The SUMMER 2015 LeaderNEWS FOR THE TRINITY HIGH SCHOOL FAMILY Class of 2015 sets new school ACT record A decade of record results www.trinityrocks.com THSLeader2015SummerCover.indd 1 5/22/15 11:18 AM celebraTion Kathryn and Michael ‘78 Brown; Toni and Tee ‘78 Ray Sheri and Stan ‘74 DeVore Judy Burkman, John King ‘80 and Lisa Hout Lisa and Rick ‘74 Link; Arch ‘74 and Gay Curran John Link ‘73 in the company of the Trinity Family The LeaderNEWS FOR THE TRINITY HIGH SCHOOL FAMILY ISSUE SUMMER 2015 ON THE COVER: In many ways, the Class of 2015 were record-setters. See page 30 for some of their accomplishments. Cover photos by Gail Kamenish H’05 Inside front and inside back cover photos by Sean Steer ’16 OFFICE FOR SCHOOL ADVANCEMENT VICE PRESIDENT FOR Joey Porter ’78 SCHOOL ADVANCEMENT ALUMNI RELATIONS Travis Wagoner ’90 / COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR ADMISSIONS Chris Toth ’06 ADMISSIONS James Torra H’12 ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Carrie Joy / ALUMNI RELATIONS ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Melanie Hughes / ADMISSIONS MAGAZINE DESIGN Dragonfly Design PRINTER Preferred Printing DIRECTOR / MAJOR GIFTS Tim Culver ’82 The Leader is published four times a year for Trinity High School alumni, students, parents and friends by Trinity High School, Office for School Advancement, 4011 Shelbyville Road, Louisville, KY 40207. Postage paid at Louisville, KY. POSTMASTER: Send address corrections to: Trinity High School, Office for School Advancement, 4011 Shelbyville Road, Louisville, KY 40207. Phone: 502-893-7625. Fax: 502-899-2052 Trinity is a Catholic, NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY college-preparatory high school, Trinity High School admits students of any race, color, national and forming men of faith ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally available to students. Trinity does not discriminate on the basis of and men of character. race, color, national or ethnic origin, or disability (if with reasonable accommodation the student can meet the requirements of Trinity’s course of study) in the administration of its educational policies, scholarship or loan programs, athletic or other school-administered programs. leadermagazine FOR ALUMNI AND FAMILY OF TRINITY HIGH SCHOOL Recent front-page stories in The Courier-Journal and Business First newspapers were timely, following our announcement of an addition to our alcohol and drug education, prevention and intervention programs. The Courier-Journal had a lengthy story on binge drinking, especially among 18-24 year olds. Business First had several stories on heroin use and its impact on lives and the economy. Both features are archived on their websites. Our concern for our students’ well-being is prudent, honest and aligned with our school’s mission. This column provides a look back at the long process we took to arrive at the decision to join other Catholic high schools nationwide in doing random alcohol and other illegal drug testing of our students. The decision has been met with an overwhelmingly positive reaction. Five years Our students’ health and well-being is a priority. In fact, their well-being is one of the 10 aspects of school life that comprise every strategic plan. BY DR. ROBERT (ROB) J. MULLEN ‘77, PRESIDENT Besides the study that led to adoption of a new daily class schedule, I know of no other idea that was examined more thoroughly or generated as much consensus. We are breathing notebook president’s easier since the announcement, knowing there is no other decision we could have made if we are truly serious about our “Statistics are clear in showing the students’ well-being. longer a teen delays using addictive My spring column highlighted 27 initiatives we have related to alcohol and other illegal drugs. Adding mandatory testing is substances, the better the chance of not one part of many efforts. having addiction problems as an adult.” Timing We are in a very strong position at Trinity. regional compensation study of similar Catholic Our third year of a college-like class schedule is producing high schools that our salaries and benefits are fair terrific results. Our students must take more classes than and competitive. any other high school in the state to earn our diploma, which translates into a more rigorous program of studies. Lay of the land Students are responding. We set a new record for the While no single incident started us on this journey, number of Advanced Placement exams taken and the number we have been reading the signs of the times. of students taking them. The number of students making the The number-one bill in the recent legislative honor roll is up, and students failing classes is down. session was about heroin. While 2008 saw no heroin The Class of 2015 set a new record for their composite deaths in Kentucky, this year the number is expected ACT score. In fact, we are in the midst of 10 years of rising to climb beyond 400. In 2013, Kentucky’s attorney ACT scores. These seniors also set a new school record for general made Trinity one of his many high school scholarship offers – $28 million, besting the previous record by stops to discuss prescription-pill abuse. The number of $5 million. teens being treated for marijuana addiction has tripled Enrollment is strong. We are in a run of 14 consecutive years in Colorado in the past three years. Today’s pot is five of 400 or more freshman candidates. We will distribute more times stronger than it was two decades ago. Yet despite than $2.7 million in financial assistance this coming school year its increased potency, 60 percent of high school to families with demonstrated need, placing us among the top seniors see no harm in marijuana. 10 Catholic high schools nationwide to offer this level of support. Science and the adolescent brain Alumni and donor support is strong. Each year, we set a new Research is revealing that the adolescent brain is record for the Trinity Annual Fund. Since 1999, we have spent not completely developed. Some sections of the brain $28 million on campus projects while adding zero debt. are highly charged, such as the social and pleasure Job openings bring multiple candidates. We know from a centers. The frontal lobe of the brain that controls impulsivity and executive decision-making is not fully 4 continued on next page FOR ALUMNI AND FAMILY OF TRINITY HIGH SCHOOL leadermagazine mature for teens; it will take some years past high school of many reports we read about the topic. In fact, our policy for these connections to be complete. It is thought that this was built to address their main concerns. is why more crime is committed by teens than adults and As outlined above, drug testing is not a “stand-alone” why they have more automobile crashes than adults. program but part of a much larger, comprehensive Statistics are clear in showing the longer a teen delays educational program. Hair testing is not as invasive as using addictive substances, the better the chance of not urine sampling – an area of their concern. Trinity is not having addiction problems as an adult. We provided data diagnosing any problem – another one of their concerns. related to this in articles published on our website this We are giving the test results to the parents and suggesting past semester. they seek professional help, such as from their child’s All of Trinity’s education, prevention and intervention pediatrician. The school’s reaction to a positive test is one programs try to buy students time, to delay their use of of helping, not punitive consequences, which is another of addictive substances in order to keep them from training their concerns with drug testing. their brains to be addicted. The survey and parent opinions Peer pressure We had a research firm conduct a community-wide Dr. Laurence Steinberg, is his book Age of Opportunity, survey of households with children in grades 6-12 – in writes about what he calls the “social brain.” This part of Catholic, private and public schools. Respondents did not the brain is changing during adolescence and contributes know who was conducting the study. The results gathered to the need for positive peer reactions. He states, “Changes from more than 900 parents were compelling: in these parts of the brain increase adolescents’ sensitivity • The majority of parents are concerned that their child to their status within their peer group, make them more will become involved with drugs during their high susceptible to peer pressure…” school career. When examining peer pressure, he states, “Programs • Nearly 9 out of every 10 parents were favorable toward aimed at enhancing adolescents’ general capacity for drug testing if the aim was to help the student. self-regulation are far more likely to be effective in reducing These parents agreed that a drug testing policy risky behavior than are those that are limited to providing administered by the school would give their child a them with information about risky behaviors.” powerful response to peer pressure, and further agreed that Our testing program provides students with a powerful it helped them deal with an otherwise difficult issue. tool for self-regulation – the ability to say, “I can’t. My Our principal, Dan Zoeller H’07, conducts a parent school tests.” discussion group several times each year. For the last several years, testing has been an annual topic of Alcohol and drug treatment professionals discussion. It never was a discussion of “why” Trinity would We met with specialists who work with teens and young begin testing but “when.” Cost was never a concern. They adults. After receiving positive feedback for our current understood this can be a helping tool – not only for their efforts, we asked about drug testing as used by other own sons, but also for the students who sit next to their Catholic high schools.