Principal's Message

Welcome

As we commence our final term for this year, I extend a very warm welcome back to all boys and their families following our recent holiday break.  Some of our Year 12 students had somewhat less of a break as many completed Semester 2 Examinations, and others participated in their formal WACE Practical Examinations that were scheduled during the last month or so.  

The 2025 Senior Class now prepare for their College Graduation celebrations next week and many will then be required to return their focus to preparing for their WACE Examinations that commence on Wednesday, 29 October.  As always, we wish the boys well during this busy time and remind them that hard work and commitment brings due reward.  We are very proud of our Year 12 Class and look forward to joining them in celebrating their College Graduation next week. 

I would respectfully ask that all within our College community, keep our senior students in their thoughts and prayers at this time.  As they progress towards their graduation, we pray that each of them truly reflects upon their journey with a sense of accomplishment, personal satisfaction and pride. 

We are also looking forward to the Secondary Presentation Night which will be held at the in our College Sports centre on Tuesday October 21, commencing at 7:00pm. Letters outlining specific details about ticketing, rehearsals and student expectations have already been sent to all families.

Sitting down with key College Staff to analyse respective student performance data and, academic results, and to discuss individual students in terms of effort, service, respect and example, is always a wonderful and very humbling task.  Our students are enormously talented and generous of spirit, which makes finalising the recipients for the various student awards a difficult, but very uplifting task.  Extensive planning and preparation has been underway for several weeks as we seek to showcase those students who will be the recipient of College Awards and/or performing throughout the evening.

As always, we are very much looking forward to our annual Secondary Presentation Night. It is a wonderful occasion at which we can celebrate our sense of community and formally acknowledge some of our young men.

Staffing News:

I wish to inform the College Community that I will be enjoying an extended period of Leave for the final five weeks of this year. Formally, I will be undertaking some scheduled Professional Renewal Leave visiting several schools, educational settings and attending conferences during that time. I will also be taking some time to travel parts of Ireland, the UK and particular places in Europe with my wife as part of this time away. I will be on Leave for Weeks 5-9 of Term 4, commencing on Monday, 10 November.

In my absence Mrs Sabrina Hughes will be the Acting Principal, and Mr Anthony Byrne will be the Acting Vice Principal. I wish them all the very best in these roles. In my pending absence, I also wish to take this opportunity to wish all students and families a Happy and Holy Christmas, a wonderful summer break, and look forward to returning for the start of the 2026 academic year.

The start of term usually brings with it some changes in staffing. This week we have welcomed Ms Wanda Jurek who will be here throughout Term 4 replacing Ms Rita Basilio who will be enjoying a period of extended leave. We also welcome back Mr Julian Fritz, Mr Barry McKenna, Mr Ben Mitchell and Mr Michael Slacksmith who are returning from periods of extended leave.

I wish to take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank Mrs Helen Shanahan who was acting Head of Year 10 throughout last term; and Mr Phil Oddie who assumed the role as Deputy Principal of Student Wellbeing throughout our third term.

In other Staffing news; Following on from an extended period of Leave, and after a period of thought and prayer, Mr Tony Maxfield has informed me that he intends to formally resign from his position as Teacher, effective immediately. Mr Maxfield has generously served the College for over forty years and will leave a special legacy for many of our College families.  We wish him well for the future. Mr Maxfield wishes to pass on his sincere gratitude, love and God’s Blessings to all of the amazing boys he has taught and coached, their supportive families, the tireless and dedicated staff and the stalwart Trinity College community. You all have a special place in his heart.

Live Jesus in our hearts.

Mr Darren O’Neill 

Principal