Academic Highlights 2020 Meriden’s HSC students celebrate their fantastic results with their teachers and Principal, Dr Julie Greenhalgh Congratulations to the Class of 2020 Throughout this year of upheaval, Meriden girls have proven they are unstoppable. The release of HSC results for the Class of 2020 was a celebration of the students’ tenacity, hard work and optimism, which have endured natural disasters, a pandemic, a period of remote learning and adaptations to almost every aspect of school life. The future is bright for Meriden’s Year 12 cohort and the School community congratulates the students on their exceptional achievements. We look forward to hearing of their next steps as they make their mark on the world. HSC Highlights for Meriden Students – 58% of students received an ATAR of 90 or more – One student awarded the highest possible ATAR, 99.95 – 19% of students named as All-Round Achievers – 1st in state in Biology (equal 1st), Community and Family Studies (equal 1st), and Spanish Beginners – Placings within the top 9 in the state in 7 courses – 379 Distinguished Achievements (Band 6 results) – ARTEXPRESS, ENCORE, OnSTAGE and SHAPE nominations – Multiple offers received to study at top USA universities – Meriden ranked 17 th in the 2020 HSC Schools Ranking* * Sydney Morning Herald 18.12.2020
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Academic Highlights 2020
Meriden’s HSC students celebrate their fantastic results with their teachers and Principal, Dr Julie Greenhalgh
Congratulations to the Class of 2020Throughout this year of upheaval, Meriden girls have proven they are unstoppable. The release of HSC results for the Class of 2020 was a celebration of the students’ tenacity, hard work and optimism, which have endured natural disasters, a pandemic, a period of remote learning and adaptations to almost every aspect of school life.
The future is bright for Meriden’s Year 12 cohort and the School community congratulates the students on their exceptional achievements. We look forward to hearing of their next steps as they make their mark on the world.
HSC Highlights for Meriden Students – 58% of students received an ATAR of 90 or more
– One student awarded the highest possible ATAR, 99.95
– 19% of students named as All-Round Achievers
– 1st in state in Biology (equal 1st), Community and Family Studies (equal 1st), and Spanish Beginners
– Placings within the top 9 in the state in 7 courses
– 379 Distinguished Achievements (Band 6 results)
– ARTEXPRESS, ENCORE, OnSTAGE and SHAPE nominations
– Multiple offers received to study at top USA universities
– Meriden ranked 17th in the 2020 HSC Schools Ranking*
* Sydney Morning Herald 18.12.2020
Excellence abounds...
Top Achievers in a Course
NAME COURSEPOSITION IN THE STATE
Olivia Arvanitis Biology Equal 1
Belinda Ji Community and Family Studies Equal 1
Christiana Stone Spanish Beginners 1
Grace Li Spanish Beginners 2
Olivia Arvanitis Science Extension 2
Yennis Li Chinese and Literature 4
Julia Chung Biology 6
Shameen Gaffoor Mathematics Advanced Equal 9
Catherine Wang Economics 9
All-Round AchieversAll-Round Achievers are those students who have achieved results in the highest band possible in at least 10 units of HSC courses. Thirty Meriden students were named on the 2020 All-Round Achievers List.
Excellence in MusicNinety-two per cent of the Music Extension cohort attained a Band 6 result. Oboist, Gahyun Lee, has received offers from the Royal College of Music, London and the Royal Academy of Music (University of London) to undertake a Bachelor of Music (Oboe performance).
Ten Meriden students were nominated for inclusion in the annual ENCORE concert, a showcase of the most outstanding HSC Music performances and compositions. These musicians were nominated for their performances: Elizabeth Dawson, Isabella Fang, Mary Geng, Gahyun Lee, Claire Pak, Eunice Park, Celina Ren and Elizabeth Ring. Grace Blomfield and Eva Tarbox produced extraordinary original music and were nominated for their HSC compositions.
Dr Julie Greenhalgh and Mrs Christine Kenny with 1st in Course recipients Olivia Arvanitis, Christiana Stone and Belinda Ji
Dr Julie Greenhalgh with Julia Chung who attained the highest possible ATAR of 99.95
ENCORE nominees Mary Geng, Grace Blomfield, Gahyun Lee, Eunice Park, Elizabeth Ring and Isabella Fang with Music teachers, Ms Annemaree McLeod and Miss Bridget Hann, and Director of Music (Pre-K – 12), Ms Jodie Spooner Ryan
Excellence in MathematicsShameen Gaffoor attained equal 9th place in Mathematics Advanced. This excellence was reflected in the outstanding performance of her cohort with fifty-six per cent achieving a Band 6 result compared to twenty-three per cent in the state. Meriden students excelled at the highest level of Mathematics with sixty-two per cent in the top band for Mathematics Extension 1 and eighty-three per cent for Mathematics Extension 2.
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Meriden Academic Highlights 2020
Excellence in DramaBrydie Arkell and Freja Newman achieved marks of 97 in Drama and Charlotte Brennan, Freja Newman, Saffron McKeown and Elizabeth Ring received nominations to perform in the HSC Drama showcase, OnSTAGE.
Excellence in History and Social ScienceAll History Extension students attained the top band while sixty per cent of Ancient History students and forty-one per cent of Modern History students achieved a Band 6. Catherine Wang came 9th in the state in Economics leading the forty-six per cent of Economics students at Meriden who achieved a Band 6. Catherine has received offers from both Macquarie University and the University of New South Wales for Co-op Program scholarships for actuarial studies.
Excellence in LanguagesLanguages continue to flourish at Meriden with Christiana Stone and Grace Li taking out the top two placings in Spanish Beginners. Yennis Li completed her studies in China and achieved 4th place in Chinese and Literature.
Excellence abounds…
1 Drama teacher, Ms Sonia Byrnes, with OnSTAGE nominees Charlotte Brennan and Elizabeth Ring
2 OnSTAGE nominee Freja Newman
1 Meriden’s Head of History, Mrs Cheryl O’Loan, with HSC History students Saskia Rees, Brydie Arkell, Joanna Kontogiorgis and Teresa Ho2 Year 12 Coordinator, Mrs Sharna Kershaw, with Catherine Wang who placed 9th in the state in Economics
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Excellence in academic and sporting performanceNioka Thomas has been invited to undertake tertiary studies and join the champion water polo team at the University of California, Irvine, in 2021. Nioka is the first female athlete from outside the USA to join the team and she will be training under renowned Head Coach, Dan Klatt, who, in addition to being Head Coach at UCI, is also the Assistant Coach to the US Women’s National Water Polo team which won gold at both the London and Rio Olympics.
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Meriden Academic Highlights 2020
Excellence in EnglishIn English, seventy-eight per cent of students attempted the more challenging English Advanced course and forty-four per cent of these students achieved the top band. All students in English Extension 1 and 2 attained results in the top two bands.
Excellence in Visual ArtsAnthea Trang’s Visual Arts Major Work was nominated for ARTEXPRESS. Anthea’s paintings explore the volatility of ambition and how it can drive individuals to success and contentment or recklessness and disaster.
Excellence abounds…
Excellence in ScienceMeriden students excelled in Biology with Olivia Arvanitis achieving equal first place and Julia Chung 6th place. Olivia Arvanitis added to her success with a 2nd place in Science Extension.
Excellence in Applied ScienceBelinda Ji combined the training required of an elite junior golfer with excellent academic results. Belinda achieved equal first place in Community and Family Studies (CAFS). Her peers also excelled with thirty-six per cent of the CAFS cohort achieving a Band 6 result compared to five per cent in the state.
Excellence in Design and TechnologyEloise Bennett’s eco clothing range, which she designed and produced for her HSC Design and Technology Major Work, was nominated for Shape 2020. Eloise chose to address her concern about climate change by creating a company that produces ethically-made pyjama sets inspired by the Australian landscape.
Science teachers, Mrs Esther Seo-Hung (left) and Dr Jocelyn Laurence (right), with Mrs Tara Richards, Head of Science, and Olivia Arvanitis who placed equal 1st in the state in Biology and second in the state in Science Extension
Annalise Tran has received scholarship offers from UTS and University of New South Wales
Belinda Ji who placed 1st in the state in Community and Family Studies, with Applied Science teacher, Mrs Rikki McMillan
Excellence in Engineering StudiesAnnalise Tran has received an offer from UTS for the WiEIT Co-Op Scholarship for Software Engineering as well as an offer from the University of NSW for the Alexandria Lam Women in Engineering Scholarship. Alessandra Rainer has been shortlisted for a Civil/Structural Engineering Scholarship at UTS.
BiologyEnglish AdvancedMathematics AdvancedMathematics Extension 1Personal Development, Health and Physical EducationSpanish BeginnersStudies of Religion I
English AdvancedJapanese BeginnersMathematics AdvancedMathematics Extension 1Mathematics Extension 2PhysicsVisual Arts
Grace Blomfield
ATAR 99.1
HSC All-Round Achiever
ENCORE nomination
At Meriden since Year 8
SUBJECTS STUDIED
Chinese ContinuersEnglish AdvancedMathematics AdvancedMathematics Extension 1Music 1Physics
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Meriden Academic Highlights 2020
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 2020, 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 73.33 33.06 96
Biology 66.66 30.54 97
Business Studies 69.69 34.91 95
Chemistry 85.09 42.86 95
Chinese and Literature
100 68.39 95
Chinese Continuers 100 75.93 96
Chinese in Context 100 89.04 96
Community and Family Studies
81.81 33.53 98
Design and Technology
100 47.19 94
Drama 92.85 47.16 97
Economics 73.07 51.3 97
Engineering Studies 80 33.5 94
English Advanced 86.5 63.31 97
English EAL/D 75 25.89 95
English Extension 1 100 92.54 48*
English Extension 2 100 82.4 48*
English Standard 6.66 11.49 86
Food Technology 77.77 29.48 96
French Continuers 100 63.57 93
Geography 72.72 41.5 93
History Extension 100 20.54 47
Hospitality Examination (Kitchen Operations)
68.75 31.54 91
COURSE
% IN BANDS 5 & 6
AT MERIDEN
% IN BANDS 5 & 6
IN STATE
MERIDEN’S TOP MARKS IN EACH COURSE
Japanese Beginners 92.3 35.16 93
Latin Continuers 100 88.73 92
Latin Extension 50 86.53 49*
Legal Studies 83.33 39.4 96
Mathematics Advanced
85.29 52.46 99
Mathematics Extension 1
95.55 74.25 50* and 99
Mathematics Extension 2
94.44 83.86 98
Mathematics Standard 2
68.08 24.5 95
Modern History 95.44 37.13 95
Music 1 100 64.06 97
Music 2 100 87.78 97
Music Extension 92.3 68.5 50*
Personal Development, Health and Physical Education
68.41 34.19 93
Physics 72.72 40.36 94
Science Extension 75 6.89 48*
Spanish Beginners 100 40.77 99
Studies of Religion 1U 50 7.7 46*
Studies of Religion 2U 33.33 43.64 89
Visual Arts 89.47 64.73 95 * MARK OUT OF 50
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Meriden Academic Highlights 2020
UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY
UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
SYDNEY
UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH
WALES
MACQUARIEUNIVERSITY
OTHERUNIVERSITIES*
ATAR
2019% OF MERIDEN STUDENTS
2018% OF MERIDEN STUDENTS
2017% OF MERIDEN STUDENTS
2016% OF MERIDEN STUDENTS
2015% OF MERIDEN STUDENTS
95+ 35% 31% 24% 30% 40%90+ 53% 51% 51% 57% 57%
Over the past decade, Meriden students have received top placings in the state in the following subjects:1st Place
– Biology – English EAL/D – History Extension – Spanish Beginners – Community and Family Studies
– Heritage Chinese – Chinese in Context – Senior Science
2nd Place – English Extension 1 – Mathematics – Latin Continuers – Latin Extension – Chinese Context – Community and Family Studies
– Music Extension – Science Extension – Spanish Beginners
3rd Place – Biology – Chemistry – Community and Family Studies
– English Extension 1 – History Extension – Japanese Beginners – Mathematics
– Modern History
4th Place – English EAL/D – Chinese Continuers – Chinese and Literature – History Extension – Latin Extension – Mathematics Extension 2 and the top female student in this subject
– Modern History – Music Extension
– Business Studies – Community and Family Studies
5th Place – Physics – Modern History – Community and Family Studies
– Music 2 – Japanese Beginners
6th Place – Biology – English as a Second Language
– Senior Science – Ancient History – Community and Family Studies
7th Place – Drama – History Extension – Design and Technology – Geography – Visual Arts
8th Place – Mathematics Extension 1 – PD/Health/PE – Legal Studies – History Extension
9th Place – Biology – Economics – Mathematics Advanced – 2 Unit Mathematics – Engineering Studies
10th Place – Geography – 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 universities10
Meriden Academic Highlights 2020
Back Row: Tasnia Awal, Sandra He, Shirley Wang and Saaini Balakrishnan. Front row: Yi Sha She, Prabhsharan Jabbal, Emily Chong and Stephanie Cui
CommerceSix Year 10 Commerce students were awarded for their commercial acumen at the Blueprint Business Pitch Competition run by Western Sydney University’s School of Business. The competition challenges students to present a business idea that resolves a consumer need.
Third place in the competition was awarded to the Meriden team of Tasnia Awal, Vidiya Balacumar, Saaini Balakrishnan, Sandra He and Shirley Wang. Meriden’s second team, Emily Chong, Stephanie Cui, Prabhsharan Jabbal and Yi Sha She, came away with a prize from the Chancellor of the University.
Design and TechnologyDigital TechnologiesIsabella Morkos, Year 7, and Andrea Cheng, Year 8, received High Distinctions in the ICAS Digital Technologies examination, placing them in the top one per cent of students their age who participated. This challenging exam is sat by students in over twenty countries and assesses skills and knowledge in the areas of databases; graphics and multimedia; internet use and email programs; networks; operating systems and computer hardware; programming and scripting; spreadsheets and word processing.
Twenty Meriden students were awarded Distinctions in the examination, placing them in the top ten per cent of participants.
Public Space Ideas CompetitionMolly Flanagan and Bianca Hales, Year 10, were recognised by planning-industry experts for the quality of the outdoor space they submitted to the Public Space Ideas Competition. The girls won first place in the Children and Young People Awards section for “A Bushland Space”, parkland they envisioned would provide equitable access to all community members and opportunities for intentional connections with nature. The competition invited people to submit ambitious designs that reimagined public spaces across greater Sydney.
Young Designer AwardIsabel Wang, Year 10, received an Outstanding Young Designer award from the Whitehouse Institute of Design. Isabel won selection to participate in a Fashion Drawing workshop at the Institute. Fellow Design and Technology students, Lillian Havansky and Cheng Cheng, were named runners-up. 1 Isabella Morkos 2 Isabel Wang 3 Molly Flanagan and Bianca Hales
Academic highlights across the school
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Meriden Academic Highlights 2020
EnglishICAS English AwardsLeah Har and Emma Xu, Year 7, along with Eunice Thi, Year 10, were presented with University of NSW Medals for their achievements in the ICAS English examinations. These prestigious Medals are awarded to students who receive the top score in their age group globally.
Twelve Meriden students received High Distinctions in ICAS English: Jenna Aylett, Jeannette Chen, Leah Har, Selina Wang, Youya Wei, Ai-Yang Wu, Emma Xu and Meredith Xu in Year 7; Eleanor Kenyon and Cassandra Seeto in Year 8; Jemima Loane in Year 9; and Eunice Thi in Year 10.
ICAS English is conducted in over twenty countries around the world and tests students’ reading and language skills in a range of contexts.
Gifted and TalentedTournament of Minds (TOM) offers teams of students the opportunity to solve authentic open-ended challenges that foster creative, divergent thinking whilst developing collaborative enterprise, excellence and teamwork. A Meriden team achieved the highest award attainable in this year’s TOM. The Merit award was presented to team members Vanessa Wu, Nikki Yi, Kitty Jiang and Audrey Zou in Year 9, Grace Shen and Teresa Yang in Year 8, and Ellie Dong in Year 7. Two other Meriden teams were awarded Tournament Honours. The members of these two teams were Paris Chia, Rebecca Starling, Bianca Hales and Holly Webb in Year 10; Helen Liu, Sophia Yang, Sienna Kim and Edie Arkell in Year 9; Seeya Naik Panvelkar and Zara Chan in Year 8; Maddy Wood, Arshia Nanda, Sophie Yi and Olivia Lee in Year 7.
1 Leah Har 2 Cassandra Seeto 3 Selina Wang 4 Ai-Yang Wu 5 Jeannette Chen, Youya Wei and Emma Xu
1 Nikki Yi, Kitty Jiang, Teresa Yang, Vanessa Wu, Audrey Zou, Ellie Dong and Grace Shen 2 Edie Arkell 3 Sienna Kim 4 Arshia Nanda 5 Rebecca Starling 6 Holly Webb 7 Maddy Wood 8 Sophia Yang 9 Sophie Yi
Academic highlights across the school
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Meriden Academic Highlights 2020
Academic highlights across the school
HistoryHistorical Fiction AwardThree Meriden students were awarded prizes for their entries in the Historical Fiction Writing Competition run by Sydney Living Museums. The grand prize went to Eunice Thi, Year 10, for her thriller that focused on the New Guard, an extremist monarchist group operating in Australia during the Great Depression. Esther Michail, Year 10, and Alicia Wang, Year 8, received Highly Commended awards. The submission by Anjali Kailasanathan, Year 8, was shortlisted.
LanguagesThe 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 2020: Skye Blair for French Certificate 3; Chanel Nammour for Chinese Certificate 3; Chiara Freeman for French Certificate 2; Jessica Tan for Chinese Certificate 2; Andrea Cheng, Abisha Thevarajah and Rita Yeung for French Certificate 1; Jessie Lin, Reiaura Ling, Jasmine Luo and Sydney Tjonadi for Chinese Certificate 1.
Literary EngagementIsabel Ye, Year 12, was recognised by the Australian literary journal, Kill Your Darlings (KYD), as a promising young writer. Isabel was awarded second place in their prestigious School Writing Prize. KYD is an esteemed literary journal that has been a launching pad for the careers of many young writers.
1 Rita Yeung, Sydney Tjonadi, Jessica Tan, Reiaura Ling, Chiara Freeman and Chanel Nammour 2 Jessie Lin 3 Jasmine Luo
1 Eunice Thi 2 Esther Michail 3 Alicia Wang
Isabel Ye
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Meriden Academic Highlights 2020
MathematicsSabrina Cao, Year 7, was awarded a prize in the Australian Mathematics Competition. Sabrina achieved in the top 0.3 per cent of students in her age group who sat the competition. The competition is run by the Australian Maths Trust and is the leading mathematics competition in the country.
MusicAustralian Music Board ExaminationsThe Australian Music Examinations Board’s qualifications are recognised as a national benchmark in musical education across Australia. Teresa Yang, Year 8 – violin, and Chaewon Park, Year 10 – cello, achieved their AMEB Licentiate Diploma in Performance (LMusA). This Diploma is awarded to just ten per cent of candidates who attempt the qualification.
Four students earned their Associate in Music, Australia (AMusA) diploma: Alison Chang, Year 11 – flute; Ellie Dong, Year 7 – piano; Erin Du, Year 8 – cello; and Stella Hong, Year 9 – piano.
Competitions and ProgramsHeather Kim, Year 10, won first prize at the Grand Prize Virtuoso International Music Competition in Bonn, Germany. Heather was also accepted into the State Intensive Program 2021 of Young Mannheim Symphonists run by the Australian Romantic and Classical Orchestra (ARCO).
Teresa Yang, Year 8, was one of three finalists at the Kendall National Violin Competition. This competition is one of Australia’s foremost performance opportunities for young violinists.
Amy Lee, Year 9, received the Platinum Award in the 15 Years and Over Instrumental section of the online Bathurst Eisteddfod. Amy also placed second in the Great Composers Competition, Rising Talents of Oceania & Asia, performing Samuel Barber’s “Violin Concerto”.
Mary Geng, Year 12, earned a Silver Award at the 9th Macau Piano Competition 2020. The competition, which welcomes entrants from all around the world, is run by the Macau China Nation Cultural Innovation Association and the International Music Educator Association.
Year 12 students, Gahyun Lee and Isabella Fang, won grand prizes at the State Solo Championships run by the Band Association of NSW. Gahyun won the U/19 Double Reed section while Isabella won both the U/19 Mallet Keyboard and the Open Mallet Keyboard sections.
Sabrina Cao
Ellie Dong, Stella Hong, Erin Du and Alison Chang
1 Heather Kim 2 Amy Lee 3 Chaewon Park
Academic highlights across the school
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Meriden Academic Highlights 2020
Research and Critical ThinkingJunior Ethics OlympiadThe NSW Junior Ethics Olympiad engages participants in interesting ethical cases where they must consider a variety of perspectives and use ethical frameworks to arrive at a well-considered conclusion. The bronze medal in this year’s Olympiad was awarded to Meriden’s Year 9 team of Apphia Jin, Jemima Loane, Helen Liu, Sneha Shygale and Jasmine Ye.
An honourable mention from the judges was awarded to Meriden’s mixed team of Olivia Lee, Phoebe van Niekerk, Nynia Nguyen, Meredith Xu and Sophie Yi.
PhilosothonThe NSW Philosothon involves four students who compete as a school team but also as individuals in various age groupings. Students are presented with stimulus material from which they must propose a philosophical question and then discuss with their peers in Community-of-Inquiry discussions.
The Meriden team of Vernica Mehta, Year 11, Sophie Massey, Year 10, Jacinta Rees, Year 9, and Jenna Aylett, Year 7, placed third overall in the competition. In their individual sections, Jenna placed first, Vernica placed second and Sophie placed third.
Academic highlights across the school
1 Nynia Nguyen 2 Phoebe van Niekerk 3 Jenna Aylett 4 Sophie Massey 5 Helen Liu, Jasmine Ye, Apphia Jin, Sneha Shygale and Jemima Loane
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Meriden Academic Highlights 2020
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 given to a student whose work displays outstanding rigour and merit, in both the finished product and the research process behind it. The quality of the work exceeds normal expectations for outstanding work at the student’s present level of enrolment. The recipients of Gold Parnassus Awards in 2020 were Coco Chung for Business Studies; Clare Spicer for Ancient History; Rebecca Starling for her Independent Research Project in English; Helena Stefani for Design and Technology; Annabelle Strachan for Science; Liyang Yu for Modern History; and Shirley Wang for Commerce and English.
Philosophy Essay CompetitionSarah Kostoglou, Year 12, and Dunja Dudic, Year 11, were awarded second and third places respectively in the Philosophy in Schools NSW Essay Competition.
STEMComputational ThinkingAbisha Thevarajah and Teresa Yang, Year 8, received perfect scores in the Bebras Australia Computational Thinking Challenge. The girls were two of just twenty Years 7 and 8 students from across Australia to achieve one hundred per cent and make the Bebras Australia 2020 Honour Roll.
The challenge is an interactive way to assess students’ critical, creative and computational thinking skills.
Young EntrepreneursYvonne Lin and Shirley Wang won selection to participate in the Young Entrepreneurs Program. Both students were assigned to separate teams to work with students from other schools. Yvonne’s team went on to win the grand prize in the Young Entrepreneurs Program Sydney for their business concept and plan. Yvonne then competed with her team in the Young Entrepreneurs Global Competition against budding entrepreneurs from around the world. The team won the prize for teamwork which was one of only six awards given.
Abisha Thevarajah Yvonne Lin
Academic highlights across the school
1 Coco Chung 2 Clare Spicer 3 Helena Stefani 4 Liyang Yu 5 Dunja Dudic and Sarah Kostoglou
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Meriden Academic Highlights 2020
ScienceICAS Science AwardsThe 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 Skye Blair and Paris Chia in Year 10, Eleanor Kenyon in Year 8, Jacinta Rees in Year 9, Emily Chen and Elena Whitfield in Year 7.
Science OlympiadsThe Australian Science Olympiads national program is for top performing Science students and culminates in the International Science Olympiads.
Meriden girls demonstrated that they are highly engaged in a range of scientific disciplines, with a large number of girls performing exceptionally in the first round of school-based examinations.
High Distinctions in Physics were awarded to Trisha Chari in Year 10 and Anna Zhou in Year 11. Michelle Oh in Year 11 gained a High Distinction in Chemistry. High Distinctions in Earth and Environmental Science were awarded to Paris Chia and Shirley Wang in Year 10, and Claire McKenzie in Year 11.
High Distinctions in the Junior Science Olympiads were awarded to Rita Yeung in Year 8, Jacinta Rees in Year 9, Skye Blair, Trisha Chari, Eunice Thi, Shirley Wang and Syfe Zhong in Year 10.
Science Olympiads Summer SchoolShirley Wang, Year 10, and Anna Zhou, Year 11, have been recognised as two of the country’s top performing Science students with invitations to the Australian Science Olympiads Summer School. The event is an enrichment program for secondary school students who perform at the top of their national cohorts in the Australian Science Olympiad examinations.
Shirley has been invited to attend the Earth and Environmental Sciences Olympiad Summer School and Anna has been invited to the Physics Olympiad Summer School. The work schedule is intense and covers the equivalent of first-year university studies.
Academic highlights across the school
1 Clockwise from top left: Skye Blair, Eleanor Kenyon, Jacinta Rees, Emily Chen, Paris Chia and Elena Whitfield 2 Claire McKenzie 3 Michelle Oh 4 Syfe Zhong 5 Anna Zhou
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Meriden Academic Highlights 2020
Young Scientist AwardsFive Meriden students were awarded prizes at the much-anticipated 2020 Young Scientist Awards ceremony organised by the Science Teachers’ Association of NSW.
Year 10 students took out three awards: Shirley Wang won the Secondary AARNet Technology Award, Trisha Chari earned Highly Commended in the Most Promising Award category, and Annabelle Strachan was awarded third place in the Investigation – Chemistry Years 9 to 10 category.
Year 8 student, Jacinda Tjiantoro, was awarded third place in the Investigations – Chemistry Years 7 to 8 category, and Anna Zhou, Year 11, earned a Bronze Award in the Rowe Scientific Depth Study Award category.
CREST AwardsThe CSIRO’s Creativity in Science and Technology (CREST) Awards are a nationally-accredited awards program which aims to support students to extend their skills in scientific inquiry through the development of individual projects.
Year 10 students Annabelle Strachan and Adele Dang were awarded Gold CREST Awards for 2020. This is a significant achievement involving over one hundred hours’ work, substantial background research and creativity in both design of an experiment and in its real-world application.
Silver CREST Awards were presented to Brianne Tam and Mahek Jain in Year 9, and Eduarda Da Costa, Trisha Chari and Shirley Wang in Year 10.
Academic highlights across the school
1 Brianne Tam and Mahek Jain 2 Eduarda Da Costa1 Jacinda Tjiantoro 2 Annabelle Strachan
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Meriden Academic Highlights 2020
Big Science CompetitionThe Big Science competition assesses students’ critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Meriden students again achieved outstanding results in the competition including thirty-five Distinctions, which places the girls in the top fifteen per cent of students nationwide, and twenty-five High Distinctions, which places them in the top five per cent of students nationwide. High Distinctions were attained by Emily Chen, Olivia Choi, Annabelle Desmond, Olivia Lee, Keira Nguyen, Victoria Wu, Cordelia Xie, Meredith Xu and Sophie Yi in Year 7; Zara Chan, Andrea Cheng, Elaine Huang, Eleanor Kenyon, Seeya Naik Panvelkar, Alicia Wang and Rita Yeung in Year 8; Jacinta Rees in Year 9; Skye Blair, Adele Dang, Rebecca Starling, Shirley Wang, Alice Yu, Elaine Zhang and Syfe Zhong in Year 10.
Academic highlights across the school
1 Cordelia Xie, Olivia Lee, Meredith Xu, Seeya Naik Panvelkar and Sophie Yi 2 Olivia Choi, Andrea Cheng, Elaine Huang and Zara Chan 3 Annabelle Desmond 4 Keira Nguyen 5 Victoria Wu 6 Alice Yu
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Meriden Academic Highlights 2020
SpeechDebatingMeriden’s Year 10 Debating team was named Archdale Debating Champion for 2020. This competition is rigorous and challenging and team members Trisha Chari, Adele Dang, Sandra He, Joanna Li, Jennifer Pilarinos and Elaine Zhang proved themselves to be skilled and informed on a diverse range of topical issues. The team was undefeated throughout the tournament.
Festival of SpeechThe annual Festival of Speech requires participants to perform at an elite level in diction, tone, original ideas and engagement. Meriden girls excelled once again at this year’s Festival, progressing to the second round in every one of the five categories. In their final rounds, Liliane Spratt, Year 11, placed first in Senior Readings, Vernica Mehta, Year 11, placed third in Senior Public Speaking and Lael Sakalauskas, Year 9, placed fourth in Junior Poetry.
United Nations Voice of YouthYear 9 student, Jasmine Ye, won selection for the state semi-final of the United Nations Voice of Youth Competition. Jasmine was required to outline a solution to a world issue in this highly competitive event. Jasmine spoke in an eloquent and informed manner about sustainability and the judges complimented her on her presentation.
