Personal relationships with teachers and peers, intentionally small class sizes and biblical messages about God’s love are just a few of the reasons that families choose to call Trinity Lutheran School home. Parents who entrust their children’s education to Trinity Lutheran, are poised with a sense of security and belonging.
Trinity Lutheran is a Christian school and childcare facility for students in preschool through eighth grade. Its curriculum focuses on spiritual growth and academic excellence while anchoring its students in Christian virtues.
Trinity Lutheran was formed in September 1946 by Trinity Lutheran Church and has called Greeley home for over 120 years. Throughout the years, Trinity Lutheran School has received overwhelming support from Trinity Lutheran Church. Originally, the school operated out of the church’s building on the corner of 7th Avenue and 16th Street. In 2003, the new school building was completed at 3000 35th Avenue in Greeley, and in 2020, it expanded the upstairs of the school, providing an additional 10,000 square feet of facility usage.
Alysa Balfour, a Trinity Lutheran administrator and teacher, believes that Trinity Lutheran would not be the organization it is today without the continued generosity and support from the church. “Trinity Church’s generosity continually inspires me as a school leader,” says Alysa. It is a common practice for members of the church to offer “their time, skills and financial gifts to create a school that is equipped to serve the students and their families.”
With a student to teacher ratio of 11:1, and a total of 85 students in preschool through eighth grade, the staff and parents at Trinity Lutheran School appreciate the supportive environment that is cultivated at Trinity Lutheran. Gwen Marshall, early childhood director at Trinity Lutheran for six years, enjoys the family-feeling at Trinity. “There is a camaraderie amongst the teaching staff, plus the congregation generously supports the program,” says Gwen. Beyond the generous support of the Church and the tight-knit teaching community, Trinity Lutheran prides itself on the partnerships it has created between the teachers and parents to foster a positive and impactful environment for its students.
Alysa loves working in an environment where she knows each student and their family personally. The highlight of her day is greeting all the students at the door each morning and getting to chat with their parents. “Because of this personal connection, I feel that in my role as administrator and teacher, I have the support of parents,” says Alysa. “When everyone loves and works well together, amazing things can happen, and I am already seeing the fruits of that in my first year at Trinity.”
As an organization that recognizes that parents have an irreplaceable role in their child’s life, Alysa emphasizes that parents can count on Trinity Lutheran to be an ally in their child’s education. “The leadership and staff at Trinity Lutheran are excited to provide parents a partnership that offers faith, family and foundational knowledge that will serve students well both in their time at Trinity and in future endeavors,” says Alysa. “Parents can have confidence in the academics, faith and values that are instilled each and every day.”
Further leaning into the support of its community, Trinity Lutheran is also home to the Trinity Quilters -- a group who supports the school through auctions. The Quilters also host other activities with the kids, such as creating a quilt representing their theme for the year. “Trinity Quilters leader, Thea Hammers, has helped teachers with projects for Christmas presents for parents and is teaching a unit on color theory to our students this month,” says Alysa.
Trinity’s childcare and preschool offers year-round care and flexible scheduling. Students are eligible for preschool childcare at Trinity once they are two-and-a-half years old. Class sizes and staff-to-child ratios are lower than the National Association for the Education of Young Children and state standards, and all lead teachers have a degree in education. Licensed by the State of Colorado and rated by Colorado Shines, Trinity childcare is open from 7 a.m.– 6 p.m. and offers both full and half day options. Additionally, Trinity’s preschool curriculum is organized into thematic units, providing hands-on activities for children to develop their language, cognitive and motor skills, while including daily Bible instruction and worship.
Trinity Lutheran preschool and school has been home to Tori Coonts’ two children for the past two-and-a-half years. The teachers and staff at Trinity Lutheran are like family to Coonts family, and Tori feels that they have helped her raise her children well. “I can honestly say that I have no idea what I would do without everyone there - from my struggles with potty training my little boy, to my very sweet and sensitive daughter navigating friendships, Trinity has been there with counsel and love,” says Tori. “We feel safe and welcome at Trinity - we know it is where we belong.”
Trinity Lutheran believes that education is one of the most valuable investments a family can make for their child’s future, and they are honored that parents trust them to be a partner in their child’s development. Visit www.tlgreeley.org/ to learn more about enrolling your students.