Term 2 Merit Assembly

Congratulations to all the students who received an award at our Semester Two Merit Assembly. A special mention to the students who received the Gold, Silver or Bronze Medallion award for their year group. All recipients have been recognised and awarded for their Safe, Respectful Learner attitude and commitment.

Celebrating 'National Sorry Day' in the Library

For National Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week, the school library presented a display of books which showcased some of the 686 resources available relating to the topic of Aboriginal Rights and Reconciliation. Titles of the books on display included 'First Peoples’, ‘Reconciliation’, ‘Australian’s Unwritten History’, and ‘Legends of our Land’. All of the titles can be located on the Oliver Merrylands High School website looking under the search term ‘Aboriginal’.

Year 9 Science - Biotic and Abiotic

Year 9 Science students at Merrylands High School are currently learning about the impact we have on the environment around us. This is driven by our need to ensure that our natural environment is conserved and maintained for future generations. To achieve this, students first gain a scientific understanding of how different biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) factors interact and influence one another in an ecosystem. Students do this by conducting hands-on activities, such as using scientific equipment and techniques to measure some abiotic factors in and around our school. These include using chemical indicators to measure the acidity of soil, instruments to measure humidity and temperature, light meters to measure the amount of sunlight and collecting soil samples to find the level of moisture in the ground. Some students were also shown how to use apps on their phones to take measurements using built-in sensors inside their smart devices, like air pressure, magnetic field and even the pitch and volume of sound!

Year 10 Investigating Science

Year 10 Investigating Science students at Merrylands High School are investigating the effectiveness of antibacterial soap versus hand sanitiser. Now more than ever, we are all realising the importance of maintaining good hygiene to stay healthy. It is commonly claimed that washing your hands with soap and water is better than using an alcohol-based hand sanitiser. Our Investigating Science students are testing this claim by culturing bacteria from their hands before and after cleaning with antibacterial soap and hand sanitiser. After incubating for a week, the students found that there was a small difference between the two in terms of bacterial growth, with hand sanitiser winning out! But of course when it comes to keeping hands clean and hygienic, using soap or sanitiser is better than not using anything at all. As a side experiment, students also tested the bacterial growth on their most prized possession – their mobile phones! If you need yet another reason to use your phones less, see the photos!

Year 12 Aboriginal Studies - HSC Major Projects

As part of the Stage 6 HSC Aboriginal Studies course, students are required to conduct an individual study on a topic of interest. Year 12 Aboriginal Studies students showcased their HSC Major Projects to the school community, sharing and displaying their expertise on their distinctive inquiries. Students applied their individual skill sets to authentically present their research findings in the forms of artworks, magazines and written reports. The Year 12 Aboriginal Studies students are to be congratulated upon their extraordinary achievements and devotion towards the successful completion of their HSC Major Projects.

Collaboration in Business Services

The current Year 12 Business Services students are completing their Cluster E – Working Effectively with Others Task. They are expected to create a 3-D model of an animal for a sporting organisation. Throughout the term, the students have equipped themselves with knowledge and abilities to work dynamically. It is a task that assesses their collaboration and creativity. A range of skills the students are utilising will prove to be useful within any workplace setting.

Exploring Ceramics in Visual Arts

Throughout Term Two in Visual Arts our Year 7 and Year 11 students have been exploring ceramic sculptures and sculpting techniques with clay. Year 7 students have explored creating Mythological Creatures in clay using form and texture. Year 11 Visual Arts have been exploring portraits and some students have taken on the challenge of creating a ceramic bust. Hanaan in Year 11 bravely created a plaster mold of her face that she later filled with clay to replicate her face and creature a self-portrait sculpture.

Year 9 studying William Shakespeare

This term in English, Year 9 students have been studying plays written by William Shakespeare. Students are expanding their understanding of the Elizabethan era through close study of these texts from the literary canon. They are developing their understanding of characterisation and learning how to read dialogue with appropriate tone and pace. It is really exciting to see their enthusiasm in the classroom.

Can you measure the height of a tree without climbing to the top?

Our Year 9 and 10 students have been discovering trigonometry and developing their skills to be able to find the length of unknowns. Our students participated in outdoor activities whereby they calculated the height of the buildings, trees and the AFL posts. These activities involved using a clinometer and trundle wheel and allowed the students to develop their problem solving and communication skills as well as their team work. The Mathematics Faculty are proud of the efforts that Year 9 and 10 have put into developing their skills and applying their knowledge to real life scenarios.

Inquiry- based learning

The students in LT5 class have been engaged through inquiry-based learning in Geography. In Term One the students investigated a small area near the canteen where many students spend their recess and lunch time. The LT5 students noticed that the sitting area is too crowded as seen in the picture below. Some of the tables needed to be fixed with bolts as well. They collected data on the ecology and structure of the sitting area by taking pictures of the sitting area. The students were actively engaged in their investigation and developed an information report. In the report they made suggestions to make the sitting area environmentally friendly. They liaised with the school principal, Mr Prasad and shared their future vision to make the sitting area comfortable and user friendly for students. Mr Prasad ensured the students that their inquiry will be followed up.

In Term Two the students were notified by their teacher that their request to make changes in the sitting area has been met and the sitting area was transformed into a user friendly area. The tennis tables have been located in a separate space leaving more room for the sitting area. LT5 students are very pleased with the positive outcome of their inquiry-based project.

Through this project, the students were engaged in deep learning by discovering the geographical structure of the school. They developed their teamwork skills by working in collaboration with others by thinking, talking, liaising with senior executives, and engaged in a community of practice. The students applied their knowledge and skills in the conceptual understanding of the subject area and achieved great outcomes and a heightened sense of self-esteem. Lachlan, Andrew, Joshua and Christopher said a huge thank you to Mr Prasad for being part of the project!

From Joshua: “it was very crowded but not anymore”.

From Lachlan: “It had a lack of space but now it’s very space full and fun”.

From Christopher: “I like how it turned out”.

From Andrew: “I like the change, though the table tennis courts under the canvas shade is better than the tin roof’’.

LT5 Team

Ms Thethi

Archibull Prize

During Term One and Term Two, our Art Club students have been given the opportunity to participate in the Archibull Prize. Our students have been learning a lot about our world through the Prize’s initiatives and learning areas. Our students had narrowed the topics down to two, “Climate Change” and “Life Under the Sea”. We explored the two different topics in depth, but the students chose to focus on “Life Under the Sea”. The past few lunchtimes we have been drawing up designs that convey the theme that the students have chosen. The theme challenges us to think about where our food comes from (overfishing), where out waste goes, and how our climate affects oceanic ecosystems. The students are also learning about different art styles. Many of the designs are cartoony or “disneyfied”, whereas others are more realistic. We have yet to decide on a final design, but we are very eager to get started!

To watch the full video of our Archibull arriving, go to our Facebook page or Instagram.

Year 7 Technology Mandatory Spaghetti Bridges

This semester Year 7 have been studying Engineered Systems in Technology Mandatory. In this experiment, students investigated how a seemingly brittle material such as spaghetti could be used in a bridge design by using structural trusses to distribute force. They used their understanding of physics and numeracy skills in planning their spaghetti bridge and their practical skills in construction.

Visual Design Sneakers

Students in Year 11 and 12 Visual Design classes have been designing sneakers.

Here are some of the creative results.

Students working together in the kitchen

Some of our students from across all grades worked together on making pesto for the Athletics Carnival. They collected herbs from the school's herb garden to put into the pesto. They also made chocolate and coconut balls and assisted in prepping ingredients for sandwiches. These students are to be commended on their efforts and excellent team work.

Year 7 French Day

Our Year 7 students experienced a true cultural experience in their language classes. Students spent time speaking about the food (croissants) and how it originated. The students used their new language skills to enact a conversation between a shopkeeper and customer to show how they could ask for items for breakfast. The Deputies Ms Mazzollini and Mr Wark were also invited for the presentation and enjoyed the cultural immersion with the students.

Holiday Programs

Cumberland City Council's FREE school holiday clinics.