26 March 2025

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

Dear Families and Friends of the Trinity Catholic College Community

Mention in conversation the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) and you will get a multitude of reactions; some positive, supportive and even excited; others negative, hesitant and even fearful. Like it or not, AI is here to stay, and applications of AI are growing exponentially.

Some of the fear around AI comes from a misunderstanding of what AI can do. In general, AI platforms like ChatGPT extrapolate from the data they are given. While AI can generate novel outputs and solutions by combining existing knowledge in unique ways, it doesn’t “think” in the same way humans do. ChatGPT is not sentient.

The term "sentient AI" refers to a type of artificial intelligence that can perceive and respond to its environment in a manner similar to that of a living organism, and ultimately like a human being. Sentience is often associated with consciousness and self-awareness, but the two are not necessarily synonymous. Currently, no AI system has been developed that can truly be considered sentient and according to experts in the field, it will be a very long time before such a system might be developed, if at all.

Way before that can happen, scientists must determine how for instance, the human brain creates new knowledge, concepts, understandings. While scientists understand that the brain is highly adaptable and can create new connections through learning and experience, the exact mechanisms of how the brain creates new knowledge, knowledge that did not exist previously, are still being researched and are extremely complex.

So, let’s not worry at this stage that we will wake up one morning to find that the world has been taken over by machines, à la the Terminator movies.

At Trinity, teachers are helping students discern the ethical uses to which AI should be put. We must guard against the indiscriminate use of AI to circumvent the student’s own development of independent and critical literacy. Getting ChatGPT to write your Hamlet essay is not an ethical use of AI. A quick survey I conducted last week revealed the following information on the use of AI at Trinity.

AI Platforms Used:

• Chat GPT
• Perplexity
• Co-pilot
• Diffit
• AI Quizmaker
• Brisk – AI powered Chrome extension
• Canva
• AI element of Word Online
• Consensus – AI powered search engine for scientific research

Teachers Use it for:

• Differentiation - creating samples of written work at different levels
• Creating scaffolds and analogies to teach difficult concepts
• Creating detailed feedback on writing (criteria specified by teacher)
• Creating images for use by students in class & editing these
• Simplifying text for students
• Writing/finessing emails, Compass notices and newsletter articles
• Creating worksheets, lesson plans, summaries and literacy & other class activities
• Making multiple choice quizzes and answers
• Making sample HSC questions, exemplars for assessment tasks & marking rubrics
• Creating ideas for lesson plans, assessment tasks, teaching programs, scope & sequence charts, risk assessments and method statements for science experiments.
• Recommending HSC recourses, PD, recent articles and law cases
• Citing, referencing and creating presentations and social media posts
• Planning events, suggestions on organisation
• Generating getting-to-know-you activities and interactive learning experiences
• Policy & Procedure drafts
• Curating websites as resources
• Generating generic forms & completing some admin tasks

Students Use it for:

• Listing ideas of names (e.g. a new business or newspaper article heading)
• Commerce – Ideas for concepts (10 products to sell)
• Researching data (unemployment, inflation, scientific, mathematical, cultural)
• Generating practice questions
• Critiquing short answer questions
• Study techniques
• Students run their writing practice through it and ask for specific help - Teacher gives them specific parameters for this depending on their personal writing goals

AI offers students personalized learning experiences, instant feedback, and access to vast resources, ultimately enhancing their engagement, academic performance, and skill development in a rapidly evolving world. Skill in utilizing AI as a tool to augment human intelligence and expertise is rapidly becoming essential in many workplaces and educational settings.

Best wishes,
Robert Emery
Principal

Trinity Catholic College Adamstown NSW
Nurturing faith, excellence & lifelong learning

SAFEGUARDING

Safeguarding Resources

Check out the following link to excellent phone app cyber-safety resources.

Phone App Information – ever wondered what a particular phone app (eg. Tik Tok) does and what dangers it might hold for young people:

 This resource is concise, informative and above all – factual.

Bring Liam Home

Dear Trinity Families

Our college community continues to pray for the healing and recovery of Liam Raftery, Year 8 student here at Trinity, and his whole family at this very difficult time. Liam, you will remember, suffered a devastating fall just before start of school this year. This incident has left him with critical injuries to his head, pelvis, spine, and lower limbs. He was transported to Westmead Hospital, where he has been receiving intensive care, and is making pleasing progress on what will be a long and arduous journey of recovery and rehabilitation.

We again implore your generosity to help Liam’s family to bring him back home once he is discharged from Sydney. Being home, surrounded by cherished friends and family, will undoubtedly lighten the path of his rehabilitation. Liam has been accustomed to living at both his mum’s house and his dad’s house both of whom live in New Lambton.

To facilitate Liam’s return home, both houses need to be modified to ensure Liam’s access and safety. Such modifications are expensive.

Trinity Catholic College earlier advertised a “Go Fund Me” page to assist with modifications to Liam’s mum’s house. We were unaware at that time that there were two separate “Go Fund Me Pages”, one for each house. Please consider a donation to the “Go Fund Me” page at the link below, which will greatly assist Liam’s dad, Michael, to modify his home to enable Liam’s access to his home.

Any contributions, no matter how small, will be immensely appreciated.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude for your support and contributions to this vital cause.

Upcoming Information Sessions and Webinars for Parents and Carers

Parents and carers are the most important educators in their child’s life. As well as partnering directly with our school to support your child’s learning and wellbeing, there are a range of webinars and information sessions provided each month by reputable providers specifically for parents and carers- free of charge. To view a list of upcoming webinars and information sessions that may be of interest to you, click the link below at any time. The list will be updated weekly throughout the school term, so be sure to check the page regularly.

Another useful resource for parents and carers to access timely information on a range of topics including cyber safety, mental health, positive parenting, school survival, diversity and inclusion and healthy bodies is via School TV. Our school invested in this online platform so that our parents and carers can conveniently access reliable information from credible sources all in one place - when you need it most - not just at a specified webinar time.  It includes videos, fact sheets and podcasts all delivered by leading psychologists and experts. To access our school’s SchoolTV site visit the link below:

WELLBEING

School Vaccinations

A reminder to all Year 7 and Year 10 parents and carers:
Year 7  Vaccinations - Thursday 3 April 2025
Year 10 Vaccinations – Thursday 22 May 2025

Please see Compass for all relevant information and documents.

CELEBRATING ST JOSEPH’S FEAST DAY

On Wednesday, 19th March, our Trinity College community was blessed to celebrate St Joseph's Feast Day with a very special Mass led by our parish priest, Father Joseph. This occasion was particularly meaningful as it was also Father Joseph's name day, and we were honoured to share this celebration with him.

Year 11 students, accompanied by several teachers, attended the Mass, which was held in a beautifully prepared space thanks to the combined efforts of our Year 11 students, the Solidarity Team, and SRC members. Under the guidance of Mrs Kelly and Mrs Moore, these students worked together to create a welcoming and reflective environment for this special event.

During the Mass, Father Joseph shared powerful stories of his upbringing and the personal journey that led him to choose the name Joseph. Our students were captivated by his words and deeply moved by his life experiences. At the conclusion of the Mass, many students approached Father Joseph to shake his hand, thank him for the celebration, and extend their warm wishes on his name day. Several students shared that the Mass was different from what they had expected—and far more meaningful.

We are excited to share that Father Joseph has accepted an invitation to visit Trinity College each Wednesday in 2025. These visits will provide a wonderful opportunity for him to connect with students, share stories, and continue building relationships within our community. We eagerly look forward to welcoming him back for future Masses and other special occasions.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed to making this day so memorable, especially to Father Joseph for his warmth, wisdom, and willingness to engage with our community. His presence truly enriched our celebration, and we are grateful for the opportunity to learn from his inspiring journey.

Special thanks also to Mary Tutman who altar served and was a major contributor to the organisation of the Mass.

LIBRARY

Harmony Week 2025

Did you know? Apart from English, the most common languages spoken in Australia are Mandarin, Arabic, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Italian, Greek, Tagalog/Filipino, Hindi, Spanish and Punjabi.

Why orange? Orange is the colour chosen to represent Harmony Day. Traditionally, orange signifies social communication and meaningful conversations. It also relates to the freedom of ideas and the encouragement of mutual respect.

Harmony Week is about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone. Each year the message of Harmony Day is ‘everyone belongs’. At TCC we had a week of planned activities each day including international foods at the canteen, Carrom & Mancala games in the library, book displays and an out-of-uniform fundraiser for Caritas. Our Year 11 Francesco & Kolbe students also created a beautiful Harmony Day prayer and video (see below). Check out the languages and cultural backgrounds of staff and students at TCC in the image below.

HSIE

Medieval Day

On Monday March 10, Year 8 participated in a range of hands-on activities immersing them in the world of Medieval Europe. Students tried their hands at coin striking, armour cleaning, mixing medieval medicine and making textiles. Each class also worked in teams to try and sequence the Bayeux Tapestry as well as form the strongest and most cohesive shield wall. This culminated in a competition between the top two classes which was won by Mrs Tranchini’s class.

The highlight of the day was the trebuchet which some lucky students had the opportunity to fire on the soccer fields. The presenters commented on the excellent behaviour of the Trinity students, and it was a great event for all involved. Team HSIE are excited to provide this experience again for Year 8 in 2026.

A big THANK YOU to our HSIE Teacher Mr McNaughton for organising this great incursion.

Mock Trial

The air buzzed with a mixture of excitement and nerves as the Trinity Catholic College ‘Courtroom Crusaders’ landed at the University of Newcastle for Mock Trial. A group of Year 10 students recently participated in a Mock trial case centered around ‘harassing text messages’ with Austin Harris shining as the opening barrister, Mary Tutman excelled as the solicitor, Elizabeth Woodcock delivering a strong cross and closing argument, with Josh Wolfsen and Sophie Kropp bringing the two witnesses Jordan and Alex to life. Their contributions played a crucial role in our success!

Special thanks to Merewether High School for being outstanding opponents in this first case. As well as the paralegals who helped in preparation leading up to the trial. We eagerly look forward to the next round, ready for new experiences and working as a team.

Preliminary Legal Studies  - NSW State Parliament visit

On Thursday 20^th March, Mrs Tranchini’s 'Legal Eagles’ visited NSW State Parliament as part of their study of the Australian Legal System. After learning about the parliament and court systems, the excursion provided students with a valuable opportunity to see the system in action, learn about how laws are made and watch the state government in questioning time. We also attended a workshop on current law reform issues, as well as the laws being considered to address them- which will come in handy as students prepare for their assessment on the conditions that give rise to law reform in light of a current issue facing Australian society.

Highlights from the day include meeting our local state member, Jodie Harrison, who took time to have a one-on-one Q & A with the Trinity group, being able to sit in on a particularly feisty questioning session of the Legislative Assembly and seeing a union protest held on Macquarie Street.

We look forward to making this trip a regular part of our Preliminary Legal Studies course, and thank the students for their excellent representation of Trinity Catholic College.

CREATIVE AND PERFORMING ARTS (CAPA)

Musical Update

We are excited to announce that Trinity has an official musical logo as a result of a design competition recently run by the very talented Art teacher Mrs Chantelle Mcauley! 

A group of 16 creative students put their artistic talents forward to design the logo for our Shakespearean themed 2025 musical titled "The Bard".

 After careful consideration by the judging panel, we congratulate our competition winner, Gabriel Widseth!

SPORT

MN Dio Swimming Championships   UoN Forum             11 March 2025

TEAM RESULTS

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

Congratulation to the following students who have been selected to represent the MN Diocese at the NSWCCC Swimming Championships later this term.

Will Blake, Mackinley Griffin, Isabella Irvine, Harrison Kirrage, Hamish Lawrence, Alexis Petrovic, Oliver Petrovic, and Layla Tolar.

MN Dio Snr Girls Football Knockout                  Speers Point         19 March 2025

What an incredible performance from our Senior Girls Football Team at the NSWCCC Dio Football Knockout! Despite the hot conditions, the students displayed outstanding teamwork, sportsmanship and talent to dominate the day.

The day kicked off with a convincing 9-0 win against St Joseph’s Aberdeen, setting the tone for what was to come. Hanna, Isabel, Mayan, Elise and Minnie found the back of the net in the first game. The momentum continued as the team secured another 7-0 win against St Mary's Catholic College, with goals from Isabelle B, Hanna, Lilja and Mayan.

In the third game against St. Francis Xavier’s College, the team kept up their impressive form with a 6-0 win, with Elise, Hanna, Isabel and Lilja contributing to the scoreline. The fourth match, against St Bede’s Chisholm, was our toughest of the day, but the girls showed incredible determination, fighting for every ball and securing a 2-1 win courtesy of goals from Elise and Isabel.

Next up, we faced St Joseph’s Lochinvar, where the team triumphed with a 3-0 victory, thanks to goals from Hanna and Lilja. With that success, we advanced to the final, where we were once again rematched against St Bede’s Chisholm. Fatigue was starting to set in and the heat was intense, but our girls showed immense resilience and determination. After a scoreless first half, the team regrouped and five minutes into the second half, Mayan scored to put us ahead. The defence held firm and Trinity triumphed 1-0, securing the title of Diocesan Champions.

A huge congratulations to the entire team for their remarkable effort, the teamwork and talent displayed was outstanding. We are so proud of you all.

Please see below for results:

Upcoming Events

A reminder that Trinity Catholic College is a member of the NSW Combined Catholic Colleges (NSWCCC). Updated information and a detailed list of all individual and team pathway events / carnivals can be found at:

COMING EVENTS

Accounts Office

School Contact Details

ALINTA UNIFORM SHOP

Operating Hours – School Term
Tuesday – 2.30pm to 4.30pm
Wednesday – 2.30pm to 4.30pm
Friday – 10.00am to 12.00pm

ALL VISITORS TO THE ALINTA UNIFORM SHOP MUST SIGN IN AT THE ALINTA SHOP

FOR UNIFORM FITTING APPOINTMENTS, PLEASE REFER TO: 

SECOND-HAND UNIFORMS

Trinity Catholic College also runs a parent-to-parent service which enables all parents to buy/sell second-hand uniform items.  The service works in the following way:

1. Parents/carers email details of the item/s required to buy/sell and supply a contact number to admin@adamstowntcc.catholic.edu.au.
2. These details are then advertised in a special “Second-hand Uniforms” section of each Newsletter (last page).
3. The advertisement will run for one month or two editions of the Newsletter.
4. Parents/carers will simply contact the number supplied and deal directly with the person buying/selling.