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.

INTRODUCING STEM AS A SPECIALIST SUBJECT IN 2025

As part of our commitment to providing a well-rounded education and preparing our students for the future, we will be introducing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) as a new specialist subject next year. This initiative reflects our dedication to equipping students with the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in an increasingly technological and scientific world.

Changes to the Library Program

With the introduction of STEM, there will be some changes to our current specialist subjects. Starting in 2025, the library will no longer be a specialist subject area. Instead, our classroom teachers will resume the responsibility of taking their students to the library each week. This change allows for a more integrated approach to literacy and ensures that our students continue to have regular access to library resources and activities within the context of their ongoing classroom learning.

Planning and Preparation

We are thrilled about the new opportunities that the STEM program will bring to our students. To ensure a smooth and effective implementation, a dedicated working group of teachers and members of the leadership team are actively collaborating to plan the necessary resources and develop an engaging curriculum. This team is working to design engaging and challenging STEM units and has been collaborating with other schools that have well-established STEM programs.

New STEM Room

In preparation for the new STEM specialist subject, we will be transforming the classroom (currently 4KK) on the blue basketball courts into a STEM room. This space will be equipped with technology and resources to support hands-on learning and innovative projects. We believe that a dedicated STEM room will provide an inspiring environment where students can explore, design and experiment.

STEM Teacher Recruitment

To support this exciting initiative, we will be advertising for a STEM teacher later in the year. We welcome applications from both internal and external candidates who have a passion for STEM education and are eager to inspire our students.

Looking Forward

We understand that changes to the curriculum can raise questions and we are committed to keeping you informed throughout this transition. More detailed information about the STEM curriculum and how it will be integrated into your child’s education will be shared in the coming months.

We are excited about the new learning opportunities that STEM will bring to our school community and are confident that our students will greatly benefit from this initiative.

YEAR 6 INCURSION

As part of our ‘How we organise ourselves unit’, the year 6 students participated in the Parliament Process incursion. During the incursion, they were immersed in the Australian Federal Parliament discovering how the government in Australia is structured and how our preferential voting system functions. Students participated in a Federal Parliament Senate role play, with costumes and props, to illustrate how bills become laws. They formed political parties through an election and added their own opinions to the debate, allowing their creativity to flourish.

YEAR 3 INCURSION

As part of our inquiry into, 'How we express ourselves', the Year 3 students were able to meet a local and talented artist, Sophia. She shared her inspiring journey of becoming an artist, which began with her studies at university and blossomed into a career dedicated to reflecting her imagination and childhood memories. Sophia's diverse portfolio includes vibrant art installations in Tunstall Square, culturally significant sculptures, abstract pieces depicting nature, and heartwarming paintings of her childhood, such as scenes of her and her grandmother knitting.

We would like to say thank you to Sophia and her daughter, Paris for talking to the Year 3s!

STUDENT REPORTS | Available Tuesday 25th June on Compass

Over the last few weeks, teachers have been writing student reports. Student reports provide parents with clear, comprehensive and consistent information about their child‘s learning progress. Student reports also have an IB PYP section which describes the units of Inquiry for Semester 1.

Our school is committed to ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to achieve their full potential and the student reports are a key aspect of that commitment.

If you have questions regarding your child’s report, parents/carers are encouraged to contact their teacher to arrange a time to discuss the report.

CELEBRATIONS of LEARNING

Our Celebrations of Learning (formally Student-Led Conferences) will be held on Wednesday 26 June from 5:00 to 7:00pm. We have opened it up for these hours to ensure ample time for parents to share in their child’s learning through the work samples students have preselected and play some games with their children. We believe it is crucial for parents and schools to collaborate closely, as students benefit greatly when they witness their parents' enthusiasm and active involvement in their learning journey. We look forward to seeing you all there.

END OF TERM - 2:30 DISMISSAL

The last day of Term 2 is Friday 28 June and the school day finishes at 2.30pm.

Please make sure you can collect your children at 2.30pm or contact TeamKids for After School Care bookings.

Bookings: Milgate Primary - Doncaster East | TeamKids

Contact Number: 1300 035 000

Email: info@teamkids.com.au

IB PYP - Approaches to Learning

The IB believes that the Approaches to learning (ATL) are essential for students to have an understanding of how they learn for them to become self-regulated successful learners. There are 5 interrelated skills, that are taught across the year explicitly through the units of inquiry.

A particular Approach to learning will be highlighted as being important to be taught through the unit of inquiry, for example, Self-management skills, may be explicitly taught during the ‘Who we are’ unit of inquiry, where students are considering themselves as learners and how they play their part in our learning community. We recognise that students are using all of these skills day to day.

By developing these skills, students not only enhance their academic abilities but also become more confident, independent, and lifelong learners.

The Approaches to Learning are:

Thinking Skills: These skills involve critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving. Students learn to analyse information, make connections, and generate innovative ideas.
Social Skills: Social skills encompass collaboration, communication, and intercultural understanding. Students learn to work effectively with others, respect different perspectives, and communicate their ideas clearly.
Communication Skills: This includes listening, speaking, reading, writing, and presenting ideas effectively. Students learn to express themselves confidently in different contexts and to different audiences.
Self-management Skills: Self-management skills involve organisation, time management, and goal setting. Students learn to plan and prioritise tasks, manage their emotions, and take responsibility for their own learning.
Research Skills: Research skills involve gathering, evaluating, and synthesising information from various sources. Students learn to conduct inquiries, use digital tools responsibly, and cite sources appropriately.

Parents can support their child's development of ATL skills by encouraging practice at home, providing opportunities for exploration and reflection, and reinforcing positive learning behaviours.

For example:

Encouraging curiosity and inquiry.
Providing opportunities for decision-making and problem-solving.
Creating a conducive environment for reading and discussing ideas.
Setting routines and schedules to develop self-management skills.

Sarah Brown | IB PYP Coordinator

FOUNDATION 2025 | ENROLMENTS OPEN

Foundation 2025 Enrolments are now open so if you have a younger child eligible to start school next year, please see below or visit our website for more information. This year we are an online system for new Foundation (Prep) enrolments to Victorian government schools, called VicStudents and following the statewide timeline.

To get started:

Visit https://students.educationapps.vic.gov.au/s/ to create an account in your name and complete the online application in your child's name by Friday 26 July 2024.
We will then review the information submitted and be in contact with you if we need anything further
Offers will be made between Monday 29 July and Friday 9 August 2024.
You should accept one enrolment offer by Friday 23 August 2024. When accepting an offer, you will be required to provide additional personal and health information that will be shared with the school.
Take part in information and transition sessions during Term 4, 2024.
Your child will start Foundation (Prep) from Wednesday 29 January 2025.

STUDENT SHOUT OUT

A big congratulations to Abrielle from 4AP on receiving their Super Speak Achievement Award.

This award is presented to students who have completed 2.5 years of Public Speaking & Communication Skills training at Super Speak (equivalent to 100 hours) and presented 15 formal solo speeches.

LOST PROPERTY

Please check Lost Property (outside the staffroom) for any missing items. We try to get named items back to classroom teachers once a week, so please ensure you name all your children's belongings.

Please contact the office if any of these items belong to you.

Please note, lost property not collected at the end of term will be donated or disposed of.

ACHIEVER Awards

Term 2 | Week 10