Trinity Classical School, Clarkesville

"I love attending Trinity because it's not just a school, it's also a family," said Katelynn Deeb, a rising 11th grader at Trinity Classical School in Clarkesville. "I love the small classes and one-on-one time with teachers. Trinity has been a life-changing experience for me."

Katelynn isn't alone in her love for Trinity. She and two of her younger siblings, Kimberlin, 15, and Jacob, 10, have all recently completed their second year as Arete Scholars at the North Georgia school. The result is three children who are "happier, well adjusted, and learning well in all of their classes," according to their grandmother and guardian, Bonnie Branch.

Mrs. Branch, who has raised the children for the past nine years, first heard about Arete Scholars Fund from church friends before the 2010-11 school year. That's when her husband, Larry, contacted school administrators at Trinity, who on that same day had first learned about the scholarship program. The children were then struggling in school surroundings that Mrs. Branch described as "hard-nosed" and unsafe.

"We live off of social security and disability, and never had other school options," said Mrs. Branch, whose husband passed away on the first day of the 2011-12 school year. "Without a scholarship, these children would not have been able to attend Trinity Classical School."

The siblings have benefited from the challenges of their new school and have also enjoyed the extracurricular activities, particularly the sports program at Trinity.

"Trinity has given me an awesome chance to meet new friends," said Kimberlin Deeb. "I have a better opportunity to learn since there are fewer students, and I had an opportunity to play volleyball for the first time."

Jacob, a rising 5th grader agrees."I think Trinity is challenging, but doing hard work is better than getting passed on for doing nothing," he said.

Mrs. Branch is grateful for the educational opportunity given to her grandchildren. "This is a much safer environment for my children," she said. "Thank you to Arete and the donors. Please continue your work so that other families like ours can have the same chance."

To learn more about Trinity Classical School, visit them online at http://trinityclassical.org/.