We look forward to welcoming you to Merici College for Year 7 in 2026! Please find below information that we hope will help with your transition into life at Merici.
First Day
Year 7 students will commence on Monday 2 February 2026. Students are required to arrive between 8.30am and 9.00am. Senior students will be at the front of the school (Wise Street) from 8.30am to greet the girls and escort them to the auditorium foyer where they will be met by their House Coordinator. A Welcome Assembly will be held in the auditorium at 9.00am and conclude at 9.15am. At the conclusion of the Assembly, Pastoral Care (PC) teachers will take their Year 7s to their PC room to go through student timetables, lockers, school facilities and collect their Year 7 Starter Pack.
What equipment should you bring on your first day?
You will need to bring your laptop, a pen and one note pad or exercise book. Each subject teacher will let you know about subject-specific stationery requirements.
Collection of Starter Pack
The starter pack will include the school planner, assessment calendar, calculator and information flyers in a Merici drawstring bag. A Food Technology cooking hat and language books will be distributed when required in appropriate subject classrooms. The drawstring bag can be used to carry sports uniform for PE/Dance classes.
Stationery List
Please find below a stationery list for purchase to assist with preparation for high school.
- Padlock for school locker (coded lock recommended)
- 1 x A4 grid exercise book
- 6 x A4 exercise books
- 7 x exercise book clear covers A4 size
- Pens (black, blue, red)
- Lead pencils
- Eraser
- Glue stick
- 30cm ruler
- Scissors
- 4 x A4 display folders
- A4 mini whiteboard
- 1 pkt (6) whiteboard markers
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Program – Laptops
Merici College’s laptop (BYOD) program requires all students to have a laptop of their choice for school. Students can choose to bring either a Mac laptop or a Windows laptop which can be purchased through a school vendor or from a retail outlet. Please click here to find all BYOD program information, laptop specifications and FAQs.
Please do not hesitate to contact the IT Department on email, [email protected].
Personal Property
You will be allocated a locker on your first day. School bags and phones are not taken to lessons and are to be stored in your locker before PC.
Catering on the first day of school
Lunch with the Senior Students will be provided for you on your first day in the New Quad, however students will be required to bring their own recess as the canteen is closed.
Departure
All Year 7 students will be escorted to the auditorium at 2.50pm. If you are travelling home by bus, you will be taken to your bus line by a staff member. It would be greatly appreciated if you could find out what bus number you need to catch prior to the commencement of school. Non-bus travelling students can be picked up from the auditorium or at the collection bay (Wise Street carpark)
What is Compass
Compass is run by Catholic Education and is an information administration tool for parents and allows parents to interact with their child’s school and access up-to-date information.
Compass covers these services:
- Enrolments
- Fees
- Family relationships
- Medical updates
- Excursion
To assist parents in accessing Compass, please click here to find helpful information.
To set up your family account, please visit https://merici.college/go/compassaccount. Please note that access to your account will not be possible until your daughter commences school on 2 February. This will also apply to canteen credit card top ups.
What is Seqta
SEQTA is the student learning system and is the day-to-day information portal for parents and students. The @merici.act.edu.au based accounts are for SEQTA and Canteen top up and Uniform Shop purchases.
SEQTA covers:
- Academic Reports
- Attendance
- Learning materials
- Pastoral care notices
- Assessments
- Subjects
Please click here to find more information.
To set your family account, please visit https://merici.college/go/seqtaaccount . Please note that you will have no access to your account until your daughter commences school on 2 February.
Pastoral Care (PC)
Every morning you commence school with PC at 8:45am. Morning PC is a very important class. It is where you receive information, hand in notes, have your name marked off the roll, read the daily notices and participate in a prayer.
Student Services and Attendance Information
Email: [email protected]
We are legally required to archive all absence notifications hence email communication is always preferred.
Student Services is often the best place to start if you require some information, feel sick, need first aid, have lost property, collect PC rolls or want to hand in late notes. This is where you meet your parents if you are leaving early. Student Services is also where parents/guardians can drop off something you may have forgotten to bring to school.
Attendance
If you feel unwell while at school, please let your classroom teacher know and go the Student Services for first aid attention. Please do not contact your parents directly as we will contact them for you when you report to Student Services. Please note that the school is unable to issue paracetamol to students.
Parents are requested to email the College details of their daughters’ absence, copy your daughter and her Pastoral Care teacher in all emails. NB: If we do not receive notification, an SMS will be sent to the phone number you have listed with the College advising you that your daughter has not arrived at school.
If you are going on extended leave, please request permission via email to the Principal at [email protected]. Please copy your daughter’s House Coordinator and Student Services ([email protected]) in the email.
If you arrive late to school, you are required to sign in at the Student Services Office. Please always sign in if you arrive after the start of the day.
If you need to leave school early, an email to Student Services is required. The email address is [email protected]. Show the note to the teacher when you need to leave early. Collect your things and make your way to Student Services where you will be signed out by your parents or guardian. Junior students can only sign out with a parent/guardian.
Medical Forms
Communication will be sent to families regarding the Catholic Education Medical Welfare Policy, Individual Medical Response plans and Medication Authorisation Forms.
School Calendar
Our school calendar is available online for you to check important upcoming dates for all year groups. Access our School Calendar. The School Calendar can also be found in your school planner.
School Planner
Your school planner contains a lot of useful information. Take a moment to read the planner as it contains information about the uniform policy, the ICT Agreement, your assessment calendar, school dates and events. Don’t forget to list your personal details including your MYWAY card details in your planner.
What Does Your PC Teacher and House Coordinator Do?
Your PC teacher and House Coordinator play a significant role in your schooling at Merici College. They can help with friend and family problems, if you have lost something of value, if you are very sick and you need to take leave. If you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to contact your House Coordinator.
Balgo: [email protected]
Brescia: [email protected]
Ningil: [email protected]
Penola: [email protected]
Seiwa: [email protected]
Tullow: [email protected]
Uniform
Your summer uniform is worn during Term 1 and Term 4 and your winter uniform is worn during Term 2 and Term 3. Your PE uniform is brought to school and only worn during your PE lesson. Merici operates a uniform shop on the school premises. The shop is located at the “white house” on Limestone Avenue, adjacent to the multipurpose courts. More information on the uniform and the uniform shop operating hours can be found on our website and in your school planner. We recommend that uniform items are labelled with your name.
Uniform Shop Holiday Trading Hours 2026
We are pleased to advise that the Merici College Uniform Shop will be offering extended hours to meet your uniform requirements for 2026. We encourage families to book early.
If you wish to visit the shop for a fitting, the extended hours are as follows:
- Wednesday 21 January 9am-3:30pm by appointment
- Thursday 22 January 9am-3:30pm by appointment
- Friday 23 Jan 9am-3:30pm by appointment
- Thursday 29 Jan 9am-3:30pm by appointment
- Friday 30 January 9am-3:30pm Drop in
These times are in addition to usual trading hours during the school term of of Tuesdays 8-11am and Thursdays 3-5pm.
Please use the link below to make a booking. If you have more than one child to be fitted for a uniform, please make two (2) appointments. Please be aware that there could be a considerable wait on the drop-in day on Friday January 30. Please book appointments at this link: https://outlook.office.com/book/[email protected]/?ismsaljsauthenabled
After opening the link, click the dates at the top and then select one of the listed options.
Please see below a list of uniform items that you will need to purchase as a suggested minimum. You can purchase these items all at the same time on the day or space it out over a few weeks. At your fitting, you will be given your daughter’s sizes to record. Please click here to find our current itemised price list.
- School Dress and/or Tailored Shorts and Blouse
- Jumper (can be purchased later if wanted to)
- Blazer (Compulsory)
- Sports Polo
- Sports Shorts
- Backpack
- Hat/Cap
Please visit https://www.merici.act.edu.au/resources/uniforms/ to find information on all uniform requirements.
Canteen and Angie’s Cafe
The emphasis in our canteen and café is on providing healthy and nutritious snacks, meals and drinks. Canteen facilities are available to staff and students before school, at recess and lunch times. Junior students are not permitted to purchase from the canteen during class time. Senior students may purchase from the Canteen throughout the day.
Charge cards will be distributed to students on the first day. Students complete their purchases by swiping their Charge Card. The Charge Card can be loaded with cash before school and at recess Monday to Friday, and lunchtimes Monday and Thursday and is situated outside the Student Services office. The machine accepts EFTPOS and PayPass so you and your parents can top up student cards with a debit or credit card online at https://pay.merici.act.edu.au/MyMonitor/
School Counsellor
Merici College is very fortunate to have two school counsellors on campus to support our students. It is important to note that School counselling is not a crisis service but should you feel you may benefit from school counselling when school resumes, please speak with your House Coordinator or send an email to [email protected].
College Opening Hours and Reception
Please note that the College is open to students from 8:00am until 4:20pm. It is envisaged that the Teaching and Learning Centre (formerly the Information Centre) will remain open until 5:00pm Monday to Thursday and Angie’s Café until 4:00pm on those days. College Reception can be contacted on telephone 6243 4100 and is open from 8.30am to 4.20pm.
Year 7 Camp
The Year 7 Camp will be held from Wednesday 18 March-Friday 20 March at the AGH School Camp and Conference Centre. Groups will be arranged closer to the date. More information about the camp, including permission notes, will be presented at a workshop early February 2026.
Year 7 Aspiring to Achieve Parent Workshop
A workshop for parents will be held on Tuesday 17 February 2026 to provide information on the camp, pastoral care, the academic program and life at the College. More information will be communicated to families closer to the event.
Co-curricular Activities Expo
Merici has a wealth of cocurricular subjects and activities to complement our fundamental teaching subjects. We believe it’s vital that every student gets the opportunity to explore their passion, be creative and try something new! Please visit https://www.merici.act.edu.au/empowering-independence/co-curricular-program/ to find more information. Students will have an opportunity to sign up for one or more clubs on Thursday 12 February at lunchtime at the Co-curricular Activities Expo.
Transport
The College is serviced by the two bus companies: Transport Canberra (ACTION) for ACT students and CDC Canberra for NSW students. This means that students from all areas of Canberra and outlying districts are generally able to access school bus transport to and from Merici.
Merici College also operates four dedicated bus services to areas of South Canberra, Inner South Canberra and West Belconnen. The serviced is run by Deanes. The current annual cost of the service is $1,800.00 and is divided equally over the four school terms and invoiced directly onto school fees. This means that parents book a seat for their daughter and pay a flat charge for the whole term, regardless on the days or frequency of use.
Please click here Dedicated Bus Services Routes to find the bus timetables and routes. New passengers are required to complete an application form. The form can be found here: https://www.merici.act.edu.au/resources/bus-timetables/.
In addition, students can access light rail services around Ipima Street. There is a light rail stop called Ipima Street, located on Northbourne Avenue at the intersection with Ipima and Condamine Streets. It serves the R1 Civic to Gungahlin light rail line. For more information, https://cmet.com.au/light-rail-stops/.
We look forward to seeing you and your family!
Mrs Anna Masters
Principal
