Let's Talk TCA Podcast
TCA’s varsity basketball coaches, Rodney Belcher and John Price, both join the podcast for this episode. This is Coach Belcher’s first year at TCA after years spent coaching at both the high school and college levels. Coach Price is in his fourth year at TCA and 26th year coaching overall. The coaches talk about their families, their faith and their coaching careers. Listen to hear how they leverage the lessons of winning and losing to prepare students for future successes and failures.
info_outline Cindi Di Iorio and Craig WilsonLet's Talk TCA Podcast
TCA’s Head of Middle School Cindi Di Iorio and Head of Upper School Craig Wilson join the podcast to talk about where they come from and what brought them to TCA. Get to know our new heads of schools better as they share about their families, their faith and their hearts for helping educate children.
info_outline Let's Talk TurfLet's Talk TCA Podcast
This summer, Tom Landry Stadium had new state-of-the-art turf installed that is arguably the best playing surface at any school, anywhere. In this episode, Steve Hayes, TCA’s football head coach and newly appointed athletic director, talks about the new playing field and other recent improvements to the athletics facilities. He is joined by TCA alum and former football player Jason Delph ’07, the co-founder (along with fellow ’07 classmate Nick Pavey) of ForeverLawn Texas, as well as ForeverLawn’s Director of Marketing Derek Taylor and Installation Support Team Leader Aaron Gressel....
info_outline Building Healthy Phone Habits with Joey OdomLet's Talk TCA Podcast
Are you addicted to your phone? As parents, how should we be thinking about smartphone use? In this episode, host Cynthia Yanof talks with Joey Odom, co-founder of technology company Aro, about how to build a healthy relationship with your smartphone. Many of us often find ourselves distracted by our phones, focused on social media or other apps instead of interacting with the people around us. Phones can take our attention away from being present with our spouse or kids, and our kids themselves run the danger of being the first generation to die with more of other people’s memories than...
info_outline College Prep at Any Age with Tracy BartholomewLet's Talk TCA Podcast
TCA is a college preparatory school, and that preparation begins long before college applications are filled out. In this episode, Tracy Bartholomew, part of TCA’s college counseling team, discusses how parents can help their children start thinking about the future and taking their first steps towards college and career decisions. Tracy and host Cynthia Yanof talk about: How parents can help their children discover God’s calling for their lives. How students can begin exploring different interests and fields of study. How TCA’s college counselors help students each year along the way....
info_outline 10 Great Things Happening at TCALet's Talk TCA Podcast
In this episode, host Cynthia Yanof talks with people all over TCA to get the scoop on some new things that have happened or will happen soon. This top 10 list includes: An increased emphasis and investment in biblical worldview The addition of a full-time athletics chaplain Upgrades to the baseball and softball fields The addition of a new preK section and a new playground New dining options in the cafeterias Invisible security upgrades to the campus Adjusting the cell phone policy to improve student well-being An upcoming month of prayer on the TCA campus The first class of senior...
info_outline Life Is Messy, God Is Good with Cynthia YanofLet's Talk TCA Podcast
In this episode of Let’s Talk TCA, the tables are turned as our regular host, Cynthia Yanof, becomes a guest on the podcast. TCA student Ella Eubanks interviews Cynthia about her new book, “Life Is Messy, God Is Good,” and her experiences as a podcaster, a foster mom, and a TCA parent. Life is hard, and it often goes “off script.” Cynthia talks about having a theology that lines up with reality and finding God at work in the middle of our messes. She shares “messy truths” from her book, heartwarming stories from the TCA community, and insights from being “the oldest...
info_outline Growing Leaders with Dr. Tim ElmoreLet's Talk TCA Podcast
Dr. Tim Elmore joins the podcast to talk about cultivating leadership in our children and equipping them to be future leaders. Dr. Elmore is the founder of the global nonprofit and has written more than 35 books, including “Habititudes,” “Generation Z Unfiltered” and “12 Huge Mistakes Parents Can Avoid.” An expert on leadership and the younger generations, he believes that the problems we face today will be solved by kids who are now in school. In this episode, Tim Elmore and host Cynthia Yanof discuss: How Generation Z and Generation Alpha are defined, and how they are...
info_outline Love and Life with Bob GoffLet's Talk TCA Podcast
Bob Goff, the bestselling author of “” and “,” joins the podcast to discuss loving people, dreaming big, and living an undistracted life. Answering questions submitted by TCA students, Bob talks about: His work building schools in 13 countries The difference between teachers and educators How to love people who are difficult to love Using your platform or influence to make a lasting difference How to deal with distractions Making plans for life versus going with the flow How students can take leadership in building a better, more loving world The phone number you can use...
info_outline Athletics Q&A with Tonja KingLet's Talk TCA Podcast
In this episode, host Cynthia Yanof talks all things athletics with Chief Administrative Officer Tonja King. Tonja and Cynthia cover a range of topics, including: The mission and philosophy of TCA athletics How TCA measures success in athletics Recent coaching hires The new position of athletic chaplain Athletic department leadership Changes in the strength and conditioning program TAPPS’ and TCA’s policy on recruiting Improving athletic facilities How you can help If you would like to learn more about opportunities to support TCA athletics financially, please...
info_outlineOn today’s podcast episode, we have Holly Hatton.
Holly is TCA’s Middle School library media specialist, but she is much more! Today she talks with us about the fantastic new library
space in the MS 7/8 building and how she uses that space to give students a much-needed break in their day.
The new middle school library is for grades 5-8, and it is 3,800 square feet, including a teaching space, library shelves (of course), two collaboration rooms, and a soft seating area that can fit a whole class. It is also the tornado shelter for the Middle School.
While grades 5-6 have a designated library/tech class where they rotate through the library, grades 7-8 have Holly
come to their classrooms to promote books and help them with research. However, with the appeal of the new library space, seventh and eighth graders visit the library during their school day.
The Middle School Library has a wide array of resources you would expect, including direct access to an online catalog to the library on their iPads which includes online and print books.
The library also has costumes, props, and even a bubble machine that can be used for lip sync, projects, etc.
The new library doors are right by the outdoor recess fields. Holly wanted to provide an additional location at recess time for students to recharge and reset in the middle of the day.
Students can play board games, play cards, do crafts, or sit and read a book on the couches.
Holly notes that some of our middle schoolers are carrying stress and anxiety, and many are just dealing with typical middle school drama of friends or fear of missing out.
She wants to give them a break and peace in their lives. The regulars coming during lunchtime enjoy this time and are empowered and energized from the time in the library.
Part of Holly’s job is to collaborate with teachers, help them execute ideas for their classroom, and help them come to life. One example of this is how she helped eighth-grade
Bible teacher Chris Thelen put together a father/son dodgeball tournament and a panel of dads with older sons to advise on how to disciple their sons.
This is part of TCA’s mission to develop the whole child and to partner with parents.
Holly loves to work with middle schoolers as they move from children to young adults and all
that goes along!
Middle School parents can find all library resources on the MS Library Resource Board.