are taught to listen to stories, to write stories and to tell their own stories.

Our students receive best-in-class training in the creative experience and problem-solving beginning as early as kindergarten. From their first day of sharing in a circle or singing a song, Trinity’s students are learning about the creative process and how that process is necessary to becoming a great storyteller.

Trinity’s theatre and drama program has grown tremendously over the past few years, building on an artistic foundation and introducing theatrical skills beginning with our grade-level plays such as the 1st grade Fairy Tale plays and culminating with our middle school musical.

Trinity debuted its first ever middle school production, The Wiz, in January 2010. In our humble beginnings, there were no painted sets, the costumes came from Ms. Saavedra’s closet and rehearsals were few. Each year since, we have built on the success of the previous productions, learned important lessons and overcame many obstacles.

And each year, the students’ interest in telling these fabulous stories through performance has grown exponentially.

Now in 2016, we have so many interested middle school students that we have had to expand our program to include two musicals and a play each year.

There was a definite shift in Trinity’s performing arts program with the production of Guys and Dolls, Jr., in fall of 2013. With the combination of the dedicated and skilled Fran Landess, the artistic passion of Mary Ann O’Sullivan on set design and renewed fire in Megan Postle on the heels of her Light the Fire Broadway Experience in New York City, the program began to blossom.

Performing Arts continued to grow over the next few years by adding MS Teachers Lilla Clark and Leigh Fresina as directors, countless faculty/staff & parent volunteers and new community partnerships with Theatre Charlotte, Children’s Theatre, Charlotte Youth Ballet and CPCC Theatre.

Trinity’s middle school musicals have become like a sport -- the leads act as captains and show the younger students the ropes, setting the bar high for excellence in our performances. Our student actors learn how important it is for each person to connect as a character, as well as articulate the story they are collectively telling.

Our “team” could not survive without the behind-the-scenes crew. Rapid set changes, elaborate props and multiple costume changes appear effortless in our productions because of the organization and calm competence of our backstage crew. Not all students want to or can be leads, and those who may be uncomfortable in the limelight can still contribute enormously and be an integral part of a show.

With the amazing growth of Trinity’s theatre program comes growing pains.

Fran Landess 5th Gr. Instructional Assistant Wildcat Since 2013

Our upcoming production of The Lion King features our biggest cast to-date with more than 30 students, elaborate costumes and challenging dance sequences. Despite our space limitations, our students have stepped up to the challenge. Through their creativity and flexibility, our student performers have persevered -- holding tap rehearsals in the gym storage closet, running scenes in hallways and constructing sets on the loading dock. Despite no real stage on which to rehearse, Trinity’s students make it work, and their hard work shows through the incredible performances each year.

New this year is our partnership with our neighbor, Central Piedmont Community College, to host our musicals on the Pease Auditorium stage. The theatre is small enough to be an appropriate venue for middle school voices but big enough to allow us to tell our story on a large stage. It even has enough room for the entire school to be in the audience at the same time.

We provide a wonderful educational experience for our children, and yet, we eagerly look toward the future of our program. We hope that one day there may be a focused theatre course offering, a space on our campus to hold large rehearsals, or even the possibility of a week-long trip to New York or London, the pinnacle forums for theatre arts.

With the growing excitement from the students, the commitment and dedication of our faculty and staff and the investment from our parents and community, the sky’s the limit.

the trinity voice / spring 2016

TELLING OUR STORY

Megan Postle K-8 Music Director Wildcat Since 2008

HOPE HAVEN EDIT

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EXTREME MAKEOVER:

WOW (WithOut Walls) Week at Trinity has served as a rite of passage for our 5th-8th grade students for the past 13 years.

Trinity puts “regular” classes on hold and sends students out into the world to learn various lessons through real life interaction with their community and beyond.

This year, Josh Thornton, inspired and impassioned by working with Hope Haven, one of our 8th grade Service Learning partners this year, proposed our first annual “Extreme Makeover: TES Edition”. I eagerly signed on along with a few trusty alumni parent volunteers; the next

thing we knew, we found ourselves in the thick of the EXTREME part of a makeover project.

If you have not seen the actual Extreme Makeover television show, here is a little explanation: The show revolves around a team of designers, contractors and architects reworking the visual appearance of an entire home in one week with a limited budget. We took this concept to Hope Haven, and they LOVED the idea of having our students renovate the younger kids’ play room. As we prepared our plans for WOW Week, we added more rooms to be renovated.

By the time it was all said and done, we renovated four rooms and added a few sparkly touches to some recently renovated rooms.

Our budget was by no means a TV budget but rather a real-life nonprofit kind of budget! There was no way we could “buy” the things needed for these rooms; so we went to the drawing board, asked for donations, cruised Craigslist, begged for discounts and learned to work around the colors offered in the “oops” paint section at Home Depot. Once the group of students was assembled, we were off to the races.

LIFE LESSON #1: RENOVATION = MANUAL LABOR The students spent the first morning learning how to clean (yes, we taught them how to mop, sweep and sanitize a countertop) before we even set off for Hope Haven. We also had the task of packing all the donated furniture items onto a borrowed trailer and into cars. There were so many trips from the carpool line to the track that we were dizzy by the end. The spatially-minded students quickly took over packing the trailer and cars while the rest became the pack mules carrying everything out.

Once we got to Hope Haven, we unpacked the

trailer and cars into the two staging rooms,then headed to the four rooms we were renovating and began to completely empty them of all the existing furniture, books, toys, rugs...and all before lunch on the first day!

As the week progressed, the manual labor simply increased as we moved furniture, built lofts and tables, primed and painted benches, and taped and painted walls. At the end of each day, students and adults were physically wiped-out.

Students proclaimed that they didn’t know their arm muscles could hurt so much after just painting!

LIFE LESSON #3: THE RIGHT TOOLS MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE

Jen Rankey K-8 Art Teacher Wildcat Since 2000

TION

The most frustrating of moments came at the hands of dead batteries that stalled momentum or extension cords that were not quite long enough.

THIS PROJECT INSPIRED OUR RESIDENTS TO TAKE PRIDE AND OWNERSHIP OF HOPE HAVEN. THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND PARENTS WHO WERE INVOLVED IN THIS SPECIAL PROJECT. THIS WAS SUCH A GIFT TO OUR ORGANIZATION. Kristi DeMeritte, Hope Haven Volunteer Coodinator LIFE LESSON #2: RENOVATION REQUIRES PERSISTENCE & FLEXIBILITY Each room presented a different challenge for the students to solve.

The Unification Room needed an adult and child-friendly atmosphere.

The Playroom needed to be a safe and stimulating environment, and the Women’s Living Room needed a sense of home and practical usability. All this needed to be done with a hodge-podge assortment of “stuff.” In comes the flexibility and go-with-the-flow attitude.

The students had to repurpose furniture by painting and recovering, and they needed to completely build new pieces of furniture.

In the playroom, a loft was to be installed. The loft was a free Craigslist find with “easy to follow” directions.

Now was when the persistence came

into play! The directions were not as “easy” as one would think. By the end of the day, a group of students along with Mr. Thornton sat in the middle of the playroom with 40 pieces of marked wood, a load of screws and bolts and puzzling installation instructions.

At the same moment, another group was working in the Unification Room to build a bench out of a variety of donated storage cubes. The cubes needed to be attached in a safe and sturdy manner using only the limited tools and hardware we had at our disposal.

In both cases, the life lesson of persistence was alive and well. The loft made it up and the Unification Room was gifted a seating area AND a new entertainment center with the storage cubes.

Hope Haven, provides life skills for more than 300 homeless, chemically dependent adults and their families within a supportive residential environment, leading to independence. For more information, visit www.HopeHavenInc.org.

LIFE LESSON #4: SERVING A COMMUNITY IN NEED IS VERY INSPIRING! Here is the heart of this WOW week experience: Service Learning is powerful for students, teachers and the wider community.

By the end of the week, residents at Hope Haven and our students knew one another by name. The Trinity students were no longer renovating a playroom for random kids, they were doing it for Chance. Chance is a young boy who lives with his mom at Hope Haven and kept a keen eye on the students’ progress throughout the week.

A resident tearfully thanked the Trinity students for renovating the Unification Room because she had an upcoming visit with her daughter and the space was so inviting and fresh. It was suddenly real for the students, not an abstract concept but a real moment in time that had a lasting impact.

As the students worked in the Women’s Living Rooms, they received constant praise from the women who couldn’t wait to have a space in which to relax and socialize that felt like a real home. The students gave and received high fives from Hope Haven residents who had just finished training or started jobs.

They celebrated the amazing and resilient people that live and work at Hope Haven as much as the people at Hope Haven celebrated them.

Simply put, our Trinity students, teachers and parents lived into the mission of Trinity Episcopal School in an authentic and powerful way, and because of that, lives were changed.

the trinity voice / spring 2016

From electric screwdrivers to circular saws, the students gained confidence each day with these valuable tools, allowing them the opportunity to think outside of the box.

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To accomplish this renovation, the students had to learn how to use a variety of power tools, painting tools and cleaning tools safely.

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TRINITY ALUMNI: Watching Trinity Alumni walk under the Arch and enter the school’s front doors is a common and pleasant occurrence for Ms. Ellis and Ms. Gracie, school administrators who manage Trinity’s front desk. These Alumni are returning to Trinity to give back their time, talent and treasure to the school that is still so dear to their hearts.

During their visits, Alumni catch up with former teachers, eat lunch with Science Buddies, join classes to read to younger Wildcats and joyfully reminisce about their time as Trinity students.

Trinity is fortunate to have Alumni who are actively involved in both the Trinity community and beyond. Below are some alumni who have recently returned to Trinity to volunteer and work:

ELLIE GOOD, CLASS OF 2007

Ellie credits Trinity for her love of music and is spreading that love and sharing her talents with students, teachers & families by playing guitar as an Alumni guest performer in a few of Trinity’s Community Chapels this year.

Ellie graduated from Myers Park High School and attended Queens University.

WHAT

DRAWS THEM

BACK

Nancy Tribble Annual Giving & Alumni Relations Manager Wildcat Since 2013

“I came to help my mom teach so that I could get a chance to see all of my old teachers and spend a day with the class. However, I quickly found that I needed to be in a seat learning rather than at the whiteboard teaching.

In the end, I enjoyed reconnecting with my old teachers, spending the day with my mother and the Trinity students and getting a refresher on how to find the area of a trapezoid.”

“Returning to Trinity to assist in leading chapel services has been such a joy and a rewarding experience for me. I love to tie my faith to my music, and being able to do so alongside the new generation of TES students has been both exciting and nostalgic.

I consider Trinity to be a Holy Ground for me; a place I consider sacred, and where I feel at home -- because for most of my school years, Trinity was my home! I am grateful to TES for welcoming me back home and for allowing me to share my love for music through worship.” --Ellie Good, ‘07

STUART CASTILLO, CLASS OF 2008 Before heading back to UNC-Chapel Hill after the holidays for the last semester of his senior year, Stuart Castillo ‘08 joined his mom Linda, Middle School Math Teacher at Trinity, to help teach Geometry to 6th graders.

Audrey had the day off from school in January and chose to spend that time volunteering at Trinity. Audrey joined a Second Grade classroom to help the students with their research and to read to them. She was also able to reconnect with her Science Buddy, the Kindergarten student Audrey was paired with in 8th grade. Audrey is a freshman at Myers Park High School.

the trinity voice / spring 2016

“I came back to Trinity to reconnect with past teachers and friends and to revisit a place where I have spent the majority of my life.

Here, I am surrounded by coworkers and students who are dedicated to enriching the lives of others and are asking big questions about how we look at and engage with the world around us. I am constantly inspired by how Trinity challenges us to grow not only as individuals, but also as members of our communities.”

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AUDREY NELSON, CLASS OF 2015

“When I moved back to Charlotte, I wanted to work in a place where I felt inspired by the people around me. Trinity is that place.

The highlight of my day was seeing my Science Buddy.

My heart melted when she ran up to me and gave me a big hug. My day back at Trinity reminded me of the strong sense of community.”

CHANEL BLANCHETT, CLASS OF 2005 Chanel has been a member of the Trinity Family since 2002 when she entered in 6th grade. Now, she is an Instructor for Middle School students in the Trinity Extended Day (TED) program.

From student to employee, Chanel’s time at Trinity has come full-circle, as she is teaching her TED students what she learned when she was their age at Trinity. Chanel graduated from Sarah Lawrence College with a degree in Theatre.

TRACY LAUGHLIN, CLASS OF 2014 Tracy had extra time in her school schedule earlier this year, so she took it upon herself to become a regular volunteer at Trinity. In January and February, Tracy spent time helping second grade students with their homework after school. Last fall, Tracy volunteered in Trinity’s Advancement Office helping to prepare for the Fall Alumni Reunion.

Tracy is a sophomore at Providence Day School.

“I decided to volunteer at Trinity because Trinity gave so much to me, and I wanted to show my appreciation for all that I learned at Trinity and all the friends I made classmates and teachers alike. Being able to come back and spend time at a place I love and miss was great.”

NEWS &NOTES

Alumni News Submissions: We would love to share your good news with the Trinity community. Please send any information updates to Annual Giving & Alumni Relations Manager Nancy Tribble at ntribble@tescharlotte.org.

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2015

Rachel Schleicher ’15, freshman at Providence Day School, was recognized as the S’Hero Community Leader of the Month by the Elite Clubs National League. S’Hero Awards is part of the Amazing Young Women campaign designed to showcase strong, successful women who embody the leadership ideals first learned and developed on the soccer fields of their youth.

2014

Will Exson ’14 was the recipient of the Honor Sword Award at Cannon in January.

This award is given to recipients who “display unwavering moral compasses, live their lives with integrity and make the right decisions even when it is difficult.”

Billy Hobbs ’14 is a reporter and writer for his high school, St. Paul’s School, newspaper. He is also a Chapel Prefect, organizing speakers and readings for Chapel and planning all religious school events.

2013

of which Lucy is a member. The bracelet was created with inspiration from a poem Lucy wrote in 2015 to honor the Women’s Impact Fund. Lucy is a junior at Myers Park High School.

2012

Solopino Bridges ’12 graduated early from Myers Park High School this December and has enlisted in the Army.

Will Kinnamon ’12 recently earned his Eagle Scout Badge. Will is a senior at George School in Newton, PA. Thomas Lindemann ’12 was the lead in the fall play Flowers for Algernon at St. Andrew’s School this year where he is a senior.

Andy Smithey ’12 scored her 1,000th point in basketball on January 13, 2016. Andy was the captain of the girls’ basketball team at St. Mary’s in Raleigh. She received a scholarship to play basketball at Washington & Lee next year.

Andy Smithey ’12 & MC Beecy ’13 are co-captains of the girls’ soccer team at St. Mary’s.

2010

Kirkland Cobb ’13, Molly Wilkinson ’14, Emma Martin ’15 were cast in Pirates of Penzance, the Winter Musical at Charlotte Latin.

Caleb Bodden ’10 is the President of Man2Man, a Men of Color Organization that he helped start at his school, Lynchburg College, this year.

Lucy Murrey ’13 was featured in February’s issue of Charlotte Parent magazine for her IMPACT Bracelet created by the Playing for Others organization

Ralph McCollum ’10 was recently initiated into the Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. Ralph is a junior at Livingstone College where he is a member of the Men’s

Carolyn Dalrymple ‘08 & Hannah Weiss ‘08 completed the 2009 Corporate Half Alexis Giger ’09 is studying Marathon in Charlotte abroad in Italy this in March. Carolyn and semester. Alexis is a junior Hannah are seniors at at Washington University UNC-Chapel Hill. in St. Louis, MO. Alex Hoover ‘08 will Laura Gill ’09 is studying graduate from Wake abroad in Dublin, Ireland Forest this spring and this semester. Laura is a accepted a job with The junior at UNC-Chapel Hill. Advisory Board Company, a consulting firm for health Myles Grier ’09 is care and higher education a junior at UNCC in Washington DC. studying Early Childhood Education.

Stuart Mason ‘08 This past winter, he attends the San coached basketball for Francisco Art Institute the 5th grade team at and was accepted to Cannon School. show and sell his art at Menlo Hardwoods, a Julia Laughlin ’09 is a premier manufacturer member of the Accidentals, and retailer of a female a cappella group custom, live edge and at William and Mary. contemporary solid This group performs on wood furniture, in Palo campus and the greater Alto, CA. Williamsburg area.

JD Wimbish ‘08 2008 completed basic training Chase Bailey ’08 will in December and is now graduate from Savannah serving in the US Army.

College of Art & Design with a Bachelor of Fine Jonathan Yellets ‘08 is a Arts in June. His major is member of the Track & Architecture, and he has Field team at Haverford been accepted into the College. He and the rest SCAD Professional Masters of his relay team attended of Architecture program the Track & Field beginning this fall.

National Championships in March.

Genevieve Becker ’08 graduated from 2006 Davidson this past Sophie Brayne ‘06 December. In the fall, graduated from she will join Bain & Nursing School this past Company in Atlanta December and is working as an Associate as a Labor & Delivery Consultant. This spring, nurse at CMC Northeast.

Genevieve is living Sophie attended UNCin Washington, DC Wilmington for college. and working for the International Center of 2005 Exploited Children.

Chanel Blanchett ‘05 is an instructor in Trinity’s Basketball Team and majoring in Business.

Extended Day program and also teaches classes at Theatre Charlotte.

Chanel graduated from Sarah Lawrence College with a degree in Theatre.

Louise Dufresne ‘05 completed her first Marathon at Kiawah Island last December.

Louise graduated from Vassar College and is an associate producer in Washington, DC, for the Sunday morning public affairs program “Face the Nation” on CBS. Kaneisha Gaston ‘05 is a 9th grade English Teacher at Hopewell High School.

She graduated from Davidson in May of 2013 as an English major with an academic concentration in ethnic studies.

Christy Harrison ‘05 is serving as the Interim Director of Trinity’s Extended Day & Summer Camp Program this spring. Christy received her undergraduate degree from Western Carolina University.

2004

Emma Brayne ‘04, graduate of UNCWilmington, will start Graduate School at UNCC in the fall to receive her Master’s in Counseling.

Taylor Major ‘04 is a 3rd year student at The George Washington University Law School. His focus is Entertainment Law, and he is set to graduate in May of 2016.

Taylor received his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan.

More than wins or losses, it is for the love of the game and the love of the kids that we do what we do. This particular memory of the Class of 2012 highlights just that. The student athletes mentioned below are now high school seniors and will graduate this spring.

Despite being a very talented basketball player, Marcus Plair could get lost for stretches of game action, sometimes struggling to find his rhythm.

But when those big moments popped up within each game, you would find Marcus.

The previous year, Marcus was the only 7th grader on the 8th grade team and did not get as much playing time as he would have liked. However, it was clear that he had innate big shot ability. During a home game in that 7th grade season an opponent’s elbow smashed Marcus in the nose. Blood poured, leading to a lengthy stoppage of game time just to mop up the mess. My assistant at the time took over the head coaching duties as Marcus, his father and I went into the locker room to clean his face and assess the damage. It looked broken. Marcus flinched at his reflection in the mirror and remained in the bathroom to regroup.

As I rejoined the team on the court, I thought Marcus’ season could be over. Then, he re-entered the gym shoeless and bloody. There were about two minutes left in the game, and we needed a final spark. I

looked at Marcus and I asked him, “Do you want to play?”

In typical Marcus fashion he did not say a word. He just nodded. I responded, “Put your shoes on.”

shooting position 10 feet away from the home bench, and he pulled the trigger.

Tait, a very talented player, was willing to sacrifice a ton of playing time to be on the 8th grade team. And he made several key I thought it was money as soon contributions that season. as it left his hands. Marcus has a beautiful arc to his shot, and As the ball hung in the air, I He tied his shoes and subbed knew that nothing could be this one did not disappoint, into the game. The crowd more fun than this moment of though it seemed to take an recognized the situation and split-second silence. It was like hour for it to reach its apex. loudly welcomed him back. The And as that ball rose, with what the ball paused so we could all other team lost a bit of energy seemed to be the perfect path, appreciate the game. And it was because Marcus had stolen the I suddenly found myself with a fantastic game. All it needed show simply by walking back now was punctuation. time to think. onto the court. This moment As long as it took that ball to was made just for him. We led I thought about how hard Henry McDonald worked to be- reach its apex, it took about a by one point when Marcus got the ball in the far corner, in come such a dependable player, millisecond to plummet towards the rim. It rattled the rim, and virtually becoming a coach front of the packed bleachers, I mean rattled, banging off the and he squared his body to the on the floor. I thought about Taylor Bass causing more jump inside of both sides of the rim hoop. There was no doubt in and popping up in the air before balls than players a foot taller, my mind. Swish. Game over. falling back down just on the Jackson Hill fighting through The 8th graders mobbed Maroutside edge of the far rim. I defenses designed solely to stop cus after the game. him, Randall Evans taking pride swallowed heartbreak to the Fast forward to the 2012 playoff in becoming a true defensive sounds of Gaston Day players game, the last game of the 8th stopper, Marshall Morris’ easy gathering in a huddled mass graders’ season. With nine athleticism on display with ac- of jumping and fist pumping seconds left, I believed it was robatic attacks at the rim, Will celebration. I turned to our another Marcus moment.

Kinnamon never giving up on a team and found an inconsolable loose ball, Ryan Eubank’s knack Marcus Plair lying face down We diagrammed our play for on the court, covering his face for understanding space and Jackson Hill to get Marcus with his hands. I scooped him being in the right place at the the ball on the wing. And as right time, Thomas Lindemann up and got in his ear. I don’t the play unfolded, the middle pouring his heart into each play, even know what I said to him. school element of chaos threatand Ryland Pursley developing But if I could go back all I would ened to take hold, but Jackson into a legitimate post presence. I say is “thank you.” stuck with it. He trusted the thought about the way Donodecision and he trusted Marcus.

As I sat at home in silence that van Patterson dominated the Jackson protected the ball and night, thinking through the Charlotte Prep game, Mark patiently waited for Marcus to game and the season, I wonLittle’s soft touch around the get open, but Marcus could not dered if going for the win was basket, and Wilson Caney’s inshake his defender. So Jackson the right call. The answer I went terior passing skills and terrific drove towards him, forcing to bed with was “maybe.” But mid range jump shot. I thought Marcus’ defender to step off there is no chance you could about Tait McMillian being the Marcus and help out on Jackhave talked me out of giving only 7th grader on the team, son. At that moment, Jackson Marcus that opportunity. He just like Marcus the previous turned and fired a beautiful deserved it. And he about drilled year. That took courage and sacpass to Marcus, who was it. That moment right there is rifice. It meant a lot to me that waiting on the wing already in why I coach.

Do you have a favorite Trinity memory or story to share?

Send it to Alumni Relations Manager Nancy Tribble at ntribble@tescharlotte.org.

Down two points with nine seconds left in the 2012 boys’ basketball playoffs, I made an against-the-grain decision.

Typically, in these spots, people play for overtime at home and go for the win on the road.

Even though we were at home for this tournament game, I decided to go for the win because of Marcus.

the trinity voice / spring 2016

MOMENTS LIKE THESE.

David Martin Athletic Director & Basketball Coach Wildcat Since 2003

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Over the past 13 years of athletics at Trinity, we are reminded of the many talented student athletes, the close games and the championship trophies.

750 E. 9th Street Charlotte, NC 28202-3102 Telephone 704. 358. 8101 Facsimile 704. 358. 9908 www.TEScharlotte.org

SAVE THEDATE

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Trinity Episcopal School admits students of any race, color, religion, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national and ethnic origin in administration of its education and admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.