Merici College is located close to the centre of Canberra and was established in 1959 to cater for girls from Years 7 to 12. The year 2009 saw the school celebrate its 50th Jubilee. The school strives to create a Catholic community where gospel values become part of daily life. Academic excellence is encouraged through personal commitment and community support.
The school is well known for its consistently excellent results in National testing, its focus on integrating technology into learning and its Powerful Learning Principles. Merici is the only school in the ACT with an optional laptop program for Years 7 to 9.
Facilities: Oval, tennis courts, sports and fitness centre, modern Information Centre, computer laboratories, laptop trolleys, specialist rooms for practical subjects, interactive whiteboards in most classes and a wireless network throughout the college.
Electives Years 7 to 10: Art, Music, Drama, Dance, Food Technology, Textiles, Media Studies, Consumer Education and Sustainability. A language is compulsory in Years 7 and 8 with choices from Italian, German, Japanese and French. A second language is also possible from Year 9 onwards. Students in Year 10 can begin Vocational courses leading to Certificate I and II.
Subjects Years 11 and 12: Religious Studies, English, Mathematics, Drama, Information Technology, Business Studies, Business Administration, Legal Studies, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Earth Science, History (Ancient and Modern), Geography, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Art, Sports Science, Sport and Recreation, Psychology, Sociology, Dance, Hospitality, Fashion Design, Photography, Media Studies, Music.
Sport: Girls can compete in athletics, basketball, cross-country, equestrian, gymnastics, hockey, netball, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, oztag, volleyball, water polo and others.
Extracurricular activities: Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme, chamber group, string group, choir, debating, band, mock trial, Shakespeare Festival, social justice group, St Vincent de Paul.
Welfare and personal development: Both personal and group counselling are provided for in a welfare system also incorporating work experience and career guidance.