Principal's Message
College Assembly
At a whole College Assembly earlier this week, we had the opportunity to gather as a community to reflect on our Winter Sports season, and to acknowledge members of our college Athletics Team as they prepared to compete in the JPPSA (Junior School) and PSA (Senior School) Athletics Carnivals.
Our Winter season of Sport consisted of 12 rounds of fixtures, commencing in Term 2 and finishing a few weeks ago. Over Thursday and Friday afternoons, and on Saturday mornings, we have had some 80 teams and over 1250 students proudly representing the College across six different sports. The cold and often very wet conditions throughout these past few months have certainly required a deeper examination of ability and commitment. Our Assembly allowed us to acknowledge a number of students who received a Service and Contribution Award and other students who were considered as ‘Fairest and Best’ in respective ‘First’ Teams.
As always, I get great joy in being able to get around to see all teams, at all levels, even managing to Coach one of the year 9 Soccer teams. While I have enjoyed watching the wins and losses that occur as a normal part of Sport, what I have found particularly pleasing is the manner in which our students represent the Blue and Green of Trinity College. They do so with a real sense of pride, commitment and a determination to compete well. Importantly, this is accompanied by a genuine attitude of supporting teammates and playing fairly. It is that sense of respecting each other and respecting the contest that I am most proud of.
The Assembly provided an opportunity to sincerely acknowledge the majority of our boys who have committed fully to Sport, both Winter and Summer seasons. The College acknowledges and celebrates such a genuine contribution to College life and to each other. Sadly, we still have a few students who have not always displayed such commitment and, at various times, have chosen to miss training sessions, not turn up to fixtures or, in some instances, play for club teams at the expense of their preparation and commitment to their College team. In essence, they have let their team-mates and their school down. This is most disappointing.
Adopting a full and determined commitment to PSA Sport at Trinity College, across both seasons, is a central pillar of our stated, and much valued, Education Program. As discussed at enrolment, and referenced regularly throughout every student’s journey, striving for personal excellence in all areas of College life is encouraged and expected! No aspect of our Education Program is optional or can be successfully achieved with a ‘part-time’ approach. A sense of community, a positive culture and personal resilience all emerge from a collective commitment to all aspects of College life. The unequivocal support of parents in this regard is obviously vital and presents a very clear and obvious pathway for boys that is based on a set of shared values with the College.
I trust that some boys will reflect on opportunities missed. To play and learn alongside their ‘Brothers’ – at whatever level, is a privilege that not every school student gets. As has been highlighted previously, ‘you get out of school, what you put in.’ This is particularly true at Trinity College. Those boys who consistently apply themselves fully and commit to all aspects of College life, are the same boys who achieve great success, have purpose and become leaders amongst their peers. As we look to commence our Summer season in Term 4, I urge all students to fully commit to this important aspect of College life.
I would like to sincerely thank the large number of staff and external coaches who have taken on a coaching or managing role throughout our recently concluded Winter season. The manner in which our coaches engage with our boys, and the tone of respect and sportsmanship that they insist upon, is wonderful to see and greatly appreciated. I would particularly like to offer special thanks to Mr Ryan Lockyer who oversees all of our PSA Sport and, with the assistance of Mr John Black, carries much of the responsibility to ensure that teams, fixtures, venues, umpires and buses are organised for all fixtures.
The Assembly concluded with the presentation of our 2025 Athletics Team. In their address, Senior Athletics Captains, Noah Hugo and Archie Jarvis referred to the special privilege of representing the College over the past few years, proudly citing the commitment and the challenge of intensive training that the team had enjoyed in preparing for the carnival day. They also encouraged every student to find those opportunities to apply themselves in a manner that allows them to be part of something bigger – such as the College Athletics Team.
We congratulate all members of the 2025 College Athletics Team. We thank them for their example, encourage them to support each other and pray that they believe in themselves as they strive for their personal best. We can ask for no more and should expect no less!
Live Jesus in our hearts
Mr Darren O’Neill
Principal
College-Provided Laptop Program
Launch in 2026
As we seek to actively support excellence in student learning, digital wellbeing and equity, the College will commence transitioning to a College-Provided Laptop Program from the start of the 2026 academic year. Initially, this will be aimed at those students commencing secondary school in Year 7, and for those students progressing into Year 10. This initiative will then be extended to incoming cohorts in 2027 and 2028, with students receiving a new device in Year 7 and, as part of a three-year rolling cycle, a new replacement device in Year 10. This progressive roll-out will mean that by 2028 all secondary students will have a College-Provided Laptop. A three-year cycle of replacing Laptops is considered optimal for device performance and mirrors education and industry practice.
The laptop cost will be included as a separate fee and be spread, generally, over three years.
Other year groups will be able to be included in the initial roll out if parents have concerns about the performance of their son’s laptop.
An email has been sent to parents of students in each year group explaining the background to this change and what it means for that year group. Please ensure that you read this closely. The links to these Year Cohort letters are also below.