Principal's Update

Last Friday was World Teachers’ Day, which honours the contribution of my profession all around the globe. There is a saying that students learn teachers, not subjects, and I’m a firm believer in this truism. 

We all have memories of those special teachers who inspired us in some way or other – for me it was Mr Egan, my HPE teacher in 1986. It was probably no big deal to him, just another day at the coalface, but the very fact that his memory has remained with me for so many years says a lot about the important role teachers play in the lives of their students. I know many people who have chosen their career paths because of the influence of a teacher, and I also know many who regret not expressing their gratitude at the time. So, thank you, Mr Egan, and thank you to all the teachers who not only educate our young people but help them navigate the highs and lows of their journey through school and beyond. 

A case in point is our incredible Music teachers and the result of their commitment was witnessed yesterday at our College assembly. Our Vocal Ensemble entertained the gathering with an exceptional performance and we heard about the many community events that our Trinity musicians have been involved in over the past month. I am impressed by not only their talent but also their generosity of spirit in sharing the results of their hard work and commitment. We are grateful as a College to have dedicated teachers who are so passionate about education that they do not hesitate to spend their weekends and evenings making sure our students are provided with these valuable and memorable opportunities. 

It is a busy time of year for our teachers who are making sure their students are prepared for their end of year exams and assessments, marking, providing feedback and generally doing everything possible to ensure the best possible outcome. Currently our VCE students are sitting their Unit 3-4 external examinations and, while this is an anxious time for the students and their families, they are coping well and working hard with the support of their teachers. 

It is not just teachers who give it their all at our College. Everybody who works at Trinity is vested in the success of our young people and our thriving community. Our Trinity raffle was launched recently and this cannot happen without a dedicated team who source supporters and donations, arrange for sales and deal with the paperwork and logistics that accompanies initiatives like this. A particular thanks to Ms Jenny Barake and Mrs Julie Demasi who are the raffle stalwarts at Trinity, but also to many others who never fail to put their hand up when jobs need to be done. We were down at Bunnings cooking sausages on the barbecue and selling tickets on Sunday and I thank the parents and staff who came down to give us a hand. It was a lot of fun and there was as much talking as cooking going on, I think.  

So, we are well prepared with the tongs for our 2024 Year 7 Welcome Barbecue next Thursday. It is always a great event and provides an opportunity for our new and experienced Trinity parents to socialise and meet staff, and for our incoming students to get to know each other. Our Year 12 2024 leaders will be leading some fun activities that help to build friendships with the young ones and, in our experience, the evening goes a long way towards generating positive anticipation for next year. 

Don’t forget to get your raffle ticket before 29 November, and the Early Bird will be drawn on 9 November – there is more information in this newsletter. Good luck!