YEAR 11 SOCIOLOGY AND LEGAL STUDIES EXCURSION TO THE OLD MELBOURNE GAOL

On Wednesday 5th November, our Banksia and Acacia Year 11 Sociology and Legal Studies students travelled into the city for an engaging day of learning at the Old Melbourne Gaol and the Old Magistrates’ Court. The excursion provided students with valuable insights into Australia’s criminal justice system, past and present.

Students participated in a mock hearing in the historic Magistrates’ Court, where they took on the roles of magistrates, lawyers, witnesses and accused persons in a simulated hearing. This interactive experience deepened their understanding of court procedures, legal responsibilities, and the importance of fairness and justice within the legal system.

Exploring the Old Melbourne Gaol’s rich yet sombre history, students took part in a guided tour of the cells, gallows and heard details of some of Victoria’s most interesting cases. They learned about the lives of inmates, the conditions they faced, and the evolution of punishment in Australia.

This excursion complemented classroom learning by connecting sociological perspectives on crime and punishment with real-world contexts. Students came away with a deeper appreciation of how law, society and history intersect — and how these experiences continue to shape our understanding of justice today.

Ms Kean, Ms Chieu & Ms Maxwell-Gould

STEM INNOVATORS EXCURSION

This October about 40 girls in the year 7 and 8 math KEEP class from our Acacia and Banksia Campuses participated in a 3 session STEM workshop that went over the course of 3 weeks. The purpose of this program is to encourage more females to work in the fields of STEM. On Tuesday the 14th of October we went to Ventia, and on Thursday 23rd and Friday the 31st of October we went to Science works. Our goal over the sessions was to create something that would allow astronauts to live comfortably on the moon.

In the first session we went to Ventia’s office to get to know each other and connect with the mentors. We split into groups, mixing the year 7s and 8s and played some games. Then we discussed how we would want to create a better life on the moon, by improving their health, growing food on the moon or providing entertainment. As a group, we brainstormed many different ways to achieve our goal, and we created drafts on how we would make it a reality.

In the second session the girls from Banksia were also there to join us. In this session we learned about how to code using micro:bits, and we were lucky enough to be able to explore Science Works and have fun with our friends. The sessions were split in half and we were provided lunch which was chicken nuggets, fruit and a cookie, or a sandwich. To end the day we watched a video about the moon in the planetarium. This session was the most memorable.

In the final session we went back to Science Works to bring our idea into a reality. By using the micro:bit, some cardboard and paper and a creative mind, we brought our product to life and created a pitch to sell our product. All of the groups presented their product and demonstrated how it worked, it was amazing seeing the micro:bit at work.

In conclusion this was a great experience, and we learned a lot from it.

Written by Delita Ham Year 7

YEAR 7 GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

The Banksia Campus has been running a Volleyball Program after school once a week for the last 3 years and since the start, we have had 3 teams go to State Finals, with our Year 8 Girls last year being the first team in 10 years to win a state title. In February this year, it took me less than 5 minutes to realise that we had a very good chance of repeating that effort as I watched about 20 Year 7 girls demonstrating some pretty impressive volleyball skills for their age – their ball control was excellent, they weren’t rushed and most of them could serve overarm, which is a skill we usually don’t bother teaching at Year 7. At the end of that 5 minutes, I was pretty excited at the prospect of watching these girls in action, and certain they could make state finals, if not win the state title.

Under the excellent guidance of Emily and Elina Chhor the girls have religiously trained once a week for an hour and a half after school. Their enthusiasm and dedication has been so infectious that giving up time for them was a no-brainer. We cruised through our district competition in early April and then competed in the Southern Metro region finals in May. All 5 of our matches there went to three sets but, even though our skills were better than any other team, we had a tendency to lead sets by 5 or more points and then explicitly lose it when things got tight. Luckily or not, we won the regional final against McKinnon SC, which meant we were going to the State Finals – which were in early November.

The State Final was going to be a test for the girls. We had to get through the preliminary rounds first and our group of 4 was a tough group – Maribyrnong, Kew and Kurnai. We lost our first match against Maribyrnong in 2 close sets, but we were able to account for Kew and Kurnai in relatively easy circumstances, even though the lapses in concentration were still evident. We had to play against McKinnon in the semi-final, which wasn’t great since they had beaten us the day before for the Gold Medal at the Junior Open. After playing our best Volleyball for the day to win the first set, we unfortunately, but also half-expectantly, self-imploded in the second set. After leading the set 12-8, we lost the next 9 points to finally lose it 20-14. We seemed destined to lose with McKinnon really upbeat and our girls seemingly gone in a maelstrom of fear and self-doubt but I’ve never been more proud of a team. After being tied at 8-8 in the third set, Taylor Duong came to the fore and served us to a stirring victory 15-8.

These girls (pictured)! So skilled, so dedicated, so happy and enthusiastic, so caring for each other and their coaches. And yet, so often full of self-doubt, so hard on themselves, so quick to think the worst. In a nutshell, we lost the final against Maribyrnong Sports Academy. We could have won but for a few lapses under pressure, but that’s life – nothing is a fait accompli. The opposition had a very tall girl at the net who ended up being the difference. While we were stronger across the court, the offensive skills of the opposition hitter was hard to beat. The girls were so downcast and miserable after the game but once we took team photos and photos with the pennant, the glow returned. We love celebrating winners but second in the state was a win, an incredible result that they and the school should be proud of. So, congratulations to the best Year 7 Volleyball team we’ve ever had:

Romanna Sein – Taylor Duong – Adrianna Soeun – Justice Velasquez – Bella Trinh – Kimmy Phung – Kim Tran – Jessica Sar – Shakira Bibi – Stacey Ung – Malina Ing and Jasmine Beswick.

2025 BANKSIA HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

This year, the Banksia Campus had 4 teams and one individual inducted into the Hall of Fame.

The Keysborough College Year 8 Boys Volleyball team won the Gold medal at the Volleyball Victoria Schools Cup

Iain Campbell (coach), Marcus Ficorilli, Ethan Chhay, Tommy Vo, Eric Oo (captain),

Rima Stusky-Teotaki, Howard Yin, Sokheng Chung, Shya Sounthakith, Ali Ibrahemi, Hakim Maricar, Marcus Cu. Absent: Kevin Prum

2. The Keysborough College Year 10 Girls Volleyball team also won the Gold medal at the Volleyball Victoria Schools Cup.

Erica Sor (coach), Vannie Chim, Sarena Kamerak, Emily Chhor, Izabella Cheng,

Elina Chhor, Melody Sok (coach), Millie Payet, Ella Zheng, Sandra Savoeuth

3. Our Year 7 Girls Badminton were runners up at the School Sport Victoria State Championships, meaning they are the second best team in Victoria.

Romanna Sein – Kim Tran – Adrianna Soeun – Chloe Nguyen – Kimmy Phung – Angelina Doan – Anna Tran – Vy Huynh and their two brilliant coaches, Khuong Phan and Omamar Omamar

4. Our Year 7 Girls Volleyball team were also were runners up at the School Sport Victoria State Championships, meaning they are the second best team in Victoria.

Romanna Sein – Kim Tran – Adrianna Soeun – Kimmy Phung – Bella Trinh – Justice Velasquez – Taylor Duong – Jessica Sar – Stacey Ung – Malina Ing – Jasmine Beswick and Shakira Bibi, along with their two incredible coaches, Emily and Elina. (already pictured)

5.Savannah Misa is our last inductee into the Hall of Fame. Savannah came third in the Under 15 Shot Put at the State Track and Field Championships in October.

SPRINGING TO SUCCESS:

From food donation drive to Spring Stalls charity fundraiser

Written by President: Lincy Dua

Over term 4, Keysborough College once again participated in a canned food donation drive for the Kingston Salvation Army to support families in need within our local community. The school contributed a variety of non-perishable items which included pasta, vegetables, fruits, tuna and soups. We have beaten our last total of 50 items. This time we have collected 89 items!

We also held our Spring Stalls where we had a cupcake and bracelet sale over two lunchtimes in Week 6. We spent hours making all the bracelets and cupcakes. Thank you to everyone who supported our cupcake sale and bracelet selling. We donated about $150 to MND Victoria.

The Interact Club would like to thank all students, teachers, members of staff as well as families who donated. Your donation has helped make a real difference! We’d also like to thank all the students and staff who supported our stalls on the day and raised money for MND Victoria.

A big thank you to everyone who has supported Interact Club in 2025!

LIBRARY NEWS

The 2025 Keysborough College Library Reading Challenge

The Reading Challenge ended! Students who completed the Keysborough College Library Reading Challenge were invited to a pizza lunch in the library, along with students who were nominated by their teachers as Reading Legends. Congratulations to all those legendary readers! Watch out for the Reading Challenge next year- it may be even bigger and better

Lamont Library Citizenship Award

The Lamont Library Citizenship Award is a joint initiative of Lamont Books and Keysborough College Libraries that was first awarded in 2024. It is awarded to one junior student and one senior student from each campus who demonstrate the school’s RED values of Respect, Excellence & Diversity through their involvement with the library. It may be someone who gets involved with library programs, someone who helps out in, or promotes the library, or perhaps someone who is an avid reader. Library staff chose appropriate book prizes for these students, which were awarded along with certificates. Congratulations to Seavmean Kim at Acacia, and Sim Hour and Kylin Tong at Banksia!

End of year

The end of the year is almost upon us. Don’t forget to return all of the library items you have borrowed. If you wish to borrow some books to read over the holidays, great! We can arrange that for you, as long as you have no overdue items. Come and have a chat to your nearest library staff member!

But wait- there’s other ways to read over the holidays too! You could access the Keysborough College ePlatform, to borrow audio and ebooks!

Here’s the link!

https://keysboroughsc.wheelers.co/

Or- you could get down to your local community library. If you haven’t already, take your parent or guardian with you so you can get a library card (if you are under 18) and then you can borrow from the vast resources available at your local library! Sometimes they even have gaming consoles available to play. Go and check it out these holidays! You’re welcome!

What’s happening in the library next year?

You’ll have to wait and see. But there will be fresh books waiting for you- here’s a sneak peek!

Merry Christmas to those of you who celebrate it, and happy holidays to everybody!

YEAR 11 ACCOUNTING 'IMMERSION' EXCURSION

On Thursday 30 October, Year 11 Accounting students from both Banksia and Acacia campuses travelled into the city for an accounting-immersion experience, beginning with a visit to CPA House where they explored pathways in accounting through presentations from CPA members and small-group discussions. Students then continued to SEIVA — an award-winning “Great Place to Work” accounting and advisory firm — to gain further insight into the industry and what a career in accounting might look like in practice. It was a wonderful learning experience that broadened students’ understanding of future opportunities and, for many, may help shape the trajectory of their career pathways.

Student reflections:

The excursion to CPA House was incredibly insightful. Seeing how the accounting principles we learn in class translate directly into the real-world business environment was eye-opening. Meeting working professionals gave us a much clearer picture of the diverse career paths available in accounting and finance, making the subject feel much more tangible and exciting.

Hazel

The biggest takeaways that I've learnt at the CPA house and SEIVA have been that AI isn't replacing accounting jobs but are actually reinforcing them by helping to sort out big data within firms, with newer jobs being made as a result of the innovations we are facing today. But overall it was a very fun and insightful; experience, and I was glad to consult any inquiries I had regarding the financial industry as a whole.

Nicholas

The accounting excursion provided great insight into my future i.e the possible connections and opportunities that would arise with an economic based career path, it was refreshing to hear from someone who wanted to connect with us about our future and offer genuine advice from their experience. The excursion was something I never thought I needed but when I went I actually learnt several key points that helped me think about what kind of future I wanted, that excursion helped me map out my academic path with better clarity. I am grateful to have been given the opportunity to experience a future with the CPA

Tony

DEBATING ASSOCIATION OF VICTORIA - JUNIOR SECONDARY PROGRAM (JSP)

During term 4, a group of Banksia Year 7 and 8 students participated in the Debating Association of Victoria (DAV) Junior Secondary Program, an initiative designed to introduce young speakers to the fundamentals of debating. Throughout the program, students learnt how to build persuasive arguments, structure speeches effectively, and rebut opposing ideas with confidence. Sessions were supported by experienced adjudicators who guided our students through the key elements of teamwork, clarity, and critical thinking and the "3 Ms of debating" Manner, Method, and Matter.

Although the program is designed around ‘practice’ debates, every round was taken very seriously by our students. Our debaters approached each topic with enthusiasm, preparation, and determination. They proudly represented our school in friendly competitions against Sacred Heart Girls’ College, Mazenod College, Ashwood High and Salesian College. Across these contests, our junior debaters performed exceptionally well, celebrating two strong wins and experiencing three incredibly close losses that highlighted just how competitive and passionate each debate was.

Most importantly, students grew in self-confidence, public speaking and collaboration, all while having a great time. Their energy, commitment and resilience were evident in every round, and we could not be prouder of their achievements. Congratulations to all participants – we look forward to seeing your skills continue to flourish in future competitions.

Are you interested in joining a Keysborough Secondary College Debating Team? There are training and competitive options available for all year levels across both campuses for 2026. Registrations for teams from year 9-12 are due at the beginning of February 2026. If you are interested, please email Ms Stokes from Banksia at pamela.stokes@education.vic.gov.au or Joseph from Acacia at Angela.Joseph@education.vic.gov.au for more information.

Year 6 Transition Day at Springvale City Hall

A day of leadership, learning and unforgettable memories

On the 26th of November, selected Year 7 and 8 leaders from both the Banksia and Acacia campuses were invited to Springvale City Hall to support Year 6 students as they prepare for their transition into high school. Representing Acacia Campus were Afssa and Matisse, while Shannon and Michael represented Banksia Campus.

Once at City Hall, we were seated at our assigned tables alongside the other school captains.

Q&A PANEL

A highlight of the morning was the High School Q&A session. Matisse and Michael volunteered to be on the stage as part of the student panel, answering thoughtful questions from the Year 6s who were nervous about starting high school. It was an amazing moment to share honest advice, encouragement, and personal experiences.

Workshop 1 Health, Wellbeing & Goal Setting

Our first workshop focused on wellbeing and realistic goal settings. Students made “chatterboxes” based on wellbeing ideas (some of us struggled a little with the folding!). Another group explored goal setting using hula hoops: the further the jump, the less realistic the goal a fun and visual way to teach resilience and planning.

Workshop 2 Stepping Stones & Timetable Skills

Next, we moved into a hands-on activity about creating “tiny stepping stones” to reach a bigger goal. Afssa and Matisse helped run the final section of the course, encouraging students with high-fives as they stepped through each hoop.

Meanwhile, another group learned how to read maps and timetables. It may have sounded simple, but it became one of the most exciting sessions. The captains turned it into a competitive challenge that kept the Year 6s engaged and eager to learn.

After a busy morning, the Dandenong helpers provided morning tea, giving everyone a chance to rest and recharge.

Workshop 3 Games, Teamwork & Memory Skills

At the front entrance of City Hall, we ran a lively “Would You Rather?” warm-up before sending the Year 6s into eight groups for a series of relay-style activities. They competed in an egg and spoon race and a picture-card memory game, which quickly became a crowd favourite.

Workshop 4 Wrapping Up with Fun

To finish the day, Miss Bardwell drove the group back to City Hall and even stopped at McDonald’s for everyone, a surprise that made the end of the excursion even more memorable. Throughout the day, we also had the chance to sit with the other school captains and reconnect with old friends.

A Day to Remember

Overall, Transition Day was filled with leadership, laughter, learning, and connection. We as captains represented our campuses with pride supporting the Year 6s, building confidence in the next group of high schoolers, and continuing their amazing work as school leaders.

Thank you to all students, staff, and helpers who made this experience so meaningful. Here’s to more unforgettable moments as we continue our leadership journey!

Afssa Batool, Matisse Van Rooyen, Shannon Mandang, Michael Mitsianis

MESSAGE FROM WELLBEING

2025 has been a busy year. The Banksia Wellbeing Team would like to wish everyone a happy holiday break and remind you to practice some self-care.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT PROGRAM 2025

Please enjoy some images and news of our International students’ experiences as the year closes.

Firstly, our Semester 2 English Language Centre students have enjoyed quite a few different types of classes:

Melbourne Zoo – Science and EAL excursion

Werribee Zoo – Humanities excursion

Oakleigh Precinct – Maths Trail excursion

Halloween and Christmas customary activities in our multi-purpose and modern English Language Centre classroom.

Year 12s graduate

Next, we send our heartiest best wishes and congratulations to our thirty-seven graduating year 12s at both campuses. Thank you for joining our school and bringing with you your determination and your optimistic and joyful personalities. We hope you take away lots of good memories with you as VCE graduates of Keysborough College.

Special achievements of ISP cohort

Congratulations are in order to a number of our year 11s distinguishing themselves with subject awards:

Jonah Lee: EAL, Maths Methods, Maths Specialist

Pitou Pav: Chemistry and Physics

Sensolyka Lim: LOTE Chinese

Resa Semchanrithea: Economics

Harry Tran: Media

Leapheng Nguon: Food Studies; Human and Health

And well done to Chou Ly on being awarded the Endeavour Award in Year 10

Finally, congratulations from the whole College to Mouy Soung Ly who, with an ATAR of 97.05 is Dux of the College for 2025!

Mouy Soung Ly Dux with another ISP 12 gradaute Phuong Uyen Nguyen and Mr Phong Tran ISC Acacia Campus

The ISP Team wishes all our Internationals happy holidays and every success in 2026!

Mr Phong, Mrs Kim, Ms Kieu, Ms Ip and Ms V

AMBULANCE COVER

If your child requires urgent medical treatment while at school, the school will call 000. The student’s health is our primary concern. Should an ambulance be required to attend and transport your child, any costs associated with this will be incurred by the parent.

In Victoria, ambulance services are not free or covered by Medicare. An Ambulance Victoria membership protects you against costs for ambulance transport and paramedic care.

Membership costs

Membership type	Cost when paid quarterly	Cost when paid annually
Single membership	$13.75	$54.97
Family membership	$27.49	$109.93

For more information visit https://www.ambulance.vic.gov.au/membership

Keysborough College Newsletter

RESPECT EXCELLENCE DIVERSITY

Issue 8 · 16 Dec 2025

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