A Message from our Principal

What an incredible musical on stage last week! If you managed to come along, thank you for supporting the Performing Arts in our college. To have only three unsold seats over the four nights is something most high school shows can only dream of. We had a very talented group of students involved – on stage, in the sound box, working with the props, managing the lighting, in the band, helping with hair and makeup or costumes, and more....... Although we are well known for our strength in the Arts at Trinity, ‘The Little Mermaid’ certainly removed any doubt! Along with talented students, our hard-working staff and parents were thrilled with the product of many, many hours preparation. Thank you all so much for your generosity and drive for excellence. We are now looking forward to 2027!

Yesterday we celebrated Pink Shirt Day at Trinity, a day early due to the teacher only day today. There was so much pink around! It was great to see this global initiative being so well supported. Keep an eye on the Trinity Facebook page as we share photos with you.

Sadly, bullying continues in all parts of society – workplaces, homes, and schools. Social media has certainly not helped with the ability to take aim at people either subtly through emojis or likes, or overtly though damaging and targeted comments often written anonymously while hiding behind a coward’s keyboard. For example, there has been a significant amount of media discussion about the higher levels of bullying that female leaders receive as compared to men in similar positions. And then when gender and ethnicity are the reason for discrimination, prejudice, the impact can be very severe, and this has been the focus of the Waitangi Tribunal in the Mana Wāhine Kaupapa Inquiry this week. Bullying is defined as deliberate, with a power imbalance, repetitive, and belittling or demeaning. What can start as a power-play or for the entertainment of others can quickly encourage peers to join in and then the power imbalance becomes many against one. We often ‘tut-tut’ about online behaviour because these comments are very visible online, however it is worth remembering that this same sort of group behaviour is likely to be happening secretly in snapchat groups on your child’s phones in the middle of your living rooms. None of us are immune from this unfortunately. This is a conversation well worth having at home.

We work hard to ensure that our young men and women growing up together at Trinity learn quickly that we are all equal regardless of ethnicity or gender and that everyone deserves respect because they are made in the image and likeness of God. Our learning about the Catholic Social Teachings often focusses on Human Dignity and what that means. Being an upstander - not a bystander, walking away to show you don’t support someone’s behaviour, or getting support from others to discourage bad behaviour can be hard for a teenager who is looking for social acceptance and acknowledgement by peers, but ignoring it can begin a pattern of damaging behaviour that becomes normalised in their world. Let’s hope that the energy and support visible for our Pink Shirt Day yesterday, is the impetus for our children to reflect on the love, care, and mutual respect that is needed to develop positive peer relationships and a healthy society.

Nāku noa, nā

Kate Nicholson

Principal