News for the Trinity High School Family
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
The Spring 2008Leader News for the triNity high school family the arts are alive aNd well at triNity high school. www.trinityrocks.com President’s n o t e b o o k delivering on our academic Mission B y D r . r o B e r t ( r o B ) J. Mullen ’77 We are seeing student academic achievement rise to Catholic school graduates outperformed their private unprecedented levels. Bringing you this news should not school counterparts as well. There were stark differences be seen as hubris. It is right that we trumpet our students’ between non-public school students and public school academic achievements. This is a competitive market students in the areas studied. For example, the percent- with more than 40 high schools. We want facts about our age of 2002 sophomores who attended a four-year col- students’ achievement to rise above the din. Our students lege: public schools — 38 percent, other private schools are working hard. Our teachers are working hard. Praise — 66 percent, Catholic schools — 74 percent. when it is earned is praise that must be given. Critics of such studies will say that non-public schools Our Class of 2007 set a new high for an overall ACT have an inherent advantage over public schools given the composite score for an entire class. They bettered the selective nature of who enrolls in non-public schools. previous high-water mark that was set by the Class of To counter this claim, researchers further examined the 1 2006. Every Trinity student is required to take the ACT ELS:2002 data and controlled for such factors as income to graduate. Few schools in the Metro Louisville area levels of families, parental education levels and family require the ACT for graduation. When we report our composition. Even when these factors were controlled, scores, they are for every one of our students, including the students from non-public schools still outperformed those who have encountered difficulty in school due to a their public school counter- learning difference or disability. There is no similar-sized parts. The ELS:2002 con- private school in our community with a student body as firms similar findings from academically-diverse as Trinity’s. Yet, student success is a growing body of previous reported for the entire student body and is improving research on this topic. each year. For more information on No other private or Catholic school in the this study, entitled Monopoly Commonwealth of Kentucky had more National Merit Versus Markets: The Empirical Semifinalists than Trinity this year. Trinity has had more Evidence on Private Schools Governor’s Scholars than every other private school in & School Choice, visit www. the community for the past five years. The Class of 2007 friedman-foundation.org. was offered more than $19 million in scholarships by “The evidence shows more than 180 colleges and universities. Both of these gene eckert ’62 are new records for Trinity. Nearly six dozen colleges Even before we landed on the students from non-govern- and universities have been on campus this fall recruiting moon, Gene Eckert ’62 has ment-funded schools were our students. They are sought-after, and more are being been teaching social stud- offered acceptances into the schools of their choice. ies at Trinity. Generations more likely to graduate high Rest assured that we are pleased, but not satisfied. We of Trinity students have school, pursue a four-year seek to continuously improve. enjoyed his well-organized lessons and legendary quips college degree, attend a More evidence regarding the value about lads, ships, being face- selective college and aspire of a trinity education tious and summer school. He The Council for American Private Education recently is an iconic figure at Trinity to go to graduate school.” published a summary of a report from the National who has been a faculty and Center for Education Statistics based upon data from the student favorite forever. His United States Department of Education. The study exam- student-selected “Teacher- ined the post-secondary experiences of students who of-the-Year” honors are numerous and deserved. I had attended religious and independent schools versus those the pleasure of being one of his students twice, way back that attended government-funded (public) schools. The in 1973-75. He is a model for the kind of teacher we strive data come from the 2002 Education Longitudinal Study to be at Trinity. (ELS:2002), which tracked the education and employ- Gene was honored this spring in the Archdiocese ment experiences of 15,000 students from 750 high of Louisville for his exemplary service and success as a schools over a four-year period (2002-06). Catholic-school teacher. He received the Father Joseph The evidence shows students from non-government- McGee Award by the Catholic Education Foundation. funded schools were more likely to graduate high school, This honor is part of the annual Salute to Catholic School pursue a four-year college degree, attend a selective col- Alumni. One teacher among all those working in Catholic lege and aspire to go to graduate school. The survey of schools is honored each year. Gene is that recipient this students was large enough to segment the non-public year. This is a fitting tribute to a man who has devoted his school students into those who attended Catholic schools and those who attended “other” private schools. C o n t i n u e D on next page President’s n o t e b o o k our academic Mission C o n t i n u e D F r o M p a g e 1 entire professional life to Trinity students. (John Kahl ’69, champions another long-time Trinity teacher, was similarly honored The football team continued our school’s winning ways by by the Archdiocese in 1999.) capturing a state-record 18th football state championship. Gene’s wife, Pat, is our cafeteria manager. His son, Dan, In all, we have won 34 team and individual state champion- graduated from Trinity in 1994. In addition to teaching ships since 2000. The victories have come in the sports sanc- generations of Trinity students, Gene has worked tire- tioned by the Kentucky High School Athletic Association lessly for the St. Joseph Children’s Home for many years. and those sanctioned by other governing bodies. We salute you, Gene. Well deserved. I’m not being This is a remarkable feat that speaks to commitment, facetious. discipline, trust, teamwork, coaching, parent support, alumni and fan devotion, and the quality of our student- PlaceMent test season is outstanding athletes. We do not make winning a state championship 2 More than 450 students have expressed an interest in the end-all-be-all measurement for the success of a team’s attending Trinity by taking the Catholic High School season. Our school’s vision does state that Trinity’s teams Placement Test here. This represents one of the highest and activity programs, e.g. clubs, should perform at the turnouts of the past 26 years. In fact, the past seven highest level and challenge all students to perform to their years have seen the highest yields of the previous three best abilities. Goals are set that are designed to be beyond decades. the easy reach of the students and moderators/coaches. We are getting the message out that Trinity is a com- prehensive, engaged high school that can serve the indi- rivalry vidual’s needs. Families are hearing the message and once One negative that came after the football team’s champi- their son is enrolled, we are delivering. onship victory over St. Xavier was the emergence of sar- It will be exciting to welcome the Class of 2012 to cam- castic and derogatory T-shirts and e-mail messages levied pus in August. What promise they hold! at our rival. These efforts were mostly in good fun done President’s n o t e b o o k our academic Mission C o n t i n u e D in the excitement of the moment. We asked that such trinity fund messages and T-shirt efforts be stopped out of respect for In addition to successes in academics, attracting students our rival and the young men who played the game. The to Trinity and student activities, we have received tre- efforts stopped quickly. mendous financial support from you for the 2008 Trinity I enjoy beating St. X as much as the next Trinity man. Fund (July 1, 2007-June 30, 2008). But, I do not want to mar the rivalry by having it spiral The Trinity Fund is an annual appeal to all in the down into some of the negative times we have seen in Trinity community. Proceeds from the fund go directly the past. to the student financial aid fund. Families qualify for About 30 years ago, the rivalry was in danger of being tuition assistance by completing an extensive applica- halted by both schools because it had gotten out of hand. tion that is processed by a neutral third party, in our Fortunately those days are long past. There is great coop- case, Private School Aid Service. It is the same process eration between the two schools in a number of areas. familiar to those who have applied for tuition assistance 3 Principals, assistant principals, campus ministers, for college. counselors, business office staff, teachers and the heads When you give to the Trinity Fund, your support opens of all the Catholic high schools meet frequently. There doors. Your gift creates an opportunity for students who is mutual respect and an understanding that as Catholic otherwise would be shut out of the Trinity experience.