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.
BOOK FAIR | LAST CHANCE!
The Book Fair's closing time is set for the end of May 14th.
- The Book Fair will be open 8:30am-3:45pm Monday to Friday
- Students will be able to purchase books during their Library sessions
- Parents will be able to purchase books before and after school
YEAR 3 SWIMMING
This week, the Year 3 students had the opportunity to take their learning outside the classroom and into Aquarena Aquatic Centre. The students focused on fundamental swimming techniques such as floating, kicking, and various strokes. They also built their understanding of essential water safety measures, such as how to call for help.
It was great to see the students use their risk-taker learner profile to be able refine their swimming craft and build their confidence in water. The Year 3 teachers would like to thank all the parent helpers who supported the swimming program.
FOUNDATION | FAIRY TALE INCURSION
On Monday, as part of our ‘How we express ourselves’ unit of inquiry, the Foundation students had their very first incursion! The students were immersed in telling the story of a ‘Fairy Tale Fiasco’. They had the opportunity to use costumes, sound effects and music to creatively retell a story. The students loved dressing up as dragons, mice, wizards and wolves and had lots of fun!
OPEN WEEK
This week at Milgate Primary School has been filled with wonderful opportunities to invite our community into our learning journey. From welcoming mothers, grandparents, and special friends to engaging in various learning experiences alongside their loved ones, to opening our classrooms for an insightful Wednesday night event, we've showcased the incredible learning happening within our school. Our outstanding School Leaders led school tours for prospective parents, confidently communicating information about the learning programs at Milgate. It's been a week of connection, collaboration, and celebration of learning, leaving us inspired and grateful for our supportive community.
Mothers Day
A heartfelt thank you goes out to the P&F for orchestrating the fantastic craft activities and breakfast for Mothers’ Day, making the experience all the more memorable.
Open Night
Students shone bright as they performed, while teachers crafted intriguing learning experiences aligned with their current unit of inquiry.
A big thank- you and congratulations to those students who performed at our Open Night. It was great to see and hear the amazing Performing Art talents our students have.
If you have any footage of your child performing that you would be willing to share, I would love to see it . You can send it through to my email odette.strickland@education.vic.gov.au or if the file is too big, then the best way may be for either you or your child to come past the Performing Arts room and airdrop it to me.
Thank you so much again
Odette Strickland and Amalie Walker
Performing Arts
Grandparents / Special Friends Morning
It was good to see so many grandparents and special friends visiting and it is a special time when the visitors join in on the learning and share morning tea with the students. We hope they enjoyed spending time with the students at school.
CELEBRATING NEURODIVERSITY | Dyscalculia
Dyscalculia is a learning disorder that affects an individual's ability to understand and work with numbers and mathematical concepts. It's often referred to as "math dyslexia" because it's similar to dyslexia, but specifically related to numbers and math. People with dyscalculia may have difficulty understanding mathematical symbols, learning numerical concepts, performing calculations, and remembering mathematical facts.
Cher - Singer
40% of people with dyslexia also have dyscalculia, Cher is one of them. She found school challenging and was only diagnosed with dyslexia and dyscalculia after her 10 year old child was going through her diagnosis. In her autobiography, Cher wrote “... for me, maths was like trying to understand Sanskrit”. One of her most important roles has been as an outspoken advocate for kids with learning and thinking differences.
Dyscalculics are known to be strong in creativity and problem-solving, helping them to find ways around a challenge. When a fan asked, “If you could turn back time and change one thing, would it be to not have dyslexia?” Cher replied: “No. It caused pain, but it’s me!”
TABLE TENNIS TABLES & SYNTHETIC TURF
This week we had our new outdoor table tennis tables installed near the library. It was great to see the students enjoying the new additions and some parents using them after school. Families are most welcome to bring bats and balls from home and come and use the tables after school or on weekends.
We also had some repairs made to the synthetic basketball court, which will minimise trip hazards and improve the space.
MANDARIN/ART ROOM SIGN COMPETITION
We are having a competition for students to create a new sign for the Mandarin/Art room on A4 white paper.
It must include the following:
- Mandarin/Art Room as a title
- Include a combination of Art and Mandarin objects or pictures
- Your name and class on the front of your entry
Some examples students have suggested are drawing a dragon doing something arty or a person painting a picture of Chinese New Year. Students who use their imagination the most and include vibrant colours will have a great chance of being the winner.
Please give your entry to Penny (Mrs Camiot) or Wendy (Miss Yu) by the end of Week 6 (Friday the 24th of May) The winner will be announced in the Week 8 Newsletter and their work will be displayed as the new sign.