Leanne Takes on

Fresh Leadership Challenge

Director of Students Leanne Eastman will depart Trinity College at the end of term to take on the next challenge in her school life.

Leanne will pack up her things and travel about 15 kilometres north-east to take on the role of Principal at St Brendan's Primary School, Coragulac.

Leanne has been Director of Students at Trinity since 2018 in a broad role that incorporates, among other things, the crucial areas of student leadership, discipline and wellbeing.

She will take that student focus with her to St Brendan's and be able to call on her experiences in both primary and secondary school settings in taking charge of the broader school environment.

Leanne said she would miss Trinity College, but was excited by the prospect of leading the small rural school and helping to develop young students.

Leanne had this to say about her time at Trinity and pending departure:

It has been an absolute privilege to be Director of Students at Trinity College over the last two and a half years. I would like to thank the Trinity College community: students, parents and staff, for supporting me in my role during this time. It was definitely not an easy decision to move on. It says a lot about the love that our students have for Trinity, that many of them could not understand why I would leave such a wonderful school. School pride at Trinity is alive and well!

Sometimes, when we least expect it, life provides us with other opportunities that seem to call us in some way. I have heard much about the wonderful sense of community at St Brendan’s and look forward to experiencing life in a small country school. Colac is a special place and being at St Brendan’s means that I have the opportunity to experience the country community of Coragulac, and still be part of the wider Colac community. It’s a win-win situation.

The Director of Students role brings with it lots of fun times and the opportunity to work with our wonderful student leaders. It has also given me the opportunity to work with students who may need some extra care and guidance. I have always wanted the best for all students and there is nothing more satisfying than seeing them grow and overcome challenges they may be facing. There have been many times when I have witnessed students working through some tough times, learning from their mistakes and getting back on the right track to becoming fine young adults. These are the real rewards in teaching.

I would like to conclude with a message to the students.

When I first stepped into this position, many people who knew the school told me how much I would love the students at Trinity, what great kids they are. They were absolutely right. You really do make our school a great place to be and I will genuinely miss you. I want you to know that you all matter. If I did not cross paths with you much, it is definitely my loss, and it probably means that you have been really well behaved, so thank you!

I thank each of you for the energy, joy, fun, laughter, respectful attitude, compassion, kindness, individualism and positivity that you bring to Trinity. I encourage you all to believe in yourselves and to work hard to achieve your dreams. Your destiny is in your hands. I also encourage you to care: care for yourself, care for others, care for the environment, care for those less fortunate and care for the world around us. People who care make a difference in our world.

I hope that I run into you from time to time. I would love to see where life takes you. Remember that you can make a difference to the people and the world around you. It doesn’t have to be a massive, whizz bang difference, you can make a little difference every day.

See you around

Mrs Eastman