Pillars OF EXCELLENCE & CHARACTER
A Quarterly Journal of the True North Foundation WINTER 2020
“Character is the only important thing we own and it is our responsibility to develop it.” - Dennis Belica
Virtue in the Life of True North
Joy in the Era of COVID
In Memory of my Father: His Words, Life & Legacy
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Inside From our Head of Schools VISION The vision of True North Classical Academy is to unleash a thirst for knowledge within our students. True North students will become lifelong learners as their passions align to their purpose in the pursuit of the True, Good, and Beautiful.
MISSION True North Classical Academy will achieve its vision through a rigorous, knowledge-rich curriculum grounded in the tradition of the classical liberal arts. Through steadfast focus on scholarship, citizenship, and leadership in an environment that values and models intellectual and moral virtue, we are committed to empowering our students to reach their highest potential and sustain a lifelong love of learning.
LEADERSHIP Michael Bileca Jeanine Finlay Chereen Coile Sari Guevara Emma Rowlands Jorge Finlay
FOUNDATION Marc Snyder
CONTACT 9393 Sunset Drive Miami, FL, 33173
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Virtue: In the Life of True North Page 5
Making Virtue Visible
Joy in the Era of COVID
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In Memory of My Father: His Words, Life & Legacy Page 11
Trunk-or-Treat
Teacher’s Corner
On Reading Anne Frank
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Note From the Foundation
Thank You to Our Generous Donors Page 3-4 & 19-20
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From Our Head of Schools Jeanine Finlay, Ed.S.
Dear Titan Families, It is hard to believe that we have already completed the first quarter of this school year! Although unconventional, it has been an amazingly successful start for us. Over 88% of our students are back on campus, and they have been hard at work while still relaxing and enjoying their new campus. It has been a pleasure for me to reconnect with the students on a daily basis and to observe the classes our teachers have so thoughtfully prepared for them. Though times are different at the moment, we still have exciting things happening within the walls of our beautiful campus. Extracurricular activities such as various clubs, Bricks 4 Kidz, and an array of sports programs have been in full swing. We have also launched high school co-curriculars on Thursdays, and we plan to implement them for our middle school students within the next couple of weeks, as well. The co-curriculars give students opportunities to engage in experiences that enhance their interests across a spectrum of masteries. Additionally, this not only helps students build relationships with each other, but with our faculty, as well. It is wonderful to see our scholars completely immersed in things they are truly passionate about. As I’ve mentioned on many occasions, True North boasts of a strong community. One example—our school raised over $140,000 during Give Miami Day! It was astounding to witness our families reaching out to friends and family members to help support our Titans. I remember walking into the conference room when donations were being made, and Dr. Snyder, Mr. Marin, and Mrs. Lowe would gasp excitedly with each new pledge. This was, single handedly, a true testament of our families’ support and their belief in the vision and mission of our school. According to Helen Keller, “Alone we can do little; together we can do so much.” And that day, we Titans were living proof of this; we came together and made an impacting change for our school, our teachers, and our students.
“Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds that you plant.” ~R.L. Stevenson
As we approach this time of year, let’s not lose sight of our purpose nor forget the blessings we have in our lives. These times of uncertainty often make gratitude a difficult virtue to practice. And so, allow me to leave you with a Yiddish proverb that I hope will shed light on a different perspective— “If you cannot be grateful for what you have received, then be thankful for what you have been spared.” I will forever be grateful for our Titan family, and I wish you all a joyous holiday season! Warmest Regards, Jeanine Finlay Page 2
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hat an amazing day. On November 19th, 2020, True North participated in its first Give Miami Day. It was a day that brought the entire Titan community together. Cars drove onto the campus greeted by cheerleaders, our elementary girls soccer team, and the smiling faces of True North staff and parent volunteers waving hands, giving our QR codes, holding signs, and dancing to Rend Collective’s True North. We entered the day having already raised $35,000 in early giving. Our goal for the day was $100,000. Twenty-four hours was on the clock and ticking. We were all eagerly waiting for 11:00 am, True North’s Power Hour. This would be our moment; this would be our moment to shine. But $65,000 would be a heavy lift. When the clock struck 11:00 am, the donations started to pour in. It was impossible to keep an accurate account of the money raised. The second the amount was noted and communicated to teachers busily recording the amount on a thermometer in their classrooms, it would change. Thirty-five thousand became $45,000; $45,000 became $55,000; $55,000 became $65,000. By 11:30 am, True North hit its goal of $100,000 and surpassed it! It was absolutely incredible. Truly unbelievable. Surreal! In just one hour, True North raised $90,000, totaling $125,000 by 12:00 pm. And we still had twelve hours to go! Eyes were glued to the leader board, as True North was in the top 10 for quite some time. It wasn’t until much later, with other organizations’ Power Hours coming, that True North got bumped down to the top 20. But in the top 20 True North would stay, finishing #17 out of almost 900 organizations with a total of $141,445 dollars raised. Add in hero prize ($1,000) and bo-
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nus-match percentage dollars and True North will top $150,000!! What is equally as incredible is the number of unique individual donations True North had. When the clock struck midnight, after a full twenty-four hours, True North had 1,151 donations - 2nd only to the Children’s Movement of Florida, which had 1,177. True North was ahead of the Children’s Movement throughout the entire day, and was only passed by them in the closing minutes. What True North accomplished on November 19th, 2020, will go down in history. It would not have been possible if it was not for our entire True North community and donors coming together as 600 strong!! True North showed its heart on this day. And we will not forget. It will be difficult to surpass this new goal of $150,000 in the future, but I dare say - we can do it (even pass $200,000) - for that is what makes us True North. We wanted to take this time to thank, in a special way, our Give Miami Day co-chairs, Ivan Marin and Jill Lowe, who helped make this event a reality and success; True North’s Founder and President Mike Bileca, who single-handedly raised over $20,000; our True North faculty and staff, who supported this event from the very beginning; and all of our True North families and donors, who took up the banner of our Titan $25 & Tell 5 message, and delivered Titan Strong. In the end, Give Miami Day was a huge success, not only for True North, but for the nearly 900 organizations that raised over $18M for their cause. In the midst of a pandemic that has gripped our city, state, and nation, we all have a lot to be thankful for. Thank you Miami!
ABOVE Our elementary girls’ soccer team get ready to root True North on to victory (left to right: Helena Suarez, Frankie Lowe, Mia Marin, and Daniela Suarez) LEFT Our high school cheerleaders cheer on True North at Dadeland as cars drive by (left to right: Haley Rodriguez, Reanna Jimenez, Sofia Pardo, and Noelle Reyes) Page 4
Virtue in the Life of True North
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t True North, as with any classical school, the focus, or end, of education is the pursuit of wisdom and cultivation of virtue. The kind of person a student becomes is equally important to the knowledge he or she attains. Aristotle once said, that the goal of education, using the Greek word, is eudaimonia, which is often translated into English as “happiness” or the “fullness of being.” This begs the question: How do we attain happiness? This question has been discussed by philosophers for thousands of years. But the Greek philosophers, Plato and Aristotle, had it right, when they said that the surest path to happiness - true happiness, as defined by “eudaimonia” or the “good life,” is the virtuous life. This call to live a virtuous life is the summation of what it means to be a True North Titan. It is the flag which we bear and proudly wave in all that we say and do. It is posted in every classroom as the context for our classroom rules (why do behave? - so we can become virtuous). Yet, what does it mean, and how is it accomplished? As defined by Aristotle, virtue is a and habitual disposition to do the good. It allows the person to not only perform good acts, but to give the best of himself. By repeatedly giving the best of himself, one is able to approach the “higher things” in life, and attain happiness (eudaimonia). Classical antiquity has produced a list of four virtues, which play a significant role in shaping our lives: prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance. Prudence is the first cardinal virtue because it is concerned with the intellect. Aristotle defines prudence as “right reason applied to practice.” It is the virtue that imbues us with the ability to judge properly what is right or wrong in any given situation. I had an ethics professor who once used the
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Justice, according to Thomas Aquinas, is concerned with the will. John Hardon, a theologian and philosopher, noted that justice is the “constant and permanent determination to give everyone his rightful due.” We most closely associate justice with fairness. Perople have an immediate intuition when something is not just, or fair. And even though we often use the term in conncetion with something negative, justice, in its proper sence, is positive. Justice disposes one to respect the rights of the other and establish harmony that promotes equity with regards to persons and the common good. Fortitude, the third cardinal virtue, is commonly known as courage. Courage is not the absence of fear, it is the ability to stand tall in the face of it. However, it is alays reasonable. The person who has fortitude does not seek danger for danger’s sake. For example, we would not say someone has fortitude because they are willing to sky dive out of a plane or bungy jump off a bridge. Fortitude, rather, helps us to resist fear and overcome challenges in the moral life. Prudence and justice are the virtues through which we decide what ought to be done; fortitude gives us the strength to do it. Lastly, temperance, is the restraint of our passions or desires. We all desire certain necessitiesof life; e.g., food and drink. Or, things that are not so necessary in life, but things we enjoy: reading books, talking with friends, playing video games, etc. These are important, good, and even fun. But an excess in anyone of these things is not good.
Cardinal VIRTUES
Prudence
Justice
Fortitude
Temperance
Includes the idea of wisdom, and is considered to be the ability to discern the appopriate course of action to be taken in a given situation at the appropriate time.
Often translated as righteousness, this is seen as the quality of fairness. Some have held that this virtue was the most stensive and most important of the cardinal virtues.
Includes the idea of courage, strength, and endurance. This is seen as the ability to confront fear, uncertanty, and intimidation.
Includes the idea ofrestraint, and is seen as the practice of self-control, discretion, and moderation of one’s appetites. Some have also translated this idea of self-mindedness.
Temperance is a virtue that keeps us from excess, and helps us keep our life in balance. Temperance allows us to hit the mean between the extremes, which Aristotle also gives as a definition of virtue itself.
inspirational or insightful examples of virtue in action. Every year, start the year by reading
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s mentioned at the beginning of the article at True North, the formation of character has always been the focus. There is no better way to inspire students to virtue than through stories. Stories inspire and encourage them to fall in love with goodness, and develop a hatred for evil. No one learns what is right from wrong from mere lectures. For example, students learn that it is not right to lie by hearing the story of George Washington and the cherry tree. The reading of this story, and other beautifully-written stories found in William Bennett’s Book of Virtues, awaken the moral imagination in children and cultivate a vocabulary of virtue. These stories provide
the “Choice of Hercules.” In this story, Hercules is faced with two choices, or roads. One road is hilly and rough, without beauty, but ends at the blue mountains in the blue mountains. Hercules is given the choice: the choice of instant pleasure and ease, or the choice of labor and virtue that brings about true
happiness. “Virtue,” said Hercules, “I will take thee as my guide! The road of labor and honest effort shall be mine, and my heart shall no longer cherish bitterness or discontent.” The stories found in a book like Bennett’s Book of Virtues, provide the proper grounding of goodness to be instilled in our students. Prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance can all be learned through the voices of characters whose lives we can identify with. Whether it is Hercules’s temptation to comfort or pleasure or Odysseus’s many temptations on his journey home to Ithaca, students can identify with these epic dramas playing out in their imaginations all saying the same thing with a resounding: remember to be VIRTUOUS!
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The Choice of Hercules
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by James Baldwin
hen Hercules was a fair youth, and life was all before him, he went out one morning to do an errant for his stepfather. But as he walked his heart was full of bitter thoughts; and he murmured because others no better than himself were living in ease and pleasure, while for him there was naught but a life of labor and pain.
trials, but come and follow me. I will lead you into pleasant paths, where there are no storms to disturb and no troubles to annoy. You shall live in ease, with one unending round of music and mirth; and you shall not want for anything that makes life joyous--sparkling wine, or soft couches, or rich robes, or the loving eyes of beautiful maidens.
As he thought upon these things, he came to a place where two roads met; and he stopped, not certain which one to take.
Come with me, and life shall be to you a daydream of gladness.” By this time the other fair woman had drawn near, and she now spoke to the lad. “I have nothing to promise you,” said she, “save that which you shall win with your own strength. The road upon which I would lead you is uneven and hard, and climbs many a hill, and descends into many a valley and quagmire. The views which you will sometimes get from the hilltops are grand and glorious, but the deep valleys are dark, and the ascent from them is toilsome. Nevertheless, the road leads to the blue mountains of endless fame, which you see far away on the horizon. They cannot be reached without labor; in fact, there is nothing worth having that must not be won by toil. If you would have fruits and flowers, you must plant them and care for them; if you would gain the love of your fellow men, you must love them and suffer for them; if you would enjoy the favor of Heaven, you must make yourself worthy of that favor; if you would have eternal fame, you must not scorn the hard road that leads to it.”
The road on his right was hilly and rough; there was no beauty in it or about it, but he saw it led straight towards the blue mountains in the far distance. The road on his left was broad and smooth, with shade trees on either side, where sang an innumerable choir of birds; and it went winding among green meadows, where bloomed countless flowers, but it ended in fog and mist long before it reached the wonderful blue mountains in the distance. While the lad stood in doubt as to these roads, he saw two fair women coming toward him, each on a different road. The one who came by the flowery way reached him first, and Hercules saw that she was as beautiful as the summer day. Her cheeks were red, her eyes sparkled; she spoke warm, persuasive words. “O noble youth,” she said, “be no longer bowed down with labor and sore
Then Hercules saw that this lady, although she was as beautiful as the other, had a countenance pure and gentle, like the sky on a balmy morning in May. “What is your name?” He asked. “Some call me Labor,” she answered, “but others know me as Virtue.” Then he turned to the first lady. “And what is your name?” “Some call me pleasure,” she said, with a bewitching smile, “but I choose to be known as the Joyous and Happy One.” “Virtue,” said Hercules, “I will take thee as my guide! The road of labor and honest effort shall be mine...” Back to Contents
Making Virtue Visible
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t the end of our True North Honor Code is our school’s motto: Making Virtue Visible. It speaks to the heart of who we are, and what we’re about, as a school. It’s not enough to speak about virtue. Words alone are never enough. It must be put into action. It’s only by repeatedly doing the right thing does one become virtuous. That is why, this year, True North’s Foundation will be hosting its 1st annual “Making Virtue Visible” Serve-athon. “Making Virtue Visible” is an expression of what we value highly at True North: developing character through service and philanthropy. “Making Virtue Visible” will provide the opportunity for students to learn about the needs in the community and to respond with a servant’s heart. During this school year, the school will suspend one normal school day of school, March 19th, 2021, while students, faculty, and parents serve the community instead. True North’s “Making Virtue Visible” will mobilize over 800 students, teachers, and parent volunteers to serve the community at over a dozen non-profit organizations throughout South Florida. During the “Making Virtue Visible” Serve-a-thon, each campus and grade will be assigned its own project for the day where they will be able to learn about an area of need in the community and experience how serving others really can make a difference in the world. It ill be a day of hard work where virtue will be made visible and hearts will be changed! “Making Virtue Visible” will also serve an important philanthropic effort and encourage a culture of giving. To make this happen, we will ask students to seek pledges. Prior to the “Mak-
ing Virtue Visible” day, students will reach out to family, friends, and neighbors to ask for pledges for their day of service. Each student will have his or her own webpage where donations can be made directly online. Donations will be included in the school’s Annual Fund campaign, which contributes critical funds to the school’s operating budget, and helps close the gap between what True North receives in state funding and what it costs to offer a world-class classical education. Our goal for our “Making Virtue Visible” day is $150,000. With the tremendous outpouring of support shown on our Give Miami Day, we know we can reach this goal and give back to our community. Some of the organizations already committed to allowing us to serve include:: Miami Diaper Bank; ICU Baby; Operation Shoe Box; Live Like Bella; Feeding South Florida; Samantha’s Purpose; Camillus House; and Lotus House. We will be confirming several more organizations in the next month. Once all organizations are confirmed, we will begin to plan for the day, which is sure to have an impact not only on our South Florida community, but on the lives of our True North community as well. At True North, we believe in serving others; developing character; and cultivating generosity through giving. We believe in making virtue visible. So mark your calendars: March 19th, 2020. On this day, we will serve 11 organizations engage all 800+ students at True North, with a total of 5,000 hours in community service. Please stay tuned for more information to come. Remember, actions speak louder than words. So lets leave our mark by showing our Titan heart.
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Joy in the Era of COVID By Emma Ojinnaka, 2nd Grade Teacher (Dadeland Campus)
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ife seems so serious right now. This year stands as one of the most unpredictable and turbulent years in recent memory. We find ourselves in the midst of a global pandemic, surrounded by panic, fear, anxiety, frustration, loneliness, disappointment, discomfort, and dread. Looking around, it often feels as though there is not much that is good anymore. And yet within this grim scene unfolding around us exists simple and unadulterated joy that can brighten some of the darkness of the times. Being in the classroom, I have been blessed with an enlightening observation that speaks of those who are young and attending to the wonderfully natural task of learning and wondering and investigating the world around them. The children are still happy and full of joy. It is a grave understatement to say that the job of the educator this year has become a challenge to all those who are in that role; yet, to be called “teacher” brings innumerable blessings as the joys of children bring light to the darkness with which we are charged during these trying times. At first glance, this might not be blatantly obvious to the outsider since so much joy happens in the little things. It is also fair to say that it is not so much that the joys I have seen children experience this year are unique, but that this year I find it fundamentally important to share these experiences. The joy of the children walking through my door after six months of staring at a computer screen is describable only by the tears that filled my eyes as they wished me, “Good morning,” as though no time nor trial had passed between March and September. The children at (socially distanced) play, interacting with their peers as though this were the most normal situation in the world is another small joy. Learning how to add and sub-
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tract not with fingers and toes, but with Singapore strategies brings justified self-pride and the feeling that they are growing a little taller as they leave math class. Reading a whole novel and deeply discussing it are proof to them that they are good second graders, capable and confident in their quest for virtue within Great Books. A self-directed motivation for writing and illustrating their very own fables, complete with a “moral of the story” tagline pushes their creativity to a maximum and allows them to be active participants in the world view into which we have worked so hard to initiate them. The best part of all these joys goes back to my initial thesis; that the joy the children experience makes us, as third-party observers, feel joy as well. It makes us wonder at these mighty creatures called children who we so drastically underestimated as we planned for reopening school. Their resiliency is humbling! But why are they able to find so much joy in the midst of a situation in which most grown-up people are so uncomfortable? Could it be that children are the most human-like of us all? The natural propensity that human beings have for delight and joy has not yet been stripped away from the children by the years that will inevitably come to collect their debt. They are able to find joy because joy is at the very heart of what they naturally engage in every single day. All of this being said, we have an awful lot to learn from the minds and hearts of children as we brave this pandemic. Looking to children for joy and delight will push us to wonder more, laugh more, enjoy more, and perhaps, not take life so seriously.
Titans Nation Around the campus in Titan Athletics
ABOVE: In only its second year, Titans football enters its final two games with a 4-4 record. Titans are getting better with each game! LEFT: Congratulations to our TN Golf team for an incredible showing at the Wolverine Classic! BELOW: Our U-10 competitive girl’s soccer team had a great showing on November 23rd in Wellington, winning their double header! BOTTOM LEFT: Our HS JV Volleyball team celebrates their win against Somerset Silver Palms. BOTTOM RIGHT: Our Titan XC team ran away from the competition. Congratulations to all our podium finishers!
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In Memory of My Father by Michael Bileca, Founder and President of True North
vision on the true nature of man and education – “In classical thought, the whole point of education was to grow in character and ultimately achieve wisdom.” We are blessed with a collection of letters and writings from my father that we often go to for wisdom and advice. In one letter, before one of his many open-heart surgeries, he wrote “Nothing would pain me more than to have the children fall apart at that inevitable day when I shall have to go. Hopefully they focus on the good things that I stood for as a man and the reasons for striving in life.” When we focus on “good things” at True North we honor his request. When we, as a community, seek excellence, we honor his request. When we do a text study drawn from a great book, whether with our students or faculty, we honor his request.
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special ceremony was held on October 8th, to dedicate our new Academic Building as the Dennis Bileca Building. How does one measure the influence of a life? The legacy of a man? For our family, my father and the principles he cherished left an indelible mark and provided the inspiration for what is now become True North. For my father, the search for truth and wisdom was a lifelong pursuit, starting at a young age up until his passing. Education was first and foremost about developing character and disposition that leads to wisdom. He believed education was not confined to just academics, rather it is the development of the heart, mind and soul to love good and noble things. His life was a testament to this ideal. From purchasing the original set of Great Books at age 16 (which still sits in my library), to bringing some of his collection with his service in the military, and eventually onto the University as both a student and professor. My father, left academics, disenchanted with the turn the University took away from a reasoned search for truth to political ends that did not align to the classical ideals he devoted his life to. All his life, he yearned for a community that would join him in these great pursuits. The vision for True North is intertwined with my father’s
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True North is a dream realized. True North is a community, a special place, where people can come together, and sit around a circle and discuss great ideas, pursue good and noble things, and encounter the great thinkers of the past. Every time people engage in this Great Conversation at True North, it is as if my father is listening in on the discussion, and his spirit lives on through the faculty, staff, parents, and students and the beautiful community that we have become. On the Dedication plaque hang his words drawn from his writings that our True North students encounter and draw inspiration from every day:
His Words “Character is the only important thing we own and it is our responsibility to develop it. “ “It’s not the length of the life span that is important but the quality of how we spend the time allotted to us.” “This striving for wisdom is the most important trait we can hope to achieve in life. In classical thought, the whole point of education was to grow in character and ultimately achieve wisdom.” “It is the noble that embodies wisdom and whatever achievements flow from him are kept in their proper perspective in his overall life.” “You realize
His Words, Life & Legacy from the Dennis Bileca Character & Excellence Institute
the veracity, depth and beauty of the wisdom of the sages -- those pearls of insight that have been handed down to us by the giants of our species. “Ahh! How dull life would be without dreams. Even if we fail at least you know you were fully alive. After all is said and done, it’s the dream that makes life worthwhile…achievement is like icing on the cake, but without dreams there would be no cake to ice.” “As I am writing, I cannot help but think of Socrates dialogue on the meaning of love in the “Symposium.” To him Love was the motivating spring that compelled one to search for Truth and Beauty, and whatever treasures were found, to pass on to the next generation just as our fathers did with us.”
His Life Dennis was born in Frasari, Romania and immigrated to the United States following the Second World War at the age of ten. As an immigrant, he quickly came to love this country and its values with a passion. Above all, Dennis was a man inspired by a search for wisdom. From an early age, he sought answers to life’s grand questions and was motivated always by a powerful desire to create a living legacy of character, goodness, and love. He believed that life is so deep and precious that we ought to wisely spend our time on understanding the questions of character, purpose and meaning. He touched the lives of countless students, friends and family members through his acts of generosity and kindness. The home he created with his wife Miriam was always open to those who had need for warmth, guidance or attention.
Dennis often explained that when charting his own life’s journey, he strove to live by the words of Socrates: the unexamined life is not worth living. This disposition led him to enlist in the Navy for a number of years after completing high school, and then to complete college and attend graduate school. At different times in his life, he was a university professor (New York University, Rutgers University), a small business owner, an entrepreneur and an educational director. In all these pursuits, he strove to exemplify the qualities of character he admired so deeply: goodness, integrity, honesty, kindness, courage and love.
His Legacy The life of Dennis Bileca has left a lasting legacy that cannot be captured by his words only. His life inspired the formation of the Dennis Bileca Character & Excellence Institute. The Institute’s committed to the support of True North Classical Academy in 2015 whose missions are aligned; i.e., the promotion of classical ideals. Ideals embodied by Socrates in his belief that the real love of wisdom is the pursuit of the transcendent reality that lie behind our judgments of what is true, good and beautiful. Dennis Bileca’s legacy lives on, not only in the Bileca family, but in every student that walks the halls of True North. True North has already impacted over 1,000 students across four campuses and plans to impact thousands of additional students across Miami and the State of Florida. The numbers sure to equal the stars in the heavens.
Trunk-or-Treat? by Beatriz Roca, 2nd Grade Teacher (Sunset Campus)
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rom Egyptian pharaohs to Roman guards and princesses....from Medieval knights to pioneering Americans - one can literally come across any of these at True North’s Annual Historical Festival. Each year, students, along with teachers and staff, don beautiful and unique costumes representing the different historical time periods studied throughout our curriculum. Not only do they dress up in costumes, but throughout the day, students participate in typical activities of their particular time period. Students experience the magic of stepping back in time as room parents spend countless hours decorating classrooms to look like Roman and Medieval castles, Egyptian pyramids and so much more, with the bonus of savoring the delicious foods of these different time periods as well. The highlight for the younger students is getting to participate in the historical parade where they get to visit the different classrooms and get candy. From the Kindergartners to the older students, True North’s Historical Festival is always a day filled with unforgettable memories for everyone. This year, our Historical Festival took on a look of its own. Covid-19 was not going to put a damper on our annual tradition. So in True North fashion, our parents once again, went above and beyond to make sure our Titans had an unforgettable day. Our True North parents transformed their car trunks to look like picturesque scenes from history books. Our Titans gathered treats as they visited each of these historical places. Along the way, they encountered Egyptian hieroglyphics, chariot races, the Roman coliseum the Parthenon, a Medieval castle, a jousting tournament with Sir Coach Shawn, Arts & Crafts with Lady Guevara, feasting on Turkey legs with Lady Finlay, Modern Space, and good old lady Liberty The day (October 30th, 2020) was filled with so much fun!! It was certainly a day to remember! Hopefully, next year, we will be able to celebrate our Historical Festival like we have in years past. But looking at how our school community gathered to make sure our annual celebration went off without a hitch, perhaps this year’s Trunk or Treat set the bar for next year! Thank you to all our Titans who made this day so very special.
ABOVE: Ms Roca dressed as a Roman princess. BELOW: True North students begin to make their rounds. Back to Contents
ABOVE: Some of our Tiny Titans eagerly await their trick or treat? LEFT: Victory for our mighty Roman soldiers and noble princesses!
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Teacher’s Corner by Natalie Lizaso, 3rd Grade Teacher (Sunset Campus)
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he past two months have been eventful for third grade. On October 30th, 2020, our scholars were transformed back into the Medieval ages for our school’s annual Historical Festival. Students wore traditional costumes from the era, which included Robin Hood, Monks, Empress Theodora, King Covis, Knights, and Peasants. Students also participated in a Trunk-or-Treat and made traditional crafts. Students in both Ms. Mejia’s and Ms. Lizaso’s classes made sand art, their own Coat of Arms, and Monk-inspired manuscripts. Most recently in History, students constructed their own Viking Longships and Stone Castles out of Play-Doh. What would Charlotte Do? was the motto during the first quarter for third grade! In Literature, our scholars finished their first novel study of the year Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White. Following the journey of Charlotte and Wilbur, our scholars learned the importance of patience, hard work, and friendship. Earlier in the unit study, scholars made their own bookmarks of the novel. To commemorate the ending of Charlotte’s Web students watched the animated classic and participated in a “virtue-exchange” where students wrote to a fellow peer about a virtue he or she exemplified. Students learned not only about different virtues exemplified in the Charlotte’s Web, but also about the power of words. Charlotte was not only a true friend to Wilbur, but also a good writer. It was the words the spider used to describe him; the words that eventually saved his life. Therein lies the beauty and message of the story: words can and do make a difference in people’s lives - they did for Wilbur. I can only hope my words can have an impact on my third- grade students the way Charlotte’s did.
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by Mallory Winston, Literature Teacher (Sunset Campus)
he True North seventh-grade students study the eloquent relfections of 13-year old Anne Frank (see page 17) who lived during the Nazi occupation of Amsterdam. Depsite the time gone by, we find in The Diary of a Young Girl a precocious child remarkably relatable to us all. Before beginning this novel, thinking about teaching this cultural touchstone to my students felt intimidating. To contextualize the Holocaust and reflect on humanity’s greatest sins is a daunting task. Anne and my students, however, happened to effortlessly execute some of these teaching tasks for me. For many classes, I stood as a spectator watching with reverance as the students interacted with Anne’s powerful words. Rather than list the details of World War II and its background, Anne illustrates a candid portrayal of humans forced together and the resulting quarrels that ensue. She is one girl whose one story has taught humanity never to become desentized by stale war statistics. Her authentic struggle with our most human desires and shortcomings, juxtaposed by her courageous joy, tells the story of the human condition. It tells a story we must never forget. Undergoing this novel study alone could not have produced the rewards that our class discussions created. The students immediately identified Anne’s common humanity, sympathasizing with her battles, and each added something unique to the discourse. From Zach and Alec we learned of the historical significance of the Allies’ heroic actions in the War. Continued on Page 16
On Reading Anne Frank (continued from page 15)
Karla, acting like a fiercely loyal friend, sought to protect Anne’s vulnerability and shame, while Zander caused us to continually pause and wonder at Anne’s emotional growth and maturity as her mercy grew like fruit from suffering. Even with the prior knowledge of Anne’s inevitable death, some students still read the pages of her diary in hopes that she could somehow survive. They celebrated each time the Frank family went undiscovered by the enemy and felt suspense as the days grew closer to liberation. They innocently questioned if she would journal while inside the camp as they wished to stay by her side through the worst of trials. And when we finally discovered how her life was, indeed, tragically cut short, the students felt sorrow and anger as would her dear friends. Without prompting, the students asked, “What could have been done differently?” How could more good people have stood up to what was unquestionably wrong?” We debated answers and discussed ideas, strengthening our moral imagination. And thus, my students’ knowledge of this story forges armor for a civilized and compassionate society of the future.
intolerance, but of the dangers of silence in the face of oppression and the consequences of power left unchecked. What we gather from Anne Frank - the themes that stay with us long after we put down her pages - are too dense to cover, but I can say that my students witnessed Anne’s emotional growth as she endured an imprisoned life. They learned of the dangers of censorship, social darwinism, and blind hate for others’ identities. My students recounted the idea that your dignity does not depend on what you look like, but upon your inalienable character. And finally, they learned that optimism is a choice, and if Anne Frank believes that “in spite of everything, people are really good at heart,” then we certainly can too. Below is an excerpt from Anne Frank’s Diary, July 15th, 1944 (three weeks before being deported to Aushwitz) ““It’s utterly impossible for me to build my life on a foundation of chaos, suffering and death. I see the world being slowly transformed into a wilderness, I hear the approaching thunder that, one day, will destroy us too, I feel the suffering of millions. And yet, when I look up at the sky, I somehow feel that everything will change for the better, that this cruelty too will end, that peace and tranquility will return once more. In the meantime, I must hold on to my ideals. Perhaps the day will come when I’ll be able to realize them.”
“In spite of everything, people are really good at heart.”
I argue that the story of Anne Frank is not about tolerance. Tolerance, by definition, is withstanding subjugation to something disagreeable. But there is nothing disagreeable about Anne. Anne is effervescent and funny, and her words are warm and honest. The secret annexe is the story of persons so strikingly relatable that we cannot understand how the Nazis could seek to destroy their personhood. The students’ inability to fathom the evils of the Nazi Party is something for which I am grateful, for these inhuman atrocities should make sense to no one. Anne’s persecution is not a story of
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Note from the Foundation Marc Snyder, Ed.D., Executive Director
Dear Titan Families & Friends, I love the work put into True North’s Quarterly Journal, Pillars of Excellence & Character. It gives me a chance to reflect on all the developments and happenings around our True North Schools. And despite the challenges that have presented themselves due to Covid-19, True North has proven itself strong! The first quarter of our 2020-21 school year is officially in the books. I have adjusted to my new role as Executive Director of the True North Foundation and have found joy and satisfaction in realizing the great work that lies ahead of me. This work includes bringing local, state, and national awareness, and philanthropic support to True North Schools in its role of restoring virtue, character, and moral development as the core focus of education. A voice was needed to prepare the way for the next phase of growth in the life of True North. I am proud to be that voice; I am proud to be the ambassador of True North and wave the missional flag in our common pursuit of all those things which are True, Good, and Beautiful. I wanted to take this time to personally thank all of our families, friends, faculty, staff, and students who have taken up this banner with me. Through your generous donations, we have been able to raise over $300,000 in just four short months. Equally important, we have continued to make the name of True North known throughout the community when we stormed onto the leaderboard with our inaugural participation in Give Miami Day by coming in #17 in total funds raised out of almost 900 organizations and #2 in unique individual donations. This is a true testament to work we are doing at True North and its support by our family and friends. How fitting that this month’s virtue is service - helping others with a cheerful heart. How fitting for the holiday season. The holiday season is all about giving. We give, not because we are compelled to, but because we have been given so much. We recognize that the gifts we have, have not been merited by us. They have been freely given. And the only way we know how to respond, the only thing that makes sense to us is to give back. Because, as in the words of Franics of Assisi, it is only in giving that we receive. May this holiday season find all of you safe and with your loved ones, either in-person, or virtually, but always in spirit. Warm regards, Marc Snyder, Ed.D. Back to Contents
“The task of the modern educator is not to cut down jungles, but to irrigate deserts.” ~C.S. Lewis, The Abolition of Man
“Build a Dream” Brick Campaign
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he first two orders of bricks have been officially installed in front of our brand new True North Gym, and they look beautiful! The Foundation would like to thank all the families who have purchased bricks so far.
If you have not yet purchased your brick, it is not too late to purchase one and still have it placed in a prominent location in front of our gym. The commemorative bricks will be laid in front of our new 15,000 square foot gymnasium at our Main Campus and are a lasting way to honor True North students, favorite teachers, student accomplishments, and school pride. One-hundred percent of the “Build a Dream” Brick proceeds will go towards supporting the construction costs associated with our new academic building, 15,000 square foot indoor gymnasium, and are tax-deductible. There is a limited number of bricks; and they won’t last. Basic Level Cost: $125 per brick Brick Size: 4x8 Text Only
Pillar of True North Sponsor Cost: $1000 per brick Brick Size: 8x8 Lines of Text: 4 Maximum + Pillar or Titan Logo OR 6 Maximum (text only)
Titan Sponsor Cost: $500 per brick Brick Size: 4x8 Pillar or Titan Logo
Major Donor Brick Array Cost: $2,500 for 4 bricks Brick Size: (4) 8x8 Lines of text: 6 lines of text / four bricks + Pillar Logo
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Thank You to Our Generous Donors “Build a Dream” Brick Campaign True North would like to say “THANK YOU” to its generous donors to our “Build a Dream” Brick Campaign (*list represents bricks purchased through November 30) Please consider giving to our 2020-21 Brick Campaign https://brickmarkersusa.com/donors/tnca.html
Abbas Family Abreu Family Aguerrebere Family Aguiar Family Alaya Family Amador Family Amato Family Aragon Family Arce Family Arencebia Family Arencibia Family Ariola Family Arrojo Family Ayala Family Baez Family Barrenechea Family Bejel Family Benetiz Family Bileca Family Bishop Family Blaya Family Blissett Family Bolanos Family Bryan Family Buonassi Family Cabrera Family Camacho Family Cardwell Family Carothers Family Carrazana Family Carreno Family Castenada Family Castrillon Family Catlette Family Centeno Family Chin-You Family Chavez Family Back to Contents
Christian Family Claro Family Coffey-Garcia Family Collazo Family Crane Family Crespi Family Davis Family D’Aquin Family De Guzman Family De La Cruz Family De La Torre Family Desme Family Diaz Family Eguizabal Family Espinosa Family Fabian Family Farres Family Ferguson Family Fernandez Family Ferrari Family Fiallo Family Flores Gomez Family Foster Family Foti Family Garcia Family Gil Family Gomez Family Gomez-Suarez Family Gonzalez Family Grassbaugh Family Harmond Family Hartsook Family Henry Family Hoyos Family Izaguirre Family Izquierdo Family James Family
Jimenez Family Johanson Family Jue Family Kaczmarek Family Keil Family Kepner Family Kercher Family Lazarus Family Lange Family Lowe Family Leibow Family Locke Family Lopez Family Lowe Family Lufbery Family Mallas Family Marin Family Matijevic Family Migliorelli Family Morales Family Morrison Family Nodal Family Nunez Family Olson Family Ortega-Gonzalez Ortiz Family Pages Family Parker Family Parra Family Paster Family Penabad Family Perez Family Peterson Family Pezoldt Family Piedrahita Family Posada Family Quincosa Family
Quinones Family Ramon Family Rende Family Rivera Family Rodriguez Family Ronguillo Family Roque Family Ruiz Family Sakari Family Salgueiro Family Santiago Family Santos Family Scantlebury Family Sepulveda Family Serio Family Sirulnik Family Smith Family Soriano Family Suarez Family Sullivan Family Thadhani Family Tirse Family Tix Family Trane Family Travis Family Triana Family Tsninev Family Vargas Family Veres Family Viego Family Yague Family Zinn Family
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Annual Fund True North would like to say “THANK YOU� to its generous donors to our Annual Fund Campaign (*list represents donations made through November 30)
This list does not include those who donated through Give Miami Day on Novermber 16-19, 2020
Please consider giving to our 2020-21 Annual Fund Campaign https://truenorthclassicalfoundation.givingfuel.com/annual-fund
Abreu Family Amato Family Ameida Family Aranguren Family Ariola Family Assis Family Ayats Family Bernard Thorn Family Bernard-Zeledon Family Bernal Family Cabrera Family Camacho Family Carothers Family Castillo Family Cata Family Davis Family De Guzman Family De La Grana Family De La Torre Family Desme Family Escofet Family Fabian Family Fatemain Family Felipe Family Flores Gomez Family Foti Family Gajardo Family Gajardo Family Gomez Family Gomez-Suarez Family Gonzalez Family Grassbaugh Family Harmond Family Harris Family Henry Family
Hernandez Family Hoyos Family Hubbs Family Jaimot Family Jimeno Family Jue Family Keil Family Khawly Family Lange Family Lopez Family Lowe Family Madrid Family Matijevic Family Maurer Family Molina Family Morrison Family Moyano Family Munoz Family Olsen Family Pacetti Family Pages Family Panne Family Paz Family Penabad Family Perez Family Perozo Family Pezoldt Family Pino Family Poli Family Ramirez Family Ramon Family Reina Family Ruiz Family Rodriquez Family Santos Family Scantlebury Family
Sirulnik Family Sintes Family Snyder Family Suarez-Wolfe Family Tamayo Family Tirse Family Toirac Perdomo Family (Ramirez) Toirac Perdomo Family (Romero) Toledo Family Tolley Family Torres Family Torres Matijevic Family Tsinev Family Underwood Family Zapata Family Zapata Family Zinn Family
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