In Term 3, we are excited to host the STEAM Careers Breakfast for students in Years 9 to 12. The theme for this year's event is Innovation: Powering Future Industries, and will provide students with the opportunity to engage in round table conversations with professionals in several science and engineering fields of study.
Continuing the momentum from last semester in our Discovery class, Year 7 students have been enthusiastically engaging in captivating projects where they design playable board games for our 'clients.'
Our VCE Year 11 Drama class were fortunate to attend a performance of Melbourne Theatre Company’s absurdist play, Happy Days, written by Samuel Beckett.
For several years now, Siena College has held the annual Antonio de Montesinos Public Speaking Award Competition, which is open to all students to enter.
We now invite applications for Year 7 2025 and 2026. For our Year 7 2025 intake, offers are made towards the end of Term 3 in a student's Grade 5 year.
Siena College invites alumnae to attend the following Decade Reunions. Your Reunion will be held at Siena College and we will designate areas for each decade to ensure you can easily reconnect with your classmates.
Term 3 is always a busy time in the Careers Office at Siena College. Students have been busy making appointments to discuss subject selection for the year ahead, and our Year 12s have been finalising their VTAC preferences.
The return of students to Term 3 has brought an atmosphere of joy, laughter, and a settled rhythm of learning and life. I trust that the publication of Semester 1 Reports has given students and parents the opportunity to reflect on their progress and growth in the first half of 2023, allowing them to recalibrate and approach the remainder of 2023 with renewed focus and determination. Our 2023 College Theme, "Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it." invites us once again to enter a reflective space, encouraging us to be attentive, recognise our gifts, and express awe and wonder for all that is good in our lives. It calls us to be ready to share these experiences.
As our community springs back into action, let us remember the many elements of connection that bind us together. We eagerly anticipate all the opportunities and experiences this term holds for our students, and we seek God's blessings for each member of our community, especially those who are joining us this term. Together, let us continue to foster an environment where growth, learning, and appreciation for the beauty around us flourish.
"May the God who forms our Community be with you. May you engage this God in mutual attention to the other, to what brings joy and delight and depth of understanding. May your communion with this God move you to growth in your inner spirit and to warmth and compassion for a world that awaits connection with its Creator. May the God of Community bless you all your days." Maxine Shonk OP
Elizabeth Hanney
Principal
Mission Matters
Staff Faith Day
On Friday, 14 July, Siena College staff participated in our annual Faith Day. The theme for the day was 'An Integral Ecology – signs of the times', and our aims were to:
Enrich ourselves, grow in our understanding of and engagement with an integral ecology
Appreciate that, as articulated by Pope Francis in Laudato Si', the cry of the earth and the cry of humanity are connected
The day began with a viewing of The Letter, followed by a variety of workshops: contemplative walking, challenging stereotypes with Vinnies, listening to refugees and their advocates, and meditation. After a shared soup lunch, College Chaplain, Fr Kevin Toomey OP then celebrated Eucharist with us.
Preparing to celebrate St Dominic
In the lead up to our celebration of the Feast of St Dominic, it is important for us to reflect on the richness of our tradition and the ways in which we continue to live it authentically through our 2023 College Theme: Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it. All students and staff will attend Eucharist in St Dominic’s Church on Thursday, 3 August – this will focus on the life of Dominic, his remarkable vision and how this underpins all that takes place in our College.
Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools School Improvement Surveys (MACSSIS)
Through the Annual Action Plan, the collated data will be used to inform policies, pedagogies and practices at Siena: MACSSIS provides an opportunity to gather and engage with such data.
This is a low-impact and high-return set of tools for creating, collecting, analysing, interpreting and using data to inform school improvement.
MACSSIS produces perception data which tells us what different groups in our community think and feel about their learning environment; all Siena students, staff and families will complete MACSSIS online between Monday, 28 August and Friday, 15 September.
As Dominicans, we are always drawn to places with the greatest potential. We thank you for your partnership in sustaining and growing our culture of continuous school improvement.
Jennifer Levett
Deputy Principal Mission and Identity
Learning and Teaching
Students have embraced the start of Semester 2 with great enthusiasm, displaying a genuine willingness to explore new learning opportunities. As they receive their Semester 1 exam results, they are given a chance to recalibrate their goals for each subject. Encouraged to reflect on their progress, they can chart their path towards achieving success in the weeks to come.
Beyond the excitement of new learning experiences, this term marks a significant phase of student decision-making, as we begin to explore the various learning possibilities for the upcoming year. While this might seem overwhelming for some students, rest assured that the Subject Selection process and available resources are designed to support and guide them in making well-informed decisions.
Subject Selection
Subject Selection Handbooks, Subject Presentations, and Subject Selection Interviews play pivotal roles in guiding students through this important transition process. For Year 9 and 10 students, the decision to pursue an Accelerated subject is significant, requiring careful consideration of its implications. Accelerated subjects come with a greater complexity of study and demand a higher time commitment. As such, a strong foundation in literacy is invaluable for students embarking on this challenging path.
The Unit 1 and 2 Accelerated subjects are: Biology, Drama, Physical Education, Product Design and Technology and Psychology.
Year 9 students must meet the following criteria:
An overall result of 80% or higher in the Accelerated subject area
An overall result of 75% or higher in all other Year 9 subjects studied in Semester 1
The Unit 3/4 Accelerated subjects are: Biology, Business Management, Drama, General Mathematics, Geography, Physical Education, Product Design and Technology, Psychology and Religion and Society.
Year 10 students must meet the following criteria:
An overall result of 80% or higher in the Accelerated subject area
An overall result of 75% or higher in Year 10 English
An overall result of 75% or higher in at least two other Year 10 subjects studied in Semester 1
The Subject Selection Tile is now accessible on Siena Central. This comprehensive resource provides all the necessary information for the Subject Selection process, including informative videos, detailed PowerPoint presentations, and Subject Handbooks.
As our students contemplate their future directions, we emphasise the importance of planning and research. To make well-informed decisions, we encourage students to engage in discussions with their subject teachers or the relevant Head of Learning. For students in Years 8 to 11, the Subject Handbooks should also be consulted to gain a broader understanding of available options.
Kindly note that the Subject Selection Form must be completed and submitted by the designated deadline. For students in Years 9 to 11, all signatures are required before the Subject Selection Interviews. Parents are more than welcome to attend these interviews if they wish.
Below are some important dates to take note of:
21 July: Year 9 and 10 Senior Pathways Recording available to parents/guardians at 12.00pm
26 July: Year 11 into 12 Subject Selection Interviews (Periods 1 to 4, by House)
28 July: 2024 Year 12 Web Preferences due by 3.30pm
28 July: 2024 Accelerated Studies Applications due by 3.30pm
4 August: 2024 Year 8 and 9 Web Preferences due by 3.30pm
7 August: 2024 Year 10 and 11 Accelerated Studies Applicants notified via email by 4.00pm
8 August: Year 9 into 10 Subject Selection Interviews (Periods 1 to 5, by House)
9 August: Year 10 into 11 Subject Selection Interviews (Periods 1 to 5, by House)
11 August: 2024 Year 10 and 11 Web Preferences due by 3.30pm
The Student Learning Conversations take place in the last two weeks of this term. They will be held online via Microsoft Teams.
Thursday, 7 September 4.00pm to 7.30pm
Thursday, 14 September 4.00pm to 7.30pm
Unit 3/4 Trial Exams
Year 11 and 12 students undertaking VCE Unit 3/4 studies in 2023 are required to participate in the VCE Trial Exams scheduled from Monday, 25 September to Thursday, 28 September. The VCE Trial Exams will be conducted under the same conditions as the official Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) VCE exams. Please note that the VCE Trial Exams take precedence over any external revision lectures and seminars and will not be rescheduled for students who do not attend. The the VCE Trial Exam schedule will be published in the coming weeks.
Wishing all students an engaging and enriching learning experience this semester.
Donna Laughlin
Deputy Principal Learning and Teaching
Promoting Balanced Usage of Mobile Phones
The use of mobile phones and technology in schools has sparked intense debates internationally, including in Australia. To address this issue, most states and territories in Australia have implemented full bans on mobile phones during class, recess, and lunch times, while still allowing students to carry their phones during travel to and from school.
Numerous studies have shown the positive impacts of mobile phone bans in schools. For instance, a study conducted in 2016 found that banning mobile phones led to a remarkable increase in student performance, with test scores improving by 6.4% of a standard deviation. Similar studies from Spain and Norway also supported these findings, highlighting the benefits of reduced distractions.
For parents concerned about mobile phone separation anxiety in their children, it is essential to recognise it as a real issue and discuss the potential negative effects of phone addiction, such as sleep problems and mental health issues. Gradually introducing phone-free periods at home, setting clear expectations and boundaries, and modelling healthy behaviours can help your children cope. Establishing a support network and seeking professional help if needed is crucial in providing the necessary guidance and assistance.
To align with our commitment to better focus on teaching and learning, we have updated our use of mobile phone guidelines, which can be found here. While we understand that students may need access to messages from parents, their place of work, or regarding external appointments, we hope that parents will support these guidelines by engaging in discussions with their child and encouraging phone-free time at home, particularly during overnight hours.
Furthermore, we have prepared a Special Report addressing mobile phone separation anxiety and offering guidance on supporting students' wellbeing. We encourage you to take a moment to reflect on the information provided, and as always, we welcome your feedback. If you have any concerns or need assistance related to your children's wellbeing, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.
Let us work together to ensure a balanced approach to mobile phone usage, promoting a healthy and focused learning environment for all students.
Antonella Rosati
Acting Principal
2023 STEAM Careers Breakfast
In Term 3, we are excited to host the STEAM Careers Breakfast for students in Years 9 to 12. The theme for this year's event is Innovation: Powering Future Industries, and will provide students with the opportunity to engage in round table conversations with professionals in several science and engineering fields of study.
Our keynote speaker for the event is Human-centred Roboticist and Monash University Senior Lecturer, Dr Elahe Abdi. She is currently working towards a safer and more efficient human-robot collaboration within the medicine, construction and service industries. In collaboration with stakeholders, she leads a multidisciplinary team of more than ten talented researchers towards the development of new frameworks for inclusive and intuitive human-robot interaction. Each year, Dr Elahe teaches some of the core engineering skills to large classes of students and organises various events to introduce the exciting future career paths engineering can offer to primary and secondary school students.
Dr Elahe Abdi Senior Lecturer, Monash University (Mechanical, Aerospace and Mechatronics Engineering) Director, Robotics in Medicine and Interaction (RoMI) Lab
Innovation: Powering Future Industries
This is a chance to examine the range of innovative pathways available to those pursuing STEAM careers. Innovation has links to many things around us in our day to day lives:
Responsible innovation: Engage with ethics, impacts and benefit-sharing through the lens of responsible innovation
Innovations in agriculture: Explore the science and technology that is enabling smarter agriculture in Australia
Innovations in space: Find out about amazing innovations in space, including rockets, rovers and spaceplanes
Innovations around us: Discover innovations that have enabled transport, water management and medical technologies throughout history and into the future
Are you curious about a career in a STEAM related field, but have never spoken with a scientist, engineer or someone who works with technology?
Come along and share a light breakfast with our STEAM professionals and find out how they got to where they are, what they do on a normal day and what they like most about their work. There is the opportunity to ask all the questions you might have in roundtable discussions.
With subject selection happening in Term 3, this is a chance to learn more about STEAM career options and what they are really like.
Continuing the momentum from last semester in our Discovery class, Year 7 students have been enthusiastically engaging in captivating projects where they design playable board games for our 'clients.' These clients are our teachers who submit subject-specific concepts that require reinforcement, and the students take on the challenge of creating fun and educational games for their peers.
The air was filled with excitement during the grand unveiling of the games to the clients, followed by enthusiastic test-play sessions. The students thoroughly enjoyed every step of the project, and the clients expressed immense satisfaction with the creativity and ingenuity displayed in the new games.
The resounding success of this project has inspired us to extend this engaging initiative to the remaining cohort of our Year 7s in Semester 2, ensuring an interactive and enjoyable learning experience for all. We take immense pride in our students' achievements and eagerly look forward to witnessing more innovative game designs in the coming sessions.
Roxanne Summer
Head of Learning Centre
Premier’s Spirit of Democracy Tour
A reflection by Year 12 student, Sophia
V, on her involvement in the Premier’s Spirit of
Democracy Tour.
"Earlier this year, I had the incredible opportunity to participate in The Premier's Spirit of Democracy, a scholarship program and study tour focusing on Ancient Greek culture, democracy, and its relevance to Australia today. This fully government-funded seven-day tour brought together twenty-two students from across Victoria, offering us a unique and enriching experience.
We spent two days in Melbourne and three days in Canberra, where we had the privilege of engaging in a plethora of activities. Our time in Canberra involved guided tours of the Parliament House, where we had the opportunity to meet with various members and gain insights into the workings of Australia's political system.
A holistic view of Ancient Greece was at the core of the tour, delving into its arts and philosophy. We also explored the National Gallery of Australia and the National Gallery of Victoria, immersing ourselves in artistic masterpieces. Philosophical debates and discussions allowed us to question and explore profound ideas. The entire experience was truly eye-opening and left us with a deeper understanding of the foundations of democracy.
Reflecting on all the activities and interactions during the study tour, I cannot emphasise enough how impactful and educational it was. I wholeheartedly encourage fellow students to pursue this remarkable opportunity!"
Our VCE Year 11 Drama class were fortunate to attend a performance of Melbourne Theatre Company’s absurdist play, Happy Days, written by Samuel Beckett. It has been many years since this classic play has been staged in Melbourne, so it was with great excitement that our Year 11 Drama students walked from the National Gallery Victoria to the Southbank Theatre, The Sumner, eagerly anticipating the performance.
Whilst waiting at the lights, a member of the public commented that her old school uniform was also rust in colour, similar to the rust blazer our students were wearing. Upon asking what school they went to, it was discovered that the lady in question was Siena College alumna, June O’Bryan, née Healy (Class of 1953), and that she was heading to see the very same production!
June spoke to the students about her years at Siena, what the school was like in the 1950s and what the uniform requirements of her day entailed. Both generations agreed that rust was indeed a distinctive choice of colour. Before parting ways, June kindly posed with our students for a photo outside the Southbank Theatre, The Sumner.
It was a pleasure to meet June, and for our students to share with her their excitement in seeing a play, whose themes have remained relevant for so many generations. The play was a spectacular success, and an outstanding example of theatre of the absurd, a performance style examined in Year 11 Drama, but rarely experienced in a live theatrical setting.
Sandra Siapantas
Teacher
Antonio de Montesinos Public Speaking Competition
For several years now, Siena College has held the annual Antonio de Montesinos Public Speaking Award Competition, which is open to all students to enter. This is an event that encourages students to prepare and deliver a speech on a topic that they feel is important. Each year, the speech topics are linked to the 2023 College Theme: Pay Attention. Be Astonished. Tell About It.
This year, the Antonio de Montesinos Award will be held in the Susan Alberti Auditorium on Thursday, 17 August at 6.00pm. The students who participate will speak to the audience on their chosen topic for a timed period of four to five minutes. After an interval, they will also present an impromptu speech on a topic which will be presented to the participants on the evening.
Enrolment Applications for Year 7 2025 and 2026 Are Now Open
We now invite applications for Year 7 2025 and 2026. For our Year 7 2025 intake, offers are made towards the end of Term 3 in a student's Grade 5 year. Applications can be made at any time via our College website: www.siena.vic.edu.au/enrolment/enrolment-procedure
Current Parent and Student Testimonials
Kylie Clements
Head of Admissions
2023 SPA Trivia Night's Major Auction Item: The Private Portsea Oasis
The Siena Parents' Association is excited to share with you our major auction item for the 2023 SPA Trivia Night, the Private Portsea Oasis!
The property boasts five bedrooms, multiple living spaces, pool/spa, sauna, billiard table and tennis court. It is in the heart of Portsea and is awaiting your bid! If you are unable to make it for the 2023 SPA Trivia Night, please feel free to send your proxy and we will take all bids on this property. It is ideal for multiple families or a girls/blokes weekend getaway!
The property will be offered for a two-night stay including a gorgeous welcome hamper upon arrival. I know what you are thinking – YES the pool is solar heated! The usual retail price is $3300.00 (two-night stay).
Please note some terms and conditions apply as this property will not be available for your stay during peak holiday times, including public holidays, Easter and school holidays.
Siena College invites alumnae to attend the following Decade Reunions. Your Reunion will be held at Siena College and we will designate areas for each decade to ensure you can easily reconnect with your classmates. Tickets are $40.00 per person which includes welcome drinks and nibbles.
Attend with your friends and please reach out to other classmates to let them know about the Reunions and encourage them to attend.
If you book with a friend you will receive an automatic $5 discount off the total cost.
Term 3 is always a busy time in the Careers Office at Siena College. Students have been busy making appointments to discuss subject selection for the year ahead, and our Year 12s have been finalising their VTAC preferences. All of our Victorian Universities have their Open Days coming up and students are encouraged to register to attend. It is never too early to start doing some research on your preferred tertiary courses and see how the various institutions differ from each other. More information on Open Day dates and tips on navigating Open Days are available on the Subject Selection Tile via Siena Central.
A New Pathway to Medicine at University of Southern Queensland
Spotlight on Studying Medicine at the University of Queensland
New Climate Change Major offered in various degrees at La Trobe University
Certificate IV in Cyber Security at Box Hill Institute
Accounting Degrees in Victoria in 2023
Banking and Finance Degrees in Victoria in 2023
Snapshot of Monash University in 2023
Snapshot of Monash University – Peninsula Campus in 2023
Clare Timmins
Head of Careers
Community Noticeboard
ParentZone Eastern are offering Talking Teens and Dads Matter parenting programs this term. Both groups are free to attend for parents living in Melbourne’s Eastern suburbs.
Talking Teens
Dates: Monday, 17 July to 21 August 2023 (six evening sessions) Time: 7.00pm to 9.00pm Where: Online via Zoom Registration:Click here (this registration link will close when the group is fully booked)
Dads Matter
Dates: Monday, 31 July to 4 September 2023 (six evening sessions) Time: 7.00pm to 9.00pm Where: Online via Zoom Registration:Click here (this registration link will close when the group is fully booked)
