4 June 2025

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

Dear Families and Friends of the Trinity Catholic College community 

Prayers

The community of Trinity Catholic College has offered prayers and will continue to pray for those affected by the recent heavy rains, floods and landslides.  We pray that God will hold close those affected and grant them the courage, perseverance and means to get back on their feet.  Amen.

Congratulations

At Trinity we are blessed with so many wonderfully talented students in so many fields of endeavour!  Most recently, we congratulated four Year 10 students for winning the Aspire Songwriters 2025 Competition.  Well done Lara Bosworth, Ivy Jones, Isabella Robinson & Mary Tutman.

ACSP Conference 2025

I had the pleasure of attending the 2025 Association of Catholic School Principals (ACSP) State Conference a couple of weeks ago.  This is a biennial conference which brings together principals of Catholic Schools from across NSW.  We listen to high quality speakers on numerous contemporary educational topics and discuss the implications of and the possibilities created by the research and thinking presented.  The conference offers an opportunity to network and socialise with colleague leaders and hear what is happening in other schools and Dioceses.

This year we were 350 in number, a little down on the usual because of the flooding.  We were treated to keynote addresses on:

• AI in education – how best to use it for the benefit of teachers & students, including its use as personal learning assistant (tutor)
• Leading in a Time of Change
• Leading for Staff Wellbeing
• Strategic approaches to planning, including strategic subtraction
• Empowering Staff Wellbeing in Schools

There were also several Masterclass sessions on the above and other topics.

For me, the most interesting presentation was by Austen Ivereigh, a UK-based Catholic journalist, author, commentator and biographer of Pope Francis.  His topic was “The Pope as Storm-Pilot: Horizons of Hope in a Time of Turbulence”.

Ivereigh presented Pope Francis as a pastor-pope, deeply formed by his Jesuit spirituality and Latin American context, who sought a profound renewal of the Church.  Francis was not focused on doctrinal change but on pastoral conversion. He wanted a Church that:

• Evangelizes through witness and joy, not ideology.
• Accompanies people patiently, especially in their woundedness.
• Listens more than it speaks.
• Reflects the humility and mercy of Jesus, not clericalism or institutional self-preservation.

So, Ivereigh’s assessment is that Francis was not trying to remake doctrine — he was trying to remake attitudes, to rekindle the Church’s original passion for the Gospel.

I think most would agree that Francis has certainly steered the Church in that direction.

Have a lovely week.

Best wishes,

Robert Emery
Principal

Trinity Catholic College Adamstown NSW
An intentional Catholic faith community

SAFEGUARDING

Issues & Advice – How to help you child deal with online safety issues:

WELLBEING

eSafety Webinars

Join one of the free webinars from the eSafety Commissioner for parents and carers.

These live webinars give parents and carers the knowledge, skills and tools to support their children to have safe online experiences.

HSIE

Mock Trial Competition

On Thursday 22 May, Trinity Catholic College played host to Newcastle Grammar School for Round 2 of the NSW Law Society Mock Trial competition.

Appearing for the plaintiff in a civil case against Westfield, barristers Charlotte Johnston and Jonah Thompson were instructed by Sophie Belcher as advising solicitor. The plaintiff, Emma Bateman and expert witness, Lillian Scanlon withstood a brutal cross examination, while Chloe Douglass kept everything ticking along as Magistrates Clerk.

It was a nailbiter of a trial, which came down to a single point defeat. We would like to thank the Newcastle Grammar team for keeping us on our toes, as well as solicitor Hannah Miflin, from Youth Law Australia, for taking the time to hear the case and offer her expert feedback.

State Da Vinci Decathlon

On Wednesday 21 May, our talented Year 10 team travelled to Knox Grammar School in Sydney to compete in the State DaVinci Decathlon. They were joined by around 50 of the best schools in the state and competed in ten different events from a wide range of subjects that challenged critical thinking and creativity. The theme of the day was ‘light’, and this was present in all ten events.

The day started bright and early with a trip in the minibus, featuring lots of chatter and power naps (Mr Foster). After a quick look at the beautiful and expansive Knox Grammar Campus and a lovely introduction from the headmaster, featuring bagpipes, we dove straight into Ideation, Science, Code-Breaking and English. Ideation and Science both heavily focused on how light is related to eyes and vision impairments, encouraging us to think critically about the impact of light in the way we perceive our environment. Code-Breaking was especially challenging, involving alphanumeric code and astronomical equations. English involved anagrams, Shakespeare analysis and several extended responses.

After a quick break hampered by the rain, we returned to the Great Hall to do the Engineering, Cartography, Mathematics and Art and Poetry papers. Our team engineered a kaleidoscope out of cardboard rolls, aluminium foil and colourful plastic beads. Our wonderful artists created a beautiful poem and accompanying artwork about the struggle to express creativity in the modern world. Cartography focused on historical astronomy tools and observatories and the Mathematics paper featured several different questions that required extensive problem solving.

Our final session of the day was 30 minutes dedicated to Legacy. The Legacy paper focuses on the legacy of the competition’s namesake Leonardo DaVinci, while still connecting to the theme of light. Once all the papers were completed and sent off for marking, we were treated to a performance by the Knox Grammar Stage Band. Although we didn’t place it was a wonderful opportunity to challenge ourselves and the team showed great problem-solving skills and performed to the best of their abilities.

Thank you to Miss Tranchini, Mr Foster and Mr Griffin who supported us on this journey.

CREATIVE ARTS / LANGUAGES

ASPIRE Songwriting Competition: Trinity’s Year 10 triumphs!

We’re thrilled to announce that a group of talented Year 10 students from our school has taken top honours in the 2025 Aspire Songwriting Competition! This year’s theme challenged students to create original songs inspired by the theme of artwork, blending lyrics and music to reflect the emotions, stories, and concepts behind art.

Participants from across the region submitted their compositions, showcasing their creativity, originality, and technical skill. The compositions were judged by the artistic director of Aspire, Anna Kerrigan, as well as two external judges, Matt McLaren and Oliver Doyle. Our winning students demonstrated exceptional musicality, using harmony, rhythm, and lyrical imagery to bring their chosen artwork to life in a truly captivating way. Their song stood out for its imaginative interpretation and engaging composition, perfectly capturing the essence of this year's Aspire production theme.

The song “Paint your own way” is an anthem about not being apologetic for who you are and being able to express yourself freely. The students’ song will be professionally recorded and the winning piece will feature in the prelude of Aspire’s 2025 production “The Rise of Bozz” playing 30 July-2 August. GET YOUR TICKETS from the Civic Theatre Ticket Office.

Congratulations to our Year 10 songwriters, Lara Bosworth, Ivy Jones, Isabella Robinson and Mary Tutman. The students were also joined by Year 8 student, Lewis Goode on drums. We can’t wait to hear your creation come to life on stage. Keep aspiring, creating, and believing in your talent!

Drama Students Shine at Dramafest!

On 5 May, twenty two of our talented Drama students attended Dramafest at Newcastle City Hall. This exciting event, run by Aspire, featured a full day of hands-on workshops led by industry professionals, including Bell Shakespeare and Tantrum Theatre. Students explored a wide range of drama skills such as Comedy, Physical Theatre, Shakespeare, and Puppetry. It was a fantastic opportunity for students to learn from the best, build confidence, and collaborate creatively with peers from other schools. A big thank you to Aspire and the incredible workshop leaders. Our students returned inspired and full of enthusiasm.

Performing Arts Students Enjoy ‘Annie’ in Sydney

On Wednesday 14 May, fourty one of our Performing Arts students from Drama and Music travelled to Sydney to see the beloved musical Annie at the Capitol Theatre. Before the show, students enjoyed a sunny picnic lunch at Mrs Macquarie’s Chair, soaking in the views and excitement of the day. The production was a hit, with students thoroughly enjoying the professional performances, catchy songs, and impressive staging. The bus ride home was filled with lively chatter, as everyone shared their favourite moments, songs, and standout actors. It was a fantastic cultural experience and a memorable day for our budding performers.

Aspire Scriptwriting Competition

Congratulations to Year 7 playwright and all-around creative, Luka Carty. Luka has won the ASPIRE scriptwriting competition ( Yr 7-9 category) for 2025. 

Luka's witty and engaging play was performed as a stage reading by a team of Aspire actors at the Civic Playhouse on Monday June 2, after a collaborative day in which Luka worked with the Aspire Drama Director, Lisa Hall, to advise actors on the staging of her piece. The judges were clearly impressed. Well done Luka and congratulations again on this exciting moment in your creative journey.

DioDrama 2025 – Student Directors Take the Stage!

Rehearsals are well underway for DioDrama 2025, with our talented student directors and cast preparing an exciting lineup of short plays. On June 4, our students will take to the stage at the Civic Playhouse Theatre for this special ticketed event. Now in its third year, DioDrama continues to be a highlight for our Drama community. This year is especially significant as our senior Drama students make their directorial debut, leading four original short productions. It’s a proud and inspiring moment for all involved. Tickets will be available soon via the Civic Playhouse website—don’t miss this amazing night of theatre.

DioSounds Rehearsals in Full Swing!

Our talented musicians and vocalists have been hard at work preparing for the highly anticipated annual DioSounds event, set to take place at the Civic Theatre on June 5, the theme this year being “One Call One Mission”. Students have been dedicating their time to perfecting band pieces, vocal performances, and choreography in what promises to be another spectacular showcase of Trinity Catholic College’s musical talent. This event is a highlight of the year, bringing together schools across the diocese to celebrate creativity and performance. We’re incredibly proud of the effort and enthusiasm our students are showing—get ready for an unforgettable evening of music and energy.

SPORT

NSWCCC Basketball Championships.

Congratulation to Slater Luckey (Yr 10) who has been selected into the 16yrs NSWCCC Basketball team.

Slater will represent CCC at NSW All School Selection Trials in June.  Well done Slater.

NSWCCC Rugby League Championships

Ivy Hagan (Yr 9) and Zoe Figallo (Yr 9) have both been selected into the NSWCCC 16yrs Rugby League team after great performances representing Northern NSW at the NSWCCC championships in Camden.

This team will be competing at the NSW All schools during the last week of Term 2. Good luck girls.

NSWCCC Football

Congratulations to Year 10 student Mayan Harkness on her outstanding achievement in being selected for the NSWCCC Open Girls Football Team.

Mayan earned her place in the squad following a series of impressive performances while representing our Diocese at the recent CCC Championships. Well done, Mayan!

NSWCCC Water Polo Selection Trials

Archie Jones (Yr 10) has been selected into the NSWCCC Opens Water Polo team for the second year in a row.

Archie will travel to Fortitude Valley QLD in August to compete at the Australian Schools Invitational Water Polo Championships. Well done, Archie.

NSW All Schools Swimming Championships              SOPAC                        22-23 May 2025

Upcoming Events

A reminder that St Pius X 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

School Contact Details

Accounts Office

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:  https://shop.alintaapparel.com.au/

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.