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.

WELCOME BACK EVERYONE!

Welcome back, everyone! We had a fantastic first week back and are excited for a big term ahead. We have many wonderful events lined up, including the Book Week Parade and Author visit, Father’s Day celebrations, and the Year 3/4 school camps. Our Foundation students will be celebrating their 100 days of school, and our Year 2 students are looking forward to an outdoor learning day. Here's to a term full of learning, fun, and memorable experiences!

EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Our extra curricular activities start again next week. If you would like to enrol your child, please see the providers contact details below (click to expand the images).

WORKS OVER THE HOLIDAYS

Over the school holidays, we had lots of work being done in our schoolyard to enhance our play spaces.

Year 1 / 2 playground installed

The new Year 1/2 Equipment was installed, replacing the existing Rainbow equipment. The equipment was made possible thanks to our school community's fundraising efforts at our 2023 Fun Run. It is a great addition to the school, and the students really enjoyed playing on the new equipment this week.

Foundation Courtyard

We made an exciting update to the Foundation courtyard. We created a vibrant rock play space where students can sit, jump, or climb. This new addition aims to enhance their playtime, encouraging physical activity and imaginative play in a fun and engaging environment. We loved seeing the students play in the new space this week!

IMPORTANT DATES IN TERM 3

Week 1:

15th July: First Day of Term 3

Week 3:

29th July: Curriculum Day - No students at school today.
2nd August: Green & Gold Dress Up Day to support the Olympics

Week 6:

23rd August: Book Week Parade. 9 am on the Blue Basketball Courts. Students to dress up as their favourite book character.

Week 7:

30th August: Father’s Day Breakfast (8 am) followed by an activity in the classroom (9 am - 9.50 am)

RECONCILIATION ACTION PLAN - CREATING A WORKING GROUP

Milgate is in the early stages of starting our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). This is a call out to any members of the Milgate community to join the working group that will help create our RAP.

Please email Kirsty Krumples (Marrung Lead) through kirsten.krumples@education.vic.gov.au if you are interested in joining. We hope to have the working group finalised by the end of Term 3 so that in Term 4 the group can familiarise themselves with the process and timeline.

The working group will be composed of Milgate staff, Milgate community members and other community members.

A RAP “is a formal commitment to reconciliation. It documents how your school or early learning service will strengthen relationships, respect and opportunities in the classroom, around the school/service and with the community.” - from Narragunanwali (please see them or Reconciliation Australia for more information)

WELLBEING

Practicing Gratitude

Gratitude is more than just a fleeting feeling; it is a practice that, when done every day, can have a large impact on mental and physical health. The benefits of practicing gratitude daily:

Enhances Mental Health: Regularly acknowledging what we are thankful for can significantly reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. By focusing on the positives, we shift our mindset away from negative thoughts and begin to notice more of the smaller positive aspects the occur each day

Improves Physical Health: Studies have shown that grateful individuals tend to take better care of themselves, exercise more, and are more likely to attend regular check-ups. The act of gratitude can also lower blood pressure and strengthen the immune system.

Strengthens Relationships: Expressing gratitude can deepen our connections with others. When we show appreciation for those around us, it fosters a sense of belonging and strengthens bonds, creating a supportive community.

Research shows that practicing gratitude's every day for 6 weeks may strengthen the connections in the areas of the brain associated with positive emotions and weaken those tied to emotions that don’t make us feel good. It is important to identify different gratitude's each day, not to keep repeating the same gratitude day in day out.

Gratitude's can be shared during your family meal, in a gratitude journal or using various gratitude Apps where you can take photos and record your daily gratitude. You can then look back at your entries and photos and remember all of the incredible moments you’ve had.

Free and Creative Play

The benefits of free play are impactful to children’s development and learning. Unstructured and imaginative play benefits children by:

Boosting Creativity: Free play encourages creativity and imagination. Without the constraints of structured activities, individuals can explore new ideas, solve problems creatively, and think outside the box.

Improving Social Skills: Engaging in free play allows individuals to interact, negotiate, and collaborate with others. This helps develop essential social skills such as empathy, communication, and conflict resolution.

Reducing Stress: Play is a natural stress reliever. It allows for relaxation and enjoyment, which can reduce cortisol levels and promote a sense of well-being.

Enhancing Physical Health: Physical play, such as running, jumping, and exploring, is crucial for physical development. It promotes motor skills, coordination, and overall fitness.

Promotes Emotional Wellbeing: Free play provides an outlet for expressing emotions and can be a healthy way to process feelings. It also fosters a sense of joy and fulfillment.

Free play is not limited to children, adults also benefit greatly from having free and creative time away from devices. Whether it be a hobby or the arts, the wellbeing benefits are great.

ACHIEVER Awards

Term 3 | Week 1