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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.

Milgate’s Vision

To provide a dynamic, inclusive learning environment that challenges students to become inquirers, thinkers and caring young people who are able to interact in the global society with respect and intercultural understanding

From this term onwards, our school newsletter will be published fortnightly instead of weekly. This change will allow us to share more meaningful updates, highlights, and upcoming events in each edition while reducing the number of emails sent to families.

MAV Visit

Today, we welcomed visitors from the Mathematical Association of Victoria (MAV) as part of our recognition as a Maths Active School. 

Being a Maths Active School means we have a whole-school commitment to strong numeracy practice: a clear mathematics plan, dedicated leadership, hands-on and inquiry-based learning, and teachers who use assessment, differentiation and collaboration to continually strengthen practice. Our students are active, curious mathematicians who enjoy problem solving, using materials and digital tools, and talking about their maths thinking.

Our visitors were impressed by the rich learning experiences our teachers design, the confidence with which students explained their thinking, and the high levels of engagement and questioning across classrooms. They have written an article showcasing Milgate for their termly publication which we look forward to reading in 2026.

Changes to Digital Device Use (BYOD)

From 2027, the Victorian Government is introducing changes to the use of digital devices for students from Prep to Grade 6.

Under the new guidelines, schools:

• will no longer invite families to purchase or bring their own digital devices to use at school for Prep to Grade 6
• will follow new recommended digital device times, including minimal device time for Prep to Grade 2; and a maximum of 90 minutes per day for grades 3 to 6.

These changes are intended to support families by reducing cost-of-living pressures. They will also support students by reducing screen-time which can reduce the risk of eye strain, sedentary behaviour, and reduced peer interaction. These reforms complement Victoria’s nation-leading mobile phone restrictions, ensuring an integrated approach to addressing digital distraction and the inappropriate use of technology.

What this means for our school

This means we will be ceasing our current BYOD program for Grades 3-6 from 2027 on - noting that next year's Year 3 students will not participate at all. Instead, we will provide class sets of digital devices for use by students. Students who have been using BYO devices prior to 2027 will be able to continue to bring their devices to school, but we will be following the new recommended device use times.

Students with disability who use a digital device as a reasonable adjustment are exempt from these changes.

These changes are intended to support families with cost-of-living pressures and reduce student screen time.

You can read more about the changes on the department’s website: 

2026 Parent Payments 

On behalf of School Council, we would like to thank the very large number of families who supported the school via the Parent Payments Program and Donations. 

Community support via fundraising activities and donations to the building fund has enabled the school to greatly improve facilities for learning and play (see below). 

In 2026, we will continue to build on our School Strategic Goals by further enhancing our approach to challenging, supporting, and engaging students in Mathematics. Thanks to the collective investment and commitment of our school community, Milgate students continue to achieve exceptional results — with 95% of Year 3 and 90% of Year 5 students achieving NAPLAN Writing results in the Strong or Exceeding bands. These results reflect the direct impact that our community’s support and strategic investment have on improving student learning outcomes.

Hardcopy payment packs were sent home last Friday and payments can now be made (including instalment plans) via Compass. 

Support Your Child to Travel Safely to and From School

As a school community, we’re committed to supporting safe travel habits from the very beginning of primary school. Through the TAC’s Safe Migration Project we’ll be sharing practical tips and resources with parents and carers to support you and your children to travel safely to and from school - whether by walking, riding, scootering, or driving. 

We encourage you to take a look at the fun and engaging resources on offer, designed to spark important conversations about safe travel to and from school. You can watch the TAC’s Safe Migration video below. And click here to read the fact sheet (available in multiple languages) for easy to follow safe travel tips.

Traffic Safety Audit

On behalf of School Council and the broader Milgate community, we have been engaging with Manningham Council to address concerns around traffic safety, flow and access around our school.   We have also requested upgrades to accessible parking options on Landscape Drive as they no longer meet acceptable standards for Victorian roads.

While local council funding is limited, we are hopeful of a positive outcome!

Council informed us today that the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) are partnering with Councils to survey traffic and pedestrian movements at various locations across Victoria to identify any road safety issues (including around Milgate PS). The survey technology detects objects and movement without capturing the identity of pedestrians and vehicles. 

They will be installing cameras at the following sites from the 25 November - 27 November:

1. Doncaster East - Fullwood Pde (Landscape Dr)
2. Doncaster East - Landscape Dr (Lambert Pl)

Please be advised that DTP’s traffic survey company may be trialling an updated version of the survey cameras. In this new setup, the cameras will no longer include a box affixed at the base of the pole, as all equipment has been consolidated into the enclosure above. 

Mobile Phone Policy Reminder

A mobile phone is a telephone with access to a cellular (telecommunication) system, with or without a physical connection to a network. For the purpose of this policy, “mobile phone” refers to mobile phones and any device that may connect to or have a similar functionality to a mobile phone such as smart watches that are NOT in ‘school mode’. School mode refers to a device that does not have connectivity to a cellular network during school hours.

In accordance with the Department’s Mobile Phones — Student Use Policy issued by the Minister for Education, personal mobile phones must not be used at Milgate Primary School during school hours, including lunchtime and recess, unless an exception has been granted. Where a student has been granted an exception, the student must use their mobile phone for the purpose for which the exception was granted, and in a safe, ethical and responsible manner. All families are encouraged to familiarise themselves with our school's Mobile Phone Policy below:

First Nations Focus

Manningham Girls Can

Women and girls are invited to come and try free and low-cost sport and recreation activities throughout November as part of Manningham Girls Can.

Presented by Manningham Council and supported by local clubs and groups, there are almost 50 activities on offer for all ages and abilities including:

• Circuit training for teen girls
• Bocce games for youth
• Women’s and girls’ hockey
• Like mother like daughter basketball
• Bike-powered smoothies
• And more!

No experience necessary – check out the full program at the Manningham Council website: Let’s show what Manningham Girls Can do | Manningham Council

YEAR 6 EXHIBITION

The Year 6 Exhibition was a fantastic showcase of our students’ hard work, creativity, and commitment to taking action and solving real-world problems! Each group tackled meaningful issues, exploring solutions with impressive insight and determination. Families, friends, and staff were thrilled to see the depth of learning and the student agency that shone through every project. Thank you to our dedicated Year 6 teachers for guiding students throughout this journey and to everyone who attended to celebrate this milestone with our students. What a wonderful way to wrap up the Primary Years Programme!

PRACTICING LOCKDOWNS AND EVACUATIONS AT SCHOOL

This week we conducted our scheduled lockdown drill and planned evacuation exercise. These practices are held regularly as part of our commitment to safety and preparedness, ensuring that all students, staff, and visitors are familiar with our emergency procedures. Each drill is designed to help us evaluate and refine our response plans, allowing us to make any necessary adjustments to improve effectiveness. By practising these protocols consistently, we can build confidence and resilience in our school community so that everyone knows what to do in an emergency and feels secure knowing we are well-prepared to handle various situations.

SCHOOL DISCO

Last Friday, we had our F-3 and 4-6 school Disco at Milgate Primary run by our Parents & Friends Committee. It was an amazing event where students had a fantastic time singing and dancing. A huge thank you needs to go out to our parent community who without them this could not have been possible. We had so many parent volunteers for this event! The amount of time and dedication that went into the set-up of this event was really something special and something that needs to be recognised. We appreciate our parents volunteering their time to create these memorable events for the students.

Bike Ed

A reminder that Year 4 Bike-Ed is happening next week! Students will have the opportunity to develop essential bike-handling skills and road safety awareness while having fun and staying active. Please ensure bikes are in good condition and helmets are ready to go for this exciting and valuable program. We look forward to seeing everyone participating with enthusiasm!

Year 3 Excursion - Shrine of Remembrance

On Wednesday and Thursday this week, the Year 3 students went on an excursion to the Shrine of Remembrance as part of their ‘Where we are in place and time’ inquiry. At the Shrine students saw the Eternal Flame, discovered the hidden meaning about the number of steps leading up to the Shrine, and learnt about the significance of the ‘Father and Son’ in the Crypt. They were lucky to visit the Sanctuary where they learnt about the significance of Remembrance Day and ways that it is commemorated at the Shrine. 

REMINDER - END OF YEAR CONCERT

8th December at 5:30 pm - 7:00pm

Our annual end of year concert is coming up on Monday 8th 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. These performances will start promptly at 5:45pm.

Students are to wear full school uniform or a Christmas shirt. There will be a coffee van for families to purchase food and drinks. You are also welcome to bring food, but the students are not to have food when sitting with their classes.

Please ensure that your child/children are ready and seated with their teachers by 5.45 pm. We look forward to seeing you all there.

Kinder - Foundation Transition

This week we have had our third Kinder - Foundation transition session for students who will be starting school in 2026.  The students have enjoyed visiting Milgate and being involved in activities in the classroom. It has been wonderful to see them confident and happy as they explore their new school environment. Today, students met their 2026 Buddies, which was a very exciting experience for them! Next week will be their final session, where they will have the opportunity to meet their teacher and classmates!

TEACHER PRESENCE

Milgate would like to support some of our teachers who have chosen to register with Teacher Presence again this year.

For those new to Milgate, Teacher Presence is an organisation that provides an alternative to the traditional end-of-year gift-giving.

It allows a teacher to nominate one of three charities supported by this organisation.

Families would then have the opportunity to donate to their teacher’s chosen charity, in place of the optional present they may have otherwise purchased.

Whilst our staff are very grateful for the gifts some families have chosen to give them historically, they’re also excited and inspired by the concept of giving to those less fortunate.

If you’re interested, we would encourage you to check the website to see if your child’s teacher has registered. 

https://www.teacherpresence.org/

Please note that participation is completely voluntary, so you may or may not find your teacher’s name on the list – we just wanted to make you aware that some of our staff are choosing to be involved.

Students leaving Milgate at the end of 2025

In order to support us in planning for 2026, if you know your child/children will not be attending Milgate PS next year, could you please email the school and classroom teachers to let us know? Thanks in advance for the support.  milgate.ps@education.vic.gov.au

DECEMBER CANTEEN CLOSURE DATES

The canteen will be closed on Friday 12th and Friday 19th December. It is celebration day on the 12th and most year levels are having a special day.  and last day. The last day of trading for the canteen for the year will be Thursday 18th December.