We are at the end of another school year, one that has been horrendous for so many in our community, none more than Trinity Catholic College.

Febraury 28 saw unprecedented water enter every part of the Dawson Street, College apart from 4 rooms. That is on both sides of the college. As the below photo remind us, Trinity was smashed beyond a quick repair.

If ever there was an example of leadership and resilience it was demonstrated through the likes of Principal Jesse Smith, Brother John Hilet and the many staff at Trinity Catholic College.

They had to find somewhere to house their approximate 1000 students in a short time and provide a space for Year 12 students to learn and study for their HSC exams. As many know, the result was a campus at Southern Cross University for Years 7 to 10 while Years 11 & 12 were based at Woodlawn College.

The Lismore App caught up with Principal Jesse Smith, fresh from an award ceremony in Sydney, to wrap up the year and provide an update for the future of the college.

This week,Trinity Catholic College received a Ministers Commendation for Resilience Award.

"This is a brand new award in its inaugural year, Jesse said, "And it was to recognise the resilience of the school community in supporting HSC students, but all students in getting through the natural disasters that we faced."

"There were a number of other North Coast schools that were obviously recognised, which is, as you know, a wonderful testament to all of the community holding it together and getting students, not only through their HSC but also through the academic year. So, we were recognised alongside a number of schools across the area."

"The Minister for Education is actually an ex student of Trinity, not that had anything to with the award, but she certainly knows our community and has been in touch quite regularly throughout the year. She is very supportive and spoke in quite high praise of what we have done, but also what the other schools up here, that have been forced to relocate and endure, everything associated with flooding has actually been through."

Can you try and summarise 2022?

"Often the word unprecedented is overused, but it's probably the most apt description because there was never, ever going to be a playbook for an event of this nature, let alone the consequences of the event in terms of the daily operation of a school and in some cases businesses. We had never experienced that before."

"I guess when I look back, I'm thankful for the work that the staff did to go above and beyond. I'm thankful for the patience and cooperation of our wonderful students and also the understanding and ongoing support and encouragement from our families and the broader community."

"I think that speaks to the strength of the North Coast community at large, it's not just something that's school specific. That's where I finish the year, with a really healthy sense of gratitude that we we got through it. It was not easy. No one would want to go back and do that again, but we endured and we got there, and we did it to the best of our ability and I think everyone deserves absolute praise for what they've done."

At the end of this school year, more than any other, teachers will be looking forward to their long holiday.

"Absolutely, I think the gratitude for everything that did happen is probably only outweighed by that sense of relief, but also weariness that we we made it. And yes, I'm sure many people, not just teachers, but many people across the area we very much looking forward to a Christmas break to rest and rejuvenate because whilst we have made it through this year, next year, I've got no doubt, will present challenges in its own right and we have to have the energy to move forward as a community."

Can you provide an update on the plans for Trinity in 2023 and beyond?

"There is probably two aspects to that. One is the bigger picture, which is really the domain of the the School Review Commission, which I assume will present some findings or recommendations back to the relevant parties and ultimately the Bishop, in the first quarter of next year. This will provide clarity that we don't currently have, to what the bigger picture looks like in you know 2024,5,6 and so on."

"So that's one layer, and then the second layer is really making sure that what we are currently dealing with in the short to medium term is as comfortable, functional and effective a learning environment as possible."

"So, we have a number of contractors already on site at SCU to continue to reshape the footprint that we have on that campus so that we have relevant learning spaces and specialist spaces, so that students in the new year can come back and their education can continue to the best possible extent whilst we're in these particular spaces."

"Those builders will be doing everything from building new general purpose classrooms through to creating new specialist spaces. We have specialist spaces going in for dance, for drama, for food technology, for music, additional TAS workshops that we have in both the wood and metal. Science we have had covered thanks to the donation of the the new demountables earlier this year, but there are a number of really specialist spaces that we have had in temporary form, but we need to position those so that their better for the new year."

"That's why those building teams will come in over the summer break. There are two different construction teams, who have started work now, then they will have a break between Christmas and New Year and then be back on deck at the very beginning of January. They will continue through until probably the end of February so that all those spaces are ready to go."

"Our students and staff will ultimately benefit for that as a medium-term outcome. That's a positive until we wait for those recommendations and some decisions with to the bigger picture."

The work will be in the R-Block precinct which is around the Whitebrook Theatre area at the top of SCU near the top car parks.

"There has been lot's of architectural designs as to how to maximise the use of that space and improve what is currently there, but also ensure that we can cater to the broad range of elective and specialist subjects that we are known for."

"I'm certainly confident, that once the final leg of the building work is done, it will be to the benefit of our students, our staff and ultimately to our community. So, we have a little bit further to go with the building, which will mean some flexibility is needed, particularly in the first part of term one, but I think at this point everyone in the community realises that there is a light at the end of this temporary tunnel and we're moving ever so closer to it."

For Year 11 & 12 students, 2023 will see them travel to Woodlawn once again.

"We built those brand new classrooms, I think it was in a 6-week timeframe at that campus, and then students have access beyond those general-purpose classrooms down into elective spaces, and that's been a great partnership that we've been able to forge there to allow particularly stage 6 HSC courses to continue and they have very specific requirements."

"So, when you were in the state that we were in, where we had a total loss of facilities, the need to actually get 140 HSC students across the line that necessitated that decision and thankfully the HSC students woke up to some really pleasing and positive results and it's a testament to everyone to make that possible over the last 11 months."

How did Trinity Catholic College HSC students fare in the 2022 results?

"We were very pleased and overjoyed with the results of this year's cohorts. We had 34 students from our year 12 cohort who were recognised as distinguished achievers with 64 individual Band 6 or E4 results, so, those results indicate that they achieved 90 or more in their courses."

"We had a significant number of courses, at least 5 marks above the state average, we were in the double digits of those courses. I'm sure plenty of year 12 students would have been anxious and nervous about what those results would have been but given the circumstances of this year's cohort, not just in the last 12 months but their entire school journey."

"They started with us in Year 7 for the 2017 flood, and then they had bushfires and COVID and more flooding. It's really a success story and to me, beyond all the numbers and statistics that will dominate the headlines, as I said to staff, every single one of those numbers actually has a face and a human being behind it and when you look at the individual success stories and what those students have over come personally and then academically as well, it's remarkable. We're very, very, very proud of them."

You would think that having got through the last six years unscathed and with positive HSC results, this group of graduates can accomplish anything.

(Laughing) "I did say to Year 12, and I say this every year, the difference between school and life is that at school you're taught the lessons that then ultimately your tested against it. In life you you're given the test that teaches you the lessons and I don't think that applies for this particular cohort."

"They have been tested time and time and time again, and they stayed the course. They continued to work really, really hard. They adapted, they did all sorts of things that plenty of previous cohorts were not expected to do. Yet, they turned around and gave their personal best and came out with really remarkable results. It's a testament to them, to their teachers and to their families that they did it."

The Trinity students began their school holidays on Wednesday while staff are have their final day today before a well earned rest.