Our players today included those playing violin, cello, piano, flute and saxophone. And we’re looking for the mystery Merrin euphonium player to come and join us, if that’s you come and play with us next week!

The orchestra meets every Wednesday at 10.15am in the music room. 

Last year we performed at Junior Assembly and at Somerset retirement home and I have a few ideas already of what we might get up to this year once we have enough music learned.

If you can read music well I’d welcome players on (almost!) any instrument.

Please email your details; name, instrument and level to Susan at susandollin@merrin.school.nz and I’ll make sure I have an appropriate part for you to play. 

Last Thursday students brought in equipment to make a shelter and cook lunch for their team. There was quite a bit of preparation that went into our day with groups having to sort out who was in charge of bringing what to school, what their shelter might look like and of course a cool group name. 

When students arrived we headed straight out to the field where the team captains were standing on their assigned shelter site. From here it was all go! Watching the teams trying multiple ways and ideas to create a shelter that would not only fit all the group members in it but also keep them dry from the drizzle. Let's not forget all the equipment and food they had also brought in that needed protecting. 

When it came to lunchtime allocated cooks set up their gas cookers and started to prepare a range of delicious lunches. We had sausages, eggs, cheese toasties, noodles, pancakes, pasta, burgers and a whole heap more! Cooking on a gas cooker was not only a challenge but something many of the students had not done before. Everyone got a plate and most students rated it a 4/5 stars. 

Over the day teams competed in multiple challenges against other teams. There were points for those teams that won the challenge and for showing their values.