Tr ini ty Sc hool of Durham and Chapel Hill
Trinity School is located in Durham, North Carolina, on 22 acres bor dered by trails, creeks, and forests. Trinity is a CSI/SAIS-accredited, transitional kindergarten through grade 12, independent school where children flourish. We educate within the framework of Christian faith and conviction—teaching the classical tools of learning; providing a rich yet unhurried education; and communicating truth, goodness, and
Discover Trinity School
Trinity is a school that embraces God’s truth, models goodness in teach ing virtuous habits, and appreciates reflections of God’s glory and beau ty in nature, in the arts and culture, and in community with others.
An Overview of Trinity School
Christian school that aspires to be a place where students learn that God is at the heart of all that we are and do, and that the chief purpose of our lives is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. Trinity’s comprehensive academic program is rooted in a clas sical interdisciplinary curriculum. At the core of Trinity’s philosophy is the pacing of classroom learning to align with child development. This unhurried approach is influenced by the philosophy of British educator Charlotte Mason and encourages children to be children and to learn, read, and play in ways that fit their natural bent at each age.
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Trinity seeks to provide young students the time and space to grow. Intended to serve five-year-olds at differing levels of development, these interactive classes engage the senses and expand the imagina tion. Monthly unit studies and field trips comple ment the core academic curriculum, so that students are always learning in a meaningful context.
Transitional Kindergarten and Kindergarten
Sixth graders at Trinity are the leaders of the Lower School, young adolescents entrusted with new responsibilities. They are exposed to deeper thinking in discussions. They also develop organiza tional skills and start athletic participation to ease the transition to Middle School.
Grades 1–6 Teachers in Trinity’s Lower School inspire intel lectual curiosity to ignite a deep and lasting love of learning. Lower School instruction aims to equip students with the foundation necessary for a lifetime of inspired learning, thoughtful collaboration, and meaningful engagement with the world. Nature studies spark inquiry through painting and Picturejournaling.studies encourage observation and stimulate discussion through the reproduction of great Narrationpaintings.andmusic studies accentuate lis tening and foster attention to detail through retelling and discussion.
Atmosphere educates. Children learn carefulness or laziness, politeness or disre spect, self-discipline or overindulgence from the environments in which they live and learn, so schools should model character development in children.
Children deserve a rich curriculum with interactive materials suited to their developmental stage. This includes classic literature, art, music and hands-on study of nature and science. Learning should be teacher-guided and self-directed. “The function of a teacher is to design learning experiences, not principally to convey information.”
Children are full human persons, made in the image of God, worthy of re spect, and created with an innate desire to learn. They do not passively wait to be filled with information, but actively seek out new ideas. Education is the “science of relations,” fostering a child’s connection to the world.
Mason inspired educators to fan the flame of a child’s curious nature.
Principles of Charlotte Mason Reflected in Trinity’s culture
A Rich EducationUnhurriedand Charlotte Mason was a nineteenth-century British educator who authored a comprehensive six-volume work on an educational philosophy rooted in character development and the cultivation of lifelong learning.
“A kindergarten through twelfth grade Trinity education for our son has been the best investment my husband and I have ever made. Our son has flourished at Trinity School. His teachers have influenced and shaped not only his strong academic foundation, but more importantly, his character and love of learning.”
Trinity Alumni Parent
A person who loves well. Love lives in those who know that we are not simply amazing thinkers and re sponsible moral agents—we are also wounded and sinful souls. Our supreme perfection lies not in our rea son or our righteousness, but in our coming to share in the divine life through the freedom of grace. This is our distinctively Christian heritage, that only in Christ are we saved from all the ways we have spoiled and ruined the beautiful image of God imprinted on each of us. And only the discovery of this gigantic secret of undeserved salvation can set us free to live in love. Such a life is caught more than it is taught, but schools can be places where charity grows like a garden. Students who have found this sort of love take the log out of their own eye before blaming others, apologize genuinely and quickly, turn the other cheek, greet each day with the conviction that God’s gracious will directs all, cultivate thankfulness and weed out grumbling, live in wonder and praise, and seek more to serve than to be served.
A strong moral force of character—a person who has channeled reason to hold sway over passions, and makes every effort to do the right thing. Reason without a moral compass is a glorious ruin, but one who has disciplined the will so as to cultivate virtue has found a better life. Students educated well in this tradition tell the truth even when it hurts, stand against the mocking crowd, give to each what he is owed, seek moderation in all things, care for others, pay their debts and save, give generously to worthy causes, volunteer their time without stint. They will—in short—do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with their God.
Education is hard to measure. For a liberal education, the kind we aspire to at Trinity School, there is no Dow Jones Index. Still, it is incumbent on a school to be clear about its aims. What are the measures of its work with students? At Trinity School, the dimensions of a well-educated person are these.
Set a school to three tasks and see which one it does best: teach students to master a geometrical proof; teach them to do the right thing when no one is looking; and teach them to forgive a great injustice. Schools will naturally focus on the first of these three, the cultivation of reason, not because we think this most important but because it is the thing we can best control. It is what we do best. But a school like Trinity, which has ad opted a broad aim in education, hopes for so much more. We work so that our students will have “the whole package.” We pray that all students will love the Lord their God with their heart and soul, strength and mind. At the end of the day, this is the full measure of a Trinity graduate.
The Measure of a Trinity Graduate
By Peter T. Denton Jr. | Head of School
A vibrant life of the mind and a well-trained reason inspired by a robust imagination. Trinity graduates know how to listen well to what others say; to read and understand many different kinds of literature; to play around with ideas; to reflect on profound questions; to imagine creative solutions to complex problems; to carry on a deep conversation; to express an opinion winsomely; to ask thoughtful questions; to form a hypothesis and test it; to make a presentation or give a speech; to argue for and against a proposition with passion and civility; to write an essay or a research paper, a memoir or a poem; to manipulate math concepts accurately and elegantly; to make connections between seemingly disparate subjects; to understand how to get things done in the world; and to seek wisdom in every reading and every encounter.
Trinity Quick Facts school mascot Lion average class size Our first graduating class 2010 More than 400 alumni making a difference in the world school colors GoldBlue accreditation Christian SouthernInternationalSchools(CSI)Association of Independent(SAIS)Schools founded 1995 22 acres to explore on70campus faith communities represented among our 18,000familiessquarefoot Arts EngineeringandBuilding opened September 2021 $15M + in merit scholarships awarded to our graduates 16 students motto Non nobis, Domine 12 TK/K 18 Grades 1-8 14-18 Grades 9-12
Lower School Transitional Kindergarten to Grade 6
The Trinity classroom is a place where children learn about themselves and others, and where they can be themselves while respecting other people. In this caring school community, students can experience the joy and wonder of learning together. Trinity helps students discover and strengthen their gifts and become who God has created them to be. Our teachers recognize the uniqueness of each child and create a classroom atmosphere where students feel safe and secure.
“I love Trinity’s focus on learning and genuinely developing the whole child. It is a commitment that is woven into each class, each day. As a parent I feel a sincere partnership with the staff. I’m always amazed at the passion the teachers have for their respective subject, but more importantly, for developing the minds and values of the students.”
TRINITY PARENT
Known and Loved Appreciating the uniqueness of each child
Trinity’s Lower School learning experience establishes a strong educational foundation for students while nurturing their character and integrity in the context of Christian faith and conviction. Trinity teachers know their subjects— and their students—well. Our developmentally appropriate curriculum balances the big ideas of Bible, literature, history, and science with skill development in reading, math, writing, and problem solving.
• Singapore Math curriculum introducing concepts through manipulatives, observation, and problem solving
Transitional Kindergarten
Highlights of TK Life Trinity’s TK gives younger five-year-olds a place to learn and grow in a nurturing environment tailored to meet their academic and social needs. The gift of time lets our TK Cubs follow their natural developmental path and develop their readiness skills, which fosters confidence and a love of learning. Our TK curriculum combines academics with attention to the playful side of fiveyear-olds. The TK class investigates fascinating topics and participates in a variety of activities at school and in the community.
• Language arts activities designed to ignite a love for the written word
• Development of confidence to speak in front of others through recitations, performances, and the annual TK Circus
Transitional Kindergarten students must be five years old on or before December 31 of the school year for which they are applying. Kindergarten students must be five years old on or before July 1 of the school year for which they are applying. TK students move to kindergarten the following year.
• Weekly classes in music, art, and PE
Bridge from Preschool to Kindergarten
• Fascinating unit study topics like bears, Native American tribes, and bread
• Regular visits to the school library
• Exposure to a broad range of rich, age-appropriate literature
Middle School Grades 7–8
We recognize that having the opportunity to spend unhurried time with their peers is crucial to our Middle Schoolers’ social and personal development. Trinity sponsors a variety of social activities for Middle School students throughout the year, such as dances and movie nights. Students also are encouraged to participate in service-learning projects that help them to look beyond themselves as they work together to “give back” in meaningful ways to their communities. Parents tell us that Trinity’s Middle School is a place where their children can know and be known, where their students’ minds and hearts, gifts and talents are nurtured and flourish. Come visit our campus and experience for yourself the caring and supportive community that is Trinity Middle School. “To me, Trinity’s strengths are its amazing teachers, tight-knit community, and its desire to respect its students and get their feedback on important issues. Trinity’s teachers are truly dedicated to their craft, and love the subjects they teach with all their heart. They are helpful and patient, and form long-lasting bonds with students. Trinity’s community is also an amazing thing. We all know and love each other, and truly see one another as brothers and sisters in Christ. I also think that Trinity is strong in that it respects its students’ opinions. I know some people think the surveys about the political climate or learning environments are silly, but to me they show how involved the school is in issues students are facing and a willingness to help them or hear them out.” Trinity Student
Beyond the Classroom Middle School life is more than just what happens in the classroom. At Trinity, our students have the opportunity to participate in a variety of cocurricular activities that help them find their passions and grow in physical, personal, and spiritual maturity. Team involvement is a strong component of our Middle School. We have a full athletic program, with interscholastic teams in soccer, basketball, swimming, tennis, golf, cross-country, volleyball, baseball, and track and field. Our strong music program for Middle Schoolers includes choral, band, and strings ensembles, and students can also participate close up: onstage or behind-the-scenes in our annual Middle School plays. Weekly student-led chapels help build community while growing Middle Schoolers spiritually.
Upper School Grades 9–12
Trinity Alumna
Trinity’s Upper School is a transformational place. Students come here to be challenged intellectually, to learn in a place that values honor and integrity, to work closely with a talented and student-centered faculty, to develop life-long friendships, and to make a difference. They work hard and play hard, inquire deeply, discover new gifts, pray together, and grow as servant leaders. Our prayer is that they leave Trinity with spiritual and theological moorings that will guide and sustain them throughout their lives.
“My experience at Trinity School was defined by the variety of opportunities I was given to discover the role I play in God’s kingdom, whether it was discussing Melville in Humanities, acting in a play, or competing on the golf course.”
