A Parish and Its School on SE 17th Street
Blessed Trinity Catholic Church stands at 5 SE 17th Street in Ocala, Florida, where a parish church and a Pre-K through 8th grade school share a single campus. The parish has shaped Catholic life in Marion County for nearly a century, and its school is one of the primary educational ministries the parish supports. Blessed Trinity Catholic School serves more than 600 students with a faculty and staff of over 70, and the parish also operates the Angels in Arms Early Learning Center, which has welcomed children from infancy through Pre-K since 1988.
The parish grounds include a Eucharistic Adoration Chapel, a parish hall, primary classrooms, an elementary wing, a middle school building with a science lab and a multi-purpose gymnasium, and a STREAM Lab outfitted with 3D printers and robotics. School Masses are celebrated on Wednesdays at 8:15 a.m., with students from kindergarten through 8th grade serving as ushers, lectors, altar servers, choir members, cantors and musicians.
Humble 1927 Beginnings
Blessed Trinity School opened in January 1927 with grades one through eight, originally staffed by the Sisters of Mercy from Louisville, Kentucky. In September 1933 the school was re-staffed by the Sisters of Saint Benedict from San Antonio, Florida, and operated as Trinity Academy on Fort King Street, with the second floor doubling as a convent. The school remained there for nearly three decades.
In February 1961 the school moved about a mile to its present site, a rolling hill in a residential area of Ocala. The new building housed nine classrooms on the lower level and the church on the upper floor. The church was later moved into its own building, and the upper floor became the parish hall. A new convent was completed in 1960, giving the sisters their own quarters.
Jim Shaw became the school's first lay principal in 1974, serving eleven years. Miriam Kerrigan followed him for two years. By 1976 part of the upper floor had been converted into a school library, a Montessori classroom, a teacher's lounge and additional bathrooms. The school added its first extra first-grade classroom in 1987 to handle rising enrollment, the same year the Angels in Arms Day Care and Pre-School opened to serve children from birth through age four.
Under Principal Fran Harwas and Pastor Fr. Pat Sheedy, nine more classrooms were carved out of the old parish hall space in 1989 to serve the growing enrollment of 250 students. Enrollment kept climbing in the early 1990s, leading to a Middle School building on the south end of the property with eight classrooms, a science lab, a fine arts room and a multi-purpose gymnasium. A ten-classroom Primary Center for kindergarten, first and second grades was added in 1999. Today the campus serves more than 600 students, drawing families from Ocala and neighboring towns across Marion County.
Stewardship as a Way of Life Since 1993
In 1993 Blessed Trinity Parish embraced the Stewardship way of life. As part of the sharing of time, talent and treasure by all parishioners, every family in the parish that practices Stewardship and tithing is entitled to take part in all the ministries the parish offers, including the school, at no cost. Stewardship has been a way of life in the parish for over 25 years and remains the core of the parish's Catholic identity.
The school describes itself as a stewardship community where faith, love and appreciation for God are shown by giving back to others. Students are encouraged to put God first by sharing their time, talent and treasure. The religion curriculum is taught using the Faith and Life textbook series from Ignatius Press for grades 3 through 8, supplemented by Loyola Press Finding God for kindergarten through 2nd grade. In November the religion program is enriched with the Planting the Seeds of Stewardship series, and the year culminates in a Student Stewardship Mass with student commitment brochures.
Stewardship plays out through student involvement at Mass. Students serve as altar servers, sacristans, readers, choir members, ushers and cantors. Older students are paired with younger ones as Prayer Partners, and the four-year-olds from Angels in Arms join the 4th graders for Mass as Prayer Partners as well. School fundraisers have benefited the homeless and impoverished, victims of hurricanes and tsunamis, and a mission parish in Uganda.
Faith at the Center: Wednesday Mass and Adoration
Prayer and the sacraments are woven into daily school life. Faculty, staff, students and parents gather for Wednesday School Mass at 8:15 a.m. in the parish church. Students in kindergarten through 8th grade prepare for and take part in the weekly liturgy, with classes taking turns planning and leading songs or small skits that reinforce the readings and Gospel. Morning announcements include information about saints, feast days, a Gospel reading and two school-wide prayers, and the day ends with the principal leading students in prayer, scripture, reflection or a thought for the day.
Students pray before classes and before lunch. Classes also visit the Eucharistic Adoration Chapel on campus regularly. During the school year the community marks the seasons with school-wide penance services, special programs for Thanksgiving and Christmas, the Stations of the Cross during Lent and a Holy Thursday service.
Sacramental preparation is built into the school year. Second graders prepare for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist, while 8th graders prepare for Confirmation. Parents participate through parent meetings led by the pastor and by working alongside teachers and the parish's Director of Religious Education.
Educating the Whole Child, Pre-K Through 8th Grade
Blessed Trinity's mission is to inspire a lifelong pursuit of learning and living the Catholic faith. The school's five core values are faith, character, academics, leadership and stewardship. The faculty is composed of dedicated, certified educators, every one of whom holds a Bachelor's degree, with several holding Master's degrees.
Curriculum follows guidelines established by the Diocese of Orlando, with standards and learning objectives that exceed both state and national performance norms. Resources are aligned with the National Standards and Benchmarks for Effective Catholic Elementary and Secondary Schools and approved by the Diocese. Math is taught using GoMath Florida and IXL across kindergarten through 8th grade, while English/Language Arts uses HMH Into Reading in the primary grades and HMH Into Literature in the upper grades. Science and Social Studies round out the core subjects with age-appropriate series and weekly periodicals.
Religion follows Loyola Press Finding God for kindergarten through 2nd grade and Ignatius Press Faith and Life for grades 3 through 8, supplemented by the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Family Life series from RCL Benziger, a K-8 supplement implemented across all diocesan schools. The Family Life series emphasizes child safety education, virtuous living and the family's sense of Catholic identity, with two-page Family Time inserts in every unit so that classroom and home can focus on the same themes.
STREAM Learning and Modern Classrooms
The school prepares students to use technology to solve problems and think critically through its STREAM Lab, which adds Religion to the more familiar STEM and STEAM mix. The lab features 3D printers, robotics and a range of other hands-on technologies. STREAM is incorporated into every grade level with hands-on lessons and activities across the labs and an outdoor garden.
Every classroom is equipped with technology that teachers use to enhance lessons, and all students receive hands-on instruction and curriculum integration in the classrooms and computer labs. Students can use the Follett Destiny online library to check out ebooks and reserve books from the Media Center, with access available through the Follett Shelf web platform and the Follett BryteWave app.
Beyond STREAM, the school offers Title 1 Reading support, a Spanish class for every grade, band and music, art, technology, physical education and a STREAM Lab and Gifted Classroom. Parents and students have access to the RenWeb/FACTS LMS for online classes and assignments, and the school holds Tech Help sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. for families struggling with home connectivity.
The Leader in Me
Across the school, the Leader in Me program from FranklinCovey teaches 21st century leadership and life skills and builds a culture of student empowerment based on the idea that every child can be a leader. The program centers on the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, taught in an age-appropriate way: Be Proactive, Begin with the End in Mind, Put First Things First, Think Win-Win, Seek First to Understand Then to Be Understood, Synergize, and Sharpen the Saw.
The Leader in Me paradigm reframes how children are seen. Rather than sorting students along a normal distribution curve, the program holds that every child is capable and every child is a leader. Parents are given tools and home activities tied to each habit so that the language used at school carries over into the home. Parents who want to extend the conversation at home can order a copy of The Leader in Me Parent Guide.
Angels in Arms: Early Childhood on Campus
Sponsored by Blessed Trinity Church, the Angels in Arms Early Learning Center has served young children since 1988. The center's mission is to provide a Christian environment where children of all faiths and nationalities can grow together and learn in a warm, caring, developmentally appropriate atmosphere. Angels in Arms enrolls children from infancy through Pre-K, with programs for Infants, Toddlers, 2K, 3K, 4K and a full-time VPK rate for four-year-olds.
The current tuition schedule lists weekly rates of $228 for Infants, $216 for Toddlers, $201 for 2K, $191 for 3K/4K/5K Pre-School, and $151 for the full-time VPK program, with registration and materials fees ranging from $75 to $180 depending on age. The center is led by Director Scott Bolton, M.Ed.
Athletics, Bands, and the RCA House System
Blessed Trinity offers a well-planned athletic program for students in grades 5 through 8, with basketball, volleyball, soccer and flag football (JV for 5th and 6th grades, varsity for 7th and 8th). Teams compete against other private and public schools in the area. The athletic philosophy emphasizes Catholic principles and good sportsmanship, encouraging student-athletes to do their best in the classroom, in the community and on the playing field.
Students must maintain a 2.0 grade-point average to try out and remain eligible for all teams. Behavior expectations run high, with Christ-like character, respect for officials and opponents, and good sportsmanship from players and parents alike. The Athletic Director is Michael Starling, who also serves as Dean of Student Services.
Outside of athletics, students can join the band, MATHCOUNTS, the BT Scouting program, the 4H Club, the National Junior Honor Society, Student Council and the Peacemaking Peers, a group that promotes conflict resolution and peaceful relationships on campus. The school also uses the RCA House System, a national model that creates smaller communities within the school.
EDGE: Middle School Youth Ministry
EDGE is Blessed Trinity's middle school youth group, meeting twice a month to build community among 6th through 8th graders. The group touches on topics relevant to this age group, mixing socializing, games, discussion and spiritual development to help young people navigate the middle school years, when peer pressure and temptation can make the right choice the hard choice. EDGE is open to any 6th through 8th grader, regardless of school or church affiliation, and is meant to build on the values taught through religious education rather than replace it.
Reaching Out: Service and Mission
The school's outreach and service work runs through Brother's Keeper, a ministry that supports the poor with food, clothing and household items. The National Junior Honor Society collects canned food in September and helps buy Thanksgiving dinners for families in need. Student Council organizes Spirit Week, school dances, Toys for Tots drives and monthly dress-out days to benefit charitable organizations.
Every classroom adopts a student from Blessed Trinity's sister school in Nalweyo, Uganda, raising about $185 each year to cover the cost of that child's education through Spirit Week, book sales, snack sales and treasure sales. School-wide fundraisers have also supported disaster relief for victims of hurricanes and tsunamis, as well as ongoing aid for the homeless and impoverished in the broader community.
8th graders complete service hours as a graduation and Confirmation requirement. Students are encouraged to interpret the corporal and spiritual works of mercy for today's world: filling grocery bags for Brother's Keeper, donating clothing, writing pen pals at elder care facilities, bagging lunches for the local soup kitchen, sending thank-you notes to first responders, tutoring younger children and collecting toiletries for those in need.
Leadership on Campus
Pastor Patrick Sheedy serves as the spiritual shepherd of the parish and its school. Megan Losito serves as Principal, with Jeanne Dinkle as Assistant Principal and Michael Starling as Dean of Student Services and Athletic Director. Lizabeth D'Ambrosio is the Office Manager and Financial Aid coordinator, with Kristin Voorhees as Business Administrator. Ana Osvath serves as Registrar. Judy Waller is the Media Specialist and Barbara Drake serves as Primary and Elementary Guidance, while Christina Pierce is the Middle School Guidance counselor.
The school is supported by an advisory School Board that meets monthly, except in June and July, and that functions according to the Diocese of Orlando's Elementary School Advisory Board Manual. Faculty and staff participate in the Diocesan Catechist Certification Program, and all school personnel complete Safe Environment Training and Criminal Background and Fingerprint clearance.
Joining the Blessed Trinity Community
Blessed Trinity Catholic School is currently accepting applications for admission for grades K through 8. Applications are reviewed by the school's Admissions Committee on the basis of school records, aptitude and achievement testing, teacher recommendations and student interviews. There is a $60 application fee. Priority consideration is granted to qualified sibling and alumni families, as well as to members of Blessed Trinity Catholic Church. Once openings in each grade are filled, qualified applicants are placed in an unranked waiting pool.
Age requirements follow both state and Florida Catholic Conference rules. Kindergarten students must be 5 years old by September 1, and 1st grade students must be 6 by September 1. The school participates in several scholarship programs, including Step Up for Students FES-UA for Unique Abilities, Step Up for Students Family Empowerment, and AAA income-based scholarships.
Extended Care is available through the school day and after school, coordinated by Primary Receptionist and Aftercare Coordinator Kathy Watts. The Parent Teacher Organization supports fundraising, communication and community-building, and volunteers are welcomed after completing fingerprinting and Safe Environment training. Families can call the school office at 352-622-5808 or visit 5 SE 17th Street in Ocala.