Two Year 8 students, Renata Fanthome and Angelina Rodos, qualified for the Northern Star Schools’ State Chess Final which was held at Penleigh and Essendon Grammar on Wednesday, 16 October.
Renata and Angelina represented the top thirty per cent of girls in the state after qualifying for the finals at the last chess tournament which was also held at Penleigh and Essendon Grammar. Renata won five out of seven games to win a bronze medal on the day and Angelina’s three wins boosted Siena’s score, placing us in sixth place out of the eleven schools. Both students played really well.
The Siena Chess Club continues to meet every Wednesday at lunchtime in the College Library this term. At the meetings, we are very fortunate to have the benefit of learning from Denise, an expert chess player and representative of Dark Horse Chess Coaching. New players of all skill levels, including absolute beginners, are very welcome to come along!
Student Reflection - Angelina Rodos
What was something new you learnt from this experience?
Doing what you think is right. Trust yourself to make a move that you will benefit from. It might not be the best choice as you’re under a lot of pressure, but it’s better than making a move that is thoughtless and gives you a disadvantage further in the game.
What did you like most about the day?
During the day, we played a total of seven rounds with other students based on the amount of wins we had. The most enjoyable part of the day was the start of every round. For some people it may seem scary, and it is, but once you start you forget about all your worries and focus purely on the game. That’s what I like about chess, it is a game where I am unable to be distracted easily. It’s a game where you have to plan and think things through and your concentration can’t be lost for a second.
How could you apply this learning to your school subjects?
I’ve only been playing proper chess since Year 7. I did study chess in primary school as something I did for fun but I never played with anyone. Because I haven’t been playing for a long time, I make mistakes all the time, whether it be an illegal move or a loss of a chess piece. But there’s nothing wrong with it. It's okay to get something wrong, you just have to move on. Chess is a game where you have to lose a piece at some stage in the game and in school, you’ll get something wrong once in a while, but you are able to learn from it. If you practice chess regularly, you can only get better at it. Same as in school. If you study regularly, you can only know more.
One phrase that sums up the day?
Chess club is the best club, join us!
We are pleased to announce the winners of the Siena Parents' Association Annual Raffle, drawn today by Tracey Grobbelaar, Director Development and Community Relations.
Gaynor Robson-Garth
PrincipalWe are thrilled to congratulate our Year 12 students on their outstanding results in the 2019 Victorian Certificate of Education.
Gaynor Robson-Garth
PrincipalThe VCAA exams have concluded and the school year is fast drawing to a close. We enjoyed a final celebration with the Class of 2019 at the Graduation Ball on Thursday evening at Leonda b...
Jennifer Levett
Deputy Principal Mission and IdentityAwaiting Advent
Bernadette Donnelly
Deputy Principal Learning and TeachingYears 9 to 11 Examinations, 2020 Headstart, 2020 Booklists, End of Year Dates
Antonella Rosati
Deputy Principal WellbeingWhat is Eco Anxiety?
Please return all raffle tickets, sold or unsold, to the College by Friday, 22 November 2019.
Congratulations to our Principal, Gaynor Robson-Garth who received an Australian Council for Educational Leaders (ACEL) Vic Fellowship Award last week.
2020 Bell Times
Kerryn McGillen
Director of MusicSummer Concert Reminder
Bronwyn Ilott
Head of Justice EducationAs one of our beautiful Christmas traditions, each House Group at Siena has been allocated the details of a family who access the services of St Mary’s House of Welcome in Fitzroy.
Paul Failla
Teacher - MathematicsVCE Examinations, Australian Mathematics Competition
Bronwyn Ilott
Head of Justice EducationLast week the Siena community and their friends were invited to gather together for our first Christmas Market. After a week of precarious weather, we were blessed with a beautiful eveni...
Bronwyn Ilott
Head of Justice EducationEach community can take from the bounty of the earth whatever it needs for subsistence, but it also has the duty to protect the earth and to ensure its fruitfulness for coming generations...
Melanie McKenzie
Learning EnhancementYear 9 Siena College students recently competed against gifted and talented students from various schools
Minna Denholm
Leader of Wellbeing ProgramsThe Pastoral program in Term 4 has included sessions that have been spent as a house community electing 2020 house captains, as well as investigating a broad range of topics
Minna Denholm
Leader of Wellbeing ProgramsOn Friday, 15 November we welcomed one hundred and thirty excited Grade 6 students for their Orientation Day.
Clare Timmins
Head of CareersWith the year drawing to a close Career events listed in the latest edition of Siena Career News focus largely on the school holidays.
Ansalie Hanrahan
Learning EnhancementThank you to all students who have attended the Home learning Club this year.
Gaynor Robson-Garth
PrincipalHeld annually on 5 October since 1994, World Teachers’ Day commemorates the anniversary of the adoption of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation Concerning the Status of Teachers. This Recom...
Jennifer Levett
Deputy Principal Mission and IdentitySt Mary’s House of Welcome Outreach, Remembrance Mass
Antonella Rosati
Deputy Principal WellbeingBuilding resilience
Ansalie Hanrahan
Learning EnhancementDuring Week 6 the Learning Enhancement staff will provide two lunchtime study sessions designed to assist students from Years 9 to 11 prepare for their exams. These sessions will include ...
Celebrate the festive season at Siena’s twilight Christmas market!
Georgie Plasto
Head of Student Wellbeing CassiaCongratulations are extended to the Siena College students who took part in this year’s production of ‘Romeo and Juliet’. This collaboration with St Kevin’s College allowed our students t...
Asthma is a long term lung condition which can be controlled but cannot currently be cured. People with asthma have sensitive airways which are more likely to react to triggers. The lini...
Claire Al-Noah
Head of Arts and TechnologyOur recent Visual Arts and Technology Exhibition showcased some outstanding student work from Years 7 to 12.
James Houghton
Head of Cocurricular SportAs we reach the midway point of Term 4, we have been really impressed with some excellent results in Basketball, Cricket and Junior Water Polo. With two more rounds to go until finals, w...
Clare Timmins
Head of CareersSiena Career News has some useful information for Year 12s in particular this week, including important VTAC dates, information about university rankings and what they mean and Course Inf...
Our Year 8 History study design encourages students to investigate and examine how people lived in other times. This year, we have focused on life in the Middle Ages. Recently, four class...
Claire Moody
Head of Student FormationStudent Reflections
Two Year 8 students, Renata Fanthome and Angelina Rodos, qualified for the Northern Star Schools’ State Chess Final which was held at Penleigh and Essendon Grammar on Wednesday, 16 October.
Renata and Angelina represented the top thirty per cent of girls in the state after qualifying for the finals at the last chess tournament which was also held at Penleigh and Essendon Grammar. Renata won five out of seven games to win a bronze medal on the day and Angelina’s three wins boosted Siena’s score, placing us in sixth place out of the eleven schools. Both students played really well.
The Siena Chess Club continues to meet every Wednesday at lunchtime in the College Library this term. At the meetings, we are very fortunate to have the benefit of learning from Denise, an expert chess player and representative of Dark Horse Chess Coaching. New players of all skill levels, including absolute beginners, are very welcome to come along!
Student Reflection - Angelina Rodos
What was something new you learnt from this experience?
Doing what you think is right. Trust yourself to make a move that you will benefit from. It might not be the best choice as you’re under a lot of pressure, but it’s better than making a move that is thoughtless and gives you a disadvantage further in the game.
What did you like most about the day?
During the day, we played a total of seven rounds with other students based on the amount of wins we had. The most enjoyable part of the day was the start of every round. For some people it may seem scary, and it is, but once you start you forget about all your worries and focus purely on the game. That’s what I like about chess, it is a game where I am unable to be distracted easily. It’s a game where you have to plan and think things through and your concentration can’t be lost for a second.
How could you apply this learning to your school subjects?
I’ve only been playing proper chess since Year 7. I did study chess in primary school as something I did for fun but I never played with anyone. Because I haven’t been playing for a long time, I make mistakes all the time, whether it be an illegal move or a loss of a chess piece. But there’s nothing wrong with it. It's okay to get something wrong, you just have to move on. Chess is a game where you have to lose a piece at some stage in the game and in school, you’ll get something wrong once in a while, but you are able to learn from it. If you practice chess regularly, you can only get better at it. Same as in school. If you study regularly, you can only know more.
One phrase that sums up the day?
Chess club is the best club, join us!