Campus Principal Report

The end of the school year brings many opportunities for celebration and for reflection. Students have completed their 2023 formal studies and have commenced Headstart- which is the beginning of their 2024 classes and subjects. We continue to be amazed by our incredible students as they demonstrate strength, skills and enormous talent in a range of areas. If you had the opportunity to attend either our Year 12 Graduation Ceremony at Robert Blackwood Hall in Monash University or the Year 7-11 Presentation Evening at the Drum Theatre in Dandenong, you would witness the tremendous pride we have for our students as we honoured them and paid recognition for demonstrating excellence through academic, sporting, artistic or interpersonal attributes.

Year 12 VCE results have been released and our students have again achieved some amazing results. Year 12 students are invited back to school to have further discussions with our Careers and Pathways Managers to review and reflect on the pathways options they have previously chosen and to possibly add in any new course options they may have reconsidered. It is a time of celebration and reflection for our Graduate Year 12 class as they can finally appreciate the rewards of their hard work and effort throughout the year with their results. However they also need to take some time to analyse their options and seek guidance and professional support about the options available to them. Students will be excitedly waiting for the first round of offers through VTAC for Victorian universities, TAFE institutes, and independent tertiary colleges on 21st December. This can again be a stressful time for them as subsequent tertiary study offers can occur from 12th January through to 20th February next year. 

In addition to celebrating outstanding achievements in school work, our students are recognised each and every day for demonstrating our other College values of Respect and Diversity. We are uniquely lucky to be able to witness our students demonstrate daily acts of human kindness and positive behaviours. Our students demonstrate generosity, compassion, kindness, leadership and advocacy for each other and for those in the community on a regular basis and it is during these times that it is important for us to be reflective. It is sometimes easy to lose sight of the ‘little things’ or small acts that make big differences. This is particularly significant when we are busy focusing on our final Presentation Evenings and final Campus Assemblies where we are honouring our new student leadership teams. 

It is extremely reassuring and inspiring to see that our students do not  lose sight of our respect and diversity values. We have senior students returning to the College to assist our Junior Students in their House Activities Day, on STEM Girls Day our current STEM students work with Female Primary School students to inspire them to look at courses and careers in Science, Technology and Engineering. Many of our current students offer to support and buddy our Primary school students who have been attending a range of different programs at the school in the process of improving their transition next year. 

Our students not only build positive connections with each other at school, but many of our students volunteer outside of school in a range of community support groups. When we hear about how they support others in the community and give back, we know we are doing something right. We want to continue to ensure that Keysborough College students are seen in the community and recognised for their unconditional respect. This is a value we hold with high regard and we remind our community to ensure they continue to do the same.

We want to thank School Council, all our students, their families and our staff for their commitment to ongoing learning growth and the positive culture we have. 

Finally we wish to pay our respects and thank John Baston for his leadership of the College for the past 9 years. Our Campus Captains farewelled him at our final assemblies and they couldn’t have said it any better; “

“This is a very significant assembly for Mr Baston and for our College because this will be his last address to us as the College Principal. On behalf of the students at the College, we would like to thank you for your leadership. For the past 9 years you have maintained a constant focus on creating a school culture that promotes learning and respect. The respect you showed to each one of us and your willingness and eagerness to involve us in decision making and your dedication towards making this school a better place will remain forever. You have shown us that with hard work and dedication, we can reach great heights. We promise to uphold the values you’ve instilled in us and continue to make our school proud. Your journey here may be ending, but your influence on our lives will not. You have prepared us for the future and we are forever grateful. Thank you for everything. May the next phase of your life be filled with happiness, good health and endless adventures”.

We wish you all a safe and restful holiday period and look forward to sharing more of the amazing things that happen at Keysborough College in 2024. 

Robyn Hughes and Richard Hastings

Campus Principals

Acacia and Banksia Campus