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.
WOI WURRUNG WORD
END OF 2023 | 1:00 PM DISMISSAL ON WEDNESDAY 20 DECEMBER
In this final newsletter for 2023, we would like to take the opportunity to thank the families of Milgate for their involvement and support throughout the year. Throughout the year, we have enjoyed a multitude of engaging events and rich learning experiences. To the departing staff and students, we appreciate your contributions and wish you all the best in your future endeavours. As we head into the holiday season, we wish you all a safe and enjoyable break. May the upcoming year bring more success and shared moments of joy.
YEAR 6 GRADUATION
Congratulations to the graduating 2023 Year 6 students. This milestone event, held on Wednesday 13 December, was a heartwarming celebration filled with joy and pride. The students themselves shared touching reflections, highlighting cherished memories and the valuable lessons learned during their time at Milgate Primary School. As our Year 6 students embark on the next chapter, we extend our heartfelt congratulations and best wishes for their continued success and growth.
YEAR 5 MAKER'S MARKET
At the Maker's Market, our Year 5 students showcased their entrepreneurial spirit by crafting innovative business plans and unique products for sale within the school community. The event not only fostered a sense of entrepreneurship but also provided a platform for practical application of their skills. The Maker's Market allowed students to showcase their creativity and nurtured valuable lessons in teamwork, marketing, and real-world problem-solving. It was an inspiring display of talent and innovation, reflecting the dynamic and enterprising spirit of our Year 5 students. Thank you very much to the whole school community, we raised over $3000 which will be donated to SisterWorks, who are very grateful for Milgate’s support.
PARENT HELPERS MORNING TEA
On Tuesday, we held a Parent Helpers’ Morning Tea to extend our thanks to the dedicated parents who generously volunteer their time to contribute to the success of our school events. Their commitment enhances the overall experience for our students and fosters a sense of community spirit. Their involvement in various activities, whether big or small, makes a significant impact, creating memorable moments for everyone involved and we deeply appreciate the time and effort they invest in enriching the educational journey for all.
CELEBRATION DAY
Celebration Day was filled with joy and excitement as each year level indulged in a unique array of activities. Our Foundation students revelled in a morning filled with fun activities, followed by a pizza lunch and afternoon watching movies. Year 1 students added a groovy twist to their day with a Disco and Teddy Bears Picnic, while Year 2 embarked on an adventure with a Planks Incursion. Rainbow Town Play Centre became the lively destination for our Year 3 students, offering endless amusement. Year 4 students enjoyed bouncing their way through an exhilarating experience at Bounce, Year 5 relished a cinematic treat at Palace Cinema Balwyn, and our Year 6 students had a blast at Funfields. Celebration Day encapsulated the spirit of fun, fostering camaraderie and creating lasting memories for each year level.
2024 TEACHING TEAMS
Students and parents will know 2024 class allocations on Monday, December 18 when students attend the 'Meet the Teacher' transition morning. Please note that extensive energy and consideration over many weeks is put into forming classes by staff and leadership, and further requests for class changes and allocations will not be considered.
As we start to look towards next school year we would like to say farewell to Kate Ryan, Cara Forte, Mariah Moschoyiannis, Ally How, Yin-Kik Li, Adele Rhodes, Claire Coulter, Sharon Harrison, Maria Nikezi, Erica Siew, Daniel Jackson and Alison Leong. We thank all these teachers and Education Support staff for their work at Milgate and we wish them all the best for the future.
We would also like to welcome some new and returning teachers and Education Support staff to Milgate in 2024: Ruby Dong, Elizabeth Simcevsk, Jay Lin, Sophie Brown, Elizabeth Dinakis, Anita Simpson, Claire Rowell, Emily Ceko, Kathleen Bennett, Caitlin Day, Marlena Halkas, Samantha Jayne-Beh, Sally Robinson and Mary Gett.
2024 Teaching teams list:
Foundation
Natasha Skipina, Lauren Parsons, Kirsty Krumples, Stephanie Waters
Year 1
Jess Allison, Monique Calleja, Angelica Nguyen, Kath Bennett, Ruby Dong
Year 2
Caitlin Murphy, Joh Geaney, Cecilia Ton/Samantha Elhanna, Caitlin Day, Emily Ceko
Year 3
Selina Yang, Noam Koles, Naomi Yu, Elizabeth Simcevsk, Jay Lin
Year 4
Angela Park, Yurong Chen, Kim Travis, Sian Katsineris/Ana Kostidis, Marlena Halkas
Year 5
Kirsty Bone, Rebecca Chapman, Sophie Brown, Anita Simpson/Claire Rowell, Amanda Legault
Year 6
Jason Hunt, Caitlin Hurly, Georgia Douglas, Cameron Witt, Samantha Jayne-Beh, Liz Dinakis
Specialist Teachers
PE – James Will and Emily Collins
Visual Arts - Tamara Zebisch and Penny Camiot
Performing Arts – Odette Strickland and Amalie Walker
Mandarin – Wendy Yu and Ping Nixon
EAL – Trina Williamson
Learning Support– Jo Capicchiano and Kathy Campbell
Library - Steph Kim
Wellbeing Learning Specialist - Claire Harvey Beavis
Mathematics Learning Specialist - Sian Katsineris
ENVIRONMENTAL TEAM
Congratulations to 5CC for being this week’s trash free Tuesday winner! They will receive ’Ernie the Earth’ our environmental mascot. Overall as a school we got 101 pieces of trash. Well done to everyone who has contributed to our composting already. Please remember to put your food scraps in the compost bin.- The Environmental team
END OF YEAR CONCERT
Monday 18th December at 5:30 to 7.30pm
Our annual end of year concert is coming up on Monday 18th December starting at 5.30pm. It is a great night for our school community to come together and listen and watch our students perform.
Students have been learning songs/acts in their Performing Arts classes and look forward to sharing these with you on the night.
Please ensure that you child/children are ready and seated with their teachers by 5.30pm on the blue basketball court so we can promptly start. We look forward to seeing you all there.
STUDENT SEMESTER 2 REPORTS
Tuesday 19 December
The student reports for Semester 2 will be available for parents to access on COMPASS on Tuesday 19 December.
For all Year 6 families and other students leaving Milgate, please note your Compass access will finish at midnight on Wednesday 20 December. Please remember to download/print all your child's before this time.