WELCOME YEAR 7S

This week 212 Year 7s walked into Acacia Campus, with fresh uniforms, blank books, sharpened pencils and lots of nerves and excitement! As our newest students settle into their classes during Weeks 1 and 2, they took part in Induction Week, a range of activities designed to help them build friendships, develop confidence, and become familiar with their new school.

Our dedicated teachers and staff have been guiding students through induction sessions, introducing them to school routines and processes, and helping them feel at home in our Acacia community. We are excited to see our students grow academically and personally, and we look forward to a fantastic year ahead. Welcome to Keysborough College, Year 7s!

CAMPS, SPORTS AND EXCURSION FUND (CSEF)

If you hold a current Health Care Card and meet the eligibility criteria listed below, you may apply for the Camps, Sports and Excurions Fund. The CSEF provides payments to assist eligible families to cover the costs of camps, sporting activities, excursions and incursions. Payments are made directly to an eligible student's school.

Please complete the form below and return to the Front Office of the campus where your child/children attends with a copy of your card or bring your card to be photocopied. Only one form is required per family for 2025.

Closing date for submission of application is 4th July 2025.

CSEF ELIGIBILITY

Below are the criteria used to determine a student’s eligibility for the Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF).

Criteria 1 – Eligibility

To be eligible* for the fund, a mature minor of sixteen years of age or over, a parent or legal guardian of a student attending a registered Government or non-government Victorian primary or secondary school must:

• on the first day of Term one; or

• on the first day of Term two.

Be an eligible beneficiary within the meaning of the State Concessions Act 2004, that is, be a holder of Veterans Affairs Gold Card or be an eligible Centrelink Health Care Card (HCC) or Pensioner Concession Card (PCC) holder; or
Be a temporary foster parent; and
Submit an application to the school by the due date.

* A special consideration eligibility category also exists. For more information, see: Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF): Eligibility | education.vic.gov.au

Mature minors or parents who receive a Carer Allowance on behalf of a child, or any other benefit or allowance not income tested by Centrelink, are not eligible for the CSEF unless they also comply with one of (a) or (b) above.

Criteria 2 - Be of school age and attend school in Victoria

School is compulsory for all Victorian children aged between six and seventeen years of age inclusive.

For the purposes of CSEF, students may be eligible for assistance if they attend a Victorian registered primary or secondary school. Typically, these students are aged between five and eighteen years inclusive.

CSEF is not payable to students’ attending pre-school, kindergarten, home schooling, or TAFE.

Eligibility Date

For concession card holders, CSEF eligibility will be subject to the parent/legal guardian’s concession card being successfully validated with Centrelink (see Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF): Policy | education.vic.gov.au).

YEAR 7 HOUSE ACTIVITIES

On February 7, the newly energetic year 7’s, along with the Junior and Senior House Captains, participated in House Activities Day! This was the Captains first big event of the year and we were all eager to host an unforgettable day with just a week of planning.

The day kicked off with an introduction about the House Leaders & House Captains. As House Captains, we were all feeling a mix of nervousness and excitement. The year 7’s then learnt about each house - Artemis, Apollo, Athena and Poseidon - and how to earn house points. We also presented them with badges and stickers as a way to showcase their house pride.

After that, we started the first set of activities of the day which was a Kahoot about the houses and a Fashion Show! Each house competed by dressing up two brave students from their own houses and took to the stage in front of a panel of judges to be scored. Next, the houses competed in epic games of Capture the Flag and indoor games such as Celebrity Heads, Celebrity Smiles and Name the Disney song! Everyone showed house spirit and gave every game their best.

We ended off the day with a scavenger hunt that took the year 7’s running around and exploring the whole school. It was great seeing the students working together and representing their house! Adding up all of the points won in the day, the winning house was…. ARTEMIS!!

By Ryanna-Jean (Acacia Senior Artemis House Captain) and Jimmy (Acacia Senior Apollo House Captain)

LIBRARY NEWS

Welcome to 2025! This year, there have been some changes in the Keysborough College libraries. Students may have discovered there is now a new staff member working in their nearest library. In the Acacia Junior library you will find Ms Pascoe, in Acacia Senior Ms Sansom and Ms Bryan share the role, in Banksia Junior Ms Talbot is now located, and in Banksia Senior we have Ms Kirby. Come and say hi to the staff member in your library! We all love to talk books, learning, and all things library. Get a recommendation for something wonderful to read, and share with us what you like to read! Find out what the library can offer you, and how it can support your learning!

Keysborough College Junior Libraries are very happy to welcome our new Year 7s. Please enjoy these photos of some of our Year 7s in the junior libraries! Students continue to enjoy being in the library to read and borrow books, play board games, complete jigsaw puzzles, and of course, use it as a learning space with their class.

Keep reading everyone!

TERM 1 INTERSCHOOL SPORT - SENIOR AND INTERMEDIATE

Senior Boy and Intemediate Mixed Tennis Teams

All students are to be commended on their efforts on the day at the Interschool Greater Dandenong Division Tennis competition, played at Dingley Tennis Club.

The Senior team qualified for the cross over final and gave their best. They were unfortunately beaten by Dandenong Secondary however the standard was impressive. The boys played both singles and doubles and are to be congratulated.

We were able to take a second Senior team along for the experience and they played ‘Friendlies’ matches against both Intermediate and Senior teams. They played in the spirit of the day and competition.

The Mixed Intermediate team were successful winning the majority of their singles and doubles games against Carwatha and Dandenong to qualify for Regionals! Three team members played at this level last year and it was great to have Meisha join the team.

Senior Boys Cricket Team

Our Senior Boys Crickete competed in the Dandenong District Compertion on Thursday 13th Feb. Their first game they played against SEDA who are a cricket academy school where students go just to play cricket. In contrast as our players were putting on their batting gear and asked Mr Tobin "so sir what do i do?" Mr Tobin “said see ball hit ball”.

We batted first and Blake Ariens and Abraham "the Kracken" made 20 and 22 in our 8 over match before the "depth" of our team was tested and we were bowled out for 47 crumbling like nannas dry biscuits. We bowled and fielded incredibly well and SEDA managed to chase it down in 6 overs.

But what stands out in the game is Tim Harrington in full long sleeve shirt buttoned to the top (well it is white) and school shorts with little to no cricket experience taking a wicket with his first ball! He would take another 2 for the day and be our lead wicket taker. Also to note SEDA lending us fielders and being very gracious to us.

Game 2 against Lyndale we batted first with Blake scoring 46 (highest score by any batter on day) and Abraham 20 we put on 80 runs. Lyndale had succumbed to the heat and wind and folded like a cheap tent and we won easily. Our Year 9 Cooper took 3 wickets. Not once during the horrendous conditions 34 degrees and gale force winds did the boys complain, they really did themselves and the school proud.

Senior and Intermediate Boys and Girls Volleyball Teams

Our Volleyball Teams did not get the results they wanted for the district competition. They have been very committed to their training sessions since the start of the year. Both our Senior and Intermediate Girls teams came second in their competition only loss to Banksia by 1 point in the final. Our Intermediate boys also came second and loss to Banksia in the final. The senior boys came third in their competition. It was a very close competition between Noble Park, Banksia and Us. The Senior Boys only loss for the day was against Noble Park in the pool match.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate those students who represented our college in their choosen sport and really did our school proud.

VALENTINE'S DAY

Acacia Campus

On the 14th of February, we had our yearly Valentine’s Day celebration.

The SRC Team worked diligently to sell and deliver roses to create a memorable day for the staff and students. A week before the big day, the SRC Team began selling roses every lunchtime from the 4th to the 7th of February. When we counted up all the orders placed, we had over 200 rose orders!

The next week, we made further preparations for the Valentine’s Day lunchtime celebration, such as making photo booth frames, flower tags and baking brownies for the bake sale.

On the morning of Valentine’s Day, the SRC Team organised all the roses into sleeves with tags attached, ready to be sent out for delivery. In the end, we had a whole bucket full of leftover roses, so we decided to sell them at lunchtime alongside the bake sale, which both turned out to be very successful! We also had a playlist of love songs that created a true Valentine’s Day atmosphere, and many rounds of intense tug of war, one round being teachers VS students! Alongside this was the photo booth, which seemed to be a popular activity amongst students. It was so lovely to see Keysborough students enjoying their time spent with their friends and loved ones and contributing to the free dress gold coin donation towards the Heart Foundation.

In total, we have successfully raised $1750! This is an outstanding effort from our school that is certainly commendable. The SRC Team gives our biggest thanks to all the students and staff who contributed to making the Valentine’s Day celebration a memorable one.

By Kylie Chung (Yr12 Student Voice captain)

Banksia Campus

Before we move towards the next month, let’s take a look back at one of the college’s largest annual events, held on Friday, February 14th. The time to embrace all forms of love and admiration, Valentine’s Day brought everyone together with sweet gifts and positivity! This year it was celebrated with lunchtime activities; three-legged race, musical chairs, a polaroid station and announcing anonymous love confessions. Additionally, there was a bake sale and roses, hand delivered by your student leaders, and a raffle for the chance to win a handmade Valentine’s hamper. The activities that ran were a success and all earnings from the event went to the Australian Heart Foundation.

The whole leadership team was involved to ensure a fun-packed day for the school. From hosting activities, pre-selling roses and dressing up the whole school to fit the occasion, the day was completely run by the SRC students, who spent weeks prior putting together the event. Leading up to the big day, students volunteered to stay back after school to help prepare baked goods for the bake sale and begin making decorations to display around the school.

On Valentine’s Day, students took time out of classes to continue decorating the school, set up the location of lunchtime activities, as well as, sort and deliver roses which were positively received by staff and students! Many talented students within the team collaborated together to create the photo booth frame and the Valentine’s themed hamper that included an assortment of gifts, both featured during lunchtime activities. Students who took part in commentating throughout the activities help spread the Valentines joy and get students excited about the games. Thank you to all the SRC students, your contributions helped make this event memorable!

Valentine's day would not have been successful as it was if it weren’t for the guidance of the leadership teachers, Mr. Wood and Ms.H, and especially the participation of the school community. On behalf of the college’s student leadership team, thank you for helping us raise money for the Australian Heart Foundation and for allowing us to organise such a special day! We appreciate your continued enthusiasm and support, so please look forward to future events that will be just as exciting!

Jessica Tran

Banksia Student Voice Captain

YEAR 12 STUDENT LEADERSHIP WELCOME

YEAR 11 STUDENT LEADERSHIP WELCOME

As your new Year 11 captains, we are grateful to represent our year level for 2025. We are both eager and committed to making this year successful but also enjoyable. This year, we want to encourage more student involvement, whether it’s through academic support or school events.

Year 11 comes with new challenges, whether it’s the pressure of studying, balancing commitments, or preparing for our future pathways, however, with unity and the right support, we believe our cohort will triumph over any challenges that we face.

If any concerns arise, you are welcome to discuss with either one of us as we are ready to offer assistance to any student. We encourage everyone in our year level to voice their opinions to help guide us to strive as a cohort.

We are thankful for this opportunity to lead this year level to success. We’re excited for what’s ahead, and we can’t wait to work alongside you, with respect, excellence and diversity we hope to make this year one to remember.

Keysborough College Newsletter

RESPECT EXCELLENCE DIVERSITY

Issue 1 · 03 Mar 2025

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