Character Development & Wellbeing
Pastoral care is a distinctive and cultural characteristic of Catholic Schools in the Edmund Rice tradition and, accordingly, is a fundamental aspect of Trinity College.
The first generation of Christian Brothers cultivated compassionate care as a fundamental hallmark of the educational culture that they sought to create. This defining feature continues to characterise Trinity College’s approach to the pastoral care and wellbeing of each student and is informed by the four touchstones of Justice and Solidarity, Gospel Spirituality, Inclusive Community and Liberating Education.
Each young man’s wellbeing and formation at Trinity College is a responsibility we assume with the greatest of importance and significance. Genuine pastoral care is an integral aspect of this and it is interwoven within every facet of the Trinity experience for our students.
Our pastoral care practices develop and continue to support the mind, body, and spirit of the whole boy as he builds resilience and self-efficacy to reach his full potential. Our specialised programs guide the boys in developing skills for healthy relationships within and beyond the College, support them in facing challenges and overcoming hurdles, and provide them with an array of real-life skills and experiences in becoming the best version of themselves as they grow to be Men for Others.
Various opportunities for leadership are actively promoted throughout Secondary School and complement similar opportunities which are also vital for our Junior School boys. In striving to be Men for Others, Trinity College encourages leadership across all dimensions of the College in both formal and informal endeavours.
At every stage of the Trinity College journey, our pastoral care and wellbeing programs have been intentionally designed and sequenced to provide for the cognitive, social, emotional and spiritual needs of our boys, contributing to their holistic formation.
Year 7 - Trinity Transition
Year 7 marks a significant rite of passage where students transition from primary school and become members of the Secondary School. Our Transition Program is both robust and flexible, providing each Year 7 boy with a Year 11 Senior Minister guide, mentor, and role model for tailored support. A significant experience for all Year 7 students is the Becoming Brothers Retreat, which encourages the boys to begin to know one another, move beyond some of their personal comfort zones, and continue their formation of personal identity in the Secondary School. This is an important foundational year in which the personal journey to becoming Men for Others commences with the support and companionship of their peers - becoming brothers!
Year 8 - Engage: Mind, Body, Spirit & Community
Throughout Year 8, boys continue their transition into Senior School with opportunities to develop a strong sense of personal identity, while continuing to develop social connections within the cohort. Using the framework of Positive Psychology, a strength-based approach enables students and the school community to thrive by building on their strengths and virtues, focusing on the importance of happiness and gratitude. The importance of engaging the mind-body-spirit-community means that our wellness comes not just from physical health, but from positive mental health and our spiritual health. Essentially if we can develop and engage our mind, body and spirit to work together the effect brings happiness.
Year 9 - Becoming Men
These years are characterised by a journey of self-awareness and personal growth. Throughout Year 8 boys continue their transition into the Secondary School with further opportunities to develop a strong sense of personal identity while continuing to develop social connections within the cohort. Using the framework of positive psychology, a strength-based approach enables students and the school community to thrive by building on their strengths and virtues.
The Becoming Men program in Year 9 directly addresses this often challenging period of adolescence, and is a bespoke program designed to foster a wide range of skills and the inner fortitude to encounter the contemporary challenges facing today’s teenage boys. Once again, the importance of understanding one’s own journey and formation is respected while acknowledging the importance of support from significant others.
Year 10 - Personal Development & Wellbeing
The Year 10 PWD Program is another of our bespoke programs designed to complement the pastoral experiences of the previous three years and prepare the boys for their next rite of passage into the senior years. Relationships with self and others forms the essence of this program with a focus on the My Wellbeing and Relationship IQ components, which promote holistic mental health, and the building of strong, meaningful relationships.
Aspects of service, self-management and independence are experienced throughout the year with a particular highlight being the opportunity for students to learn essential food preparation skills through a four-week Food Technology program at Mercedes College.
Year 11 - Accept and Lead
With a strong focus on leadership and mentoring, Year 11 provides an opportunity to develop the concept that as a year group their legacy grows with each new experience, with each previously untested idea that they are courageous enough to deploy, and every time they inspire others and see a task through to completion. Leadership is not shaped, and legacies are not defined at the end of the road, but rather by the moments shared, the decisions made, the actions taken, and even the mistakes overcome throughout the many phases of high school.
Year 12 - Embracing Change
Life as a Year 12 student can be highly stressful, with students at times fearing the future. As a result, they could experience a range of different emotions, including stress, fear, uncertainty, frustration, and disappointment. Not only are these students completing their final year but they are looking beyond the opportunities and possibilities that exist. We equip young people to deal with the challenges that they will face, think beyond school and provide them with tools and strategies to move through this time with resilience and a healthy positive attitude.