An Avon Landmark with Bavarian Roots
Holy Trinity Parish and School sits at the corner of Detroit and Nagel Roads in Avon, Ohio, in a part of Lorain County settled by German Catholic families in the early nineteenth century. Three families from Bavaria arrived in Avon and celebrated the first Mass on March 21, 1841, in the Schwartz family cabin, beginning a Catholic presence that has continued without interruption for nearly two centuries. A log-cabin school opened near Schwartz and Nagel Roads in 1845, making Holy Trinity School the oldest Catholic school still operating in Lorain County and one of the ten largest schools in the Diocese of Cleveland. Today the parish and school share a single Avon Catholic campus serving more than 550 students from Preschool through eighth grade, with two classes per grade and a preschool that typically enrolls around ninety children.
From Log Cabin to National Blue Ribbon
The first church on Jaycox Road went up in 1844 alongside a small parish cemetery. As the community grew, a wooden schoolhouse replaced the original log cabin in 1860, and a brick schoolhouse took its place in 1873. The current sandstone church at Detroit and Nagel Roads was built between 1900 and 1902 under Rev. Anthony B. Stuber using stone cut at Amherst and Westlake quarries, complete with a rectory and a new parish cemetery to the west of the building.
In 1924 a tornado badly damaged the church and rectory, though the sanctuary itself survived untouched. A parish hall was added during the repairs, and in 1925 the school moved to its present location on Nagel Road. Additions followed in 1956, 2001, and 2005, the last of which added a library, offices, a wing of classrooms, and a gym that doubles as the parish hall.
In 2020 the U.S. Department of Education named Holy Trinity a National Blue Ribbon School, placing it among fewer than fifty non-public schools in the country to earn the recognition that year. The school continues to build on a tradition of Catholic education that has held steady for more than 175 years.
Two Buildings, One Avon Catholic Campus
The parish church and the school are part of the same campus on the western edge of Avon, where suburban neighborhoods meet the rolling farmland of Lorain County. The school sits on Nagel Road, with the church a short distance away at Detroit Road, and a separate Preschool Building holds the youngest learners. The main school building houses elementary and junior high classrooms, the library, the gym, and the parish offices, and the gym and parish hall anchor after-school sports and parish gatherings alike. The recent installation of a CENTEGIX crisis-alert system, supported in part by the #weGiveCatholic campaign, has added a discreet layer of protection throughout the campus, and all exterior doors remain locked during school hours.
Eagle Tots, Preschool, and Pre-K
Children as young as two can begin at Holy Trinity through Eagle Tots, a parent-and-me program held in the Preschool Building. Each six-week session meets once a week, with families choosing either a Thursday morning at 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. or a Friday session at 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Up to ten children per session spend time on prayer, play, crafts, snack, and story time with the school librarian, and each child receives an Eagle Tots t-shirt. The cost is $30 per six-week session, and registration opens for each new session a few weeks before it begins.
Three-year-olds may enroll in Introduction to Preschool, which meets Monday through Wednesday either from 8:00 to 10:30 a.m. or from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Four-year-olds can choose a half-day Pre-K from 8:00 to 10:30 a.m. or a full-day program from 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., with a daily special class, lunch, recess, and rest time. Two annual events mark the rhythm of the Pre-K year: the Fancy Feast, where children dress in their finest attire to showcase the manners they have learned, and the Big Show, an end-of-year celebration of songs and dances. Tuition is $3,500 for Introduction to Preschool, $4,000 for half-day Pre-K, and $6,200 for full-day Pre-K, with Before and After Care available for Pre-K students.
Kindergarten Through Fifth Grade
Holy Trinity Kindergarten is a full-day program with a teacher and a full-time educational aide in every classroom, and each room is equipped with current educational technology. The play-based and hands-on curriculum is enriched by weekly specials in art, music, physical education, computer, library, and Spanish, and daily prayer and religious education are built into every day. Students in first through third grade continue in the same primary wing, with a full-time intervention specialist supporting the primary grades and a designated enrichment teacher stretching students who are ready for more challenge.
Fourth and fifth grade students move into the intermediate wing with subject-area teachers for social studies, language arts, math, and science. Technology is integrated with one-to-one devices in every classroom, MAP testing tracks student growth in reading and math, and an enrichment program identifies students ready for deeper work in STEM through grades, MAP scores, and teacher recommendation. Holy Trinity accepts enrollment in every grade except eighth grade after May of the previous school year, so that students preparing for high school can settle in and finish their journey here.
Junior High and the House System
Junior High covers sixth through eighth grade with two classes per grade and a teacher for each core subject. Each junior high teacher also leads one of the school's six Houses, which carry students from different grades together in shared identity and friendly competition. The Houses are Onraka, Amistad, Altruismo, Reveur, Protos, and Nukumori, and they meet throughout the year for team-building, service projects, and school-wide events.
Theology is taught daily across the junior high, and students attend school-wide Masses throughout the year. Reading and ELA, science, math, social studies, and theology and health are the core subjects, and a full-time intervention specialist and K-8 school counselor support student well-being. The graduating Class of 2026 marked their final year at the school with a video tribute to friendships, memories, and Eagle spirit, and the renovation of junior high classrooms and corridors is being funded in part by recent gala proceeds.
A Faculty Built Around the Whole Child
The school's leadership team is led by Head of School Michael Modzeleski, Upper School Principal Anne Flanagan, and Lower School Principal Kevin Kaufhold. Flanagan came to Holy Trinity after serving as Director of Student Services at Immaculate Conception School in Clintonville and holds a Master's in Educational Leadership from Ohio Dominican University. Kaufhold leads the lower school as Principal.
The school's professional team also includes a full-time school nurse, a school psychologist, intervention specialists across the primary, intermediate, and junior high grades, and a speech-language pathologist who provides diagnostics in articulation, language, stuttering, auditory perception, and voice. The guidance program emphasizes emotional well-being and peer relationships alongside academics, and behavior expectations are reinforced throughout the school day. Recognizing and reinforcing positive behavior is a hallmark of the school's culture, and the focus on guidance and support extends beyond academics into the social and emotional growth of every student.
Faith on Campus
Pastoral care for the parish and school comes from Pastor Rev. Vincent J. Hawk and Parochial Vicars Rev. Deogratias Ruwaainenyi and Rev. Anthony Donatelli. The Director of Evangelization, Desi Gould, joined the Avon Catholic community in 2023 after more than twenty years of service across the Diocese of Cleveland, including leadership of the Teens Encounter Christ retreat program and co-hosting a podcast with the Vocations Office. Rachel Frankart serves as Co-Director of Youth and Campus Ministry, focusing on middle school ministry, and partners with the high school ministry team.
The 2026-27 school year carries the theme "Live Different," drawing inspiration from St. Francis of Assisi during the Jubilee Year honoring the saint. Anchored in the Matthew 6:21 line "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also," the theme shapes monthly prayer, reflection, and service across the school. Religion classes, daily prayer, school-wide Masses, and service projects are part of every grade level, and the parish and school work together to nurture Catholic identity throughout the Avon Catholic community.
Specials, Athletics, and the Arts
Specialty teachers round out the academic week. Dayanira Bergenstein, a native Spanish speaker from Mexico City, teaches Spanish across the school. Tera Cowdin teaches Technology, Ryan Haley teaches Physical Education, Matt Hess leads Music, and Kim Millar runs the Library. Art completes the specials rotation, and Accelerated Reader, Achieve 3000, IXL, Membean, Moby Max, and XtraMath are among the digital tools used in class.
CYO athletics give students opportunities in team sports, and the Drama Club's Spring Musical is produced each year by Laura Menser, who has overseen the program for seven years. The Junior High House System provides an additional structure for student leadership and friendly competition, and clubs and activities organized by teachers and the Director of Evangelization round out student life. Service projects and fundraisers connect the school to local charities and community organizations, and the Birthday Book Program places a book in the library in each student's name on their birthday.
Before Care, After Care, and Lunch
Before Care opens at 7:00 a.m. for Pre-K students in the Library. After Care runs from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday for students in Pre-K through eighth grade, and is housed in the Notre Dame hallway in the first-through-third-grade classrooms. Pickup takes place at the After Care doors on the southeast side of the school. After Care students receive a snack and have access to the gym and outdoor playground, weather permitting. K-8 students are billed at $6 per hour and Pre-K students at $9 per hour, calculated by the minute, and a late fee applies for pickup after 6:10 p.m. The lunch program and tuition are coordinated through the FACTS Family Portal, which also handles field trips, grades, and school communication.
Supporting the Mission
Annual giving and events keep the program strong. The most recent Disco Ball Gala raised more than $90,000, with proceeds going toward renovating junior high classrooms and corridors to support the House System. The annual #weGiveCatholic campaign on Giving Tuesday raised more than $60,000 for safety upgrades, mental health resources, and faith formation, and the Angel Scholarship Fund provides tuition assistance for families in need. The Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship is accepted for students with IEPs, and the school serves as a JPSN service provider.
Volunteers are central to the school's operation. Holy Trinity follows the Diocese of Cleveland's screening and training requirements, and all adults with student contact create a VIRTUS account, pass a background check through Selection.com, complete Protecting God's Children training, and sign the Standards of Conduct. The Parent-Teacher Union supports classroom needs, room parents, and family events, and an active Alumni Association keeps former students connected to Holy Trinity long after graduation. Donations to Holy Trinity School can be made by check payable to Holy Trinity School and mailed to the school office, or through the online giving page.
Admissions and Visiting
Holy Trinity accepts students of any race, religion, color, or ethnic origin, with first consideration given to active, registered members of the parish. New Student Applications are accepted year-round, with applications reviewed in priority order after current families re-enroll by mid-February. Families can request a private tour any time of year by calling 440-937-6420 or through the tour request page, and a virtual tour video is available for those who want to see the building before visiting. Open Houses are scheduled throughout the year, and details are posted on the Events Calendar.
The school office is at 2610 Nagel Road, Avon, Ohio 44011, and can be reached at 440-937-6420 or holytrinity@holytrinityavon.org.