Merrimac State High School is one of the Gold Coast’s premium educational environments. Merrimac is an internationally-recognised school seeking to contribute to the development of each student through a shared focus emphasising respect, responsibility and reliability.
The school motto “Pride in Excellence” charts its course towards the pursuit of excellence. This is best achieved through students, parents, teachers and community working together to deliver the best educational opportunities. The school recognises education is a ‘people’ business where inspirational learning positively shapes the life chances of students. At the school, learning is intellectually challenging, connected to the real world and individualised. This focus is founded upon the belief that learning is natural and that the love of learning is normal.
Leadership and commitment are two personal qualities highly valued and strongly developed at Merrimac. The school provides support and mentoring opportunities for students and staff as they explore their talents and goals within our culture of achievement and self-belief.
Merrimac State High School is a school with a ‘futures’ focus and a youthful optimism. Its caring relationships with students and partnerships with parents provide it with the best opportunity to deliver an education that challenges every student to live the motto “Pride in Excellence”.
Facilities: The school is close to beaches, public transport and shopping centres. The extensive 10.4 hectare site is well laid out with mature trees and gardens that offer outdoor eating areas and shaded meeting spaces. In addition to general classrooms the school also has a library, swimming pool, sport and assembly hall, gymnasium, tennis, basketball and netball courts, ovals, performing arts theatre, music rooms, home economics kitchen, hospitality centre, dance studio, art rooms, robotics laboratory, canteen and administration centre.
Electives Years 8 to 10: Key Learning Areas – English, Maths, Science, Health and Physical Education, Studies of Society and Environment, LOTE, Technology and The Arts. Electives – Business Enterprises, Chinese, Dance, Drama, English (Extension, Core, Life Skills, Support), Geography, Health and Physical Education, History, Science, Japanese, Maths (Extension, Core, Life Skills, Support), Music, Studies of Society and Environment, Visual Art and Creative Industries, Healthy Mind Healthy Bodies, Business Information Technology, Construct IT, Creating with Textiles, Designing for the Real World, Food Technology.
Electives Years 11 and 12: Authority subjects – Accounting, Ancient History, Biological Science, Business Communication and Technologies, Business Enterprises, Chemistry, Chinese, Dance/Dance Excellence, Drama, Economics, English (Extension, Core), English / English Extension-Literature, English for Learners where English is their Second Language, Geography, Graphics, History, Information Processing and Technology, Japanese, Legal Studies, Marine Studies, Maths (Extension, Core), Maths A, Maths B, Maths C, Modern History, Philosophy & Reason, Music, Photo and Digital Imaging, Physical Education, Physics, Technology Studies, Visual Art.
Sport: Australian football, softball, touch football, cricket, rugby league, soccer, hockey, tennis, netball, volley ball and basketball. Top teams compete in district level competitions.
Extracurricular activities: Gold Coast Triple Threat, Student Council, Debating, Leos, Merrimac games, District sport, Musicals, Peer mentors, Prefects, World Vision, Love Bites, Putting Youth in the Picture, High Resolves.
Welfare and personal development: Bully Buster, Chaplain, ESL, Guidance Office, Learning support, Monday tutorials, school-based apprenticeships, Youth health nurse.
Special features: Strong partnerships with Griffith and Bond Universities have been developed, allowing students to participate in higher education programs while at school. Specialist program in Music Theatre accredited by the renowned Actors’ College of Theatre and Television. Industry partners provide for a diverse range of traineeships and school-based apprenticeships. International Students and Homestay programs.