Extreme Teachers

Mr. Pangeni and his wife competed in the Tarzan Run on Saturday, April 14. Enjoy this animated slideshow of an extreme teacher!

Over break, Mr. Cassel, Mr. Cutler and Mr. Pangeni experienced thrills by living on the edge.

Mr. Cassel went cave diving in Mexico with his wife Tricia. The guide appears first, followed by Tricia and then Mr. Cassel. As you watch, know that the glistening water above is not the surface.

In this animated slideshow, explore alongside Mr. and Mrs. Cassel.

Mr. Cutler went skiing over break with his brother Jeff, who took video of him getting some serious air on one ski. 

Headmaster leads with hope, faith, love

A miniature toy beaver adorns Head of School Sean Murphy’s desk, adding an odd but endearing presence to his spacious office, located on the second floor of the library.

He is dressed in a sharp looking suit and stylish yellow tie, and he definitely looks the part of a busy and dedicated headmaster. It’s 12:30 p.m. and it seems that Mr. Murphy has had a number of important meetings—and he will have several more before the end of the day.

In his seventh year here, Mr. Murphy has a long list of accomplishments. Beyond the enormous time and energy he puts into legal disputes with the Village of Palmetto Bay over campus expansion plans, he has overseen the completion of a gorgeous new dining facility, fostered tremendous growth in athletics, and, most importantly, significantly improved Palmer Trinity School’s academic reputation.

Mr. Murphy says he feels most proud about hiring effective teachers.

“That might be the best thing I’ve been able to do for the school—hire a lot of really good teachers,” he says. 

Beyond the School’s future site plan, Mr. Murphy says he has a more important, enduring vision to promote and constantly enliven the “heart and soul” of Palmer Trinity School.

“The way in which kids are supportive of one another, the way we treat each other, which is what we say all the time, the respect and the affection that people have for each other here—really, really important and central to my vision for the place,” he said.

Much of Mr. Murphy’s mission seems guided by his faith, which he says has allowed him to remain hopeful and positive in even the most trying times.

“Faith, more than anything else, allows me to maintain a positive outlook and a hopefulness about the future of humanity and the future of the world,” he says.

By Blake Rubin '14 and Costanza Reiser '14

Watch the entire interivew. 

Always smiling

Jean Dubal has been working security here for three years, and he really loves his job. You have probably seen him smiling at the front gate or greeting students and teachers as he does his rounds. The Falconer wanted to know a little more about this upbeat, welcoming presence on campus. Find out what Mr. Dubal thinks of Palmer Trinity School. By Sofia Pedroso '14.

Get to know our amazing School Registrar

Falconer reporter Blake Rubin' 14 sits down for a chat with Mrs. Cerione, the school registrar, to get an inside perspective on all of the amazing things she does here, including organizing the academic schedule.

A warm face on campus delights all

Every day, Hugo Lallemand, who  asks to by called by his first name, steps onto campus wearing his iconic paint-splattered pants, dangling a silver whistle around his neck, and carrying the sign required to direct traffic during morning drop-off.
  Students drive into the beautiful campus, eager and excited for the new day. The first thing that they see is the smiling, energetic, and joyful expression on Hugo's face as he directs the cars through the school's back parking lot. The first thing they hear is the welcoming whistling of Hugo's whistle. Throughout the day, students cannot help but smile and shout to Hugo as he goes about his business maintaining the school or simply humming his way across campus, high-fiving the occasional student or faculty member.  
  "The people here are the best," says Hugo, "they are like a family to me, and Palmer Trinity is my second home." The maintenance staff is always busy putting an incredible amount of effort and integrity into their work and their many duties.
  "I direct the traffic for high school in the morning, I prepare the dining hall for dance classes, I set up the gym for convocation, and I paint the school," said Hugo. When students walk through the halls in the morning and smell that fresh new paint or notice the glossy shine of the gym floor, they know whom to thank.
  "I have a good relationship with the students," says Hugo. "They are very friendly and easy to work with. They are respectful and always have something friendly to say to me."
  Every late afternoon, long after students and teachers have abandoned the school-grounds and the sun has begun to set, the maintenance staff stays put, working   unimaginably hard to make our school appear as beautiful as it was the previous morning.
  At the end of the day, when they have finally returned home, they have succeeded. By Diana Fernadnez '12