Junior School Report
As we come to the end of Term 3, it is incredibly amazing how fast paced it has been, and how many activities and events have occurred in just 10 weeks. This term we have held two out of the three Year level Camps - Year 7 Camp Kangaroobie and Year 9 City Experience as well as the Australian Maths competition, the Athletics Carnival, the Victorian Schools Music festival, Wakakirri Dance competition, Interschool sport finals, excursions for Humanities, English, Chinese and French, full day planned history day activities for Humanities as well as completing subject selections for your 2025 courses. We finalise the term with the Keysies Got Talent final and Parent Teacher Evening.
This term has been filled with challenges, learning opportunities, and plenty of moments where you have needed to demonstrate commitment and resilience. Whether you've been working hard in the classroom, participating in extracurricular activities, or simply striving to be the best version of yourself, please know, your efforts have not gone unnoticed.
Our Year 9 students recently attended a powerful and moving excursion to the Holocaust Museum as part of their Humanities studies. The exhibits deeply resonated with the students, offering a poignant insight into the atrocities of the Holocaust. Many were visibly moved by the personal stories, artifacts, and images, which brought their classroom learning to life in a profound way. This experience not only deepened their understanding of historical events but also helped foster empathy and critical reflection on the importance of human rights and social justice.
While our Year 8 students had the opportunity to participate in a full-day Medieval incursion, where they were fully immersed in the history participating in activities such as jousting, archery, medieval medicine, and even medieval punishment. This hands-on experience allows students to step into the lives of people from the medieval era, bring their classroom learning to life by giving them a clearer understanding of what daily life, health practices, and the justice systems were like during that era.
The Year 7 students recently attended Camp Kangaroobie, where they engaged in a range of adventure activities designed to build independence, foster social connections, and provide new experiences. Through challenges such as canoeing and high ropes, students had the opportunity to develop teamwork and leadership skills. Camps like these are crucial in creating lifelong memories and friendships, offering a unique environment where students can grow personally while bonding with their peers.
The end of Term 3 usually signals a couple of milestones. Firstly with subject selections for 2025 now completed you will have started to explore more deeply the subjects Keysborough Secondary has on offer and maybe discovered new interests and passions along the way. Secondly, at some point all of you will have navigated a new routine, made new friends, and developed your understanding about what it means to be part of our school community. We are a community that supports and cares for one another. You have been learning through Making Connections that small acts of kindness can make a big difference. So be that person who reaches out and supports others and take responsibility for your actions and keep moving forward.
We also want to acknowledge the efforts of our teachers and staff. They have worked tirelessly to support you, guide you, and help you achieve your best. Remember to take a moment to thank them for all they do.
As we prepare for term break, we encourage everyone to take time to rest, and reflect on what you want to accomplish in Term 4. When we return, students will begin finalising their assessments and preparing for their upcoming Semester 2 examinations in English/EAL, Mathematics, Humanities, Science, and Languages - French/Chinese. Exams are scheduled to take place from 22nd November to 28th November. We kindly request that you consider the importance of this period when planning family holidays and appointments, as time away from school may impact your child's ability to complete their assessments. To support your planning, please keep these exam dates in mind and ensure your child is available during this critical time.
Over the holidays we would also like to promote the fantastic & free opportunities that the Greater Dandenong Council has to offer for young people looking to get involved over the break - activities include: a range of Drum theatre activities, a day at Bounce, Shuttle smash badminton competition, Magic workshops, Mt Cannibal Walk and BBQ and a variety of Deck chair movies opportunities. To see the full list of activities and sign up please visit: Dandenong council site
The Student Excellence Program also has a term break enrichment program for any student that might like to extend to their learning, just visit ARC to see the extensive range of programs on offer: https://arc.educationapps.vic.gov.au/eventhub/channels/VCES
We hope you can use this break to come back refreshed and ready to tackle the final term of the year with energy and enthusiasm. Stay safe, and we look forward to seeing you all back here, re-energized and ready for the new Term on Monday 7th October.
Ms Williams & Mrs Hughes
Junior School Assistant Principals