Trinity Academy concludes first school year with worship service, student recognitions and special cross presentation

by Amy Crawford

Seward, NE (05/22/2024) — Trinity Academy - a Lutheran microschool rooted in a classical liberal arts educational tradition that is housed on the campus of Concordia Nebraska - recently completed its inaugural year and concluded with an end-of-year outdoor chapel service on Wednesday, May 15. Rev. Dr. John Genter served as preacher and Dr. Kurt von Kampen served as cantor for the Matins service.

"As part of Trinity Academy's inaugural year, the faculty focused on the verse in Colossians that says, 'In Christ all things hold together.' We have been blessed in so many ways this first year," said Dr. Gabriel Haley, Board President for Trinity Academy. "We recognize that Christ is the foundation of everything we do. Because we know that Christ is the source of all that is good, true and beautiful, we can joyfully and meaningfully fulfill our mission to cultivate knowledge, self-discipline and virtue."

Each student was recognized by peers for exhibiting a distinct character trait and received a character award. A separate character award was also identified by Trinity Academy teachers and presented to students. Students were also honored for their performance on national tests CLT10 and the National Latin Exam. Overall, the Trinity Academy students' average on the CLT10 was 15.25 points higher than the national average. Two students were recognized by the National Latin Exam: one at the introductory level was recognized magna cum laude, one at the intermediate level was recognized cum laude.

At the service, students presented Haley with an 18-inch wood recreation of the Trinity Academy cross logo, a beautiful display piece crafted by the students over the course of the school year.

"The students presented completed project to Dr. Haley and the Trinity Academy school board at the service in appreciation for starting the school and all of the care and instruction the received. As the founding class of the school, they hope that the cross will hang proudly over generations of students," said Trinity Academy parent John Rabe, who led the students through the cross creation process.

More than a traditional woodworking activity, this project not only introduced the students to power tools, measuring, cutting and sanding, the process was filled with intention and meaning.

"I chose several kinds of woods that we could have used and each let the students choose their favorite although it ended up having seven kinds of wood in the final project," said Rabe. "Also, we discussed the handful of woods that are mentioned directly in the Bible, such as acacia and cypress. While it is not possible to acquire all of these here, we selected similar types to be featured in this project."

Much of the work on the cross was done at the Concordia Nebraska Center for Liturgical Art in the historic Marxhausen studio on campus.

"This is a perfect example of the benefits Trinity Academy students have thanks to the proximity and close relationships with Concordia Nebraska," added Rabe. "We would have been much more limited if not for this partnership."

As the only Christian high school in Seward and the only classical high school in the area, Trinity Academy serves students from multiple communities around Seward. In addition, the school offers fieldwork opportunities for Concordia Nebraska students. Eight college students were placed at Trinity Academy to complete observations in math, humanities and theology and lead instruction in math and physical education.

"One of the greatest things I heard coming from one of our students was that she used to think she didn't like going to school, and now she loves going to school," added Haley.

Haley expects academy enrollment to more than double next year. All current students are returning, and several new families have expressed interest for the coming school year. The academy is adding debate to its class schedule, expanding the hours of its humanities class, and welcoming an additional literature & rhetoric teacher to its faculty.

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