PRINCIPAL'S REPORT
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.
YEAR 3 CAMP
The Year 3 students had an unforgettable experience at camp this week, where they not only developed important life skills like resilience and teamwork but also had a blast with some exciting activities. The giant swing was a huge hit, with students eagerly taking turns to soar through the air, overcoming their fears and cheering each other on. Hut building was another favourite, as they collaborated to create sturdy shelters, learning the value of cooperation and creativity. The camp was filled with fun, laughter, and personal growth, leaving the students with memories they'll cherish for a long time. A huge thank you to James Will for organising and attending the camp, the dedicated teachers for their hard work, and the wonderful parent helpers for their invaluable support in making this experience so memorable for our Year 3 students.
COUNSELLING SERVICES AT MILGATE PRIMARY SCHOOL
We are very fortunate to have Alexa Kambouropoulo offering counselling for students at Milgate Primary School If you would like your child to access the services of the psychologist then please contact Kate Mancarella or Jayde Williams and they can send you through the referral form. You will also need to obtain a Mental Health Plan from the GP.
Dr Alexa Kambouropoulo holds a Ph.D. in Psychology. Alexa is a passionate and empathic psychologist who works with both children and adolescents who are experiencing a range of psychological issues such as anxiety and mood disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorders, interpersonal, learning and behavioural disorders, exam stress, self-harming and adjustment difficulties (social & situational). Dr Alexa employs psychological techniques such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, client-centred and solution-focused therapy with psycho-education. Dr Alexa firmly believes that a collaborative and parental partnership approach will produce the most successful outcomes for a child.
FREE WEBINAR
We have had the privilege of working with the I CAN Network this year to enhance our inclusive practices. They are offering a free webinar aimed at empowering Autistic Grade 6s who are about to enter the transition to high school phase. Please see the information below:
Is your Autistic young person starting high school in 2025?
Join us for a free, online TRANSITION TO HIGH SCHOOL webinar on September 10th.
Our Autistic mentors know what it feels like to be that Year 6 student on the verge of transitioning to high school and navigating those early days of Year 7.
Join our Founder/CEO Chris Varney as he hosts a panel of young Autistic adults who will share their successes, setbacks, insights, tips and strategies for a positive high school transitioning experience.
This event will be valuable for young people, their families, their teachers and anyone who is keen to learn from Autistic lived experience.
Date: Tuesday, September 10th
Time: 6:00 - 6:30pm AEST
Register (FREE): https://www.eventbrite.com.au/.../surviving-and-thriving...
LANGUAGE ARTS UPDATE
Book Week 2024
Today, Milgate Primary School officially launched Book Week which we are celebrating from 23rd- 30th August. This year’s book week theme is ‘Reading is Magic’, celebrating the joys of reading. As a community, book week allows us to come together to celebrate our love of reading, promote literacy and the profound impact books have on all ages.
Next week the celebrations continue with parents volunteering their time to come and read books in their first language during lunchtime as well as author visits from Andrea Rowe and Coral Vass.
Book Week Parade
What an amazing display of colour, creativity and imagination our students and staff proudly showcased during our annual book week parade. The creative reuse of items demonstrated our commitment to sustainable practices in a fun and engaging way. The parade was a vibrant display of much-loved characters from our favourite fairy tales and novels that captured the essence of our commitment and love of literature at Milgate.
Thank you to all those parents and guardians who joined us today to celebrate.
Year 5 | Slam Poetry
At the Year 5 Slam Poetry exhibition, students showcased their incredible talent by presenting a diverse array of poems, each unique in theme, content, and rhythm. The event was a celebration of creativity, with students expressing themselves through powerful words and dynamic performances. From heartfelt reflections to humorous anecdotes, every poem captivated the audience, leaving a lasting impression. With such remarkable talent on display, it wouldn’t be surprising to see many future authors, poets, and performers emerging from MPS.
Writer’s Workshop
Our students have been exploring a diverse range of themes, text features, craft and processes in their current Language Arts units. They have been exploring their creativity, and developing their self-management and critical thinking skills. Through the process of brainstorming and planning, drafting and developing content, revising through review and peer feedback, editing and reflecting on their process and achieving personal goals.
In our Foundation All About Books unit, students are engaging in exploration about different features of these texts. They are discovering that they are experts who can share information that they know a lot about with an audience.
Our Year 1 Poetry unit has been a celebration of self-expression and reflection and is connected to our How we express ourselves unit. Students are developing their communication skills as they explore how poetry can express emotions and ideas in a multitude of ways, linking their creations to the focus on personal self-expression.
The Year 2 Imaginative Retelling unit has provided students with opportunities to reimagine classic tales through their unique lenses. This creative process is aligned with the Level 2 English Victorian Curriculum learning outcomes. It deepens our students' appreciation of storytelling and understanding how narratives can be adapted to convey new meanings and new perspectives.
In the Year 3 Scientific Investigations unit, students are learning to communicate their findings with clarity and precision connected to their How the world works unit of inquiry. This unit emphasises the connection between language arts and science. Students learn to communicate scientific concepts and findings effectively, integrating their writing with scientific inquiry. This transdisciplinary approach enhances their understanding of the scientific method while developing their ability to articulate and communicate more complex ideas about science.
The Year 4 Independent Genre Study encourages students to explore a variety of genres and develop a deeper understanding of different literary forms. This unit also supports students as active agents in their learning who can choose their own genres and strengthen their ability to read like writers. By applying their ability to notice and try out in the genre of their choosing, this unit pulls together all the skills and techniques writers use to create pieces of writing.
Our Year 5 students are exploring the power of opinions through the How Writers Share Opinions Through Reviews unit. Students are open-minded as they learn to consider others' opinions and form their own to share in a clear and concise way. They analyse how reviews can influence public perception and decision-making, integrating their writing with critical thinking skills. Students explore various review formats, from book and movie reviews to product evaluations, connecting their insights with media literacy and persuasive communication.
In the Year 6 Advertising Unit, students are analysing how advertisements persuade and inform. They are applying their understanding of language to create their own advertisements, linking this to the understanding of the impact and influence of the media and communication. Our students are not only developing strong language skills but also engaging deeply with reflection, and global awareness.
We are so inspired by our students as they engage with the learning through these units and develop their writing skills in creative and meaningful ways!
New Children’s Books
Sky Country by Aunty Patsy Cameron, and illustrated by Lisa Kennedy
'With our grandmother we walk all the way to the peak of the mountain. Cold wind blows through our hair.
"Yah Melaythenner, Peulinghenar," Grandmother calls. Hello Country. Greetings.
We hear whispering and we listen with all our ears.'
An ancient story of creation that describes two Ancestral Beings who came down from the Milky Way to create the Trouwerner (Tasmanian) landscape.
Using some traditional language, this extraordinary children's picture book, filled with stunning illustrations, retells a captivating Ancestral memory dating back to the Ice Age - a period of time when Trouwerner was joined to the Australian mainland. Join Aunty Patsy Cameron as she generously shares the creation story of Trouwerner Country and its people. (Readings, 2024)
What Stars Are For by Margeaux Davis
Henry spends his nights exploring the world alone and wondering one thing: what are stars for?
One morning, he decides to come out of his shell and ask someone.
Can Henry find the answer to his question and make a friend?
From Margeaux Davis comes a moving story about curiosity, overcoming your fears and finding friendship. (Readings, 2024)
ABC Disability by Sarah Rose, Alley Pascoe, and illustrated by Rebecca Feiner
From three-time Paralympian swimmer, medal-winner and disability advocate Sarah Rose, comes a big-hearted guide to disability, full of letters, learnings and laughs from a disabled person to you.
ABC Disability is an A to Z of celebrating what makes each of us unique, featuring bold, brightly coloured artwork by award-winning illustrator Beck Feiner - including the Auslan sign for each letter of the alphabet. (Readings, 2024)