Signature Programs
Formation of Self
Formation of Self: Caring for your amazing mind, body and heart
At Mayfield, girls don’t go it alone. Our breakthrough "Formation of Self" program, or FOS for short, aims to address essential health, wellness and developmental needs of students. The bold curriculum extends through all four high school years with age-appropriate topics addressed at each grade level. Classes meet about twice a month and are taught by our team of student support experts. At the root of the program lies one of Cornelia Connelly's powerful statements:
“Be yourself, only make the self all that God wants it to be.”
Our innovative program speaks to essential topics for teenage girls.
In a uniquely incisive approach to health and wellness education, Mayfield experts have developed year-long seminars at each grade level. Students meet twice a month with our school nurse, counselor, or education specialist to discuss teen-relevant topics, including how to navigate new environments and relationships.
At the root of the program lies one of the seven goals of Holy Child education—“to promote the personal growth and development of all who participate in the life of the school.”
FOS Topics
Mindfulness
Stress vs. Anxiety
Relationships
Decision Making
Sleep
Nutrition
Organization, planning, time management
Study Skills & Learning Strategies
Self Exploration & Identity
Self Care
Self Defense
Sexuality
Academic Integrity
Formation of Self Team
School Counselor
Erika Mastrobuono, LCSW, takes up mental health issues, including understanding and dealing with stress vs. anxiety and navigating healthy relationships.
School Nurse
Cathy Cota, RN, teaches students how to stay healthy and how their body systems function.
Learning Specialists
Ann Bussard, LMFT, and Lyn Beecher, LMFT, works with girls on issues including study strategies, time management and the teenage brain.
College Counselors
Lynn Maloney and Amy Lareau focus most of their attention on seniors applying to college and also begin preliminary work with other classes.
Justice, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Kristina Ortega and Amber Gravely create a space for students to develop a healthy, positive identity, foster belonging, develop resilience and skills to enact justice in their communities.
Robotics
Mayfield is home to two all-girls robotics teams
In a breakthrough community partnership with the Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles (GSGLA), Mayfield hosts two competitive FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) robotics teams. The Rock N' Roll Robots (Team 25) and the Javabots (Team 5218) both design, build and test their engineering projects in a dedicated, 856 square-foot space on campus.
About our Teams
Founded in 2007, Rock N’ Roll Robots (#25) was the first GSGLA-sponsored FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) team. A second team, Javabots (#5218), was formed in 2015, to accommodate more girls. FTC competitors build and program robots with advanced parts and learn many other skills such as community service, public speaking, and writing. Our award-winning #robotmakers are recognized as model FTC Teams.
Our independent Girl Scout-affiliated community teams accept Girl Scouts from anywhere within the Greater Los Angeles region who are able to regularly attend meetings. Our members range from 7th to 12th grade and come from eight different school districts. There is no experience required to attend! The teams are led by a dedicated group of mentors, including engineers from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Meeting Hours
Active Season (Aug.-March)
Mondays: 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Saturdays: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Thursdays: 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. (if needed to complete late tasks)
Off-Season (May-Aug.)
Meetings are scheduled as needed to support activities.
(3-hour Saturday meetings are typical.)
Location
We meet on the beautiful campus of Mayfield Senior School, a Catholic, independent, all-girls high school, located at: 500 Bellefontaine Street, Pasadena, CA 91105
Parent Information
Due to Girl Scout safety regulations, parents are required to complete first aid/CPR training and chaperone for approximately 60 hours a year. If you have any questions, please contact Melissa Tighe, Mayfield's Director of Innovation and Community Partnerships.
FAQ's
- How do I join Rock N' Roll Robotos or Javabots?
- Is robotics or coding experience needed to join?
- Do team members need to be Girl Scouts?
- Do I have to be a Mayfield student to participate?
How do I join Rock N' Roll Robotos or Javabots?
Simply download, complete and return the application form to Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles by Sept. 1
Is robotics or coding experience needed to join?
Do team members need to be Girl Scouts?
Do I have to be a Mayfield student to participate?
Contact
Melissa Tighe
(626) 799-9121 ext. 270
melissa.tighe@mayfieldsenior.org
“I joined the team with no real prior knowledge about robotics, but I allowed myself to dive right in and immerse myself in a world where I was learning incredible skills and meeting the coolest people ever!”
- Annie T. '19 (Duke '23)
Math Modeling
Mayfield’s Math Modeling program teaches students how to engage in real-world problem solving with industry tools, preparing them to not just enter but to excel in the ever-evolving world of technology.
Math modeling at Mayfield is an exciting journey where students transform classroom knowledge into powerful tools for real-world problem-solving. By creating mathematical representations of complex scenarios, our students develop exceptional problem-solving skills, creativity, and innovation. In math modeling competitions, they dive into pressing, real-life issues, researching, quantifying parameters, organizing data, and making impactful predictions.
This spring, Mayfield's Math Modeling Team took on the MathWorks Math Modeling Challenge, addressing the critical issues of the housing shortage and homelessness crisis. Our students crafted innovative models to help cities tackle these interconnected problems. These competitions push students to apply their learning in meaningful ways, truly embodying our motto, "Actions Not Words."
Global Studies
Holy Child students experience the interconnectedness of local and global events and develop genuine relationships with students from other cultures and regions through our Global Engagement Program.
The Global Engagement Program seeks to:
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Develop mission-aligned service and learning opportunities for middle and upper school students both on campus and through travel in the United States and internationally
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Weave global perspectives into our dynamic and challenging curriculum and develop multicultural competencies in our students
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Recognize students who complete the language and cultural competencies of the program with a certificate
Holy Child Exchange
The Society of Holy Child Jesus Network School Exchange offers sophomores a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the global vision of Cornelia Connelly's educational philosophy.
Through this program, students live with host families and attend Holy Child schools in Dublin, Ireland, or Potomac, Maryland. This cultural and academic exchange broadens their educational experiences and fosters a deeper understanding of Holy Child values. In return, the host families and their students visit our school, enriching our community with their perspectives and reinforcing the bonds within the Holy Child network.
By building lifelong friendships and strengthening our collective commitment to the principles of Holy Child education, this exchange program plays a vital role in uniting our global community.
This spring, Claire P. '26 had a wonderful time in Potomac, Maryland, experiencing the vibrant community and shared values of the Connelly School of the Holy Child. In turn, Claire and her family hosted Sophie S. '26 from the Connelly School.