In alignment with the Victorian Ministerial Order 1359, and our Diocese of Ballarat Catholic Education Limited (DOBCEL) governing policies and procedures, we uphold rigorous child safety policies and practices designed to foster a culture of transparency, accountability, and proactive intervention.

All Trinity College staff, volunteers, external providers and contractors, clergy and members of our School Advisory Council are bound by the Trinity College Colac Safeguarding Children and Young People Code of Conduct. The Code of Conduct has a specific focus on safeguarding children and young people from sexual, physical, psychological, and emotional abuse or neglect.

The Code of Conduct commits members of our school community involved in child-connected work to acceptable behaviours that support and promote the safety of children and clearly identifies unacceptable behaviours.

You can view the Trinity College Colac Safeguarding Children and Young People Code of Conduct here and our Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy here . Other policies and information regarding Child Safety at Trinity College Colac can be viewed on our website: www.tcc.vic.edu.au

Our appointed Trinity College Child Safety Officers are Rachel McGennisken and Natalie Holt. Please reach out to Rachel or Natalie with any questions or concerns you may have about child safety at TCC.

Trinity College Colac Child Safety Team 2025

We thank you for your continued trust and partnership in our shared commitment to prioritising the safety and wellbeing of our students.

As announced late last year, Emma Scott has been named the College Dux for 2024. With an impressive ATAR score of 97.60, she has demonstrated that with dedication and commitment, outstanding results are within reach. Unfortunately, Emma was unable to attend the Presentation Assembly, but she prepared a heartfelt message that was read by our Year 12 Coordinator, Mrs. Jade Elborough, in her absence. In her message, Emma expressed gratitude and spoke highly of the many staff members who have supported and guided her throughout her time at Trinity College. She ended her speech with an inspiring message for the students. Read her speech below:

The VCE VM Excellence Award recipient, Emily Lenehan, was acknowledged for her outstanding achievement. Matilda (Year 11), Levi (Year 11), Remy (Year 10), and Thomas (Year 10) each received a Subject Excellence Award for their remarkable academic accomplishments.

In addition, several Special Awards were presented to the following students:

Each year level was represented by a deserving student who was recognized with the Trinity Difference Award. Congratulations to Carter (Year 7), Harrison (Year 8), Kieley (Year 9), Edward (Year 10), Charly (Year 11), and Amber Cain (Year 12) for receiving this award. Guest speaker Luca Brown from the Class of 2014 spokes about his experience at Trinity College before our special visitors were invited to join staff for morning tea.

Thank you to our remarkable graduates, our guests and our students for highlighting the Trinity difference and inspiring everyone to give it their best this year!

For parents and carers who are new to Trinity College, Behaviours for Learning is an evidence-based program showing that students who enter a classroom in an orderly manner, are greeted warmly by their teacher and feel welcomed to their learning space, will perform well.

There are FIVE pillars to Behaviours for Learning. Each pillar ensures that the classrooms at Trinity College are places of learning where the high expectations of our students are met. Each Year 7 to 10 classroom, including all electives, has a visual guide for staff and students to refer to. The guide clearly states the expectations of the program. Below is a brief outline of each of the pillars and how they work in their respective year groups.

Line up - Students line up prior to every lesson. There will be a dedicated point where the students stand (a circle marked on the carpet) and arrows pointing in the direction the students are to line up.

Have equipment and be prepared for learning – Students have the responsibility of ensuring they have the required equipment for the lesson. This allows learning to start immediately.

Seating plan – Seating plans are class specific and where required, subject specific. A seating plan ensures that the classroom is a place where students feel safe, supported and most importantly they can learn in a calm space.

Exit lanyards – In place of the classroom teacher signing a diary for a student to exit the classroom, there will be colour coded lanyards for scenarios on exiting the classroom.

Departure expectations – All students exit the classroom at the end of each lesson. This is the “reset” time for a brief toilet break or a drink of water. Each class will then line up in preparation for the next lesson.

Arrival expectations - Students wait in the corridor prior to every lesson. There will be time for students to go to the bathroom, collect something from their locker or get a drink.

Have equipment and be prepared for learning – Students have the responsibility of ensuring they have the required equipment for the lesson. This allows learning to start immediately.

Seating conditions – Unlike the junior school, there is not a set seating plan for Year 10. However, the seating plan is at the teacher’s discretion and therefore is class specific.

Exit lanyards – In place of the classroom teacher signing a diary for a student to exit the classroom, there will be colour coded lanyards for scenarios on exiting the classroom.

Departure expectations – All students ensure that the classroom is neat, all rubbish picked up and exit the classroom in an orderly manner at the end of each lesson. This is the “reset” time for a brief toilet break or a drink of water. Each class will then wait outside their designated room in preparation for the next lesson.

Why Behaviours for Learning?

The benefits of implementing a program like Behaviours for Learning are based on the high expectations that we set here at Trinity College. If a classroom is a calm space, learning can occur. This means improved student engagement within the classroom, leading to improved outcomes within the curriculum.

As Head of Students, I look forward to working with the community to ensure that the success we had in 2024 with Behaviours for Learning is continued into 2025, and that the outcomes are positive for all in the Trinity Community.

Mr Matt Rathgeber
Head of Students

Changes to Reporting Processes at Trinity College

Based on feedback from parents and staff, we have updated our reporting processes for 2025. Moving forward, the Trinity Difference Skills, Character, and Knowledge will now be reported against a frequency scale, with an example shown below. Previously, all Learning Areas were assessed against the same six Trinity Difference aspects, however each Learning Area emphasises different skills and character values. For example, the skill of "safe and appropriate use of equipment" is essential in Science and Technologies, while "demonstrating creativity" is most relevant in The Arts. As a result of these updates, each Learning Area will now report on the skills and character values that are most important and relevant to their specific subjects. These changes will take effect with the Mid-Semester reports, which will be distributed early in Term 2.

Strengthening Student Learning Through Homework

At Trinity College, we view homework as a vital part of a student's learning journey. Our updated homework program has been carefully designed to deepen understanding, build essential skills, and support academic growth.

But why is homework so important?

Research underscores the significant benefits of homework for secondary students, linking it to higher academic performance and greater success on standardised assessments. On average, homework contributes an additional five months' worth of learning. Beyond academics, homework also fosters essential life skills, such as:

Additionally, feedback from our community last year highlighted the importance of homework:

As a school, we uphold high expectations to promote a culture of excellence, responsibility and accountability.

Benefits Beyond the Classroom

Homework provides an opportunity for students to revisit and reinforce what they have learnt in class. It also ensures that skills and knowledge are consolidated into long-term memory, helping students succeed not just in school, but in life. We also acknowledge the need to balance homework with other commitments, such as extracurricular activities and personal wellbeing. Our structured timeframes ensure that students can achieve this balance while still reaping the benefits of consistent study.

Our Commitment to Supporting Students

To ensure that homework meaningful and accessible for all, we have implemented several initiatives:

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about our homework program, please reach to your child's teacher or Homeroom mentor.

Mrs Kate Geary and Mrs Karen A Hart
Directors of Learning

Mrs Jane Hawker
Learning Area Leader: HPE & Sports Coordinator

Monday 10 February

Swimming Trials - Cobden Swimming Pool

Friday 21 February

House Swimming - Camperdown Swimming Pool

Wednesday 5 March

Greater Western Intermediate Cricket and Tennis - Ballarat

Friday 7 March

Coastal Swimming - Bluewater

Wednesday 26 March

Greater Western Swimming - Horsham

Tuesday 1 April

House Athletics - Trinity College

'Come and Try' session - Wednesday 12 February 2025

Join the Regional Institute of Sport for a weekly session designed to improve your speed and agility for sport. Speed is a specific skill that is a game changer in most sports, particularly team sports. It's a skill that requires specific training! Our program will improve your acceleration, running technique, top end speed and agility to help you take your game to new levels. Train with the team that has helped prepare many of the regions elite athletes that have included 2024 AFL Essendon FC draftee Rhys Unwin. You will benefit from the use of technology that is used in the world of elite sport such as VALD timing gates and jump mats to optimise your results. The RIS team are a group of highly qualified and experienced health and performance professionals, whose aim is to optimise your potential. There are no comparable programs to this on offer in Colac and it's perfect for students of all year levels. If you are keen to excel in sport, see you next Wednesday at the Trinity College track at 3.30pm (In the case of rain, we will train in the basketball stadium). Bring a water bottle, hat and your PE uniform (or suitable clothing to train in).

Throughout the year, our school newsletter will feature practical tips and valuable resources to support your child's wellbeing. We’re also excited to introduce SchoolTV, an excellent online platform offering a wealth of wellbeing information that you can access anytime.

Our highly qualified and experienced team is here to support students and families throughout their journey at Trinity College. If you’d like to get in touch, you can contact the school directly or email wellbeing@tcc.vic.edu.au .

Starting a new year of high school is an exciting yet sometimes overwhelming transition. Here are some practical tips to support your child’s wellbeing as they settle into the new school year:

✅ Establish a Routine – Help your child create a consistent schedule for sleep, homework, and relaxation to maintain balance.

✅ Encourage Open Communication – Check in regularly with your child about their experiences, friendships, and any challenges they may be facing.

✅ Support Independence – Encourage your child to take responsibility for their schoolwork, time management, and problem-solving.

✅ Stay Connected with the School – Keep up to date with school communications, attend parent events, and reach out to teachers or wellbeing staff if needed.

✅ Prioritise Healthy Habits – Ensure your child eats nutritious meals, stays active, and practices good sleep hygiene for overall wellbeing.

✅ Help Manage Stress – Teach your child relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing, mindfulness, or engaging in hobbies they enjoy.

By fostering a supportive environment at home, you can help your child navigate the transition smoothly and confidently.

Click the below to find out more:

Survival tips for high school | Trinity College - Colac

We look forward to supporting you and your child throughout the year. Stay tuned for more wellbeing resources and tips in upcoming newsletters!

Trinity College Colac Wellbeing: Nurturing Minds, Supporting Growth

Available for all students is:
* Paper recycling (blue) bins in every classroom and in every year level wing foyer.
* Mixed recycling (yellow) bins in the foyer/corridor of every year level building.
* Container Deposit Scheme (black) bins in the foyer/corridor of every year level building.
* BIC Recycling Program (black with clear signage) bins in each year level building for the recycling of any empty, broken or unwanted stationary items.
Additionally, we have organics (FOGO) bins in each staff area and domain specific recycling initiatives across areas such as Food and Science.

Students are reminded of these opportunities through communication methods at school such as Homeroom and assembly announcements, the SIMON Daily Messages feature and clear signage throughout the school.

We will continue to promote the reduction of single-use plastics where we can at school and will host our regular Nude Food Days termly, complete with live music, special events and competitions. In June we will hold events to acknowledge World Environment Day, and I am particularly looking forward to our new sustainability-based elective subject running in Semester 2 this year.

There will be plenty more to come from me in future newsletters but for now thank you for your support and many positive actions that collectively make a big difference.

Mrs Sarah Glennen
Sustainability Coordinator