Year 7 HPE – “Game On, Health Strong!”
2025 was an energetic and enriching year for our Year 7 Health and Physical Education students. In Term 1, students hit the ground running, learning the rules and skills of Oztag. From tagging drills to full games, they built teamwork and coordination. They also learnt about personal development in the classroom, engaging in a wide variety of activities to explore the changes they may face during puberty and developing strategies to manage these effectively.
Term 2 brought a shift in focus with a brand new Wellness unit, encouraging students to explore their dimensions of health (physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and mental). Through engaging class discussions and practical activities, students learned how to maintain their overall wellbeing and why this is important. On the court, students competed in a spirited netball competition, developing tactical awareness and sportsmanship through not only participating, but taking on leadership roles such as umpire, captain and coach.
In Term 3, our Let’s Be Safe unit encouraged creativity and collaboration. Students designed and built educational board games to teach their peers about cyber safety, body image, and respectful relationships, a standout highlight for many! Finally, Term 4 saw students developing a gymnastics routine, showcasing coordination, balance, and rhythm. They also honed their interpersonal and strategic skills in cricket and t-ball.
This year, Year 7 HPE gave students a strong foundation in physical activity, health education, and life skills. Whether playing, creating, or reflecting, students embraced each challenge with energy and enthusiasm. We can’t wait to see what they’ll achieve in the years to come!
Year 8
Year 8 PE began with the Fancy Footwork unit, where students learnt gameplay and skills in AFL and soccer. We also had expert coaches from Ainslie Football Club attend and run highly fun and engaging clinics. We wrapped up Term 1 exploring positive relationships. Term 2 focused on fitness and health, where students designed skipping routines whilst understanding how exercise affects heart rate in the Feeling Fit and Well unit. Term 3 introduced net sports through Over the Net, playing badminton and pickleball, alongside an important health and safety unit, which included vaping education workshops from the Cancer Council. Finally, as the weather warmed, students dived into a Volleyball SEPEP unit, learning teamwork, leadership, and various roles on the court.
Year 9
This year in Year 9 PE was action-packed from start to finish! We kicked things off with the exciting unit Just Stick It, where students dived into fast-paced games of lacrosse and hockey, balancing competition with teamwork and sportsmanship. Combined with a nutrition unit, students were able to look more at requirements of an athlete.
Next up was flag football, a growing sport from the U.S. that had everyone strategizing and designing their own set plays to score touchdowns. There were some incredible plays and standout moments on the field!
During Term 3 in Health and Physical Education, Year 9 students have explored a Health Minds and Bodies unit; taking part in either Yoga or Boxing, both chosen to support not only physical fitness but also their mental wellbeing. They have been working on a plan to create their own Yoga and Boxing routines to perform at the end of term. This unit has encouraged students to reflect on how physical activity has a positive impact on our mental health. In Health, students have been exploring important mental health concepts such as mindfulness, resilience, stress management, and understanding stigma and stereotypes. Together, these lessons are helping students strengthen both body and mind, while learning valuable skills for their everyday lives.
The year concluded with a Team Sports unit featuring the Indigenous game Buroinjin, where students worked together in roles, enhancing their collaboration and leadership skills.
Year 10
Year 10 HPE this year offered students a wide variety of opportunities to be active, creative, and challenged in new ways.
We began the year with a student-led Sports Education unit where students organised an Oztag and Volleyball competition. Through this unit they demonstrated leadership and teamwork, wore funky team costumes, and even wrangled sponsorship deals to gain advantages in the competition. We then wound the clock back to an 80s styled aerobics unit that focused on sports-inspired aerobics movements. Students learnt routines led by staff before creating and leading their class through their own performances. It was a unit full of energy, creativity, and fitness fun. Following this, we moved into a health block that explored healthy relationships, focusing on how to stay safe and make responsible decisions in different situations. To finish the year, students took part in a unit on inclusion in sport, experiencing the thrill of adaptive and inclusive activities such as wheelchair basketball, goalball, and sitting volleyball, gaining insight into the importance of accessibility in physical activity.
Overall, Year 10 HPE has been an exciting mix of experiences that not only built skills and knowledge, but also inspired students to stay active, collaborate, and embrace the value of health and wellbeing.
Year 9 Sports Science – “Train Smart, Play Smarter”
Year 9 Sports Science students had a dynamic and high-performance year, taking a deep dive into the science behind athletic training, recovery, and competition. In Semester 1, students explored the foundations of exercise programming. They learned how to structure gym workouts to meet specific fitness goals and had the chance to implement these programs in the school fitness centre. Through regular sessions and reflection, students tracked their progress and gained a better understanding of goal setting and physical adaptation.
Alongside training, students studied recovery methods such as compression, hydrotherapy, and nutrition strategies, discovering how essential recovery is for optimal performance. They looked at how elite athletes use these tools to stay at the top of their game.
Semester 2 shifted focus to the mental game. The Mind Matters unit allowed students to explore how factors like motivation, anxiety, focus, and arousal levels affect athlete preparedness and competition performance. Students examined case studies, reflected on their own experiences, and considered the importance of mental strategies in sport.
To wrap up the year, students took charge in a competition design unit. In small groups, they created, planned, and delivered their own mini sport tournaments for classmates. This gave students the opportunity to showcase their leadership, creativity, and communication skills.
Sport and Recreation
Year 11 Sport & Recreation – “From the Gym to the Community”
The Year 11 Sport and Recreation class spent 2025 both sweating it out and stepping up as leaders in the community. In Semester 1, students immersed themselves in an Applied Sport and Fitness unit that took them beyond the classroom. Through excursions to local fitness centres, including Pole Fitness, FLY Bungee Fitness, and Silk Fitness, they discovered the diverse pathways of the fitness industry. Students gained firsthand experience in what it takes to become a personal trainer or group fitness instructor and had opportunities to plan and lead both individual and group sessions for their assessment tasks.
Semester 2 shifted focus to Community Activities, where students became the organisers and facilitators of several major events. They played a key role in the smooth running of various Athletics Carnivals and Northside Netball Gala Days, learning the behind-the-scenes logistics of event planning. Their professionalism and initiative truly stood out.
A major highlight of the semester was planning and delivering a community wellness event for the entire Merici community during National Health and Physical Education Week. From brainstorming to execution, students managed the event with confidence and pride. This gave students valuable hands on experience that will serve students well in sport, recreation, and leadership roles in the future.
Touch
Early in the year, Merici’s Year 7/8 and 9/10 teams competed in the Northside Touch Football Gala Day. Both teams played exceptionally well, finishing in the top two. The Year 7/8 team, coached by the knowledgeable Rachel Hofmeier, were narrowly defeated in a thrilling grand final. The team still progressed to the ACT finals. The 9/10 team showed tremendous heart, also finishing second after a competitive match. It was a hot but memorable day full of great sportsmanship and effort.
Waterpolo
In early March, 22 students from Years 7-10 represented Merici, fielding two teams in the ACT Water Polo Gala Day. It was a fantastic day filled with energy, teamwork, and plenty of fun. The Merici Blue team powered through the competition undefeated, before claiming a 9–3 victory over Burgmann College in the Grand Final. This marked the school’s first championship win in many years. A big thank you goes to Macy Lehmann (Year 11), whose excellent coaching and support guided both teams throughout the day.
Swimming
Our Merici Mermaids Swimming Team included some new and returning swimmers this year. At the Regional Championships, it was one of the biggest teams we’ve had! The girls put in an outstanding effort, showcasing both skill and determination in the pool with many of our girls swimming a PB in their races. Each swimmer gave their very best, competing strongly against talented athletes from across the region. Beyond the impressive results, the day was filled with encouragement, team spirit, and a sense of pride in representing our school. Following this event, many of our Mermaids qualified for the ACT Championships where further impressive results were achieved, reflecting commitment, training and perseverance. It was a fantastic achievement to reach this level of competition, and all students should be proud of their hard work and dedication. A special mention to Mermaids Isabella Clark, Ada Ciaccia, Milana Sadler-Pather and Kendra Gordon who qualified for the SchoolSport Australia Championships in Brisbane.
Futsal – “Merici Makes Futsal History!”
2025 was a record-breaking year for Merici’s futsal teams! With two competitive teams from Year 7/8 and a strong Year 9/10 team, our players impressed with their commitment, teamwork, and skill throughout the year. Each gala day, the girls gave it their all and not only developed as players, but as teammates and leaders.
At their respective gala days, all teams displayed outstanding sportsmanship and tactical play, earning them well-deserved wins and admiration from opponents and spectators alike.
Both teams qualified for the prestigious NSW State Futsal Schools Cup, a phenomenal achievement. But the success didn’t stop there! The teams also earned their spot at the Australasian Champions of Champions School Futsal Championships held in Brisbane, marking a huge step forward for the program.
Futsal at Merici is clearly on the rise. The dedication shown this year, both on and off the court, has laid a strong foundation for future success. With such a talented and driven group of players, the future of futsal at Merici is looking brighter than ever.
Soccer- Bill Turner Cup
This year, Merici entered in the Bill Turner Soccer tournament for a second consecutive year. This is an U15s school soccer knockout tournament across all QLD, VIC, NSW and ACT. The squad kicked off with multiple games inside the ACT. Firstly, the started off with a strong 4-0 win over St. John Paul College, followed by a very tough and competitive match against St. Clare’s College, the game was locked 0-0 for the most of the game until Clare Brookes and Evie Youden found a breakthrough winning 2-0. As they progressed through the rounds, they beat Mt. Stromlo 5-0 and then Trinity in the region final 5-0. The squad had a great balance, scoring lots of goals and not conceding any goals within the ACT games.
After the ACT games, the squad progressed into the final 16 of all teams. A massive achievement! They were faced with a difficult challenge against Illawarra Sports High, a very well structured and skilled team. Merici were able to win 2-0 in a cagey game with minimal goal scoring chances for either team. Merici then entered the final 8 of all teams left, travelling to Albury to try and get redemption against reigning champions Maribyrnong. Maribyrnong came out fast and firing from the start and scored two early goals. Merici fought back and created some chances but weren’t able to convert any, resulting in a 2-0 loss. Well done to all the girls in the squad, a massive achievement in it’s 2nd year in the tournament.
Oztag
The High School OzTag Gala Day was a great opportunity for students to enjoy a fun day out while representing our school with pride. Our two teams showed great sportsmanship, determination and teamwork throughout the day, putting in excellent efforts against tough competition. It was wonderful to see the students supporting one another and celebrating the spirit of the game. Overall, the day was filled with energy, laughter and plenty of memorable moments.
Volleyball
At this year’s Northside Volleyball Gala Day, Merici entered both a Year 7/8 and a Year 9/10 team to compete against other Northside schools in Canberra. Both teams performed strongly throughout the day, finishing at the top of their respective pools. Our Year 7/8 team powered through their Semi-Final and then went on to win the Grand Final against Belconnen High School, finishing the day undefeated and crowned Northside champions! Our Year 9/10 team battled through a tough Semi-Final game against UC Kaleen High School, fighting hard to come back from behind, but narrowly went down in the third set. Both teams displayed fantastic teamwork, enthusiasm, and skill, with strong serving and powerful spiking on show throughout the day.
As Northside champions, our Year 7/8 team advanced to the ACT Volleyball Day, competing against the top schools in the territory. Facing fierce competition, they demonstrated great sportsmanship and determination to finish an impressive third place.
Netball
This year, we had two teams enter the 7/8 Northside Gala Day, one team in the 9/10 Northside Gala Day, and one team in the ACT Netball College Gala Day. Our Year 7 team finished third in their pool, showing huge improvement in their skills over the day, in some very close games. Our Year 8 team finished champions with a win over St. Francis Xavier College earning them a spot in the ACT Finals Day. Our Year 9/10 team finished third, playing some very tight games against some tough competition. Our Year 11/12 team won all of their pool games, including a nail biter against a very strong Erindale team. They then went on to win the grand final against UC Lake Ginninderra, finishing overall College champions. These days showcase what excellent netball talent we have in our school, as well as the exemplary sportsmanship and respect each team demonstrated across the three days. Congratulations to all students involved.
Ms. Kylie Olsthoorn
Health and Physical Education Coordinator
