Dear Members of the Trinity Family,

The school year has come to an end and we now turn our attention to Christmas and the New Year period. In the liturgical calendar, the Season of Advent provides us with time to slow down, reflect and prepare for the coming of the Christ child at Christmas.

The essence of Advent is quite contrary to the world around us. The pace of our lives only seems to increase as we journey towards Christmas: endless events, frenetic shopping sprees, hours of cooking and gift wrapping, and on it goes.

All of this can lead to a highly stressful, overly commercialised and exhausting time for many as presents become more important than those who are present, the quantity of Christmas events outweighs the quality of time spent with those most important, and the reason for the season fails to rate a mention.

Jesus’ coming into this world will only ever be a source of merriment if we allow space in our lives, and our hearts, for his arrival. The Prophet Isaiah writes of Christmas that “the people in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.” The Christ child, he goes on, “enlarged the nation and increased their joy.”

I hope and pray that the birth of Jesus this Christmas will increase the world’s joy and help illuminate the darkness that dominates so many worn-torn parts of the world. I pray that, during this Christmas season, we may be filled with the wonder of Mary, the faith of Joseph, the joy of the angels, the eagerness of the shepherds, the determination of the magi, and the peace of the Christ child.

 You can find Bishop Greg’s Christmas Message here:

Staff concluding their time at Trinity

I thank the following staff for their individual and collective service to the College community. Whilst some of these staff have served for one year, others have served for many decades. A full farewell to each staff member will be provided in the 2024 Trinitarian. In the meantime, I wish them all the best for their future endeavours and thank them most sincerely for their service and contribution.

• Mr Tim Anderson - ICT Assistant
• Mr Sean Baldwin - AP Students & Staff
• Mr Tony Clarke - TAS Teacher
• Mrs Sharyn Gill-Andrews - TAS/RE Teacher
• Mrs Selena Juleff - ICT Assistant
• Miss Cassie Karve - Science Teacher
• Mrs Danielle Lovatt - Visual Arts Teacher
• Ms Therese Mackney - Database Administrator
• Mr John Morabito - Learning Enrichment
• Miss Phoebe Mordecai - Learning Enrichment
• Mr Anthony Primiano - ICT Manager
• Mrs Robyn Schober - English Teacher
• Ms Tylah Virtue - English / HSIE / RE Teacher

Students & Families concluding their time at Trinity

I thank and acknowledge those students, and their families, who conclude their time with us at the end of 2024. In particular, I acknowledge members of the Graduating Class of 2024 for their tenacity and resilience. I wish all students well for 2025 as they continue their education journey.

2024 HSC Results

Congratulations to the Class of 2024! To each individual student who achieved their personal best, I extend our sincere congratulations and well wishes for the future. There were some wonderful success stories in this year’s results (more details will be released in the New Year):

• The College offered 38 courses (33 examinable) to its 120 Year 12 students in 2024.
• 22 students were recognised as Distinguished Achievers with 35 individual Band 6 (or E4) results.
• 3 examined courses were 5 or more above state mean: Food Technology, Music 1, English Studies.
• George Mitchell is the 2024 College Dux.
• Various Year 12 students have been nominated and successful for HSC showcases, with Kailani Millane selected to perform in “Callback” in 2025.

2025 Scholarships

All students received details about the College’s 2025 Scholarship Offering via email on 17 December 2024.

Year 8-12 Academic Excellence Scholarships 2025

Academic Excellence Scholarships are available to students who have demonstrated excellence in their studies in the 2024 academic year. There are three scholarships available per year group.

Year 8-12 “In Word and Deed” Scholarships 2025

“In Word and Deed” Scholarships are available to students who have consistently and impactfully contributed to College life in at least two (2) or more areas. There are two scholarships available per year group.

All details can be found on our College website: https://trinitylismore.nsw.edu.au/scholarships.

Applications open in Week 10, Term 4, 2024 and close on Friday 14 February 2025 at 4.00pm. Late applications will not be accepted. Applicants will be notified of the success or otherwise of their application in the week commencing 24 February 2025.

2025 Fee Schedule

The College Finance Committee has recommended, and the College Council has approved, the 2025 Tuition Fee Schedule which can be found here: Like all families and organisations, the College is not immune to the financial forces of our time but takes seriously its commitment to keeping tuition fees as low as possible. Parents/carers wishing to discuss their financial arrangements are encouraged to contact the College’s Finance Department proactively.

Student Enrolments

Some enrolment vacancies exist in some year levels.  All enrolment enquiries are best directed to our Enrolments Officer via email - enrolments@trinitylismore.nsw.edu.au - or phone: 02) 6627 6647. Applications can be made through our College website. I am respectfully requesting that we are informed if any family knows their child(ren) will not be returning to the College in 2025. This is vital information for our planning.

Child Safeguarding

The College, like all child-safe organisations, is investing significant time and resources into the implementation of the Child Safe Standards. Our website contains our Statement of Commitment and further policies and procedures that inform our approach to this important work.

Key Dates for early Term 1

• 31 January & 3 February - staff days (pupil free)
• 4 February - Year 7, 11, 12 return
• 5 February - All Students return
• 7 February 2024 HSC Achievers Assembly
• 12 February - Year 7 Connect Day & New Parents Welcome evening.
• 14 February - Commencement Mass

Thank you for your ongoing support of the College. May Venerable Nano Nagle, St Marcellin Champagnat and Mary our Good Mother continue to watch over our Trinity community.

Jesse Smith

Our ‘Be Your Best’ draw was made after our Carol competition and  our winners were Rosa Skeet (Year 7), Ryan Hoffman (Year 8), May Davis (Year 9), Solly Nielsen (Year 10) and Dana Scott (Year 11). Each student won a $50 Canteen voucher to be used at the College canteen in 2025.

The annual House Christmas Carol ran again this year. The carol chosen was Santa Claus is Coming to Town. All Houses are to be commended on their level of involvement and House spirit shown on the day.  A fantastic way to finish off the year with the noise from Whitebrook Theatre echoing around the Southern Cross University Campus. A special thanks to our esteemed judges; Mrs Joy Dwyer, Mr Daymon Follett and Mr Pryce Edwards. Congratulations to Nagle House who took out the competition with their efforts. 

Gahan/Hilet Handball Trophy
Congratulations to Lachlan Noffke who goes down in Australian sporting history as a TCCL Handball Champion for 2024. Lachlan joins Joe Bull (2021), Harrison Young (2022) and George Jones (2023) as only the 4th person in the world who can say they are TCCL Handball Champions. Lachlan defeated Tyson Cahill in the Grand Final. It was a valiant effort displayed by Tyson, I am sure we will see him in many grand finals in the coming years. Thanks has to go to Mitchell Mayes who did a mighty job as the student organiser of the handball championships. Hundreds of students nominated to play in the competition and the competition keeps growing each and every year.

As we conclude another year and look forward to the next, I  take this opportunity to remind parents and carers of our uniform requirements at the College. We recognise that it can sometimes be difficult to keep up with the rapid growth of some of our teenagers, however, it is important for us to be consistent with our expectations. As we move towards the beginning of 2025 I would like to specifically highlight the need for students to have (and wear) a College hat and a uniform that fits correctly (as per recommended guidelines). Please review the applicable guidelines attached and if you have any difficulties with access to items please contact your child’s Leader of Year.

School Locker Flyer

School Locker Flyer 637.48 KB

Wishing you a Merry Christmas, safe travelling over the holiday break and a happy entry into 2025. Trinity Lismore has achieved a tremendous amount in a wide variety of fields in 2024 and this is testament to the effort and attitude of the students, the staff and the families. Thank you all for supporting us at the College.

Tony Flood

Dear Trinity families,

In Word & Deed Awards & Vinnies Christmas Appeal

At Trinity, we have always had a long tradition of outreach which is inspired by the Gospels and our charisms. Our Outreach Program has seen students getting involved in everything from fundraising for Caritas Australia during Lent, to supporting local charities like Vinnies during Winter and more recently our Christmas Appeal which raised over $1200 in addition to $800 in grocery cards and food items.

Every year, every Trinity student participates in the “In Deed and Word Program”  where they are asked to complete at least 10 hours of community service. This program aims to  shape compassionate, service-minded individuals who will carry these values long after they graduate. This year students: Rose Robinson, Indigo Scanlan, Brooke Wilson, Logan Connelly, Scarlett Sauer-Gardiner, Ruby Edmonds, Jackson Poole, Solly Nielsen, Ayla Crotty, Stella Burke, Rylan Watson, Amiah Oldfield-King, Toby Yee and Ruby Nicholson completed well above 100 hours of service in a truly tremendous effort to help others. Congratulations to these students for receiving the Principal Award at our Christmas Liturgy.

The school year always ends with the school community coming together for a Chirtsmas gathering where we celebrate Jesus becoming one of us and one with us. Our talented Choir, and our Year 9 and 10 bands led us in beautiful renditions of our favourite carols between parts of the Christmas story. This liturgy is  always such a beautiful end of year celebration and this year did not disappoint. Both students and staff alike, left the theatre with full hearts, ready to celebrate Christmas with their family and friends.

Thank you

To our many families, thank you for your ongoing support of the Mission life of the College and for helping to model to our young people what it means to live a life of service, love, and compassion. Your generous contribution to the College’s yearly appeals has meant that we have been able to support others in their time of need and we continue to build caring communities which live by our Catholic values. A huge thank you to our Mission Team—Mrs Bronwyn Gorman, Mr Tory Puglisi, Ms Ava Coombes, and all the staff who made sure the faith life of the College continues to thrive. Their dedication and creativity have brought the spirit of our school to life in new and exciting ways in 2024.

Farewell to our Youth Ministry Coordinator

Finally after two wonderful years of working closely with Mr Tory Puglisi in the area of Youth Ministry, we must say goodbye. Over the last five years Tory has been active in the youth ministry space. His endless energy, excellent organisational skills and infectious enthusiasm have been the reason for many enriching initiatives in our youth ministry classrooms and school. I also thank him for his mentorship of our student leaders and his significant contribution to College life in his role as Youth Ministry Coordinator. In 2025, Tory has decided to channel all of his efforts into his teaching career and we wish him all the best for this new chapter of his life.  We welcome Ms Alissa O’Reilly to our Mission Team in 2025 as she takes up our Youth Ministry Coordinator role. Alissa is a dynamic teacher and I'm sure that she will bring many positives into her new role.

Term 1 Mission Events

• Commencement Mass 14 February
• Ash Wednesday Liturgy 5 March
• LEAD youth ministry 20 March
• Transitus youth ministry 25 March
• Easter Liturgy - 7 April
• Year 12 Retreat commences 8 April

Christmas blessing

This Christmas, may your families be surrounded by love, peace and joy. I pray that this season brings you closer together and fills your home with the light of Christ. Thank you for your continued support, trust and partnership in shaping your child’s future.

Wishing you and your loved ones a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year.

Annette White - Director of Mission

Dear Members of the Trinity Community,

As the 2024 school year comes to a close, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude to all students, staff, parents, and families for their continued support. This year has been filled with countless moments of growth, curiosity, and achievement, made possible by the collective efforts of our whole community. We are proud of the way students, teachers, and families work together to foster a love of learning. It is this shared dedication that allows our students to thrive and embrace the many opportunities that education  provides. Wishing you all a joyful and restful festive season, and we look forward to an exciting year of learning and growth in 2025.

2024 HSC Results

The class of 2024 has achieved excellent results in their HSC. These achievements are a testament to their hard work and dedication. We look forward to celebrating these results with the students at the High Achievers Assembly on February 7 2025.

Connecting with College Life Awards

This year, we introduced a new award for students called Connecting with College Life. These awards recognised each student's dedication to embracing and contributing to the life and spirit of the College. The students awarded are those involved in College Tours, Open Night, Write a Book in a Day, Winter Sleepout, Virtual Debating, Tournament of Minds, Performing and Creative Arts initiatives, ANZAC Day, Clean Up Australia Day, Mission initiatives such as LEAD, Shine etcetera. 

In Year 7, we recognised these students.

 In Year 8, we recognised these students.

 In Year 9, we recognised these students.

In Year 10, we recognised these students.

In Year 11, we recognised these students.

Semester 2 Reports

Reports are now available on Lighthouse Parent Portal.

2025 Student Timetables and Classes

We are currently working on our 2025 student timetables and this work will continue into the new year, with adjustments still to be made. Students will receive their individual timetables when they return to school in 2025.

The Class placement of every student is carefully considered to ensure a balanced and fair learning environment for all students. Our dedicated staff take into account a range of factors to create the best possible learning conditions for every student.

While we understand that parents and carers may have preferences, we are unable to accommodate requests for specific classes. Such requests would make it impossible to design a timetable that meets the diverse needs of all students across the College.

We appreciate your understanding and trust in our process as we work to support the growth and success of every learner.

2025 BYOD Preferences and Recommendations

We would like to inform you of a change to our Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) preferences and recommendations. Chromebooks have been removed from the approved type of device list. This decision is in response to the New South Wales Education Standards Authority (NESA) no longer supporting Chromebooks with the required lockdown browsers for Year 7 and Year 9 NAPLAN, as well as Year 10 HSC Minimum Standards testing.

Please note that there is no immediate need to replace a fully functioning Chromebook. However, when your child’s Chromebook needs replacing, please refer to the updated type of device information available on the College website and the Lighthouse Parent Portal.

Staff Learning

During Term 4 the teaching staff have been undergoing some significant learning in preparation for 2025.

Stage 3 Observations

The College connected with two of our local Catholic Primary schools to investigate the learning in Year 5 and 6 classrooms in order to help bridge the gap in experience for students between primary and high school. The observations and learning was rich and quickly became greater than just the difference between school settings. We learnt about pedagogical approaches to learning including the significance of the new NSW curriculum on students learning. Thank you to the staff of Our Lady Help of Christans and St Carthage’s for having us in their classrooms, we really appreciate working with you for the benefit of our students.

DISA Unpacking

A team of staff who are the school ‘IDEA’s’ team have started to unpack the data in the DISA (Diagnostic Inventory of School Alignment). The perspective data from staff, students and parents is very rich and will be unpacked with all staff in the new year. Thank you to all the parents that took the time to complete the survey.

2025 Essential Book List Items

In preparation for the 2025 school year, the Essential Book List Items can be found on the Lighthouse Parent Portal under the Resources for Parents tile.

We wish all students and families the very best for Christmas and the New Year.  

Alison Unwin - Assistant Principal - Learning & Teaching

Tracy Benfield - Director of Learning

Amy Pascoe - Director of Teaching Excellence

The Child Studies students would like to thank the Southern Cross University Children's Centre and Blinky's Corner Child Care Centre preschool children for visiting Trinity this week.

Year 9 Child Studies students hosted an amazing tour & party highlighting our favourite character Bluey.

Year 10 Child Studies hosted a playgroup and party which was interactive and entertaining.Everyone had a brilliant time and had smiles on their faces from beginning to end.

Community and Family Studies 

CAFS students participated in an excursion to the Richmond Valley RSL Day Club. The meeting provided a wonderful window of opportunity to learn about the lives of seniors in our community. The meeting offered powerful interactions as the seniors shared their wisdom and knowledge. A heartfelt thank you goes to the members of the club and the volunteers who were very hospitable and gave us a warm welcome.We wish all the members a Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year.

Mrs Deborah Witt - CAFS, Child Studies and TAS

To encourage students to read the Library ran a Reading Challenge where students were asked to borrow a book, read it and submit a review of the book that was uploaded to the catalogue. A prize was offered to the student who submitted the most reviews.

We had 60 students from all groups take up this challenge. Overall we had 38 reviews submitted which were added to the catalogue.  This allows other students to read the review before deciding to borrow the book.

Congratulations to Zavier Bartusch from Year 7 who won the gift voucher to Book Warehouse. Over the year Zavier submitted 10 reviews.

Term 4 saw students and staff spend many hours in the library creating this wonderful Weaving Project.  This fabulous artwork has been donated to the Lismore Base Hospital.

Denise O'Brien - Leader of Learning - Library