秋意正浓，曼校的画卷上，又添了几笔动人的色彩。有消防演练时的紧张有序，有运动赛场上的汗水呐喊，也有越野跑中的亲情陪伴，更有点亮校园的万圣奇想……过去的一周，我们不仅在安全教育的课堂上聚精会神，更在运动与创造中，见证了无数个关于成长、勇气与合作的闪光瞬间。

“叮铃铃……”10月27日（周一）上午，一阵急促的铃声划破校园的宁静——消防应急疏散演练正式开始！老师们迅速就位，同学们反应敏捷，沿着预定路线快速、有序地撤离至安全集合点。整个过程紧张却不慌乱，展现了我校师生出色的应急反应能力。

演练不仅是一次模拟，更是一堂生动的安全教育课。同学们在亲身体验中掌握了逃生技能，进一步认识到火灾预防的重要性，也学会了在危急时刻如何沉着应对、守护生命。

演练结束后，消防员叔叔们还为大家带来了“消防知识小课堂”，讲解了火灾应急逃生方法，展示了各类消防器材的功能与使用方法。同学们目不转睛，认真聆听，积极互动，在观摩与学习中提升了自救、互救与逃生能力。

乘着“十五运会”东风，曼校也掀起了全民健身的热潮。10月28日，曼校教师队和学生队展开排球友谊赛：发球、扣杀、拦网，每一个动作都充满力量；赛场边呐喊声此起彼伏，“老师加油！”“同学好球！” 的欢呼混着汗水，把 “追求卓越” 的曼校体育精神，妥妥地展现在赛场上。

10月29日，更热闹的户外越野跑如约而至！同学们身着代表各自部落的服装来到学校附近的石凹水库，为荣誉而战，为团队而跑。现场气氛热烈，家长们的加油声此起彼伏，汇成最动人的助威曲。

在上午小学组赛后，“家庭欢乐跑” 甜度拉满：家长牵着孩子的手，步伐默契又轻快，每一张合影里，汗水都混着笑容；下午中学部的比赛更显硬核，同学们迎着秋风迈开大步，耐力与毅力在奔跑中绽放，成为秋日校园里最亮眼的风景线。

10 月 30-31 日，曼校彻底变身 “奇幻乐园”！同学们脑洞大开：有的裹着格兰芬多围巾，化身哈利・波特里的巫师；有的穿起蜘蛛侠战衣，摆出 “英雄 pose”；还有的戴尖帽、持魔杖，扮成俏皮女巫 —— 特效妆精致到睫毛，服装细节拉满，一蹦一跳间，仿佛从电影、童话书里 “穿越” 而来。

中外经典角色在这里 “同框”，同学们模仿喜爱的角色，神态、动作惟妙惟肖，搞怪的骷髅妆、华丽的公主裙、酷炫的机械铠甲，每一处细节都藏着奇思妙想。

老师也加入狂欢，和同学们一起摆拍、玩 “不给糖就捣蛋” 的游戏，笑声在校园里飘得很远。不管是鬼魅风、酷炫风还是可爱风，同学们都自信扬起脸庞，大方展示自己的创意，从容的模样里满是青春活力。

As autumn deepens, our campus has been painted with yet another week of vibrant memories. From the orderly urgency of a fire drill, to the spirited cheers on the sports field, the heartwarming camaraderie of a cross-country run, and the magical creativity of Halloween – each moment at Merchiston has been a brilliant showcase of growth, courage, and collaboration.

The week began with the sharp ring of the fire alarm on Monday morning. In a well-practiced routine, teachers swiftly guided our students along evacuation routes to designated safe areas. The drill was conducted with urgency yet remarkable calm, highlighting our school's commitment to safety and preparedness.

More than just an exercise, it was a real-life lesson in responsibility. Students gained firsthand experience in emergency response, understanding the importance of fire prevention and how to protect themselves and others in critical situations.

To further deepen their understanding, firefighters hosted an engaging "Fire Safety Talk," demonstrating emergency escape techniques and the use of various firefighting equipment. Our students watched intently, asked thoughtful questions, and left with strengthened skills in self-rescue, mutual aid, and emergency evacuation.

Riding the wave of the National Games enthusiasm, Merchiston embraced its own sports fever! On Tuesday, our teachers and students faced off in a thrilling volleyball friendly. Powerful serves, strategic blocks, and dynamic spikes filled the match, while cheers of "Go teachers!" and "Well played!" echoed from the sidelines. It was a true display of the Merchiston spirit – striving for excellence with passion and unity.

The energy continued on Wednesday with our annual Cross-Country Run at nearby Shi'ao Reservoir. Dressed in their house colours, students ran for pride and team honour, spurred on by the enthusiastic cheers of supporting parents.

The morning saw our younger students joined by their families in a joyful "Family Fun Run," creating sweet memories with every shared smile and synchronized step. The afternoon belonged to our secondary students, who tackled the course with determination and grit, their perseverance becoming one of the season's most inspiring sights.

By Thursday and Friday, Merchiston transformed into a realm of pure imagination for our Halloween celebration! Creativity knew no bounds: wizards from Harry Potter, superheroes straight from the comics, and whimsical witches – all came to life through intricate costumes and stunning makeup, as if they had stepped right out of the movies and storybooks.

It was a delightful crossover of iconic characters, Students perfected every detail, from spooky skeleton paint to elaborate gowns and high-tech armour, bringing their favourite roles to life with impressive accuracy.

Even our teachers joined the fun, playing "trick or treat," and filling the campus with laughter. Whether their style was eerie, edgy, or adorable, our  students radiated confidence, originality, and the vibrant energy of youth.