blessedtrinityacademy2017

Meet Our Teachers- Mr. Kevin Neary

This year we are thrilled to welcome several new teachers to our BTA staff. One of those teachers is Mr. Kevin Neary, who teaches physical education. We share Mr. Neary with Holy Cross Academy. Let’s get to know Mr. Neary.

What is your biggest hope for your students this year?

This being my first year at BTA, I hope to build a strong rapport and relationship with students and parents. I hope that students look forward to coming to Physical Education class to learn more about themselves (mentally, physically, and socially), helping each other through teamwork and collaboration, and finally becoming strong faith filled students. All while having fun learning different skills through a whole bunch of different activities and games. 

Are you originally from Pittsburgh? If so, where did you grow up? If not, where are you originally from?

I grew up and still live in Shaler Township, I attended Shaler Area High School, where I graduated from in 2016. Growing up in Pittsburgh obviously means that I am a big Pittsburgh Sports fan and the Pirates, Penguins, and Steelers are a huge part of my life. 

What is your favorite activity to do in gym class and why?

My personal favorite activity to do PE is teach the students football. We usually start with a throwing and catching unit that progresses to students learning different routes and offensive and defensive strategies. Some of the games get pretty competitive by the end, it also doesn’t hurt that i played football throughout my childhood. My other favorite units include hockey and Wiffle Ball. 

I also enjoy watching the students compete in the North Hills Regional Fitness Test, it cool to see them improve on their tests from the first nine weeks to the last nine weeks each year. 

If you could travel to any country in the world, where would you go and why? 

My mom’s side of the family is originally from Italy, I would love to visit there someday. I think it would also be pretty cool to see the Vatican City at some point as well! While I prefer the cold and winter months I would love to go somewhere tropical and spend time at the beach, maybe Jamaica or the Bahamas. 

If you were not a teacher, what career would you choose?

I originally went to college to become a physical therapist and athletics have always played an important part of my life, so I would envision myself as an athletic trainer or working on the business side for a professional sports team. 

Why do you like working in a Catholic school?

I love that catholic schools not only put an emphasis on high academic achievement but also put our faith first. I love the fact that we can openly talk about our religion at any time. Catholic schools have a rich tradition of serving others and giving back their community which I absolutely enjoy. I also love the tight knit community feel that catholic schools give, it is a wonderful opportunity to watch the students grow up from 3-4 year old kids to young adults. 

What is your favorite Bible story or Bible verse?

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.- Jeremiah 29:11-

What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you?

I have had the same dog since I was 10 years old! My 17 year old cockapoo, Champ, loves to get pup cups, his treats, and curl up with me on the couch. While he has slowed down over the years he still gives tons of love and affection. I also have a 3 year old labradoodle, named Belle, she is the much crazy one out of the two, she also enjoys her pup cups but she enjoys her nightly walks, meeting new people, and playing fetch in our backyard! 

Blessed Trinity Academy is proud to have a dedicated staff full of teachers of various backgrounds and experiences. For 8 years, BTA has been helping children grow to their fullest potential and become leaders within their communities. We offer unique and dynamic learning environments that engage students and encourage them to become confident and responsible adults. To learn more about our teachers and what sets BTA apart, visit www.btacademy.net today.

blessedtrinityacademy2017

Giving Back to the Community

Communities everywhere have one thing in common — there’s always someone who needs help. Serving the local community has numerous benefits for people of all ages, especially developing children. Volunteering gives children a unique opportunity to see the world from different perspectives while helping those in need. At Blessed Trinity Academy, our Service Club leads the charge in helping our school students give back to our surrounding communities. As a Catholic School instilling the value of giving back to those in need around us in part of our mission. Here are some ideas of how to engage your children in the community:

Organize a Collection:

One of the easiest ways to get your children involved in giving back to the community is setting up a collection to benefit a local organization. Places like food banks, animal shelters, and homeless shelters are always in need of goods such as food, non-perishable items, gentled used or new clothes, books and more. Instead of having children bring a birthday gift to your child’s birthday, have them bring canned goods which can be donated to a food pantry. At Blessed Trinity Academy, our Service Club coordinates multiple donation driven collections throughout the year including a canned food drive for the St. Vincent DePaul Food Pantry during the Thanksgiving season and a collection for Animal Friends which consists of food, toys, treats, and other pet essentials.

Get Out and Volunteer

Although organizations do love donations, they also need the donation of time. This is something that you can start with your children at an early age. Make it a priority to volunteer as a family. There are a lot of ways to involve little children in giving back to the community. Ringing the bells for the Salvation Army’s Kettle Campaign during the Christmas season is a great way to engage small children. For older children, seek out your local Special Olympics chapter. They have events throughout the year where they will need helpers of all ages. Take you Middle School and High School age children to a food bank to stock shelves. Most food banks will have special weekends designated just for families. During the school year, our Service Club offers opportunities for our students to give back including packing lunches for the Red Door Project and working with elderly patients at a nursing home.

Catholic schools consider community service to be an essential part of a child’s education. At Blessed Trinity Academy, we believe in helping children grow to their fullest potential and become leaders within their communities. We offer unique and dynamic learning environments that engage students and encourage them to become confident and responsible adults. To learn more about what makes us different, visit our website today.