Safe, Respectful Learners

Sri Lanka Lions Sports Club

At the last term break, our school was glad to assist the Sri Lanka Lions Sports Club host their Trivia Night in our hall. Like Merrylands High School, the club also shares and values diversity and believe in the power of sports to unite people together.

Year 10 and 11 Excursion to the University of Technology, Sydney

Our Year 10 and Year 11 students had the opportunity to visit the University of Technology, Sydney, where they actively participated in a diverse array of technological activities. Additionally, these students also took part in a diplomatic role-play exercise, assuming the roles of ambassadors representing various nations, engaging in negotiations with global leaders to craft environmentally sustainable policies. This multifaceted experience not only honed their budgetary acumen and financial literacy but also enhanced their communication competencies, equipping them with valuable skills for meaningful engagement within the broader community.

NAIDOC Week Celebrations

At the beginning of the term, Merrylands High School celebrated NAIDOC week with a range of activities. Students and staff from the L.E.A.P. faculty held a fundraiser for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. We had senior students selling cupcakes and muffins. Our Year 7 students were treated to an incursion run by the wonderful staff from the Wooglemai Environmental Education Centre, including a session learning how to throw a boomerang.

We also held a morning tea for our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, parents and carers. This was topped off with murals painted for the school by one of our Aboriginal family, featuring some handprints of our staff and students.

Heroes with Ability Program

Throughout the year, L.E.A.P. students have been involved in the fortnightly Heroes with Ability program at Merrylands High School. The program focuses on functional movement and exercise while promoting fun, inclusion, teamwork, communication and fitness.

Visit from Professor Maria Kavallaris AM

On August 3, students and staff had the pleasure of welcoming Professor Maria Kavallaris AM back to Merrylands High School. In additional to being an alumna of Merrylands High, Prof Kavallaris is also the Founding Director of the Australian Centre for NanoMedicine at the University of New South Wales and Head of the Translational Cancer Nanomedicine Theme at the Children’s Cancer Institute. Her multidisciplinary research in cancer nanomedicine, biology and therapeutics is internationally recognised.

Our seniors and select Year 9 and 10 students were invited to Prof Kavallaris’ presentation where she spoke about her journey from Merrylands High to becoming a medical research pioneer. She also gave them a glimpse into her scientific world where her innovative research has the potential to positively impact cancer-sufferers everywhere.

Year 11 Biology Excursion to Taronga Zoo

On a glorious winter’s day, Year 11 Biology students went on their programmed Taronga Zoo excursion. The students enjoyed exploring the zoo and attending the world class education centre, covering key outcomes from the Biological Diversity module and getting up close and personal with some cute and scary animals.

Performance at the Opening of the Merrylands Civic Square

On August 4th, selected MHS Dance Ensemble students and Year 11 musicians helped with the Opening Showcase of the new community space at Merrylands Civic Square. Students did an outstanding job representing themselves and our school at this much anticipated community event.

Year 11 Life Ready Excursion

In August, Year 11 students participated in the bstreetsmart program, an excursion at Sydney Olympic Park to wrap up their Life Ready course, designed to prepare and support them as they become more independent. This program afforded students a valuable opportunity to gain a deeper appreciation for the significance of safe driving practices. Furthermore, it provided them with insights into the pivotal roles played by emergency services, including the police, ambulance, and fire and rescue NSW.

During this excursion, students were exposed to poignant accounts from families who had tragically lost their loved ones in accidents. These heart-wrenching narratives elicited a strong sense of empathy among the students, prompting them to share their thoughts and sentiments with their peers.

Library Resources Supporting Student Learning

With Term 3 being the final term for Year 12 students to prepare for the HSC, the library has offered a full range of 2023 HSC study guides to support students with their preparations for their final exams. These student guides include the NESA past papers with marker’s guide and samples of actual student answers, ATAR complete course notes and sample questions, along with Cambridge Dot Point guides and Excel sample papers with answers. The texts have been well received by students.

Australian History Competition

Last term, 27 students from Years 7-10 took part in the Australian History Competition. This is a nation-wide event in which students sit an Australian history multiple-choice quiz based on historical sources. The school received the results back in mid Term 3 and all students did an outstanding job and made the school proud. A special mention should be given to Andrew Lu, Omar Salami and Eric Chen for receiving a distinction mark in the competition.

Year 7 Art Gallery of NSW Incursion

Education staff from the Art Gallery of NSW have reached out to us, seeking to form a partnership and working with our students on art-making strategies. It culminated in an incursion for our Year 7 students on Thursday, 24th August, where they participated in a Pathways session with the Education staff from the Art Gallery of NSW. Students were introduced to the Art Gallery of NSW and the artworks of Shireen Taweel. This visit will be followed up by an excursion to the Art Gallery next term where they will meet the artist. Students enjoyed making patterned paper artworks which projected shadows.

Merrylands World Cup Competition

Merrylands High School students competed in our Merrylands World Cup Competition to celebrate the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Across the 3 days, students participated in a round-robin tournament competing against different teams in their year group to earn points for their representative country. Well done to team Portugal for winning the overall competition.

Year 9 Commerce Excursion to The Smith Family

Year 9 commerce students from the HSIE Faculty attended a two day excursion to the city, organised by The Smith Family. Students engaged in various team building and problem-solving activities and were awarded certificates of completion. The purpose of the excursion was to create an awareness of the various career pathways students can follow and to learn about the behind-the-scene activities of charitable organisations.

L.E.A.P. Excursion to Old Government House

On the 31st of August, junior L.E.A.P. students went on an excursion to Old Government House in Parramatta for their Community Access. Students were provided with an insight into the school lives of primary-aged children in the early 1800s and the daily lives of the masters and servants who lived and worked at Old Government House at this time.

Year 11 Care Community Visit

As a part of the GEN Connect Project, our Year 11 students participated in a visit to a Care Community in Chiswick. The purpose of the visit was to apply the skills and knowledge that the students had acquired during the Skills Immersion Excursion held in Term 2 this year.

During the visit, the students had the opportunity of engaging with the residents of the facility through a range of activities. It was heartwarming to witness the compassionate and empathetic nature of our students as they interacted with the elderly residents. In a remarkable display of teamwork and creativity, the students collaborated with the residents to craft beautiful greeting cards. Furthermore, they had the opportunity to actively listen to the stories and experiences shared by the residents.

The outcomes of this visit were not only educational but profoundly meaningful. The meeting brought an immense sense of joy and companionship to the elderly residents, fostering a deep sense of connection between generations. It was an enriching experience for all involved and exemplified the spirit of community and giving that defines the GEN Connect Project.

L.E.A.P. Career Expo

On Friday, 6 September, a Career Expo was organised for L.E.A.P. students at Merrylands High School to provide information to parents about their child’s post-school options. Various stakeholders presented information on the day, including Ability Options, Granville TAFE, NOVA Employment, Centrelink, Ability Connex, Northcott, and What Ability. In addition, several parents and carers attended on the day and enquired about various post-school options for their children.

Stage 5 Drama and Movement

Drama and Movement students were privileged to view and work with the Fools in Progress Theatre Company to extend their knowledge and understanding of the theatre style commedia dell'arte, which forms a part of the Stage 5 curriculum.

Learning in the Library ‒ 7ENR Research Task

As an outcome of the Quality Teaching Rounds (QTR), English teacher Ms Cirillo in 7ENR, collaborated with the teacher librarian, Mr Kay, to develop a research task for students to deepen their understanding of the refugee and migrant experience, and develop their research skills using the school library. Students were involved in using the search terms ‘migration’, ‘refugee’, ‘immigration’, and ‘ten-pound pom’ in Oliver, to reveal 189 resources which included books and websites linked to these search terms. Students then selected one of these resources and completed a research activity where they needed to acknowledge the source and then recorded relevant information about the experience of these people.

Year 11 and 12 PDHPE Excursion to Rock Climbing and Flip Out

Year 11 and 12 PDHPE classes went rock climbing and to Flip Out this term as part of their Fitness unit of work. The students challenged themselves and learned new skills. It was a fun and enjoyable day for all those who attended. Check it out!

Community of School ‒ Creative and Performing Arts Showcase

On Tuesday 29 August In Week 7, students from Merrylands High School were fortunate to teamed up with other students from Granville South CAPA High School and Hill Top Public School for a live, evening showcase featuring the talents of our performing arts students within our communities.

We had an audience turn out of approximately 400 people, who were entertained to say the least by our dancers, actors and musicians.

SRC Excursion to the School Students’ Forum

A group of Year 10 SRC students attended the School Student’s Forum held at Western Sydney University’s Parramatta South Campus. There to share their inspirational journeys were all four recipients of the 2023 NSW Australian of the Year Awards. Students had the privilege of meeting the award recipients and being inspired by their motivational stories of service to the community. Whilst at the university, students had the chance to go for an hour-long university campus tour.

Year 11 Preliminary Examination

In Weeks 9 and 10, Year 11 students sat their Preliminary examinations. This exposure to a formal examination setting will serve to familiarise them with the expectations associated with the Higher School Certificate in 2024. Additionally, these examinations helped to enhance students’ skills in time management, punctuality, and their adherence to established examination procedures. We look forward to a successful transitioning of Year 11 students to Year 12 in Term 4.

Our Spectacular 2023 @ Sydney Opera House

On the evening of the 21st September, the Sydney Opera House played host to Our Spectacular 2023. It was particularly memorable this year as our very own Ms Dickie, Head Teacher of CAPA, was given the  opportunity to produce the event as Production Manager. She also choreographed the Mass Finale routine for the event, leading over 1800 students from across the state.

Ms Dickie also choreographed the dance item ‘Gatsby Girls’ for our 18 Merrylands High School Dance Ensemble students. These students worked tirelessly throughout the year preparing for this event and earning their spot on stage after going through two rounds of the audition process. They performed at an outstanding level and should be proud of their achievements.