Monday, October 16: No Classes 

Don’t forget that on Monday, October 16 there will be no classes for our students. We hope you are enjoying the long weekend with your Blazer. 

Friday, October 20: Seniors and parents /guardians will be informed by their teachers if they have exempted their block 1 exams 

On Friday, October 20 teachers will contact seniors and parents / guardians via Blackbaud Note to let them know that they have exempted their block one final exam. As a reminder, in order to exempt students must: 

• Be enrolled in a College Prep class (there are no exemptions in IB classes) 
• Be enrolled in a class in which exemptions are permitted (Exemptions are up to teacher discretion) 
• Have an minimum average of 93% in the class, determined one week before exams 
• Not be on Academic, Attendance, or Behavior Probation.  
• Not have any unpaid financial obligations 

If a student does not receive a notification from a teacher on an exemption, that means that she is not exempt from the final exam. All questions should be directed to the teacher. 

Wednesday and Thursday, October 25 & 26: Block One Final Exams: Revision in Exam Schedule and Structure 

On Wednesday and Thursday, October 25 and 26 students will demonstrate their learning from block one by taking cumulative final exams. After a careful analysis of best educational practice, we have made a significant change to our examination structure, and hence, schedule. Those students who have an Individualized Support Plan (ISP) that permits the accommodation of extra time will no longer take their final exam in their classrooms. Instead, they will take all 4 of their exams in one central location - with far fewer students and distractions - under the supervision of our Student Services Team. Our objective is to allow them to test under optimal academic conditions. 

As such, there will be two exam schedules, one for extended time testers and another one for standard time testers. The schedules look like this on both days: 

Extended Time Testers 

• First exam: 8:00-10:08
• Break:  10:08-10:25
• Second exam:  10:25-12:33

Standard Time Testers

• First exam:  8:00-9:25
• Break:  9:25-9:42
• Second exam:  9:42-11:07

Students may leave school upon completion of their second exam of the day. Additionally, we encourage all students to bring a snack to eat during the break between their two exams. 

A note on transportation: Please note that the Trinity Transportation schedule will change as a result of the revised schedule. The Trinity buses will depart on both Wednesday and Thursday, October 25-26 at 11:17 am. Those students who are using their extended time accommodation and ride the Trinity buses will need to make alternative arrangements on those two days. 

Friday, October 27: No Classes 

Friday, October 27 will be a Grading Day for block one final exams for our teachers. As such, students will not have classes on that day. Classes will resume on Monday, October 30, day one of Block Two.

Important Information on VCI Drill

The safety and welfare of our students and staff are our highest priority at Trinity High School.  In order to maintain a safe environment, it is necessary that we practice our emergency and crisis response plans by having drills designed to rehearse our procedures.  This year, we have already practiced two Fire Drills with the River Forest Fire Department and we will be conducting a Violent Critical Incident Drill (also known as Lockdown or Active Shooter Drill) this week with the River Forest Police Department informed by our ALICE response protocol which includes a dynamic response of Evacuating, Locking Down and Countering.  The school-wide drill will be on the morning of Friday, October 20, 2023. Click here to read more.

College Planning

Upcoming College Events at Trinity

This upcoming week we will have the following colleges in the Link during 3A/B:

• Wednesday, October 18th: St. Louis University (MO), Concordia University (IL), Marquette University (WI), Triton College (IL), Grand Valley State (MI), Northern Michigan University (MI), US Army

FOR SENIORS: 

• Thursday, October 19th: College Application Workshop. Drop in to see Ms. Denz during 3A/B. Come to room 204 with any application questions or just use this time to work on your application.

Upcoming College Fairs in the Chicagoland Area

Additionally, students from all grades may be interested in these upcoming college fairs:

• IACAC Regional College Fair at Morton College: Located in the Henry J. Vais Gymnasium on Tuesday, October 17, 2023, from 6:00-8:00 pm
• 2nd Annual HBCU Black Excellence College Fair: Hosted by Whitney Young High School on October 28th from 10:00 am-1:00 pm.

ACT and PSAT Testing

ACT Prep Course: Attention all parents and guardians of Junior students! Academic Approach is hosting a virtual ACT prep course for Trinity students. Check out all the information here that was sent out this last week. 

Irish Fellowship Educational & Cultural Foundation Scholarship



Each year the Irish Fellowship Educational & Cultural Foundation of Chicago provides scholarship assistance to Catholic high school students, preferably of Irish descent. Check out the application here!  Applications and essays are due to Mrs. McGarry at [email protected] no later than Wednesday, November 1st. 

Bal Dominique

On Friday, November 10, 2023, at Butterfield Country Club, the Trinity community will gather for our annual gala ~ Bal Dominique. This year we are Celebrating Community Partnerships. We will honor two exceptional members of our Trinity community who support our mission through their lives, service, and dedicated support. 

Bal Dominique Ad Book Deadline is today. If you would like to place an ad in the 2023 Ad Book to honor these amazing friends of Trinity, don't delay. Click here to join us.

Blood Drive

Trinity is partnering with Rotary of Oak Park River Forest for a Blood Drive at Trinity on November 29, 2023, from 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm. Click here to register

Parent Listening Session:

Thursday, October 19 @ 6:30 pm in the Link 

Join us for the first semester Parent Listening Session from 6:30 to 7:30 pm on October 19 in the Link. This session will be dedicated exclusively to parents sharing their opinions about the current 4x4 block schedule. We hope to learn what you and your Blazer love about the current schedule and what frustrates you. As we carry out a review of the schedule, with a potential modification to be implemented in the 2025-26 school year, we are interested in learning the perspectives of all our community members. Please bring your voice to this important discussion. We are listening. 

Please RSVP for the Parent Listening Session on Thurs., Oct. 19 @ 6:30 pm by clicking this link. Please RSVP by Tues. Oct. 17. 

Kairos - Classes of 2023 and 2024

Your student is invited to participate in a Trinity Kairos retreat this December. For many students and adult

volunteers around the United States, Kairos, and other retreats of the same model, have been an extraordinary and transformative experience. Students who attend will have opportunities to reflect upon and pray about their relationships with God, themselves, and others. They will hear from both peers and adult leaders, reflect on their own spiritual journeys, connect joyfully with their peers and be invited into prayer both communally and individually. Click here to read more.

Tutoring Center is Open

Great News!! The Tutoring Center is open for business for the 23/24 school year! Tutoring takes place in the Library and is free of charge. We have Peer Tutors available before school from 7:30-8:00, as well as Peer Tutors and Dominican University Tutors available from 3:07-5:00 pm (Mon-Thurs). If you are interested, take a look at our Tutoring Center schedule. Click on the tutor's name to make an appointment. Drop-in's are also welcome. 



Email Ms. McNair with any questions about tutoring!