Last week I received the results from an independent school survey that was recently conducted by an outside organization. The organization that conducted the survey also shared Trinity-Pawling’s isolated survey results, which I shared with our faculty just before departing for the Thanksgiving vacation. This is a small sampling of the student statements that scored particularly high for Trinity-Pawling:

“I feel that I gain meaningful positive value from being a member of the School community.”

“I feel that I make a meaningful positive contribution to the experience of others within the School community.”

“I feel well-supported at school as I strive to meet my potential.”

“My school experience has helped me learn to engage constructively with people holding different perspectives from my own.”

“There is at least one trusted adult I can talk to at school.”

In the book Connect, psychologist Edward Hallowell writes of the critical importance of relationships in human development. He explains that human beings are driven by two powerful forces — the desire to achieve and the desire to connect with others. Today’s fast-paced culture, illustrated in part by the pervasiveness and potential anonymity created by technology and multi-tasking, has created conduits toward achievement that can overshadow the need for connectivity between individuals.

Hallowell argues that our changing culture can potentiate an escalating disconnect between people, leading to possible emotional and social distress. He cites the home and school as two key areas to enhance connectedness among youth in our culture. Hallowell cites studies that have shown that students who state they feel connected to their school and to their peers have a much healthier developmental profile. Those who claim to be disconnected, conversely, have been shown to fall into a profile characterized by higher degrees of depression and anxiety.

Clearly, schools play a vital role in our society. They are not only the places where young people learn to be successful and productive citizens, but they are the places where they learn how to navigate the waters of socialization. They work through this with the help of their peers; but, adults, especially teachers, play a pivotal role in this process as well. Schools can be dynamic, healthy places where important human connectivity is fostered and nurtured.

At Trinity-Pawling, we strive to be a school of connectivity and to create a school culture where the relationships between students and teachers are strong, healthy, and shared. We aspire to nurture a community that is enriched by its diversity, inclusiveness, and awareness of belonging.

An interdisciplinary curriculum encourages students to see the connection between ideas and their mutual influence on different areas of study and in the practical world outside of the classroom. Through a commitment to a holistic approach to education, Trinity-Pawling creates connections between the various venues of learning: the classrooms, the athletic fields, co-curricular events, and the chapel. As an Episcopal school, Trinity-Pawling seeks to emphasize the connection between each student and their God-given gifts and talents.

We recognize that our goal of fostering a culture of connectivity and belonging will always be an operative force in the School. Our goal of a connected school culture, however, will continue to be a pervasive commitment at Trinity-Pawling.

I am thankful for your support of our goals and mission. It is an honor and a privilege to be on this journey with our students, their families, and my colleagues.

With gratitude,

Bill Taylor

Wintersession is full steam ahead for the next two weeks at Trinity-Pawling. Practical and immersive, Wintersession affords students a concentrated period of time where they can hone in on various projects, questions, and challenges. Steered by the teachers and students, Wintersession is ultimately overseen by faculty extraordinaire, Gabe Avis. Gabe is incredibly excited about the opportunity to lead. In fact, his voice and energy take on an electric charge when talking about the projects. “It’s dynamic. It’s a change in scenery. The biggest thing with the Wintersession is that we’re not in traditional classes. Students and faculty are going to be moving, building, engaging, serving the community, and so, each day will be completely different than the previous day. This is a Trinity-Pawling-only thing, a truly one-of-a-kind project so why not be on the ground floor of something unique and exciting?”

Wintersession at Trinity-Pawling was conceived as a learning bridge between Thanksgiving and Christmas and came into sharp focus during the remote learning period of COVID-19.

Now, three years into the practice, the energy and interest around Wintersession, which includes Winter Projects, The Global Collaborative Challenge, and Senior Independent Projects, is palpable. As Gabe reiterates: “It gets you in touch and moving around with a lot of different people and collaborating on different ideas and goals. I mean, we’re exploring how Mars, if ever colonized, should be governed, as well as the geopolitical implications of the World Cup…just to name a few projects. It’s invigorating.”

Invigorating surely is the word for Wintersession and for Gabe Avis himself. Gabe is, in essence, a walking Wintersession. Each day he models the aspirations Trinity-Pawling has for the students during this unique Wintersession block. Thoughtful, focused, curious, discerning, thirsting for knowledge, and loaded to the gills with energy and creative insight, Gabe is the perfect leader for Wintersession, and his leadership will lead us all to new heights and new hopes.

We wish him and the boys all the best in the coming weeks, and we look forward to seeing all the amazing projects that come to fruition as a result of Wintersession. One thing is for sure – it’s full steam ahead!

by The Reverend Daniel Lennox

Katheryn (Katie) Allen Berlandi joined the Trinity-Pawling community in 2015 as the Dean of Counseling and a teacher of psychology. Her mission — as counselor, teacher, and mentor — is to provide ongoing support and guidance, teach empathy and compassion, and help her students develop strategies for solving problems, dealing with stress, and prioritizing their own health and wellness. Saturday Programming is just one of the many avenues Katie takes to connect with students on these important topics. “Thanks to the incredible help of Dr. Lashlee and Mr. Keel, our health and wellness Saturday Programming activities this fall have been terrific,” Katie began.

A Health and Wellness Fair held in the Smith Field House in early November, for example, featured informational booths and presentations by local nursing students on topics such as stress management, nutrition, social media use, mental health, distracted driving, and more. In October, Katie worked closely with Dean of Residential Life Dutch Keel and Associate Head of School Tom Morris to welcome the One Love Foundation to campus for an important all-school presentation on healthy relationships. “It was such a powerful morning,” shared Katie. “We had seniors who were selected to be leaders of the breakout discussion groups, and I was so impressed with the conversations that took place. It was very moving.”

In addition to her health and wellness efforts on campus, Katie also serves as a faculty advisor in the Leadership Institute of the Institutes for Active Learning. As both a faculty member and parent (John ’27), Katie sees the Institutes as another valuable opportunity for students to be engaged and challenged, learn important life skills, and become well-rounded, healthy young men. “In the Leadership Institute especially, the boys develop their communication and problem-solving skills, and learn the importance of respecting others’ opinions,” she explained. “They also learn that there are different ways to step up as a leader, and finding their unique leadership approach in each situation is all part of the exciting learning experience.”

Over the years, Katie has enjoyed seeing Trinity-Pawling grow and make its mark in the independent school world. What makes her most proud to be in the School community is its authenticity — and of course, the wonderful people who make the Trinity-Pawling experience possible. “We know what we do well and we work hard every day to reach the boys and help them become their best selves,” she concluded. “How lucky am I to work in a community that feels like a family?”

Thank you, Katie, for your ongoing dedication to the health and wellness of our students and for all you do in the Trinity-Pawling community!

by Emma Quigley

The Fall Term at Trinity-Pawling is certainly a busy time of year, particularly for seniors and postgraduates — from day-to-day academic work, athletic commitments, and extracurricular activities to visiting and applying to colleges, planning Senior Independent Projects (SIPs) and Institute for Active Learning programs, and still finding time to kick back with friends. Now with Wintersession underway, join us as we look back at the Fall Term and celebrate the accomplishments of the Class of 2023 so far!

The College Process: By the time the Fall Term came to an end, the Class of 2023 had submitted roughly 400 applications to nearly 185 different colleges. We eagerly await the acceptance results in the coming weeks.

Senior Independent Projects: 90 SIPs are currently in progress — including making a public art installation; writing and illustrating a children’s book; welding with recycled metal to build a meat smoker; writing a coaching philosophy and playbook; and many more.

National Letters of Intent: During the week of National Signing Day, the varsity baseball and lacrosse teams honored those seniors who have made commitments to play at the college level. We extend another heartfelt congratulations to the following members of the Class of 2023:

● Baseball: Brad Alexander (St. Michael’s College); Henry Aronwald (Hamilton College); Joe Haugh (Kenyon College); Nick Hios (Monmouth University); Peter Link (Sacred Heart University); and Troy Repaci (Franklin & Marshall College)

● Lacrosse: Ben Calabrese (West Point – The U.S. Military Academy); Colin Davis (Robert Morris University); Drew Filanowski (Binghamton University); Ben Gaccino (Transylvania University); Cooper Haas (Skidmore College); Tucker Kellogg (Syracuse University); Will Laughlin (Colorado College); Casey Sodolski (Robert Morris University); Christian Tacogue (Oberlin College); Michael Whitman (Pennsylvania College of Technology); and Landon Whitney SUNY Albany).

The Institutes for Active Learning:

● Citizenship: “Our topics included immigration, poverty, origami, international food, kindness, migration, and even a gameshow to highlight global citizenship awareness. The senior leaders in our group as a whole were truly outstanding. We look forward to working with them again in the Winter Term when we cover national citizenship.” – Jay Kellogg, Citizenship Institute Leader

● Leadership: “The senior leaders in our Institute were always on time, shared great ideas and insights, and efficiently organized our meetings and activities. We had a successful fall institute and much of the success was due to their efforts!” – Dr. David Hooks, Leadership Institute Leader

● Entrepreneurship: The activities and workshops held by the Entrepreneurship Institute this fall were designed to build skills in the areas of creativity, innovation, communication, management, adaptation, and risk taking — essentials for any future entrepreneur! The senior leaders did a terrific job spearheading the events for their peers and underclassmen.

● Environmental Stewardship: “The seniors in the Environmental Institute played an integral role in the rollout of our Saturday Programming this fall. Some examples of senior-led activities included constructing bat houses for the campus, hiking on the Appalachian Trail, preparing a meal out of local ingredients, learning how to fly fish, milling lumber from reclaimed trees for an outdoor camping space on campus, and working on a plan to improve recycling at Trinity-Pawling. The seniors had the opportunity to explain the how and why of each project, as well as guide their peers through each morning, and they did a phenomenal job,”  – Josh Frost ’04, Environmental Stewardship Leader

We congratulate all of the seniors and postgraduates on their hard work so far this year and wish them even more success in the coming months.

by Emma Quigley

How many years have you been coaching soccer at Trinity-Pawling?

This was my second season.

This soccer season at Trinity-Pawling was rather successful compared to recent years. What were some key factors that helped that success?

A huge help to both myself and the players was the addition of Coach Templeton and Coach Welch. Not only did Coach Templeton bring a lot of experience and knowledge to the team, but he was also able to help run practices and introduce some new drills to the players and get them thinking differently. Coach Welch was able to help with the goalies and specialized in their development throughout the season. I couldn’t have done this without their help and the team’s ultimate success is due largely in part to the help I received from them during the season. I also think our pre-season training trip to Costa Rica at the beginning of the season had a lot to do with our success.

Walk me through that trip. How did it get started? What did you do each day? How long were you there and how many games did you play?

The Costa Rica trip was amazing and we were so fortunate to be able to go on a trip like that. We were able to raise close to $60,000 dollars for the trip, and Gabe Auringer’s dad also made a generous donation for the boys to be able to go without too much of a financial burden. We were there for ten days exploring some of the towns in Costa Rica, as well as some soccer stadiums. We also practiced once or twice a day and had a total of 6 games against U-20 and U-23 teams. This was a great trip because the players got to bond before arriving on campus, giving new students a chance to make early friendships. It also allowed us to play a lot of soccer before the start of the season.

How do you hope to continue to strengthen the team and what are your hopes for next year’s season?

I’m always hoping to improve. This year, we made some positive strides toward making Trinity-Pawling soccer a household name. As we go forward, I want to continue to bring in players who are soccer-first, rather than working with kids who are trying to add a sport in the fall. This year, we were also able to bring in a nucleus of guys who created a strong foundation for the team to build on. As our reputation grows, I’m hoping more people will know about Trinity-Pawling, and I can continue to recruit students who are excited to be here and want to win.

What was the highlight of the season for you?

For me, it was being able to see the kids and the team come together while dealing with adversity. We had a hot start but faced the best teams in the middle of our schedule. We were able to get through that and ended our season on a high note, which I was really proud of. We were able to build a strong foundation with fundamental skills and with the help of Coach Welch and Coach Templeton, we’ll be able to continue to bring in players that will make us better. It was a blessing to work with the team this year, and I look forward to the same next year as we work towards making the team as successful as possible.

by Kyle Miller ’18

During the Homecoming and Reunion festivities in October, the Benham family, the Class of 1990, and Trinity-Pawling faculty, staff, and alumni gathered to honor the memory of Tyler Mabon Benham ’90 and his love of the outdoors and fishing. During the ceremony, the community, adorned in custom Benham 56 t-shirts, dedicated the Benham Family Pond Terrace and Fire Pit. Located on the shore of the pond, this beautiful outdoor space — a gift from the Benham family — now provides enjoyment for all members of the Trinity-Pawling community.

We would like to share with you this heartfelt note from David Benham ’64, P’90 and his family to the Class of 1990:

It was an exciting fall season for the Pride athletes — filled with a lot of ups and downs. The boys fought hard each time they competed and we are very proud of their effort and accomplishments this fall.

The soccer team finished with a record of 4-10-3. They had a few key wins over Kingwood Oxford and the Frederick Gunn School while facing some tough opponents in Avon Old Farms, Taft, and Loomis Chaffee. This was one of the more successful soccer seasons for the Pride in recent years, so the boys have nothing to hang their heads on. Maddox Rivera ’24 won the MVP Award for the year and Shun Shiraishi ’23 won the Ned Reade Award. Way to go boys! Keep up the good work next season and never stop improving.

The football team finished with a record of 1-7 but dealt with a lot of injuries over the course of the season. The boys had some close losses at the beginning of the season, but learned from those lessons and closed it out in a game against Kent — a great win for the boys. The remaining schedule was a gauntlet of top teams including Avon, Choate, and Brunswick. The boys never stopped fighting and their effort was extremely commendable this season. We wish them nothing but the best going forward in their winter sports.

The mountain biking team traveled to Hotchkiss for Founders and came in second to the host team. Overall, it was a strong riding season for the boys. They had some first and second-place finishers in multiple races, even in races where they didn’t come away with the win. At the fall athletic awards dinner held earlier this month, the award for MVP of the season was given to Henry Beimler ’24 and the Most Improved Rider was given to Luke Macanka ’24.

The cross country team had some young runners this year that were able to contribute to the varsity squad. Eighth graders Oliver Denaro ’27 and Jack Fries ’27 ran as the third and fifth runners for the Pride at more than one race this year and did well. Their effort was commendable throughout the season. Tyler Olsen ’23 also had a strong running season this year coming in the top 10 in a race against Kent and Berkshire. At the wards dinner, Harry Clark ’24 was named next year’s captain.

Roll Pride!

by Kyle Miller ’18

On this Global Day of Giving, we ask that you become a donor to the Trinity-Pawling Fund — ensuring that our traditions of community, brotherhood, and distinctive academics and athletics continue for students today and into the future.

Your support is vital! The amazing community of Trinity-Pawling exists because it is nurtured by donors like you.

Our faculty and staff are dedicated to making a transformational difference in the lives of our students. Trinity-Pawling’s student-centered community values each boy as a distinctive individual, nurtures his potential, holds him to a high standard, and helps him discover his own unique gifts and talents.

Make a gift today and help Trinity-Pawling provide a transformative educational experience now and in the future. Thank you for your continued support!

Ways to Contribute:

• Online:  www.trinitypawling.org/give
• Phone:  845-855-4881
• Venmo:  @TrinityPawlingSchool
• Check:  Trinity-Pawling School, Office of Advancement, 700 Route 22, Pawling, NY 12564