Principal’s Update | August, 2024

Welcome to Mac.Rob’s August newsletter, and the highlights of Term 3 so far!

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Premier’s Awards

The annual Premier’s VCE Awards recognise students who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE). I was fortunate to attend the award presentation ceremony held on July 17th, 2024, with Daniel Crowe (Senior School Leader & Economics teacher) and Barbara Chandler (Mathematics teacher). On the day a total of 332 awards recognised the exceptional dedication and hard work of 310 students during the 2023 VCE, and most significantly, eight Mac.Rob students received nine awards.

We recognise the outstanding achievements of: 

2023 Graduates:

  • Nicole Meng in English and Economics

  • Ananaya Mittal in Economics (Ananaya also received an award in 2023 for her VCE studies when she was in Year 11) 

  • Carryn Yeo - English as a Second Language

  • Jessie Tran - General Mathematics

  • Jhanvi Rajagoplanan - General Mathematics

  • Sydney Lay - Visual Communication and Design

2024 Year 12s:

  • Kimberly Setiawan - Indonesian

  • Merryl Chen - Chinese Second Language 

It was a pleasure to celebrate their achievements with family and friends at the Melbourne Convention Centre. We are incredibly proud of these students, but also of all of our 2023 senior students.

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Ellie Gwinnett - Parliament Prize: 2nd Place

We congratulate Ellie Gwinnett for being awarded 2nd place in the 2024 Parliament Prize Competition in the Years 10-12 category. The Parliament Prize is an annual competition delivered by the Parliament’s Community Engagement Unit.

Students are invited to consider what they would say in Parliament if they were an MP and submit a 90-second video of their own Member’s Statement. This year there was a record breaking 1126 entries from over 200 schools across the state. 

Ellie spoke articulately and passionately about teaching First Nations languages in schools. We are very proud of her achievements and passion.

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Monash Scholars

Congratulations to Khushi A, Saathvika A, Tazmeen K, Ragaranjita K.B, Claire L, and Jiahui Z from Year 10, who have been accepted into the 2024 - 2026 Monash Scholars Cohort

The Monash Scholars program is a prestigious program for high achieving secondary students to give them a unique head-start into university life. Throughout the application process, these students demonstrated academic achievement, involvement in extracurricular endeavours, and were able to articulate what a good leader looks like and how they personally display those qualities in their own lives.

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Sir John Monash Commemoration Service

On Thursday, August 8th, I had the pleasure of attending the ceremony at Parliament House to honour the life of General Sir John Monash with four of our students. 

General Sir John Monash had an exceptional mind and outstanding leadership qualities - he was a successful engineer and lawyer. He led forces in the Battle of Galipoli and on the Western Front in World War I. He organised and supervised the repatriation of over 200,000 Australian troops and many thousands of wives and children. In Egypt in 1916 he initiated the commemoration of what is now known as ANZAC Day and was a driving force behind the shrine of remembrance. He retained soldiers into professions after the war. He established the State Electricity Commission in Victoria and was its chairman for a decade. He pioneered the development of reinforced concrete in bridges.

Throughout this life and in all of his achievements his focus was on building community, leading with compassion for the betterment of society. It was a pleasure to attend and learn more about this great leader, who we can all learn so much from. Is it any wonder there is a freeway, university, hospital, school and municipality (and much more) named in his honour. 

I appreciate Dani, Grace, Chloe and Claire giving up their time to join me at the service.

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Preparation Adelaide Exchange

We are excitedly preparing for the Annual Adelaide Exchange and Prefects Cup coming up from August 19th - 21st, 2024. This exchange has been running since 1913 and has only been interrupted by two world wars and two pandemics. We resumed the exchange last year, when Adelaide returned to Mac.Rob. This is the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic that we have returned to Adelaide, and it is my first time as Principal. 

While there are a range of competitions over the four days we are there, the main purpose of the event is to form strong and enduring relationships. The impact of these relationships lasts a lifetime. Our hope is that our teams work well together, support each other and enjoy the challenge, and that they form bonds with each other and the Adelaide students that last forever.

Over the three days of competition about 65 students will compete in: Badminton, Theatre Sports, Basketball, Tennis, Soccer, Hockey, Table Tennis, Debating, Volleyball, AFL, Cross Country and Softball.

The students and staff will return on Wednesday, August 21st, exhausted but hopefully enlivened by the connections and growth they have made and experienced while away. We look forward to reporting back on the results in our next newsletter.

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Winter Concert

The Annual Combined Winter Concert was held on Monday 22 July at the Melbourne Town Hall. It was truly phenomenal. We sincerely thank the very talented music staff from both Mac.Rob and Melbourne High School for the dedication, high expectations and support they bring to their work with our students. We also thank our students for their hard work, collaboration and willingness to rise to the occasion.

The sounds our students make together are truly astonishing; it is often hard to believe they are students! Thank you also to Mr. Edgar Wegner for his leadership of the event.

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Fence Fundraising - Thank You!

We sincerely thank the many families who donated to the school’s Building Fund in our recent End of Financial Year tax drive, and to all those who have donated throughout the year.

We are now in a position to install the long awaited fence. A massive $24,000 was collected before June 31st. Thank you. The fence will go up during the September school holidays.


The Mac.Rob Learner Model

It is a very exciting time for us at Mac.Rob, with the launch of the Mac.Rob Learner Model taking place this week. 

Our Learner Model serves to clearly articulate for our school community (students, parents and staff) the fundamental features of effective learning, so that it is possible to fulfil that second main function of maximising learning growth. 

The Learner Model’s purpose is for our school community to have a shared language and understanding about learning, including:

  • The changes that take place in our brains when learning occurs.

  • How our state of wellbeing impacts all stages of learning and what we can do to positively influence that.

  • What the research tells us are the most effective ways to maximise our learning potential and outcomes.

We created the Learner Model in response to our 2023 school review which showed us that significant misconceptions about how learning occurs and what effective learning is exist in our community, and that these misconceptions can negatively affect our students’ sense of wellbeing and self-confidence, and can limit their learning capacity. Of course we wanted to address that as a priority. 

We created the Learner Model by consulting widely with focus groups and surveys with students, parents and staff, and through accessing best practice research from across the world. 

We have built the model using the learning cycle reflected in the Learner Model itself. It is a synthesis, unique to our school community, that has been collectively and collaboratively designed to meet our unique needs. We will continue to develop resources, monitor, review and refine the Model as time progresses and as we learn from interacting with it together as a school community. 

The Learner Model will be used to ensure everyone has a better understanding of the learning process from a neurological and emotional standpoint, and to provide guidance for practical strategies to maximise effective learning. We will teach students to practise and apply these strategies in their learning experiences - both inside and outside of class. 

Through using the Learner Model, our students will: 

  • Develop the skills to be more effective learners.

  • Have more agency in their learning.

  • Have greater self confidence.

  • Focus on developing wellbeing practices that support learning.

Our families will: 

  • Understand what their children are experiencing as they learn new things at school.

  • Have practical strategies to support their children with their learning at home.

  • Feel confident when challenging any misconceptions about learning that their child may have.

  • Know when to reach out to staff to seek help.

Our teachers will:

  • Be more explicit with students about what phase of learning they may be in and the deliberate instructional choices they are making to support students to learn most effectively.

  • Better target advice about what strategies may help a student make their next steps in learning.

  • Align assessment and reporting with aspects of the Learner Model to reinforce the principles and strategies of effective learning.

I thank all members of our school community for actively engaging in the process to develop the Learner Model, and pay particular tribute to our Learning Specialist and Wellbeing teams who have led at all stages of development. Additionally I give thanks to our School Leadership team and Domain Leaders, who have also played a key role in its creation.

I am both proud of and excited about what we have created, and I eagerly anticipate the growth we will make as we use it to enhance both our partnerships in learning and our effectiveness as learners.

Sue Harrap | Principal


What’s On At Mac.Rob

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Much Ado About Nothing | Combined Schools' Play

You're invited to the calendar event of the year: The 2024 Combined Schools Play! Romantic entanglements, witty wordplay, and MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING abound in Shakespeare's classic comedy, performing at the Mac.Rob Hall from August 29th to September 1st. Tickets for this riotous family night out are now on sale, so don't miss out!

'Much Ado About Nothing' by William Shakespeare
Performing Thursday, August 31st - Sunday, September 1st, 2024

Performance Times:

  • Thursday, August 29th @ 7:00pm

  • Friday, August 30th @ 7:00pm

  • Saturday, August 31st @ 7:00pm

  • Sunday, September 1st @ 4:00pm

Tickets: $20 full / $15 child + concession.

Performances run for approx. 2 hours, including interval. Please note that the performance on Sunday, September 1st, commences at 4:00pm. All performances will be in the Mac.Rob Hall, Mac.Rob High School, Cnr Kings Way & Albert Road. Please enter via the main Foyer.

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Presentation Night 2044 | Tuesday, November 26th

Families, friends, graduates of Mac.Rob are warmly invited to join us for the Presentation Night, our annual celebration of student achievements from across the 2024 school year. Presentation Night will be held once again at the iconic Palais Theatre, Lower Esplanade, St Kilda, on Tuesday, November 26th. Please save the date, and keep an eye out for ticket information on Compass and online soon.


Student Highlights

Badminton - Intermediate State Champions

Yesterday, the Intermediate team beat Doncaster East in the Final, after clearing the other rounds without losing a game. If you see the following students around the school please congratulate them, as they trained hard and played their hearts out over the three separate tournaments!

The Senior team today unfortunately just fell short, losing to Maribyrnong Sports College in the Semi-finals. They also trained hard and played above their level, so if you see them around please congratulate them as well on getting so far.

  • Intermediates - State Champions: Felicia L, Calina S, Jowdy M, Jiya D, Nicole C, Ihaana B.

  • Seniors - 3rd in State: An N, Zara L, Esther L, Susie C, Amelia B, Eana K.

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SEHS Maths Games Day

The Select Entry High School (SEHS) Maths Games Day, held at Melbourne High School, offered an exceptional opportunity for inquisitive students to engage in a diverse array of mathematical problem-solving activities. Students were organised into mixed-school teams within their respective year levels, fostering a unique environment that highlighted the value of collaboration among peers from each of the four Selective Entry High Schools. Throughout the day, these teams worked diligently to solve intricate problems, took part in rounds of dots and boxes, and competed in a 20-problem solving relay. The competitive spirit was palpable as teams competed energetically to earn points in hopes of securing the coveted cash prize. 

The event was further enriched by stimulating discussions led by guest speakers, who shared their insights into the course of mathematics. A Year 12 student from Nossal High School presented her research on the "Knight’s Tour," a problem involving sequences where a knight on a chessboard visits every square exactly once, underscoring the contributions of notable mathematicians who have shaped the field of study. Additionally, a recent graduate from Scotch College demonstrated the construction of basic geometric shapes, such as equilateral and right-angled triangles, using fundamental tools like a compass and ruler. This illustrated the significance of experimentation and the varying nature of solutions, reminding us to constantly “think outside the box”.

Ultimately, the experience was truly rewarding as it provided an opportunity to connect with passionate math aficionados and forge meaningful relationships with students from other Selective Entry High Schools. A special gratitude is extended to Mr. Hendricks for his unwavering support and encouragement throughout the day!

Lauren N (10J)

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Humanities Day

The sky was clear, the air was crisp and Melbourne’s CBD was filled with hundreds of excited year 10s for their annual Humanities Day! 

This year for Humanities day, we were fortunate enough to travel around the CBD to look at places of civic and financial significance. The plan of the day mimicked "The Amazing Race”, with different groups embracing their competitive spirit to scope out areas and complete challenges relevant to Melbourne’s civic and financial systems.The most memorable part would have to be taking lots of fun photos with our groups!

After a well deserved lunch break, we had the opportunity to go to Evans and Partners (E&P). E&P are a wealth management firm, and we are immensely grateful that they gave us some of their precious time. We listened to a few key team members' knowledge and  insights, and topped it all off with a delicious spread of snacks and drinks!

We know that this day is not easy to plan, so on behalf of Year 10, I would like to say a massive THANK YOU!! to our humanities teachers. We are beyond grateful for the time and effort you have put into the planning and we can’t wait for many more exciting times in humanities!

Raga K B (10A)

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Korowa Chess Tournament

On July 23rd, Mac.Rob’s chess team participated in the Korowa Anglican Girls Secondary Tournament. It was an invaluable opportunity to challenge our abilities and spar in chess against teams from other schools. Although we were slightly nervous at first, we all adapted to the new environment and relaxed quickly. We thought clearly and confidently, creating moves with ease. The games of intense concentration and quiet enjoyment were broken up nicely with short breaks before the next game, where we checked up on each other and offered encouragement for the next match. We also forged friendships with players from other schools through interactions from the games. 

Throughout the tournament, we maintained our position at the top of the leaderboard, and ended with our team achieving first place with a 32/35 point finish. This allowed us to progress to the State Championships in Term 4. Thank you to all our players-Xin C, Aparna M, Juhana N, Faiza K, Sarah D, Ingrid L and Suraya I. Congratulations to Xin and Ingrid, who tied for first place in this tournament, consistently victorious with 7/7 points each! Congratulations to Juhana and Aparna, who both remained undefeated, emerging as runner ups with a 6.5! We all greatly appreciated this exhilarating experience and are thrilled to have qualified for the Championships. We look forward to the next chess tournament immensely!

Ingrid L(9L) and Suraya I(9I)

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Whole School Mural Painting

On Thursday, April 18th, our mural painting project was a resounding success, engaging students from across the entire school.

Throughout the day, students eagerly participated in painting squares on a large fabric canvas pre-formatted with grids, similar to a paint-by-number activity. This immersive process allowed students to find peace and excitement in each stroke as they transformed pixels into art.

Our vision for this year: Beyond the Horizon inspired the creation of this artwork — a journey that embraces the unexpected, finds richness in the details, and celebrates the unity of diverse experiences. It is in the simplicity of our daily lives, that we hope to find beauty and depth. Collaborating with Flora L (10F), we crafted an art piece that not only reflects our vision but also embodies the essence of our students and school community.

The aim of this artwork is to encourage our students to look beyond their goals and aspirations, urging them to recognize the possibilities before them — a blank canvas sky waiting to be painted. The vibrant warm hues and tranquil scenery serve as a reminder that beauty and peace can be discovered in life's simple moments.

Symbolically, the artwork incorporates our school building and flocks of birds representing each year level; Year 9s enter full of curiosity, Year 10s steadily progress and set foot on the paths; Year 11s climb high as they grow; and Year 12s fly off into and beyond.

We hope when the artwork is ready to be hung onto our school walls, that it will momentarily bring about a sense of calmness amidst the complexity of our daily lives. We hope it will inspire students to craft their own canvas this year with memories that add joy to their journey towards the horizon.

Kathy G (School Captain) & Maggie U (Vice Captain)


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