The Quest is On!

Every year, on the first Friday of the school year, something unusual happens at Trinity.

Faculty and students arrive on campus to find tables piled with donuts, hot cocoa, coffee, and orange juice. With treats in hand, they gather on the Trinity Green, waiting for the seniors to launch the Quest Opening and wondering what spectacle will unfold this time.

Will Odysseus himself leap through a smoke-filled “time machine” to reclaim his lost oar?

Will a wizard shatter the oar in half—only for the audience to learn months later that it was just a perfect replica?

Each year’s performance is full of surprises. Seniors often don Greek costumes to embody Homer’s legendary characters, but sometimes they appear as news anchors or secret service agents. Their shouts of “THE OAR!” echo across the Green, punctuating every dramatic moment.

The skits usually retell Odysseus’ long journey home, highlighting his final task: to carry an oar so far inland that no one would recognize it. At Trinity, the oar hanging in West Hall echoes that myth. It symbolizes each class’s journey to work together, uniting their skills and talents.

Quest at Trinity is a beloved tradition that spans the academic year. Classes join together to compete and earn points in various contests each month – Knock Out, Dodgeball, Spike Ball, Volleyball, Corn Hole, Kan Jam, Tug of War, and Metaphysical Pursuit, a trivia contest. The students especially love Winter Wonder Week, when the competitions take on a seasonal twist with caroling, cookie-making, and Christmas tree decorating.

The contests aren’t just fun—they build teamwork and school spirit. As students compete together each month, they naturally develop a loyalty toward their class and grow in friendship with both upperclassmen and younger students. Their shared experiences cultivate a deep sense of community and camaraderie throughout the campus

Nowhere is this clearer than at the annual Chili Cook-off, a family-friendly festival held during a Saturday in the fall. Each class cooks chili and raises funds for a student-proposed charity. The classes choose a theme and come dressed in costumes reflecting it. They sponsor raffles, offer face painting, and host a variety of outdoor games to help promote interest at their respective tables. The Trinity Green is filled with families and faculty who come to support the event, younger siblings running gleefully through the crowd, and an occasional alumnus travelling back to see old friends. 

The year ends where it began—on the Trinity Green. On the last Friday of May, students gather again with donuts in hand, waiting to see the seniors’ final skit and, more importantly, to learn which class has accumulated the most points to be crowned the winner of Quest. The announcement sparks cheers, and the victorious class proudly lifts THE OAR! high overhead, celebrating not only victory but the journey they’ve shared.

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