Course Selection: Information

Information

Curriculum Overview

At Trinity College Year 9 students study a number of compulsory or core subjects and have an excellent range of elective subjects from which to choose. The combination of core and elective subjects provide for the interests and academic needs of all students.

Students choose six elective subjects, or six units (6U) over the year, three units in each semester.

Invitation only electives require confirmation of eligibility via the relevant Head of Learning Area.

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Becoming Men Programme

The Becoming Men program assists the Year 9 students in becoming strong, healthy purposeful students that grab the opportunities the College offers, ultimately becoming a passionate member of society in the tradition of Edmund Rice. 

French anthropologist, Arnold van Gennep, first coined the phrase ‘Rites de Passage’ in the nineteenth century after he found that all traditional societies had a ‘ritual way of creating a passage to pass from one stage in life to the next’. These traditional societies had very specific ceremonies and events which marked the passing of a young boy into manhood as they understood that this psychological shift had to occur at the same time as the physical transformation. Whilst in modern society we have common rites of passage such as graduations, first achievements and weddings, an absence of a formal rite of passage marking a boy’s move into young adulthood means that our boys are often left to create these rites of passage themselves at significant risk to their own and others’ wellbeing. 

Becoming Men aims to provide a healthy and respectful Rite of Passage program which enables students to safely discover their emerging identity as they experience the physiological and psychological changes that are occurring within them. Whilst the program is mostly facilitated in class once a week as a part of the pastoral care program, we will be calling on parents and other significant figures in each boy’s life to participate and contribute. The role of the parents and influential role models is vital in helping shape boys into young men who have a firm grasp on who they are, who they want to be, and how they can get there. 

The program also involves a series of ceremonies and events which highlight key virtues that are important for our boys to develop as they mature. We highlight the importance of father-figures, mother-figures, women and role models through these ceremonies and events, and spend time in the lead up to these occasions discussing and reflecting on those people. 

James Stenson’s ‘Compass’ and David Isaacs’ ‘Character Building’ have been key guides in how we set about building Virtues in the students. 

• Generosity 
• Fortitude 
• Optimism 
• Faith 
• Trust 
• Perseverance 
• Responsibility 
• Sincerity 
• Modesty 
• Flexibility 
• Loyalty 
• Patience 
• Moderation 
• Bravery 
• Self-Worth 

These virtues are crucial for teenagers to develop good character, so they can be mentally equipped to make wise, moral decisions and overcome any obstacles life throws their way. Not only will they end up leading happier lives; they will end up leading more successful lives. 

Good character does not happen on its own; it is the result of years of learned behaviour as well as strong mentoring. Our aim is to cultivate characteristics that are proven to strengthen resilience and good mental health. Our hope is that it will inspire a generation of young men to honour themselves, their elders and their future. Whilst the boys might not immediately understand or appreciate what we are trying to instil in them throughout the process, ideally your adult son will thank you for it someday.

Further information on the Pastoral Care programmes offered by Trinity College can be found here.