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 1 Dates

2 April: Free Dress Day (Gold coin donation to Support the Royal Children's Hospital Good Friday Appeal)

2 April: Easter Hat Parade (1:30-2:15pm on basketball court)

2 April: Last Day Term 1 (2:30pm dismissal)

Term 2 Dates

20 April: Start Term 2

27 April-1 May: Year 1 & 2 Swimming

28 April: House Cross Country (all Year 3-6 students)

4-8 May: Year 4 Swimming

8 May: Mother's Day Morning

15 May: 2026 Colour Run (whole school even

20 May: Grandparents and Special Friends Day (9:50am-11:00am)

8 June: King's Birthday Public Holiday

17 June: Celebration of Leraning & Book Fair (4:30-6:00pm)

26 June: Last Day Term 2 (2:30pm dismissal)

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL - EASTER HAT PARADE

A reminder that we finish on Thursday at 2:30 pm. We are looking forward to holding our Easter Hat Parade on the blue basketball courts from 1:30-2:15 pm. Look forward to seeing the school community coming together to finish the term on a high.

STEM Leaders Announced

Congratulations to the following Year 6 students who applied for and have been selected as part of our team of Year 6 STEM Leaders:

Audery O, Anna C, Thea M, Anthea C, Hana K, Ailie Z, Xaden C, Kyra G, Hugo S, Clarisse W, Emma L and Saoirse M

All of these students were required to submit a formal written application, outlining their passion for STEM and motivations for seeking a leadership opportunity. We'll look forward to supporting this wonderful team of students as they look to further promote and engage students in STEM-based intitiatives!

Living Ripples: Parent Wellbeing & Resilience Survey (final reminder)

Student resilience, mental health and wellbeing are key factors to ensure a happy and fulfilling future for our young people.

We are partnering with Living Ripples to help support the wellbeing of young people in schools.

We are wanting as many parents as possible to also complete the survey so that we can create an action plan to improve the wellbeing of our students. The survey questions, organised into nine focus areas that underpin resilience and wellbeing include friendship and family, school, bullying, mental wellbeing, caring, hopeful attitudes, reflective attitudes and healthy choices.

The survey access information is:

Survey Link: https://lr.resilientyouth.org/

Parent Access Code: 404827

Tai Chi Program: Year 3 Presentation

Please see below for photos from this week’s Year 3 Tai Chi family presentation. Our students, led by Tai Chi Master Han Jin Song, put on a wonderful display for parents and family members—many of whom were also brave enough to join in for the final demonstration.

INCURSION: Scott Darlow

Last week, we welcomed Scott Darlow, a Yorta Yorta singer, songwriter, public speaker and educator, to Milgate Primary School to work with both our students and staff.

In year level groups, Scott ran workshops with students and staff across the day to deepen our understanding of Australia’s shared history and to strengthen our commitment to respectful relationships and reconciliation. Through music, storytelling and discussion, Scott presented age-appropriate sessions that explored Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and perspectives in a thoughtful and balanced way.

One of Scott's key messages was that regardless of our background, we all have the right to be respected and celebrated as Australians.

In addition to this, Scott's sessions focused on understanding, respect, and the importance of learning from history to build a more inclusive future for all Australians.

This visit from Scott Darlow supports our school's commitment to educating students about Australia’s history in a way that promotes empathy, critical thinking and reconciliation, while honouring the many stories that shape our nation.

INDUSTRIAL STRIKE ACTION: Thank you to the Milgate Community

On behalf of all staff, we would like to sincerely thank the Milgate community for your support during the recent industrial action. With 20 staff participating in the strike, the majority of families chose to keep their children at home, which made a significant difference to the school both operationally and logistically.

We also feel it is important to acknowledge that staff who participate in industrial action do so at personal cost, including the loss of a day’s pay at a time when cost-of-living pressures are high.

This action is ultimately about strengthening the profession. Improved pay and conditions for teachers are closely linked to better educational outcomes for students. They also play a critical role in retaining experienced educators and attracting high-quality candidates into the profession.

NEW SCHOOL UNIFORM ITEMS

With winter fast approaching, School Council has given approval for the introduction of a new Milgate school hoodie (see design below). The design and samples have been shared with students via the Junior School Council leaders and pending feedback; the hoodie will be available from our uniform shop within the next couple of months. The hoodie will not replace the existing bomber jacket, and the pricing will be similar at around $50-55. It is also important to note that an updated bucket hat, made from a more breathable and durable material, will also be introduced in the coming months.

2026 COLOUR RUN

Milgate Primary School is running an exciting Colour Run online Fundraiser. Our students are seeking online sponsorship for their participation and efforts on Friday 15th May for our school Colour Run. Funds raised through our Colour Run will support the continued redevelopment of our school’s learning, play, and outdoor spaces, helping to create engaging, inclusive, and inspiring environments for all students.

How will this fundraiser work?

We are using an online fundraising company called Go Raise It. Collecting sponsorship online makes it super easy for everyone - no more door knocking, your child can collect more donations from further afield (friends and family living overseas, work colleagues etc.) and no need to worry about handling all that cash.

How do I sign my child up to fundraise online? Each child can sign up for their very own fundraising web page to send out to collect online sponsorship from anyone, anywhere!

Just go to our Fundraising Hub page at: https://milgateprimarycolourrun.goraiseit.com.au/
Click on the SETUP A FUNDRAISING PAGE button. If you need any help, email help@raiseitfundraising.com for direct assistance

Multiple children in your family? No problem, all children can sit under the same email address. You’ll find a button to set up another page while logged in to the fundraising account you created first.

Do I have to sign up for an online account to fundraise? Yes. Go Raise It adheres to strict cyber-safe guidelines and this is built into their fundraising website.

Prizes:

We have a great range of fundraising prizes available including spot prizes and overall fundraising prizes for classes and individuals.

Sign up by 10am 10th April to go in the draw to win a Karaoke Microphone or an Electronic Drawing Pad!

Sign up by 10 am 17th April and get at least one donation to go in the draw to win a Handheld Retro Gaming Console or a Wireless Rainbow Lights Speaker!

Individual prizes: The students who raise the most money will receive:

1st prize - $150 Kmart voucher

2nd prize - $100 Kmart voucher

3rd prize - $50 Kmart voucher

4th -10th prize - $20 Kmart voucher

Class prizes: The class that raises the most money will receive:

1st prize – Movie, pizza lunch and an extra 15 minutes of playtime

2nd prize – Pizza lunch and an extra 15 minutes of playtime

3rd prize – Icy pole and an extra 15 minutes of playtime

Also, an Icy pole for the class that has all students registered on the website first.

Dunk the Principals:

The first 10 individual prize winners and the House Leaders of the winning House will get to ‘Dunk the Principals’ at a special whole school assembly. The winner is the House that has run the most laps at the Colour run.

Fun Run Date:

Friday 15th May on the bottom oval – Year levels will participate at different times throughout the afternoon.

Volunteers Needed:

We need several parent volunteers to help us run the activities during the day. If you can volunteer, please sign up here.

More details to follow closer to the time.

Thank you for your support and we look forward to a fun day!

INTRODUCING OUR 2026 SCHOOL COUNCIL

The School Council plays a vital role in shaping the direction of our school, supporting school leadership, and ensuring our school continues to provide the best possible learning environment for all students. The Council works in partnership with the Principal to set policies, approve budgets, and contribute to long-term planning and improvement.

We’re pleased to introduce our 2026 School Council parent members:

Georgette Godbolt – School Council President
Hala Allabadi – Vice President
Ishu Gupta – Treasurer
Rebecca James, Joe Stramandinoli, John Lin, Irene Lee (newly elected) and Phil Liu (newly elected)

School Representatives:

Marcus Wicher – Executive Officer
David Mander, Jayde Williams, Marlena Halkas – Staff Representatives

We thank all members for their time, dedication, and commitment to our school community!

Heartfelt thanks are also extended to Tony Pollock who, after the AGM on Tuesday, officially stepped down from his role as School Council President.

Extra-Curricular Activities

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES