The Senior School Speech Night takes place on Tuesday 10 December at Sydney Town Hall, from 6:00pm. Students are expected at school during the day as usual, and at the event in the evening. Parents and supporters are welcome to attend and should register via this link.

A reminder also that the first day of the 2025 school year for all students is Thursday 30 January 2025.

I had the opportunity to visit the Cadets Recruit Bivouac earlier this week on Monday afternoon. It was pleasing to see the new Year 7 recruits enjoying their first experience as cadets in the field. Furthermore, the new leadership (rank) team for 2025, led by the Unit SUO Olivia Lee, were able to coordinate the camp after much planning. Activities included setting up their hootchies (shelters), preparing meals, learning about first aid in the field, field signals, navigation and new for 2024, some STEM activities.

A team of six Meriden students and their coaches have travelled to Traralgon, Victoria, to contest and defend the Gallipoli Youth Cup (Australian Schools Tennis Challenge). Ten schools (boys and girls) from around Australia qualified for the event. Due to adverse weather, the format of the competition was adjusted. The Meriden team went through the pool stage undefeated and earnt the right to contest the final against Maribyrnong College (VIC). Meriden had a 3-1 match lead heading into the doubles matches, the first of which we won to secure the title. This is the tenth national title for our Tennis team since we first won the Cup in 2010. Congratulations to the players and the supporting team of coaches.

We recently announced that Meriden is in the pre-planning stages of a European Music Tour for December 2025. This tour will provide the girls a musically rich opportunity to experience world-class concert halls, historical churches and opera theatres with many performance and workshop opportunities. The tour will focus on orchestral, chamber and choral masterclasses and performances and is available for any girls in an instrumental ensemble or choir in Years 8 – 12 in 2025. An information session will be available to parents and students on Wednesday 4 December at 5:00pm. The session will be recorded for those who are unable to attend.

I am pleased to announce the following Subject, Sport and Cocurricular captains for 2025:

As 2024 comes to a close and we celebrate the special event of Jesus’ birth, our Immanuel, our God with us, I wish all families a happy and holy Christmas filled with rest, refreshment and reflection.