Dear families and friends of Merino Consolidated School,

Enrolments for 2027

We are now accepting enrolment enquiries for the 2027 school year. If you know of any family or are considering enrolling your child at Merino Consolidated School, we warmly invite you to contact the school to arrange a visit, meet our staff and learn more about what we have to offer. For more information or to enquire about enrolment, please contact the school office. We look forward to welcoming new families to our school community.

Buildings & Grounds Update

We have recently installed blinds on all the windows in the hall. This will help the audience and students see the screen when we use this at the end of year concert and other school events held in the hall.

The new bus shed is nearing completion. We are currently waiting for the ground to dry out, so Sheds Galore can arrange the concrete base to be poured. Additional drainage works will also be completed before the project is finalised.

Taekwondo Kicks Off at Merino Consolidated School

This term, our students have been enjoying the exciting opportunity to participate in Taekwondo through funding provided by the Sporting Schools Program. Throughout the sessions, students have been developing their balance, coordination, agility and fitness while learning the importance of respect, self-discipline, perseverance and self-control.

These values align closely with our school expectations of Be a Learner, Be Safe, Be Respectful. It has been wonderful to see their confidence grow as they encourage one another and celebrate each other's achievements. Master Mukhtar from Hamilton Palace Martial Arts is our instructor

School Community Breakfast

In the first week of the term, we celebrated our new term and welcomed Mr Potter to our amazing school with students, families and staff coming together to enjoy a delicious breakfast before the start of our school day.

The breakfast provided a great opportunity for everyone to connect in a relaxed and welcoming environment, catch up with friends and celebrate our school community. It was lovely to see so many smiling faces sharing a meal and starting the day together. A sincere thank you to the staff and volunteers who helped prepare, cook and serve breakfast and to everyone who assisted with the clean-up afterwards. Your support is greatly appreciated and helps make these community events such a success.

Kitchen Garden Update

Our students have had another busy and productive day in the Kitchen Garden, taking part in gardening, cooking and hands-on science activities. Miss Purnell showed students how to make seed bombs to help establish new plants in the garden and pinecone bird feeders to support our local birdlife. Along the way, students learned about the important role birds play in our ecosystem, including helping with pollination, seed dispersal and natural pest control.

Our red spring onions, purple cauliflower and sprouting broccoli have grown well and are now ready to be transplanted into the garden beds. Students carefully planted them out and are looking forward to watching them continue to thrive. We also sowed seeds for celery, red onions and freckled lettuce in our mini greenhouses. With plenty of care, water and sunshine, we hope to have another healthy crop ready for planting in the coming weeks.

VSBA Building Works Update

We have had lots of tradespeople here over the last few weeks, with lots of jobs completed. Unfortunately, the weather has delayed some progress. The chimney at the back of the kitchen had been rendered and painted, the scaffolding will be dismantled soon, the roof on the classrooms has been cleaned and plumbing works completed, skylights in the student toilets have been replaced, gutters on the Library/Art/kitchen have been removed and will be replaced.

I would like to sincerely thank our families and school community for your support and understanding during the recent industrial action. Your patience, flexibility and ongoing support were greatly appreciated.

Ms Ferrier

Principal

'Just a Farmer'