Let's Talk TCA Podcast - TopPodcast.com

Latest Episodes:

Love and Life with Bob Goff Dec 05, 2023

Show notes

Bob Goff, the bestselling author of "Love Does" and "Everybody Always," joins the podcast to discuss loving people, dreaming big, and living an undistracted life.

Answering questions submitted by TCA students, Bob talks about:

His work building schools in 13 countries
The difference between teachers and educators
How to love people who are difficult to love
Using your platform or influence to make a lasting difference
How to deal with distractions
Making plans for life versus going with the flow
How students can take leadership in building a better, more loving world
The phone number you can use to call The White House (202-456-1414)
Getting into adventures at any age

You can find Bob Goff's books and videos, including his latest bestseller, "Undistracted," on his website, bobgoff.com.

Athletics Q&A with Tonja King Nov 01, 2023

Show notes

In this episode, host Cynthia Yanof talks all things athletics with Chief Administrative Officer Tonja King. Tonja and Cynthia cover a range of topics, including:

The mission and philosophy of TCA athletics
How TCA measures success in athletics
Recent coaching hires
The new position of athletic chaplain
Athletic department leadership
Changes in the strength and conditioning program
TAPPS' and TCA's policy on recruiting
Improving athletic facilities
How you can help

If you would like to learn more about opportunities to support TCA athletics financially, please contact Becky Lewis at the TCA Foundation.

AI and Your Kids Oct 11, 2023

Show notes

In this episode, host Cynthia Yanof discusses AI (artificial intelligence) with TCA Chief Academic Officer Fran Legband and Director of Technology and STEM Lisa Wong.

Love it or fear it, AI is a game-changer, and it's here to stay. Listen as Fran and Lisa explain the basics of how artificial intelligence works, including its potential benefits and its limitations. They talk about how AI can influence education and the way subjects are taught, such as focusing student work more on critical thinking skills that AI cannot replicate. They also explain how TCA is guarding against the use of AI-generated content in school assignments.

As an example of how this new technology is rapidly developing, ChatGPT's capabilities changed soon after this episode was recorded. ChatGPT can now search the internet to answer prompts, which gives it access to more data.

The Importance of a Christian Worldview with Michael Craven Sep 21, 2023

Show notes

This week on Let's Talk TCA, we have the privilege of hearing from one of the leading voices of Christian worldview, Michael Craven.

Mr. Craven is an author, speaker, and the Vice President of Equipping at the Colson Center for Christian Worldview. He's passionate about helping Christians align current-day cultural issues with biblical truth, a focus TCA is also highly committed to providing its students.

A few of the topics covered on today's podcast include: - Mr. Craven's journey from corporate CEO to Christian worldview apologist - The importance of having a Christian worldview - The call to engage our culture with truth rather than abandoning hope - A reminder that our children are seeking a larger purpose in life, which the Bible offers

We are so fortunate to have Michael Craven joining us for today's podcast, as well as next week live on our campus.

Join our TCA family on September 26 at 7 p.m. to hear Mr. Craven discuss the hope we have in an oftentimes hostile culture, and how to fulfill the call to be Christ's witnesses to the ends of the earth.

A Must-Hear Conversation for Back-to-School with Sissy Goff Aug 11, 2023

Show notes

We are so excited to have Sissy Goff joining us today on Let's Talk TCA. Sissy is a sought-after author, speaker, and Licensed Professional Counselor in Nashville, Tennessee.

More and more we're seeing anxiety become an epidemic in our culture, and that's especially true with our kids. Statistics show that one in four children deal with anxiety, with girls being twice as likely to suffer. The onset age of anxiety is now down to six or sever-years-old, and one in three teens and adults will also face anxiety (again, with women being twice as likely to suffer).

Anxiety is so pervasive that Sissy Goff has focused her practice on ways to identify and work through it with our families.

Here are a few of the topics we cover in today's podcast:

Identifying symptoms of anxiety in our kids
Anxiety calming techniques
Navigating social media
Practical back-to-school tips for anxious kids

It's such a blessing to have Sissy Goff speaking to our TCA community. Don't miss this must-hear conversation!

Links:

The Worry-Free Parent by Sissy Goff

Raising Boys and Girls Podcast

Daystar Counseling Ministries

Reflections from our Seniors May 11, 2023

Show notes

In today's episode, we talk with three of our graduating seniors: Caitlyn Hackney, Alana Soileau, and Max Merrifield.

These students tell us about their experiences throughout their time at TCA including involvement in activities, how teachers have influenced them, school trips, preparing for college, and most importantly how TCA has impacted their faith. Their advice to their freshmen selves is priceless.

Whether you are a current TCA student or parent, are joining the Upper School this fall, or considering TCA for the future, you won't want to miss this advice and wisdom from our seniors!

Congratulations to our Class of 2023!

Building Community from the Beginning with Bev Birmingham May 02, 2023

Show notes

Building Community from the Beginning with Bev Birmingham: Episode 27

On today's podcast episode we have our Assistant Head of Lower School Bev Birmingham with us. We get to know Bev and her heart for our lower school students and families. She also shares about the Lower School Moms Book Club that she started last year and how moms are finding community through coming together over a book.

Bev and her husband Barry served in schools overseas in Turkey and South Korea. They have been at TCA for eight years and two of their four adult children graduated from TCA. One thing that drew Bev to TCA was the moms' MPACT prayer group and the community of believers here. Bev is passionate about student life as a part of education and building relationships with students.

As Assistant Head of Lower School Bev wears a variety of hats including working with teachers, curriculum, disciplining students and LS chapel. Bev spends time helping children to learn to put others first and teaching them how to resolve conflict with friends.

The Lower School Moms Book Club was an idea that came out of a heart for connecting moms after COVID. Bev wanted the book club to be a place for moms to be authentic and make connections. The book club is well attended, and moms can feel free to come as they are and when their schedule allows and whether they have read the book or not. The first couple of books they have read are, "When Strivings Cease" by Ruth Chou Simons and "Find Your People" by Jennie Allen. This spring the moms are reading "Rhythms of Renewal" by Rebekah Lyons. Bev is looking for books that speak to moms as women and believers.

The last meeting of the semester is Monday, May 15, from 7 to 8 p.m. in the Lower School Library. Every mom is welcome (even those with older kids) whether she has come before or not. We hope to see you there!

Upper School Updates with Dr. Jeff D. Williams Apr 04, 2023

Show notes

On today's podcast episode, we have our Head of School, Dr. Jeff Williams. He talks with our host Cynthia Yanof about the new prefect system, junior leadership inauguration, curriculum updates, new coaching staff, and parent survey results. We are so glad to have Dr. Williams on the podcast to update us on everything happening at TCA. Dr. Williams tells us about April's Junior Leadership Inauguration for our TCA juniors. It is a program designed to call students into the school's leadership for the following year at the end of their junior year. We ask parents to come to a ceremony and to come alongside them. We are calling students to be the best that they can be, where they can influence and impact the student body at TCA. We give the student a medallion with the TCA logo and this scripture on the back. (To whom much is given, much will be required. Luke 12:48). Parents stand and pray a blessing over them to lead well the following year.

The prefect system is also a new program for the upper school next year. This program came from the Oxford Educational System. This program gives students more ownership and voice in the culture and daily life of the school. Dr. Williams thinks students must have a voice – they impact morale and school spirit. Dr. Williams has used this system at the last two schools he has led, and its influence on school culture is impressive.

Dr. Williams met with the junior class in February to introduce the program based on character demonstrated through leadership. Seven prefects will oversee seven different areas of the school. Each prefect will have a faculty mentor for the year and a committee of students. This program allows upper school students to be involved in leadership through these committees. Thirty-nine juniors applied for the seven positions and were interviewed by a selection committee of nine, including five faculty selected by the junior class. Prefects will be announced after the junior leadership inauguration.

Another new program beginning next year is the Biblical Immersion and Worldview Initiative, headed by Bob Dyer. We want to ensure our students are equipped to enter the world. We want our students to know what the scriptures say and how to apply it to the decisions and choices they are making in life. Practically this will help to equip and train our faculty to be more intentional.

The results of the parent survey were emailed out to parents. The email talks about areas where parents believe TCA is doing well and those areas that need improvement. The results have been circulated to the board of trustees, school heads, and department heads.

We will be doing a homework survey for middle and upper school students. We will be intentional about change and only change what needs focus to use our energies wisely.

Here are a few more updates:

Tonja King has been hired as the new volleyball coach and dance coach.
Fran Legband introduced a new Humanities Core Curriculum in a video a few weeks ago.
Jon Millet introduced new art courses in a video that makes our art program accessible to more students.

More than a Middle School Library with Holly Hatton Mar 22, 2023

Show notes

On today's podcast episode, we have Holly Hatton.

Holly is TCA's Middle School library media specialist, but she is much more! Today she talks with us about the fantastic new library space in the MS 7/8 building and how she uses that space to give students a much-needed break in their day.

The new middle school library is for grades 5-8, and it is 3,800 square feet, including a teaching space, library shelves (of course), two collaboration rooms, and a soft seating area that can fit a whole class. It is also the tornado shelter for the Middle School.

While grades 5-6 have a designated library/tech class where they rotate through the library, grades 7-8 have Holly come to their classrooms to promote books and help them with research. However, with the appeal of the new library space, seventh and eighth graders visit the library during their school day.

The Middle School Library has a wide array of resources you would expect, including direct access to an online catalog to the library on their iPads which includes online and print books.

The library also has costumes, props, and even a bubble machine that can be used for lip sync, projects, etc.

The new library doors are right by the outdoor recess fields. Holly wanted to provide an additional location at recess time for students to recharge and reset in the middle of the day. Students can play board games, play cards, do crafts, or sit and read a book on the couches.

Holly notes that some of our middle schoolers are carrying stress and anxiety, and many are just dealing with typical middle school drama of friends or fear of missing out.

She wants to give them a break and peace in their lives. The regulars coming during lunchtime enjoy this time and are empowered and energized from the time in the library.

Part of Holly's job is to collaborate with teachers, help them execute ideas for their classroom, and help them come to life. One example of this is how she helped eighth-grade Bible teacher Chris Thelen put together a father/son dodgeball tournament and a panel of dads with older sons to advise on how to disciple their sons.

This is part of TCA's mission to develop the whole child and to partner with parents.

Holly loves to work with middle schoolers as they move from children to young adults and all that goes along!

Middle School parents can find all library resources on the MS Library Resource Board.

All You Need to Know about Summer@TCA Mar 07, 2023

Show notes

On today's podcast episode, we have TCA's director of auxiliary programs, Justin Zappia talking with our host Cynthia Yanof about what's new this year at Summer@TCA.

Justin has been at TCA for four years, moving from Boston. He has his wife have three kids at TCA. Justin is responsible for after-school care, enrichment programs, and Summer@TCA programs during June and July.

Summer@TCA offers both camps and classes and has offerings for students entering kindergarten through seniors. Programs are for TCA students but are also open to the community. We want our summer programs to reflect what we do during the school year and tie in bible-based themes.

This year, we have a Chopped Jr. and Cupcakes Wars camp, lower school and middle school wrestling camps, and a Mystery Field Trip week. We also offer Slimetopia camps where kids can get dirty and several classes by Spark Business Academy like My First Lemonade Stand, My First Piggy Bank, and for middle school students Personal Finance.

Upper School students are mostly offered classes rather than camps, with many for credit. Classes include College Essay Writing, summer reading, technology, computer programming, and art. Also, first time, we offer PSAT and ACT prep classes through More than a Teacher. One of our most popular offerings is our Trojan Day Camp for kids entering grades K to 4. This year's theme is Ready, Set, Move – Follow Jesus Here, There, and Everywhere. Kids start the day in large group worship and then go through the day in grade-level groups participating in STEM, art, PE, bible study, and water activities. They end the day with some fun competition as a big group.

We have had excellent feedback from families about how much they loved the experience for their kids and how their kids grew in their faith because of Trojan Day Camp.

All information on Summer@TCA camps and classes is available on our website: www.trinitychristian.org/summer

Registration begins at the end of March, so start planning your summer now!

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Let’s Talk TCA Podcast

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected