The start of a new school year always brings some excitement for both students and teachers alike, and this year is no different.  From new classes to alterations in schedules to the addition of solar panels, there are plenty of new additions to the school this year.

One important change is that several new Career Pathway classes are being offered this year. By taking a series of classes within each area of study, students can receive certification in one of the following areas, and in some cases, college credits: Agricultural Mechanism, Applied Agriculture, Applied Horticulture, Accounting, Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Therapy, and Childcare and Management Support. 

One new AP class offered this year is AP Government and Politics. This class is taught by Mr. Schwab and adds to Trinity’s already vast selection of AP classes, making a total of 22. Some aspects of the class are entirely new to the students, leaving challenging concepts for students to study.

“The material is not something that many of us are extensively aware of on a daily basis so I enter the classroom with only what I had read in the reading he assigned. The first weeks, however, have gone well,” says Senior Breea Gray, an AP Government student.

Two of the other changes are actually ones that students may be unaware of. First, Trinity High School now plans to endorse college and career readiness heavily and earlier. This summer, twelve teachers participated in a grant-based study where they were immersed in the workforce. They were able to immerse themselves in several different careers.

Mrs. Booher, English teacher, worked with Southwest Training to examine the world of teaching in K-12, while Mr. Komula, music teacher, worked with CBS Radio in Pittsburgh to get some first-hand training in commercial radio production.

The use of solar power is also a brand new addition to the high school. Trinity has adopted solar panels (to be installed soon) as a means to control our use of electricity, providing first-hand learning experiences to students about alternative energy forms, as well as helping the school become more carbon neutral.

“Personally, I believe in sustainability and leaving the planet better than we found it,” explains Assistant Principal Mr. Lauver on why solar power is so important to our school.

The solar panels will be appearing in both the front and the back of school. One of the panels, called the “Solar Flower,” will be located at the Arts Entrance, along with new horizontal wind turbines, another source of renewable energy. In addition, there will be vertical wind turbines near the Freight Farm.  The funding for the panels and the turbines came from a grant from the Local Share Account, the same group that funded Trinity’s Freight Farm and Fab Lab.

Considering the many changes that have come to our school, the 2018-2019 school year is sure to be eventful. It’s a great year to be a Hiller!