Principal’s Update.

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At the end of Week 2, we celebrated a wonderful milestone as our Year 12 students marked their final day of classes. The atmosphere was filled with joy, colour and laughter as students arrived in creative dress-ups for their traditional last day celebrations. A pancake breakfast brought everyone together before we gathered for a moving final assembly. The performances were heartfelt, and the rousing rendition of the school song, Potens Sui, was a fitting reminder of the spirit and strength of this remarkable cohort.

Now, our Year 12 (and Year 11 students) students have turned their focus to their final VCE and IB examinations. Whether studying at home or here at school, they are demonstrating determination, discipline, and care for one another. Their support of each other during this time reflects the strong sense of community they have built throughout their years at Mac.Rob. We look forward to celebrating their achievements together with families at the upcoming Year 12 Graduation at the Pullman on the Park – a special occasion to farewell them properly and acknowledge all they have accomplished.

Meanwhile, our Year 9–11 students are finishing their coursework and beginning their own examination preparation. These assessments are an important opportunity to practise revision strategies, consolidate knowledge, and experience what it feels like to perform under timed conditions. Just as importantly, they are a chance to practise emotional regulation – managing nerves and maintaining focus – skills that will serve them well in their senior years and beyond.

As we move into this busy and important time, I wish all students focus, confidence, and balance. Learning how to bring calm and clarity to moments of challenge is, after all, one of the most valuable lessons of all - Potens Sui – Mastery of Self.

Kind regards,

Sue Harrap | Principal

Parent Payment Contributions for 2026.

To assist with your planning for next year, information about voluntary parent payments for 2026 are now available on the school website and the Family Portal.

Your financial contributions make a significant difference to the programs we are able to offer our students, including the excellent teaching and learning programs, the vibrant enrichment and extra-curricular opportunities, services such as a school nurse, outstanding IT infrastructure and support, and the highly supportive wellbeing programs and staff. Your contributions go a long way to helping us provide the kind of excellent education you would expect of our school, and we are most appreciative of your support.

To help answer some common questions about voluntary payments, a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section has been included at the end of the policy. We hope this helps clarify any queries you may have.

Parents should note that 2026 Parent Payments will be available on Compass in early December for families to process contributions. A notification, along with additional information and support resources, will be provided closer to this time.

In the meantime, if you have any questions about the 2026 Parent Payment Policy, please contact our friendly office staff.

Phone: 9864 7700 | Email: office@macrob.vic.edu.au

Student Highlights.

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Art + Design Exhibition 2025: “SONDER”.

On Tuesday, October 14th, students, families, and friends of Mac.Rob turned out in droves to support students of VCE and IB music, media, and the visual and performing arts at the opening night gala of "SONDER" - Mac.Rob's annual Art + Design Exhibition for 2025!

Featuring works from dozens of Mac.Robbians, “SONDER” was a trip into the “vivid and complex lives” of our students - a glimpse at the passions, fears, foibles, and curiosities that shape the fabric of our lives. As always, the work was of an exceedingly high calibre, with each piece perfectly expressed in its medium - be it pottery or papercraft sculpture, oversized oil paint canvases or intimate portraiture, animation or graphic design. The variety of artistic styles was a feast for the senses, with the iconic Mac.Rob Hall providing the perfect atmosphere to fully immerse guests in a world of sight, sound, and abstraction.

2025’s Exhibition was a particularly special one, as it saw the presentation of the inaugural Destiny Deacon Acquisitive Art Prize, named in honour of Destiny Deacon, Hon FRPS (1956–2024); an Australian photographer, broadcaster, political activist and media artist, and a graduate of the Mac.Robertson Girls’ High School. The Prize, co-judged with our special exhibition guest, Janina Harding - a proud Meriam (Erub/Mer) woman and administrator of First Peoples cultural projects, public broadcasting, events management, and arts management (as well as sister of Destiny Deacon) - is the first in an ongoing of initiatives celebrating Destiny’s life and career, alongside a virtual gallery on the Mac.Rob website, and a permanent exhibition space opening in 2026.

Thank you to everyone who attended both the gala and the week-long exhibition, and to all the artists who exhibited their work. Congratulations on a terrific year of creation and creativity - with particularly special congratulations to the recipients of the 2025 awards!

Destiny Deacon Acquisitive Art Prize: Jessica L, “Burnout”
Art Award 2nd Prize: Naveli M, “Pursuit of Knowledge”
Art Award 3rd Prize: Kathryn Y, “Banksia House”

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Chess State Championships.

On October 14th, eleven students from the Mac.Rob community attended the 2025 Victoria State Girls’ School chess championships hosted at Korowa Anglican Girls’ School. It was a great opportunity to play against members of the outer chess community and engage in challenging matches with very tactical players.

Throughout the day, there were tricky end games, clocks running low on time, and our team wasn't sure who would come out on top. But by the end of the day, the Mac.Rob team placed first by a whole 4.5 points, winning the Girl’s State Championship and securing a place into Nationals on December 6-7!

The Mac.Rob team included Aarna C, Annie H, Aparna H, Alice W, Crystal Y, Emily D, Ingrid L, Juhana N, Lea T, and Sarah D. All players demonstrated incredible sportsmanship and displayed school values while representing Mac.Rob. And it was really fun to have a team with students from every year level.Special mentions to Alice W, Emily D, Ingrid L, Juhana N, and Sarah D for their outstanding performance in this tournament, winning at least 5 of their 7 matches.

We would like to thank Mr Schaffner, Mr Tran and our Chess Captains, Aparna, Juhana, and Ingrid for all their dedication to making this event possible. We are incredibly grateful for this opportunity and look forward to participating in Nationals.

Lea R T (9K) & Emily D (9L)

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Interact Fete: A Fun-Filled Celebration of Community Spirit.

On October 20th, the Mac.Rob Interact Club hosted its highly anticipated Interact Fete during lunchtime in the gym - a lively event packed with laughter, games, and a strong sense of community spirit.

The fete featured crowd-favourite activities such as Tug of War, Three-Legged Races, Candy Pong, Nerf Gun Games, and the ever-popular Egg and Spoon Race. Each station rewarded participants with prize points, encouraging students to join in the fun and win exciting prizes. The joyful buzz of teamwork and friendly competition made the afternoon one to remember.

Adding to the excitement, we were honoured to welcome Wendy Stirling, President of the Rotary Club of Port Phillip, and Des O’Shanassy, Chair of the District 9800 Interact Committee for 2025–26 and district 9800 Youth Public Speaking Ambassador, as special guests. Their presence highlighted the close partnership between Rotary and Interact, as well as the importance of youth engagement in service and leadership.

The fete was not only a celebration of fun but also a reflection of the Interact Club’s commitment to service, collaboration, and school spirit. A big thank you goes out to all the volunteers, participants, and guests who made the day such a success!

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Year 10 History: Making The Modern World Excursion.

Last Monday, Ms. Bicknell’s history class went on the “Women on the Western Front” excursion, where we had the opportunity to visit the historic Como House and Gardens. We learnt about the lives of the Armytage family who had lived there, particularly about the four sisters: Ada, Constance, Laura, and Leila. Since the war effort is usually attributed to men, it was very inspiring to see the female perspective on such an important event in Australian history, as well as how the sisters’ legacy lives on. Hearing about their nursing duties was ultimately a great reminder of the contributions made by generally underrepresented groups in the war.

Our visit also prompted us to consider both how female roles have changed and stayed the same as a result of the war, as well as how class and privilege during the early 20th century shaped the sisters’ lives. Our class learnt so much and found this experience very interesting, so thank you, Como House!

Then, on Friday, we had the opportunity to visit Barry Aumann at the Shrine of Remembrance to listen about his experiences during the Vietnam War. Barry was an engineer in the Australian Army until May of 1967. He spent his time completing service by building roads and water supplies as well as ensuring that troops always had a roof over their heads and adequate living resources.

Barry’s talk was a great opportunity to ask questions and talk about his personal experiences during the Vietnam war as well as coming back to Australia afterwards. He even brought along small artifacts like his hexamine stove that provided portable hot meals in the field. His talk offered perspective on the practical challenges and realities of being a part of the Vietnam War effort under conscription.

We thank Barry for his insightful talk and for sharing his first-hand experiences.

Grace Z & Sophia Z

Principal’s Update | November, 2025.