Principal's Message

We have been experiencing fabulous weather, and the Year 10 students have been making the most of it on their Adventure Camp in Anglesea, surfing, kayaking, horse riding, bushwalking and more. They slept in tents and cooked their own food so there is a big chance they returned home tired and hungry, but what a great time they had! 

Back at campus, the other half of the cohort was also engaged in activities, including attending a presentation from Steve Baker in the Jubilee Centre. Steve spoke about the highs and lows from his career in AFL football and his battles with depression, and shared his tips on how to build grit through adversity. As they head towards the senior years at the College, it is hoped this timely advice will contribute to their commitment to their studies. 

Unfortunately, the beautiful weather we have been experiencing does have its dark side and the Year 12 Retreat scheduled for this week had to be postponed due to the venue being impacted by bushfires. Our fellow Catholic schools and communities in the Ballarat diocese affected by the devastating conditions have been in our thoughts and we continue to offer up prayers for their safety. The Retreat has been rescheduled for May, and we know that our seniors will be resilient and adaptable with these changes  as they display these attributes of a Trinity student every day of the week and make us very proud. The Year 12 Retreat is a special event and will be worth the wait!

The Year 11 students were a little luckier and still able to participate in their planned Retreat in Kyneton. They learnt more about themselves and each other during a range of activities and reflections with the aim to prepare them for the year ahead.

These wonderful experiences would not be possible without the commitment of our staff to the social, emotional and spiritual nourishment of our students. Many of our Trinity people are involved in the logistics, in front of the scenes and behind, and I particularly thank Ms Sarah Borch, who is our Year 10 Coordinator and was organising their camp for the first time, and to Mr Patrick Seal, who is an old timer at arranging the Year 11 Retreat but always open to new ideas. Thank you to all the teachers who gave up their time to be there for the students, building stronger relationships and truly enjoying their company. I also thank our Daily Organiser, Mrs Kate Hanson, who schedules replacement teachers for classroom relief every day to ensure our students are still receiving quality learning. We are very grateful for her exceptional organisational skills.

With the Years 10 and 11 students being off campus and the last minute changes to the Year 12 schedule, it’s been a busy time. We are still in the period of Lent and as we head towards Easter I take this opportunity to remind you to take time to reflect on your relationship with God and humanity. With all the troubles around the globe, it may feel as if our own efforts are of little consequence in making the world a better place. But as a community, we can all strive to make a difference together and find joy in our common goal. Trinity supports Project Compassion, which is a Caritas initiative that helps so many people in need and it only takes the change in your pocket to make a change in someone’s life. Coins can be dropped into the Project Compassion boxes in every student’s homeroom right up to Easter.

In just over a week, on Wednesday 20 March, we invite our extended community to join us for our College Open Day. It’s a great day that celebrates our school, our long history, our growth, and our students, both past and present. As the school of choice for generations of locals, at Trinity we acknowledge that our community is an incredibly important aspect of our values and we look forward to meeting prospective parents, carers and families, and sharing our stories while we show them around our campus. Our students will be taking guided tours and getting involved and our teachers are planning activities and demonstrations to showcase their learning areas. It’s a lot of fun and I know that Year 6 students in particular really appreciate the opportunity to see what we’re all about. We would appreciate your assistance in spreading the word and helping to make the day a success.

Enjoy your long weekend!

Photos are from the Year 10 Adventure Camp.