Safe, Respectful Learners

Swimming Carnival

Students participated in our annual Swimming Carnival held at Merrylands Swim Centre in Week 2 of Term 1. Both staff and students had an enjoyable time, participating in a range of water activities from structured competition events to free swim with supervision. Students demonstrated their spirit of fair play by cheering on one another. A total of 10 students qualified for the Zone Swimming Carnival, progressing to represent Merrylands High School.

Open Girls Soccer Knockout Competition

On Friday, 22nd of March, a group of 18 students from Merrylands High School participated in the Open Girls Soccer Knockout Competition. It was an away game, hosted by Holroyd High School. Our team watched the first round between Holroyd and Glenmore Park. Ultimately, Glenmore Park prevailed and after 15 minutes of recovery, they played against our girls team.

We started off well, with our players holding their ground and even had a few shots at goal from our striker Soman. Unfortunately, Glenmore Park was able to take advantage of their experience and with our team letting some goals pass by, we were soon unable to catch up. Despite our amazing goalkeeper Liana saving many of the shots from Glenmore Park, we lost the match 0–4. Despite the disappointing result, it was still an exciting day for our players with the team arriving safely back at Merrylands just before lunch. The camaraderie within the team was superb!

Year 8 Human Body Systems

In science, Year 8 students started off the term studying the various systems of the human body, with a particular focus on the circulatory and respiratory systems. As an engagement activity and to assist students in accessing any prior knowledge, a life-sized model of the upper human body was used by students to explore and examine the various organs and how they are connected. By the end of the lesson, students competed against each other to see who can correctly reassemble the model.

Year 9 Pass It Back Program

Students in Physical Activity and Sports Studies have been participating in the Pass It Back Program which integrates rugby and life skills learning for children and young people from vulnerable communities who are new to rugby. This program supports them to overcome challenges, inspire positive social change, and take active leadership roles as a way to ‘pass it back’ to their communities.

Year 12 Music Excursion to Sydney Opera House for Encore 2024

On Monday, 4th of March, the Year 12 Music students travelled to the iconic Sydney Opera House for the evening session of Encore 2024, where they watched the top performances from the class of 2023. The students left the Opera House inspired and motivated to work hard on their performances and achieve their best in the Music course.

Brand New Gym Equipment

Students now have more opportunities to complete outdoor physical activities in the fresh air with the installation of brand new bodyweight gym equipment in the playground. It is a great reason to step outside the classroom, talk and interact with friends during break times and above all, get some exercise. Even light physical activity for students has a positive effect on the mind and body, as it activates the large muscle groups in the arms, legs and torso.

Year 9 Child Studies

Students in Year 9 studying Child Studies were assigned an assessment task requiring them to create dioramas of a child’s bedroom. They all worked really hard on this task, and shown below are a selection of some of the awesome work they have created. Well done girls!

Building a Rudimentary Atwood’s Machine in Physics

In the Dynamics module for Year 11 Physics, students study the motion and forces on objects. For expediency and convenience, digital simulations are used in class as it allows students to experience a wider variety of experimental setups, where influencing variables can be changed and altered as needed. At the suggestion of a student, a rudimentary Atwood’s machine was assembled in class to help students link the abstract concepts to the physical.

Parramatta Eels Girls 7s League Gala Day

A very big congratulations to our Girls 14 years tackle rugby league team, winning the Parramatta Eels Girls 7s League Gala Day for 2024. The girls displayed an exceptional skill level and teamwork, allowing them to remain undefeated in the competition, dominating all other schools they faced. The team was praised after each game for their hard play and their sporting spirit. They were successful in the final, with a 5–0 win over Greystanes High. A special thanks goes out to Shaddai in Year 11 for assisting and preparing the team for each game. We are all looking forward to the team’s next competition in Term 2.

International Women’s Day Incursion

Every year on the 8th of March we observe International Women’s Day, a global celebration where we mark the achievements of women in different fields: social, economical, political and cultural. This year, Merrylands High School celebrated the theme ‘Count Her In: Invest in Women. Accelerate Progress’ which aims to tackle economic disempowerment by focusing on the value of women’s inclusion, which helps to promote the sense of belonging, relevance, and empowerment.

This year on IWD, we invited some Merrylands High alumni and community guest speakers to address our female students and share their success stories, life journey so far, challenges and obstacles facing young adults today. These talks served to motivate our female students and provided them with different perspectives on life. Our female students gained powerful insights from the inspirational speeches and made meaningful connections with our guests. Some of the key messages from our speakers include:

• Education is the key which opens the doors to financial freedom as it is important for females to be financially independent.
• Hard work determines your success story so never shy away from giving your 100%.
• It’s OK to ask for help if needed and to find your voice.
• Do not lose hope.

Girls’ Adviser Team

Inclusive School Sports for L.E.A.P.

Students from Merrylands High School’s L.E.A.P. classes travelled to Sydney Olympic Park to participate in Inclusive School Sports this term. The students took part in a range of activities such as the 50 m, 100 m, and 200 m track events as well as javelin, long jump, shot put and discus.

Year 7 Science

This year, our Year 7 students kicked off their science journey with a bang! They dove into what it means to be a real scientist. Our Science Faculty set up a bunch of cool lab activities, letting students get their hands dirty (figuratively speaking!) with experiments. They got to explore the three states of matter – solids, liquids, and gases – and watched closely how particles move around when they get hot or cold. Students’ curiosity and eagerness reached new heights, particularly when introduced to Bunsen burners and other laboratory equipment. Eyes sparkled with intrigue as they lit the Bunsen burners for the first time, their faces illuminated by the gentle blue flame. Their hands-on work in the lab, manipulating variables and observing outcomes, instilled in them a scientist’s mindset: observant, inquisitive, and always hungry for discovery. This experience has laid a solid foundation for their future explorations in science, showing them that with curiosity and enthusiasm, the possibilities are endless.

Pulse Alive 2024 at Sydney Olympic Park

Merrylands High School was represented by 16 Dance Ensemble students when they performed at the Ken Rosewall Arena at Sydney Olympic Park on Friday, 15th March. They were a part of the massed dance ensemble cast, performing a jazz-style item called ‘Celestial’. All members of our dance ensemble were fantastic ambassadors for our school and performed at an exceptionally high level.

Co-curricular Rehearsals for Upcoming Dance Performances

Building on from the success of Pulse Alive 2024, all 16 members of the dance ensemble have been rehearsing during most recess breaks throughout Term 1 to work on and perfect their new dance items for the upcoming Synergy Public Schools Dance Festival and Our Spectacular 2024. They have recently auditioned for the Synergy Public Schools Dance Festival in Week 9, showcasing a contemporary dance routine, choreographed by Ms Dickie, called ‘Inner Strength’. We are all looking forward to these performance opportunities ahead in Terms 2 and 3.

BiG Day In @ University of Technology, Sydney

On March 21, a select group of senior students participated in an excursion to the Broadway campus of the University of Technology, Sydney for the ‘BiG Day In’, a careers conference, tailored for those aspiring to pursue careers in the STEM and computer technology sectors. The event proved to be a resounding success, offering students invaluable opportunities for engaging interactions with experts from prestigious companies and organisations such as Adobe, Australian Computer Society (ACS), Microsoft, Westpac, and Woolworths Group.

Let’s Get Tech Savvy

In Term 1, Year 11 students in Business Services learned a lot about using technology in workplaces. They practised writing professional emails, and business letters and designing flyers, which are important skills for modern jobs. One fun thing they did was creating their own electronic signatures for emails and documents, which made things more personal. They also talked about how to keep work communication safe and protect themselves from cyber attacks like phishing and spam. By completing the coursework and discussing openly about these topics, students got better at using technology in business and understanding how it affects the workplace today.

Senior Visual Arts Excursion to the Art Gallery of NSW

On Friday 5th April, students from Year 12 Visual Arts and the senior L.E.A.P. Art class went on an excursion to the Art Gallery of NSW with Mrs Ollivain and Mrs Overton. They braved the very wet weather to walk to the Art Gallery where they saw the giant Louise Bourgeois sculpture at the front of the gallery. They visited the Art Express exhibition featuring a selection of the outstanding HSC artworks, the Louise Bourgeois exhibition, the Indigenous gallery and some other artworks which they had studied in class. It was great to see the artworks and be awed by the size of some of them.