The following images offer a snapshot of our community in action this week, students writing exams, the return to sport, Student Leadership meetings, Recycling Week and finally, welcoming the new members of our community in Year 7, 2022. The Siena campus has been a hive of activity!
I commend the students below who together with Michael Petrie, Head of Humanities, led a beautiful whole school Remembrance Day ceremony yesterday.
Elizabeth Hanney
Principal
Mission and Identity
St Mary’s House of Welcome Outreach
St Mary’s House of Welcome in Fitzroy has been operating since 1960, opening its doors daily to over two hundred people living in ongoing poverty. Each year our College undertakes a communal act of service to benefit this community as Christmas Hampers are compiled in House Groups and staff groups across Siena. This is a wonderful opportunity to discuss your daughter’s contribution to this outreach with her and visit https://www.smhow.org.au/ to find out more about this important justice initiative.
Solomon Islands – the effects of climate change
Our Dominican brothers and sisters in the Solomon Islands continue to encounter the ravages of climate change – in addition, young people are conscious of the ongoing effects they stand to inherit. Shannon Sogavare, 16, has already seen how rising sea levels have swallowed parts of her country's landscape. When the teen was younger, she would visit the islands of Choiseul province where her father, Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, grew up.
"He would tell wonderful stories, like he and his brothers playing on the sandy beaches of Nuatabu and having to wake up very early in the morning to go attend church gatherings at the end of the village," Shannon says."The sad thing is that I never get to see the whole island of Nuatabu, which my father grew up in. The middle part of the island of Nuatabu is now fully covered with sea, leaving the island with two separate islands."
She fears what the archipelago's landscape will look like in years to come and is acutely aware of the threat climate changes poses to her home. Read more of Shannon’s story here.
Shannon Sogavare
0
Learning and Teaching
We are back!
The atmosphere and buzz around the College is such a welcome response to being back in the classroom. There is a very real sense of energy and positivity as the students' laughter and chatter is heard around the campus.
VCAA Examinations
The final VCAA exam is on Wednesday, 17 November. Despite our changed circumstances, the exams have run remarkably smoothly. The general consensus amongst students and staff is that the papers have been well received, with VCAA delivering fair and accessible examinations. There is no doubt that students, parents and teaching staff alike will be very pleased to cross the finish line. For those who have already finished: well done! Congratulations to all of you for rising to the occasion and putting in your best effort.
Year 12 results will be published on Thursday, 16 December and the College will be open on Thursday, 16 and Friday, 17 November to support or assist any Year 12 student with their change of preferences or any other careers support. Students should contact Ms Timmins to make an appointment.
College Examinations
Our Year 11s commence exams on Friday, 12 November and finish on Friday, 19 November. 2022 Year 12 Headstart begins on Monday, 22 November.
Year 10 examinations begin on Monday, 22 November and conclude on Friday, 26 November. 2022 Year 11 Headstart begins on Monday, 29 November.
Year 9 examinations start on Thursday, 25 November and finish on Wednesday, 1 December.
2 December is the last day of school for all Years 7 to 10 students.
Reports
Parents will be able to access their daughter’s report on Monday, 13 December.
Night of Excellence
This special evening will be held on Wednesday, 8 December, acknowledging our students for their hard work and academic performance. We will be sending more information about the plans for this evening as we may have the opportunity to hold the event in our usual style at the Hawthorn Town Hall. Stay tuned!
Donna Laughlin
Deputy Principal Learning and Teaching
Wellbeing
Resilience is a vital skill for all young people to possess. It refers to their ability to cope and adapt in situations when confronted with challenges such as adversity, trauma, tragedy, or even stress. Resilience is essential to mental health and wellbeing as part of students' journey to adulthood, and can be learned from an early age through the support of an adult role model.
Being resilient does not mean your child will not experience any difficulties, but it will better equip them to manage those situations. Over-protective parenting, or as Dr Michael Carr-Gregg describes it, "clearing the boulders off the runway" - can be unhelpful in building resilience. Although this may be a natural instinct, potentially experiencing failure or discomfort is all part of the process. This is particularly relevant now as many students are preparing for examinations and are experiencing a natural and healthy nervousness. Encouraging young people to take healthy risks will help them trust their capacity to deal with uncomfortable situations and increase their capacity for courage.
Along with resilience, the ability to be adaptable is also a crucial life skill, as explained by Andrea Downie, co-founder and director of Project Thrive:
"Research shows that by teaching adaptability, it adjusts our emotional, cognitive and behavioural responses to uncertainty or change which is extremely powerful. Adaptable people have greater life satisfaction, greater purpose and overall, feel better about themselves."
Staff at Siena College work proactively to support the individual needs of all students and to build resilience alongside their social and emotional capacity. Our Wellness Program is underpinned by approaches that focus on establishing and maintaining positive relationships and purpose, being self aware and mindful, and practising self care. These five aspects contribute to the full flourishing of each student at the College.
Parents can read more of Dr Carr-Gregg and Andrea Downie's suggestions on building resilience in this edition of SchoolTV.
A reminder of important VTAC Key Dates for Year 12s, as well as a glossary of university terms that students may be unfamiliar with.
There is a new Economics major available with the Bachelor of Arts at Monash University and this does not have the usual Methods prerequisite, which will make it attractive to a wider range of students.
In November William Angliss Institute will hold an Online Information Series about their courses in Hospitality, Hotel management and Tourism.
Many Year 11 students have visited the Careers office recently to chat about VCE Extension Studies in 2022 - more information on studying university level units as part of VCE is in this weeks newsletter.
The Australian Jobs 2021 Publication has been released. Students and parents can read up on which jobs are in demand and which industries are growing.
Current Year 11 students looking to study interstate in 2023 at the Australian National University might want to investigate the very generous ANU Tuckwell Scholarship. This scholarship is worth almost $23,000 and includes funding for on campus studying costs including books, general living and travel.
Lastly, our regular “Snapshot” of an institution features Monash University, the Peninsula Campus. This campus has much to offer and is the campus where students can study Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Nursing, Paramedicine, Education and Business.
