Mac.Robertson Girls' High School
Connect is an opportunity for you to create friendships, build close ties to your community, explore your identity, and support your mental health.
Connect has been developed by the Mac.Rob Wellbeing and Engagement team and is designed to provide you with real-world life skills and knowledge to help you sustain strong mental health, and to tackle challenges in, around, and beyond the classroom. The curriculum is created using the latest research into how young people learn and process information, as well as direct feedback from you, your peers, your parents/carers, and our teaching staff.
There are two timetabled periods of Connect each week:
10:43am - 11:28am Tuesdays (45 minutes)
10:43am - 10:58am Thursdays (15 minutes)
On Tuesdays, your Connect teacher will deliver our Connect curriculum. On Thursdays, your Connect teacher and Connect Captain will facilitate activities to build connection and a sense of belonging within your class.
The Connect curriculum is focused on four key components, each contributing to an area of your personal development:
Establishing strong foundations for good mental health.
Developing your emotional intelligence.
Building your resilience.
Developing your independence.
Ms. Williams, Mac.Rob's Student Leadership & Agency Leader, takes students through the key roles and responsibilities of the Connect Captains and the Social Justice Representatives. Full descriptions of each role can be found in the Connect Student Handbook.
At Mac.Rob, we value the steps along the way. Our school inspires active engagement in a breadth of experiences and encourages collaboration; our students understand that we learn best when we collaborate with others, and that achievement is most rewarding when it is shared. We trust in the capacity of our young people to make meaningful contributions to the school - through collaboration with staff in learning and decision making, and through expansive leadership, co-curricular and social service opportunities at Mac.Rob.
Our four school values are:
Community: We are an inclusive community built on positive relationships, and a strong sense of belonging. We value diversity and appreciate those around us for their similarities and differences. We are internationally-minded and value our place in our local and global context.
Growth: We seek challenges in order to grow, and are resilient in the face of adversity. We are curious, collaborative and passionate about learning. We celebrate success and aspire to be our best selves in all aspects of life.
Responsibility: We are agents in our own learning, and we foster leadership through action. We take responsibility for ourselves and each other, and we contribute to school life and our broader communities.
Compassion: We are interested in the lives and perspectives of others. We value every member of our school and wider communities. We treat people with respect, and offer support to those who need it.
Our aim is to develop curious, motivated, and critical thinkers who show compassion for others, pursue personal growth, demonstrate respect for their community, and explore disciplines and opportunities they are truly passionate about.
Motto: Potens Sui - Mastery of Self.
Mission: As an inclusive and globally-minded school, Mac.Rob’s mission is to provide an enriching environment for highly able students - one where there is belonging, collaboration, and continuous growth.
Vision: Honouring diversity, inspiring curiosity and creativity. Transforming lives.
Here at Mac.Rob, we are focussed on ensuring that the wellbeing needs of our students are met. Our primary goal is to provide students with an environment in which you feel safe, competent, known and valued. We provide programs and resources to help you to build a strong foundation for mental health, emotional intelligence, resilience and independence; these factors support students' wellbeing.
Our secondary goal is to help students to manage any emotional distress that they might experience. We know that young people are unable to learn optimally if they are experiencing emotional difficulties, and we therefore aim to help students to resolve these difficulties, so you can make the most of your educational journey.
More information about how to connect with Wellbeing staff is available on our Student Portal.
Dr. Bridget McPherson
Head of Wellbeing and EngagementKatrina Adams
Student Wellbeing Leader