Welcome to our New Staff

Please give a warm welcome to our newest staff members.  We are also blessed with seven new staff members and two pre-service teachers.  You may recognize some of the staff members from last year who helped us out substituting and now we are thrilled they have accepted permanent positions this year.

Mrs. Melissa Schwann: Junior High Performing Arts and Grade 4P
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Hi Trinity Christian School community!  My name is Melissa Schwann, and I am blessed to be joining the TCS Staff this year teaching Grade 4 and Junior High Performing Arts. I taught previously at Foundations for the Future Charter Academy for 7 years and then took 8 years at home as a stay at home mom with my daughters Abby and Norah. I feel beyond blessed to be under the same roof as my girls at TCS and to be back teaching (my great joy and passion) again.  My favourite activities include dancing, skiing, running and getting out to the mountains with my family every chance we get. 

I am humbled to be a part of my student's faith journey and will continue to seek God's wisdom in how to foster and grow their faith. My hope is that each child will come out of their school year knowing wholeheartedly their God-given gifts and have a desire to use them for God's kingdom. I am so excited about the opportunity to use Performing Arts as a platform for God's Ministry at TCS at the chapels this year. I can't wait to get this school year started! 

Ashleigh Barclay: Grade 2 Teacher
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I grew up in Red Deer, where I went to a Christian School. I am the oldest of 4 kids and most of my family members still live around Central Alberta. We all get together as often as we can and LOVE a good game night! I studied Biological Science at the University of Calgary and moved on to study Education at Ambrose University, where my passion and knowledge for teaching grew. After my practicum at TCS, I was substitute teaching and praying for a classroom of my own. At the end of June 2022, I was waiting on God for a full-time teaching position when I got a call from Mrs. Duimel, offering me a job! I am thrilled to be a part of TCS family and support students as they journey through their Grade 2 year.

Gonda Reimer: Art, Grade 8 Options & Bible
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Mrs Reimer is leading the visual arts program for junior high and part of the grade 8 teaching team.  She has been a part of the TCS community as a substitute teacher for over 10 years and also coached basketball here.  Her familiar presence is a welcome addition to an already incredible junior high staff team.

Elyshia Frank: Grade 6 Educational Assistant
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Hello TCS community. My name is Elyshia Frank. I grew up in Kimberley BC where my love for the outdoors was born. I thoroughly enjoy snowboarding, cycling, long boarding, camping and gardening. My favourite flowers to grow are sunflowers and pansies. I have been a TCS parent since 2016. I graduated from the Education Assistant program through Bow Valley College in 2020 and am blessed beyond measure to be included in the grade six team this year. It is my greatest aspiration that  as part of a team, we will support your children out of an abundance of God's love that he has for each and every one of  his beloved children.

Miss Kassidy Kavanaugh: Grades 3 and 5
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Hello TCS family! My name is Kassidy Kavanaugh and I began teaching at Trinity in the 2021/2022 school year. I started in K-4 PE and moved into a grade 5 position last March. I will now be splitting my time between grades 3 and 5 and I am thrilled! It is beyond a blessing to have the opportunity to work in a Christian school. I pray Christ be glorified in all that I can offer to my students and the community! I can’t wait for my first full year here! 

Doug Crowe: Praise Band Leader
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Hello. I am so looking forward to teaching the junior high praise band again after restarting praise band in 20221/2022. I’m so excited to see some of last year’s students again and to meet the new ones. I also taught a group guitar option the year before where we got together as a group to play and talk about all things guitar and music.

I grew up in Calgary but lived on the West Coast for years. I have a B.Sc. in Mathematics/Computing Science from the University of Victoria

After a 30 plus year career in corporate IT, I switched to music teaching in 2016 by joining the TCS Music Academy. I play banjo, guitar (including electric and classical), bass guitar, keyboards/piano (badly), ukulele, mandolin, harmonica, and like to hit and shake things for percussion. If no one is guarding the microphone, I sing.

I am an active performer in the Calgary community and play regularly in the worship band of my home church. I was lucky to co-lead a youth worship band there some years ago. I also play in two bands: “The AdHoc Band” is a group of musicians whose mission is to play fundraisers to help out local charities. It’s a full sized dance band playing rock, country, Motown, and pop. I also play in an acoustic quartet, “Band In The Corner” and we have been lucky enough to play some TCS social events as well as local coffee shops and more. I love performing.

I am part of a wonderful blended family and have 4 grown children who are incredibly talented and a joy to be with. I am married and live in the Midnapore/Sundance area.

In the summer, my happy place is on a boat in BC waterskiing, wake boarding, and (this year), wake surfing

My favourite thing about teaching music is unlocking the hidden talents in all students. The moment when a student realizes they can do something they never thought they could and a world of possibilities opens up is pure joy for everyone.

It’s a wonderful two way street as students share music with me that I wouldn’t otherwise hear. See you at Chapel!

Kelly Clarkson: Bookkeeper
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Hello, my name is Kelly Clarkson (no, not the singer) and I am the new Bookkeeper here at TCS.  I am looking forward to working with and getting to know the Trinity community.  I will typically work Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I was born and raised in Winnipeg and moved to Calgary with my husband, Jim, a few years after we married to start our careers and later our family.  We have two grown daughters who have both recently married, we are members at Canyon Creek Christian Fellowship, and we enjoy getting out in nature to experience our beautiful city and province through activities such as walking, hiking, golfing, cycling, and skiing.

Kassidy Silbernagel: Pre-Service Teacher 1K
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I grew up in a village in Saskatchewan with two younger siblings and a close connection to my small community. In 2021, I graduated from the University of Calgary with a Bachelors degree in English. I now attend Ambrose University and am in my final year of Education. During my time in University I lived in residence and became a dorm supervisor with a special focus on building my campus community. I also ran creative writing programs and interpreter programs for children ages 4-12. I am excited to work with Cindy Kamphuis and Jen Muncton in Grade 1 this school year and to get to know all of the lovely incoming students.

Hannah Stenzel: Pre-Service Teacher Grade 7
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Hello TCS Community! My name is Hannah Stenzel, and I am a Pre-Service Teacher with Ambrose University. I attended New Norway School from Kindergarten through to Grade 12. I was blessed to be involved in my school community for so many years and to witness some truly amazing teachers who went above and beyond for my education. They truly cared for me, my learning, and my well-being. They are my inspiration and I hope I get to be as joyful and wise as them one day in my career. I moved to Calgary shortly after I graduated high school to take a degree in Behavioural Science and now, I am in the education program. I love volleyball, spike ball, listening or playing music and painting. I love the energy, enthusiasm and joy students bring into the classroom and want to nurture their eagerness to learn every day! I hope to make students feel safe, seen and heard in the classroom and above all to know the love of Jesus. I am excited to learn from the staff, community members and the students as I finish my last year of school!