Every year, Holy Trinity School students, families, and staff celebrate a variety of traditions and activities throughout the school year. Here's an A-Z look at what makes HTS special (more to come!):
5th/6th Grade Concert - This concert takes place in the spring in the gym. The theme varies year to year.
8th Grade vs Staff Volleyball - This event occurs the day prior to gradation and matches HT staff vs 8th graders in multiple sets of volleyball.
All Saints - This is an 8th grade tradition where students study a saint during religion class and then dress as that saint for Mass and while the parade throughout the school.
All School Mass - Students attend Mass every week. Classrooms all lead a Mass, kindergarten sits with 6th grade buddies and choirs sing.
All School Rosary - Students attend Rosaries monthly and on special occasions.
Back to School Night - This event happens annually a couple weeks after school starts. It's an opportunity for parents to learn about the school year and hear from their child's teacher.
BINGO - This community building event happens twice a year and proceeds help with our fundraising.
Blessed Seelos Formation - This is the formation teachers and staff are required to attend for 10 hours annually. When school is out for professional development, this faith formation is part of many of these days. It's presented by the blessed seelos staff housed at Donnelly College.
Birthday Book Club - BCC benefits the library. For a fee, students can select a book for the library and have their name written inside for all the future to see.
Book Fair - The fair happens for 3 days during fall conferences week. Proceeds benefit the library.
Buddy Families - New families to HTS are matched up with a buddy family to assist them as a "go to" for questions about how HTS works. There is a BBQ for initial fellowship in August.
Carnival - This annual, end-of-school year tradition gives students a fun way to usher in the summer. It typically takes place on the last half day of school after Mass.
Catholic Schools Week - Celebrated nationally, this takes place the last week of January. Several school events including an Open House after SUnday Mass and Family Lunch are scheduled.
Christmas Concert - This concert takes place in the church and involves our K-2 students each singing faith-filled and Christmas themed songs.
Class Parties - We celebrate Halloween, Christmas and Valentine's Day with grade level and classroom parties where students play games, do crafts and eat treats.
Color Days - Kindergarten students wear a different color every week during the fall semester.
Corpus Christi Sunday — Celebrated 60 days after Easter, the Solemnity of Corpus Christi is typically transferred by our Archdiocese to be celebrated on a Sunday. Our 2nd grade students who recently received their First Holy Communion are allowed to wear their Communion attire and lead the procession typically held after the 11:30 AM Mass.
CYO Sports - Students who are interested in playing an organized sport for their school and parish can participate in Catholic Youth Organization, whose mission it is to lead others to Christ through sport. Students compete again other Archdiocese schools in a variety of sports. Registration and Tryout information is communicated through the school and parish.
Dress Down for a Cause - We have specific days where students can dress down if they bring at least $1. Proceeds go to charitable organizations.
EMBRACE - HTS partners with and supports this organization that provides special education and supports for schools in our archdiocese. https://embraceks.org/
Emergency Drills - Johnson County Schools are required to have school drills for severe weather, fire and lockdowns every year.
FACTS - FACTS is our platform for parents to pay tuition and fees. You can also apply for financial aid through FACTS.
Family Lunch - This traditional event happens during Catholic Schools Week. Families come to eat lunch at school by last name.
Fire Safety - Each fall the Lenexa fire department spends the day at HTS teaching fire safety and eating lunch with our students.
First Communion - 2nd grade students go through this sacramental prep celebrating in the spring.
First Reconciliation - 2nd grade students go through this sacramental prep in the fall semester.
Graduation - 8th grade celebrate in May a week prior to the rest of the school summer break. They have special events during the week including a rosary, volleyball game, Mass, brunch, awards, commencement program and after party.
Grandparent/VIP Day - We celebrate this day with Mass, a reception and student guided open house with our grandparents and/or VIP guests. We dismiss early that day.
Gaudeamus - This is the annual Catholic Education Foundation Fundraiser that HT supports. This 2nd largest fundraiser in KC provides tuition for low income students in the Archdiocese. https://cefks.org/gaudeamus/
Handful From The Heart - HTS students sacrifice a bag of halloween candy they collected and a note of support for our military troops.
Happy Hearts Working (HHW) - HHW is an organization HTS has supported for a decade. Associates are adults with a variety of disabilities. HHW provides life skills training and connections to paid employment. HTS employs Jack and Rebecca. Jack is the son of CEO Carol Farnsworth and was the first HHW associate to be employed through HHW. https://www.happyheartsworking.org/
Harvest Gala & Auction - Holy Trinity Catholic Parish's largest annual fundraiser supports the general operations, as well as special projects. Parents of those at the school and EEC, as well as parishioners come together to enjoy a night of fun while supporting our parish. For more information about Harvest, visit its website.
Ice Cream Social - This takes place during sneak-a-peek the week prior to school beginning as a fun community celebration for the start of the school year.
IPS Individual Plans of Study - is a state mandated requirement for 6th-8th grade students. IPS provides students with career exploration.
Kindergarten Info Night - The meeting is for parents interested in getting information on the kindergarten program at HTS. Takes place in January and kicks off enrollment.
Kindergarten Play Date - This event takes place the last Monday of the school year for students planning on attending kindergarten the following year. It's an initial community event for parents and students to meet.
Kindergarten Round Up - Roundup is for all registered and other incoming interested kindergarten students to work with teachers and be assessed. Parents meet with administration and learn more detail on the program as an extension of information night.
Kindness Program - A parent or grandparent volunteer presents one 30-minute kindness lesson each quarter with a co-ambassador. All lesson plans and materials are provide. Simply coordinate with your teacher and fellow ambassadors to schedule your lesson. The goal is to help students grow in kindness, discover their God-given purpose, and appreciate the uniqueness of others.
Kindness Week - We celebrate as a school all about kindness using the virtues with many classroom and school-wide activities.
Lemon Out - HTS supports this Archdiocese-wide fundraiser benefiting childhood cancer. Everyone dresses in yellow for the day.
Living Stations - 5th Grade students take part in a live version of the Stations of the Cross which is typically help the last Friday of Lent along side the Shrimp Dinner.
Lunchroom Helpers - Kindergarten students oftentimes need a little extra help during the lunch hour to open milk cartons, dispensing condiments, and other needs. Volunteers, typically grandparents or parents of Kindergarteners, sign-up to help during the lunch hour. See the Parent Portal for sign up information.
May Crowning - 2nd Grade students take part in a May Crowning event in early May. These students who just received their First Holy Communion are allowed to wear their Communion attire to All School Mass.
Midterm - Mid Term represents the halfway point of each academic quarter. Grade levels may send progress reports and communicate updated grades.
Musicals - Our 7th and 8th grade students participate in musicals each year. There are a variety of roles for performers, set designers, technicians, and more.
Mustang Club - MC is a saint themed after school club. Students will be provided with a snack, exercise, homework time, creative activities and games. Open 3:15-6pm for an extra tuition cost.
Open House & Art Show - This takes place the Sunday prior to Catholic Schools Week following 11:30 am Mass. Families can visit classrooms, the Art Fair and Maker Space
from 12:30-2pm.
Packet Day - Packet Day occurs the last Sunday in July. The event allows families to see class lists, pickup supplies, ship used uniforms and pay tuition and fees. Info tables are also available on a variety of topics.
Parent-Teacher Conferences - This happens twice a year, Fall conferences (Oct) are for all parents to meet with teachers. Spring conferences (Feb) are for those as needed.
Picture Day - Pictures are a dress UP day where students dress out of uniform (if they choose). Pictures are used for the yearbook, ID cards and Sycamore. Pictures are in early September with retakes in October. Options to buy pictures is also available.
Report Cards - Report cards are issued quarterly a week after each quarter ends. THese are set electronically via sycamore.
Restaurant Nights - Community partnerships with local restaurants agree to host fundraisers for HTS to donate portions of their sales back to HTS. Typically, once a month.
Room Parent - Room parents are organized via MVP and assist in communicating with parents of their designated homeroom as well as lead in organizing classroom parties.
SAC - School Advisory Council is an elected group of parents who meet with administration, a teacher representative and the Pastor to work on big picture items with HTS. More info can be found at https://htslenexa.org/involvement/474-school-advisory-council-sac
Safe Environment Form - This is an online reporting tool that is anonymous and is shared directly with admin, our counselor and SRO. Students can report unkind behavior or issues using this tool.
School Reconciliation - Twice a year our students who have received the sacrament of reconciliation are provided confession in the church with area priests.
School Stations of the Cross - Fridays during Lent when school is in session students are lead through and participate in the stations.
School Supplies - School supplies can be ordered individually with the provided grade level lists or as a whole using an supply company and handed out at packet day. Benefits fundraising.
MVP - Mustang Volunteer Partners is a new all parent, teacher, staff and community group that heads school volunteering opportunities and fundraising. https://htslenexa.org/involvement/695-mustang-volunteer-partners-m-v-p
Service Projects - Every grade level participates in service to the school and community. Some projects are traditionally done and others change year-to-year. Service is also done as a whole school.
Shrimp Dinner - The Knights of Columbus and Daughters of Isabella partner together to raise money for our school through a large Lenten Shrimp Dinner. This typically happens the last Friday of Lent and 100% of the proceeds benefit HTS.
Skate Party - Skate parties are offered once a quarter and are part of our fundraising efforts. Typically these take place on student days off or early dismissal.
Sneak-a-peek - Taking place a couple days prior to the first day of school, this is an opportunity for families to visit their classrooms, meet teachers and drop off supplies.
Snow Days - Inclement weather during the winter months may call for a cancellation of school. Info on the process is in the handbook.
Spirit Day - Once a month students are encouraged to wear spirit wear. Uniform bottoms are required as this is not a full dress down day.
Spring Concert - The concert takes place in late spring and highlights our musical areas such as choir, chimes and band.
Spring Olympics - Taking place the last Friday of the school year, each homeroom represents a different country around the world and competes in games.
STAR Testing - This is our standardized benchmark assessment all students take multiple times a year as a check on academic growth and is part of our dyslexia requirements.
State Assessment Testing - State assessments take place in the spring. These assessments are a requirement by the state of Kansas for all schools.
Student Council - STUCO is a student lead leadership group where leaders are elected school wide in May for the following year. Every classroom then elects a representative to serve.
Sycamore - This is the school's student information system where profile, contacts, calendar, grades and communication are all provided.
Talent Show - In late spring every year the school offers a talent show for students to share in their unique abilities.
Technology - Our technology philosophy is one of giving students enough to be prepared for the world without living on devices all day. We have specials classes that teach typing, coding and digital citizenship.
Threat Assessment - The is the Archdiocese approved process for the school to determine if there is a threat against the school or any of our students or staff. A team including administration, the counselor and SRO are trained and assist in this assessment.
Trash Bag Fundraiser - Typically held in the fall, our trash bag drive is one of a largest fundraisers. We also sell trash bags throughout the year.
Trivia Night - A couple trivia nights per year are an adult fundraiser where teams come together for a fun night of trivia competition.
Trunk or Treat HTS 8th grade students and their families host an annual Trunk or Treat event at Holy Trinity in late October, which raises money for their 8th grade graduation and school gift.
Used Uniform Sale - The used uniform sale takes place at the beginning and end of the school year. This is a way to reuse uniforms that others donate for families looking for a cheaper option that buying new.
Veterans Day - HTS celebrates this with a concert on or near the actual holiday. This program features 3rd and 4th grader in a patriotic celebration of our country and veterans.
VIRTUS - This is the required training all volunteers must have. Trainings are available throughout the year. Training and background checks maintain our volunteers are safe to be around our students and staff.
Yard Signs - Families can purchase and celebrate their Holy Trinity pride with a yard sign display each year.
Wacky Walk - Held in late spring, the annual Wacky Walk is our largest school fundraiser of the year. Students raise money throughout the month and we celebrate by dress in silly/wackiest attire and take a mile long walk through the Lakeview Village retirement community. Lakeview residents cheer on the walkers and partner with a frozen treat at the end.
This list is a work in progress — more traditions will be added soon. If there's something you'd like to see included, let the school office know!