This year, our students were out and about on a range of excursions to enrich their study of humanities and social sciences. We visited museums, parliaments and went on field trips in our local area and well beyond.
History: Sydney, March 2023, by Raechel McKinnon, Year 12
Our overnight History excursion with Dr. Powell and Miss. Passchier was not only the highlight of my last year at Merici, but it was one of the most memorable and exciting things during my time at the College. As a student studying History, it is often easy to get caught up in the details of historical events; when it happened, where it happened, and who it happened to. Sometimes, we forget that this is the history that made the world what it is today, and these world-altering events were experienced by real people.
At the Sydney Jewish Museum, speaking to holocaust survivor Aviva Fox, was an incredible opportunity that I will treasure forever. Aviva’s story was a true inspiration. She left us with the following message: We, as humans, are stronger than we think, and should therefore never give up.
Civics: ACT Constitutional Convention, August 2023, by Charlotte Turner, Year 11
A team of Year 11s went to the National Archives for the Constitutional Convention. It was a fantastic experience that helped us understand the importance of our constitution and how it has changed, which was especially pertinent with the Voice to Parliament referendum creeping ever closer. We had the opportunity to see and interact with records from past referendums and we even got a look at the original constitution. It was so much fun to meet passionate students from across the ACT and I’m super excited to attend the National Constitutional Convention next year where I’ll get to meet even more wonderful people from all across Australia!
History: National Museum and AITSIS, by various Year 10 students
“I now know more about the different languages and dialects within Indigenous Australia.”
“The staff at AITSIS helped me to learn more about primary sources of information and how to access these pieces of information through the various databases.”
“It’s fascinating to learn about the opportunities available for people to connect with their mob and learn about their language.”
“They had a lot of great information that personally I thought was lost.”
“I learnt about all these interesting protests that went on when the First Nations people were fighting for their rights.”
“I now know about the fight for the land which went into gaining Uluru back.”
History: Australian War Memorial, by Kayla Cook, Year 9 and Leah Shoebridge, Year 8
The War Memorial was full of lots of personal stories and primary sources from the war sites. All stories told were insightful and different from one another with people having different opinions towards the war, both negative and positive. Paintings and dioramas were used to show us close to real life tragedies and events.
We discussed the Anzac legend, and how different people, events and perspectives continue it. Overall, it was very informative showing us exactly how war impacted, and continues to, impact society and Australia today.
Geography: South Coast, by Annabelle Kingston, Sofia Georgiadis and Georgia Ween, Year 10
We travelled to the South Coast and visited 3 beaches, Corrigans Beach, Surf Beach, and South Durras. For this trip, we counted the waves, tested the soil, and looked at long and short-distance drifts using mandarins. This experience was a fun trip with snacks, friends, and cool views. This excursion was beneficial to me because it helped me gain a better knowledge of our beach geography in Australia. I really enjoyed the experience of being out of Canberra, enjoying the hot sun, and having fun with friends.
We got to visit the coastline and explore three amazing beaches in Batemans Bay. We observed and recorded wave patterns, sand dunes, and minerals, using a wide range of equipment. By the end of the day we felt we gained so much valuable knowledge about the environment around us. We started the day at Corrigans Beach, then went to Surf Beach where we enjoyed an amazing lunch with our teachers and peers and ended the day at South Durras Beach. By far our favourite activity was testing the pH levels of sand at different points of the beach. Ms. Fairfax and Mr. Battaglia were incredible, and we feel so lucky to have had this amazing and enriched experience.
Geography: Mount Majura, by Roma Banerji, Year 8
Our Geography class got to go on an excursion to Mount Majura, where we were given the wonderful experience of understanding how Indigenous people were able to survive and make a living, with bushlands. By the end of the excursion, we ended up leaving with the knowledge of how the first people cleaned themselves, where they made shelters, and called such a place, home. Despite the freezing temperatures we got to enjoy the little things and have a great time.
Year 9, 10 & 11 Textiles
In Semester 1, students studying Textiles in Years 9-11 undertook an extensive collaborative design project, costuming the cast of Alice in Wonderland. Each student designed a costume for a main, or ensemble, character and presented their work to the Directors. Design teams formed based on the selected designs and students worked right up until the end of semester to complete the costumes. Sustainability was a key consideration, with students upcycling or modifying existing costume stock as well as using existing fabric and notions from the Textiles storerooms. Highlights include the fantastical multi-actor costume for the caterpillar, the structural engineering behind the Queen of Heart’s skirt and the Dodo bird’s hand-stitched feather lined coat.
Year 7 Textiles
All students in Year 7 studied Textiles and were able to complete their own designer handy pouch, with many also completing zero-waste softies and pyjama shorts. With an updated design situation, students were asked to design a handy pouch that communicated individual design ideas and dispelled out-dated views of the subject. Students explored a range of Shibori folding techniques for dyeing and experimented with pleats and folds to create 3D pouches which could sit flat and hold the required contents.
Year 8 Textiles
Students in Year 8 Textiles enjoyed designing and making their own hooded sweatshirt as a new addition to the program. Tasked with balancing street style and individual expression, students modified commercial patterns and experimented with self-created vinyl decals. Exploring more complex construction processes in the tote bag, students created a variety of multi-layered appliques and refined machine techniques.
Year 7 Food
Students in Year 7 began their journey into the rich history of Food Technology at Merici College, learning safe work practices and basic techniques which will lead them all the way to the Bridge Restaurant. Incorporating a micro engineering unit, students explored ergonomics and anthropometrics in the design and prototype of a pizza cutter.
Year 8 Food
Oz Harvest’s ‘Use It Up Challenge’ was the provocation for the Year 8 inquiry into reducing food waste. Using the six most commonly wasted foods, students designed recipes and promotional graphics to encourage change. Examining sustainability within their own households, students looked at ways to use foods in season and cook from scratch to encourage more ethical eating practices.
Year 9 Food
Food Technology students in Year 9 examined the impact of food production on the environment as well as economic factors impacting food choices. In Semester 2, students took on the role of caterers and explored the factors that shape food for entertaining and cooking for crowds. By the end of term, students had mastered the ‘super amazing costing sheet’ and could quickly scale up and cost a variety of recipes for food service. The year ended with a gingerbread architecture, this time focusing on service-as-action with gingerbread houses sold to support the Vinnies Christmas appeal.
Mrs. Stephanie Spiller
Global Studies Coordinator
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