I thank my God in all my remembrance of you,always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace… And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.–Philippians 1:3-11
Each July, we become bold and patriotic in unison, celebrating the United States of America’s vast history. We even get teary considering the cost our founders paid while viewing parades displaying aged men in uniform proudly remembering their past accomplishments. We know we wouldn’t be where we are without the sacrifice of a few strong leaders who knew what had to be done and were willing to move forward no matter the challenges ahead of them.
Fast forward a couple of hundred years from that initial founding of the USA to our own school’s inauguration. It was late in 2008 when a friend, who knew I’d been homeschooling my boys, asked if we would be interested in joining a new school. I replied “Yes!” before she could explain to me very much. Exhausted and bewildered, this momma knew there had to be a better way than the path I was trudging. There were information meetings held in our homes, pencils made with a potential school name, and friends were recruited to join in. I really didn’t have any expectations of what it was to become but only knew I was ready to find someone else to lead in the curriculum and lesson plan department.
This idea came to realization and they amazingly began to hold classes in the fall of 2009, less than a year from the initial idea. You can read its history here. Now, we have planned and readied ourselves to begin our sixth year as Trinity Classical School in the fall of 2014. We expect 400 students to count themselves as TCS Owls with many more waiting for a spot to open that they too can fill. We are here now due to the dedication of a few.
It took a handful of Christian parents committed to the cause and forging ahead with research, plans, and action to build a school unlike any other. Their determination brought forth an organization that thrives on pouring into students and parents classical education and encouragement in the faith. They kept a focus, akin to that of a Pre-K student at snack time, on the goal of securing the best teachers and staff to do the right jobs.
If I named the stalwarts, it would embarrass them and they would just point to each other, taking the focus off themselves. These families sacrificed many a home-cooked dinner with their children to meet with each other or potential families/staff/facilities. They have spent long hours at the computer with emails, financial statements, and contracts. They pressed on with great conviction, no matter the circumstances in their own lives, to build a place for their own children’s education—and invite the rest of us to join them in the ride.
My own family’s life is richer with a depth of learning in my children than I could have ever achieved on my own. The redemption in education I have received is a great miracle in that I now know details of history, literature, and science that never entered my brain during grammar and middle school years (my verbal abilities could talk me into passing grades). The home days are relaxed, comparatively, to that of other school children. Our TCS friendships are like-minded, with discipline of children’s hearts at the forefront.
Thank you, TCS founders, board members and our dear Head of School. We are grateful for you and for these last five years. Your sacrifices haven’t been for naught. I’m a little teary now remembering the personal costs and admiring the accomplishments. Now to plan a really big parade.
