Breadcrumb

Christian Foundation

As an Episcopal school, we are guided by a faith-based mission to provide a comprehensive, inclusive, and values-based education that nurtures the intellectual, spiritual, and moral growth of students.

Chapel is the central hub of our community, and everyone is welcome to attend! Both Lower and Middle School come together daily to support one another, strengthen our community, and reflect on how we can become the people God calls us to be.

Chapel

Chapel is a regular community gathering that typically includes prayers, songs, scripture readings, and a homily (a short story, sermon, or reflection about the scripture or a current event). Chapel is the most visible aspect of our identity as an Episcopal school and the cornerstone of our community. We join together to reflect on what it means to be children of God, serve others, and live out our individual faith traditions.

Lower and Middle School students attend Chapel every day, and preschoolers enjoy an age-appropriate service twice a week starting in the spring of PK Two. About once a month, we host special K–8 Chapel services to honor important Christian holidays, celebrate different cultures, or commemorate milestones of the school year. Chapel services are open to anyone who wants to attend!

Pastor Adam Varner and acolytes prepare to begin a Chapel service. The Acoyte program is an extracurricular club for fourth graders that teaches kids about responsibility and provides opportunities for public speaking.

Preschool

Preschool Chapel services are short and age-appropriate gatherings that include singing and a short story. Preschoolers begin attending Chapel twice a week starting in the spring of PK Two.

Lower School

Services for grades K–4 introduce scripture readings and celebrate birthdays. Lower School students attend Chapel every day after their morning meeting and before classes.

Middle School

Services for grades 5–8 include more discussion of service learning and societal issues. Students attend Chapel every day just after lunch to reset their attention before afternoon classes.

Five Focus Areas of Chapel

Chapel programming draws from five focus areas inspired by Trinity's own culture and traditions as well as best practices outlined by the National Assocaiation of Episcopal Schools (NAES).

Music

Music and group singing are a great way to build community! We integrate music into every Chapel experience. Genres include classic hymns (e.g. "Amazing Grace"), Trinity traditions ("A World of Difference"), secular hits (e.g. "Crowded Table"), and foreign-language hymns and spirituals (e.g. "Unidos" and "Amani Utupe Na Ustawi").

Service Learning

Service-learning is an educational approach that combines learning objectives with community service. We focus on two types of service, charitable works and social action, to address both short-term and long-term needs.

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Liturgical Calendar

The Christian calendar determines when holidays are to be observed and which portions of scripture are to be read. For example, Advent is the time leading up to Christmas, and the Episcopal Diocese prescribes themes and even specific sermons, known as "homilies," that illustate these seasonal themes.

Non-Christian Holidays

Throughout the year, we host special celebrations for various cultures. These events honor other faith traditions and are designed to educate, inspire, and unite! Examples include Día de Los Muertos, Diwali, Hanukkah, and Lunar New Year.

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Secular Holidays

We incorporate secular holidays like Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Valentine's Day because they are part of everday life. Celebrating these holidays makes Chapel more relevant and relatable.

We're an Episcopal school, so Christian holidays are kind of a big deal! For example, Easter includes a month of Lent services, a Maundy Thursday service before Easter, school holidays on Good Friday and Easter Monday, and a Flowering of the Cross service when we return on Tuesday.

Cultural celebrations like Diwali give students opportunities to celebrate and learn about different cultures and religious traditions. Other notable cultural celebrations include Día de Los Muertos, Hanukkah, and Lunar New Year. Learn more about diversity and inclusion →

Beyond Chapel

There's more to being an Episcopal School than just Chapel! Here are some examples of how we live out our mission according to the principles of Episcopalian tradition.

Diverse and Inclusive Environment

Episcopal schools are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment where every student is respected and valued. They work to cultivate cultural competence and a deep understanding and appreciation of diversity among students.

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Service and Community Engagement

Service learning is a significant aspect of Episcopal education. Students may participate in age-appropriate service activities, fostering a sense of community engagement and responsibility.

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Social-Emotional Learning

In line with their holistic approach to education, Episcopal schools emphasize social-emotional learning. They work to develop children's emotional intelligence and social skills, helping them to understand and manage their emotions and to interact effectively with others.

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Creative Exploration

Many Episcopal schools incorporate music, art, and imaginative play to foster creative expression and celebrate the unique gifts of students, parents, faculty, and staff.

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Small Class Sizes

Episcopal schools often have small student-to-teacher ratios, allowing for personalized attention and tailored instruction for each student. Our student-teacher ratio is 7:1 for grades K–8 and gets as low as 4:1 for our youngest learners at Blue House Preschool.

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Chaplain

The Rev. Adam Varner

As Chaplain, Pastor Adam Varner oversees programs related to faith and service at both Trinity Episcopal School and Blue House Preschool. His responsibilities include Chapel services, pastoral care, service learning, and religious studies. Pastor Varner holds a B.A. in History from Yale University and a Master of Divinity from the University of Chicago Divinity School. Pastor Varner is a member of the leadership team.