Trojan Voice Magazine, Spring 2023

SPRING 2023

FUTURE FOCUSED

Imagination, creative thinking, collaboration, flexibility, and adaptability are at the heart of future-focused thinking at TVS.

THE TVS MISSION

Trinity Valley School has four main objectives for its students: fine scholarship with its fulfillment at college; the development of wide constructive interests; intelligent citizenship; and spiritual and moral development which promotes lasting values.

MANAGING EDITOR & CREATIVE DIRECTOR

ASHLEY ROBINSON

COPY EDITOR

KATHRYN DAVIS ’89

DESIGN

SARAH RADICELLO | RADICELLO CREATIVE

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

BLAKE AMOS

DAN BRYANT PHOTOGRAPHS

AMANDA COLLINS

JAKE FELTS PHOTOGRAPHY

EILEEN FORD

MELISA GARCIA

DR. TREVON JONES

JULIE KNUDSEN

LAURA MONTGOMERY

DEREK REINHOLD

ASHLEY RIEMITIS ’16

ASHLEY ROBINSON

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: MARSHALL B. ROBINSON

DR. MICHAEL ROEMER

STEVI SCHUKNECHT

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

BLAKE AMOS

MELISSA BURKHEAD

ROBIN BURROUGHS

JANET CHAFFEE

AMANDA COLLINS

KATHRYN DAVIS ’89

RALPH DINTINO

EILEEN FORD

LISA GRIDER

DR. TREVON JONES

KYLE KAHUDA

JULIE KNUDSEN

BLAIR LOWRY

SANDY MCNUTT

DR. DAVID OSTROFF

DEREK REINHOLD

ASHLEY ROBINSON

DR. MICHAEL ROEMER

JAMES SCOTT

STEVI SCHUKNECHT

JEFF SNYDER

TAMARA WILLMANN

Spring 2023 Volume XXXI Number 2

Trinity Valley School | 7500 Dutch Branch Road Fort Worth, TX 76132 | 817.321.0100 | tvs.org

Trinity Valley School’s Trojan Voice is published twice a year. Please contact Ashley Robinson, Director of Strategic Marketing & Communications, with any questions, comments, or suggestions regarding this publication at robinsona@tvs.org.

Trinity Valley School is an independent, co-ed, college-preparatory, day school for students in pre-kindergarten through grade 12. The school admits students of any race, color, national or 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 disability, race, color, national or ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, financial aid programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. © Copyright 2023 by Trinity Valley School, Fort Worth, TX 76132-4110

ACADEMICS

STELLAR FACULTY | PAGE5

NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY | PAGE7

TVS PRE-K | PAGE18

CHARTING A NEW COURSE | PAGE29

BUILDING FUTURE GLOBAL LEADERS | PAGE38

LIFELONG LEARNERS | PAGE44

CUM LAUDE SOCIETY | PAGE47

ALUMNI

TVS FOR LIFE: THE FUTURE OF ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT | PAGE60

INSPIRING THE FUTURE: ALUMNI AWARD HONOREES | PAGE62

CLASS NOTES | PAGE69

THE ARTS

SHOWCASING ART I | PAGE21

ATHLETICS

TROJANS TAKE SAN DIEGO THIS FALL | PAGE50

EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION

DIGGING INTO THE PAST | PAGE24

GLOBAL EDUCATION

GLOBAL CONNECTIONS FOR THE PRESENT | PAGE35

INSIDE THE ARCHES

FUTURE FOCUSED | PAGE4

CLASS OF 2023 | PAGE12

MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS & RESPONSE SERVICES | PAGE16

DAY OF SERVICE | PAGE32

WE CAN’T WAIT FOR SUMMER | PAGE40

RETIRING FACULTY & STAFF | PAGE42

RESHAPING RESPONSIBLE DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP | PAGE48

PARENTS’ CLUB PREPARES FOR THE FUTURE | PAGE54

HISTORY IN THE MAKING: ANNUAL FUND | PAGE57

ON THE COVER: Stellar faculty member Dr. Philip Taylor, Computer Science Department Chair. Learn more on p5.

BLAIR R. LOWRY Head of School

FUTURE FOCUSED

As a school leader, I enjoy the great privilege of being surrounded by people who imagine. Our students arrive each day with curiosity about the world and lean into reflection and dialogue about possibility and “what ifs.” Our faculty are coaches of creativity in the many ways they interact with their students and in how they design lessons and courses.

Today’s TVS students will not only fill jobs that have not been invented yet, but they will create those jobs. They will shape how we think about work, how we communicate, and how we interact with one another. TVS is choosing to be a center for ideas and a testing ground for future-oriented thinking. When we are intentional about this, we inspire young people to think differently and to take intellectual risks.

This semester, I am enjoying the opportunity to co-teach with Dr. Dave Ostroff in the Upper School. Our course, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, focuses on creativity as a skill for innovative thinking. As students develop their “entrepreneur’s eye,” they are learning many transferable concepts that help them in their other classes, their startup businesses, and their journey beyond our campus. This spring, we welcomed guest speaker Mandy Ginsberg, former CEO of Match Group, who spoke with students about how to use these skills, take risks, and think about the future. She also shared that the ability to collaborate with others across borders, languages, and cultures has been key in her work.

As students develop their “entrepreneur’s eye,” they are learning many transferable concepts that help them in their other classes, their start-up businesses, and their journey beyond our campus.

The pace of change in our world is ever increasing. How we think about changes – and even leverage them – will make a huge impact. I remember when using iPads at school seemed a radical idea to many. Now, we are having conversations about generative Artificial Intelligence. Imagination, creative thinking, collaboration, flexibility, and adaptability are at the heart of futurefocused thinking. Walking the halls here at TVS fills me with excitement about the future. This is where it all begins! I hope you enjoy this edition of Trojan Voice – Future Focused.

Warmest wishes,

STELLAR FACULTY

JEFF SNYDER, ASSISTANT HEAD OF SCHOOL

This past summer, the academic leadership team, including Ms. Lowry, Mr. Snyder, Ms. McNutt, Mrs. Knudsen, Mr. Kahuda, Mr. Dintino, and Dr. Jones, garnered faculty input across the School in order to develop a set of both aspirational and attainable attributes that clearly articulate what sets Trinity Valley School faculty apart. While paying homage to the School’s motto, these “stellar attributes” are designed to serve as a guidepost for new and veteran faculty alike as they carry on Trinity Valley’s legacy of positively engaging and impacting our students in meaningful and long-lasting ways.

TRINITY VALLEY SCHOOL ATTRIBUTES OF STELLAR FACULTY

TVS recruits and retains exemplary faculty whose skill in the classroom is complemented by their positive contributions to other programs and endeavors within the School community. These stellar faculty inspire excellence and actively promote the mission and philosophy of the School by modeling for their students the resiliency, flexibility, and persistence that embodies the TVS motto, Per Aspera ad Astra (Through Difficulty to the Stars).

• Stellar Faculty seek continued growth as lifelong learners.

• Stellar Faculty inspire excellence and set high academic standards while offering meaningful and authentic learning experiences.

• Stellar Faculty demonstrate care and concern for their students and colleagues.

• Stellar Faculty promote and model high personal and professional standards and ethics.

• Stellar Faculty exhibit joy in teaching.

• Stellar Faculty contribute positively to the community and promote intelligent citizenship.

• Stellar Faculty recognize that students learn differently and seek to engage all learners equitably.

• Stellar Faculty create and promote an inclusive community in and out of the classroom.

• Stellar Faculty forge strong partnerships with parents, colleagues, and community members.

• Stellar Faculty fulfill professional responsibilities in a thoughtful and timely manner.

• Stellar Faculty proactively communicate with clarity and empathy while assuming positive intent.

Coach Kenny Cain demonstrates care across every facet of the School community whether with students, faculty, staff, or parents. He embodies the intrinsic joy that comes from helping students of all ages discover and demonstrate the very best versions of themselves, both on and off the athletic fields. In addition, Coach Cain communicates high expectations for the students with whom he works while also demonstrating a keen understanding of how to positively motivate them forward.

Pam Kahuda’s last name resonates frequently across the Lower School drop-off circle each morning as students of all ages greet her with excitement. Their greetings are a testament to the strong connection she has established with each of the many students she teaches. As LS STEAM Instructor, Mrs. Kahuda’s unwavering positivity and her exceptional creativity foster engaging and authentic experiences that her PK through second-grade students love and grow from.

Dr. Edwin Wood is a consummate professional. His strong commitment to helping students navigate the complexity of Middle School is apparent in his consistently calm demeanor and attentive listening ear. Dr. Wood balances this high level of empathy with high academic expectations that engage his students in challenging texts, topics, and discussions. In addition, his wisdom and significant teaching experience make him a frequent sounding board for his colleagues across the Middle School.

Anna Ross inhabits a unique role at TVS which requires her to constantly engage in new research and strategies to better understand and support neurodiverse students. She is relentless in this pursuit, dedicating many summer hours to honing strategies and plans for each individual with whom she works. Additionally, Ms. Ross consistently communicates with students, parents, and faculty with an empathy and authenticity that is not only disarming but also demonstrates significant attention to the social and emotional needs of all the students she serves.

Luis Terrazas and Pauline Medlin are not only phenomenal educators in their respective divisions, inspiring students to discover and develop their passions, but they also give significant time and attention each year to developing our New Faculty and Staff Orientation program. This program offers both teachers and staff unique insights on the School’s rich culture, thereby helping them acclimate to their professional surroundings while also hastening their engagement with the broader School community. Beyond orientation, Mr. Terrazas and Mrs. Medlin serve as resources and mentors for new faculty and staff throughout the year.

James Scott’s constant presence at extracurricular activities including sporting events, performing arts events, academic competitions, and the like is an unwavering reminder that so much about teaching exists outside the walls of the classroom. His true and authentic investment into each student’s life only enriches his ability to positively impact that student’s academic and personal growth during the school day. This dedication to his students coupled with a long history at TVS also allows Mr. Scott to serve as an engaging colleague and mentor to the faculty around him.

Fara Adesanoye

Ari Ahdieh

Charlie Anderson

Nnenna Anyadiegwu

Cannon Aragon

Will Austin

Max Barber

Mary Beth Barham

Matthew Bekish

Gabrielle Boll

David Bormann

Ava Bryant

Sam Bumgardner

Nicholas Charette

Fatima Chaudhary

Audrey Clyma

John Mark Connally

Drew Corder

Tiernan Dunne

TVS WELCOMES ONE SENIOR & 71 JUNIORS TO THE ALBERT M. GOGGANS CHAPTER OF THE

NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY

MARCH 20, 2023

Abby Everett

Rob Fulghum

Morgan Goldman

Foster Good

Arden Grant

Ashton Green

Grace Hackworth

James Hart

Tucker Howell

Isabel Johnson

Rohan Johnson

Maura Kahuda

Sofia Klein

Neel Koney

Gaby Kremer

Nicole Krylov

ZachLaComb

Carter Lea

Benjamin Levy

Cindy Li

Alan Lin

Lauren Lynch

Emily Mandel

Nathan Markel

Campbell Martin

Mary Claire

Masterson

Marin McAlister

Brady Meek

Campbell

Mikulencak

Brett Mills

Angelyn Mitchell

Sophie Rose Mock

Berkeley Moore

Taryn

Parker-Richmond

Grant Pierce

Shaila Sapkota

Brooks Sartain

Zara Selod

Ellie Sinnott

Stewart Sloter

Emerson Smith

Nathan Smitherman

Collin Snyder

Alex Swienton

Sammye Unell

Luke Williams

Rainer Williams

Sarah Willmann

Vinny Worsley

Jessica Wu

Travis Zavaleta

Nick Zelissen

Anna Zhou

SCHOLARSHIP

your own path by looking for new opportunities. In essence, scholarship is the knowledge that is gained through effort and determination.

At Trinity Valley School, we place a significant emphasis on scholarship. Through classes ranging from science to fine arts, we are offered a place to thrive and be excited to learn. Our teachers have

I realized that instead of the results, scholarship was about the progress; instead of my grades, scholarship was about the actual knowledge; and instead of my memorization skill, scholarship was about my understanding.

JAMIE LIM Scholarship. A word we often hear but is often misunderstood. We frequently hear the phrases, “Study diligently. Get good grades. Do well in your classes so that you can get into a good college” and equate this with scholarship. For the longest time, I too thought that this embodied scholarship. It was always about the results instead of the progress, the grade on my report card instead of the actual knowledge, and my memorization skill rather than my understanding. Over the years, however, I realized that this interpretation of scholarship was a bit… misconstrued.

So, what is scholarship then? True scholarship is defined as a commitment to learning. Some people may equate scholarship with being “smart,” but scholarship is not an inherited quality. Instead, it is a developed quality that one nurtures through perseverance, curiosity, and responsibility. Scholarship is not something that is created by force or coercion, but rather by incessant curiosity. It is about the enthusiasm to discover, share, and build

helped us uncover new interests, spark ambition, and unlock our confidence. By spending my time learning at TVS, I realized that instead of the results, scholarship was about the progress; instead of my grades, scholarship was about the actual knowledge; and instead of my memorization skill, scholarship was about my understanding. And this does not have to be purely academic. Although scholarship can be about the process of understanding forces in physics, it can also be about your drive to better yourself in football or your devotion to find the best chess opening. You all have something you enjoy doing, so use that motivation to better yourself.

All of you guys are here today because of your drive to learn and passion to enrich yourself with knowledge. So, I want to remind you to continue this mindset outside of high school. Your joy to attain knowledge should not end when school ends; it should carry on wherever you go, whether you are in college, at home, or working. As a final remark, I have three main points to share with you. Let your time at school serve as the platform for you to nurture your passion and pursuit for knowledge. Work with people around you to share ideas. Finally, don’t be afraid of failure as valuable insights will come through it. Strive for success for the choices you make, not the chances around you.

Congratulations on your induction to the National Honor Society.

ALLISON MILLS

During my time at Trinity Valley, I have had the privilege to work with incredible individuals, both my peers and various adults, to effectively serve my community. I have learned that if you are truly passionate about a cause – whether it be a problem in our society, a lack of resources, or any pressing topic – using a selfless heart can truly make a change.

At the beginning of my high school experience and during the pandemic, I found myself concerned for the world in which we live. I realized that many people struggle with ignorance and apathy, when really what we need is compassion. I became convinced that I could be a part of making this happen.

Though I have had the privilege to be involved in National Charity League and other service opportunities, one of the most significant service experiences that has shaped me into who I am has been right here at TVS with Trojan Tutors. If you aren’t familiar with it, Trojan Tutors is a club that partners with Chapel Hill Academy, which is a public charter school down the street operated by Lena Pope. About 10 TVS students go over to Chapel

Hill every Thursday morning and tutor around 25 second and third graders in English and math.

When I began going, I soon realized it was about more than just tutoring these kids. It was about forming relationships and being a mentor and friend to them. This year, when the man in charge of programming at Chapel Hill emailed me to let me know that many of the students from last year were eager to have us come back, I was filled with both gratitude and joy knowing how much everyone involved cares.

One little girl explained to me recently that they look forward to seeing us every week because they know they can talk to us. Oftentimes we find out that we have more in common than we thought. We enjoy the same music and TV shows, and they usually don't have the chance to talk about that stuff. Many of the students come from unstable homes and do not have access to the same amount of support we receive here at TVS. That is why it is so important for us to use our privilege in a selfless manner to give back. From seeing their palpable academic progress to hearing about their weekend plans, these kids have made more of an impact on me than I ever would have imagined.

I honestly do not know what I am going to do next year when I will not get to see them every week, but I know they will continue to succeed, especially as they will still have many of these students here on stage to tutor them. The kids at Chapel Hill never fail to make me laugh, and they remind me that if you are going to be anything, be kind. When you create a personal connection to the individuals or groups you are serving, your service adopts a whole new meaning. Anyone can make a difference in someone’s life; it just begins with caring.

I know that each student here tonight has demonstrated empathy in the service they have been involved in to make a legitimate difference in their communities. Whether by small acts of kindness or leading larger projects, everyone on this stage has positively impacted others’ lives through their commitment to service.

I will leave you with one of my favorite quotes from Martin Luther King Jr., and I challenge each of you to take this with you in the next chapter of your lives – “Everybody can be great because anybody can serve. You only need a heart full of grace and a soul generated by love.”

LEADERSHIP

You all represent presidents of clubs, captains of teams, stage managers in theater productions, business owners, and so much more. Undoubtedly, you all should be proud and reap the fruits of your labor. But just for a second, I want you to think about your “why.” Are you searching for praise and awards, or are you trying to inspire, fulfill a passion, or give back to the community at large?

ELLA FERGUSON

Initially, when trying to define leadership, I thought of one of my teachers. One time in class he stated that a leader is simply somebody who does something, and other people follow. I thought to myself, that is a straightforward definition of leadership. I liked it. It truly captures the essence of individuals like Martin Luther King, Harriet Tubman, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. However, as I let this definition marinate, I realized that it also captures the essence of individuals like Hitler, Mussolini, and Phyllis Schlafly. These are all people who did something and others followed.

So today, I don't want to speak about leadership in a context that can be applied to the man who led the 1960 civil rights movement and the most infamous dictator in the world. Today, I want to speak about intent.

Because ultimately, I believe glory is not held in the what but in the why. And, as you all become older, your why will only grow in importance. As outstanding individuals, leadership positions will be vast and imminent. It might seem easy to accept these opportunities solely for accolades or to strengthen a resume. And while praise is necessary at times, don't allow it to be your motivating factor. Because you all are so much more than a pat on the back. You all have the capability to be the reason a child is no longer bullied, the reason hospitals can fund cancer research or the reason a lower schooler wants to start playing football. You all represent change; you all will have the opportunities and capabilities to move mountains.

So I challenge you all not to simply be a leader, or in other words, somebody who does something and others happen to follow. I challenge you all to lead with positive intent. Because you never know the impact of your “why.” Congratulations on being inducted into the National Honor Society. You don’t know the opportunities that lie ahead. Thank you for your time.

You all have the capability to be the reason a child is no longer bullied, the reason hospitals can fund cancer research or the reason a lower schooler wants to start playing football.

BEN PARKS

Character is difficult to define, but to describe it in three words, I choose integrity, kindness, and grit.

Integrity’s classic definition is “doing the right thing when no one is looking.” However, oftentimes it is much more difficult to do the right thing when there are eyes on you as opposed to being alone. Another definition is “the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness.” I consider “the quality of being honest” to mean that people of integrity are not afraid to display their authentic selves without masking the truth due to a fear of being viewed critically. Consider how, when you want to impress someone, you think about what you “should” say rather than what you want to say. Having integrity is being honest with yourself and those around you and not deviating from that whether there are hundreds of eyes on you or none. For when we think about the people in our lives whom we love for their character, we love them because they always stay true to themselves in the face of opposition, not because they are people pleasers. Have integrity, be honest with yourselves and the people around you about who you really are.

The second trait is kindness. In my seven years at TVS, some of my most memorable moments have involved very small selfless actions that I either have experienced firsthand or witnessed as a bystander. In many situations, a tiny effort can completely make someone's day or week. When I think about acts of kindness at TVS, I think of Coach Cain. Coach Cain is a track and football coach at TVS, and he always takes time out of his day to walk around the Upper School and say hi to everyone as they pass by. The only sport he ever coached me in was seventh-grade track, and he has absolutely no reason to remember me. But every time I see him in the halls or on the way to lunch, he greets me by name. Every time I see him, he makes my day a little bit better, and I know that he has a similar effect on the other students. By simply acknowledging everyone and treating each individual with respect, he has an immensely positive effect on the environment around him. Kindness does not require great acts of affection or service. Most of the time, initiating a positive interaction with someone has a huge impact.

Lastly, I will discuss grit. Grit and character go hand in hand: without one, the other ceases to exist. Grit is the ability to spark motivation in yourself when you are at the lowest of the lows. It is the ability to realize that you cannot change the past and can only focus on taking the necessary steps to improve your future. Each one of you up here today has shown grit through your ability to persevere in your academic careers while maintaining a respectful reputation in your community. Displaying grit and perseverance doesn’t mean that you have to do everything by yourself, it just means that you use whatever resources are available

Kindness does not require great acts of affection or service.

to you to improve your current situation. Use those close to you as your crutches when needed, and be sure to provide the same service in return.

Continue to build upon and display your character. Be sure not to deviate from it no matter who’s watching. Treat others with kindness and respect and use whatever is available to you to pull yourself out of your ruts. Show grit. Thank you.

CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2023!

FIRST ROW (L-R)

Jillian Ivy

Alyssa Clark

Allison Mills

Madison Bush

Jamie Lim

Siri Bejjanki

Jade Parker

Ashley Shahi

Camille Gracia

Ellie Grau

Anna Fahy

SECOND ROW

Ava Grace Benson

Kate Roemer

Sophia Hernandez

Cooper Quisenberry

Sarah Willmann

Bella Lange

Peyton Presnall

Eilea Andrews

Amanda Fitzgerald

Abby Hooker

Clara Kanthack

Ava Dias

Caroline Carlock

Macy Williams

THIRD ROW

Brady Walker

Cage Bass

Roman Johnson

Ben Parks

Becca Bernardy

Mallory Hill

Caroline Sweet

Ella Ferguson

Catherine Mock

Sabrina Mercer

Megha Duvvuri

Raegan Putnam

Matt Lutes

Sacha Chindiwo

Owen Cox

FOURTH ROW

Hunter Cooke

Zack Blouin

Pepa Regan

John Pritchett

Ashlyn Corbin

Chas Hayman

Tatum Duncan

Julia Shaw

Cole Richardson

Maggie Eskue

Will McKnight

Collin Fewins

Adam Bhaloo

Andrew Perryman

Bishop Williams

Azhar Saran

Aidan Anderson

BACK ROW

Eric Bormann

Walker Spence

Hudson Jamison

Michael Gallagher

Thomas Boothby

Brian Scully

AJ Williams

Shawn Young

Asher Mills

Nate Crider

Wyatt Byrd

Tamam Haque

Eli Looney

Luke Snow

Lane Klein

Chris Zheng

Justin White

Ian Khan

Anna Ross, Academic Services Coordinator Learn more on p5.

FUTURE FOCUSED

MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS & RESPONSE SERVICES AT TVS

JEFF SNYDER , ASSISTANT HEAD OF SCHOOL

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health challenges among children and teens were on the rise across the United States. Based on the Center for Disease Control’s most recent report on Youth Risk Behavior, there is no question that the post-COVID reality continues to demonstrate that students were significantly impacted by the many months of navigating the social difficulties created by the global pandemic.

The most alarming data from the CDC’s study indicates that in 2021, almost 60% of teen girls “experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness during the past year.” This number is up significantly from previous years, and the rise was matched by significant increases in the number of teen girls that report seriously considering attempting suicide (41%) and making a plan for suicide (30%).1

In addition to the CDC’s recent data set, independent schools like Trinity Valley were already seeing higher rates of diagnosed depression and anxiety among middle- and high-school students at levels that exceed the national averages in high-achieving schools. According to a pilot study released in May of 2020 by the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), in the eight pilot independent schools studied, “almost 10% of the students in the pilot schools have clinically significant levels of depression (9.6%) and anxiety (9.4%). This is contrasted to 7.3% of students nationally with clinically significant levels of depression and 6.7% with anxiety.”2

The subsequent Independent School Health Check study of high-school students released in 2022 revealed that “34% of students reported that they did not like themselves, up 9 percentage points from 2014-2017. In 2021-2022, 66% of students reported liking themselves ‘just the way I am’ — 9 percentage points below the

percentage in 2014-2017.”3 Independent schools like TVS certainly are not immune to significant instances of depression and anxiety, and some data suggest greater challenges amidst the larger context of high-achieving schools. Fortunately, each study points to important steps schools can take to curb these increases while successfully responding to current student needs. These steps include offering comprehensive and confidential counseling services, training faculty in identifying mental health struggles among students, and facilitating safe ways for students to connect with others and foster a sense of community. Over the last few years, and even amidst the global pandemic, Trinity Valley School has continued to build capacity within each of these areas, and in our ongoing strides to provide the best possible experience for students, we are further prioritizing and expanding preventative mental health programming alongside the addition of counseling and academic support personnel. Beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, we will staff a mental health counselor and a full-time academic support staff member in each of the three academic divisions.

Currently, the TVS Mental Health Counseling Program focuses on three areas of emphasis: mental health and wellness programs, responsive services, and learning support. The mental health programs offered at TVS ensure that students have the opportunity to learn and grow in the areas of mental health and wellness, conflict resolution and interpersonal skills, drug abuse prevention, personal growth and self-awareness, and personal safety. Additionally, through responsive services, the TVS counselors who adhere to the NAIS Guidelines of Professional Practice for Behavioral Health Professionals Working in Independent Schools provide ongoing support for the psychological and social-emotional

well-being of students within the context of the School community. Finally, the TVS counselors work closely with the Academic Support Team to assist in the process of early identification of neurodiversity that may impact academic success.

Most recently, the TVS “Student Experience Team,” which includes the Assistant Head of School, counselors, nurses, Academic Support Coordinator, Director of Experiential Education (TOE), Director of Global Education, Director of Auxiliary Programs, and the Venue Production Coordinator, has focused on developing ways to infuse additional community building and mental health programming across these important areas of the non-academic school experience. This upcoming work includes a partnership with TVS

IN 2022

34% OF STUDENTS REPORTED THAT THEY DID NOT LIKE THEMSELVES, UP 9 PERCENTAGE POINTS FROM 2014-2017

alumna Catherine Reynolds ’13, whose experience at Mental Health America and in other mental health advocacy arenas will further inform our ability to better support each one of our students as we not only meet their immediate needs but also prepare them to pursue the resources available to them in college and in their professional and family lives.

1. https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/pdf/YRBS_DataSummary-Trends_Report2023_508.pdf

2. https://www.nais.org/getmedia/411feb9c-b9e8-4624-8f9e7f65cc324c3f/High-Achieving-Schools-Pilot-Study.pdf

3. https://www.nais.org/getmedia/71a8dd60-4167-4fdb-90d6430f0b09619d/NAIS-Research_2021-22-ISHC-Mental-Health_ 6-2022.pdf

ALMOST 10% OF THE STUDENTS IN INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS HAVE CLINICALLY SIGNIFICANT LEVELS OF DEPRESSION (9.6%) AND ANXIETY (9.4%).

This is contrasted to 7.3% of students nationally with clinically significant levels of depression and 6.7% with anxiety

In 2021, almost 60% OF TEEN GIRLS “EXPERIENCED PERSISTENT FEELINGS OF SADNESS OR HOPELESSNESS DURING THE PAST YEAR.”

This number is up significantly from previous years, and the rise was matched by significant increases in the number of teen girls that report seriously considering attempting suicide (41%) and making a plan for suicide (30%)

TVS PRE-K: CULTIVATING THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS

BY SANDY MCNUTT, HEAD OF LOWER SCHOOL

Trinity Valley School added an extraordinary Pre-K 4 program in 2019. Recently, we interviewed students in our inaugural program, asking them, "How have you grown over the years?" Out of the mouths of babes came honesty, reflection, insight, and pure joy.

This class, comprised of 32 four-year-olds, gained tenacity, strength, and independence as their Pre-K year was interrupted by a major interruption that caused them to receive instruction from home from March through May. COVID! The fall of 2020 took us into cohorts. These events did not break their spirit

I learned a lot about kindness from my first teachers. They dropped off all of our schoolwork, wrote with chalk on our driveways, and brought balloons for our birthdays.

but grew them as learners. When asked to share how the years between Pre-K and second grade developed them as leaders, they responded with the thoughts on these pages.

We see much hope when we pause to consider how these next-generation leaders present themselves and reflect on what they believe is most important. They have grown in character and greatness over the past four years at Trinity Valley School. Tenacity, respect, honor, gratitude, and abundant joy offer us belief and pride in these young children as we project on our future.

I didn't know anything about how to use technology. I had to learn fast because that was how we talked with our teachers and saw our friends’ faces over Zoom. I am good at using technology now to communicate.

In kindergarten, it was easy to help students new to our school. Lots of us had already been here a year, so we helped the newer kids get around. We already knew where the nurse was and where to go for PE and the other special classes. We kept them from getting lost.

I didn't know it when I was little, but when I was in Pre-K and kindergarten, our teachers had to eat with us every day in the classroom. They were always wiping down our tables. I think that is how I learned to keep my desk clean and wash my hands to keep other people safe.

I feel like I have been at TVS my whole life. I am good at holding doors and greeting new people. We learned how to be respectful of first responders when we were in Pre-K. It is easy to still be thankful when I see a person in the military. All my teachers still remind us of respect.

I think we learned how to do hard things like wear masks and stay in small groups. You figure out how to do the next hard thing when you do hard things.

Every morning at carpool, we would stand with our teachers and watch the big kids raise the flags. Even if we were talking or running around, we would stop and put our hands on our hearts. We still do that in class. I remember it is important, even four years later, to freeze when we say the pledge.

SHOWCASING ART I

Every year, Upper School students find many opportunities to engage in artistic exploration and individual expression offered through Trinity Valley’s Fine Arts programming. The broad choices include Choir, Orchestra, Dance, Technical Theater, Stage Acting, Improv, Ceramics, Glass, Photography, Art I, Art II, Art III, and Senior Portfolios. Students who choose to begin their visual art-making adventures with Art I enter a multi-grade-level course that allows them to learn in a studio setting with their peers ranging from freshmen through seniors. This combination provides multi-layered learning as students encounter peers with different levels of technical abilities, experiences, and understandings about art and life. The Art I experience is steeped in the vocabulary of art. Students engage in assignments that help them learn to transform art vocabulary into a visual language that they can recognize as fine art. The projects are wrapped in introductory levels of art history relevant to each area studied throughout the year. Some of those projects are presented in an annual Art I exhibition in the TVS Art Gallery.

This year’s Art I exhibition, presented in January 2023, was comprised of student work from several areas of study and included utilitarian pencil wraps, graphite drawings focused on design and composition, charcoal gesture drawings,

pen-and-ink contour line drawings, and watercolor paintings. Each assignment was designed to provide the TVS art student with an introductory foundation of knowledge that will be used in the various Upper School visual arts courses.

In the fall of 2022, Art I students created bamboo pencil wraps to hold and maintain their drawing mediums throughout the year. The interior of each wrap contains woven elastic loops to hold drawing tools, while the exterior is the support for a painting. The paintings are visual expressions of each student’s understanding of several specific design principles that were studied. This project allowed students to visually appreciate the beauty and satisfaction of working with purposeful compositional skills. Students are reminded of their abilities and the significance of design each time they use their pencil wrap in the art studio classroom. As a follow-up to this project, students developed graphite drawings based on the designs they created for their wrap paintings. Comparing the paintings and their respective drawings reveals each student’s growth and appreciation of design, composition, and inventiveness. This assignment provides the opportunity for students to understand and explore the elements and principles of design and to begin preparing for future visual art courses in photography, glass, ceramics, and Art II.

JANET CHAFFEE , UPPER SCHOOL ART TEACHER

Jason Shahi, Graphite on Paper

Brooklyn Weems, Acrylic, Elastic, & Ribbon on Bamboo

Art I students also learn to develop and advance their drawing skills. They are introduced to the basics of a variety of drawing techniques centered on observational drawing. These important techniques include mass gesture and line gesture, continuous contour line, and contour line drawing methods. Observational drawing is a challenging skill that requires students to stretch their ability to focus and develop an open willingness to see and learn from mistakes. Mistakes are made in the moments of creating. It also provides an immediate opportunity for students to develop and enhance their eye-hand coordination. In the exhibition, there were mass gesture drawings of still-life objects created with charcoal and watercolor paint. These drawings were created in an average of three to five minutes each. Students must quickly learn to scan the objects, looking for formal connections between their observations and their physical arm movement so they can draw with a fluid deliberateness. Line gesture has some similarities to mass gesture, but instead of conveying the breadth and volume of a surface and form, these drawings are trying to convey the contour edges found both inside the objects and on the exterior of the objects. Again, the students worked with various types of charcoal, and the drawings were timed. To draw well using mass and line gesture demands that students draw the general areas, shapes, and forms before focusing on the smaller, more specific details. They are focused on the visual weight of the objects and the relationships between the objects and their details. These drawings are complex and happen so rapidly that students glance only occasionally at their picture plane while drawing. Continuous contour line and contour line drawing are both slower drawing techniques. Students

are still working on their eye-hand coordination but at a deliberately slower speed. Students try to convey the details within shapes and forms using clean deliberate lines with singularity and accuracy. In this exhibition, the continuous contour line drawings were created using pen and ink. Pen and ink make the process more challenging because the students cannot erase while making the drawing.

Art I students also exhibited watercolor paintings. They each created observational contour line drawings using the techniques of sighting, measuring, and mapping. These processes are complicated and challenging to combine but can result in very beautiful and skillful drawings that became the compositional foundations for their watercolor paintings. This project allows students to slow down and practice looking. It encourages them to become experts in questioning how they see objects in relationship to other objects and space. While the watercolor paintings in this exhibition were based on observational contour line drawings, the process of painting gave way to the investigation of color theory. They learned about different color schemes, selected one, and worked through the development of that scheme. The resulting paintings are the culmination of increasing technical skills, trial and error, growth, perseverance, and inventiveness.

Art I is an opportunity for students to develop different levels of proficiencies in the fundamentals of artmaking, design, and composition. The Art I exhibition this year provided a window into the overlapping projects and learning that prepares students for the challenges of future visual art classes in addition to enriching their daily observations and problem-solving abilities.

Ruby White, Watercolor on Paper Gabi Cowan, Graphite on Paper

Hardie Tucker, Watercolor on Paper

Dahlia Roberts, Graphite on Paper

Fiona She, Graphite on Paper

Thomas Young, Watercolor on Paper

Tappan Bailey, Pen on Paper

Nori Hamilton, Watercolor on Paper

Ryan Crider, Acrylic, Elastic, on Bamboo

Claire Kauffman, Pen on Paper

Emily Buhman, Watercolor on Paper

Hunter Cooke, John Pritchett, and Cole Richardson.

DIGGING INTO THE PAST TO IMAGINE THE CLASSROOM OF THE FUTURE

If you have heard us mention Buttermilk Creek Ranch or been lucky enough to visit, you know that the ranch is a huge asset for Trinity Valley’s commitment to experiential education.

Our connection to Buttermilk Creek Ranch started in 2016 with a chance conversation between Mark Kalpakis, father of George Kalpakis ‘22, and Blake Amos. The conversation led the Kalpakis family to generously throw open the gates to several hundred acres of pristine land near Salado for us to dream on. Since those early days, TOE has created robust sixth- and 12th-grade Core trips on the ranch where we hike, fish, learn, play, and explore on our own terms.

From the beginning, Mark also told us about the neighboring property that just so happened to house the Gault School of Archeological Research (GSAR), and he wondered if there might be a connection for our students. GSAR had unearthed over two million artifacts linked to many generations of Paleoindian hunting and gathering cultures. Artifacts such as horse, bison, and mammoth bone, as well as lithic spear points and flakes, were found centimeters to meters below the surface.

Literally, on the other side of the fence, just 50 yards away from our land was a cache of world-renowned research opportunities.

We reached out and before long had a very passionate Amanda Collins (US Science) and several US students digging in the dirt alongside the staff and the founder of GSAR, archaeologist Dr. Michael Collins, a legend who is sometimes referred to as the “Indiana Jones of Texas.”

GSAR had unearthed over two million artifacts linked to many generations of Paleoindian hunting and gathering cultures. Artifacts such as horse, bison, and mammoth bone, as well as lithic spear points and flakes...

We thought we had hit the jackpot… until…the program began to lose traction. We saw such potential in a nontraditional course for our Upper School students that was project-based and more self-directed. At the same time, relying on the GSAR staff to find time for us, overcoming a small matter called a pandemic, and, ultimately, developing structure to make it a true “for credit” course proved a difficult set of challenges to overcome. For a time, we let our plans fall into the category of “just a good idea.”

We had to find a way to make this good idea fit into the course calendar, course schedule, and requirements for credit in the Upper School. So we reached out to History

BLAKE AMOS, DIRECTOR OF EXPERIENTAL EDUCATION AMANDA COLLINS, UPPER SCHOOL SCIENCE TEACHER AND DR. DAVID OSTROFF, HISTORY DEPARTMENT CHAIR

Department Chair, Dave Ostroff and Director of Global Education Michael Roemer. Their creative thinking and ability to help navigate Upper School requirements led to the development of our first-ever Archaeology course!

We have designed a curriculum that leverages the strengths of the different faculty involved and found a once-per-week time slot during T-period for the class to meet. While the course is a full year, students currently receive a credit for one semester of history.

We are off and running…or digging!

“Archaeology: Digging into History” is team-teaching at its finest. The course began in the fall when Mrs. Collins introduced the science and processes of an archeological dig site. Dr. Ostroff shared his passion around themes of Equity and Inclusion: archaeology gives voice to people whose stories had never been parts of written historical records. Upper School Latin teacher Dr. Brandon Cline worked with our class to help students understand how archeology helps us view a classical culture and community.

Once each month, students visit Buttermilk Creek Ranch to work side by side with professional archeologists. We met archeologists Chris Ringstaff, now our dig site director, and TVS alumnus Kevin Miller ’85, who works in the private archeology world. We even had a visit in February from Dr. David Kilby, a renowned professor from Texas State, who was thrilled to work alongside our students. Together we have developed a TVS dig site called Three Owl.

Despite all the hands-on work at the ranch and numerous amazing instructors, there were still some very traditional elements in the original course design for Archaeology. In terms of assessing students’ learning, for example, we had scheduled a traditional midterm exam - almost by default.

Top: Hailey Murrin and TVS teacher Mrs. Collins at the dig site.

Bottom:Archaeologist Dr. Michael Collins, “Indiana Jones of Texas.”

While the staff were meeting before class one day, we wondered, “What does the midterm look like?” It was on our course schedule, but were unsure what the actual assessment would look like, not to mention how it would be presented or even fully assessed.

Blake Amos answered, “The kids haven’t decided that yet!” and an observer could almost see the heads starting to spin.

This prompted all of us to ask, “How do instructors assess competency in a course like this?”

During the next class we asked the students, “After weeks of discussing various topics and numerous visits to the site, what are you finding so interesting that you need to know more?”

And then it happened. The course finally moved from something more traditional to something more innovative … and incredible. One student said, “I need to know more about the rocks on the ranch and the geology of the area,” so we brought onto the team a local geologist Rob Jacobs and alumni father.

Another said, “I want to learn more about the native people that were there and what happened to them.” We connected her to another Dr. Roemer (UTA Professor Emeritus and father of our own Dr. Michael Roemer), who has done extensive research on Texas native peoples. Others wanted to learn more about how tools were made, so we linked them to professional flint-knappers. Another wanted to know more about how archeologists make a living and what they actually do.

The midterm became presentations and formal research papers (the students could choose one) on what they learned from deeper dives into their respective interests. That’s when the course shifted from a teacher-driven curriculum to something much more. The students eagerly read, researched, interviewed, and dug deeper

Top: Chert points, more commonly known as arrowheads.

Bottom:Kevin Miller ’85, Chris Ringstaff (lead archaeologist for the crew), Dr. David Kilby, John Pritchett, Hunter Cooke, Cole Richardson, Hailey Murrin, Emerson Smith, TVS teacher Mrs. Collins, alumni parent Rob Jacobs, land owner and alumni parent Mark Kalpakis, and Mr. Kalpakis’ grandson Atom.

into what they found important to them. Isn’t that the core of great learning? Things seem to stick more when the learner can decide what is important. A student somehow does not mind the rigor if it is toward personal goals and not just those on a syllabus. It has been wonderful to watch the students in the course adding to their own workload because the subject matter is important to them. Observing them digging in the dirt for eight hours on a Saturday, shoulder to shoulder with the professionals, has been remarkable.

This is their course now!

Students and teachers reimagining great learning together supports our School’s mission for “fine scholarship.” When asked what he thought of our new class after working with our students all year, Three Owl Site Director, Chris Ringstaff, who has been a professional archaeologist for almost 30 years, wrote:

The program offered by Trinity Valley School provides their college-bound students a unique opportunity to work on a world-class archeological site collaborating with professional archeologists. The course is comparable in its rigors to a university undergraduate-level archeological field school conducting field survey and site delineation as well as controlled excavation and data recovery. The multi-disciplinary approach of the course integrates geography, geology, biology, and anthropology,

distinguishing the program as an endeavor of true scientific inquiry and historic preservation versus relict hunting. The students are provided on-site training and guidance but are self-motivated and assume direct accountability for the quality of their work product, which will serve them later in their individual academic and professional careers.

And this is only the start. We cannot wait for you to see the final project they will create!

We are also designing Archaeology 2.0 for our current students who want to continue in the project next year. More importantly, this class has created opportunities for Upper School faculty to play with our assumptions about the traditional classroom and classtime experience and reimagine what great learning can look like at TVS. Can we rethink the view that classroom seat time equals great learning? Are we willing to let go of telling students what they need to know and instead guide them toward their own goals while helping to equip them? How might we continue to push students to use their numerous resources to become lifelong learners who not only know how to find their own paths but also enjoy the process? We hope our wonderings inspire similar questions and conversations about redefining great learning in other contexts and other subjects all over our campus.

Lab work cleaning artifacts. Clockwise from top left: Mrs. Collins in her lab with Hailey Murrin, Hunter Cooke and John Pritchett, Emerson Smith and Kate Roemer, Emerson Smith,

CHARTING A NEW COURSE

STEVI SCHUKNECHT, DIRECTOR OF COLLEGE COUNSELING

College Counseling is charting a new course. Since I came to Trinity Valley in mid-June of 2022, the TVS College Counseling team has examined every part of our programming, curriculum, and departmental structure. We have shifted to a new online college-planning platform, redesigned the School’s transcript, adjusted the curriculum to allow for earlier college counselor assignments, and have even expanded the department. We have been busy at work examining and reshaping each part of the College Counseling experience.

It has become clear that students at TVS would benefit from longer-term relationships with their individual college counselor. To that end, we are working to assign counselors earlier for students, with our ultimate aim to pair students and counselors late in ninth grade. In order to do this, and to make ourselves available to meet with younger students while maintaining support for 11th and 12th graders, we have expanded our team. In January, Jamie Arrington joined TVS as the College Counseling Coordinator/Testing Coordinator.

her support and ideas, and we’re already finding her an indispensable member of the College Counseling team.

Jamie is a talented professional and already has made an impact in our office. Moving forward, she will be managing our databases and systems, coordinating the administration of PSAT and AP exams, supporting our communications, and helping plan and manage the many events our office hosts. We are grateful to have

We have organized the focus of our work with students around themes for each year in Upper School. We begin in ninth grade with self-exploration, so that our students can discover their academic and extracurricular interests. The conversation continues in 10th grade as students take these interests and begin to research possible career paths. We then assist juniors and seniors as they move through the college-exploration and finally the college-application process. Our office facilitates assessments that helps students better understand their personality, interests, soft skills, and work values throughout the Upper School years at TVS. As they draw closer to graduation, Trojans are supported through engagement in a comprehensive college-application process and encouraged to pursue postsecondary goals that align with their interests.

Trinity Valley College Counseling has long provided exceptional programming for Upper School families. Lasting hallmark programs include the College Day

The College Day Fair, hosted at Fort Worth Country Day, is a longstanding program that TVS students look forward to each year.

As the world of college admissions shifts and changes, TVS College Counseling is adapting and anticipating the needs of our students.

Fair, College Colloquium (featuring admissions deans and directors), a formal application kickoff for seniors, and presentations about financing college and standardized testing (SAT/ACT), to name a few. These programs will continue as essential resources for our Upper School community. However, in 20222023, our team added the new 11th-grade TOE Core trip (see next page), a formal program preparing our prospective student athletes for the recruiting process, and, in collaboration with other Fort Worth Independent Schools, we are once again launching a Fort Worth Area Case Studies Program this April. This program will allow Upper School students and parents/guardians the opportunity to conduct mock

file reviews with guidance from a college admission counselor and spend a few moments experiencing what it is like to be on an admissions committee as they work to make difficult admission decisions.

As the world of college admissions shifts and changes, TVS College Counseling is adapting and anticipating the needs of our students. No matter what the future holds, our office remains committed to supporting all students individually as they prepare to further their education in a context that aligns with their individual talents, interests, and goals. While we are reimagining many aspects of our work, these four enduring principles will guide and inform our actions:

• We take an individualized approach and respect the diverse needs of our students and families.

• We partner with families through ongoing communication so they are empowered to engage in an informed college admissions process.

• We align our work with ethical standards and best-practices to support a student-centered process.

• We continually seek knowledge about an everchanging admissions landscape.

More innovations are underway, so stay tuned! We are grateful for the support of the TVS administration, staff, and community as we continue to innovate and grow.

Top: In January, test preparation expert Adam Ingersoll from Compass Education Group presented to the Upper School community.

Bottom L-R: Blake Amos, Director of Experiential Education; Stevi Schuknecht, Director of College Counseling; Natalie Timson, Assistant Director of College Counseling; Zina Wormley, Associate Director of College Counseling.

INAUGURAL 11TH-GRADE TOE CORE TRIP

In mid-February, 93 11th-grade students, five faculty members, three college counselors, three admissions counselors, two TOE directors, and several other friends, parents, and TVS alumni convened at Camp El Tesoro in Granbury for the inaugural junior TOE trip. What we expected to be a rainy few days turned out to be beautiful and sunny.

During our time together, we learned from Aziza Janmohamed from Rice University; Justin Doty, Dean of Admissions at Trinity University; and Beverly Wheeler, Regional Director of Admission from Hendrix College. With these experts, students examined mock admission files, learned about the college essay, and reflected on the college admissions process. Each student embraced the challenge of participating in a mock interview (without exception, all students at the retreat were on time for their interview appointment!). Each student set up the Common Application, learned tools for researching colleges, worked on the college resume, and finally, heard from faculty about requesting college recommendations. In between, we shared meals, sat around the campfire, played archery tag and ultimate frisbee, kayaked on the pond, and enjoyed the beautiful weather. After the trip, I am confident they are better equipped for what is ahead. This event provided a unique opportunity for students to both reflect on their personal outlook toward college admissions and to accomplish several tasks toward preparation for that process. I dare say we also had plenty of fun!

Left: Alex Swienton, TVS junior, participates in a mock admission interview with Dr. Alexandra Channell, Assistant Head of Upper School.

Top: At Camp El Tesoro, crossing the bridge is a rite of passage…and the first challenge campers must conquer.

Bottom: These faculty members, alumni, and friends of TVS interviewed 93 students in two hours at the junior TOE retreat!

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY OF SERVICE: BUILDING CONNECTION THROUGH SERVICE

COMMUNITY

DR. TREVON R. JONES, DIRECTOR OF EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND

Dr. Jones, Justin White, Jillian Ivy, and staff from Sunrise McMillan.

From the beginning of our School’s history, developing Trinity Valley School students to be intelligent citizens has been at the heart of our mission. This commitment informs the way we engage with each other and the way we engage with the local community.

In service of our mission, we decided to approach Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in a new way this year. Nationally, the MLK Holiday is known as a Day of Service – an opportunity to make a positive impact on the community. TVS has regularly provided opportunities for service on the MLK holiday, but this year we devoted a few hours of a school day for the TVS community to come together in service to lay the foundation for ongoing partnership with other schools in our city. The day allowed us an opportunity to lean into our Equity, Inclusion, and Community statement with our students in a way that connected us to the larger Fort Worth community while strengthening our bonds as a school.

On the morning of Friday, January 13, the entire campus engaged in a Day of Service in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life and legacy. The morning began with students from our Black Student Union sharing poetry. Maxwell Hunter, a sixthgrade student, shared the quote that also served as the theme for the day:

“If life is to be complete, it must include not only the dimension of length but also of breadth by which the individual concerns himself in the welfare of others. No person has learned to live until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity. [....] Life's most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Strength to Love (1963)

After grounding us in our purpose for engaging in service, seventh- through 12th-grade students were paired with Kindergarten through sixth-grade students as “buddies” for the day to begin engaging in service throughout campus. Our service project focused on supporting other students by decorating ceiling tiles for four Fort Worth Independent School District elementary

schools: Sunrise McMillan, Walton, C. C. Moss, and A. M. Pate. The students created some beautiful designs filled with motivational quotes. The students were even able to include the school logos on the ceiling tiles thanks to the stencils created by students in Dr. Taylor’s Digital Fabrication class. During the project, one younger buddy was overheard saying, “Remember, when they see this tile we want them to feel happy.” As photos from the event show, the students were successful in this endeavor! Our students decorated about 125 ceiling tiles that day!

As the students worked on their ceiling tiles, Mr. Rian Townsend, Executive Director in Fort Worth ISD, toured the campus while buddies were engaged in service. He was impressed by the work that students were doing and our commitment to intelligent citizenship that made the morning possible. He expressed his gratitude and texted the school principals often to show them the caliber of work our students were doing all across campus. He left excited about developing a relationship that could benefit the entire city.

The morning ended with students having lunch with their buddies. As they enjoyed their meal, they asked each other fun questions designed by the Middle School Impact Committee. After lunch, students were able to engage in brain breaks with their buddies before heading back to their classes.

In the weeks following the project, we delivered the ceiling tiles to the elementary school campuses. Student leaders in the Upper School were invited to be a part of the delivery process and thank the schools for allowing us the opportunity to decorate ceiling tiles for them. It was uplifting to see our students connect with principals, teachers, and students that were grateful to receive a gift that would have a positive impact on their school communities.

As Trinity Valley School continues to think about service through the lens of our School mission, we are developing a future that builds on existing partnerships to deepen experiences for students and forges new partnerships with the intent of lifting all areas of the

“If life is to be complete, it must include not only the dimension of length but also of breadth by which the individual concerns himself in the welfare of others..."

— Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

city. Whether in Xplore; the Upper School Community Service Program; Trojan Outdoor Experience; Skills for Tomorrow; or Equity, Inclusion, and Community, we are creating pathways focused on building partnerships that edify mutual respect and honor our shared interest in the well-being of the entire community. Our Day of Service was the beginning of a partnership with four school communities. We look forward to continuing to

build connections and working together as a team for the entire community. Stay tuned for more!

1: L-R Ella Ferguson, Justin White, Jillian Ivy, Johanna Ivy, and Maxwell Hunter, main speakers at Day of Service. 2-4: Trojans showing off their decorated ceiling tiles. 5: Dr. Taylor and students using computer science to draw on the tiles. 6:Students at A. M. Pate holding up our tiles. 7:Students at Walton with Dr. Jones. 1

GLOBAL CONNECTIONS FOR THE PRESENT… AND INTO THE FUTURE!

DR. MICHAEL ROEMER , DIRECTOR OF GLOBAL EDUCATION

Of my favorite Global Education experiences over the years (and there are many), seeing the global friendships formed right here on our campus tops the list. This has happened when International Assistant Teachers spend several weeks with our students and teachers and when middle- and upper-school students visit. One common theme among these in-person exchanges that makes them especially rewarding and often transformational is that our guests live with TVS Host Families. In many cases, friendships started at TVS last long into the future, and those friendships can lead to new exchanges and opportunities for our teachers, students, and their families.

By May of 2023, 160 TVS families across all divisions will have home-hosted more than 270 visitors (ages 13 and up) since 2011. That represents 240 TVS students who have learned to share their homes and lives with someone from a different culture. They have been pushed outside their comfort zones – but within the safety of their homes and our School. They have tried new foods, laughed at themselves as they struggled to communicate in another language, and grown as they have learned to view the world through different lenses. Parents have also shared with me how much hosting has changed the way they parent, how much they cherish the lifestyle and family they have, and how much they, too, have grown as people by inviting an international stranger into their homes. Whether for 10 days or two semesters, Hosting Exchanges at TVS have had overwhelmingly positive effects on both the Hosts and the Guests, often lasting for many years to come.

Here are a few highlights exemplifying how onetime hosting experiences have carried on into the future – even during the pandemic lockdown!

FROM STRANGERS TO FAMILY FRIENDS!

2017-PRESENT

Kamryn Dow ’18 participated in the Australia 1:1 Exchange

She hosted a student from Whitsunday Anglican School in April, then lived with her partner’s family in Mackay in July.

Kamryn and Emma remain close friends today, and thanks to social media, are in touch almost daily!

Kamryn (left) and Emma

2018-PRESENT

Piper Duncan ’20 also participated in the Australia 1:1 Exchange

The following year her partner, Ross, and his family stayed with Piper’s family over the holidays; they remain close family friends today.

Similarly, Piper’s sister, Tatum ’23, hosted Charlotte from Germany in 2019.

In June 2022 Tatum traveled to Trier with Fort Worth Sister Cities and stayed with Charlotte and Jule Marie.

In October 2022 Tatum’s family hosted Jule Marie, and friendships continue through social media!

FROM ASSISTANT TEACHERS TO CO-TEACHERS!

2019-PRESENT

Christina and Signe (Danish Assistant Teachers) spent six weeks teaching eighth-grade Humanities with Ed Wood and Ryan Ellis.

In 2020 Christina and Signe helped arrange a professional development for Dr. Wood and Mr. Ellis at their Danish university and nearby schools.

In spring 2022 seventh graders completed a Virtual Learning Exchange (VLE) with Christina’s students at the school where she is now a full-time teacher. 2022-2023: TVS fifth-grade English classes are doing several VLEs with Signe’s students at the school where she now teaches full time!

Bottom: Tatum Duncan and her two Trier Hosts.

Top L-R: Ross's brother, Piper Duncan and her partner Ross.

Ms. Betzer, Mr. Ellis, Ms. Sørenson, and Dr Wood in Denmark.

GERMAN VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON CONNECTIONS!

2020-2021: Logan Bettinger ’26 and Ruthie & Mary Blair Mayfield ’25 were Virtual Hosts (during COVID pandemic) for Till and Carin, respectively, German students at a partner school in Trier.In October 2022 Logan hosted Till, and Mary Blair and Ruthie hosted Carin in-person as part of an exchangewith six German students to TVS.

In March 2023, Till and Logan reunited in Trier as Logan participated in a Fort Worth Sister Cities trip to Germany!

What I appreciate most about these examples is how each hosting experience led to new exchanges and deepened friendships. For other families, hosting once led to hosting several other different people, resulting in new family memories and global family friendships. Although the kinds of experiences and lasting effects of hosting vary by family, there is no denying that opening home and heart to an international guest is a meaningful way to grow as a family. These families have chosen to take a chance that 10 days or a few weeks will yield long-term emotional dividends that make the inconveniences and uncertainties of hosting a stranger well worth it.

So, when you see calls for TVS Host Families, we hope you will jump at the opportunity and sign up! As these testimonies reveal, one simple act of kindness can lead to new adventures and friendships for your children and for the whole family for many years to come.

To learn more about TVS Hosting, visit bit.ly/ TVShosting.

Left: Ruthie & Mary Blair with Carin, Ashlyn and Till. Right Logan and Till

2021-2022: Ashlyn Corbin ’23 was a Virtual Host for Luna, a German student.

In June 2022 Ashlyn traveled to Trier with Fort Worth Sister Cities and was hosted by Luna.

In October 2022, Ashlyn’s family hosted Luna: yet another hosting exchange coming full circle!

Our first Hosting Opportunity for 2023-24 is for a German student, age 16, who visited us in October [and whom Tatum and Ashlyn befriended in June and again in October]. She will spend the fall semester as a TVS student, and we need a family to host her from August to late December/early January. Email Dr. Roemer to learn more!

Ashlyn (left) and Luna in Forth Worth.

BUILDING FUTURE GLOBAL LEADERS

JULIE KNUDSEN, HEAD OF MIDDLE SCHOOL

Each August, Mr. Ryan Churchward sets the stage in his sixth-grade Global Studies class by presenting the following message – Do what you can to change the world, and when necessary use words. A spinoff from the words of St. Francis of Assisi, this single yet complex idea is Mr. Churchward’s call to action for the future leaders of our world.

The sixth-grade Global Studies course is a contemporary, in-depth look at the people, places, and environments of the world from a physical and cultural perspective. It is a course that opens the eyes and broadens the viewpoints of our students through the study of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, otherwise known as the Global Goals. These 17 goals are a call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030, just one year after our current sixth graders will graduate from high school. The study of the Global Goals develops our Trinity Valley students as intelligent citizens, fostering empathy while encouraging them to explore how they can impact the lives of others both now and in the future.

Modeling the same approach the United Nations took to build the Global Goals, our sixth graders begin the year considering what makes an issue a global issue. Is it persistent? International? Interconnected? They then brainstorm a list of global issues and begin to discuss how these issues can become opportunities for change. Their eyes are opened to the challenges faced by people whose lives are very different from their own.

From there, students learn more about the United Nations, including why it was created, what purpose it serves, and who is involved. They learn how the United Nations assessed our global issues and adopted the Global Goals. As students learn about the 17 goals, considering how those issues can become global opportunities, they look for connections among them and examine how making a positive impact on

one can make a positive impact on another. Students become more inspired and empowered to make an impact on our world.

Research is an important next step as students learn which countries have low life expectancies, which ones are sources of clean and renewable energy, and which have low literacy rates. As they discover commonalities in their research, connections are made, and their interests are piqued. The depth of their understanding of other cultures, beliefs, experiences, and viewpoints really begins to grow.

Learning is assessed through the Global Goals Choice Project, in which students choose from nine options, including writing a song or podcast, creating a game, and engaging in community service, to demonstrate their understanding. Though the project is intended to assess mastery, it also results in students realizing the impact of their actions on the world.

For his Choice Project, sixth grader Will Lewis chose community service. He sought to tackle poverty, hunger, and homelessness in Fort Worth by creating togo bags filled with water, snacks, and cards informing the recipient of local shelters where they could go to find a place to eat, to sleep, or to receive other services. Will delivered these bags to two men whom he regularly saw at an intersection. Will notes, “I always wanted to help them, and today I got the chance. [Their] reaction was so wholesome – they thanked me a lot, and I hope that it provided a little bit of hope for them. It made me feel really good inside, and I would do that again anytime.”

Janie Roberts and Paige Zavaleta reached far beyond their community to provide aid to children from Africa. After raising over $1,800 by selling lemonade, cookies, and other snacks, these two students were able to fully sponsor seven children from Sierra Leone, through Develop Africa with the money meeting the nutritional, educational, and general welfare needs of the children. “I’m so glad I did this project and got to help educate children in Africa,” writes Paige.

Janie adds, “We are helping them stay in school and get the education they deserve.”

Many students looked around their local communities and identified areas of need, especially as it relates to litter and pollution. From neighborhood parks to the Trinity River to the dugouts and stands of a Little League baseball park, students pulled on plastic gloves

and filled bag after bag with litter and debris. “I enjoyed it because knowing I was helping the environment made me feel excited,” wrote Desmond Creel.

As the course focus flows from action to awareness, students tackle another project: Mapping One Refugee’s Journey. After learning about the global refugee crisis, students study first-hand refugee accounts provided by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, or UNHCR. These accounts include stories of refugees from Afghanistan, Syria, Somalia, Sudan, and other countries. After understanding their travel from country of origin to host country, students map the refugee’s journey on a world map. They then collaborate to create a multimedia presentation which incorporates Global Studies, mathematics, and coding skills to tell the story of the refugee from a first-person perspective. Through telling the story, the project elicits and develops empathy as students experience the hardships people endure and the sacrifices they make to seek a better life.

Storytelling provides an avenue to understanding diverse perspectives and is a key component in studying the history between Israel and Palestine. Students engage in a project to analyze and interpret the different perspectives of Israelis and Palestinians. They build an appreciation for and understanding of other cultures.

As Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Our sixth-grade Global Studies course educates and empowers our future world leaders to do just that. Awareness breeds action, and TVS is helping to build an empowered generation that is ready to take action.

“WE CAN’T WAIT FOR SUMMER!”

DEREK REINHOLD, DIRECTOR OF AUXILIARY PROGRAMS

Perhaps you will hear these words from your children more and more as they progress through the spring semester. Here at TVS Auxiliary Programs, we already are saying this every day! Our team eagerly anticipates the 2023 launch of XPLORE: Summer at TVS on May 30, which will usher in a new chapter in the already magnificent history of our summer programming.

Whereas families choose to enroll their children in summer camps for a variety of reasons, we want to share our heart behind what we do in XPLORE. In keeping with our Auxiliary Programs Vision Statement, we believe that all children and adolescents should leave our camps and classes with more (and new!) skills, knowledge, and perspectives than they possess when they enter. We are in the business of developing people! To support this, we have created XPLORE camps that will expand and enrich each child’s academic, creative, and athletic horizons – all while keeping it fun and enjoyable!

We also believe that your family should have as much choice as possible when determining your summer activities. Our amazing faculty and community partners have created 186 camps and classes to delight and engage your children – the most we have ever offered! Our team is both proud of and grateful for the robust community response that we received during Catalog development this past winter. Both our School’s faculty and the broader community recognize the value in being involved, and they are excited about the future of XPLORE: Summer at TVS!

When we launch on May 30, our goal is that your family continually notices our future-focused attitude! Over the past several months, our team has reviewed past practices and developed sustainable improvements across our programming.

For example, our foremost priority is to keep all campers physically and psychologically safe during their time with us. To accomplish this, not only will

Campus Security and licensed medical staff continue to be present on campus at all times, but we also are completely revamping our pre-summer training for instructors, interns, and counselors. All personnel will be oriented to the brand-new XPLORE Emergency Management Plan and will receive training on best practices for: (1) creating an inclusive environment, (2) addressing social situations appropriately, and (3) caring well for each individual camper’s needs. New this year, administrators have been trained in Youth Mental Health First Aid, and we have drafted an official XPLORE Behavior Management Plan to assist us in creating a consistent and supportive environment for our campers.

We have also established a brand-new, universityapproved XPLORE Internship Program! Our amazing inaugural crew of interns will add a layer of safety, positivity, and fun throughout the whole summer – offering a consistent and smiling face throughout our 10-week season. In turn, they will learn useful program design and leadership skills and collaborate with our team on new ways to lead XPLORE programming into the future. (Yes, in fact, we are already thinking toward 2024!)

We are especially thrilled to tell you about an important future-focused design update to one specific annual summer program: Fort Worth Forward. This full-day community engagement program (June 5-9) will now intentionally connect TVS students in grades 2-4 with similarly aged students from the broader Fort Worth community. Campers will engage in a meaningful, age-appropriate project that benefits the city, while learning more about themselves as citizens and building connections with people outside their normal social circles! We are focusing not only on the future of XPLORE itself, but we also are focusing on the future of the city through XPLORE!

Whereas we could tell you much, much more about our heart behind XPLORE: Summer at TVS, we hope this introduction has given you a glimpse into the intentionality, thoughtfulness, and care that we are infusing into all elements of our summer experience. If you have not already, please visit tvs.org/summer to view our Catalog and access our registration site. We look forward to serving your family this summer! We are certainly looking forward to the best XPLORE season yet, and we invite you to be a part of the magic!

TRINITY VALLEY SCHOOL AUXILIARY PROGRAMS VISION STATEMENT

In keeping with the mission and philosophy of Trinity Valley School, our Auxiliary Programs exist to develop our students’ wide constructive interests by expanding and enriching their academic, creative, and athletic horizons. TVS Auxiliary Programs aim to develop upstanding and empathetic leaders by building authentic partnerships with the Fort Worth community, creating meaningful opportunities for TVS faculty and students to learn and serve, and coconstructing solutions to needs in the community.

RETIRING FACULTY & STAFF

35 YEARS

SEAN KENNY, UPPER SCHOOL HISTORY/SOCIAL SCIENCE

by James Scott

Since his arrival from the wider NYC area in 1988, Sean Kenny has impacted the life direction of 3,000

27 YEARS

MARY MAC ELLIOTT MIDDLE SCHOOL HISTORY

by Julie Knudsen

Teaching is a work of heart. Mrs. Mary Mac Elliott has embodied this sentiment throughout the span of her 50year career in education. She has touched the lives of thousands of students, molding, guiding, and shaping them through the care and love she has poured into each and every one. The bond does not stop when the student leaves her class: Mrs. Elliott’s alums return year after year to reconnect with her, and it has been her joy to

Trinity Valley graduates. His unique gift for higherlevel educational communication is without parallel, and no teacher or professor may be found anywhere to replicate his unique, personal sharing methodology. Combine the encyclopedic political knowledge of the most brilliant White House advisor of either party with the irrepressible wit of the fastest-on-his-feet comedian ever heard, and you have Sean Kenny. So professional in his voluminous and vociferous presentations and argumentations, students cannot tell if he is Democrat or Republican. Trusted counselor and role model for students, he holds the record for the largest number of annual college recommendations. He is the sage teacher and winning baseball, basketball, and weights coach whose popularity and sterling character has been a cornerstone of Trinity Valley’s reputation for greatness through the decades. (“He easily invokes laughter – more easily, sober perspective.” Trojan Walls dedication, 1994)

have opportunities to teach the children of her former students. A quick glance in her room, and there is certain to be a student near her desk with Mrs. Elliott lending the most attentive listening ear and making that student feel as if he or she is the most important person in the world. Whether through storytelling or reenactments, Mrs. Elliott has a gift for making history come to life. Evidence of this extends beyond the classroom through Mrs. Elliott’s special legacy of the eighth-grade Washington, D.C. trip, which she established 33 years ago and is now tradition.

Mrs. Elliott also has been an integral part of TVS history. Mr. Seleny quickly and easily identified her warmth and heart before he hired her in 1972. Mrs. Elliott’s dedication to and deep love of Trinity Valley School, as well as her belief in its mission and values, is evidenced by her 27 years of service in three different stints. She was welcomed back each time not only with open arms but with full fanfare as a TVS favorite! As Mrs. Preston said, “Her blood runs Trojan blue.”

To have been taught by Mrs. Elliott is to have been loved by Mrs. Elliott. What a gift she has been to our TVS family.

20 YEARS

ALAN BURATTO, MIDDLE AND UPPER SCHOOL CHORAL

by Julie Knudsen

Passionate. Dedicated. Heartfelt. For 20 years, Mr. Alan Buratto has inspired and encouraged Trinity Valley musicians. Building on his experiences as the Artistic Director for Texas Boys Choir and accompanist for the Fort Worth Opera, “Mr. B” developed a strong Middle and Upper School choral program at TVS.

The warmth he shares with his students as he guides them in tone and develops their talents brings them back to his classroom year after year. He has prepared and encouraged his choirs to perform outside of his classroom walls - from assemblies and concerts to competitions and festivals. A talented pianist and accompanist, Mr. Buratto has continually been called upon to accompany Texas Private School Music Educators Association All-Region and All-State Honor Choirs. He has shared his love of piano with his students through their exploration of piano chords and compositions on the keyboards that line his classroom. Even within the confines of a pandemic, Mr. B wrote the script for the production of Thurgood Marshall: Civil Rights Champion, a joint effort between the Bass Hall Children’s Education Program and Stage West. This production featured Trinity Valley thespians and was presented virtually to schools across North Texas. We are beyond thankful for his many years of service at TVS and for the inspiration and influence he has graciously provided countless students through his patience, wisdom, and talent. Thank you, Mr. B, for the song you leave in our hearts.

12 YEARS

CANDACE SMALLEY UPPER SCHOOL MATHEMATICS by Melissa Burkhead

In 2011, TVS’s hiring interest was piqued by the reputation of Ms. Candace Smalley, a leader with AP students in Moore, Oklahoma and with AP teachers throughout the world in the capacity of AP Calculus Consultant, table leader for the AP Calculus exam, Siemens Award Winner For Excellence in AP Teaching,

recipient of The Stanford University Excellence in Teaching Award, and numerous other recognitions. After an email and a phone call to discuss a calculus teaching opening, she was invited to visit campus. During the visit, she taught a riveting related rates lesson and met with a fantastic group of TVS students. Soon after the visit she made the move to TVS. Instantly, students were developing calculus with the classic Ms. Smalley conceptual drive. She led many AP Calculus BC groups to succeed in The University of Texas at Arlington’s Calculus Bowl. As well, she highly recommended TVS reach out to the star Arkansas mathematics teacher Kathy Heller when a Middle School opening developed in 2012. Erin Esterlein ’13 summarizes Ms. Smalley’s contribution to TVS students perfectly: “Ms. Smalley was the most dedicated and patient teacher I had. She would meet with me every morning before school to review homework, quizzes, or tests that I struggled with. You could always tell that she wanted you to succeed and she would give you the tools and extra time to help you do so. I am so thankful for my time with Ms. Smalley and am so glad that she came to Trinity Valley to influence those that had her after me.”

LIFELONG LEARNERS:

FACULTY AND STAFF ENGAGE IN PROFESSIONAL LEARNING YEAR-ROUND

DR. TREVON R. JONES, DIRECTOR OF EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND COMMUNITY

In the fall semester, we were proud to share Trinity Valley’s Equity, Inclusion, and Community statement with all members of the TVS family. This statement, authored by our Leadership Team with significant input from community constituents, has been a guide as we have carried out our EIC work this academic year. Our thoughtful commitment to EIC work was reiterated by David Dini, chair of our ISAS Re-accreditation Committee, in his recent wrap-up remarks to our faculty and staff.

On February 17, TVS faculty and staff had the opportunity to “live out” our EIC statement with the Spring Learning Event, a conference-style professional learning opportunity. The theme for the day, “Master Classes in Developing Upstanding Leaders,'' provided multiple entry points into conversations about classroom practices, identity, leadership, and belonging. In the morning, faculty and staff were able to choose among 16 concurrent sessions that were designed based on survey data and led by TVS faculty, students, and guest facilitators. In the afternoon, divisions gathered to engage in learning that was tailored to the needs of their particular area of the School. The day was an incredible opportunity to learn and a meaningful opportunity to connect with colleagues across campus.

As TVS educators, we approach professional learning with great intentionality. Faculty and staff are constantly looking for opportunities that help them develop as teachers, coaches, leaders, thinkers, and doers. We continue to have the best people because they continue to learn and grow. The Spring Learning Event was just one of the many ways that our faculty and staff invest in professional growth.

While we learn a great deal during the school year to sharpen our skills, the summer presents an important opportunity for all of us to be future-focused and attuned to the developments in our areas of expertise through deep explorations into professional learning. Here are some of the ways we are growing professionally this summer:

CORNELL UNIVERSITY DEI CERTIFICATE

EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS AND READING, WRITING, AND MATH

Chinua Melton, Jude Sloter, Carol Watkins (formerly Gramentine), and Donna Weth will travel to California to dive into sessions about brain science! Executive Skills in the Classroom will focus on equipping educators with strategies to help students develop independence in executive functioning. This interactive experience is rooted in the most up-to-date research on learning and the brain. Research shows that there is a connection between executive functioning skills and academic achievement, and our Lower School is examining ways to support the development of executive functioning skills in our students to have a positive impact on their academics in the Lower School and beyond.

TCU SUMMER LITERACY INSTITUTE

Our Middle and Upper School librarian, Maggie Knapp, will spend two days at Texas Christian University for the TCU Summer Literacy Institute. At this institute, the College of Education partners with local educators and nationally acclaimed keynote speakers to create a learning experience that equips educators with tools to build strong leaders. Ms. Knapp will be attending the institute for the second time. Ms. Knapp also will spend a portion of her summer reviewing educational media and reference materials for journal publications that inform the work of other school librarians.

This summer, the Office of Equity, Inclusion, and Community will begin the process to earn certification from Cornell University in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The virtual program is designed to help participants promote inclusive workplace culture. This shared learning experience will support the team in creating robust learning opportunities that are mission-aligned and tailored to fit the needs of the TVS faculty and staff. The team is excited to learn from and with experts around the country!

BROADWAY TEACHERS WORKSHOP

The Broadway Teachers Workshop is an annual conference designed to inspire teachers and directors with new teaching methods, enhanced production skills, and an exchange of ideas with peers and professional Broadway artists behind the scenes on Broadway in New York City. This summer, our own Justin Flowers will attend this workshop. The workshop provides a unique opportunity to learn from some of the most talented professionals in the industry and to network with like-minded peers. Mr. Flowers is excited to see four Broadway shows and attend workshops and master classes in directing, choreography, music direction, and technical design.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT EXAM

Each summer, educators from across the country gather to read and score thousands of Advanced Placement exams. This experience is regarded as one of the best professional learning experiences for teachers of AP courses with ample opportunity to calibrate with other educators, learn directly from the College Board, and unpack a range of student approaches to challenging questions. This summer, Dr. Philip Taylor and Luis Terrazas will serve as readers, Melissa Burkhead and James Scott will serve as table leaders, and Paul Price will serve as a question leader. Mr. Scott is participating for the 20th year!

ADVANCED PLACEMENT SUMMER INSTITUTE

Annually, Advanced Placement Institutes are held at universities to provide rigorous workshop opportunities for educators. Melissa Burkhead and Paul Price will lead sessions at AP Summer Institutes across the country this summer. In this role, Ms. Burkhead will help to develop the content and pedagogical knowledge of educators that teach AP and Pre-AP courses in Calculus, Pre-Calculus, and Geometry. Mr. Price will be leading sessions on Chemistry for science educators.

COMPUTER SCIENCE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION NATIONAL CONVENTION

Dr. Philip Taylor, Computer Science Department Chair, serves on the grades 9-12 subcommittee of the Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) and will attend its national convention this summer. CSTA is the largest gathering of computer science educators in the country and offers more than 150 sessions through which teachers can broaden their knowledge. Dr. Taylor has been reviewing session proposals this spring and has very much enjoyed learning new ideas from other CS teachers around the county.

DRY NEEDLING FOR ORTHOPEDIC REHAB AND SPORT PERFORMANCE

SUMMER RESIDENCY

As a part of her doctoral program, Larissa Sosa will be traveling to Costa Rica this summer for a residency program. Mrs. Sosa’s graduate school cohort will be exploring sustainability and conservation practices in place there. The group will visit a coffee farm, hike in the area, traverse a volcano, and tour the vast biodiversity of the cloud forests!

This spring, Carrie Morrison and Dr. Ben Timson engaged in a 27-hour lab-based course where clinicians learn a diagnosis-focused approach to dry needling. Dry needling therapy has increased in popularity due to its effectiveness in treating pain associated with acute and chronic orthopedic injuries. Several current TVS athletes have received impressive results with dry needling that they have received off campus. After several outside referrals, the athletic training team decided it was time to start performing the procedure here at TVS. In the coming months, our trainers will continue engaging in learning to further develop this skill.

CONVENTICULUM LATINUM

In July, Dr. Brandon Cline will attend the Conventiculum Latinum. The Conventiculum is a week-long immersion experience for Latin scholars and teachers in which Latin is the only language used for communication. Though Dr. Cline has studied Latin for years, he seldom has the opportunity to experience it as a living language (and to have to rely upon it as a sole means of communication for an extended period of time!).

He is excited to see how the experience transforms his relationship with the language and how he can replicate that experience for students at TVS.

TRINITY VALLEY SCHOOL ESTABLISHES CHAPTER OF CUM LAUDE SOCIETY

KYLE KAHUDA, HEAD OF UPPER SCHOOL

Honoring fine scholarship and promoting lasting values are core elements of the Trinity Valley School mission statement. Since 1965 with the founding of the Albert M. Goggans Chapter of the National Honor Society at TVS, the School has partnered with nationally renowned organizations that share those mission tenets. Today, we are deepening that commitment as we establish a chapter of the Cum Laude Society. Members of the Classes of 2023 and 2024 will be inducted to the Cum Laude Society for the first time at TVS this spring.

The National Honor Society was founded in 1921, and students are eligible for induction beginning in the junior year based on their performance around the four pillars of scholarship, service, leadership, and character. The Alfred M. Goggans Chapter is led by Mrs. Robin Burroughs, and 71 members of the Class of 2024 and

one member of the Class of 2023 were inducted this year in a ceremony on Monday, March 20.

The Cum Laude Society was founded in 1906 to honor superior academic achievement in secondary school. There are more than 380 chapters worldwide, most being in independent schools in the United States. Member schools are selected by invitation and may induct no more than 20% of their graduating class, with no more than 10% allowed to be inducted as 11th graders. As stellar academic students, inductees must exhibit the characteristics of (from the Greek) Areté (Excellence), Diké (Justice) and Timé (Honor). The first inductees of the Trinity Valley School chapter will be selected and inducted this spring,

and the chapter will be led by newly appointed president, Dr. Don Carlson.

To learn more about the Cum Laude Society, visit cumlaudesociety.org. We are proud to share this news with our Trojan community.

RESHAPING RESPONSIBLE DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP FOR NOW AND THE FUTURE

EILEEN FORD, DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION

While the Middle School Technology Committee launched just over a year and a half ago, it already has had an impact on the community with its members’ enthusiasm and thoughtfulness. Students on the committee assist with technology projects around the School, including piloting new apps for their classes, creating instructional videos, and helping to set up and troubleshoot devices. Volunteers even came in over the summer to help set up our Lower School iPads and our yearbook and photography iMac lab in the Upper School!

This year, as we prepared to update the Middle School Responsible Use Policy, the committee was a natural fit to shape this policy for the way Middle School students agree to use technology. In keeping with the TVS mission of intelligent citizenship, the students on the committee were asked, “What does it look like to be an intelligent citizen in the digital space?”

Their answers to this question were the start of the new Middle School Responsible Use Policy that articulates what students say they will do with technology. While there are a few “will not” and “do not” statements, each

Middle School Technology Committee members: Top L-R: John-Patrick Lane, Micah Price, Tyler Timson, Graham Corder. Charlie DeMoss, Jac Crumley Bottom L-R: Max Malloy, Samantha Young, Thomas Kostohryz, Kiersten Price, Luke Yager

Not pictured: Adam Ostrinsky, Wyatt Strong, Jonathan Washington.

is paired with what a responsible digital citizen would do, so that all students reading the policy have a clear picture of how they are promising to use technology.

Sydney Munson ’01, former TVS EdTech Innovation Specialist, introduced students to the five digital citizenship competencies endorsed by the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) and showed students how their initial answers aligned with these themes. Students then elaborated on each theme to define more clearly what it means to be an intelligent digital citizen.

They also included information about how intelligent citizens respond when something goes wrong. This section acknowledges that mistakes happen, and that learning and growing from those mistakes with the support of trusted adults is a key component of intelligent citizenship. Students drafted an outline of what steps to take to work towards resolution, as well as how to be an upstander in a situation where they witness something that is not right.

The committee presented its process and its draft to Middle School teachers, Mrs. Montgomery, and Mrs. Knudsen for feedback. After a few adjustments and additions, committee members then shared it with their peers at assembly and helped to design an advisory activity to give advisors and students the chance to review and discuss the new policy together.

The reshaping of the Responsible Use Policy is just one component of our commitment to develop inclusive, informed, engaged, balanced, and alert digital citizens now and for the future. These themes are also supported in the advisory and Mindmakers programs. As we continue to evolve our digital citizenship and overall technology planning in the Middle School, the Middle School Technology Committee will continue to represent the student voice in our planning, creating an opportunity for students to be leaders in intelligent citizenship in both the physical and digital spaces!

• I’m inclusive - I am open to hearing and respectfully recognizing multiple viewpoints, and I engage with others online with respect and empathy.

• I’m informed - I evaluate the accuracy, perspective, and validity of digital media and social posts.

• I’m engaged - I use technology and digital channels for civic engagement, to solve problems and be a force for good in both physical and virtual communities.

• I’m balanced - I make informed decisions about how to prioritize my time and activities online and off.

• I’m alert - I am aware of my online actions and know how to be safe and create safe spaces for others online.

Charlie DeMoss and Thomas Kostohryz.

TROJANS TAKE SAN DIEGO THIS FALL

RALPH DINTINO, DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION

TVS Athletics has a very exciting announcement about our 2023 fall season. Both our Varsity girls’ volleyball and Varsity football teams will be traveling to San Diego, California over Labor Day weekend!

Our girls’ volleyball team will compete in a series of matches against some of the top private schools in the San Diego area. On Thursday, August 31, they will take on La Jolla Country Day at 5:30 p.m. The following day will be a double-header: they will play at Francis Parker School at 10 a.m. and then at The Bishop’s School at 4:30 that afternoon. All three of their opponents made deep runs in the San Diego Section playoffs last year.

Our football team has been invited to participate in the 10th-annual US Marine Corps Honor Bowl. The Honor Bowl is a California-based high school football showcase event that has been played every year since 2013. It annually features matchups of top teams from Southern California against other top programs from across the country. In the event’s 10 years, there have been teams invited from northern California, Florida, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Utah, Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Arizona, Nevada, and Hawaii. We are incredibly lucky that the Trojans will be the first Texas team to participate in the Honor Bowl!

Our opponents will be University City High School from San Diego, the defending San Diego Section

Champions and a California state semifinalist last season. Our game will be on Saturday, September 2 at Cathedral Catholic High School, with kickoff at noon Pacific time.

What makes the Honor Bowl a truly special experience is much more than just the high-level football games. The event is put on by The Honor Group, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds, education, and awareness for military veterans who are suffering after-effects of their service to our country. You can read and learn more about the history and tradition of The Honor Group and the Honor Bowl at www. thehonorgroup.org.

The Honor Group is fond of saying that the experience of participating in the Honor Bowl is “more than just a game.” We are embracing that attitude about our trip. Players from both teams will partake in multiple extracurricular activities, including guided tours of three college campuses: University of San Diego, UC San Diego, and San Diego State University.

We feel very fortunate that our teams are able to take part in this amazing opportunity. Stay tuned for further details as the trip approaches and more details are finalized.

Thank you very much for your continued support of Trojan Athletics!

Pauline Medlin, Lower School Music Teacher and New Faculty/ Staff Orientation Leader Learn more on p5.

PHILANTHROPY

PARENTS’ CLUB PREPARES FOR THE FUTURE

TAMARA WILLMANN, PRESIDENT, TVS PARENTS’ CLUB

Like all other aspects of TVS, the Parents’ Club is focused on the future. The work of the Parents’ Club Board reflected that focus throughout the second half of the 2022-23 school year with a number of new initiatives and programs.

Striving to give all TVS parents an opportunity to engage in the Parents’ Club, the Board hosted its first evening meeting in January. Head of School Blair Lowry offered remarks on the essential role that the parent / school partnership plays in fostering educational excellence at all grade levels. A small but highly interested group of parents attended the meeting and offered their appreciation to the Parents’ Club for accommodating the schedules of parents and guardians

who are not able to attend daytime meetings. The vast majority of the 44-person Parents’ Club Board attended the event and offered first-time attendees information about volunteer opportunities for events taking place through the end of the school year. As an incentive, the Parents’ Club announced that first-time volunteers will be entered in a drawing to win a TVS “swag” basket. The drawing will take place at the end of this school year. For more information or questions about parent volunteer opportunities, contact parentsclub@tvs.org.

For the upcoming school year, a similar “open to all parents” Parents’ Club meeting will take place in the fall (date TBD). In addition to meetings, interested parents can learn more about volunteer opportunities by looking

through the Club’s recently published Events Catalog or by visiting the TVS Volunteer website (https:// www.signupgenius.com/org/trinityvalleyschool?#/ ).

Thanks to PC Board member Jennifer Kostohryz for her work on the new catalog and to Sarah Klein and Anjum George for redesigning the volunteer website, making it more user-friendly.

January 2023 also featured a wonderful “two-in-one” program, as the Parents’ Club paired the Middle School Social with the third offering from the Parents Speaker Series. The event included a dinner for Middle School students and their parents / guardians, followed by a square dance for the students while parents were invited to a presentation by author Janell Burley Hoffman. Hoffman shared her insight on the topic, “Social Savvy – Raising Tech Healthy Families Together.” She empowered parents by discussing the foundations on which to base family technology habits, including family values already in place. Her resource guide, sent to Middle School parents in a follow-up email, provided numerous suggestions and links that allowed for further research and information. The parents’ portion of the program also offered attendees an opportunity to “continue the conversation” in a meeting facilitated by Middle School Head Julie Knudsen, Assistant Middle School Head Laura Montgomery, and Director of Technology Eileen Ford. Many thanks to Parents’ Club Board members Anne Wright (Speaker Series chair), Mary Ho, Sal Regan , and Lindsey Karakourtis (Middle School Social chairs) for making the evening possible.

In February, the Parents’ Club hosted a fantastic appreciation luncheon for faculty and staff. Coordinated by Board members LaToyer Houston and Mandy Kirwan, the luncheon had a Hawaiian theme, and featured food from Hawaiian Bros Island Grill.

There were many other Parents’ Club highlights from spring 2023:

• The fourth and final installment of the Parent Speaker Series focused on parenting student-athletes. Kristin K. Sheehan, program director of Play Like a Champion, gave a presentation entitled “Parent Like a Champion.”

• TVS was highlighted in a stunning tablescape at the annual Design Inspirations event at Ridglea Country Club. TVS moms Emily Nichols and Brittany Rico were the creative duo whose decorating prowess provided the table’s breathtaking beauty!

Opposite page: Brittany Rico, Emily Nichols, Tamara Willman, Jenny Rosell, Tara Bibb, Julie Knudsen, Lisa Grider, and Ashley Robinson at Design Inspirations.

Above top: TVS Design Inspirations table

Middle: Julie Knudsen, Janell Burley Huffman, and Anne Wright at the Parent Speaker Series

Bottom: LaToyer Houston and Mandy Kirwin, Appreciation Luncheon co-chairs.

• Another pair of parent volunteers, Shelby Crawford and Ashley Peeders, brought more than 250 TVS parents together for “The Golden Hour,” TVS’ biennial Gallery Night fundraising event. Parents enjoyed cocktails and hors d'oeuvres while viewing and bidding on an array of visual and decorative art creations from TVS students and professional artists. Proceeds from Gallery Night support the Parents’ Club operating budget for next school year and the Club’s Grants for Greatness program.

• Each day of Teacher Appreciation Week (May 8-12) will feature a special thank you to the TVS faculty and staff, all of which is coordinated by the Parents’ Club Board.

• Last but not least, on May 5, Parents’ Club volunteers will team up with Lower School faculty and Trojan team coaches for the annual Field Day. Parent chairs Markus Kypreos and Lauren Cunningham will lead the way!

Clearly, the future looks bright for the TVS Parents’ Club. Special thanks are in order for the 2022-23 Parents’ Club Board for their dedication, leadership, and focus on the future.

Top and middle: Faculty and staff anjoy the Appreciation Luncheon.

Bottom left: Sal Regan, Lindsey Karakourtis, and Mary Ho at the Middle School Social.

Bottom right: Gallery Night co-chairs Ashley Peeders and Shelby Crawford.

HISTORY IN THE MAKING: PARENTS, ALUMNI,

& FRIENDS

LIFTING TVS ANNUAL FUND TO NEW HEIGHTS

LISA GRIDER, DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT & STRATEGIC INITIATIVES

The end of any school year is history making for some Trinity Valley School students. Kindergarteners get sprinkled with magic dust, miraculously becoming “graders,” and seniors cross the stage to become Trojan alumni. As the 2022-23 year winds down, the entire TVS community is poised to make history in another way – by surpassing $1 million in Annual Fund support.

According to Head of School Blair Lowry, exceeding the $1 million mark in annual financial support is an important breakthrough, as it firmly establishes TVS among the nation’s most fiscally strong independent schools. “In independentschool circles, TVS has a longstanding reputation for educational excellence. Our reputation is being further enhanced as our parents, alumni, faculty/staff, and other members of our community give so generously to ensure our excellence going forward.”

As this issue of Trojan Voice goes to press, donations to the 2022-23 Annual Fund have surpassed the previous record of $972,460 in 2020-21. Current TVS parents are leading the way with more than 66% of the entire parent body choosing to make gifts this year. This strong level of support is a testament to the dedication of 54 parent Annual Fund volunteers led by tri-chairs Adrianne Deem , Adrienne Lombardi, and Susie Ursprung.

Shortly before Spring Break, TVS’ Annual Fund parent volunteers ran March Mania, a competition to see which class could have the largest number of parents contributing to the Annual Fund. In a bit of an upset, the Class of 2024 (juniors) took the top spot with 83.2 percent of parents making gifts.

The final months of the TVS Annual Fund cycle, which ends June 30, offer the opportunity for alumni of all generations to be a part of this significant community milestone. In early April, a number of TVS alums – including those in the classes of 1974, 1989, and 2000 – challenged their classmates to support the Annual Fund by matching those gifts dollar for dollar. These anonymous challenges are part of a larger focus on increasing alumni support of the Annual Fund. Spearheading this effort is a sub-committee of the Alumni Board comprised of the following Alumni Board members: Macy Clayton ’15, Maya Jhangiani ’96, Charley McCluer ’72 , Catherine Viola Tielkemeier ’13, Grant Underwood ’14, and John Wilson ’74

TVS Director of Annual Giving Gerry Cumpiano notes that meeting and exceeding $1 million in annual support is a testament to the passion and generosity of hundreds of members of the TVS community. “This is not something that one person can make happen,” Gerry said. “This is happening because volunteers – both parents and alumni –are spreading the word and sharing the impact that this level of support will have on our school, not just next year but for years to come.”

Gerry also notes that such an unprecedented level of total support is the result of hundreds of donors making gifts of all sizes. “Some people hold back because they, mistakenly, think that their gift amount will not make a difference. Nothing is further from the truth! Every gift – regardless of amount – is valued and valuable. We want everyone in our community to be a part of this!”

If you have not yet joined in this momentous effort, use the QR code here to make your gift to the TVS Annual Fund today! You will be helping Ensure the Extraordinary for TVS and making history.

James Scott, Upper School History Teacher Learn more on p5.

ALUMNI

TVS FOR LIFE: THE FUTURE OF ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT

LISA GRIDER, DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT & STRATEGIC INITIATIVES

The pictures that television and movies paint of alumni are not terribly inspiring, and they certainly are not accurate. Images of stodgy senior citizens who drop by campus to harangue current students or force their will upon their alma mater through their checkbook are outmoded caricatures of life as an alumnus of an independent school.

Trinity Valley School, like colleges, universities, and independent schools throughout the United States, benefits tremendously from the enthusiasm, advocacy, and support of alumni of all generations. Graduates of TVS – and many who attended TVS but did not graduate – proudly demonstrate their Trojan pride through a wide range of activities and projects. These efforts are created and guided by the TVS Alumni Association Board, whose mission seeks to “support the mission and philosophy of Trinity Valley School by encouraging alumni participation in the life of the School, with the intent of fostering strong relationships among members of the TVS family.”

Director of Alumni Relations Kathryn Davis ’89, a full-time member of the TVS staff, is charged with managing the work of the Alumni Association, coordinating all aspects of alumni events and programs, and ensuring that alumni programming is well aligned with TVS’ overall goals. According to Kathryn, the Alumni Association and the School are pursuing three strategic objectives related to alumni engagement:

• Increasing the value / benefit of being an engaged TVS alumnus;

• Providing relevant and useful programming for young alumni in order to foster lifelong connections; and

• Offering alumni opportunities for the evolution of their engagement, based on ever-changing life stages.

“The needs and interests of our alums who are currently in college are, obviously, quite different than those of our ‘Golden Trojans’ (alums who graduated 50 years or more ago),” Kathryn said. “We are striving to make sure that wherever you are in your life’s journey and wherever you live, there is a place for you as a TVS alum.”

Efforts to increase the value of being a TVS alumnus include a regular schedule of regional and national alumni gatherings. In the past year, alums have gathered not only in Texas cities but also in New York, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles. Another such effort is TrojansConnect, TVS’ exclusive digital platform that allows alumni to make career network connections, find old friends, and meet up with classmates around the country and around the world. Another robust information source for TVS alumni is the Association’s dedicated social media channels on Instagram (@TVSAlumniAssociation) and Facebook (@trinityvalleyschoolalumni).

Young alumni are being offered ample opportunities to continue their TVS journey through a schedule of activities, both fun and focused. The relatively new and very popular Friday-after-Thanksgiving Young Alumni party in Fort Worth takes care of the fun, while a January lunch-and-learn type program

brings TVS college-aged alums back to campus for lunch with their favorite faculty members followed by life-skill workshop sessions on topics like stress management and early career financial tips.

According to Kathryn, those who become engaged as alums shortly after graduation are most likely to reap the long-term benefits of being a part of the TVS community. “TVS alumni are incredibly loyal – to the School and to one another,” Kathryn said. “Whether someone is looking for a job, getting settled in a new city, or just eager to gather with old friends, there is always an alum who is ready to step up for another Trojan.”

Annual Fund into a challenge to the other members of their graduating class (see Annual Fund update on page X for more information on Class Challenge Gifts). Gifts to the Annual Fund support all aspects of the upcoming year’s TVS operating budget, including the budget for increased alumni programming!

Historically, TVS (and all other independent schools) used only one metric – annual giving – to evaluate alumni engagement. Such a one-dimensional tool does not provide a complete picture of the depth and breadth of the TVS alumni experience. In response to that, TVS has recently adopted a new evaluation tool created by the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE.org), which measures alumni involvement in four key areas as seen below.

As life is ever changing, so are opportunities for TVS alumni. For those busy with career building and starting a family, one-and-done activities like Homecoming or volunteering at other TVS events works well. For alums in mid or late careers, opportunities to share their expertise with current students, mentor younger alums, or host a turn-key alumni gathering at home are appealing. And, for those who have always enjoyed working with others to tackle large goals, service on the Alumni Association Board is worth considering.

One form of engagement that is open to all alumni every year is supporting the TVS Annual Fund. This year, several alumni have decided to turn their own gift to the

VOLUNTEER

By recording the various forms of engagement for every active member of the TVS alumni community, TVS can now quantify alumni engagement annually and use the overall alumni engagement number to determine the success of programming. Over time, tracking the trends of alumni involvement will help the Alumni Board determine how to refine programming to more accurately meet the needs and interests of the alumni population, which will boast close to 3,400 members with the addition of the Class of 2023.

Step into the alumni fold and enjoy all of the activities designed for you!

PHILANTHROPIC

EXPERIENTIAL

Interactive, meaningful, informative; amplify and support institution's mission, goals, reputation

“Whether someone is looking for a job, getting settled in a new city, or just eager to gather with old friends, there is always an alum who is ready to step up for another Trojan.”

Formally defined and rewarding volunteer roles; endorsed and valued by institution

Opportunities to make meaningful investment; interest of donor and institutions goals are met

Experiences that inspire; relevant/ timely: "beyond traditional series of special events"

INSPIRING THE FUTURE:

2023 TVS ALUMNI AWARD HONOREES

Earlier this spring, Trinity Valley School alumni gathered at Mira Vista Country Club to recognize the accomplishments of a few and celebrate the milestone reunions of many. The event was, according to Alumni Association president Kathleen Motheral Moler ’98, a reimagining of the annual all-school reunions that were halted during the pandemic. “When we had to pause our reunion program, it gave us a wonderful opportunity to rethink what we could do to create a truly signature event for TVS alumni,” Kathleen said. “We think we did it with the 2023 Alumni Awards and Milestone Reunion Celebration.”

Revising the Alumni Awards program and adding two new categories, the Alumni Association recognized the accomplishments and impact of eight members of the TVS community, five of whom are alumni. The Alumni Association is proud to announce the 2023 TVS Alumni Award Honorees:

THE JUDITH SULLIVAN KINSER ’76 TVS DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS / ALUMNA AWARD

Given to one or more alumni embodying the TVS mission and recognized for their professional, personal and community contributions beyond TVS.

TRACY REDFEARN MATHESON ’84 AND DAVID MATHESON ’83

David and Tracy were raised in Fort Worth and attended TVS for most of their educational careers. They began dating when David was a senior and Tracy a junior. Both graduated from the University of Oklahoma, David with a BA in Journalism and Mass Communications, and Tracy with a BS in Elementary Education. The pair married in 1988. Residing in Fort Worth since 2012, they are the proud parents of four children: Nick, Molly, Ben, and Max, who graduated from TVS in 2019.

In April 2017, the unimaginable, unfathomable, indescribable happened. Tracy discovered Molly’s lifeless body in the shower of her garage apartment. The following day, the detectives from FWPD called to share they had ruled Molly’s death a homicide…she had been strangled. They also believed she had been raped.

The detectives with FWPD discovered this individual who was suspected in Molly’s capital murder was someone who had been investigated for raping and strangling women in Texas by multiple law enforcement agencies, yet not one had done anything to take him off the streets.

These systemic failures combined with the tragic murder of Molly Jane are what fueled their desire to start a non-profit. Project Beloved: The Molly Jane Mission was launched April 10, 2018, with a mission to educate, advocate, and collaborate to change the conversation about sexual assault and empower survivors to find their voices. Molly’s murder is not the end of her story, and it will be a catalyst for change in the investigation, prosecution, and overall response to cases of sexual assault.

To date, Project Beloved has donated more than 15,000 Beloved Bundles to rape crisis centers and hospitals around the country, installed 66 Soft Interview Rooms at law enforcement agencies around the country, and awarded 6 Molly Jane Matheson Memorial Scholarships in Social Work at The University of Arkansas.

Molly Jane’s Law became law in the state of Texas in September 2019. Representative Craig Goldman '87 authored HB 3106, and it mandates the use of ViCAP (Violent Criminal Apprehension Program), which is run and administered by the FBI, when law enforcement investigates cases of sexual assault. ViCAP allows different jurisdictions to communicate with one another and identify patterns of behavior and connect dots between cases. This means serial rapists will be identified before they rape again, or their pattern escalates.

Tracy serves Project Beloved as its full-time leader. David is a partner in Escalante Golf, a boutique owner and operator of numerous golf course and private club properties across the United States.

More than anything, David and Tracy wish Molly was here working with troubled youth as a social worker and getting together with her brothers for family dinners on the weekends. However, since that is not possible, their focus every day is to keep her memory alive as they are committed to support those who experience sexual violence. We can do better.

TVS RISING STAR AWARD

Given to one or more alumni who, in the first 15 years after graduation from TVS, is distinguishing him/herself through professional, personal, volunteer, or service endeavors.

RONAK GANDHI ’18

Entering TVS as a ninth-grade student, Ronak Gandhi wasted no time in fully immersing himself in the Trojan community. Early on he demonstrated leadership skills in a range of activities including the Debate Club and the Investment Club, and as a member of Junior World Affairs. As a student-athlete, Ronak was a four-year member of the Trojan track team and served as manager for the boys’ basketball team. Yet it was in the classroom where Ronak shone the brightest, resulting in his being named valedictorian of the Class of 2018. Following TVS, Ronak enrolled at Yale University, majoring in

humanities. His field of studies allowed him to focus on a combination of history, literature, and race that aligned with his intellectual passions. He also sought to grow his skills as a writer with a particular interest in using his writing to amplify underrepresented stories and voices.

Beyond his academic work, Ronak made his mark at Yale through his work as a student leader in the University’s Asian-American Cultural Center. In this role, Ronak connected Yale’s Asian national and Asian-American students with resources, while building solidarity within the larger group and engaging a wide range of students in conversations about Asian identity and belonging. Among Ronak’s many accomplishments while an Yale undergraduate was playing a role in advocating for the creation of a three-story-high mural by the Los Angeles-based artist Lauren Youngsmith entitled “Finding Home,” which was created to convey the legacy and future of Asian students at Yale.

Since graduating from Yale in May 2022, Ronak has served as a Donor Engagement Coordinator at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and a staff writer for Cold Tea Collective, a new media platform, sharing the stories, perspectives, and experiences of the next generation of the Asian diaspora. He recently accepted a position with United Talent Agency in New York.

THE STEPHEN SELENY AWARD FOR TVS DISTINGUISHED FACULTY

Given to one or more members of the TVS faculty or staff in recognition of their contributions to sustaining the mission and educational philosophy of Trinity Valley School.

SEAN KENNY

Sean Kenny was born in Hartford, Connecticut in 1956, a month prior to President Eisenhower’s reelection. He attended grammar school and secondary school in Connecticut. In 1979, he graduated from the University of Denver, majoring in history. Following graduation, he enrolled in a master's degree program in the History Department at St. Bonaventure University where he served as a teaching and research assistant. It was here that he first experienced the challenges and joys of teaching.

After receiving a master's degree, he accepted a teaching and coaching position at the Vail Deane School in Mountainside, New Jersey. During his time there, he taught ancient and medieval history as well as modern European and U.S. History. He was also the K-12 History Department chair, college counselor, and coach of several sports.

In the spring of 1988, he interviewed with Trinity Valley’s Dennis Fleming at the NAIS Convention in New York City. Following a trip to Fort Worth later that spring, he accepted a teaching position from Stephen Seleny. In the fall of 1988, Mr. Kenny began a new chapter in his own career at TVS, where he has taught in the History Department for the last 35 years. During that time he has served as Department chairman and has had stints coaching varsity baseball, freshman basketball, and track & field. He helped build the A.P. American Government program and created several

electives, including Constitutional Law. He was recognized by the National Endowment for the Humanities with competitive invitations to several summer institutes. Mr. Kenny was honored to be the commencement speaker at the 2014 TVS graduation.

With his signature humor, keen intellect, passion for his subject matter, and unquestionable love for his students, he has had a monumental impact and influence on countless Trinity Valley students. Many alumni report that they have chosen a career path based on a class that Mr. Kenny taught. Beloved by decades of TVS graduates, he looks forward to reconnecting with alumni across the country during his retirement as he participates in alumni events in other cities.

Mr. Kenny married his wife Sheryl in 1982. She is now retired following a distinguished career working for Tarrant County and the City of Arlington in federal grants management. The Kennys have three sons - all Trinity Valley School graduates: Ryan '04, a Returned Peace Corps volunteer who presently is a Senior Consultant with Deloitte Consulting; Chris '05, a Director of Financial Planning at Edelman Financial Engines; and Jason '16 , who is finishing his second year at the University of Michigan Law School in Ann Arbor.

Mr. Kenny will be retiring after 40 years of teaching this June. In his spare time he loves to read, cook, swim and follow the New York Knickerbockers.

TVS HONORARY ALUMNUS / ALUMNA

Given to a member or members of the Trinity Valley School community in recognition of faithful and distinguished leadership, service, and generosity to TVS and the Alumni Association.

LAURA AND TOD MILLER

Laura and Tod Miller met on a blind date their freshman year at Texas Christian University. Their mutual love for their alma mater began with their campus involvement in Greek life, TCU athletics, and many other student groups. Laura served as Student Body President, and the two were elected TCU Homecoming King and Queen. They graduated in 1979, married a week later, and made Fort Worth their home. Within a few years, they became engaged in another educational institution that captured their hearts – Trinity Valley School. TVS entered the Millers’ lives through Tod’s professional involvement with managing the School’s endowment in the early 1980s. This, combined with the encouragement of many TVS families, led Laura and Tod to enroll their oldest child Jay in kindergarten in 1991. Son Scott followed in 1995. Both boys were 13-year students and active in the life of the School. Jay won the Award of Excellence in 2004, and Scott was a National Merit Commended Scholar in 2008. Sports were important to the Miller family, with each boy serving as captain of several teams. Laura and Tod

were enthusiastic Trojan fans and were recognized with the Melanie Rosen Award for Exemplary Support of Athletics for the 2003-04 and 2007-08 school years. Laura was room mother and chair of the Halloween Carnival (now Fall Festival), and Tod served on the Trojan Booster Club where he helped create a developmental sports league known as the Blue/White League.

Both have served full, nine-year terms on the TVS Board of Trustees, Tod beginning in 1997 and Laura from 2008-2017. Each sat on the Executive Committee during his/her respective term. Laura was part of the Head of School Search Committee that brought Blair Lowry to TVS. The Millers support TVS generously, endowing a scholarship in their sons’ names and joining the Stephen Seleny Society, which recognizes donors who include TVS in their estate plans.

Most joyously, the Millers’ latest roles are as proud Trinity Valley grandparents. Laura and Tod currently have four Trojan grandchildren – Jack ’31, Molly Kate ’33, Michael ’35, and Ford, who enters Pre-K this fall. The remaining two grandchildren, Robbie and Maggie, are not far behind. Their family also includes Emily Genovese Miller, an active volunteer and substitute teacher at TVS, and Christal Strong Miller ’08

Today, Tod is Regional President for Private Wealth at Simmons Bank while Laura is Fort Worth Market President for Veritex Community Bank. Each has a long record of service to many community organizations. Among Tod’s are The Parenting Guidance Center, Gill Children’s Services, and Camp Fire, where he chaired the El Tesoro Capital Campaign to renovate the camp in 2010. Laura’s list includes the Junior League, the YWCA, The Multicultural Alliance, the Women’s Health Exchange at Andrews Hospital, and the Cook Children’s Hospital Board of Trustees. Both are elders at University Christian Church, where Tod will soon begin service as Chair of the Board. The TCU ties remain strong, with Laura having served as a member of the TCU Board of Trustees, president of the TCU National Alumni Board, and co-chair of the Kelly Alumni Center Capital Campaign. She was honored with TCU’s Alumni Service Award in 1993. Laura served as an advisor to the TCU Chi Omega chapter for more than 30 years and is currently serving as national president of Chi Omega.

TVS ATHLETIC CIRCLE OF HONOR

Recognizes one or more former student-athletes, coaches, or teams that meet the following criteria:

• Excelling at the next level (beyond TVS) of their chosen sport

• Recognized with honors beyond participation at the next level in their chosen sport (e.g. captaincy, all-conference, All-American, all-academic honors, etc.)

• Excelling on the field and off, bringing honor and glory to TVS

• Positively impacting numerous Trojan student-athletes through sustained excellence, leadership, guidance, and sportsmanship

ERIN HAYES WHEELWRIGHT ’03

Erin Hayes’ senior year at TVS was filled with athletic accolades. Leading her Trojan field hockey team to an 18-1 record and its third consecutive Southwest Preparatory Conference (SPC) Division I state title, Erin was named the Field Hockey Player of the Year by The Dallas Morning News. Fittingly, she earned field hockey All-America honors (second team), the only Texas student-athlete to make that list and one of only 32 players nationwide. She is credited, along with current head coach Claire Lawhon Pearce ’01, with putting TVS on the national field hockey map.

Away from campus, Erin also made waves – earning invitations, in three consecutive years, to USA Field Hockey’s National Futures Tournament. In addition, she played in the National (Field) Hockey Festival during her junior and senior years at TVS. In 2000, Erin’s team won a Bronze Medal in the Junior Olympics.

Beyond field hockey, Erin also played an essential role in TVS winning two other SPC Division I championships – soccer and softball in 2003.

Heavily recruited as an NCAA Division I student-athlete, Erin chose to attend and play field hockey at the University of Virginia, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in psychology and becoming a four-year starter on the Cavaliers team.

During her career at UVA, Erin started 13 games as a freshman and went on to finish in the top three career defensive saves in the Cavalier record book. During the 2005 season, Erin posted a game-winning defensive save against James Madison University, giving the Cavaliers the upset victory and earning the UVA Field Hockey Team award (equivalent to MVP).

Following her outstanding collegiate career, Erin turned her attention to another of her passions – photography – earning another bachelor’s degree from The Brooks’ Institute of Photography and Film (now a part of the University of California at Santa Barbara). She launched her professional career in 2008 and since that time has expanded her expertise to include web design and digital marketing.

During a visit to Todos Santos, an artsy surf town northwest of Cabo San Lucas, Erin came upon a former youth hostel and took a leap, remodeling the property and opening La Bohemia Baja Hotel Pequeño in January 2015. The hotel has received top ratings on a number of travel sites and has been mentioned twice in VOGUE as a top place to stay in Mexico. Erin was inspired to create a second location – Gypsy Canyon, which features eight beautifully appointed “glamping” tents in the desert near Todos Santos. She now has her own sheet and mattress line called La Bohemia House to enable customers to outfit their own homes or rentals with all the things needed to make the homes comfortable and beautiful.

Erin resides in Mexico full-time with her two children, Lada and Fisher.

MICHAEL UNGÁR ’98

Michael Ungár’s professional success as a coach, strength and conditioning expert, and personal trainer can be traced easily to his Trinity Valley School days. A 13-year-student, Michael came to TVS in 1985, beginning his love of learning that resulted in earning double degrees (history and sociology) as an undergraduate at The University of Texas at Austin. As an Upper School student at TVS, Michael was a threesport athlete (football, soccer, track & field) in each of his four years, inspiring Trojan teammates and fans with his speed and grit.

Overlooked by college recruiters, Michael walked on to the Texas Longhorns football team in the fall of 1998 and, against significant odds, earned a place on the roster as a special teams player. Logging ample playing time in each of the next four seasons, Michael was awarded a football scholarship by Coach Mack Brown for the 2002-03 season, his senior year. A Longhorn fan favorite, Michael inspired a special cheering section in one of the endzones. During his time on the Texas team, Michael played in four bowl games. He earned numerous honors including being team voted as a member of the Leadership Committee, four years on the Big XII Athletic Directors’ Honor Roll, Second Team Academic All-Big XII, Special Teams Co-Player of the Year, Big XII Special Teams Co-Player of the Week, and three-time Team Captain. Additionally, he was a three-time recipient of the Frank Denius Special Team Award.

After graduating from UT, Michael went on to earn a Master of Education in Exercise Science with a concentration in strength and conditioning from Springfield College in Springfield, MA. This led him to an illustrious career training hundreds of athletes from several different sports at multiple institutions. He launched his career in 2004 as a strength and conditioning coach at Harvard University. Michael served many of the nation’s top college athletics programs including Boston College, Georgetown University, Auburn University, and Louisiana State University, as well as one off-season stint with the Washington Commanders. He is certified as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist and has the Strength and Conditioning Coaches Certification. Additionally, he has served as a USA Weightlifting Club coach.

After serving as Director of Personal Training at Washington, D.C.-based Balance Gym for six years, Michael launched his own company, Ungár Nation, in 2017, which he proudly continues today. He believes in advancing clients’ quality of life through strength training. He maximizes each client's progress by building individualized strength training plans, using the best and most advanced equipment, and preventing injury through oversight of proper technique. Not only do his clients grow stronger, leaner, and healthier, they experience increased happiness and self-satisfaction through their success, which brings Michael great satisfaction and reinforces the passion he has for his field.

Michael is the father of twins, Vivienne and Noah, who are members of the TVS Class of 2034. Michael’s wife, Patricia, passed away in 2021.

ALUMNI CLASS REPS

1967 Class Rep Needed

1968 Barney Holland bholland@holland1928.com

1969 Class Rep Needed

1970 Chris Stadler jcstad2@gmail.com

1971 David Miley David@TheMileys.net

1972 Class Rep Needed

1973 Deborah Horan dlhoran@mac.com

1974 John Neyland john.neyland@yahoo.com

1975 Francie Richardson Allen .................... frallen@aledotravel.com

1976 Martha Harper martharents@sbcglobal.net

1977 Class Rep Needed

1978 Carol Stucker Carr Carol.Carr@northhighland.com

1979 Mike Atkinson mike@mmallc.net

1980 Christine Stucker Klote christine@s-steel.com

1981 Walter Stucker walterstucker@yahoo.com

1982 Class Rep Needed

1983 Sandra Standefer skshome@aol.com

1984 Class Rep Needed

1985 Janet Kelly chafterall@gmail.com

1986 Michael Appleman mgappleman@utexas.edu

1987 Mark Jones markjonesmd@gmail.com

1988 Molly Guynn Jones mollymoonjones@gmail.com

1989 Kathryn Davis kathryndavis@sbcglobal.net

1990 George Mills georgemills72@gmail.com

1991 Wallace Bubar wwbubar@gmail.com

1992 Melissa Minker Miller TXMink@aol.com

1993 Angie Elkins Ezell allezell@hotmail.com Melissa Williams Hoskins melissahoskins@me.com

1994 Class Rep Needed

1995 Patrick Pate cppatejr@gmail.com

1996 Brandi Barrett Wubbena bbwubbena@gmail.com

1997 Nancy Park Minkler nancyminkler@gmail.com

1998 Mary Hazelwood Barkley mbarkley@canteyhanger.com

1999 Beth Harwood bethsharwood@hotmail.com

Amar Tanna ATanna@barbnet.com

2000 Class Rep Needed

2001 Jennifer Bley Sweeny jennifer@blumenfeldsweeny.com

2002 Class Rep Needed

2003 Class Rep Needed

2004 Erin McDonald erin.mcdonald86@gmail.com

Maggie Pine Bellinger mpbellinger@gmail.com

2005 Maddie Dickerson maddie.m.dickerson@gmail.com

2006 Margaret Baird Lynn margblynn@gmail.com

2007 Kelley Clark Morris kelley.c.morris@gmail.com

2008 Morgan Wade morganmadisonwade@gmail.com

2009 Ellen Clarke ellenmclarke@sbcglobal.net

2010 Rohail Premjee Rohail.Premjee@outlook.com

2011 Claire Allen Jones .......................... mrs.clairemjones@gmail.com

Chris Morris cjmorris2015@yahoo.com

2012 Adrienne Gamez adriennegamez4@gmail.com

2013 Austin Henyon austinhenyon12@gmail.com

2014 Madelon Allen madelonallen@gmail.com

2015 Bainbridge Allen bain.allen@icloud.com

Katie Matson katiematson1@gmail.com

2016 Cannon Brumley csbrumley@crimson.ua.edu

Kailey Dow kaileydow@yahoo.com

2017 John Shipp johnshipp2021@gmail.com

2018 Allison Byrd allie.byrd123@gmail.com

Emma Stack emmaastack@gmail.com

Luke Vasquez vasquezluke@gmail.com

2019 Sabra Belott............................................. sabra0292@gmail.com

2020 Izzy Hoskins izzyhoskins@me.com

2021 Lauren Yonke laurenyonke@gmail.com

2022 Class Rep Needed

ALUMNI NOTES

If your email and home addresses are not current with TVS, please update them ASAP by emailing Kathryn Davis at davisks@trinityvalleyschool.org or calling 817-321-0118.

Thank you for staying current with the School!

CLASS OF 1981

Emily Dafcik Watt has exciting news: “I just welcomed twin grandbabies, W.R. and Leslie Watt. They were born February 26, 2023. Their proud big sister is Georgia, age 3. They are the children of Billy Bob Watt ’10 and the niece and nephew of Callie Watt ’12. I just finished 36 years with American Airlines.”

CLASS OF 1983

Anthony Scozzari writes, “The last few months have been a huge mixture of emotions. In December I was honored with a Career Achievement award from Ionis Pharmaceuticals, where I’ve worked for the last 31+ years and am Senior Vice President of Development Chemistry & Manufacturing. I thoroughly enjoy leading over 100 employees in developing new medicines for the patients who need them. It has been an honor to see drugs my department and/or I worked on get approved and save lives. I am including a picture that shows me holding the broken award, as my boss came up to give me a hug, it dropped from his hands. We have a nice gif of it now and it was replaced the same day. That honor was the bright spot of a very challenging last couple of years. Lynn, my beautiful wife and fabulous mother to Dakota, passed away on March 2. She was an outstanding athlete who played college basketball, completed multiple marathons, multiple half-Ironman races and completed one full Ironman through a tough and frigid first-leg swim. She was a published poet and had multiple articles in magazines from where she worked. She volunteered at schools and later in life at a cardio rehab facility; she was always helping and a beautiful spirit. She was a wonderful friend and

mentor to so many. She made me a better person and I’m currently left unmoored. These are the things she wanted to be known as. But, she was also just tough as can be: she lived for 12 years as a stage-4 cancer patient. She went through over 100 and maybe 150 chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation and surgeries with 12 hospitalizations. The last two years were very challenging to watch her decline as cancer finally started to get the best of her. She was acting as a cancer mentor (after 12 years, we were experts) for the newly diagnosed as recently as last month. She passed away peacefully and I’m at peace knowing she is no longer in pain. I am including some photos: one from the award ceremony, one of Lynn on one of the last trips Lynn was able to make last summer in Big Sur, and one of a present my son and I gave her for Valentine’s Day.”

CLASS OF 1985

Liz Perez Azerad reports, “I have been very busy on several fronts. I am happy to report that I recently received my 3rd degree Kukkiwon Black Belt and was awarded a Presidential Service Award at my belting ceremony. I have had the honor of being named to two National Taekwondo Forms Teams for 2023: AAU National Traditional Forms Team and USA Taekwondo’s Team USA for the O50 3 Women Team. With the latter I look forward to representing the USA in international competitions this year. Through my holistic health company, The Healing Path LLC, I was honored to provide shamanic support and Eastern based movement classes for Wool Week, a Women’s Retreat at Eagle Rock in Applecross in the Scottish Highlands. Finally, I am pleased to announce that I am being honored as a Woman of Courage in our Community

1. 1983 Anthony Scozzari (on right) wins Career Achievement Award 2. 1983 Lynn Scozzari at Big Sur 3. 1983 Scozzari family Valentine gift 4. 1985 Elizabeth Perez Azerad 5. 1995 Erin Hendricks and family 6. 1997 Penelope Adams, daughter of Erica Steele

7. 1997 Wes, Johnny, and Charley Blair 8. 1997 Nolan Craft 9. 1997 Emily, Dora, and Allen Jackson

10. 1997 Beatrice, Margaret, and Logan Leng 11. 1997 Thalia and Logan Leng 12. 1997 Julian and Eliot Minkler 13. 1997 Jenny Wilkinson with Mitch, Heidi, and Hudson Salzberg 14. 1997 Avery Vann 15. 1997 Victory Family 16. 1997 Hudson Hawkins, son of Kristi Wilson 17. 1997 Kristi and Baylee Wilson

with the Fort Worth ISD. For International Women’s Month, fifth graders in the district will be guided by the Art Department to design a doll of me based on my resume and a photo that I provided.”

CLASS OF 1988

Congratulations to Michelle Block Goldsmith on her recent appointment as Head of Lower School at Hockaday! She is currently the Assistant Head of Lower School and will assume her new role this summer. Michelle has served Hockaday in other roles, including Technology Integration Specialist for Lower School, third-grade homeroom teacher, and summer school director. Hockaday’s Head of School Laura Leathers describes Michelle as “a student-centered educator who is thoughtful, supportive, and approachable.” Michelle is quick to honor her TVS past when she says, “It all started with Mrs. Newton!”

CLASS OF 1995

Erin Hendricks gives this update: “Everything’s great in Dallas. Taly and I still are both practicing criminal defense in the state and federal courts, and we spend nearly as much time at the volleyball courts with our girls Mila & Lily. Mila’s in 8th grade and Lily’s in 6th – they are still at Hockaday. Side note - they adore the middle school counselor, Dayna Newell Kline ’96!!! Mila also plays soccer for school, and it was super fun running into Melissa Hoskins ’93 at a middle school game over at TVS this winter; I’m pretty sure it was a tie. Our youngest, Zain, is a first grader at Lamplighter. Everyone is healthy and happy and I couldn’t ask for more than that.”

CLASS OF 1997

We gathered for our 25-year reunion on homecoming weekend last October. On Friday, Amar Tanna ’99 hosted us at his house. On Saturday, Markus Kypreos ’96 hosted us at his distillery. We had a great turnout. The locals made a good showing. Will Schmid lives in McKinney where he works as a petroleum engineer. He reminded me that he met his wife Ali through our 10-year reunion (Ali’s aunt spotted him at Reata and set him up on a date with Ali.) A reminder that great things can come out of our reunions! Nina Saksena is a cardiologist at Harris Hospital, an amazing feat given that she has four kids. She thinks of Spivey Paup often because a

wing of the hospital was named after Spivey and his sister, who were born there. Spivey is working at Recurrent Energy, which develops utility-scale solar and energy storage projects. His wife Brooke is the chairwoman for the Texas Water Development Board. They have two kids, Henry and Heidi. Annie Wilson lives in Arlington and has her own prosthodontic practice. She reminded me that we have a disproportionate number of dentists in our class, including Justin Mund . Justin has a dentistry practice in Fort Worth and he and his wife Stacey recently opened a second office. Their oldest daughter, Alexis, graduated TVS in 2020 and is now studying criminal justice at UNT. Their youngest, Ever Grace, is at Southwest Christian School where she’s involved in cheer, volleyball, and soccer. Jenny Wilkinson and family are living in Dallas. Her husband Mitch Salzberg recently moved from BCG to GHSmart, which provides executive personnel consulting services. Their son, Hudson, is in 5th grade at St. Mark’s and plays soccer. Their daughter, Heidi, is in 3rd grade and plays soccer and ice hockey. Heidi was presented at a Dallas Stars game and was on the ice when the starting lineup was introduced. Shuttling them around keeps Jenny busy, especially now that the rounds include hours at the ice rink. Andy Lewis is an attorney in Fort Worth at Cotten Schmidt. His recent stint into film survived the cutting room floor and he made it into an episode or two of 1883 – look for the dead confederate soldier with the brown cowboy hat. Andy’s wife Amanda is the director of charitable gift planning at the North Texas Community Foundation. Their boys are both at TVS. Will is in 6th grade and plays football. Cole is in 2nd grade. Lisa Murphy Mocek is in Fort Worth, working as a physical therapist at Ratner Center for Physical Therapy. Her husband David is a managing partner at Conquest Healthcare Solutions, a healthcare management advisory firm. Their daughter Leah is in 7th grade and is already taller than Lisa. Their daughter Alice is in 4th grade. Both play softball and basketball and swim, which keeps the whole family busy. Lisa and David were very thankful to wake up to rain the morning after our reunion because that rain meant a canceled softball tournament. Hollin Shaw McWilliams and family are also still in Fort Worth. The weekend of our reunion, Hollin sent off her daughter, Hunter, on the 8th-grade Washington D.C. trip, which brought back fun memories. Kristi Wilson is in Fort Worth,

working as an event planner and caterer. Her son, Hudson, was studying engineering, but decided he wanted to fly planes and enrolled in the Army. He’s stationed in Hawaii. Kristi would be an empty-nester but is in the process of adopting 8-year-old Baylee.

Paige Paul is living in Fort Worth. Her youngest son, Nikolas, is in 4th grade at TVS. Eloise Wiley Williams and family are, of course, in Fort Worth. Her husband, Chris, is in-house counsel at Lockheed. Their daughter, Lindley, is in 9th grade at Country Day and plays volleyball. Lindley has her driver’s permit now, so Eloise and Chris are enduring the sometimes-scary process of teaching her how to drive.

Sarah Buchanan Jirka returned to Fort Worth a few years ago and now lives within a mile of her mom and her sister, Rachel Buchanan Thompson ’ 00, who teaches Spanish at TVS. Sarah’s daughter, Analise, goes to an arts school. Michael Victory and his wife, Bevin, have had two new additions since the last reunion: Fletcher, who is 2, and Russell, 1. They are now a family of six along with daughters Claire, 10, and Genevieve, 7. They live in Cleburne.

Jody Bohnsack Clark is still enjoying small-town life in Bullard, Texas, where she’s a counselor at Bullard High School. Her husband, Brandon, is a Battalion Chief in Lewisville. Their oldest daughter, Emily, is playing soccer nearby at UT Tyler. Their middle daughter, Taylor, has decided to graduate high school early this year and is hoping to attend Texas A&M. Their youngest, Colbie, is in 7th grade. Clark Sykes lives near TCU and owns a flooring company. His wife, Lauren, is a pre-K teacher at Playhouse Academy. Their son Whit is in 6th grade at TVS, and their daughter Eva is in 4th grade at Overton Park Elementary. Kameron Thomas is living in Dallas, working in the semiconductor industry. During the worst of the pandemic, she was lucky enough to spend a lot of time in Colorado with her parents. Sarah Bessire Florsheim is in Fort Worth. Her husband Charlie is a corporate transactional attorney at Winstead. Their girls are at TVS. Raegan is in 7th grade and Lilly is in 5th. Both have been lucky enough to have been in Mrs. Preston’s and Mrs. Elliott’s class. Tee Giroux spent some time in Colorado, but he came back to Fort Worth after his dad passed away. Tee now runs the family business of manufacturing cryogenic turbo combustors, which are used for petroleum engineering. Tee’s wife Candice also works for the company. Nick Goggans

also lost his father recently. Rick Goggans ’67 passed just after our reunion. He was in the first TVS class. Nick, his wife Brooke, and their kids still live in Fort Worth. Eliza (4th grade) and Watson (1st) are carrying the torch as the first third-generation students at TVS. Nick owns a data analytics company that helps value sports teams. At the reunion, he tried to explain to me why building a new new ballpark for the Rangers next to the old “new” ballpark made sense in the world of sports economics, but the explanation eluded me. Neel Tanna , who helped organize the reunion, is living in Dallas, working at a hedge fund. He travels a lot for work and fun and is also playing a good amount of golf. He gets back to Fort Worth to see his nieces who are both at TVS. David Kostohryz , who also helped organize the reunion, still has his oral surgery practice in Fort Worth. His wife Jen has a thriving interior design business. Both of their kids are at TVS. Avery is in 7th grade and plays field hockey and soccer. Thomas is in 6th grade and plays 7-on-7 football and golf. He also enjoys mountain biking on the new trail on the TVS campus. In addition to his oral surgery practice, David has partnered with Daniel Hosler to form a private equity firm that invests in healthcare, with healthcare providers as the investors. Dan still lives in Chicago with his wife Shilpa and their two kids. Their daughter Laila is 13 and into all kinds of dance, and their son Kai is 11 and into computers. Tim Craft and his wife Paola flew in from Denver for the reunion. Tim owns a development firm, Craft Companies, LLC. To grease those development wheels, he does things now like sponsoring sheriff’s balls where he cashes in on his Texas cred by wearing cowboy boots. Little do those officers know that Tim’s shoe of choice when he lived in Texas was an indoor Adidas soccer shoe. At the reunion, Tim and Paola were expecting the first baby Craft in January, and they have since welcomed little Nolan. Adam Nemser and Duff Blair made it back to the reunion from New York. They used to be neighbors in Greenwich Village, but both have moved out of the city. Adam moved to Greenwich, Connecticut in 2021 – a classic Covid NYC exodus. He still works for the same hedge fund (Southpoint) he’s been with since 2004. His wife Kim is the Chief Merchandising Officer for Warby Parker. Both commute to the city a few times a week. Adam has used his commute time to hone his Candy Crush skills. His avatar now

18. 1997 Patrick and Mae Wright with Mary Gayle, Slay, and Beau 19. 1999 Neel Tanna '97, Amar Tanna, Beth Harwood, John McMillen take Phoenix 20. 2003 Brian and Robyn Fleming 21. 2008 Doc Shelton with Matt Johns 22. 2009 Tim and Jennifer Conner 23. 2009 Mac Meador 24. 2010 Bogle family 25. 2010 Elizabeth Bogle

26. 2014 Kelsey Ekberg marries Max Bolt 27. 2014 The Bolts 28. 2014 TVS friends at Bolt wedding

29. 2016 Kate and Hunter Lynch 30. 2020 Catherine McCurdy and Emma Bedward in Seoul 31. 2021 Grayce Andrews

32. 2021 Grayce Andrews 33. 2022 Gage Truelson 34. 2022 Gage Truelson

proudly sports a Top 4% sash. Adam and Kim have two kids. Millie is in 7th grade and plays lacrosse and field hockey. Hayes is in 5th grade and plays football, basketball, and lacrosse. Duff is enjoying ’burb life in Westchester. He still works for Wells Fargo. His wife Rory works for Target in marketing. They have three kids. Their daughter Charley is 8 and plays soccer. Wes is 6 and plays baseball. Little Johnny will be 3 in April and is the delight of the family. I also got updates from many who didn’t make it to the reunion. Courtney Pestarino Orrock moved back to the San Juan Islands, Washington, from Las Vegas to be closer to her family. Courtney has become involved with the community up there. She’s on the Board of Trustees for the local public library and on the board of directors of The Holding Space, a non-profit that focuses on women's health and wellness in all stages of life. Her husband Chad leads the gaming division at US Bank. Their daughter Collins is 3 and started preschool. Amy DeZern is in Baltimore. She and her husband Scott Stephens work at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Amy as an oncologist and Scott as an intensivist. Their four children continue to get busier and busier in lots of fun ways. Caroline is 10 and has started middle school. She’s an avid tennis player. Charlotte is 8 and plays field hockey. Will is 6 and loves flag football. Emily is 3 and works hard to keep up with her big brother and sisters. Amy’s mom Jeanne lives nearby and helps a great deal. Kate Belfi Jackson lives in College Station. She retired from the Brazos County Health Department and is now the athletic director at her kids' school. She also keeps busy as a reserve deputy with the Brazos County Sheriff's Office. Her husband Bob works for Texas A&M University “doing complicated computer things.” Their son Allen is a junior in high school. He loves SCUBA diving and will be completing his rescue diver certification soon. He's also almost done with his Eagle Scout rank. Their daughter Emily is a sophomore. Emily has "retired" from competitive gymnastics and enjoys having more time to devote to art, modern and ballroom dance, scouting, and discus and shot (placing first and second, respectively, at the state meet). Their daughter Dora is in 5th grade and enjoys piano, art, dance, and Roblox. Virginia Brandon has been working for the World Bank since 2010 and is now a Resident Representative in Chile. Patrick Wright lives in Madison, Mississippi. He’s a pediatric orthopedic surgeon at the University of

Mississippi Medical Center. He and his wife Mae celebrated their second wedding anniversary and have enjoyed blending their families. They have three children between them: Mary Gayle, who is 12; Beau, who is 9; and Slay, who is 7. Eric Dahlberg lives on Mercer Island, just outside Seattle. He has recently made a move into ed tech and is CEO of a company called eSpark Learning, which helps elementary school kids learn to read and learn math. His wife Anne is a pediatric oncologist and splits her time between clinical and research efforts. They have two kids. Dash is 13 and is very into baseball, playing in tournaments all around the country. Clara is 10 and is a social butterfly who is into swimming, soccer, baseball, and basketball. Sudeep Reddy is in D.C. As the Managing Editor of Politico, he’s in the thick of all the news of our tumultuous time. Thalia Husain Leng often catches Sudeep on Marketplace on NPR on her commute into San Francisco from the East Bay. Since graduating college, Thalia has lived all over, including Philadelphia and New York, but she returned to the Bay Area about 10 years ago. She works for the City of San Francisco as a Project Manager for their Streets / Active Transportation Division, working to make getting around San Francisco a little easier. The job has its perks, including getting to bike all over the city and work with my good friend Hank (small world!). Thalia and her partner Paul live in the Berkeley/Oakland area with Thalia’s son Logan, who is 9, and Paul’s daughters Beatrice, who is also 9, and Margaret, who is 12. Thalia often sees her parents and sister Shari ’94 who all live in the area. Michael Darsey is living in Austin and works in wine sales. He and his partner bought a house in Puerto Vallarta that they rent out on Airbnb. Ping him if you’re looking for a place to get away! Matt Auger is also in Austin. He’s the next-gen Mr. Auger, teaching high school math in public schools. His wife Ursula is a social worker. Their two kids, Aidan and Ellie, are in middle school. Rush Vann lives in Raleigh. He works in marketing at Danaher, and his wife Rachel is a manager at Dropbox. They are no doubt working on balancing their work and childcare duties with the addition of Avery, who was born in early 2022. Andrika Sorokolit King is in Manhattan Beach, CA. She has a growing interior design business, Andrika King Design LLC (www.andrikaking.com). One of her recent projects was featured in Luxe Magazine

Southern California. Her husband Bill works for Bancroft Capital, a commercial real estate investment group that focuses on projects in Colorado. They have three boys: Tripp, age 14; Patton, age 11; and Blake, age 9. Blake was diagnosed with T-Cell ALL Leukemia four years ago, but is in remission and thriving. The whole family is back to non-stop activities, sports, and travel. They try to make it back to Texas for the rodeo every January and to Camp Longhorn in the summer to let the kids get back to their Texas roots. Erica Steele, her husband Chris, and their daughter Penelope are in Beaverton, Oregon. They take full advantage of the Pacific Northwest, kayaking, hiking, and traveling all around. They also make it back to Texas at least twice a year. Erica works in healthcare communications. Penelope is in second grade and enjoys swimming and Tae Kwon Do. Casey O’Neill recently left USHEALTH Group where he was managing outside litigation and helping the company through its acquisition by UnitedHealthcare. He started his own law firm, O’Neill Law, PLLC, where he advises clients on general matters and civil litigation. His wife Melissa (FWCD Class of ’97) just celebrated her 10th year as the owner and CEO of Newborn Nightingales, which has helped over 1,000 families get their newborns sleeping through the night. Their daughter Madeline is a freshman at Country Day with Lindley Williams and plays field hockey and soccer. Their daughter Alice is in 5th grade and is an avid horse rider, competing in jumper events. Their son Ryan is in 1st grade and loves baseball and basketball. Jennifer Jacob Schultz and family are still living in University Park in Dallas but moved to a new house during the pandemic where her mom could live with them. After years of working in nonprofit in higher ed and human services, Jennifer made a career shift and now runs a local chapter of a nonprofit that supports professionals in the remodeling industry. Her husband Jeff is an attorney at a litigation firm. Their daughter Alexandra is all in on competitive cheer, headed for a national team next year. Jennifer has had a steep learning curve to learn the ins and outs of that world. Alexandra is also honing her management skills running a pet-sitting business. Tamara Taylor just celebrated her 17th year with Bell (Helicopter). She and her dog Roscoe live in Arlington and are living the good life. I, Nancy

Park Minkler, live in Murphys, California, a small town in the Sierra Foothills. I closed my law practice last year and now work remotely for a firm in San Francisco. My husband Michael is the general manager of our county’s water agency. We have two boys. Eliot is in 2nd grade and is accumulating activities – baseball, soccer, piano, etc. The only thing that he hasn’t taken to is the ballet class I signed him up for. Julian is enduring his last year of preschool. This spring, he finally graduated from watching Eliot’s games to playing his own in his first season of tee-ball. I was so glad to see all those who made it back to the reunion and hope to see even more of you at the next.

CLASS OF 2003

Brian Fleming says, “I got married in October in Minneapolis to Robyn Novak, now Robyn Fleming.” Brian was featured as the Alumni Spotlight in the January alumni newsletter. If you missed that, read more about him and Robyn at https://www.tvs.org/ alumni-new-site-mapping/alumni-news-media

CLASS OF 2008

Matt Johns shares, “I live in Dallas and work as a Vice President, Crisis Communications and Issues Management for Edible, Inc, a Daniel J. Edelman Company.”

CLASS OF 2009

Tim Conner reports, “After spending four years in Austin, TX, my wife and I moved to Edinburgh, Scotland in August for her work. Loving life in the UK!” Mac Meador writes, “I am the Worship and Arts Director at Grace and Peace Austin, and I am enjoying the city with my dog Oxford.”

CLASS OF 2010

Eli Bogle is proud to share his news: “My wife Meridith and I welcomed our daughter, Elizabeth Sterling, on January 27.” Condolences to Michael Dafcik, whose father Bill passed away unexpectedly on February 4. Bill had many additional TVS ties: his daughter Jennifer Dafcik, sisters Denise Dafcik Padfield ’79 and Emily Dafcik Watt ’81, nieces Ginny Potthoff ’01 and Callie Watt ’12 , and nephew Billy Bob Watt ’10. TVS sympathy is extended to the entire family.

CLASS OF 2014

An exciting update from Kelsey Ekberg Bolt: “ Max Bolt and I got married in Cabo, Mexico on January 21, 2013 after 13 years of dating! It was truly an incredible weekend with all our friends and family! Multiple TVS alumni were in attendance!”

CLASS OF 2016

Hunter Lynch shares, “I married Kate Stifter on July 23, 2022. We met freshman year at CU Boulder. With our love of the mountains, we decided to get married in Keystone, Colorado and now live near Weatherford, Texas.”

CLASS OF 2017

Miguel Vasquez reports, “I moved from Philadelphia, PA to Miami, FL in October for a new job as a Producer for the Miami Dolphins, Miami Open Tennis Tournament, and Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix.”

CLASS OF 2018

Emma Dalley Bartram wrote, “I will be attending PA school at the UNT Health Science Center in Fort Worth starting this August!” Jackson Key shares, “After graduating from the University of Virginia last spring, I have started the Master’s in Architecture program at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation in New York City.” Jackson Schlossnagle gives this report: “I graduated from TCU in December 2022, moved to Nashville, and am working in music touring at the Creative Artist Agency (CAA). Recently got a guide dog named Maple (yellow lab) who is a sassy boss queen who already loves Music Row.” Mollie Sloter updates us: “I graduated Summa Cum Laude from Tulane University in May ‘22 with a dual degree in Psychology (B.S.) and Sociology (B.A.). I am currently in graduate school at Tulane and will graduate in May ’23 with my Master of Science in Applied Behavioral Health.” Emma Stack writes, “I recently graduated with an MBA from London Metropolitan University. I am now working in marketing for Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton at the London office.” Luke Vasquez reports, “I was accepted into Fort Worth’s own Cook Children’s Nurse Residency Program, a highly competitive program since there are only two pediatric hospitals in the DFW area. After many months of rotating, I matched with my number-one choice of the Pediatric Hematology

and Oncology Unit. I am so happy and blessed to be at Cook Children's taking care of the next generation of Fort Worthians.”

CLASS OF 2020

Emma Bedward and Catherine McCurdy share, “We are currently studying abroad in Seoul, South Korea for the winter/spring semester through CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange) and our universities (Emma, Pomona College and Catherine, Washington & Lee). We are studying at Yonsei University, one of the three SKY colleges of Seoul. Yonsei University is located near the Sinchon and Hongdae districts. Emma will be furthering her English Literature major and Korean Concentrated Asian Studies minor by taking classes about South Korean culture and pop culture, English literature, Korean language, and art history. Catherine will be furthering her Global Politics major by taking history/politics courses about South Korea and the peninsula, as well as Korean language and art history. We are so excited to be here in Seoul and to explore the city, history, and culture of South Korea!” Riley Hamilton writes, “I work in a pharmacogenomics lab as an undergrad at UChicago, and I presented a poster of my research on how enzyme genetics affect risk for NSAID side effects at the American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics 2023 conference in Atlanta in late March! This was my first scientific conference, and I was excited to share my original work.”

CLASS OF 2021

Grace Andrews says, “I am a sophomore at Auburn University studying Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies. I work at a preschool here and absolutely love it! This summer I will be studying abroad in Rome, Italy!!”

CLASS OF 2022

Gage Truelson’s mother shared photos and offered a fabulous mom brag: “Gage is in the Honors College at SMU, majoring in engineering with a minor in math. He is #71 on the SMU Men's Lacrosse team, which has a record of 6 wins - 1 loss as of early March. His position is Defensive Midfield. Ironically, #71 was his football number at TVS for all four years of high school! He was both a Lacrosse and Football captain for TVS his senior year.”

TVS

TRINITY VALLEY SCHOOL

7500 Dutch Branch Road Fort Worth, TX 76132-4110

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

TO PARENTS OF ALUMNI: If this magazine is addressed to a TVS alumnus/a who no longer uses your home as a permanent address, please e-mail his or her address to hansend@tvs.org

Stellar faculty doing what they do best! Clockwise from top left: Kenny Cain, Athletic Coach and P.E. Instructor; Dr. Edwin Wood, Middle School Humanities Teacher; Abbie Cornelius, Middle School

STEAM Teacher; Luis Terrazas, Upper School History Teacher and New Faculty/Staff Orientation Leader; Pam Kahuda, Lower School STEAM Teacher.

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