Headmaster’s Report

It is with immense pride that I present the 2012 Trinity College Annual Report.

Mr Ivan Banks Headmaster

This year has been yet another very busy and exciting time for the community of Trinity College. We began by acknowledging the efforts of the Class of 2011, many of whom performed exceptionally well, being granted entrance into their preferred course either at university or training institutes.

Calum Braham College Dux for 2011 was awarded the Beazley Medal, which is presented to the top performing academic student in the State. It is the highest profile and most prestigious academic award for secondary students in WA. It is also the first time in the 29 year history of the Beazley Medal that it has been won by a student attending a Catholic school. Calum also received a General Exhibition (awarded to the top 40 eligible students in the State) and a Course Exhibition for Physics (awarded to the highest achiever in the course). Congratulations to Calum and all our other award winners!

Besides Calum, 14 other students – Jon Chung-WahCheong, Joseph Clear, Samuel Cox, Jack Dewsbury, Jordan Ding, Luke Geoghegan, Nicholas Guglielmino, Matthew Hopkins, Ben Massam, Ben Moulton, Matthew Norman, Scott Russo, Leighton Taylor and Ben Turner – received Certificates of Excellence for achieving at least 18 A Grades in course units during Years 11 and 12. Eight students were awarded 11 Certificates of Distinction (for being in the top 0.5% of students in a course in the State): Calum Braham (Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics), Cameron Sivwright (English), Jon ChungWah-Cheong (Mathematics and Physics), Joseph Clear (Mathematics), Jack Dewsbury (Mathematics), Mitchell Boros (Physical Education Studies), Thomas Durkin (Religion & Life), Matthew Norman (Religion & Life).

A total of 19 students were inducted into our elite club for boys achieving an Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) of 97 or better; Jonathon Allen, Calum Braham, Jon Chung-Wah-Cheong, Joseph Clear, Samuel Cox, Jack Dewsbury, Jordan Ding, Thomas Durkin, Jonathan Fiore, Luke Geoghegan, Nicholas Guglielmino, Callum Hart, Michael Hay, Matthew Hopkins, Ben Massam, Matthew Norman, Cameron Sivwright, Mark Wong, Troy Yukich.

Both Calum Braham and Tom Durkin were worthy recipients of the Fogarty Foundation Scholarship for UWA and four students, Conor Devlin, Callum Hart, Zach Picciacacco and Arnold Rodricks, received Curtin University Scholarships

New Staff

Due to staff movement we welcomed a number of new staff for 2012; Alana Brennan (Year 4), Kathryn Down (Campus Ministry), Mary Hickey (Mathematics), Elise Kukulka (English), Bernard Le Tessier (Year 6), Michael Murphy (RE), John Overton (Business & Physical Education), Samantha Pekaar (Education Assistant), Philip Purvis (Mathematics), and Dale Wetherill (Science).

During the year Paul Appleton (Science), Rickie Beatson (Grounds), Sophie Bingham (Reception), Riccardo Carbone (Mathematics), Valentina Carboni (Administration Assistant), David Ceccarelli (Italian), Ioanna Culleton (Psychologist), Shirley Houston (Special Education), Darlene Levett (Education Assistant), Sarah McGorrery (Accounts Receivable), Aoibheann O’Brien (Psychologist), Aimee Somerville (Administration Assistant), Tina Wheatley (Payroll Officer) all joined the staff.

50 Years Celebrations

The year 2012 will be recorded as the year we celebrated our first 50 years on our East Perth campus to honour the past and inspire the future; a year when we have openly acknowledged our history, not only the last 50 years but also the last 118 years. We are the school that we are because we proudly stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before us.

Br Tony Kelly, last Headmaster of CBC Perth and first Headmaster of Trinity College, the man who had the responsibility for moving us from the Terrace to East Perth launched the year and congratulated us on achieving this milestone.

Throughout this year we have invited many past staff and students, especially a number of graduates from the Class of 1962, to speak to our community and to share their memories of Trinity College. Our guests have included Bishop Justin Bianchini (’57), Br John Carrigg, Mr Jack Messer, Mr Tony Curtis (’56), Br Geoff Seamen and past Trinity students including John Burrell (’62), Tim Delaney (’62), John Gasiorowski (’62), Mark ‘Jack’ Johnson (71), Chris Lalor (’62), Ian Lillico (’69), Richard Trend (’69) and Graeme Wishart (’62).

We also honoured the year with three important reunions including one for staff, one for all our past headmasters, and RICKATACKA, a reunion for all past students – these events allowed people to reconnect, and retell and relive past stories.

As well as connecting with the past we initiated a number of icons including our Torch of Learning, our Avenue of Trees and the beautiful Madonna and Child mosaic that adorns the wall in the Junior School undercover area. A time capsule was prepared in 1894 and again in 1962 and we have put together another to give the Trinity College community of 2062 a glimpse of life at Trinity during 2012. Edmund Rice Education Australia

As a school in the Edmund Rice tradition we are proudly part of EREA. Being part of this network of schools allows us to access a number of formation opportunities for staff and students and gives us a connection with schools throughout Australia.

Strong Schools Safe Kids Project

Our partnership with the Child Health Promotion Research Centre at Edith Cowan University has entered into its second year as we continue to evaluate the effectiveness of Trinity’s Pastoral Care Program and build capacity for action in future years. Data collection involved surveying students, staff, and a random selection of parents to determine key priorities for the future, whilst evaluating the progress of Trinity in relation to existing priorities. I am very pleased to say that overall the analysis indicated that our students feel very safe and enjoy being part of this school.

Our Four Pillars

We offer a well-rounded education based proudly on Four Pillars:

1. Faith Based Education

Our Faith Based education has two main components – Religious Education and Catechesis experiences.

Our senior boys continue to study the Curriculum Council Course, Religion & Life, counting towards their ATAR (Australian Tertiary Academic Rank) and Years 7-10 students see a pathway for the Religious Education program leading into Religion & Life 2A/2B, 3A/3B, in Senior School. Our students continue to perform well in the Archbishop’s Religious Literacy examinations. The new Year 7 Making Jesus Real program is an activity based workbook that helps to encourage students to maintain a positive attitude to life within a Christian framework.

Our Catechesis activities – Masses, liturgies, retreats, Quest and Kairos – are enjoyed and well supported by our students.

We gathered together as a full community to celebrate the Eucharist on three separate occasions: our opening school Mass in February, Ash Wednesday and the Feast Day of Blessed Edmund Rice. All of our Year groups regularly gathered together for Mass. As a staff, we commenced and concluded this year with the Eucharist and we thank Fra Oscar for his presence at Trinity and for leading these liturgies. In January a number of our Year 12 students were trained to be Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist and in October we held our Graduation Mass & Ceremony celebrated by Fra Oscar. As a community, we continue to offer the rosary every Wednesday morning.

Our school community continues to be well aware of wider community needs. As always we generously contributed to Caritas through Project Compassion, to the Indian Missions through the Fun Run and Unfair Day, to St Vincent de Paul’s Winter Sleep-out, Christmas Appeal hampers and

Headmaster’s Report

Brother Olly Pickett congratulates Ivan Banks on a job well done as College staff volunteer to assist at Ollie Pickett’s Wheelchairs for Kids

Quest Retreat canned food collection, and the Edmund Rice ministries in Timor Leste. Year 11 students have been especially community minded with Zachary Rhodes raising over $10,000 for cancer research in the Ride for a Cure event and Charlie Nicolay and Josh Galvin raising $4000 for cancer research in Shave for a Cure.

Our Retreat program provides opportunities for our students to explore their personal spirituality and gives our senior students a chance to provide leadership to their peers and younger students. This is especially evident in the Kairos and Quest retreats. The Year 7 Becoming Brothers Retreat is supported by 28 Year 12 Senior Ministers who mentor a group of Year 7 students throughout the entire year.

Our Christian Service Learning program is without peer, with our students providing service in a variety of different contexts. The Senior Project, which is a contribution to Christian Service made up of at least 40 hours, was completed by 53 students with outstanding contribution from Alex Di Bucci, Timothy Hadwen, Sean Mariotti (300hr), John Paul Mondelo, Hugh Pilgrim, Henry Prior (320hr), Jordan Randazzo, Jacob Rees (364hr), Charles Roberts (312hr), William Sanders and Rowan Withers (360hr). One notable achievement was Stephen Loughnan who completed 100 hours at one placement, an aged care hostel. Our senior boys and staff are fully committed to the Red Cross Soup Patrol, Br Olly Pickett’s Wheelchairs for Kids, the Indigenous After-School Program at the Edmund Rice Centre in Mirrabooka and visits to elderly residents of aged care facilities.

Our Year 11 program asks our students to give five days of their time in service to a variety of community organisations. This year this involved 179 students placed at 83 agencies for four days. Many boys were highly commended for their efforts by the agencies they were placed with. Our Year 10 Experience Counts program involves 12 aged care hostels hosting Year 10 students every Friday afternoon when they are involved in activities such as serving food and dancing with elderly ladies at Happy Hour, calling and playing bingo, playing carpet bowls and chatting to elderly residents about their life experiences

Our Year 9 Restoring Relationships program has Year 9 students visiting five primary schools for three weeks, one morning a week, listening to children read and helping out with spelling programs or serving breakfast before school

Our Year 8 Our Neighbour program has all Year 8 students completing a program on Christian Service for three weeks in RE classes and then giving 15 hours of service in their home, local community, parish or school.

Our Year 7 Serving to Belong program asks all Year 7 students to participate in the Sustain Our Swan program, raising their awareness of the need to care for our environment, and then complete an activity based on the traditions of service embedded in Trinity College life.

Our Year 5 students visited the Lincoln Park aged care facility on many occasions.

A new program this year was the Staff Christian Service Day when we had 155 staff placed in 52 agencies, giving all staff a greater appreciation of the reason why Christian Service is so important at Trinity College.

I thank those staff who teach Religious Education or who lead the Catechetical experiences. To share publicly one’s own faith and spirituality is often very difficult and as a school we are blessed with a group of staff who take this responsibility seriously.

2. Academic Education

At Trinity we strive to provide the highest level of teaching and learning that we can. Whether in Year 4 or Year 12 our teachers are dedicated to each student realising his potential. Our students have performed well in both the NAPLAN and the WAMSE tests, with our results being consistently above the State and national averages. We supplement our academic program by entering students in a variety of state, national and international competitions.

Aside from the prescribed curriculum, our students compete in a variety of local, national and international competitions. Congratulations are extended to:

Shaun Almeida (9.6), High Distinction, Australian Mathematics Competition Jack Biasin (8.1) 3rd Place for Year 8 State Philosothon Matthew Bray (7.7), High Distinction, Australian Mathematics Competition

Samuel Carbone (8.5), Distinction, Australian Mathematics Challenge Thomas Coltrona (11.5) 1st Place for Year 11 State Philosothon Nathan Demarte (12.2), Curtin Business School ‘Excelerate’ Program Joshua De Souza (9.1), High Distinction, Australian Mathematics Challenge Callum Dewsbury (9.6), High Distinction, Australian Mathematics Challenge Yiming Dong (9.6), High Distinction, Australian Mathematics Competition Yiming Dong (9.6), High Distinction, Australian Mathematics Challenge Yiming Dong (9.6), Merit Award Maths Junior Olympiad Matthew Fynn (7.4), Distinction, Australian Mathematics Challenge Joshua Galvin (11.3), High Distinction, Australian Mathematics Competition Jack Kay (10.2), High Distinction, Australian Mathematics Competition Thomas Leishman (8.5), Best 3D Artwork (Year 8) Angelico Art Exhibition Henry Malkovic (8.3), Distinction, Australian Mathematics Challenge Alexander Michelon (9.6), Distinction, Australian Mathematics Challenge Trong Nguyen (8.7), Distinction, Australian Mathematics Challenge Kane Ottobrino (8.2), Distinction, Australian Mathematics Challenge Oscar Pecorari (8.5), Distinction, Australian Mathematics Challenge Christian Phang (12.7), High Distinction, Australian Mathematics Competition Darcy Port (9.6), Distinction, Australian Mathematics Challenge Henry Prior (12.1), Curtin Business School ‘Excelerate’ Program Thomas Rowney (8.1), High Distinction, Australian Mathematics Competition Sheldon Russell (11.3), National Mathematics Summer School (Jan 2013), including Larry Blakers Scholarship for the top student from WA Daniel Salleo (11.5), High Distinction, Australian Mathematics Competition Thomas Salleo (9.3), Distinction, Australian Mathematics Challenge Ryan Soares (11.7), Winner Gemini Observatory Imaging Competition Nathan Sparks (9.5), High Distinction, Australian Mathematics Competition William Starkie (7.2), Prize Winner, Australian Mathematics Competition Nicholas Sumich (8.6), High Distinction, Australian Mathematics Competition Nicholas Thorne (7.4), High Distinction, Australian Mathematics Challenge Isaac Ward (10.5), High Distinction, Australian Mathematics Challenge Isaac Ward (10.5), High Distinction, Australian Mathematics Competition Brandon Willington (12.4), Curtin Business School ‘Excelerate’ Program Julian Ye (8.3), Distinction, Australian Mathematics Challenge Shaun Zhu (10.3), High Distinction, Australian Mathematics Competition Thomas Leishman (8.5), Best 3D Artwork (Year 8) Angelico Art Exhibition

Brayden Keizer (10.2) represented Trinity at the Sir Charles Court Young Leaders Program in the July holidays and Tom Coltrona (11.5), John Paul Mondello (12.7), Blake D’Souza (11.2) and Jeremy Ciccarelli (12.3) made the final of the Evatt Competition in May. Two students, Blake D’Souza (11.2) and Zen Vakil (11.4), were selected to attend the National Youth Science Forum, with Blake also being one of only two students Australia-wide to be invited to the United Space School in Houston. Thomas Lyons (9.3) was our best performer at the CO2 Model Dragster State Championships. Harry Price (11.1) and Joseph Caspersz-Loney (11.7) were selected to be part of the UWA smARTS program, a program where participants discuss and develop ideas on topics of contemporary cultural relevance.

A number of our Years 8 and 9 students enjoyed the Young Writers Day, while the Year 12 English students viewed a live performance of The Crucible. The visit of renowned author Morris Gleitzman was a highlight for our Year 7 students.

Information Technology This year saw the continuation of our laptop program with students in Years 7, 8, 10 and 11 having their own laptop, as well as iPads being introduced to Years 4 and 5. The aim of this program was to ensure that staff and students have access to reliable and stable technology and the students were presented with much of the traditional curriculum in an electronic format.

Headmaster’s Report

The PL Duffy Library Resource Centre The library continues to be a hub of learning and activity. Boys gravitate to this venue, not only for the books and resources, but also for chess and other games and the technology available. The library staff provides wonderful support for all the students; again this year they held the Br Gerry Faulkner Short Story Competition.

3. Cultural

Providing opportunities for students to be involved in areas such as music, art, dance and drama is a priority at Trinity. Through both the formal curriculum and optional activities the boys can develop skill in these areas. Many of these activities have a performance base and our students have been part of school based concerts, the Catholic Schools Preforming Arts Festival and many others.

The concert at the Quarry Amphitheatre, along with the Junior School, Middle School and Senior School concert nights, were well attended with a wonderful standard of entertainment provided.

This year, a new program was the development of an Indigenous music group and an Indigenous dance group. These boys, who as part of our larger Indigenous Education program, have made significant contribution to the life of Trinity College, gave a highly acclaimed performance at this year’s Presentation Night.

This year the Art Department held not only exhibitions of our own students’ work but invited Julie Silvestri to display her work for our students and community to enjoy. The Art Department was instrumental in ensuring the completion of the beautiful Madonna and Child mosaic, which was unveiled as part of our 50 years celebrations.

Junior School Almost all of our Junior School boys participated in the Catholic Schools Performing Arts Festival and it is pleasing to report that many of the Junior School choirs received Honourable Mentions. A number of other students competing in individual events also performed particularly well.

Senior School The Zenith Award is presented to the Metropolitan Catholic Secondary school that is judged to have performed best at the Catholic Schools Performing Arts Festival. In 2012, Trinity College received this award for a record ninth consecutive year. Congratulations are also extended to the Trinity/Mercedes Chorale for being awarded the Loreto Sisters Award – Choral Ensemble/Choirs, Trinity/Mercedes Wind Orchestra for the University of Notre Dame Award – Secondary Concert Band, Trinity College Swing Band for the Christian Brothers Award-Jazz Bands, Three Hands One Hoof for the Knights of the Southern Cross Award – Rock Bands, Trinity Senior Chorale for the Therese Temby Award – Secondary Sacred Choral Music, Matthew Dixon (12.3) and Emma Oorschot for the Sisters of St John of God Award – Secondary Vocal Duet, and Max Benson (11.7) for The Chapman Scholarship (Strings).

Many of our students or groups are asked to perform at significant community events, where they continue to make us proud.

4. Sport

Sport is an important aspect of the education of young men. Through sport they have an opportunity to learn more about themselves and others. They learn to develop resilience in defeat and humility in victory. We have a clearly stated philosophy that every student must play a summer and winter sport for Trinity and I believe that it is this commitment to their fellow students that assists in developing the Trinity Spirit for which we are renowned.

Success in sport should never be measured in terms of silverware in the trophy cabinet. Rather, it is the participation and enjoyment of each student that speaks of the success of our sports program.

Junior School Our Junior School boys are fully involved with PSA swimming, cross-country and athletics carnivals, as well as the usual summer and winter sports. Our boys were also involved in the WA Junior Triathlon and a new Fundamental Movement Program introduced this year.

Senior School At assemblies I was pleased to acknowledge the students who represented Trinity at various sports and to be presented with the Lawe Davies Cup (Soccer), and Hamer Cup (All Crews at the Head of the River).

Congratulations to those students who found recognition through sport at the elite levels especially to Daniel Bendotti (State 16s Volleyball), Alessandro Birighitti (Under 14 AFC), Michael Braut (State Water Polo), Nic Brown (State Swimming Team), Nicholas Butler (State 17s Volleyball), Anthony Carbone (State Kayak), Bailey Cole (State 16s Basketball), Antoni D’Alesio (Under 14 AFC), Harrison Davey (State Sailing), James Dawson (State Sailing), Jamie Drewett (State Swimming Team), Brennan Edwards (State Kayak), Nicholas Fabriziani (State 17s Volleyball), Jayden Gerrand (State Indigenous Football Team), Angus Gillespie (Under 16 Region Rugby Union Team), Nixon Hamlet (State Athletics), Mitchell Hampson (State 16s Basketball), Hudson Herron (Australian Institute of Sport, Soccer), Shayne Hille (Vice-Captain, State 16s Football), Louis Jago (National AFL umpire), Brayden Keizer (State 16s Volleyball), Simeon Leatherland (State Little Athletics), Joseph Marino (Under 14 AFC), Jayden Marciano (State Swimming Team), Liam Martin (State 12s Football), Keenan Meade (Under 16 Region Rugby Union

Team), Ben Pellizzari (U13 State Soccer), Callum Radecki (State 15s Football), Harris Regan (State 15s Football), Thomas Rigoll (State Water Polo), Marco Santalucia (State Schoolboys Soccer), Bill Smith (State Swimming Team), Mack Spiers (Australian Team Taekwondo), Callan Starr (State Wakeboarding), Michael Storer (SSWA Triathlon Team), Tim Throssell (State Athletics Team), Michael Waller (Junior Surf State Competition), Kieren Webster (State Ice Hockey), Josh Zekulich (UWA Torpedoes, National Water Polo), Allistar Yarran (State Indigenous Football Team).

A number of Old Boys continue to follow their sporting dream and are involved in sport to a very high level.

Other important areas of the life of Trinity College Year 12 Activities

The year started with a series of Year 12 seminars that looked at scaling, study techniques and workplace related information. The ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ theme was brought to life at the Ball through countless hours of parent dedication to making breathtaking decorations. Our students and their partners were certainly impressed. On Graduation Day the morning commenced with a breakfast and final assembly followed in the evening by the Graduation Mass & Dinner. These graduation events honour the conclusion of our Year 12 students’ secondary schooling.

Student Leadership

As a Year group, the 2012 Year 12s showed great leadership. Whether the boys were Prefect, Year 7 Senior Minister, member of Cadre for the Year 8 Quest Retreat, Kairos leader or one of the unprecedented number of boys to complete their senior project, they donated hundreds of hours of community service and provided wonderful role models for the younger students. Jordan Randazzo (Head Prefect) and Jeremy Ciccarelli (Deputy Head Prefect) provided exemplary leadership for the prefects and the wider school community. Jordan Randazzo, enjoyed the EREA Captains Conference held in Brisbane at the beginning of the year. We also sent the prefects to the Student Impact Leadership Conference.

Year 11 Activities

The Christian Service Program is the main focus for Year 11s and this year they committed an extraordinary amount of hours, not just to their assigned Christian Service project, but also to many other projects both inside and outside the Trinity College community. Highlights for the boys were two social events, the river cruise with Mercedes in March and the social in Term 3 in Gibney Hall organised by the Year 11 Councillors, the proceeds of which were donated to the Cancer Council Year 10 Activities

The Personal Development & Wellbeing program was enjoyed by the students. This Friday afternoon program allows the boys to do the Keys for Life (learner driver theory component), Christian Service, Careers Information, IT and Mental Health. The Careers Carousel exploring fields from medicine to construction was well received. I know that the combined social with Mercedes College with the theme ‘Haunted House’ was enjoyed by the students and they were pleased that the roll-out of laptops had reached their Year group. The Year 10s involvement as ‘Roadies’ for the Quest Retreat is always a valuable service to Trinity, as is their participation in their Encounter Retreat.

Year 9 Activities

The traditional ballroom dancing lessons with Mercedes College, culminating with the final ‘Rock around the Clock’ social, is always an important event in the Year 9 calendar. On October 24 students attended the Realising Your Potential camp at Camp Kelly for a set of activities and seminars with a focus on challenging individuals physically, mentally and spiritually. The students enjoyed their first experience of contributing time to Trinity’s Christian Service Program with time spent at both Embleton and Bentley Primary schools, and they also enjoyed their Galilee Retreat.

Year 8 Activities

The Quest Retreat continues the work that began in 2011 as part of the Faith Formation program and induction into the traditions and expectations of being a Trinity College student. Supported by the Year 11 Peer Ministers and the senior girls from Mercedes, this retreat gave the Year 8 students an opportunity to explore their relationship with God. They were involved in three very significant events that remind them of their connection to the wider community. The first, Grandparent’s Day in May, gave them an opportunity to show their grandparents around and host morning tea for them. The second, the inaugural Year 8 Father-Son camp, saw fathers and sons from the Year 8 cohort spending the weekend at Trinity College. The third was their commitment to raising funds for Brother Ollie’ s Wheelchairs for Kids. Brother Ollie visited Trinity to talk to the Year group and was presented with a cheque from the Year 8 boys.

Year 7 Activities

Although the majority of our Year 7s were new to Trinity College they quickly settled in to the routine of secondary school. In Term 1 the Becoming Brothers Retreat was a highlight, as were the Term 1 BBQ and Term 3 Social, both with Mercedes College. Our Year 7 students learned to embrace a new wave of technology in the classroom, peering into the world of electronic curriculum as they embraced the one-to-one laptop program.

Headmaster’s Report

Junior School

I feel confident that our Year 5s who went to Waroona and Year 6s who went to Kalgoorlie and Dwellingup (Leadership Camp), will remember these activities for many years to come. Our congratulations should be extended to our Junior School Chess teams who performed very well in this year’s carnivals. New initiatives, including the Astronomy Camp, Positive Thinking Program, the Garden Club and the Nude Food Program have captured the students’ imagination. The Gifted & Talented program continued with the Evening of Eminence and congratulations must go to the students who achieved first place in the WA da Vinci Competition.

Education Support through the Mary Rice Learning Centre

The Mary Rice Learning Centre, named in honour of Blessed Edmund Rice’s daughter, is a learning centre where students can be challenged to extend themselves and achieve their best. In 2012 their programs included the Year 8 Future Problem Solving Elective, Hale School Philosothon, QuickSmart numeracy, Cert II Business, Sound Way Literacy, Nu Lit and a new listening program for students with auditory processing issues. The senior boys also run a recycling program through Cert II Business. The staff assisted a number of students with organisation and behaviour issues, supervised exams and worked closely with teachers in classrooms. Learning support is always flexible, appropriate and directed towards our students achieving their best.

Careers

While attending to all the usual career education activities, staff members have concentrated this year on assisting students to identify their strengths and develop lifelong learning habits. Students continued to participate in Career Carousels, Personal Development & Wellbeing classes, UMAT preparation seminars, university life and scholarship seminars and enjoyed personal interviews. Parents and Old Boys have also been valuable partners in this process and their assistance has been appreciated.

Vocational Education and Training

Not every student desires to further his study at university and for many secondary school will lead into traineeships, apprenticeships or study at one of the training Institutes. This year 103 students were supported in this aim with an opportunity to do Certificate I and II in a variety of areas. As a school we offer seven certificate courses for our students to access. This year we had 28 students blending school work with workplace learning and four students were involved in traineeships. Indigenous Education

The Indigenous Program at Trinity College is continuing its strong commitment to the engagement of the students in their education. With the implementation of Personalised Learning Plans for our Indigenous students we are hoping that this enables our boys to achieve their goals for the future. Our Mooditj Dance Theatre and Didge Boys are proving to be a great success, with the boys being given many opportunities to perform in our local community. Our NAIDOC Assembly was particularly successful due to the talent of our didge and dance groups and the fact that the whole assembly was run by our Indigenous students. Our guest speaker was Old Boy, Mark (Jack) Johnson (’71). Our boys enjoyed the Indigenous Literacy Day at the WA Museum. One of our Year 12 students, Brodie Hunter, was awarded a trip to the University of New South Wales (UNSW) to attend an induction program for law applicants. Another Year 11 student Frank Mannel went to The Australian Defence Force (ADF) Indigenous Study Tour as he has aspirations to become an army officer.

Astronomy

The observatory, which is at the heart of our Astronomy program, is still very popular. This year our students launched a helium-filled balloon, which ascended to nearly 35km and took photos of WA. The payload was equipped with Arduino based data loggers measuring temperature pressure and background radiation. Despite poor weather conditions Astronomy students observed the transit of Venus and 16 students travelled to Cairns to observe the total solar eclipse of the sun.

Parent Involvement

The level of parent involvement is a hallmark of the Trinity community. The Auxiliary and Council provide a wonderful service to the wider Trinity College community, as do all the ‘Friends of …’ groups, and the Parent Ball is still the hottest ticket in town.

This year, we have worked hard to further strengthen our community spirit, with the new role of Community Coordinator being filled by Mrs Julie Fazey. Parent groups have been formed within the different Year groups and events such as casual dinners for mums, outdoor movie evenings for families and parent sundowners have been well attended. In addition, a group of Year 9 students and their fathers undertook a morning of community service at the Waterford Playing Fields and father/son camps were held for students in both Years 7 and 8. Morning tea for parents has been provided following each Year group mass throughout the year and a group of parents have provided meals for those in our Trinity College community who might be in need of support through illness or bereavement. These groups and events have served to give parents and students alike the opportunity to further embrace being a part of the Trinity community, and I thank those who have supported our efforts.

Old Boys

Trinity College enjoys a most rewarding relationship with TOBA. The Old Boys have been significant in providing an additional scholarship to the secondary school and the continuation of their monthly Junior School award for displaying School Spirit is also greatly appreciated. Events like the Golf Day, the Sportsmen’s Lunch, Brendan Ryan Cup for winter sports, the inaugural Summer Sports Day and the many reunions have kept Old Boys connected with their Alma Mater. Many Old Boys thoroughly enjoyed the presentation from Tony Curtis (’56) entitled ‘On the Shoulders of Giants’ and we were specially privileged to have Bishop Justin Bianchini (’57) to celebrate Trinity Sunday Mass with us. RICKATACKA (the 50 Years TOBA reunion) was well supported. The gift of Honour Boards listing those Old Boys who have made the ultimate sacrifice was an inspirational gift and these have been hung in the Trinity College Chapel. This year saw two interstate reunions, one in Melbourne and one in Sydney.

The Golden Heritage Club for those students who left Trinity more than 50 years ago continues to be well supported. I know that our current Year 12 students appreciated being part of their Term 1 Mass, and the Year 6 students enjoyed interviewing the club members and hearing the stories about school in ‘the old days’.

Facilities

Following the extensive building program that has occurred over the last few years, 2012 has been a relatively quiet year. However, many minor projects from our Capital Development Plan were completed, including a complete refurbishment of the chemistry laboratory, refurbishment of the gym floor, removal of the Junior School resource building and replacement with a new climbing frame, new paving and foursquare courts in the Junior School, and removal of one of our demountable classrooms. The proceeds of last year’s fair allowed us to construct a new canopy in our front forecourt and the Auxiliary provided considerable seating for this area.

At Dwellingup we installed new shade areas and seating near the main dining room and began work to extend the oval.

Thank you to the Clergy

My thanks are extended to Archbishop Hickey. We are truly blessed to have had an Archbishop who gave so generously of his time to Trinity College and we take this opportunity to wish him well in his retirement. In September we welcomed Archbishop Costelloe to Trinity College and we feel confident that we will share a similar relationship with him. I also thank Fra Oscar Aguilera who, as our College Chaplain, makes himself available for Masses, sacramental programs and retreats and his support and presence are greatly appreciated. Thank you to our parents

Trinity College can be very proud of its parental involvement. It is a credit to the College that we are blessed with a group of parents who believe that the education of their sons deserves their involvement. The value of having such extensive support from a large number of parents must never be underestimated. Many of you take on the additional burden of leadership within your groups and I thank you for the extra time and energy that this involves.

Thank you to our staff

Trinity College is blessed with an extraordinary staff. I am constantly in awe of the number of opportunities that our staff members are prepared to initiate and undertake for our students. Many of these opportunities occur during weekends and over the holidays when our staff would usually be with their own families. We must never take their efforts and dedication for granted. I thank the staff for their unending generosity and professionalism.

Farewell

Each year we say farewell to a number of staff who begin a new chapter of their life. As well as saying goodbye to Mrs Harris Allan, Mr Paul Appleton, Mrs Ruth Bott, Mr John Taylor and Ms Maria White at the end of this year, we have said a fond farewell during the year to Mrs Wanda Armenti, Mr Lal Bisnath, Mrs Susan Grant, Ms Mairead Healy, Ms Darlene Levett, Miss Sarah McGorrery, Mr Paul Merrin, Mr Philip Purvis, Miss Sharon Ralph, Mrs Lorraine Rowbottom, Ms Joanne Sullivan, Mr Drew Thompson, Miss Hannah Thornes and Mr Dale Wetherill.

Conclusion

As 2012 draws to a close, we can look back on another busy and productive year, one where students have been encouraged to realise their potential. I fervently pray that we continue to work together – clergy, parents, staff and students – to provide the best education for every student in our care. I firmly believe that we are well placed to continue to provide a first class authentic Catholic education for the students of Trinity College.