College News,
Sports & Events
ATHLETICS CARNIVAL
On Monday 11th September Banksia won the 2023 Athletics Carnival for the second year in a row. It was an impressive effort and result for all our competitors.
Age Group champions from Banksia include:
12/13 Girls Savannah Misa
15 Girls Tepy Sou
17 Girls Rebecca McNess
18-20 Girls Revival Samaeli
Also Age Group 2nd Placegetters from Banksia included
15 Boys Ben Payet
21 Boys Ammar Ibrahim
HOME FOOD PACKS
Home Food Packs are available to families in need.
To organise a collection please contact
your relevant campus Foodbank coordinator as below:
Banksia - geer.carolyn@keysboroughsc.vic.edu.au
Acacia - Foulsham.madalyn@keysboroughsc.vic.edu.au
RU OK DAY 2023!
In the last week of Term 3 Banksia campus celebrated RU OK Day! This day is about inspiring and empowering us to meaningfully connect with those in our lives who may be struggling. To genuinely ask someone ‘are you OK?’ is to let them know that they’re not alone, and that they’re cared for. So for us as a wellbeing team, this is one of the biggest days of the year!
We had the best day making sandwiches and balloon animals, handing out stickers, taking polaroids, getting our faces painted and making our own temporary tattoos. But the best part of the day was getting to hang out with so many students at lunch time! Yellow was certainly the colour of the day and the sun shined down on us to add to the joy. It was fantastic to see our Banksia cohort engaging with such an important initiative.
Asking ‘are you OK?’ doesn’t have to be scary. This year’s focus was ‘here to hear’, so if you see someone who might be struggling, just be ready to listen and remember that your conversation could change their life for the better!
Banksia Wellbeing Team
YEAR 7 P.E.
In P.E., year 7 students have been learning table tennis. It’s been a lot of fun learning basic skills and playing fun games
ALADDIN JNR. PRODUCTION
Doing backstage for Aladdin jnr was pretty fun. I was originally involved because I wanted to spend more time with a friend rather than at home, but then I found enjoyment in working behind the scenes. To be honest, in the beginning I thought it would be awkward working with different year levels and kids I didn’t know from the banksia campus, but overall it was fun meeting new people as everyone was pretty friendly and welcoming. The performance itself was pretty scary. I thought that we were all going to fail miserably and turn to dust, but the performances went really well, aside from a few issues, but there are always going to be little fumbles, we just hope the audience didn’t notice! My own confidence and abilities have improved drastically by being involved in the musical, this was mainly due to being able to communicate and work together with my peers to achieve the same goal. I’m really excited for next years’ opportunities and potential activities as the musical was a wonderful experience that I would gladly do again
– Eden Vo. (Props Manager Backstage)
When applying to be a part of the college production of Aladdin Jnr, I wanted to get involved to pursue my passion for acting and the performing arts. I wanted to be able to connect with people that might share the same interests as me and I wanted to work on my confidence and social skills. Rehearsals took place Mondays and Thursdays after school every week leading up to opening night where we would sometimes be split into groups, Cast A and Cast B to work on our parts as well as to give our leads time to work on their cues and dialogue. It was interesting getting to work with other kids from different year levels and from Banksia as I felt like I made more connections across the college. When it came down to performing on opening night, I was excited to show students and teachers how hard we had worked on this production. I was still quite nervous about being in front of so many people at once, but I enjoyed entertaining those who had showed up to watch us, and having the whole crew act so supportively behind the scenes really helped me boost my confidence. I would definitely recommend other students getting involved in future productions as a fun way to connect with others as I will be sure to do the same!
- Stacey Slattery. (Rajah)
YEAR 9 DRAMA
On Friday 13th October, a group of Grade 2 students visited Acacia campus from Keysborough Gardens Primary School to observe how year 9 drama classes work at Keysborough College.
We were creating scripts after being given prompts by Ms Spaull and then we performed our play in front of the year 2 audience. We used Freeze frames to express our emotions and actions.
The Year 2 students were really engaged in watching the plays and were very cheerful which created a positive vibe in the Theatre. They were being respectful and wanted to learn more about script-writing. The Year 9 students were very friendly towards the primary school students and took the opportunity to talk with them.
The primary students asked us what our favourite instrument was.
The grade 2s were really supportive and so it gave us a lot of confidence to perform for them.
I recommend future year 9 students to be able to experience a similar activity in future as it was rewarding working with the primary school students.
Kim Kry
ACCOUNTING YEAR 11 INDUSTRY IMMERSION EXCURSION
On Wednesday 4/10, the Year 11 Banksia Accounting class were given a wonderful opportunity to immerse themselves in industry and to gain an awareness of what future employment of an ‘Accountant’ might look like.
The day included a visit to CPA House Australia, a professional accounting organisation that university graduates of Accounting/Commerce can join. To become a CPA, additional study (normally supported by employers) is required and members are supported through their careers in various organisations. Many job advertisements require membership in a professional organisation such as CPA. Current members presented their career journeys to the students and they were amazed by the variety of different industries and organisations an accounting degree can allow them to access.
The second part of the day involved a trip to SEIVA, an accounting firm and winner of 2022 Best Workplaces – Great Place to Work Award, who made it clear to the students how important it is to work in an environment where you are treated respectfully and feel happy. They apply these values to their workplace and also to their clients noting, ‘Some people work to live. Others live to work. We work to effect positive change in the lives of our clients. Because we genuinely care about making them happier. Not just wealthier.’ It was a very insightful day for the students with several of the executive team taking the kids in small groups to discuss their journeys and their current work. A fantastic day. Mrs Stokes
Student Feedback
"The visit to CPA House and SEIVA was not only enjoyable but also highly enlightening. It provided us with a unique opportunity to learn more than just the surface of the accounting industry. Contrary to the belief that accounting is a dull profession confined to a desk job, we discovered that it offers a wide range of career possibilities. Depending on your interests, you can explore diverse jobs within the field. For those who love to travel, there are opportunities to incorporate it into your job. If you are a people person and practical, you can offer valuable advice to business owners, ultimately contributing to their growth, as they work to thrive. Having witnessed two vastly different work environments, one being a large corporation and a small business with a homely atmosphere, I can confidently say that both, despite their polar differences, have greatly intrigued me. This experience has significantly broadened my perspective as a young individual who is still exploring various career possibilities."
Karlee Pal
It was an amazing opportunity for all of us to learn more about accounting as we
visited the CPA House and SEIVA office. The CPA members and some SEIVA directors have shared many inspiring and remarkable stories about their career journeys with us. I was able to gain a greater understanding of career paths in the accounting field because of the connections it can make to a wide range of industries that many people never thought of and how it can significantly influence the way businesses operate. I was also able to acquire
some insight into what an accounting career involves on a daily basis, including examining
the financial aspect of the business, dealing with clients, offering advice, and etc. Overall, it
was a very interesting and fun experience.
Muyhong Lim
The accounting excursion was very insightful I was able to learn what accounting really was as a job. Being able to learn from people who are accountants and who work in the accounting field made me consider accounting as a future pathway I could go into after school. The main takeaway I got from the excursion was that accounting is a very versatile job. All the accountants we spoke to explained how they worked in and learnt about many different industries and their skills were needed in every area of work. We were also able to see how accountants work in different environments visiting CPA Australia which displayed the more corporate side of accounting and the SEVIA office which was a smaller accounting firm with a very warm and homely office. All the accountants we spoke to also commented on the stereotype that accounting is a boring job and they all said that was not true and their jobs changed from day to day with each day being new and interesting. The excursion was a great opportunity for me to learn more about accounting as a potential career I could consider in the future.
Sam Henderson
MARKET DAY
At lunch time on Monday 9th October, the three Year 11 Business Management classes ran a hugely successful Market Day. This immersive, hands-on activity helps students consolidate their understanding of key knowledge from Unit 2 Outcome 2 ‘Marketing a Business’ through the preparation, marketing and running of a stall. All profits are given to charity and on the day $1174.90 was raised and donated to Smart Pups Assistance Dogs for Special Needs Children. An amazing effort from all involved.
Student Feedback from Market Day
It was a fun day selling our Cleanpods products, we didn’t think that we would’ve sold all of the Cleanpods. Somehow, we sold everything and had to give some people discount. Even though we gave them discount we still made profits back.
Johnny Luon & Akar Wah
Although market day was meant to be a fun way to execute our assessment task, I think that it provided valuable insight to how a business really works behind the scenes.
After working for a hospitality business myself I can see that the preparation leading up to market day was almost an exact mirror of the preparation that an actual business conducts before opening its doors to customers.
Market day was able to emulate what starting a small business would be like and I think that the experience of working with two other members to troubleshoot unimaginable problems, and making sure that we had a system that ensured that the business would run smoothly on the day really positioned me to see that there is so much more that goes into a business that we typically wouldn’t consider, I believe that market day has provided me with knowledge and an experience that is truely priceless and I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to run a business on the day.
Tam Tran
Market day was an amazing and fun learning experience for not only me but also my team. The whole preparation for the day was a great physical learning experience for how businesses start off, it gave me insight of how difficult it can be but also how much work is actually put into it than just coming up with a name, logo and selling a product, it’s a lot more than that. I’ve had so much fun coming up with the idea, making the business plan all for it to run smoothy on the day. There were sometimes places where I wanted to go overboard with my ideas but the discussions with me and my team have made me understand further of how much communication needs to happen for a business to run efficiently. It was so exciting setting up the stores and taking photos before it started and especially handing out my lamingtons and see the smiles on my partners face but also the other students. I think the day went amazingly with all the beautiful stores that all the teams put together, the students or customers that purchased food or items seemed like they’ve enjoyed themselves too which was amazing to see, it was honestly a really fun experience, I really enjoyed it and wish I could do it again. It honestly gave me déjà vu from last time I did this which was in year 6 but this time 10x better. Well done to all the businesses for their amazing work as well as Mrs Stokes for organizing everything.
Rebecca Moskovita
For Market Day we made homemade bracelets, we spent our hoildays making them and it was really fun, we thought we wouldn't have enough for bracelets for people so we rushed to make more, that was the most stressful part. When it came to the day that we would sell the items, we were really nervous but in the end it was all fine and we were worried for nothing. We sold almost all of our stock and made a around $280-300 profit! which was way more than we expected. I also grew closer to my classmate and made friends.
Soksaryta Heal
Market day went really well for my group personally, although we were all pretty nervous before the day and on the day, we were excited at the same time. During the holidays, we would meet up every week at least 1-2 times to create our market day products (bracelets) and all the organising of the prices and market day specifications. On the day, we learnt good communication and marketing skills when discussing with customers, and especially near the end of the day we were all pretty shocked that most of our goods were sold and we were very proud of ourselves, it was also interesting seeing how the other businesses were marketing and their different approaches to promoting their business :)
Mikayla Pham
1BBM2 students most enjoyed:
- Setting up the stalls.
- Knowing that their products were liked and were successful (and then watching the money roll in!).
- Putting the classroom theory into practice.
A Thank You from Smart Pups for Business Management Market Day
YEAR 8 MOCK ELECTIONS IN HUMANITIES
Year 8 students at Acacia have recently taken part in Mock Elections.
They voted for the “President” of Junior School to practice the skills required for preferential voting.
All students in the Junior School have been studying Civics and Citizenship in Humanities, with Year 8s focusing on the Democratic Processes they are part of or will be part of as future citizens.
Teachers also made posters and mimicked appeals that students may see in the media or in political campaigns.
Watch this space for the final count and the overall winner!
YEAR 10 COMMERCE
Year 10 Commerce students spent half a day at Parkmore Shopping Centre on Monday
30/10/23 as part of the review of the semester. During the excursion the students looked at banking activities and reviewed various concepts/theory such as causes of inflation and
impact of monetary policy. In addition, they identified keys features of various business such as their structure, how they earned their revenue, common expenses and the types of assets the businesses
needed to invest in. Concepts such as competitive advantage/differentiation and the 4Ps of marketing were also covered across the day. The highlight of the day was the ‘Scavenger Hunt’ which focussed on the different promotional strategies undertaken by various businesses at the centre to try to attract customers and improve their competitive advantage. Overall, a great way for the students to start their exam revision by observing the application of these classroom concepts in real businesses.
2023 ACACIA CAPTAINS' SIGN OFF
Not only is the year, but our entire time at school is coming to an end. 13 years of schooling coming to a close in one week!!! This is not only sad, as we say goodbye to a place we have spent so much time in, but a really exciting time as we step into bigger responsibilities and freedom.
We want to take this opportunity to congratulate our fellow Year 12s on digging deep, and giving their utmost in the VCAA exams which have just come to an end. We are sure everyone is looking forward to post-exam relaxation. Once our results are released, we want to remind everyone that our ATAR does not define our life, and there are plenty of options still available if you are disappointed. We also wish all the best to unscored and VCE-VM students as they leave school and pursue their goals.
Although we are saying goodbye to our friends and teachers and no longer seeing them every week, we must remember that growth often comes with a tinge of sadness, and we are now stepping into the real world with many excitements and opportunities to come!
To the rest of the school, we wish you the best of luck in the years ahead and say that we appreciate all the support we have received from teachers and support staff over the years. To the current Year 10s and 11s entering the very thing we are leaving now, we wish you all the best in your studies!
Thank-you and goodbye,
Meychea Sen & Arthur Hingley
2023 Year 12 Acacia Campus Captains
YEAR 12 CELEBRATION DAY
On Thursday 18th October we said goodbye to our 2023 Year 12 students at the College’s annual Year 12 Celebration Day.
Part of the proceedings included the annual planting of a tree, a symbol of growth and hope, a parting legacy, and Campus farewell assembly.
ABCN PARTNERS
On 11 October, 40 Keysborough students attended the Interview 2 Impress program run by
our program partners ABCN. Half of the students attended PVH in Chadstone Shopping Centre and the other half attended the Optus offices in Docklands. This program is one of a number we run with ABCN and targets Years 10-11 students to help them understand how to prepare and practise interview skills in a realistic interview scenario. Students test and practise the theory they learn at school by working with a mentor who is able to provide direct and relevant feedback and advice based on their own job interview experiences.
Students learnt about effective interviewing skills and strategies and then practised 3 interviews with PVH and Optus store managers and recruitment staff. The day was very
successful - mentors were impressed with our students and their attitude. Our ABCN partners were very pleased with the program: We could not have asked for a better group of students for PVH’s first ever face to face program in Victoria. The students were great, the program as you saw was fun and they gained a lot from the session and their time with mentors.
PATRICIA PICCININI EXCURSIONS
Something extraordinary happened this year involving our year 11 Art – Creative Practice students from across the college. It all began with a crazy idea that maybe if we contacted an acclaimed, world famous Australian artist, they may just agree to come and speak to our students at Keysborough.
One of the three artists that we studied for Unit 2 was Patricia Piccinini. Patricia is an internationally renowned Australian artist who works in multiple disciplines including sculpture, installation, video, digital prints, sound and painting. She collaborates with other practitioners in order to give life to her visions. Her works focus on "unexpected consequences", conveying concerns surrounding bio-ethics and help visualize future dystopias. Patricia has a studio in Collingwood and exhibits at Tolarno Galleries in Melbourne as well as galleries all over the world.
When I decided to write an email to Patricia’s studio I was honest about my love of her work and the importance of her practice for our culture and society in general. Some of my colleagues thought I was clutching at straws but they indulged me anyway. They also thought that even if Patricia did agree to come and speak to our students that she would charge more than we could afford.
To my shock and pleasant surprise, Patricia was touched by my email and actually left a message on my mobile phone as I was teaching at the time. I couldn’t believe that this important artist actually reached out to me in person. Needless to say, conversations and emails ensued that culminated in our students having the amazing opportunity to not only meet Patricia and have her speak about her work to them in person, but our Banksia students were lucky enough to visit Patricia’s studio in Collingwood. It was easier for Patricia to have us go to her, so the Acacia students visited her current exhibition at Tolarno Galleries on the 13th of September while the Banksia students visited both the exhibition and her studio on the 12th of September.
Our students gained an amazing insight into Patricia’s physical practice as well as the meaning and messages behind her work. As if this wasn’t enough, she gave of her time freely and did not charge us for the visits. Personally, I will be forever grateful for this generous gesture from such a beautiful soul. Patricia is an amazing artist who cares about humanity and how we treat animals especially as chimera.
I would like to end this article with a big thank you to Filomena Henderson for accompanying me and our students on the excursions. As teachers we were privileged to enjoy this experience with them. Finally, I would like to say that I have always believed in the power of intention. If you believe in something at your core, anything is possible. Our students, your children are worth it.
Rosie Daniel
Art, Media, Photography teacher
INTERACT CLUB BAKE SALE
By Somalis Sam
What is Interact Club?
Interact club is a school club that is joined by the students of Keysborough Secondary College from both campuses. In this club we volunteer our time to help the communities, people, animals and environment around us by creating ways to donate goods and money to charities who need our help.
Everyone can share their ideas here and work together with people outside the school to make the world a better place. It helps you become more confident in working with others and helps you meet new people who have similar interests to you. Also, the teacher and people in the group are friendly and kind, we always listen to your opinions and when we face problems we help each other to find a solution. If you are interested in joining us, please get in contact with any of the current members or Ms.Haluwadana.
RSPCA Bake Sale
Baking and selling cupcakes was a project that we discussed for almost 2 terms. Interact Club came up with this idea because we think that many students in Keysborough Secondary College would be interested in buying cupcakes and so we could use this to raise lots of money.
Our team hosted this event in week 10 of term 3 and called it “Interact Cupcake Sale”. We put in a lot of effort to decide how we would bake and decorate cupcakes and decided to donate the money to RSPCA. “RSPCA” stands for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and is the leading animal welfare charity.
Our Interact team were volunteering to spend our lunch times once a week to discuss how we can help make money to help RSPCA. At the final stage of the project we spent two days baking, decorating and selling. The club got together to bake all the cupcakes and we had lots
of different flavours including chocolate, vanilla, orange, lemon and funfetti. We sold them at lunch time and the students from our school were really supportive and we sold out of our cupcakes so quickly! It was very special because we made $217 in just 10 minutes!
On behalf of the RSPCA and Interact Club we would like to say thank you to Mr.Wood and Ms.McPhail for supervising us in the kitchen and helping us with baking and decorating.
We hope that our Interact team grows with more members next year and we can’t wait to plan and do many more activities!
CHINESE MUSEUM AND CHINATOWN EXCURSION
On October 9th, 2023, Year 7 Chinese students went on an excursion to Chinatown. We visited the Chinese Museum where tour guides explained the Han Dynasty, known for its large and long-lasting empire, as well as several Chinese inventions, some which we still use today. There were a lot of inventions that we didn’t know that were real such as the seismoscope that was used as an earthquake detector. It had eight dragon heads that held a marble in each mouth, facing the eight directions of a compass. Below each dragon was a toad with its mouth open. When an earthquake is detected the marble from one of the dragons would fall into the toads’ mouth, showing the direction of the earthquake. The museum is also home to one of the biggest dragons created, “The Millennium Drago
n” which is the one paraded in Melbourne during festivals. After the Chinese Museum, we had time to complete research about the Chinese culture for our Cultural Study CAT. We had fun exploring Chinatown while learning about Chinese food, architecture, and traditional elements.
Michelle Tran 7A
LIBRARY NEWS
It’s been a few action-packed weeks in the Keysborough College libraries. The 2023 Reading Challenge was completed; and, of course, Halloween happened!
Book Week
The annual Keysborough College Reading Challenge is one of the many ways the library encourages students to nurture a lifelong love of reading. Students are given a set number of books to read- with certain parameters added to make the challenge even more fun and- well, challenging! We believe it is important, and so rewarding, for our students to develop, and maintain, a reading habit which we hope will last a lifetime. The annual Reading Challenge plays its part in this, as students are rewarded as they meet their reading goals for the year. Well done to all those students who successfully completed the 2023 Keysborough College Reading Challenge!
Halloween
Things get very scary in the library this time of year! Enjoy these pictures, if you dare!
ELC HALLOWEEN EXPERIENCE
Through the last Halloween party, I experienced something very new that I had never had before. It was very fun and I also enjoyed it. Thinh Harley.
Halloween was the same week as my birthday, so it has been one of my best weeks so far. I'm in love with the chocolate muffins Ms. Koustas prepares for us because, like, why my sweet tooth wouldn't. 😉 Harley
Face masks and juices were such a delight! But only if there was another night. We are carving pumpkins to express our feelings, and everyone's smile is beaming. Rena
I really appreciate the Halloween, especially the Halloween feast and decoration such as carving pumpkin, painting face and watching horror movies, hanging Halloween strings. I enjoyed it so much because that was the first time I had Halloween with my friends in a new country. Uyen
The Halloween week was so fun, we decorate the classroom together, then we have a morning tea on Halloween with everyone costume and draw something on face. That was my first Halloween here, a vivid memories with me with everyone in ELC class term 3-4 (2023). Han
I really enjoyed the halloween celebration. We did face painting and tea parties. Followed by the scary halloween movies. One of the best Halloween I've experience. Srun Chhay
I enjoy Halloween so much that I got to do cosplay, and it was fabulous.We have a small party in the classroom with miss Koustas. Seavliv
This was my very first Halloween celebration and it was one of my favourite days in ELC. We decorated our classroom, ate Halloween cookies, watch Halloween movies, wore costumes and did face painting which was so amusing and lively Mey
It's Halloween, and everyone is entitled to one good scare. Dressing up as a witch or monster, having a morning tea with my teacher and my beloved classmate, and painting our faces was such a fun activity I never had before. We're also watching a Halloween movie and creating a scary story from our own ideas with my group work. This was the best Halloween I've ever had! Kimseang
I had the best Halloween I've ever had. I have painted faces with our classmates and Halloween costumes. Then, we decorate the Halloween table and have a morning tea on it. There are some yummy cookies with tea and the red color apple juice. It was very fun!I go to trick-or-treat with my cousin, we start at 5:30 to nearly 8:00. I have a lot of candy! I see people go trick-or-treat with the various Halloween costumes.
We have a fantastic Halloween party in Keysborough secondary high school, this is something I've never experienced before. We have a beautiful morning tea with a lot of delicious desserts, someone makes a good painting on her face, so scary but very funny. To hold the scene, I take a lot of photos. I want to have again! Shuoxi
This is the first time that I really enjoyed the Halloween celebration because it was an amazing day to make memories with my classmate. We had so much fun together, and everyone was really happy during Halloween celebration. Rathna
I'm glad I got to spend my first Halloween with my ELC classmates. This was my first Halloween. I thoroughly enjoyed engaging in Halloween activities, which many of us had never done before, such as dressing up, watching scary movies, and creating horror stories. I'm looking forward to engaging in these kinds of activities in the future.
Leapheng
The first-ever seasonal celebration in Australia while more is incoming. The Halloween celebration party’s food was DELICIOUSSSS.-Lyka
CELEBRATING KEYSBOROUGH COLLEGE’S INAUGRAL EMERGENT LEADERS PORGRAM 2023
Congratulations to all the staff who recently graduated from our college’s inaugural Emergent Leaders Program (ELP).
L to R; John Baston (College Principal), Lynda Portelli (Leadership Development Leader), Aruna Malhotra, Joselle Bardwell, James Meaker, Taylah Boonstra, Anthony Klarica (‘Elite Performance’ Leadership Trainer), Brett Kirk, Madeline Harper (Absent from photo; Melissa Hoskin & Alice McPhail)
The Emergent Leaders Program is an in-house Leadership Development Program for newly appointed or beginning years leadership appointees to assist them to grow in their leadership capabilities.
The ELP is a structured program providing each participant with;
- In-house Leadership Professional Development sessions each term.
- One on one regular Leadership Coaching throughout the year.
- Additional individualized professional learning experiences.
Highly regarded expert external presenters in Leadership Development Training covered topics of;
- The Adaptive Leadership Model.
- The Positive Leadership Model.
- Application Writing and Interview skills for Learning Specialist and Leading Teacher roles.
- Positive Communication Model – how to positively approach difficult conversations.
- Mediation Approach and Processes to lead the resolution of conflict between others.
- A Local School Principal sharing their career journey; moral purpose, leading change, gaining staff ‘buy in’ as school leader.
- Refection of leadership learnings; Key Leadership concepts and each Emergent Leader sharing their individual leadership learnings and future leadership goals.
I congratulate all the participants in the 2023 ELP program on their willingness to invest in their leadership development and for the significant leadership development they all gained through this year. Congratulations to many who have achieved a significant leadership position in 2024.
Lynda Portelli
KSC Leadership Development Leader
Bridging Cultures through Project Sangam: Keysborough Secondary College's CSIC Journey
Keysborough Secondary College embraced cultural diversity this year by participating in the CSIC (Connecting Schools with Indian Communities) project, a commendable initiative by the Department of Education. Under the banner of Project Sangam, our school ventured into several smaller projects that aimed at fostering connections, understanding, and appreciation between the school community and Indian culture.
Project Sangam: Uniting through Education and Culture
The name "Sangam," derived from Hindi, means to associate, reflecting the project's core mission of creating meaningful connections. As part of this endeavour, our school took on various initiatives to enrich the educational and cultural experiences of students and staff alike.
Library Enhancement:
One of the key aspects of Project Sangam was the acquisition of new library resources for both the Acacia and Banksia campuses. These resources aim to provide students with a broader understanding of Indian history, literature, and culture, fostering a sense of global awareness and appreciation for diversity.
Yoga Workshop:
In a bid to promote physical and mental well-being, the school organized a full-day Yoga workshop at both the Acacia and Banksia campuses. Students and staff had the opportunity to delve into the ancient practice of Yoga, learning various poses and techniques for relaxation and mindfulness. This initiative not only contributed to the physical health of the participants but also served as a bridge to Indian traditions.
Culinary Exploration:
A highlight of Project Sangam was the engaging cooking incursion led by an Executive Chef specializing in Indian cuisine. Students had the chance to roll up their sleeves and participate in preparing traditional Indian dishes, including Tandoori Chicken, Roti bread, and Cucumber Raita (yogurt dip). This hands-on experience not only tantalized taste buds but also introduced students to the vibrant flavours of Indian cooking. Moreover, the cooking incursion became a language lesson as students picked up new Hindi vocabulary related to the culinary arts.
Diwali Celebration:
As an integral part of the CSIC project Sangam, Keysborough Secondary College is eagerly anticipating the celebration of Diwali, the festival of lights. Diwali holds cultural significance for many Indian communities, and our school is embracing the opportunity to share in the joy and traditions associated with this festive occasion. The celebration promises to be a vibrant and inclusive event that showcases the rich cultural tapestry of our school community.
Project Sangam has not only brought a taste of India to Keysborough Secondary College but has also created a platform for cultural exchange and understanding. By integrating these initiatives into the school's curriculum, students have gained a broader perspective, fostering an environment of inclusion and appreciation for diverse cultures. As the CSIC project unfolds, Project Sangam stands as a shining example of how educational institutions can play a pivotal role in connecting communities and promoting global awareness.
A special report by CSIC Project Leader
Aruna Malhotra
CONNECTING SCHOOLS TO INDIAN COMMUNITY
Project SangamReport about Yoga Day at Keysborough Secondary College, Acacia Campus
A Day of Yoga, Connection, and Community
Yoga, with its roots deeply embedded in the culture and heritage of India, is not just a physical practice; it's a way of life. It encourages harmony, balance, and a connection to the self and the world around us. The ancient discipline of yoga is more than just a set of physical postures; it is a path to holistic well-being that encompasses mind, body, and soul. This is precisely what Keysborough Secondary College aimed to bring to life through its whole-day yoga event as part of the Connecting Schools to Indian Community program. At Keysborough Secondary college we have aptly named CSIC program as Project Sangam.
The term "Sangam" finds its origin in the Hindi language, and it signifies 'associate.' Project Sangam, in this context, symbolizes the coming together of different communities to celebrate the universal practice of yoga and foster a sense of unity and togetherness.
On a beautiful day in the heart of Melbourne, Keysborough Secondary College transformed into a hub of positive energy and wellness as it hosted this extraordinary event. The event's primary objective was to bridge the gap between various communities and celebrate the rich heritage and benefits of yoga, a practice that transcends borders and unites people from diverse backgrounds.
One of the most remarkable aspects of the event was the incredible turnout. Over 700 students from the college participated in the event, eager to experience the world of yoga. The day began with students and teachers alike gathering on the school's grounds, greeted by the gentle rustling of leaves and the promise of an enlightening experience.
Breathing exercises and stretches were at the core of the day's activities. The students learned the art of Pranayama, or breath control, which is an essential aspect of yoga. Breathing exercises help to calm the mind, reduce stress, and increase vitality. Students discovered the profound impact of mindful breathing, which is an invaluable skill they can carry with them throughout their lives.
The stretching exercises, on the other hand, provided an opportunity for participants to improve their flexibility, posture, and physical fitness. They discovered that yoga's physical postures, known as asanas, not only improve physical health but also promote mental clarity and emotional balance. The participants learned that yoga is not limited to a specific age group, as it is beneficial for individuals of all ages.
Project Sangam brought together the Indian community and students from diverse cultural backgrounds, emphasizing the universality of yoga as a practice that anyone can embrace. This event allowed students to explore the cultural richness of India while engaging in a meaningful dialogue about wellness and mental health. By participating in these activities,students learned to appreciate and respect each other's differences, fostering a sense of unity and togetherness.
The event culminated with a yoga and meditation session, where the students had the chance to immerse themselves in the tranquillity and mindfulness that yoga offers. The entire school grounds transformed into a serene and peaceful space, as students and teachers practiced yoga as a collective, experiencing the profound sense of connection that yoga brings.
Project Sangam served as a testament to the power of yoga to unite communities, to inspire individuals to lead a healthier and more balanced life, and to appreciate the diverse cultures that make up our global society. The event not only provided an opportunity for students to learn about yoga but also fostered lasting connections between different communities.
As Project Sangam showed, yoga transcends borders, language, and culture to bring people together. The whole-day event at Keysborough Secondary College was not only a celebration of yoga but a celebration of unity, wellness, and the beauty of embracing diversity. Through this project, the school has created a lasting connection with the Indian community and promoted the values of harmony and well-being, proving that the power of yoga goes far beyond the physical postures—it is a path to a healthier, more balanced, and more connected world.
