Junior School

Respect and Kindness  

Each Monday morning, during our student-led briefing, we proudly announce the Class of the Week. This award is a recognition awarded by staff based on our current Junior School focus. This Term, we are highlighting the values of respect and kindness.

At its heart, respect and kindness mean treating others as we would like to be treated. We are proud to say that the boys of Trinity College Junior School consistently demonstrate these values across all areas of school life - whether in the classroom, on the playground, on the sporting field, or within the broader College community.

Of course, as in any school, our boys encounter a wide range of social situations. Often, these involve playful banter. Banter is a natural and important part of growing up. Banter can help build connections, which is vital for young boys as they develop a sense of wellbeing and meaningful relationships. While we strive for all interactions to be respectful and kind, we also acknowledge that navigating social dynamics is a learning process. As parents, we encourage you to discuss with your son the differences between banter and bullying and brainstorm appropriate ways to respond to banter.

Our number one priority remains child safety. We ensure that every boy knows they have a trusted adult to turn to when they need support with friendship dynamics. Recently, we have noticed the Term “snitch” being used more frequently, and we’ve been addressing this regularly with students.

From a young age, children are taught to say “no” or “stop” when they feel uncomfortable. This is a key skill in setting boundaries. However, for boys in Years 4–6, this strategy may not always be effective. In these moments, seeking help from a teacher is not only appropriate; it is encouraged. While “snitching” (formally known as dobbing) can sometimes be seen as disruptive, it often stems from a desire for fairness. We aim to help our boys understand their own limits with banter and know when it’s time to ask for support.

Importantly, we continue to educate students on the difference between snitching and reporting. Reporting involves sharing serious concerns such as unsafe behaviour, or threats to wellbeing and is always supported and acted upon.

By fostering these conversations, we hope to empower our boys to build respectful, kind, and safe relationships, now and into the future.

God Bless,  

Mr James McPherson  

Head of Junior School

Term 4 Co-Curricular  

The signup for Term 4 Co-Curricular Clubs has now closed. You will be notified by the coordinating teacher if your son is included in their club. A reminder that all co-curricular clubs commence on Monday, 20 October.

Ollie Wins National Makers Empire Design Competition!

The boys in Coding and STEM Club regularly explore 3D printing and often enter design competitions on Makers Empire. This August, Ollie Nguyen in Year 6 Green stood out by winning the national Makers Empire Design Competition, which had over 4,000 entries from students across Australia!

His creative design, Sausage Sizzler Cat, impressed the judges with its originality, attention to detail, and clever use of shapes and colours, perfectly capturing the “Cool Cats” theme. Congratulations, Ollie, on this fantastic achievement!

Dates to Remember