Academics
Monica Morrison
Principal
515-255-3162 ext. 117
mmorrison@htschool.org
Bailey Van Vors
Assistant Principal
515-255-3162 ext. 118
bvanvors@htschool.org
Raising Student Achievement
At Holy Trinity Catholic School, we pride ourselves on being an Iowa-accredited school that meets and exceeds the state’s English, math, science, and social studies education standards. Our dedicated and licensed teachers, appointed by the Iowa Department of Education, follow the Iowa Common Core and Iowa Academic Standards to provide top-notch instruction and sustained success in raising student achievement. Join us on this educational journey today! Learn more.
Faith Curriculum
Faith is incorporated into the daily curriculum to provide a foundation for success. Faith formation promotes a relationship with Christ and teaches students how to live the Gospel through love and service to others. Our students experience…
- Daily Prayer
- Weekly Mass
- Sacrament Preparation & Participation
- Religion Class
- Service Learning Opportunities.
While Catholic faith is the cornerstone of Holy Trinity Catholic School, we welcome students of all faith traditions! Only 80% of Holy Trinity students are Catholic, and non-Catholic students benefit from shared faith experiences and develop values and moral character in the Catholic tradition.
Student Supports
Holy Trinity Catholic School fosters a nurturing environment where every student can thrive academically, emotionally, and spiritually. Our full-time Title 1 Interventionist, Learning Support Specialist, and Early Childhood Literacy Interventionist strengthen students’ knowledge and learning of specific concepts or difficult topics.
Additionally, several staff are trained in Nonviolent Crisis Prevention and Intervention (CPI) to defuse anxious, hostile, and violent behaviors safely.
Our educators and administrators go above and beyond to ensure that students receive the support they need within our building. If our faculty cannot support a student’s needs, we access the Des Moines Public Schools (DMPS) support system so students can find the assistance they need.
What I Need
What I Need (WIN) is flexible time incorporated into the daily school schedule for students to receive help or enrichment opportunities. WIN fosters student autonomy and goal setting, unlike traditional study hall. Teachers consistently track test results, find trends of students struggling or exceeding expectations, and group students to re-teach concepts or enrich students’ learning opportunities.
Benefits of WIN time:
- Provide additional time to complete assignments with school resources available.
- Reduce the amount of homework.
- Help students develop study habits for academic success.
- Empower students to seek help from teachers.
- Encourage collaboration among classmates.
- Allow faculty to re-teach concepts to students needing support.
- Inspire learning by engaging students in enrichment activities and special interests.
Positive Behavioral Interventions & Support
Social and emotional learning plays a vital role in the classroom and positively impacts the school culture, helping students foster empathy and improve interpersonal skills. At Holy Trinity Catholic School, we incorporate social and emotional learning in classrooms with Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support (PBIS).
The PBIS framework involves three tiers of interventions and support that foster an environment where all students succeed.
- Tier 1 (Primary Prevention) establishes a foundation of regular, proactive support by identifying positive behaviors. Students experience positive reinforcement for meeting expectations and logical consequences for problem behavior.
- Tier 2 (Targeted Prevention) supports students at risk of developing problem behaviors by addressing underlying issues that cause negative behavior. Around 10 to 15 percent of students may need Tier 2 support.
- Tier 3 (Individualized Support) improves behavioral and academic outcomes for an individual student. Formal assessments determine student needs and may lead to a support plan. Less than 5 percent of students may need Tier 3 support.
Schools implementing PBIS reduce major disciplinary infractions and out-of-school suspensions, increase prosocial behavior, and improve academic achievement.
Our Professional Learning Community
Holy Trinity Catholic School has been a Professional Learning Community (PLC) for sustained success in raising student achievement since 2015. Only one in 200 schools and districts in the United States and Canada receive this honor for focusing on development as educators, building collaborative cultures, and creating results orientations. Schools are recognized based on strict criteria, implementation of PLC concepts for at least three years, and evidence of improved student learning.