The Trinity Upper School Experience

As we begin the final month of the second trimester, I have started shifting my focus to the 2025-2026 school year. As families make decisions for next year, I want to share some insights into the daily educational experience unfolding within our Upper School community. I regularly say that Trinity’s Upper School strives to be a learning environment where every student is known, loved, challenged, and supported. I would add ”and prepared for their lives beyond Trinity School.” 

Our approach to teaching and learning is intentionally rigorous and ambitious. We believe in challenging our students to reach beyond their perceived limitations while providing the support and guidance they need to succeed. We know that actively experiencing productive struggle is where authentic learning occurs. In our classrooms, you'll find students building genuine relationships with their teachers and advisors, engaging in relevant learning activities, tackling complex problems, extending the learning of others by sharing their thoughts and ideas, and developing critical thinking skills that will serve them well throughout their lives.

Our students value their independence and the agency provided to them through their Upper School experience. Yet within this freedom lies a commitment and unwavering focus on each student's individual journey. Our college advising process exemplifies this approach – working closely with each family to identify institutions that align with each student's academic interests, personal goals, and abilities. Our process isn't about simply getting into college; it's about finding the right fit where our graduates will thrive and continue to grow.

Our teachers demonstrate this commitment daily through:

The results of this approach are evident in our students' achievements and growth. They're developing not just as scholars but also as confident, capable individuals ready to make meaningful contributions to their future communities. As we look ahead, we remain committed to making decisions that prioritize our students' best interests. We believe this steadfast focus on student success, combined with our appropriately challenging academic program, creates an educational environment where our students can investigate their interests, discover their passions, and further develop the skills they need for future success.

Thank you for your partnership in this important work. 

Timothy A. Jones, M.Ed.

Head of Upper School

P.S. We’ve had a series of Professional Development sessions recently regarding teaching and learning with AI. Translating that learning to my work, I used Claude AI as a brainstorming partner and organizational tool to write this Upper School update.