Principal’s Update | September, 2025.
Principal’s Update.
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The end of Term 3 is always a busy time, with events that allow us to reflect on our wellbeing and mental health, and connect as a community.
Wear It Purple Day and RUOK? Day were vibrant celebrations of our school’s inclusiveness and diversity, and a chance to check-in with friends and peers - and in the case of RUOK? Day, cuddle some cute furry friends at the petting zoo!
The Spring Concert brought together students, families, and community members for another incredible showcase of Mac.Rob’s musical talent, and House Dance, as always, was the perfect cap to a jam-packed Term, demonstrating the incredible pride and dedication our students have in their House and their peers. It was also a fitting conclusion of House activities for our Year 12 students, who are rapidly approaching the end of their classes and preparing for their exams.
Congratulations to every student who danced, directed, choreographed, and supported House Dance, and particularly to Dryads, who walked away with the overall win!
Two week-long festivities took the spotlight in recent weeks: Mac.Rob Week, which celebrated all things “Mac.Rob” along with the birthday of our school’s founder, Macpherson Robertson; and Book Week, which saw stories of all shapes and sizes come alive in the hundreds of costumes of both students and staff.
From manga to Mary Poppins, Paddington Bear to the Picture of Dorian Gray, the annual character parade and costume competition was a literary explosion of creativity and imagination. Congratulations to the overall costume winners, and to everyone who dressed up to show off their favourite tales!
Looking ahead, Term 4 is shaping up to be just as busy as Term 3, with “SONDER”, the Art & Design Exhibition for 2025, opening its doors in Week 2 with a special Gala evening (Tuesday, October 14th; tickets available here), and the highlight of the school calendar, Presentation Night, taking place in Week 8. Tickets for Presentation Night will be on sale early next Term, so for now, save the date (Tuesday, November 25th) for this celebration of student achievement and excellence from throughout 2025.
On behalf of everyone at Mac.Rob, we wish students, families, and staff a safe and restful holiday break, and look forward to seeing you all return, rested and refreshed, in Term 4!
Kind regards,
Sue Harrap | Principal
What’s On At Mac.Rob.
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SONDER: Art + Design Exhibition | Gala Opening.
➲ [ son-der ] / noun; the realisation that each passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own.
Students, families, and friends of Mac.Rob are warmly invited to attend the opening night gala of SONDER, our annual Art & Design Exhibition, to support students of the VCE and IB music, media, and visual arts programs at Mac.Rob. Please join us on Tuesday, October 14th, for an evening of incredible art, music, and media as we celebrate the student work developed in 2025.
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'SONDER' | ART + DESIGN EXHIBITION 2025
OPENING NIGHT GALA
When: Tuesday, October 14th | 5:00pm - 6:30pm
Where: The Mac.Rob Hall, Level 2, Kingsway Building
The exhibition will be held in the Mac.Rob Hall, Level 2, Kingsway Building.
Please enter via Entry 4, the main school entrance (Reception doors) facing Albert Road.
This is a free event, but guests are asked to RSVP to assist us with catering.
The Opening Night Gala will include speeches by school leaders, complimentary canapes, and the presentation of artwork prizes by a special guest artist.
Student Highlights.
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Maths Association of Victoria Yr 9 Games Day.
Congratulations to Geet M, Juhi P, Tanya X and Amanda Y, who have secured the win for Mac.Rob at the 2025 Maths Association of Victoria Year 9 Games Day. This is the first time ever in the history of MAV Games Days that an all female-identifying team has won at any level. For many years, Melbourne High has dominated the Games Days, so it's great to see Mac.Rob getting the glory this time around!
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Japanese Language Movie Excursion.
On August 15th, Year 9 Japanese Language Students were given the opportunity to watch the dystopian science fiction drama Happyend, directed by Neo Sora, at ACMI’s Melbourne International Film Festival.
Emphasising the racial and classist prejudices embedded into modern Japanese society, the film dives into a vision of Japan’s metropolitan future, where Tokyo high school students Kou and Yuta idle through their adolescent years in mischievous and musical pursuits.
Civilians in this disaster-prone world have to face the pressure of the intensively invasive government, a system that leaves them bereft of autonomy and privacy. Navigating this dystopian world, we watch the comedic yet poignant interactions that naturally arise between growing youths, moments that further its emotional impact on the audience. It is a powerful critique on racism, segregation, flawed governments and a shocking reflection of the modern world.
This film allows us to see the nuanced, not often represented aspects of Japan, as opposed to the current romanticism of Japanese life in modern media and pop culture.
All in all, the experience was undeniably valuable, and we were able to walk out of the theatre with a renewed and profound appreciation for the Japanese arts and media.
Michelle N, Ellie K, and Tran P (9G)