ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY

Milgate Primary School would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land of the Wurundjeri People, and we would like to pay our respects to the elders both past and present. Staff, students and the school community understand that we thrive, learn and live on Wurundjeri Country and we stand with all cultures united as one.

Term 2 Dates

26 June: Last Day Term 2 (2:30pm dismissal) also Free dress, gold coin donation to WWF

Term 3 Dates

13th July: School returns for term 3

FIRST NATIONS SPOTLIGHT

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that the following document contains images, names and information of deceased persons.

End of Term 2!

This will be the final newsletter for the term. We wish all students, families and staff a safe, restful and enjoyable holiday break.

As a reminder, there will be a Free Dress Day on the final day of term, Friday 26 June, with students invited to bring a gold coin donation in support of endangered species around the world through WWF-Australia.

We look forward to an exciting Semester 2, which will include a range of wonderful events and opportunities for students, including camps, the Art Show, School Disco, swimming programs, transition activities, Graduation, and much more.

Thank you for your ongoing support throughout the term. It has been a wonderful semester of learning, growth and community connection. We look forward to welcoming everyone back refreshed and ready for another fantastic semester at Milgate.

We look forward to an exciting Semester 2 ahead, which will include a range of wonderful events and opportunities such as camps, the Art Show, School Disco, transition programs, Graduation, swimming programs, and much more.

Thank you for your ongoing support throughout the term. We look forward to welcoming everyone back refreshed and ready for a fantastic Semester 2.

Celebration of Learning Night

Our Celebration of Learning Night on Wednesday was a wonderful success, bringing together students, families, and staff to share in the achievements and learning taking place across the school.

The evening provided an opportunity for students to proudly showcase their work, talk about their learning journey, and celebrate the progress they have made throughout the year. Classrooms and shared spaces were filled with energy, pride, and engagement as students guided their families through a range of learning activities and displays.

A highlight of the evening was the outstanding performances from our Buskers, Rock Band and Choir, which showcased the talent, dedication, and enthusiasm of our students. The Book Fair was also a great success, with many families enjoying the opportunity to explore and purchase books, helping to further promote a love of reading.

We extend our sincere thanks to Performing Arts teachers Odette and Warwick for their leadership of the Rock Band and Choir, and to Librarian Stacey for her work in coordinating the Book Fair.

It was fantastic to see such strong attendance and support from our school community. Events like this highlight the importance of the partnership between home and school in supporting student growth and success.

We thank all staff, students, and families for their contribution to a memorable evening and look forward to continuing to celebrate learning together throughout the year.

Foundation Enrolments 2027

A friendly reminder to families with younger siblings who will be starting Foundation in 2027 to please submit an enrolment application by Friday 31 July 2026.

Over the past three years the DET introduced an enrolment management plan with student numbers over 800. The enrolment management plan achieved its intended goal of reducing numbers. Given that we have built capacity over 800, the department has removed our enrolment management plan and as such we warmly welcome inside and outside of zone families to book a tour HERE. Enrolments for 2027 school year are now open and we warmly encourage you to book a school tour.

Applications can be completed online using the Department of Education enrolment portal via the link below: https://students.educationapps.vic.gov.au/s/

For further information about enrolling in Foundation, including the enrolment timeline and process, please download the Foundation Enrolment Information Pack from the Victorian Government website: https://www.vic.gov.au/enrolling-foundation-prep

If you have any questions regarding sibling enrolments, please contact the school office via email at milgate.ps@education.edu.au

Year 4 Tai Chi Celebration

On Wednesday last week, our Year 4 students proudly shared their learning through a special Tai Chi celebration.

It was wonderful to see so many parents and staff in attendance, joining in to support and experience the students’ performance. The event highlighted the calm focus, coordination, and commitment the students have developed through their Tai Chi practice.

We extend our sincere thanks to Teacher Song and our Mandarin Tai Chi teacher May-Sem for their outstanding work in preparing the students. Their guidance and dedication have supported students to develop not only their physical skills, but also their confidence and appreciation of this cultural practice.

It was a fantastic celebration of learning, and we thank all families and staff who attended and supported the event.

Colour Run Celebration Day - Dunk the Principals

Our Colour Run Celebration Assembly was a fantastic way to celebrate the efforts of all participants and recognise the incredible support shown by our school community throughout the fundraiser. At the Assembly, we acknowledged our top fundraisers and House winners and celebrated the outstanding effort shown across the school.

A special highlight of the day was our reward event, where students had the opportunity to dunk Marcus, Jayde and Dave, creating plenty of excitement, laughter, and memorable moments for everyone involved!

A huge thank you to our school community for the incredible support and generosity shown throughout the Colour Run. Thanks to your efforts, we raised valuable funds that will contribute towards continuing to improve our learning, play and outdoor spaces, including future school projects and improvements across the grounds.

It was a fantastic opportunity to come together, celebrate, and support a great cause. Thank you to everyone who helped make the event such a tremendous success!

Soccer goals and podcasting equipment

We are excited to announce the purchase of new soccer goals for our synthetic soccer pitch, along with podcasting equipment for our Year 6 SCR@M Leaders to record the school podcast (SCR@M - School Community Radio @ Milgate).

If you would like to have a listen to the incredible work from the students, please select the link below:

Our SCR@M Leaders have already been busy learning how to use the new equipment and are excited to begin recording new episodes for our school community.

A special thank you once again to our school community for your incredible support and fundraising efforts through the Colour Run. Your generosity has helped make these exciting additions possible and will create valuable opportunities for students to connect, create and enjoy new experiences at school.

Year 1 MiniBoss Incursion

This week the Year 1 students engaged their critical thinking skills as they worked in teams to create an arcade game. As part of our inquiry into How the world works, students collaboratively designed and made their games with reusable materials. They tested their creations and improved their designs.

2026 ICAS Competition Assessments

Milgate Primary School is pleased to offer students the opportunity to participate in the ICAS academic competitions this year.

ICAS provides students with the opportunity to challenge their higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills in a range of subject areas, including English, Mathematics, Science, Writing, Spelling Bee and Digital Technologies.

Full details, including available assessments, sitting dates, costs, registration instructions, privacy information and the closing date for registrations, are included in the attached letter.

Please note that registration closes on Monday 27 July at 11:59pm.

*Please note, there are no ICAS assessments available for Foundation and Year 1.

School Sport Victoria - Acknowledging James and Emily’s contributions

We are proud to acknowledge and celebrate the recent recognition of two of our Physical Education staff members by School Sport Victoria.

James has been acknowledged for 20 years of service, and Emily for 10 years of service. This is a wonderful achievement and reflects their long-standing commitment to School Sport Victoria, physical education, and the broader school sporting community.

Both James and Emily have made valuable contributions not only to SSV, but also to the health, wellbeing, and sporting opportunities of students at Milgate Primary School. Their dedication, energy, and passion for sport continue to have a positive impact on student participation and enjoyment of physical activity.

It is lovely to see their service and contributions recognised in this way, and we thank them for the significant role they play in our school community.

Staff Update – Jason Hunt - Year 6 Teacher

We would like to inform our school community that Jason Hunt will be taking leave during Semester 2 to take up a teaching opportunity at another school.

We sincerely thank Jason for his contribution to Milgate and the positive impact he has made during his time with us. We wish him all the very best as he takes on this new opportunity and continues his professional journey.

Jason will be greatly missed by students and staff alike, and we hope to see him return to Milgate at some stage in the future.

Reports

Student Achievement Reports for Semester 1 will be accessible via Compass to families on Thursday 25 June.

The reports will continue to provide important information about student learning and achievement. However, as a result of industrial action taken earlier this term by the Australian Education Union, full descriptive comments and the effort and behaviour scale may not be included in all reports.

We value the opportunity to discuss your child’s progress and look forward to meeting with families during our parent-teacher interviews in Week 2 Term 3. As always, if you have any questions or would like to discuss your child’s learning, please contact your child’s classroom teacher.

Junior School Council Fundraiser for Endangered Animals

Next week, our Junior School Council will be raising money to support endangered animals. From Tuesday to Friday, students will be running stalls at recess and lunch, selling bookmarks and bracelets. Items will be available for $1 and $2, with all proceeds going to charity. We will also have students going to classes to help spread awareness and education their fellow students.

To finish the week, we will also hold an animal-themed dress-up day on Friday. Students are encouraged to come dressed as their favourite animal and bring a gold coin donation.

We thank our Junior School Council for their leadership and our school community for supporting this important cause.

Individual Parent / Teacher Interviews – Term 3, Week 2

Parent-Teacher Interviews will be held during Term 3, Week 2 and provide an opportunity for teachers and parents/carers to reflect on student learning from Semester 1 and discuss learning goals and expectations for the remainder of the year.

Bookings will be available through Compass before the end of term. Further information regarding interview times and booking details will be shared with families via Compass.

ICAS Assessments

Milgate Primary School is pleased to offer students in Years 2 to 6 the opportunity to participate in the ICAS academic competitions this year.

ICAS provides students with the opportunity to challenge their higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills in a range of subject areas, including English, Mathematics, Science, Writing, Spelling Bee and Digital Technologies.

Please check Compass and next week’s Parent Communication Update for information on how to register your child.

Once registration is closed, we will send out the specific dates and times the assessments will be held.

Extra-Curricular Activities for Term 3

Our Extra-Curricular Activities for Term 3 are now taking enrolments.

If you are interested in enrolling your child, please visit our website:

https://milgateps.vic.edu.au/community/#extra

Lunchtime activities include:

-Jazz Dance

-Tennis

-Choir-Years 1–6 (school-run, no booking required)

Before-school activities include:

-Tennis

After-school activities include:

-Creative Writing

-Science

-Drama

-STEM LEGO Robotics

-Chess

-Art Club

-Code Camp

Instrumental Music Program:

-Junior Rockers

PNF Trivia Night Donations & Volunteers Wanted

With our upcoming Trivia Night on Saturday, 1st August, we are seeking donations from parents, carers, families, and local businesses to help make the event a success.

Donations can be in the form of an item, voucher, service, or monetary contribution-no matter how big or small. These generous donations will be used for prizes, silent auctions, and raffle items on the night.

The more donations we receive, the more funds we can raise for our school community. Every contribution is greatly appreciated and will help make a meaningful difference.

Businesses that donate will receive valuable exposure within our school community and will be recognised through event signage, the school newsletter, and our Facebook page.

In addition to donations, we are also seeking volunteers to help make this event a success. If you have some time to spare, we would love assistance with organising and creating visual displays for auction items, typing up auction sheets, designing fun 80s-themed table numbers, and helping with other tasks in the lead-up to the event.

Even if you're unable to attend on the night, there are still plenty of ways to get involved and support our school's success.

If you would like to donate, volunteer for one task or several, your support would be greatly appreciated.

Please get in touch with the P&F Committee via email at milgate.pf@gmail.com.

Donations can also be dropped off at the school office.

Thank you for your support and generosity. We look forward to a fantastic evening together!

First Nations Spotlight

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that the following document contains images, names and information of deceased persons.

NAIDOC Week

NAIDOC week is from the 5th of July to the 12th of July. This week is dedicated to celebrating and recognising the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

This year the theme is “50 Years of Deadly.”

There are many events on during this time and more information on the NAIDOC website.

https://www.naidoc.org.au/

Wellbeing @ Milgate