Meriden School

"He tends his flock like a shepherd; he gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart." Isaiah 40:11

Meriden hosted Back to Meriden Day, welcoming Alumnae from across the years to reconnect with the School they once called home.

The day brought Old Girls together for a chapel service, a tour of the school led by our Year 10 Ambassadors, a shared lunch, and an archival display celebrating the rich heritage and growth of Meriden over the decades. The display offered a fascinating window into the school's history, featuring photographs, uniforms, student planners, pins, medals and original building plans that traced the journey of this community from its earliest days to the present.

At Meriden, we believe that the relationships and values formed within our school community do not end at graduation. Our Old Girls carry the Meriden story with them, and days like these are a reminder of the enduring bonds that faith, education and shared experience create across generations.

A sincere thank you to the Meriden Old Girls' Union for organising such a meaningful occasion, and to every Old Girl who returned to be part of it. Grounded in faith and connected across generations, the Meriden community continues to thrive.

House spirit, personal bests and one very memorable teacher versus student race.

Across the day, our Junior School girls competed in sprints from 100 to 200 metres, long jump, shot put and discus, showcasing the athleticism and determination they have developed throughout the year. House relays brought the energy to a peak, with every girl cheering her teammates home with enthusiasm and pride.

The House cheering competition was a highlight in itself, with each House bringing creativity, volume and unmistakable spirit to the stands. The race of the ten fastest girls drew an electric crowd, while the much-anticipated teacher versus student race delivered one of the day's standout moments. We're pleased to report that the students won decisively.

Days like these remind us that sport at Meriden is about so much more than competition. It is about courage, community and celebrating one another's efforts every step of the way.

Our Year 3 girls explored the forces that have shaped our land for thousands of years. 🌏🪨

Through a hands-on Science incursion, our girls were introduced to weathering and erosion, beginning with Aboriginal Dreaming stories that offer a profound cultural perspective on the creation of our landforms and deep connection to Country. Moving through investigations with soils, sediments and rocks, they explored how wind, water and living things have slowly and continuously shaped the Earth's surface over time.

Each girl created her own colours of Australia clay artwork, reflecting on the global significance of ochre and its meaning for local Aboriginal Peoples.

A session that wove together science, culture, art and Country in a way our Year 3 girls will not forget.

Our Year 8 girls recently took part in the Young Change Agents Impact Boss Discovery Workshop, and what they came up with was nothing short of inspiring.

Working in teams, our girls were challenged to identify real problems in their community and develop creative solutions using design thinking. From understanding empathy and defining problems, to ideating, prototyping and presenting, the workshop developed the kind of entrepreneurial mindset, teamwork and problem-solving skills that extend well beyond the classroom.

Watching our girls identify challenges in the world around them and ask "how might we fix this?" is a reminder of the extraordinary potential within our Meriden community. We cannot wait to see where their ideas take them.

Two Meriden cadets, WO2 Keira and CPL Juliet, were selected to represent the Trinity Grammar School Army Cadet Unit at the Chief of Army Cadet Team Challenge at Kokoda Barracks in Queensland.

The CACTC is one of Australia's most prestigious cadet competitions, bringing together capable young cadets from across Australia and New Zealand to test leadership, teamwork and military skills over a demanding 48-hour challenge. This year marked the very first time TGSACU had competed in the national event, making Keira and Juliet's selection all the more significant.

Across a 33-kilometre loop track, the girls completed ten activities including first aid, stretcher carries, navigation, roadblock construction, zipline building and an Army obstacle course, each one demanding communication, critical thinking and resilience under pressure.

In WO2 Keira's words: "Overall, CACTC was an unforgettable experience that challenged us in many ways. We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity and are excited to take our experiences back to our unit."

Congratulations, Keira and Juliet. We are so grateful for the courage and commitment you brought to this challenge.

National Science Week is underway at Meriden, and our Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten girls could not have had a more joyful introduction to the week. 💛🔬

The Ranger Science Show visited our Lingwood girls, bringing with it the exciting experiments. Dry ice explosions, balloon and the making of crunchy snow filled the room with gasps, laughter and a whole lot of excitement. Our girls bravely stepped forward to demonstrate, and participated in the experiments alongside the ranger, learning firsthand what it means to be a scientist.

Seeing our youngest learners engage so fearlessly and with such genuine curiosity was a beautiful reminder of why hands-on science experiences matter. When girls are given the chance to explore, to ask questions and to discover things for themselves, that seed of curiosity grows.

We are so grateful to the Ranger Science Show for bringing this experience to Meriden and for sparking a love of science in our littlest girls right from the very start.

Meriden's Junior School Move-A-Thon was a day where every girl, from Kindergarten to Year 6, came together in the spirit of joy, movement and friendship.

Across the field, our girls took part in relay races, egg and spoon races, ladder ball, rhythmic gymnastics, rugby goal kicking and soccer goalkeeping. And woven through it all was something even more special, as our Year 5 and 6 girls stepped up to guide their Kindergarten and Year 1 buddies through each activity, cheering them on every step of the way.

Watching those friendships in action was a gift. This is the Meriden community at its best.

Our 14th annual Science Showcase celebrated the very best of Science and STEM at Meriden. 💛🔭

Students from Years 7, 9 and 10 presented their work to our school community, with projects assessed by four Alumnae judges currently working and studying in STEM fields, alongside special guest Belinda Zhang, a CSIRO STEM Professional.

The showcase featured handmade machines, first-hand scientific investigations, science-related student artwork, and our Science Club girls putting their hand-built bridges to the test. Visitors also joined in a LEGO building competition, while the outstanding projects of our Year 8 STEMship Enterprise students and Year 9 and 10 iSTEM students highlighted the innovation, creativity and entrepreneurial thinking fostered through our STEM programs.

One of the evening's most anticipated moments was the unboxing of Meriden's brand-new telescope. 🌟 The People's Choice Award results are still to come.

Congratulations to every girl who shared her ideas, curiosity and passion through this year's showcase.

Vale Miss Joy Fox

It is with sadness that we share the passing of Miss Joy Fox, Headmistress of Meriden from 1961 to 1965.

Miss Fox led the School during a pivotal period in its history, making a lasting contribution to the Meriden community through her leadership, vision, and dedication to the education of girls.

Described as ‘energetic with a bubbly personality and popular with girls and staff alike’, Miss Fox worked tirelessly to strengthen relationships within the Meriden community and foster a positive environment for students and staff.

During her tenure, Meriden continued to grow, with the purchase of a number of surrounding properties and significant building developments, including the completion of a new library in 1961 and the expansion of the science building in 1964.

We extend our sincere condolences to Miss Fox’s family and loved ones and give thanks for her service to Meriden.

Reference: Cooke, A. (1997). Visions of Parnassus. Meriden School.

We are delighted to share that Mrs Alexandra Phillips has been recognised with the IAAC Teacher Award by the International Astronomy and Astrophysics Competition.🌟🔭

Mrs Phillips serves as Science Teacher and Coordinator of Learning Link - Innovation at Meriden, where she has been instrumental in bringing astronomy and astrophysics to life for students across Years 7 to 12 through the IAAC. Her work has fostered a culture of curiosity, collaboration, and student agency that extends well beyond the science classroom.

What inspires Mrs Phillips most? Empowering Meriden students to turn their innovative ideas into reality, she says.

"What inspires me most is empowering Meriden students to turn their innovative ideas into reality. Whether helping students bring bees to campus, secure a telescope, or plan a garden, I've been fortunate to work with colleagues whose expertise and collaboration make those opportunities possible."

This award is a meaningful recognition of a teacher who consistently puts student opportunity at the centre of everything she does. Congratulations, Mrs Phillips.