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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

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.

EMERGING LEADERS FORUM

Ten of our current school leaders were selected to participate in the Emerging Leaders Forum, which was facilitated by Asialink Education at the University of Melbourne with funding provided by the Department of Education. 

The Emerging Leaders Forum supported students to: 

• understand personal leadership and teamwork strengths and learn how to use these to work well with others 
• strengthen awareness of the geographical region and develop an understanding of intercultural communication 
• interact with different global perspectives, experiences, and cultures, developing effective communication skills 
• explore the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, global citizenship and intercultural understanding. 

The students participated in 3 online sessions and then had a final session at the University of Melbourne last Friday. The students were asked to focus on a local problem, connect it with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and find a solution. 

Whilst online, the students worked with other school across the Asia Pacific region, and shared their ideas with schools in India, Vietnam, South Korea, China, Thailand and  Singapore. A particular highlight was when Milgate students shared ‘The Hello Project’ with students in Thailand and they are now going to undertake a similar program in their school.

Across the program, the students heard from some amazing keynote speakers:

• Jack Evans, who is the presenter of BTN on the ABC
• Satara Uthayakumaran, the Australia’s Youth Representative to the United Nations for 2025
• Raheen Fatima, a 17-year-old Pakistani Activist, Podcaster, TedX Speaker and Social Entrepreneur; and 
• Ming Meng Wang, who is a musician who use her talents to lead Global Intercultural Music and Media events 

Milgate students identified the ongoing problem of rubbish and plastics being in the school grounds and are looking to develop a rewards system to reduce littering at Milgate and also a system to encourage students to leave as much rubbish as possible at home. 

BOOK WEEK

This week we celebrated Book Week with a range of activities across the school. Students enjoyed visits from authors, took part in the Book Week Parade, and contributed to the Big Book Swap, with all funds going to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation.

Author Visits

This week, our Year 3 to 6 students were inspired by a special visit from Melanie La’Brooy, an acclaimed Australian author of children’s and adult fiction.

Melanie spoke about the challenges and joys of being a writer. She encouraged students to think about their own passions, whether sport, dance, music, or writing, and imagine what it would feel like to be told, “No” more than 100 times. She explained that rejection is often part of the creative process, but persistence can lead to success, sharing the story of how authors such as Angie Thomas (The Hate U Give) turned setbacks into opportunities.

The session also gave students a glimpse into the author’s life in a fun and engaging way. They talked about their own dreams of becoming writers, with some inspired by the adventurous research of Rick Riordan. A highlight was an activity where our students had to become an author and consider their motivation to be published. The reasons varied from being rich and famous, researching adventures to how snacks play an important role in an author’s day! 

Melanie also shared insights into her own books and how she creates characters and worlds that feel both magical and real. Her visit left students buzzing with ideas, laughter, and inspiration, eager to put pen to paper and tell their own stories.

We thank Melanie La’Brooy for visiting Milgate Primary School and sparking such enthusiasm for reading and writing in our community.

Book Week Parade

This year’s Book Week Parade saw students across all year levels dress as characters from a wide range of books. The effort that went into the costumes was evident, with everything from classic picture book favourites to modern novels represented. Teachers also joined in, which added to the sense of fun and school-wide participation.

Marcus, David and Jayde dressed as Vikings from How to Train Your Dragon. Their costumes tied in with our upcoming Milgate Outdoor Movie Night on Friday 12 September, which will feature How to Train Your Dragon as the film.

The parade was a strong reminder of the way books and storytelling can bring our community together, and it was fantastic to see students, staff and families supporting the event.

INDIGENOUS LITERACY FOUNDATION BOOKS SWAP

What a wonderful Book Swap! This week Milgate Primary School students supported the Indigenous Literacy Foundation in their efforts to assist First Nations communities. Students purchased pre-loved books with a gold coin donation.

We had so many pre-loved books donated and raised a total of $484 - a successful Book Swap!

Thank you to everyone who contributed to this fundraiser, from donating books to donating money. Your support is greatly appreciated and will assist the Indigenous Literacy Foundation in their efforts to support remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. 

For more information about the Indigenous Literacy Foundation please visit their website.