August, 2025

The 2025 College musical ‘Charlie and Chocolate Factory’ was more of an event than a musical - it was tremendous!

With five sold out shows and students also coming to matinees last week, this spectacular event was seen by almost 3,000 people.

The entire production is an incredible example of a thriving arts culture at the College and was a showcase event for our talented singing, dancing, dramatic, music and visual arts students. 

Tegan Gully-Crispe for ‘The Theatre Association of South Australia’ attended opening night and was blown away by what she witnessed and wrote a glowing review, describing the production as “a feast for the senses from the theatre’s exterior glowing Wonka purple, cleverly crafted costumes to the outstanding and innovative technical aspects, this production was bursting with colour, energy, and a palpable sense of joy.” Read the full review here. 

Thanks, and congratulations are extended to the entire cast, crew and staff who created such an inspired production as 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' was one of the most all-encompassing and technically significant musicals the College has produced. 

To the talented students who were all amazing, from principals, dancers, ensemble, orchestra and backstage crew. As well as the directors Kristy Triantafilakis and Mel Lavis, choreographer Caley Watt, production and administration Lesley Johnson, costumes by Angela Girgolas, Leanne Cannizzaro and Chris Maxwell, set design by Wendy Todd, lighting by Jacob Heinze, sound by Byrce Young, set construction by Ben Johnson, Chris Hill and Joe Cannizzaro and music conduction by Emma Knights, congratulations and thank you for creating one of the best musicals Trinity has ever produced.  

The Trinity Open A Basketball Team are back-to-back SAAS champions after a dominant 62-48 win against St Peter’s on Saturday.

Right from the start, Trinity’s defence was locked in, with pressure and quick rotations limiting St Peter’s options. At the offensive end, patience and teamwork were a feature, as Trinity exploited the gaps in the St Peter’s zone defence for easy baskets.

Grand Final MVP Mack Schaftenaar (Year 11) was a force at the offensive end all game, but it was really about the relentless pressure on defence by the entire team.

Despite being without Deng Manyang (Year 12) for the final, Trinity controlled the rebounds and consistently found ways to score through fast breaks and patient teamwork.

The win marks the sixth title in nine years for the Trinity Open A Basketball team.

With the SAAS title now in the cabinet, the team re-focuses on the state Knockout Competition when they will play Concordia College in the quarter final at STARplex on Monday 25 August.

Source: Rupert Sapwell, Director of Sport

Trinity College was announced as the winner of the 2025 Best Professional Learning Program in Australia at the Australian Education Awards on Friday 8 August 2025.

This award recognises the most outstanding professional (staff) learning and development program, or initiative implemented in an Australian school in the 2024 academic year. When judging this category the following criteria was considered:

• Innovation and excellence in program design and delivery
• Demonstrated support for individual professional learning and links to individual and school-wide learning priorities
• Contribution to improved student learning outcomes
• Effective collaboration, reflection and feedback

The College launched its staff professional learning program in 2020 with clear aims: integrate practitioner inquiry, complexity thinking and learning analytics into day-to-day teaching to boost student outcomes. Early staff cohorts tackled foundational modules, establishing shared concepts before branching into research collaborations and peer-led projects. 

Since named “Catalyst”, the more formal program emerged from an informal “journal club” model, driven by teachers eager for deeper expertise in complexity thinking, learning analytics, and adaptive practice. A partnership with the University of South Australia Education Futures was leveraged to provide solid academic foundations, while Trinity’s Research Institute ensured practicality and resonance with classroom challenges.

Community voice is central to Catalyst’s ongoing development. Teacher networks, surveys, and focus groups gather timely feedback that shapes both topic choice and pacing. Students drive teacher research, as teachers respond to student needs in the classroom through the development of a reflective and reflexive culture, and measure shifts in areas like self-efficacy or belonging. Regular updates - shared through staff forums, infographics, and short videos - promote transparency and a sense of collective ownership.

The success of “Catalyst” can be attributed to how it unites complexity thinking, teacher inquiry, and pragmatic adaptive leadership, bolstered by Trinity’s Research Institute and the University of South Australia. Staff engage in micro-credentialled modules, research-based projects, and reflective collaboration, leading to a sustained culture of inquiry and practice-based evidence. Studies have included meaning and purpose in Year 12, the impact of feedback on self-efficacy, and creative self-assessment. Participation in these offerings soared from 10 teachers to reach over 340 Trinity staff, with data revealing myriad outcomes including stronger engagement, literacy growth, and richer classroom experiences. This ongoing cycle of feedback and adaptation continues to strengthen teacher professionalism and student outcomes at Trinity College.

See a full list of National Education Award winners here.

After a 12-month hiatus, the 2025 annual Trinity College Foundation fundraising dinner and silent auction, Under the Stars, was an outstanding success on Friday night, raising $30,000.00 all of which will go directly to help the students of Trinity excel.

Held in the Panorama Room at the Adelaide Convention Centre, pre-dinner drinks were served as guests watched a video celebrating 30 years of Foundation achievements, while also taking their first look at the wide selection of silent auction items on offer. Once guests were seated College Captains Erin Doudle and Dalton Stedall commenced proceedings from the lectern. 

Chair of the Foundation, Karen McMahon then took to the stage to officially welcome everyone to the dinner, thanking event sponsors, before introducing guest speaker, Year 11 student Kelechi Ekwomadu, the 2025 recipient of the Foundation General Excellence Scholarship. Kelechi expressed his pride and gratitude that the scholarship has afforded him and the many opportunities that he has since been able to embrace at Trinity. He also spoke with passion about his love of learning, athletics and his future career aspirations. 

Head of College, Nick Hately then encouraged everyone to fully support the Foundation work, purchase raffle tickets and bid generously on auction items. He then introduced the Trinity College Jazz Vocal Ensemble who performed a medley of timeless classics to kick start the evening of fun and fundraising. 

Guests then enjoyed a sumptuous three course dinner and the opportunity to place a bid for one or more of the over 50 donated items. Silent auction items included a framed and autographed Adelaide Crows 2025 team guernsey, 18 holes of golf for four people plus two motorised carts, a family pass to Monarto Safari Park, a Hoyts Cinema LUX Gift Card and a Workplace Therapy Dog Wellbeing visit. 

Guests could also buy raffle tickets for $10.00 each with the choice of five great prizes; an Ultimate Karrawatta Wine experience day out, a Turkey Flat Rosé + Tomich Hill Pinot Noir Wine Pack, a Sportspower gift voucher, two nights’ accommodation and dinner at The Barn in Mount Gambier or a bottle of Bollinger Special Cuvée Champagne. 

While final winning bids were being calculated, our talented student singers and dancers returned to the stage for another musical set that was followed by guests joining the fun dancing to live music provided by the band Groove Brothers and Soul Sister.

Foundation Board members extend their thanks to all donors and volunteers who made the night such a success, particularly to the Trinity families who generously donated items towards hampers and baskets that generated over $1,000 in the silent auction.

Thanks are also extended to all student volunteers College Captains Erin Doudle and Dalton Stedall, Vice Captains Oliver Gibbens O'Hara and Brianna Jefferson and Prefects Lily Clezy and Giselle Rutayisire as well as all the talented student performers; the Jazz Vocal Ensemble and late night singers Bethany Atherton, Erin Doudle, Elisha Johnson, Zarli Knowles, Cooper Williams-Barry, Miah Forsyth, Eliana Girgolas, Charlotte Hately, Michael Herewane, Lilly McIntyre, Atlas Nottle, Chiara Puccini, Emma Shaw, Willow Shaw, Elyse Sumner, Ava White, Isaac Ludborzs, Josh Roberts, Alexi Samonte and Kaelin Marett-Guest and dancers Mia Belkin, Tayla Thomas, Aaliyah Ainsworth, Lilly Bolzon, Alyssa Nicolai, Alexis Guidotto and Maggie Rosenberg. 

The Foundation Board would also like to acknowledge the generous support of our corporate sponsors.

• Joint Platinum Compnow and Extreme Networks
• Gold Box of Books, Swanbury Penglase and On Track Sportswear
• Bronze Peter Kittle Motor Company, Steinborner Automotive and TradeCo
• Table Advancelife, Data#3 and Mossop Construction 

As well as Quisk for designing the auction catalogue free of charge.

The annual Balaklava Eisteddfod has been a highly anticipated competition for our talented musical students who regularly have received accolades for their skill and performance.

This year our Senior Clarinet Ensemble as once again recognised for their excellence receiving first place in the Senior “A” Instrumental Ensemble division. Led by Louise Skelton, the students have worked together so hard over the past year and performed brilliantly. They also went on to win the overall Championship Trophy for the fourth consecutive year. 

After their success in Mount Gambier earlier in the year, the Jazz Vocal Ensemble continued their winning streak with a first place in the Senior Choir section. This group has worked tirelessly all year, impressing audiences and judges everywhere they go. This unified group of talented singers has earnt their success with lots of hard work and commitment to perform to their best standard possible. 

Due to the Intermediate section only receiving one entry this year, our Gawler River Vocal Ensemble was unable to be awarded an official place, but their performance was outstanding and the students, led by Trish Hart, should be very proud. The adjudicator was very impressed with the quality of their singing and the technical skill displayed by everyone on stage. 

Congratulations also to the Junior Choirs from South and Gawler River who competed in the Junior section, both giving wonderful performances.

The South Junior Choir received an honourable mention for their performance that showcased a very technically accurate performance of two-part singing and were also congratulated for their unified sound and rhythmic accuracy. Congratulations to the students and their director, Andrew Newhouse. 

This was the first time at the Eisteddfod for the Gawler River Junior Choir who performed in the competitive section and did so with so much confidence producing a great sound. The students have gained from the experience, and I congratulate Amanda Cox for her wonderful direction and all the students involved for their hard work.

Thank you to all the music directors for their work in the lead up to the competition and the additional staff who attended to support the staff and students. It was a great success in every way, the student’s behaviour was exemplary, and we are all very proud of the achievements from all groups! 

Source: Kristy Triantafilakis, Director of Performing Arts

Trinity College Year 11 and 12 Dance students recently competed for the first time in the Ultra Dance Competition; an event designed specifically for schools.

Thanks to an outstanding effort, our students were awarded four second places and two third places in addition to winning the Schools Spirit Cup.

The biggest win for our dancers was a second-place finish in the Open Jazz Group section against 12 other competing schools. Watching the faces of those around us and hearing so many positive and complimentary comments from the adjudicator and other dance teachers was incredibly affirming for our students and teachers alike.

Our dancers were blown away by the level of the competition that was both inspiring and motivating and their results are remarkable when considering the high standard of the other competitors. 

All students represented Trinity proudly in the way they embraced the day and conducted themselves with integrity, kindness and respect.

Competing against schools with well-established dance programs was not only challenging but a wonderful experience for all involved. The team is now awaiting the final scores to find out if they will progress to the state finals in a few weeks.

Congratulations to all participating dancers, and to Caley Watt for her amazing choreography, teaching and mentoring in the development of the College dance program. 

Trinity has certainly been put on the map for dance in South Australia.

On Friday, 1st August, all schools from around Australia will participate in the Federal Census.

To find out more about how the information is used, please click on the link below: 

2025 Non-Government Schools Collection Notice 

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to email the Director of Business Administration