2019 Academic Highlights Top Achievers in a Course NAME COURSE POSITION IN THE STATE Emily Xue English EAL/D 1 Emily Liao Community and Family Studies 2 Jessica Qiao Chemistry 3 Tilda Stafford History Extension 3 Rain Wei English EAL/D 4 Katherine Willetts Modern History 5 Jessica Qiao Physics 5 Anna Jin Mathematics 11 Tilda Stafford Modern History 14 All-Round Achievers All-Round Achievers are those students who have achieved results in the highest band possible for at least 10 units of HSC courses. Twenty-seven Meriden students were named on the 2019 All-Round Achievers List. Sheeri Bao Georgia Batson Olivia Bonanno Clare Chen Zoe Crain Ananya Deshpande Ashley Duong Alexandra Gregory Julia Herro Selina Hu Mona Huang Michelle Jiang Emily Liao Sabrina Liu Ashleigh MacRae Nicole Ngo Jessica Qiao Anushua Saha Tilda Stafford Aileen Wang Rain Wei Moniq Wever Katherine Willetts Emily Xue Lily Yang Alana Zhang Jessica Zheng HSC Highlights for Meriden Students – 53% of students received an ATAR of 90 or more – 2 students awarded the highest possible ATAR, 99.95 – 20% of students named as All-Round Achievers – 1st in state in English EAL/D – Placings within the top 14 in the state in 9 courses – 338 Distinguished Achievements (Band 6 results) – ARTEXPRESS, ENCORE, OnSTAGE and Space nominations and selections – 3 students awarded scholarships to top USA universities including Harvard University and Columbia University – Meriden ranked 14th in the 2019 HSC Schools Ranking* * Sydney Morning Herald 17.12.2019 Meriden’s HSC students celebrate their fantastic results with their teachers and Principal, Dr Julie Greenhalgh 2019 Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank ATAR % OF MERIDEN STUDENTS 99+ 14% 95+ 35% 90+ 53% 85+ 62% Median ATAR – 90.6 (state 69.8)
Transcript
2019 Academic Highlights
Top Achievers in a Course
NAME COURSEPOSITION IN THE STATE
Emily Xue English EAL/D 1
Emily Liao Community and Family Studies 2
Jessica Qiao Chemistry 3
Tilda Stafford History Extension 3
Rain Wei English EAL/D 4
Katherine Willetts Modern History 5
Jessica Qiao Physics 5
Anna Jin Mathematics 11
Tilda Stafford Modern History 14
All-Round AchieversAll-Round Achievers are those students who have achieved results in the highest band possible for at least 10 units of HSC courses. Twenty-seven Meriden students were named on the 2019 All-Round Achievers List.
Excellence in MathematicsMeriden students excelled in HSC Mathematics once again, with all students in Mathematics Extension 1 and Extension 2 achieving in the top two bands. In Mathematics, three students received perfect scores and five students received a mark of 99%.
Head of Teaching and Learning, Mrs Christine Kenny and Principal, Dr Julie Greenhalgh, with Rain Wei and Jessica Qiao following the release of the ATARs
Mrs Natalie Wasiowych, Head of Mathematics, celebrates with Mathematics students from the Class of 2019: Rain Wei, Jessica Qiao, Aileen Wang, Clare Chen, Monique Wever and Ananya Deshpande
Mrs Tara Richards, Head of Science, with Jessica Qiao
Excellence abounds...
1 Rain Wei who placed 4th in the state in English EAL/D with her teacher, Dr Phoebe Poon, and Head of English, Mr Tim Archer 2 Emily Xue with NSW Education Minister, Sarah Mitchell, and Premier of NSW, Gladys Berijiklian following the announcement of the 1st in HSC Course awards
Excellence in Academic PerformanceJessica Qiao and Rain Wei are two of only forty-six students (sixteen girls and thirty boys) across New South Wales to attain the highest possible ATAR of 99.95. This is a remarkable achievement by these students and the school community congratulates them.
Rain has been admitted to Columbia University, New York City, where she will major in Applied Mathematics at The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science. Rain has also received an offer of a place to read Mathematics at Oxford University.
Excellence in EnglishIn English Extension 1, two students attained a mark of 49 out of 50, and the top two bands were achieved by all students in English Extension 2. Meriden girls placed 1st and 4th in the state in English EAL/D, with one student gaining a mark of 99%.
Excellence in ScienceAll Meriden Science Extension students attained a place in one of the top two bands in the HSC. Meriden’s top mark of 99% in Chemistry was achieved by Jessica Qiao who also received 97% in Physics.
1 2
2
Meriden Academic Highlights 2019
Excellence in MusicMeriden’s musicians achieved phenomenal success in the HSC. All Music Extension students attained the top band, with two students receiving full marks and three students receiving 49 out of 50. One hundred per cent of students who undertook Music 1 and Music 2 attained one of the top two bands.
Ten Meriden students received nominations for ENCORE in 2019. Held at the Sydney Opera House, the ENCORE concert showcases exemplary works by HSC Music students from across the state.
Performance Hannah Kolos (cello) was nominated for Music 2 and Music Extension. Hannah graduated in all eleven levels of the Suzuki method and completed her Australian Music Examination Board CMusA in 2015 with Honours, her AMusA in 2016 with Distinction and her LMusA in 2018. Hannah has been selected for a number of performance opportunities both in Australia and overseas, often as a result of competitive audition processes.
Olivia Bonanno (violin) was nominated for her performances in Music 2 and Music Extension. She achieved her AMusA in 2018.
Kylie Zhu (voice) demonstrated exceptional performances in Music 1. She presented a selection of pieces including Han Hong’s Tian Liang Le (Daybreak), which she performed in Mandarin.
CompositionPenelope Dawson was nominated for her Core Composition in Music 2 titled Event Horizon for trumpet, trombone and marimba which explored descending musical motifs that painted a picture of black holes, where gravitational forces are so strong that light cannot escape.
Christie Kafiris’ Music 1 Elective work earned her a nomination for ENCORE. Christie, an avid composer, wrote two pieces: Purple and Yellow Orchid, which explores flute looping effects through expressive techniques, and Avatar: Battle of the Firelord which explores the programmatic ideas of film music, using string techniques to depict the battle of an avatar, Aang.
Irene Yoo was recognised for her Music 1 Elective composition titled The Last Voyage. The piece, written for piano and strings, was inspired by the film composers Hans Zimmer, Ramin Djawadi and Thomas Bergersen. It depicts a ship’s journey on the roaring seas.
MusicologyJanice Gao was nominated for her Music Extension Musicology essay which explored the significance of harmony in contemporary Baltic choral works.
Cathy Gao’s Music 1 Musicology Viva Voces were nominated. Cathy presented two viva voces exploring the traditional and contemporary styles of music for the Guzheng (Chinese string instrument) and the music from the film The Red Violin, by composer John Corigliano.
Julia Herro was chosen for her two Music 1 Musicology Viva Voces on Telemann’s programmatic aspects of Gulliver’s Suite and a comparison of the viol and violin in the Baroque era.
Jemima Votier was selected for her two Music 1 Musicology Viva Voces, one which looked at the musical techniques that create tension in the horror film scores Psycho, The Omen, Irreversible and Us. Her second project explored Debussy’s evocation of images of nature in his pieces ‘De l’aube a midi sur la mer’ and ‘Nuages’.
1 Some of Meriden’s ENCORE nominees, Julia Herro, Jemima Votier, Irene Yoo and Christie Kafiris, with Music teacher, Miss Annemaree McLeod 2 ENCORE nominee, Hannah Kolos, with Meriden’s Head of Music, Mrs Jodie Spooner Ryan 3 ENCORE nominee, Kylie Zhu 4 ENCORE nominee, Penelope Dawson, with her Composition teacher, Mr Oliver Cameron, and Mrs Jodie Spooner Ryan
Excellence abounds…
1 2
3 4
3
Meriden Academic Highlights 2019
Excellence abounds…
ARTEXPRESS nominee, Amelia Giakoumelos Olivia Huang and Daniela Zapata Rincon with Meriden’s Olympus Futures Program Coordinator, Mr Ryan Richards
Tilda Stafford was awarded full marks in History Extension
Head of Languages, Mrs Françoise Reeves-Smith, with French language students, Tilda Stafford and Aileen Wang
Excellence in Visual ArtsNearly sixty percent of Meriden’s Visual Arts students achieved the top band in the HSC, with almost one third of these students receiving a mark of 95% or more.
The major works of two students were nominated for ARTEXPRESS.
Amelia Giakoumelos received a nomination for her work, Celestial Links, a series of hyper-realistic pen and ink drawings that were inspired by her family members and their individual and collective identities.
Esther Gong’s work was selected for exhibition at ARTEXPRESS. Reverence Displaced is a series of detailed ink drawings of precious objects and a contemplation of what it means to value these things.
Excellence in Academic and Sporting PerformanceDaniela Zapata Rincon has earned a place at Harvard University, enabling her to join the highly competitive world of collegiate water polo, the next step in her athletic career. The rising star leaves Meriden as Captain of the victorious S01 IGSSA Water Polo Team. In 2019, Daniela was a member of the New South Wales Institute of Sport Talent Squad and a gold medallist at the 2019 Interstate Championships with the NSW Blues Under 18s Team.
Tennis ace, Olivia Huang, has been awarded a place at Grand Valley State University in Michigan. Olivia joins the university’s renowned tennis team as she works towards her undergraduate degree.
Five other students in Meriden’s Olympus Program for elite athletes have been offered scholarships at prestigious international universities and await final confirmation of their places following the release of HSC marks.
Excellence in HistoryMeriden’s History Extension students all achieved in the top two bands, with one student receiving full marks in the course.
Excellence in LanguagesMeriden’s Languages students achieved in the top band in the French Continuers and French Extension courses. All students who studied Japanese Beginners at Meriden achieved in the top two bands.
4
Meriden Academic Highlights 2019
Excellence abounds…
Mrs Vanessa Kirollos, Head of Applied Science, with Emily Liao who received a mark of 99% in Community and Family Studies
Shape nominee, Aimie Phu
Kate Jacobs (centre), Head Prefect, 2019, with Deputy Head Prefect, Irene Yoo, and Dr Julie Greenhalgh at the HSC results celebration
Excellence in Applied ScienceExcellence in Design and TechnologyThe Shape exhibition features a selection of exemplary major projects from HSC Design and Technology, Industrial Technology and Textiles and Design students. This year, the innovative projects of Lauren Pucci and Aimie Phu have been nominated for inclusion.
Lauren designed a sustainable, ergonomic and aesthetically-pleasing nursing home facility that prioritises the physical and mental health, safety and comfort of residents while addressing the environmental footprint of such a facility.
Aimie demonstrated how food and technology work well together when combined with a strong business acumen. Her major project, a vegan Asian-cuisine cookbook in hard copy and digital versions, features QR codes embedded in the recipes, which link to online step-by-step instructional cooking videos.
Excellence in DramaKate Jacobs’ Major Work (costume design) has been selected to appear in the HSC Drama showcase, OnSTAGE.
Kate’s project is a directorial vision of Ariel Dorfman’s Death and the Maiden and will be on display in the foyer of the Seymour Centre, Sydney.
This year, Kate was recognised by the Order of Australia Association for her social justice work, volunteering in underprivileged schools in Australia and overseas and raising money and awareness for the Salvation Army, the refugee crisis and a local organisation dedicated to supporting women and children escaping domestic violence. Kate was presented with the John Lincoln Youth Community Service Award in a ceremony at Government House.
All-Round ExcellenceSheeri Bao has secured a Business Cadetship with UBS, a global financial services firm, while Georgia Batson has won an Engineering Cadetship with Cubic Transport Systems. The girls were selected from large pools of applicants and they were required to demonstrate consistent academic effort and achievement, transferrable skills, evidence of leadership potential, work experience and personal motivation. Cadetships allow individuals to undertake university study whilst obtaining mentorship and professional experience with a valued role in the work force.
BiologyBusiness StudiesEnglish AdvancedEnglish Extension 1English Extension 2MathematicsModern History
Sheeri Bao
ATAR 99.6
HSC All-Round Achiever
At Meriden since Year 7
SUBJECTS STUDIED
Business StudiesEconomicsEnglish AdvancedEnglish Extension 1MathematicsMathematics Extension 1Music 2
Some of Meriden’s high flyers…
7
Meriden Academic Highlights 2019
The performance of each girl in each of her HSC subjects is indicated in levels, called Bands, from 1 to 6. Bands 5 and 6 are the highest levels. The table below shows the HSC subjects studied at Meriden in 2019, and achievement levels of the girls in these subjects.
Performance in HSC subjects
COURSE
% IN BANDS 5 & 6
AT MERIDEN
% IN BANDS 5 & 6
IN STATE
MERIDEN’S TOP MARKS IN EACH COURSE
Ancient History 81.81 35.96 92
Biology 64.5 31.51 94
Business Studies 86.83 33.37 95
Chemistry 80.55 46.16 99
Chinese and Literature
83.32 70.65 92
Chinese in Context 83.33 89.71 94
Community and Family Studies
80 36.94 99
Design and Technology
73.68 46.65 89
Drama 57.14 43.72 92
Economics 76.91 51.91 96
English Advanced 87.95 61.85 97
English EAL/D 90 23.7 99
English Extension 1 100 94.15 49*
English Extension 2 100 80.16 48*
English Standard 25 11.81 87
Food Technology 55.55 33.69 89
French Continuers 100 64.65 96
French Extension 100 88.13 47*
Geography 69.22 43.53 95
History Extension 100 76.76 50*
COURSE
% IN BANDS 5 & 6
AT MERIDEN
% IN BANDS 5 & 6
IN STATE
MERIDEN’S TOP MARKS IN EACH COURSE
Hospitality Examination (Kitchen Operations)
55.55 33.53 91
Japanese Beginners 100 42.97 96
Legal Studies 89.46 41.54 97
Mathematics 75.71 49.29 100
Mathematics Extension 1
100 80.25 49*
Mathematics Extension 2
100 85.91 99
Mathematics Standard
54.53 24.28 96
Modern History 86.66 39.67 98
Music 1 100 66.23 98
Music 2 100 90.95 96
Music Extension 100 97.83 50*
PD/Health/PE 67.85 31.5 94
Physics 93.33 37.01 97
Science Extension 100 68.4 46*
Spanish Beginners 72.72 36.29 93
Studies of Religion I 50 46.31 41*
Studies of Religion II 46.15 44.83 89
Visual Arts 100 62.7 96 * MARK OUT OF 50
Year 12, 2019
8
Meriden Academic Highlights 2019
UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY
UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
SYDNEY
UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH
WALES
MACQUARIEUNIVERSITY
OTHERUNIVERSITIES*
2018Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank
ATAR% OF MERIDEN STUDENTS
95+ 31%90+ 51%
2017Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank
ATAR% OF MERIDEN STUDENTS
95+ 24%90+ 51%
2016Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank
ATAR% OF MERIDEN STUDENTS
95+ 30%90+ 57%
2015Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank
ATAR% OF MERIDEN STUDENTS
95+ 40%90+ 57%
Over the past decade, Meriden students have received top placings in the state in the following subjects:
– 1st in English EAL/D
– 1st in History Extension
– 1st in Spanish Beginners
– 1st in Community and Family Studies
– 1st in Heritage Chinese (Mandarin)
– 1st in Chinese in Context
– 1st in Senior Science
– 2nd in English Extension 1
– 2nd in Mathematics
– 2nd in Latin Continuers
– 2nd in Latin Extension
– 2nd in Chinese Context
– 2nd in Community and Family Studies
– 2nd in Music Extension
– 3rd in Chemistry
– 3rd in Biology
– 3rd in English Extension 1
– 3rd in History Extension
– 3rd in Mathematics
– 3rd in Modern History
– 3rd in Community and Family Studies
– 3rd in Japanese Beginners
– 4th in English EAL/D
– 4th in Chinese Continuers
– 4th in History Extension
– 4th in Latin Extension
– 4th in Mathematics Extension 2 and the top female student in this subject
– 4th in Modern History
– 4th in Music Extension
– 4th in Business Studies
– 4th in Community and Family Studies
– 5th in Physics
– 5th in Modern History
– 5th in Community and Family Studies
– 5th in Music 2
– 5th in Japanese Beginners
– 6th in English as a Second Language
– 6th in Senior Science
– 6th in Ancient History
– 6th in Community and Family Studies
– 7th in Drama
– 7th in History Extension
– 7th in Design and Technology
– 7th in Geography
– 7th in Visual Arts
– 8th in Mathematics Extension 1
– 8th in PD/Health/PE
– 8th in Legal Studies
– 8th in History Extension
– 9th in Biology
– 9th in 2 Unit Mathematics
– 9th in Engineering Studies
– 10th in Geography
– 10th in Modern History
HSC highlights from previous years
Tertiary studyTertiary CoursesThe most popular tertiary courses chosen by Meriden students over recent years:
– Arts, Communications, Marketing
– Commerce, Business, Finance
– Design, Architecture
– Economics, Accounting
– Education, Social Work
– Engineering, Biomedical Design
– Human Movement, Exercise Science
– Information Technology, Website Design
– Law, International Studies
– Liberal Studies, Political Science
– Medicine
– Music, Performing Arts
– Science, Psychology
– Visual Arts
University OffersPreferred university destinations for Meriden’s HSC students over recent years:
* Includes local, interstate and international universities 9
Meriden Academic Highlights 2019
NAPLAN results
Year 3 ResultsSixty-two Year 3 Meriden students took part in the NAPLAN testing in 2019.
Table 1: Percentage of Meriden students in Year 3 in the top band compared to the state.
READING WRITING SPELLINGGRAMMAR AND PUNCTUATION NUMERACY
Band 6 State 31 19 30 39 20
Band 6 Meriden 68 47 60 73 42
Year 5 ResultsSixty-five Year 5 Meriden students took part in the NAPLAN testing in 2019.
Table 2: Percentage of Meriden students in Year 5 in the top band compared to the state.
READING WRITING SPELLINGGRAMMAR AND PUNCTUATION NUMERACY
Band 8 State 17 6 15 19 13
Band 8 Meriden 40 22 52 54 29
Year 7 ResultsOne hundred and fourteen Year 7 Meriden students took part in the NAPLAN testing in 2019.
Table 3: Percentage of Meriden students in Year 7 in the top band compared to the state.
READING WRITING SPELLINGGRAMMAR AND PUNCTUATION NUMERACY
Band 9 State 12 4 14 16 18
Band 9 Meriden 43 25 53 40 54
Year 9 ResultsOne hundred and forty Year 9 Meriden students took part in the NAPLAN testing in 2019.
Table 4: Percentage of Meriden students in Year 9 in the top band compared to the state.
READING WRITING SPELLINGGRAMMAR AND PUNCTUATION NUMERACY
Band 10 State 7 4 8 8 12
Band 10 Meriden 20 21 24 27 33
10
Meriden Academic Highlights 2019
Da Vinci DecathlonMeriden students demonstrated their exceptional lateral thinking skills in the Da Vinci Decathlon, gaining two of the top three spots in the state-level competition. Meriden’s Year 11 team won first place and the Year 9 team took out third place in a series of challenges that involved more than 3,500 of the best and brightest students from public and independent schools across New South Wales. Teams were required to perform to an extraordinary standard across ten different subject areas.
The Da Vinci Decathlon Year 11 team members were Olivia Arvanitis, Grace Blomfield, Teresa Ho, Joanna Kontogiorgis, Christiana Stone, Annalise Tran, Anthea Trang and Helena Yan. The Year 9 team included Trisha Chari, Adele Dang, Joanna Li, Annabelle Strachan, Juna Suh, Eunice Thi, Shirley Wang and Elaine Zhang.
Design and TechnologyNCSS Coding ChallengeIn the annual NCSS Coding Challenge participants learn the basics of a coding concept and then apply this information to solving a presented problem. The problems get progressively more difficult throughout the five-week duration of the competition. Some of the challenges presented in this year’s competition included encrypting and decrypting a string of characters and tallying votes for an election and presenting the results in text format.
High Distinctions were awarded to Lilian Chen, Year 10, Vernica Mehta, Year 10, Abisha Thevarajah, Year 7, and Esther Wu, Year 10. Vernica Mehta and Lilian Chen achieved perfect scores in the Intermediate section for the second consecutive year.
REA Space in Schools CompetitionThe Meriden team of Sophie Massey, Year 9, and Angela Lei, Ivy Ngo Nguyen, Esther Wu and Liyang Yu, Year 10, placed first in the Virtual Reality section and second overall in the REA Space in Schools competition.
The team’s challenge was to form a company to make a bid for the design of the Bio-Medical Space Hub on Mars. They had to establish the company, develop a marketing plan, research the medical and human needs of living on Mars, and design and build a 3D model of the Space Hub. They then presented their ideas to a team of industry judges.
Young Designer AwardPeta Argyris, Year 10, received a Young Designer Award from the Whitehouse Institute of Design and fellow Design and Technology students, Pia Kandarajah and Madeline Ayers, received Highly Commended awards. The three students won selection to participate in a Fashion Drawing workshop at the Institute.
EnglishNSW Premier’s Reading ChallengeZara Chan, Year 7, Amy Lee, Year 8, and Mahek Jain, Year 8, received Platinum Awards in the NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge in recognition of their successful completion of the Challenge annually for seven years.
Whitlam Institute Literary CompetitionShirley Wang, Year 9, was named as a finalist in the Whitlam Institute What Matters? literary writing competition. This annual competition, which attracts thousands of entries, asks young Australians to express their views on the issues that are important to them.
Shirley’s work, titled All Lives Matter, examines the relationship between Indigenous Australians and police. It is published on the Whitlam Institute website.
Academic highlights across the school
1 Back row: Christiana Stone, Anthea Trang, Grace Blomfield and Teresa Ho. Front row: Olivia Arvanitis, Helena Yan, Annalise Tran and Joanna Kontogiorgis 2 Vernica Mehta, Esther Wu, Lilian Chen and Abisha Thevarajah 3 Esther Wu, Ivy Ngo Nguyen, Angela Lei, Liyang Yu and Sophie Massey 4 Peta Argyris 5 Zara Chan 6 Amy Lee 7 Shirley Wang 8 Mahek Jain
1 3
4
2
5 7 86
11
Meriden Academic Highlights 2019
HistoryAustralian History CompetitionMeriden students in Years 8 and 10 achieved outstanding results in the annual Australian History Competition, with twenty per cent of Year 8 students and thirty per cent of Year 10 students achieving either High Distinction or Distinction. Based on the Australian Curriculum, the competition tests source analysis skills as well as knowledge and understanding.
The Year 8 High Distinction recipients are: Anneke Dykgraaff, Kitty Jiang, Apphia Jin, Sienna Kim, Helen Liu, Adelaide Loane, Jemima Loane, Jacinta Rees, Linda Wang, Vanessa Wu, Jasmine Ye, Nikki Yi and Talia Yin.
The Year 10 High Distinction recipients are: Lilian Chen, Vivian Chen, Eden Crain, Vivian Gao, Keya Giri, Natalie Hui, Chelsea Jin, Claire McKenzie, Vernica Mehta, Michelle Oh, Eva Scoufis, Emily Seeto, Clare Spicer, Annabelle Tan, Esther Wu, Liyang Yu, Metilda You and Anna Zhou.
National Constitutional ConventionYear 12 Legal Studies student, Tilda Stafford, represented New South Wales at the National Schools Constitutional Convention in Canberra, showcasing her outstanding knowledge of the Australian government system and issues affecting citizens.
HospitalityAbby Braga, Year 12, received the MWLP Student Work Placement Award for Best Student in Hospitality – Kitchen Operations. This award recognises students who have been nominated by their host employer for performing at an outstanding level during work placement. Abby was nominated by Mr Luke Mangan, Head Chef of Glass Brasserie, where Abby undertook part of her work placement.
LanguagesACER Language AssessmentThe ACER Assessment of Language Competence test draws on students’ sociocultural knowledge, cognitive skills and their knowledge of the structure and purpose of language. To achieve a High Distinction in both the reading and listening sections of the test is the hallmark of an outstanding student. The following students achieved this honour in 2019: Nicole Feng, Year 8, for Chinese Certificate 1; Kitty Jiang, Year 8, for French Certificate 1; and Year 9 students Skye Blair, Trisha Chari and Adele Dang for French Certificate 2.
Chinese EisteddfodThe National Chinese Eisteddfod requires students to choose one poem from a selection of Chinese poetry. They must learn and recite the poems before an audience of judges and spectators and are scored on their intonation, pronunciation, emotion and deportment.
Six Meriden students competed in the Eisteddfod, with two students placing in the top three spots in their category. Yara Zhang, Year 10, placed first and Vivian Chen, Year 10, placed third in the competition’s 13–15 Years age group. Meriden’s other team members were Paris Chia, Year 9, and Jacaranda Zhu, Jasmine Cai and Fiona Van Der Meer, Year 10.
French DiplomaRena Tang, Year 10, was awarded the Diplôme Elémentaire de Langue Française A2. This diploma is awarded by the French Ministry of Education to prove the French-language skills of non-French candidates. Rena spent the last two years preparing for the examination by attending lessons at lunchtime at Meriden and studying independently.
Academic highlights across the school
1 Tilda Stafford 2 Abby Braga 3 Skye Blair, Adele Dang, Trisha Chari, Kitty Jiang and Nicole Feng 4 Vivian Chen and Yara Zhang
1
4
2 3
12
Meriden Academic Highlights 2019
Latin and Greek Reading CompetitionsAdele Dang was named the winner of the Solo Prose event at the Year 9 Latin Reading Competition. Run by the Classical Language Teachers’ Association, the competition challenges students to recite Latin prose and poetry in individual and group events.
The Classical Association of New South Wales Latin and Greek Reading Competition at the University of Sydney saw Meriden’s Years 10 and 11 Latin students compete in the recitation of passages from Ovid and Virgil. Crystal Zhao, Year 10, was named as a finalist in this prestigious competition.
MathematicsAustralian Mathematics CompetitionIn the 2019 Australian Mathematics Competition, Meriden students were awarded twenty-one High Distinctions and eighty-six Distinctions. High Distinctions were awarded to: Crystal Fu Chen, Elisabeth Starling, Jacinda Tjiantoro, Emma Wen and Rita Yeung in Year 7; Helen Liu, Vanessa Wu and Sophia Yang in Year 8; Skye Blair, Emma Feng and Elaine Zhang in Year 9; Nicole Jiang and Michelle Oh in Year 10; Jiaqian Cai and Grace Li in Year 11. Grace Li was named as Best in School.
Inquisitive Minds Mathematics ChallengeFor the second consecutive year, Meriden’s Year 10 mathematicians took the honours in the Inquisitive Minds Mathematics Challenge. In the interactive problem-solving session of the Challenge, Michelle Oh and Coco Chung secured first place and Metilda You and Liyang Yu achieved second place. The second session required participants to partner with a student from another school to work together on a diverse range of original hands-on problems. Michelle Oh and her partner received first place, and Angela Lei and her partner received third place. An overall points tally gave a clear victory in the competition to Meriden.
MusicAustralian Music Board ExaminationsYear 9 violinist, Heather Kim, was awarded the Licentiate Diploma in Performance (LMusA) with Distinction, the highest qualification attainable from the Australian Music Examinations Board. The AMEB's qualifications are recognised as a national benchmark in music education across Australia. The Licentiate Diploma is awarded to just ten percent of candidates who attempt the qualification.
A number of Meriden musicians achieved their AMusA diplomas in 2019 including Tania Chang, Year 10 – Violin; Amee Huang, Year 11 – Violin; Amy Lee, Year 8 – Violin; Celina Ren, Year 11 – Piano; Elizabeth Ring, Year 11 – Cello; Michelle Stafurik, Year 12 – Piano; and Rena Tang, Year 10 – Cello.
Sydney EisteddfodMeriden’s musicians excelled once again in the Sydney Eisteddfod. The Senior Singers placed second in both the Youth Choir (19 and Under) and Youth Choir for Female Voices divisions and the ensemble was named as a finalist in the John Lamble Australasian Championship for Youth Choirs competition.
Second place in their respective divisions went to the Senior Concert Band, Symphony Orchestra, Senior School Chamber Strings and Year 5/6 Choir. The Madrigals ensemble was awarded Highly Commended in the Youth Vocal Ensemble division and Junior School Chamber Strings placed third in the Primary String Ensemble division.
Academic highlights across the school
1 Tania Chang, Amee Huang, Heather Kim, Rena Tang and Elizabeth Ring 2 Michelle Stafurik 3 Celina Ren
1 2
3
13
Meriden Academic Highlights 2019
Research and Critical ThinkingAustralasian PhilosothonAfter placing second in the NSW Philosothon, the Meriden team of Ananya Deshpande, Year 12; Wanning Cai, Year 11; Adele Dang, Year 9; Jemima Loane, Year 8; Vernica Mehta, Year 10; Jacinta Rees, Year 8; Juna Suh, Year 9; and Liyang Yu, Year 10, travelled to Canberra to demonstrate their skills in examining complex ethical quandaries at the Australasian Philosothon.
The team performed exceptionally well with Jacinta Rees winning the Year 8 division and Liyang Yu gaining second place in the Year 10 division.
NSW Philosophy Essay contestIvy Ngo Nguyen, Year 10, was awarded second place for her entry in the inaugural Philosophy Essay Contest, a joint project between the Philosophy in Schools Association and the Royal Society of NSW. Ivy’s prize-winning essay discussed the ethical dilemmas presented when deciding whether to separate conjoined twins.
Parnassus AwardsMeriden students who have demonstrated deep learning through an original and evaluative critical analysis, report, creative work or invention that is based on extensive research are eligible for a Parnassus Award. A Gold Parnassus Award is granted when the work demonstrates outstanding rigour and merit and the quality of work produced exceeds normal expectations for outstanding work at the student’s present level of enrolment. The 2019 Gold Parnassus Awards were awarded to Annika Chong, Year 11, for Design and Technology; Teresa Ho, Year 11, for Modern History; Michelle Oh, Year 10, for English; and Anthea Trang, Year 11, for Business Studies.
TED-EdYear 9 student and member of Meriden’s TED-Ed Club, Joanna Li, won selection to present her TED-Ed talk live in New York at TED Headquarters. In her talk, entitled “Save the Blob!”, Joanna passionately defends ‘ugly’ animals such as the Blobfish and the Ibis. She raises the important issue of speciesism and questions why some endangered animals seem to be prioritised over others based purely on appearance. Joanna’s selection as a speaker at the TED-Ed Weekend in New York is an extraordinary achievement.
ScienceAustralian Science OlympiadsThe Australian Science Olympiads are a national program for top-performing secondary school students that culminate in the International Science Olympiads. Meriden girls demonstrated that they are highly engaged in a range of scientific disciplines, with a number of girls performing exceptionally in the first round of school-based examinations. Year 11 students, Helena Yan and Angela Shan, achieved High Distinctions in Physics, placing them in the top ten percent of students in Australia. Helena and Angela have been invited to participate in the Australian Physics Olympiad Summer School at the Australian National University in January 2020.
Distinctions in the Science Olympiads examinations were achieved by Anna Jin in both Physics and Chemistry; Olivia Arvanitis in both Biology and Earth and Environmental Science; Vernica Mehta, Esther Wu, Lauren Quach and Teresa Ho in Physics; Julia Chung in Biology; and Grace Blomfield, Grace Li, Catherine Wang, Helena Yan and Sabrina Yang in Chemistry.
31
4
2
1 Ananya Deshpande 2 Helena Yan and Angela Shan 3 Juna Suh, Liyang Yu, Jemima Loane, Jacinta Rees, Wanning Cai, Adele Dang and Vernica Mehta 4 Annika Chong, Michelle Oh, Anthea Trang and Teresa Ho
Academic highlights across the school
14
Meriden Academic Highlights 2019
Big Science CompetitionThe Rio Tinto Big Science competition tests students’ knowledge of science. Eighteen Meriden students gained High Distinctions in this competition, placing them in the top five per cent of the state. These high achievers are Year 7 students Eleanor Kenyon, Lucinda Russell, Chloe Silberman, Rachel Xie, Teresa Yang and Rita Yeung; Year 8 students Imogen Leon and Sophia Yang; Year 9 students Paris Chia, Emma Feng, Esther Michail and Shirley Wang; and Year 10 students Eden Crain, Angela Lei, Michelle Oh, Emily Seeto, Esther Wu and Liyang Yu.
ICAS Science CompetitionThe ICAS Science competition tests students’ scientific skills where they are required to identify patterns and relationships in data, interpret and draw from a range of data and analyse and evaluate data from secondary sources. The achievement of High Distinction in this competition places the student in the top one per cent of the state. High Distinctions were achieved by Jacinta Rees, Year 8; Sunny Lee, Year 8; and Liyang Yu, Year 10.
ISEFOlivia Arvanitis, Year 11, represented Australia at the 2019 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) held in Phoenix, USA. This was an opportunity for Olivia to exhibit and present her design for a water monitoring system in which ammonia, pH and temperature levels are measured. Olivia was highly commended by ISEF judges for her presentation.
STA Young Scientist AwardsThree Meriden students were recognised in the Science Teachers’ Association of New South Wales Young Scientist Awards. Wanning Cai, Year 11, achieved a Bronze Rowe Scientific Depth Study Award for her depth study entitled Modelling Thin Film Interference. In the Year 9–10 iTE Innovations and Engineering Design category, Trisha Chari, Year 9, was awarded first place for her design Flood detector and alert system for minor flooding and Shirley Wang, Year 9, was awarded Highly Commended for her design Photocatalytic Solar Disinfection and Thermoelectric Composite, a system that disinfects water and generates electricity using solar power. Shirley and Trisha are eligible for selection for the BHP Foundation Science and Engineering Awards in 2020. Shirley won a place at the BHP Foundation Science and Engineering Camp in February this year based on her Student Research project that she completed in 2019.
STEM ShowcaseMeriden’s annual STEM Showcase highlights the ingenuity of students in Years 8, 9 and 10 as they exhibit and discuss their science inventions and experiment projects which are judged by a panel of representatives from various fields of STEM. First place winners in the Investigations category were Jacinta Rees, Year 8, Claire Foote, Year 9, Mariya Bartosh, Year 10, and Annabelle Tan, Year 10. Shirley Wang, Year 9, and Sophie Massey, Year 9, took out first place in the Inventions category.
SpeechFestival of SpeechAt the AHIGS Festival of Speech, Meriden girls showcased their abilities to speak confidently and with conviction to a diverse audience and demonstrated a strong knowledge of the issues confronting contemporary Australia.
The Meriden team placed fourth overall out of twenty-five schools. Liliane Spratt, Year 10, took out first place in the Senior Readings category and Adele Dang, Year 9, was the runner-up in the Junior Poetry section.
NSW Plain English Speaking CompetitionThe Plain English Speaking Award encourages the use of clear and effective spoken English. At each stage of the competition, participants are required to present both prepared and impromptu speeches. Year 11 student Amber Chang’s skilful development of theme, engaging style and effective use of plain English earned her a place in the 2019 Regional Finals.
Tournament of MindsTwo Meriden teams won the Regional Final in their respective disciplines in the 2019 Tournament of Minds. The Language- Literature and STEM teams both progressed to the State Finals at the University of New South Wales, with the STEM team winning Honours for their superb presentation on how to harness a planet’s magnetic field to guide a spacecraft through space.
The Language-Literature team included Crystal Fu Chen, Year 7; Paris Chia, Year 9; Nicole Jiang, Year 10; Joanna Li, Year 9; Alicia Wang, Year 7; Arena Wang, Year 10; and Nikki Yi, Year 8.
The STEM team comprised Talia Jee, Year 7; Kitty Jiang, Year 8; Imogen Leon, Year 8; Holly Webb, Year 9; Emma Wen, Year 7; Esther Wu, Year 10; and Crystal Zhao, Year 10.
Visual ArtsNational Art SchoolYear 11 students, Anthea Trang and Elle Ngo, won selection to attend the National Art School’s HSC Intensive Studio Practice program. A highly selective and prestigious course, this program only accepts thirty applicants annually. The course is designed to enhance and extend students’ technical, conceptual and intellectual skills under the direction of experienced, practising artists.
Strathfield Council Art ExhibitionFourteen Design and Technology and Visual Arts students were selected to exhibit their works at the annual Strathfield Council Art Exhibition. Jenny Lin, Year 11, received a Highly Commended award for her artwork.
Young Archie AwardsArtworks by two talented Meriden students were amongst the 2,100 entries in this year’s Young Archie awards. A portrait of Dr Greenhalgh won Anna Liu, Year 8, an Honourable Mention and went on exhibition at the S H Ervin Galley. Budding Year 9 artist Heather Kim’s artwork secured a place in the top ten per cent of entries.
1 Liliane Spratt 2 Amber Chang 3 Back Row: Talia Jee, Paris Chia, Kitty Jiang, Arena Wang and Crystal Fu Chen. Front row: Nicole Jiang, Joanna Li, Esther Wu, Crystal Zhao, Alicia Wang, Emma Wen and Nikki Yi. (Not pictured: Holly Webb and Imogen Leon) 4 Elle Ngo 5 Jenny Lin 6 Anna Liu
