Humanities

This year, the Society & Environment learning area was renamed Humanities, to reflect changes that have occurred Australia-wide with the implementation of the national curriculum. The Humanities learning area takes in the disciplines of Accounting & Finance, Politics & Law, Modern History, Geography and Economics. In Years 7–10, it also includes the subjects, Civics & Citizenship and Economics & Business. At Trinity College, the Humanities teaching staff have been very proactive in rolling out the implementation of this new curriculum. We are lucky to have staff who have been actively involved in the writing and reviewing of curriculum for either the School Curriculum and Standards Authority (SCSA) or specific subject professional associations. Full reporting across all Humanities subjects will be required against national curricula criteria in 2017.

I thank Mr Anthony Lunt for leading the department in Term 1 when I was on long service leave. In my absence, the learning area was in safe hands with Mr Brian MacGabhann stepping up as Assistant Head of Learning for the term. This year we welcomed Mr Dustin Aylmore and Mr Paul Bolton to the department who brought with them fresh ideas and perspectives on how we approach the delivery of our curricula. They quickly established themselves as professionals who have their guiding ideal being what is best for their students.

In terms of student achievements, the results of our Geography students in the 2014 WACE were the best they have been in my nine years at the College. I congratulate Mr Chris Morris on this achievement and recognise the hard work he has put in to develop the Geography program in the senior years at the College. The strength of this program was also reflected in the results of our students who participated in the Australian Geography Competition. Trinity College finished in the top five

Mr Chris Allanson (’91) Head of Humanities

Students study the effects of a bushfire on the environment. From left, Max Nicolay, Lachlan Hogg and Callum Lovegrove

John Button talk – from left Tom Newman, Nathan Mullally, John Button, Stratos Sarris, Jack Hansen, Conor Mackie, Sonia Scordo

Year 8 Farming excursion to Bindoon Catholic Agricultural College

Farming excursion to Bindoon

schools in Western Australia. Out of the 77 students who competed on the day the College was awarded 22 High Distinctions for those students who finished in the top 20% in Australia. Twenty four Distinctions were awarded to those students in the top 35% in Australia. Special mention must go to Lachlan Harders (12.6) who was awarded a High Distinction in the senior division, being placed within the top 1% across Australia. Lachlan answered an impressive 32 questions correctly out of 34. I also congratulate all other Year 12 teachers for the successful results achieved in the 2014 WACE. This success comes about due to the quality teaching and learning programs that commence in the Middle School.

In terms of learning outside the classroom setting, there have been numerous excursions where students have been able to interact. Year 7 students participated in the study of wetland environments at the Canning River Environmental Education Centre. Year 8 students spent a day at the Catholic Agricultural School in Bindoon as part of their study of farming. Year 9 students visited Fremantle Prison as part of their study of Colonial History as well as the Sir Francis Burt Law Centre where the boys took part in a mock trial as well as watching a real life case. Politics & Law students attended a symposium hosted at Notre Dame University where they heard from speakers such as the Hon Fred Chaney AO and Dr Martin Drum.

In February, Year 12 student, James Heald (12.2), represented Western Australia at the National Schools’ Constitutional Convention at Parliament House in Canberra. Accounting & Finance students attended a Chartered Accountants Meet the Business Leader event designed to inspire the next group of business leaders in Western Australia. A number of Year 12 Economics students attended the Chamber of Commerce and Industries Student Convention where they were involved with activities as well as a presentation by their Chief Economist to assist with their studies. Geography students attended numerous excursions including an urban town planning walking tour of the Perth CBD and surrounding suburbs, a climate change impacts seminar at the City of Mandurah and a study of the effects of bushfires at the Perth Hills Discovery Centre in Mundaring. Politics students visited Parliament House and attended the Schools Western Australian Constitutional Convention at the Constitutional Centre in West Perth.

Farming excursion to Bindoon

Visitors to the College this year included the Federal Justice Minister and Old Boy Michael Keenan (’89) who spoke to the Politics & Law students about his role as a Federal Minister. Old Boy Oliver Marion (’00) from Price Waterhouse spoke to Accounting & Finance students about the job opportunities that the study of Accounting & Finance may bring.

Towards the end of the year, year 12 Humanities teachers have also been able to visit classes in the Junior School to deliver particular lessons on their topics of expertise. This has been beneficial for the staff who face the challenge of keeping a large group of younger students engaged with a topic that they would normally deliver to older students. It also exposes the younger students to staff they will encounter in the years ahead.

Finally, I thank the wonderfully hardworking Humanities staff who go out of their way to deliver high quality and engaging lessons to our students. I am looking forward to another successful academic year in 2016.

Mr Chris Allanson (’91) Head of Humanities