The Trinity Leader Spring 2003 News for the Trinity Family ON WITH THE SHOW! William P. Bradford II H’03 directs Trinity’s spring production of Robert and Elizabeth. Photo by Tommy Downs. Trinity High School Nationally Recognized School of Excellence Louisville, Kentucky CAMPUS STORE 4011 Shelbyville Road Louisville, KY 40207 Parking is available in the visitors’ spaces along Alumni Hall at the corner (502) 736-2125 of Shelbyville Road and Sherrin Avenue. Enter through the Rotunda and proceed [email protected] to your left. We are open Monday-Friday, 7:30-8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. www.thsrock.net OUR FIRST1 50 YEARS President’s Notebook By Dr. Robert (Rob) J. Mullen ’77 have been working at Trinity for 21 We have been fortunate over time to have student deaths come years. I have learned that every school very infrequently. Still, when they happen, we move quickly to year has many highs and lows. The offer support and direction for those left behind. Our Chapel Idrama and comedy of life is played becomes a busy place. In the case of Ross we were able to make out in large and small ways each day. it a gathering place for those needing to pray, talk or maybe just The dynamic flow of a school year is what sit. A binder with blank pages was available for those who wanted breathes excitement and vitality into what to write a prayer, capture their thoughts or send his family a mes- we do. sage. Anyone thinking negatively about this generation need only Classroom achievements, an array of House activities, athletic spend a few minutes reading the feelings captured on those pages. successes and Christian service projects throughout the fall I am confident that our students’ touching words will be a com- and winter have made for an energy-filled experience. These fort to the Meredith family for years to come. I was very proud of moments have brought many highs. their outreach, maturity and love. The In many stark ways, though, this has “Fortunately for us, Chapel also became a place for our cam- been a tough winter for the Trinity pus ministers and counselors to interact community. This is the kind of winter being a school based with those needing support. that makes me long for spring and upon Christian values in We are a school that embraces prayer. reminds me to be thankful that we are a In recent times we have been gathering school where it is okay to pray and talk the Catholic tradition the entire school together about six times about God. each year for prayer and worship. (By As of this writing, we have been makes it very easy to pray contrast, we gather the school together touched by the loss of several members and rely on God.” once a year for a pep rally. This would of our school community. Six of our be quite surprising to our critics who faculty and staff have lost a parent since moan about our athletic successes!) Christmas. Many of our school families Daily announcements begin with prayer. have endured the loss of a loved one. Meetings, assemblies, parent events, A young alumnus passed away recently. banquets, sporting events, classes, teams There is an article on page 13 about the loss of our great friend and clubs all incorporate prayer into the everyday fabric of school George Freibert ’61. Many readers know that we also lost a life. Most often, prayer in these settings includes words of grati- member of the junior class, Ross Meredith, to a sudden and tude for the many blessings bestowed on our community. aggressive infection. Fortunately for us, being a school based upon Christian values We have been doing a lot of praying around here. in the Catholic tradition makes it very easy to pray and rely on Being a community populated by and focused on young peo- God. We are able to place something like death in a bigger con- ple makes dealing with death sharper and more difficult. Like text. We are able to apply our faith reasoning to something very they should be, our students are concentrating on tomorrow. unreasonable, like a death. I am not sure what to do or how to act Their view is so often focused on what is coming and what is yet without a living, breathing faith. to be. They see an endless vista before them with unlimited pos- Most of the time our faith life in this school community is in sibilities. Death is not supposed to creep into their world. the context of just good old-fashioned day-to-day living. Whenever we inform the students about a death we couch the I teach one Scripture class each day. I recently told my juniors announcement in prayer. As Christians, we believe that there is that their retreat program was starting. A real seriousness came more to life than this earthly existence. I hope that our students over them as I described the theme of the program, Christian are learning the value of the peace that comes from a mature faith leadership. I was really pleased with their reaction. They have based upon the promise of Easter morning. I hope we are mod- come to realize that these moments away from class are impor- eling this for them. 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. 1953 2 2003 President’s Notebook continued from page 1 tant and valuable. Enough talk from previous years has reached requires that each teacher maintain an electronic grade book. The them that they know this is an important step in assuming lead- new labs will bring the campus total to eight. I am told this is the ership as the next senior class. The fact that we do this in a faith most of any high school in Kentucky. Architecturally, it will fit in context of prayer and God is the key. I don’t know how else we nicely with the campus. We will also add more restrooms. would do it. Mr. Glynn Stengel ’67 of Integral Structures is overseeing this Because of student interest we have been conducting six senior construction project. Glynn and Integral Structures (Dick H’00 retreats for the past few years instead of five. More than half of and Tom Eckert ’82) also built the Marshall Center (1999), our 11,000 alumni have experienced the Christian Awakening Shamrock Hall (2000) and the east expansion of Floersh Hall Retreat program since its adoption in 1974. “Live the Fourth” (2001). Glynn has also overseen the many campus remodeling and has a deep meaning for those who are familiar with the senior site-improvement projects completed over the past four years. retreat experience. A major portion of the cost of this new classroom building is Students take a religion class during each of their four years at coming from a generous donor. We have enjoyed this donor’s Trinity. We hope we are touching both their head and their heart. philanthropy in numerous ways for the past decade. Each time, A dozen juniors and seniors recently received the Sacrament of the donor insists that the gift be kept confidential. We asked Confirmation at a Mass in front of the student body. While each permission to name the building in the donor’s honor, but true missed a chance for this sacrament at an earlier age, they jumped to form, permission was not given. The donor suggested we at the opportunity to be confirmed at Trinity. They were a great name the building after an important figure from Trinity’s past. witness to their peers of the value of an “owned” faith commit- As reported previously, the Trinity High School Foundation ment. I admire their courage and example. unanimously voted to name the new classroom building as Rev. Our school’s faith foundation is life-giving, enriching and Thomas Duerr Hall. indispensable. Beginning this fall, students will find “Duerr Hall” an attractive While we have been grappling with the reality of death, there place to learn, study and grow. We will do our best to remind them are always signs that point towards tomorrow. just who this Duerr fellow was. I am among the many who were Many of you have been following media accounts of our fortunate enough to have had Father Duerr H’92 as a teacher. campus expansion. Despite the challenging winter weather, our I was also hired by Father Duerr and worked for him during his newest classroom building is steadily rising from the ground. last year as principal. His impact on Trinity was extensive. The west expansion of Floersh Hall (“B” building to those pre- He taught various science and religion classes during his 29 1978 alumni) is taking shape and will be ready for the start of years at Trinity, with science being his first love. He studied each school. This three-story building will feature nine classrooms summer to gain more teaching expertise and subject mastery. He and two science labs. Completion of this building will allow continued teaching at least one science class each year during his every full-time teacher to have a room of his or her own. This 13 years as principal. During his time as a teacher and principal allows for the teacher to keep teaching materials in one location he would often be seen after hours and on weekends fixing, and to have quick access to a phone.