The CLASSCONGRATULATIONS OF 2004! Trinity Leader SUMMER 2004 HONORING TRINITY’S RETIRING BOB HUBLAR H’02 Trinity High School Nationally Recognized School of Excellence Louisville, Kentucky www. thsrock.net Happy 50th Birthday, Trinity! Dick Boeckm ann and Roy H ill ’65. Dr. Rob Mullen ’77 receives a gift from David ’80, Steven ’81 and Phil ’79 and Robert ’80 Marshall Chris ’78 Tompkins. Holly Tompkins, Missy Tompkins and Lisa Tompkins. 1 President’s Notebook By Dr. Robert (Rob) J. Mullen ’77 here are people who love to football and basketball programs for attention, support and categorize, pigeonhole and list. resources. Bob Beatty H’03 and Mike Szabo work very well It seems like every time you together and are some of each other’s biggest fans. Director of Tturn on the TV, listen to the Athletics Dennis Lampley H’92 works hard to help each of our radio or open a magazine, some- KHSAA-sanctioned sports compete at the highest levels. body is making a “Top (insert some number) The news reports about the basketball team caused me to think List.” “Best Dressed/Worst Dressed.” about the many ways I would like people to categorize, pigeon- The Oscars, the Grammys, the Tonys. The hole and list Trinity. AP college football poll. The latest Gallup Poll. On and on it goes. First and foremost, we are a Catholic school. We are part of a I guess all these ways of saying “who is up and who is down” just tradition of academic excellence that was recently praised by serve to help us make sense of the world. We place people, places President George W. Bush. He said: “Catholic schools carry out a and things into some kind of context or great mission: to serve God by building reference point. In being a Catholic the knowledge and character of our There are few high schools in this young people. It’s a noble calling. It’s an community that are given the media school, we are unafraid important part of the fabric of America.” attention that comes our way. Just to pray regularly, In a White House ceremony marking recently articles have appeared in local the centennial anniversary of the National newspapers about our 50th anniversary worship freely and give Catholic Educational Association he celebrations, some sophomores fulfill- stated: “Catholic schools have a proven ing their service requirements at the new praise to God for the track record of bringing out the best in Nativity School, numerous students every child, regardless of their back- blessings bestowed on us. who are graduating with prestigious ground. And every school in America merit scholarships and our record num- should live up to that standard. We want ber of Governor’s Scholars for 2004. our public schools to live up to the stan- Our athletic teams obviously garner lots dards you have set in Catholic schools.” of attention locally, regionally and In being a Catholic school, we are nationally. Campus improvements are mentioned frequently in unafraid to pray regularly, worship freely and give praise to God the media, including our award from the Metro Disability for the blessings bestowed on us. Through our many school-wide Coalition for making our facilities more accessible. prayer moments, religion class requirements, service opportunities I got a real kick out the many news reports that followed our bas- and retreat experiences, we are living out Monsignor Steinhauser’s ketball team’s first trip to the state finals in Rupp Arena. If I heard goal of providing every Trinity student “...Good Christian, once I heard a dozen times some reference to Trinity as a “football American training that will loom as important as scholastic work.” school.” If I wasn’t accustomed to Trinity being in the news on a We are an academically diverse school. Of all that there is to be routine basis, I may have gotten more bothered than I did. proud of at Trinity, I am most proud of this feature. As I have writ- The many football references made by sportscasters while ten previously, we are living out the mission expressly assigned to reporting on the basketball team was both a compliment and a Monsignor Steinhauser by Archbishop Floersh. When he asked slight. We enjoy the tremendous attention generated by success- Floersh what kind of school he was to build, the answer was clear. ful football teams. I wouldn’t trade that program’s success for any From the start, we were told to be archdiocesan in scope and to other school’s football program. The victories, trophies and, most educate all who seek our advantages — regardless of their acade- importantly, the manner in which the program is conducted, are mic strengths and weaknesses. Of the 499 students who took this matters of pride and motivation. To highlight the football team’s year’s Placement Test, their scores range from the single digits to success while reporting on the basketball team could have been the 99th percentile. The great thing about Trinity is that all of those seen by some as diluting that team’s historic accomplishment. students can find a home and an opportunity. We intentionally Fortunately, internally, there is no competition between the continued on next page Mission Statement Trinity High School’s mission is to provide students with a superior high school education in a supportive atmosphere based upon Christian values in the Catholic tradition. 2 President’s Notebook (continued from page 1) enroll the broadest possible range of students. It is not a marketing We have an expanded summer reading requirement, reading and ploy. It is who we were told to be. We embrace this mission. writing expectations across the curriculum and foreign languages We are a responsive school. Our 50-year history is filled with offered in a four-year program culminating in an opportunity for examples of this school being responsive to the needs of students. college credit. Honor societies in each of the foreign languages Whether it was the advanced science classes taught in conjunc- provide another outlet for study and travel. tion with Bellarmine College (now University) in the mid-1950s Leadership school. We plant the seeds for tomorrow’s com- to the vocational education program of the 1970s to the present- munity leaders by offering them opportunities to learn what it day House System, we have been pioneers in numerous endeav- means to lead. Ninety students serve in our student government ors. Given our humble beginnings, we have responded by being through the House System. Students take leadership roles on our bold innovators. School Board and in clubs, teams and activities. Math school. Students take math classes at the most appropri- In more particular ways, we are a/an ... ate level of difficulty based upon their strengths and weaknesses. Arts school. Our performing and expressive arts curriculums Advanced college credit is offered. Annually, the Math team are magnificent. A visit to the annual Art Show in May leaves one places near or at the top in local, regional and state competitions. full of awe. The Christmas and spring concerts by the Trinity Comprehensive school. Given our size, we are able to offer a Singers and Jazz Band rival those produced by magnet programs wide variety of classes and extracurricular activities that comple- in these disciplines. The legacy of the finest high school theatre ment each other. For example, students who enjoy social studies program in the community is renewed each time we raise the cur- courses can participate in the Political Debate Club. Students who tain for the fall and spring shows. Supporting these programs are take electives in business can get involved in the Investment two freestanding facilities that have few peers; The Communi- Club. Other academic-oriented clubs and activities mirror nearly cation Arts Center and Trinity Auditorium have anchored our every classroom experience. Examples include the Environmen- presence on the east side of Sherrin Avenue for more than 20 tal Club, Photography Club, Speech and Debate team, Mock Trial years. Extensive renovations have made these facilities excellent team, Computer Club and academic competition teams. We offer venues for these programs. more than 60 clubs, teams and activities. The National Honor Science school. Eight science labs support our daily curricu- Society and Beta Club recognize significant achievements in aca- lum. We are told this is the most of any high school in Kentucky. demic pursuits. The core trio of courses in biology, chemistry and physics is Sports school. Our athletic success is well known. We have enhanced by advanced science electives during the senior year. amassed more than 100 state championships in 50 years. Most We are beginning to make increased use of our own 120-acre wet- have come in the last 35 years. There may not be another school lands. Several of our students are working on Eagle Scout pro- in Kentucky or region with the same level of success over the jects in conjunction with our wetlands. Eventually our science same period of time. More important than trophies, we offered an classes will use this as a large outdoor classroom. outlet for more than 700 students this past school year to compete Technology school. The Winter 2002 issue of the Trinity in the athletic arena. We offer 10 interscholastic sports and eight Leader highlighted the innovative ways we use technology in the club sports. The opportunity expands when you add in the intra- classroom. The advances continue in our ability to tap into the mural offerings that are present throughout the school year. power of the digital age. Likewise, our administrative use of tech- Service school.