Williston Trinity Christian School

• Preschool & Prekindergarten (half-days)
• Kindergarten (full days)
• Elementary, Middle & High School
• Orchestra, Strings, Band & Choir
• Art & Physical Education
• Spanish offered Preschool-12th Grade
• Low Student-to-Teacher Ratios
• Family-like Atmosphere

Tues., January 5, 2021: Mrs. Johnson led chapel today.  The lesson was on the importance of reading, studying, and memorizing God’s Word.  Mrs. Johnson reviewed all the pieces in the Armor of God.  (The students did a really good job remembering them as she reviewed them.  The Armor of God verses are found in Ephesians 6:10-18.  Look them up and see if your student can list them for you.) 

The piece of armor that Mrs. Johnson focused the lesson on was the Sword of the Spirit – the Word of God.  She reminded the students that God’s Word is the weapon we use to come against the enemy.  She encouraged them to memorize scripture so they can have their spiritual sword ready, even when they don’t have a physical Bible with them.

Two of the sixth grade students came to chapel and recited a long passage of scripture they had memorized before the Christmas break.  Mrs. Johnson told the students about the January Scripture Memory Challenge, which is to memorize 10 verses on the character of God.  (Each student should have received an orange paper with details about the challenge and the list of  verses on it.)  The students sang several songs during chapel that were scripture verses set to music.  This is such a great way to memorize, and most of them had at least two verses memorized just from the 45 minute chapel time today!

Offering: WTCS sponsors 3 boys through the ministry of Compassion International.  When you bring offering to chapel, that offering goes toward the sponsorship of Jipson, Kelvin, and Carl.  Can you bring a quarter or a dollar next week?  God will use every cent to help these boys.

Prayer Focus: The students prayed for our nation today in chapel.  Please continue to be in prayer this week for our country and for our governmental leaders.  Pray for wisdom and discernment.  Pray for God’s will to be accomplished. Also pray that God’s people will seek Him in prayer, trust Him fully, and that believers will be reflections of Jesus to those around them by the way they speak and act.

Today’s staff spotlight features WTCS Art Teacher Ms. Sophie Thorsen.  This is her first year at Williston Trinity Christian School.  Ms. Thorsen is from Huntsville, Alabama, the “Rocket City”.  Ms. Thorsen has four older sisters and a younger brother.  She graduated from Westminster Christian Academy in Huntsville.  She then went on to Concordia University-Nebraska where she majored in K-12 Art History. 

Ms. Thorsen is inspired by the older women in her life who love the Lord with a passion and are not afraid to show it.  She is also inspired by people who are passionate about their art work and the art world.  What makes her CRU proud?  “It makes me proud to see how much everyone cares for each other, especially the staff.  The staff do an amazing job caring for the students as well as each other.”

1. What led you to work in your field? I love art, so I wanted to do something art-related.  Both of my parents were/are teachers; they inspired me.  Also, I knew teaching would be a good way to share God’s love with others.
2. What was your first job? I was the junior high/high school art teacher at Rockford Lutheran High School in Rockford, IL.
3. What are your hobbies & interests? I like to read.  My favorite genres are Christian romance, classics, and occasionally some young adult fiction.
4. What did you name your first car & what was it? My first car is an Acura MDX.  Her name is “Big Momma”.
5. Which skill would you love to learn? I would love to learn glass blowing and stained glass.
6. What is your catchphrase, or a word you say a lot? It looks fine.
7. What is on your bucket list? To one day live in Norway and visit Greece.  I also want to be a flight attendant one day.

“There are many reasons we choose to send our kids to Trinity, but the most important reason is that we are doing it out of obedience to the Lord.  We prayed long and hard before our children started school, and God very clearly put Trinity in our path and continues to make it clear that this is where our kids belong.  Having our kids at Trinity gives them the opportunity to be educated in a “spiritual boot camp” environment to help prepare them for the spiritual battles they will face in their lives.  One of the prayers we pray over our kids often is that they will grow to know God and His voice, and it just makes sense to us to send them to school in a place where God is given glory and acknowledged in every aspect of their education.

The three places we spend the majority of our time are home, school, and church.  Because we have chosen Christian education, our children are able to see that these three places are all giving them the same message: God needs to be central to everything in their lives.  It is a blessing to know that our children spend time in Bible class daily and go to chapel weekly, but it is an even greater blessing to know that they are learning history and science through a Biblical lens and to know that in their reading lessons, Bible stories are used and God’s values and morals are taught.   “God things” aren’t separate from academic things.  They are seeing God in academics. 

In addition to all of that, the people who are investing into our children are wonderful and it is obvious that they truly care about our kids by the many ways they go above and beyond as they do their jobs.  It is wonderful to have our kids educated in a smaller school atmosphere where we have many opportunities to be involved and get to know the people who have so much influence over our children.  It feels like a family and we really like that.

And when I was trying to come up with one word about Trinity, I had to make it two words.  “Worth it” is how I would describe our experience at Trinity.  It is a sacrifice, but it is so worth it.  It does cost us, but we know the investment is well worth it in light of eternity.”

THANK YOU EVERYONE for your support of Williston Trinity Christian School & Christian education in Western North Dakota! With the money raised online through the wreath auction, our teachers will be able to purchase some items from their wishlists. THANK YOU!

Teacher Feature is WTCS 5th grade teacher, Mrs. Hailey Smith. This is Mrs. Smith’s 3rd year at WTCS; she started teaching here in the fall of 2018.

Mrs. Smith was born and raised in Williston, ND. She attended Williston State College, then Minot State University where she received her Bachelor in Education. When asked what led her to work in her field, she replied with, “My 5th grade teacher 😊 And a love for those light bulb moments.”

Mrs. Smith is married to her husband, Zachary. They welcomed their first child, Samuel Zachary Smith, on Nov. 15, 2020. He was 6lbs. 11oz. & 20.5 inches long! Congrats Smith Family!

What make Mrs. Smith CRU proud? “Seeing how inclusive the students are with one another.”

Here are some more fun facts about Mrs. Smith:

1.  What was your first job?  Babysitting.  But my first paycheck came from working the front desk at my dance studio, EDE.
2. What did you name your first car & what was it?  “John Luke” was a Honda Accord.  (I was obsessed with Duck Dynasty.)
3. What skill would you love to learn?  Baking from scratch.
4. You might not know this about me:  I took 4 years of German and spent a month as an exchange student living in Germany & traveling to Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam, & London.
5. Hobbies & interests:  Photography, fishing, spending time with family and my dogs.
6. What is on your bucket list?  Camp at every state & national park.
7. Words of wisdom to live by?  “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”  -1^st Peter 5:7.

For the past few years, the WTCS office has put together a calendar of Christmas activities for all of our students & staff. The 12 Days of Christmas calendar went home this week with students. Take a look & get in on all the Christmas Cheer!!

MARK YOUR CALENDAR! Williston Trinity Christian School staff will be working the gate at Spring Lake Park for the Holiday Lights Drive on Monday, Dec. 21st.

That night is also REINDEER NIGHT: The reindeer will be visiting! You can find them in the drive by display in the Keel Boat parking lot. Take home crafts will be distributed from the gate house for kids in the car, while supplies last.

Entry fee is $5 per car. A portion of the night’s gate proceeds is donated to the school! The sponsor for the night is Tallgrass Water. Enjoy a fun evening out while supporting WTCS!

THANK YOU to Williston Auto & Walmart for awarding our very own High School Math Teacher – Mr. Marvin Pableo – as their TEACHER OF THE WEEK!

From Mr. Pableo: “I share this recognition to all the hardworking teachers of Williston Trinity Christian School. I find this recognition a very humbling, yet glorifying experience as a math teacher for about 8 years now. The same praise goes to my immediate heads for always guiding & supporting me every step of the way. I will always be indebted to you.

Mr. Pableo came to Williston Trinity Christian School from the Philippines for the 2018-2019 school year. This is his 3rd year teaching at WTCS. He has his Bachelor of Secondary Education degree from Cebu Normal University, 2013; and his Master of Education in Math at the University of the Philippines, 2017.

Outside of school, he enjoys painting his classroom, biking around Williston, and singing at the church. Riding in a helicopter & parachuting are items on his bucket list! Mr. Pableo comes from a large family – 8 siblings – he is the 3rd from the youngest. He always considers his family as his source of strength and life.

When asked what makes you CRU proud? His reply is “to be able to teach Math and at the same time talk about God with my students, that is what makes me proud to be a part of this CRU family.”

1. Hometown: I am a native of Cebu, Philippines.
2. Family: My father used to be in school maintenance and my mother has always been a dedicated and loving housewife. I have 8 siblings and I am the third youngest. I always consider my family as my source of strength and life.
3. Who or what inspires you? My parents.
4. Words of wisdom to live by: Do not look down on people no matter how successful you become.
5. What was your first job? I used to work in a production company when I was 16.
6. What skill would you love to learn? I would really love to play either the piano or guitar.
7. You might not know this about me: I can ride my bike without using my hands. (Thank you Meriel – WTCS strings teacher – for teaching me how to do it.)
8. What is your catchphrase? If you need help, please let me know.