High Abilities Outreach Program

On Monday 18th May, The GATE/STEM team held a High Abilities Outreach program to our local feeder schools. Keysborough Primary school decided to take on this adventure and sent 20 of their Grade 4 and 5 students to our Banksia campus. The focus was STEM.

Thanks to Jose Alvarado and Eric Chui, for developing some breathtaking, exciting and high engaging activities for our primary school visitors. The primary school students engaged in Psychology uses their senses, reflexes and balancing activities. They learnt how to collect data and efficiently report on their findings – in a true scientific sense. This was followed by a shirt recess break and then we proceeded to session 2. Session 2 saw students engaged in Physics and Chemistry activities such as: colors of light, the use of Diffraction Grating Glasses and Acids and Bases.

Thank you to Ian for transporting the students to and from their Primary school, Bella for assisting with setting up recess, Lilly for event planning on compass, Cormac for organizing the food for recess and our STEM Year 10 student helpers: Andrew Nguyen, Annabella Koeng, and Joshua Uth. The event was a success with very excited primary school students going back to their home school

GATE/STEM Leader Ms. Indra Walia de Leon

Bendigo Bank - Grant

Earlier this year we applied for a community grant to help subsidise the associated costs of sending two Senior Volleyball teams to compete in the Australian Volleyball Schools Cup representing Keysborough College in 2026.

We were very proud and excited to receive a $3000 grant from the Community Bendigo Bank-Dingley Village presented on the evening of Thursday May 28th at the Keysborough Golf Club.

The four Year 12 students who represented the Volleyball students at this event were Melody Sok, Aziah Moloney, Sachham Tandan and Ben Ngyuen, accompanied by Mrs Karen Riley.

The Grant will assist with the payment of the team registration fees and also student polo shirts. These shirts will also display the Community Bank logo as proud sponsors.

The evening was both powerful and inspiring and promoted an understanding of how the Community Bank supports local communities. The Greater Dandenong Council Mayor was also in attendance along with many worthy recipients of the Community Bank grants.

We extend our sincere thanks to the Community Bank in Dingley Village and all felt very privileged to be part of such a special event.

Guide dogs visit VCE Acacia Psychology class

We were fortunate that a last-minute cancellation meant we were able to welcome the beautiful guide dogs Maisy and Moby, along with their owners Dorothy and Pam. They spoke to us about how the dogs were trained using the three key learning models studied in Psychology, bringing the concepts to life through real examples.

Dorothy and Pam also generously shared their personal experiences of losing their sight and explained the vital role their highly trained guide dogs play in supporting their independence and daily lives.

Maisy and Moby also demonstrated their very different personalities when their harnesses were on compared to when they were off, showing how clearly, they understand their working roles. It was evident to the class just how motivated they are by food, which helps explain why Labradors are particularly well suited to training through positive reinforcement.

ELC - Cooking

Our ELC students practised reading instructions, following a recipe and cooking Anzac biscuits.

They enjoyed making them as well as eating them! This was an engaging lesson on Australian Culture and Food Studies. Thanks to Melanie Van Twest for helping us.

Interact Club

From Food Donation Drive to Autumn Stalls Charity Fundraiser

During Term 2, Keysborough College once again participated in a Canned Food Donation Drive to support the Kingston Salvation Army and help families in need within our local community.

While we have not yet collected a large number of donations, there is still time to contribute. As you clean up and organise items during the upcoming holidays, please consider donating non-perishable food items. Our donation boxes will remain available until Week 3 of Term 3, and every donation is greatly appreciated.

We also held our Autumn Stalls Charity Fundraiser on Monday 25th May during Week 6. The event featured a Spin the Wheel, Candy Salad, Free Face Painting, and a Photobooth, providing students with a fun opportunity to get involved while supporting a good cause.

Our Interact Club members spent several weeks planning and preparing for the event.

Thanks to the support of students and staff, the stalls were a great success, and we were able to donate to the Cancer Council.

We would like to thank everyone who supported our fundraising efforts and helped make the day enjoyable for our school community. We look forward to bringing more exciting and fun events to the college in Term 3.

New members are welcome to join Interact Club at any time. We hope to see some new faces in Semester 2 at our meetings every Thursday at lunchtime in 113.

Thank you for your continued support! 🌟

Lincy Dua

Interact Club President

Banksia Wellbeing

IDAHOBIT Day

Our school proudly celebrated IDAHOBIT Day by promoting inclusion, respect and diversity within our community. Students enjoyed getting temporary tattoos, entering giveaway prize draws and guessing the number of lollies in the lolly jar throughout the day. It was wonderful to see students coming together to show support and help create a safe and welcoming environment for everyone.

Youth Leadership and Business Summit

Congratulations to Acacia’s Gus Zulli and Banksia’s Savannah Misa, who have both been successful in their applications for the Youth Leadership & Business Summit.

The five-day Summit, held during the July school holidays, will provide students with a unique opportunity to further develop their leadership skills, learn from experienced business leaders, and network with other aspiring young leaders from across the state.

As part of this achievement, Gus and Savannah recently attended the Annual Grants Evening, where they were formally presented with their scholarships and recognised for their outstanding efforts and commitment. The evening provided a wonderful opportunity to celebrate their achievements alongside family members, staff, and the wider community.\

We are incredibly proud of both students for this fantastic accomplishment and look forward to hearing about their experiences and learning from the Summit. We wish Gus and Savannah all the very best as they take part in this exciting opportunity.

Men's Health Week Students vs Teachers Basketball Match 🏀

To celebrate Men's Health Week, the Wellbeing Team organised a friendly Students vs Teachers basketball match, bringing together staff and students for an afternoon of fun, connection, and healthy competition.

The game was a spirited contest from start to finish, with both teams giving it their all on the court. In an exciting and closely fought match, the teachers narrowly secured victory with a final score of 29–27, proving that experience still has its advantages!

Beyond the final score, the event was a wonderful opportunity to promote the key messages of Men's Health Week, including the importance of staying active, maintaining positive relationships, and looking after both our physical and mental wellbeing. The match was enjoyed by players and spectators alike and was a fantastic example of our school community coming together in support of health and wellbeing.

Congratulations to all students and staff who participated and helped make the event such a success.

Riteman excursion

Thursday 18th, the young men from the Riteman group enjoyed an exciting excursion to Le Mans Entertainment Dandenong, where they took part in a fun-filled day of go-karting and social connection. The outing provided a great opportunity for everyone to get out and about, enjoy some friendly competition, and build stronger relationships in a relaxed and enjoyable environment. There were plenty of smiles, laughter, and memorable moments throughout the day, making it a successful and rewarding experience for all involved. The group returned with great stories to share and is already looking forward to the next adventure.

Divergent Drama

Divergent Drama is a free 9‑week drama program for neurodivergent young people aged 12–18. The program is designed to support participants to build confidence, develop social connections, and express their experiences in a safe and inclusive environment.

Throughout the program, participants will take part in structured theatre-based activities and skill-building exercises, working towards creating a short performance piece that reflects their own story. The program concludes with a low-pressure celebration night, where filmed performances are shared with family and friends.

Program details:• When: Wednesdays, 22 July – 16 September 2026 (Term 3)• Location: Dandenong• Time: 4:30pm – 6:30pm• Ages: 12–18 years• Cost: Free

Eligibility:• Aged 12–18 years (primary students not eligible)• Live, study, work, or have a connection to the City of Greater Dandenong• Identify as neurodivergent (please note: a formal diagnosis is not required)• Able to participate independently in weekly 2-hour sessions• Interested in creative expression and storytelling

Please feel free to get in touch if you’d like to discuss whether this program might be suitable for particular students and find out more information using this link: Divergent Drama | Greater Dandenong Council.

Acacia Wellbeing

Breakfast Club

Join the wellbeing team Monday Wednesday and Friday in the café for a free breakfast and a great start to your day!

🍳 Bacon, egg and beans every Friday

🍎 Fruit cups, whole fruits, and cereals available Monday, Wednesday and Friday

Feeding the GAT

At both our Acacia and Banksia campuses the wellbeing teams were hard at work in the kitchen making well over 200 cheese toasties and providing a spread of for our year 11s and 12s sitting the GAT. Congratulations to al students who completed the gat we hope the toasties, chocolate and fruit provided you all with a pick me up during your break.

Operation new start

The wellbeing teams at our acacia campus would like to highlight and congratulate banksia year 10 student Zara garth and year 9 acacia student Hakim Maricar on completing operation New start for term 2, both students participated in a wide variety of activities such as surfing, horse riding, camping and firefighting activities both students represented the college to a really high standard.

Africa day

On Monday the 25th May we celebrated Africa week by having a big lunchtime event at our acacia campus with students getting to try beautiful African cuisine with students getting to taste some plantains and puff puff (African dough balls) and live performances from Soli tesema and the tapped in podcast with students getting to make their own Africa day merch and patriciate in the recording of the tapped in podcast the students had an amazing day celebrating African culture.

Melbourne victory soccer engagement program

Keysborough college have partnered with Melbourne best A league team Melbourne victory to run a soccer engagement program the program targets students who may be disengaged with school and allows students to learn about life skills such as resilience.

Myuna farm

The acacia wellbeing team would like to highlight Year 8 student Nur Gul who recently completed the Myuna farm program Naur participated in an extensive program that including veterinary rounds, farm skills/work, gym/boxing training as well as work related courses such as CPR training and a barista training course congratulations Naur!

How to make a referral for wellbeing

if you would like to make a referral to see wellbeing or you’re the parent of a student who you think might need some extra support you can make a referral via the intranet by clicking on the “doctors and wellbeing tab”

Uniform

For students needing uniform State Schools’ Relief (SSR) vouchers are available! For more information, please visit the Wellbeing office and speak with Casey or speak with your year level leaders who will be happy to help. Please allow some time as this time of year we have more uniform requests as it heads into winter.

Art Week 2026 Celebrates Creativity Across Campus

From May 25th to 29th, Keysborough Secondary College's Art Week brought colour, creativity, and celebration to both Banksia and Acacia campuses. The week showcased the vital role the arts play in our curriculum and everyday lives, with a fantastic range of activities engaging students and staff alike.

Throughout the week, students enjoyed lunchtime competitions and activities, live musical performances, and vibrant mural paintings that transformed our spaces. The highlight activities included badge making, chalk art displays, art and photography competitions, wearable art showcases, and a spirited teacher versus student drawing competition that had everyone cheering.

We extend our sincere thanks to all staff and students who participated in and contributed to the success of Art Week. Your creativity, enthusiasm, and support made this celebration truly special and reminded us all of the power of artistic expression in our school community.

Please join and follow our Art and Technology Instagram page kcat_keysboroughsc for more photos and to keep up to date with the amazing work that our students create.

Filomena Henderson

Art Learning Assistant

Keysborough College Newsletter

RESPECT EXCELLENCE DIVERSITY

Issue 4 · 26 Jun 2026

In this issue