Principal's Update

It has been a fortnight brimming with community spirit at Trinity College Colac. It is that time of the final term when our students showcase their learning and we are privileged to witness the development of their skills and the fruits of their hard work, but this year I have been impressed more than usual with the depth of talent and level of commitment that has been on display. The College has been steadily building on a culture of high expectations with an approach to student behaviour and curriculum offerings that continues to raise the bar for our students and staff and we are seeing some outstanding results. 

A case in point was our Instrumental Music Evening last week that was an incredible evening of quality entertainment. I was deeply moved by the courage, confidence and creativity of our Trinity musicians and I am told by Mrs Kelly Kerr that there was a record number of students who were keen to perform solos this year. We are indebted to Mrs Kerr and Ms Grace Wiedermann for their whole-hearted support of our students on their musical journey. Thank you also to our generous tutors, Ms Natalie Atkinson, Mr Stephen Gill, Ms Emma Piera and Mr David Stewart, whose passion and love for music is evident in the joy our students share when they perform. Thank you also to our Trinity musicians whose commitment to achieving their best makes such a wonderful difference in our community.

Our Class of 2023 Graduation event on Thursday night was also another shining display of Trinity community spirit, with 94 Year 12 students and their families celebrating the culmination of 13 years of schooling. They are part of the rich history of Trinity College and we honoured their contribution with a beautiful liturgy prepared by our Director of Catholic Identity, Mr Daniel Rodway, and led by our Parish Priest, Father Michael, followed by the presentation of special and academic awards. After the prizes were presented, our student Captains spoke of the important role that Trinity College, the staff and their peers had played in their memorable school journey. You can read their speeches later in this newsletter. Finally, we heard from Year 12 Coordinator Mrs Angela McGlynn, whose care and support meant so much to all the graduates during their final year. Ange shared the immense impact that the students had and her inspiring words were an invitation for them to go out and make a difference in the world.

Our Year 12 students have been exceptional role models for our next year’s leaders. The Year 11 cohort are currently preparing for their future with exams this week followed by a formation camp where they will develop their teamwork skills and make plans for 2024. It is an exciting time and we really look forward to watching them develop as leaders and role models in the Trinity community. 

We are grateful for the opportunity to reset and recharge that the summer holidays offer us, but there is still much work to be done before then. Marking exams, finishing projects and scheduling the 2024 timetable are hot topics in the staffroom and we continue to keep the students on track. Early Start for Year 11 students commences this week, which provides a unique opportunity for this cohort to prepare for next year. We wish them well, and all of our students as they reflect on their goals and what they achieved in 2023. I invite parents to encourage conversations with their young people about their plans and dreams for the future and make a bit of a big deal about their hard work during the year. It’s a good habit to get in to and helps us all to keep building on our progress and develop high expectations of ourselves as we seek to be the best we can be and make a difference in our lives and those around us.

Have a great weekend.