Trinity Reads may have been marking its 12th year in 2023, but the Senior School’s summer reading program felt as fresh as ever.
In recent years, the format for Trinity Reads has been adjusted to accommodate pandemic protocols. But this year, for the first time since 2019, Trinity Reads returned to its roots, with new and returning Trinity College School students selecting a book to read over the summer from a list of 39 titles. The Trinity Reads book list, which included non-fiction and fiction across a range of genres, was curated using recommendations from students and input from staff. Educational and operational staff signed up to “host” a book and lead book club discussions in the fall.
A new feature this year, a special chapel service preceded the book discussions held the morning of Wednesday, September 13th. The Memorial Chapel came alive with enthusiasm, as new teachers spoke to students, sharing why reading is important to them, and then students took part in a lively book trivia contest.
Following chapel, students headed off to their discussion groups, at locations indoors and out, all around campus. With students able to freely select their Trinity Reads title, the staff-led “book clubs” ranged from one-on-one chats to groups as big as 30. The large group leaders were very creative in preparing activities to make discussion personal and engaging for all, such as introducing small group challenges and having alumni “Zoom” into conversations.
Overall, 56 staff members were involved in the program either by leading book discussions or assisting with other areas, such as the chapel service. Thank you so much to the staff members who made Trinity Reads possible!
There was very positive feedback from students and staff about the meaningful connections made over a shared interest, and quite a few students stopped by the library to check out the next in a series and/or borrow a book they heard about from a friend as a result of the program.
Looking for your next great read? Check out the Trinity Reads 2023 book list by clicking here.
