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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.

OUR 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

OUR MISSION

To empower students to ensure they will succeed as responsible global citizens and independent self-learners within today’s rapidly changing world.

PARENT HELPERS THANK YOU

We invite all our amazing parent helpers to join us for a Thank You morning tea in the staffroom on Tuesday 10 December at 10.45am.

Your help in our classrooms, on excursions, on camps, with the P&F, with lost property, second hand uniforms and all other areas of the school is invaluable and very much appreciated.

YEAR 4 BIKE ED

Our Year 4 students have been enjoying their Bike Ed this week, learning valuable bike skills and safety when riding on the road. Today the students were able to venture further, leaving the school grounds to go for a ride along the Mullum Mullum trail. This was a fantastic opportunity for students to put into practice the range of skills that they have developed throughout the week. Thank you to our Year 4 teachers, parent volunteers and James Will for organising and running this program for the students.

P&F - CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

The Milgate Parents & Friends Association (P&F) has been a driving force in building our school community. Over the years, dedicated parent volunteers have orchestrated a myriad of engaging activities and events that have not only fostered stronger bonds among children and parents but have also generated funds vital for enriching our school's facilities and resources.

As we approach the end of the current year, our 2024 Committee prepares to pass the torch, making way for a fresh wave of enthusiasm. We're extending an invitation to all members of our school community to step up and become key players in the upcoming 2025 P&F Committee.

Are you someone who wants to support and contribute to your child’s learning environment and give back to the Milgate community?

Are you someone with a vision on how the P&F will take Milgate into the future?

Do you have new ideas on how to propel our fundraising endeavours to new heights?

There is a role for everyone who is invested in Milgate’s success in providing the best possible education and nurturing for our children.  The P&F Committee, a dynamic team, encompasses roles below (please see attached details regarding the description of different roles):

• President or Co-Presidents (office bearer role)
• Secretary (office bearer role)
• Treasurer (office bearer role)
• Other committee members handling vital functions like marketing, social media and class representatives etc 

We find ourselves at a pivotal juncture, with some of the existing key members marking 2024 as their final year of their Milgate journey.  Your involvement will ensure the continuation of P&F and all our collective achievements all these years.

To take the first step towards shaping the future of P & F, please contact the office to request a nomination form.

Should the unfortunate circumstances arise where no volunteers step forward for the 3 elected office bearer positions in 2025, we regret to inform you that there will not be a P&F next year.

Your contribution today will shape the legacy of tomorrow.  Please join us in steering the course of Milgate's vibrant community spirit.

LEARNING LEADERS DAY

On Thursday, our 2025 Learning Leaders were off-site for a focused planning session dedicated to building clarity around expectations and strategies for the year ahead. The day was an opportunity to align our vision, ensure consistency, and empower leaders to create environments where every student is both stretched and supported to achieve their very best. By fostering a shared understanding and a commitment to excellence, we aim to set the foundation for a successful and impactful 2025, where all learners can thrive.

LEADERSHIP PLANNING DAY

On Wednesday, our Leadership Planning Day saw our leaders come together off-site to focus on shaping an inspiring and impactful vision for 2025. This dedicated time will allow us to collaborate, strategise, and align our efforts toward our key priorities for the year ahead. Our focus for 2025 is centred on striving for excellence in all that we do and building respectful communities where kindness and inclusion are at the heart of our interactions. We are committed to fostering a positive and supportive environment that empowers every member of our school community to thrive.

PLANNING WEEK NEXT WEEK

Next week our teachers will be planning for the Term 1 2025 curriculum and learning program for students. Each year level of teachers will be released for a day to plan in their teams. While each teaching team is planning, the specialist teachers will be teaching their classes.

SCHOOL COUNCIL

Presentation on Student Agency Work in 2024

On Tuesday night, we held our last School Council meeting for the year and took the opportunity to say thank you to departing members, Maria, Julia and Terumi, who have been members of our School Council for many years. They have played important roles in the governance of our school and policies and we very much appreciate their contribution. 

We also had staff members Rebecca Chapman, Selina Yang, and Lauren Parsons present to the School Council about their participation in the Student Agency professional learning. They shared key insights, including the use of the ‘Ruby’ Formative Assessment, the 12 elements of agency to establish a shared vocabulary across the school, and the development of a learner reflection tool.

The next steps for Milgate include exploring lines of inquiry in the Who We Are unit, building clarity among students and teachers about what agency entails, developing a continuum of agency, and identifying champion students to lead the way.

REMINDER - END OF YEAR CONCERT

2nd December at 5:30 pm - 7:00pm

Our annual end of year concert is coming up on Monday 2nd 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 on the synthetic soccer pitch 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 on the blue basketball courts. We look forward to seeing you all there.

SECOND HAND UNIFORM GIVEAWAY

During the end of year concert, the P&F will be giving away a lot of second-hand uniforms.  Please bring your own bag and help yourself to items on the tables outside the canteen.

 WELLBEING

On Friday December 6, we will be having our final Milgate Mix-up for the year. The session will run from 2pm until 3:20. The students will be taking part in a variety of different reflection, team building and creative activities. If you are picking up your child during this time, they will not be in their regular classroom.

In addition to our final Milgate Mix-up, on Friday December 6, the students will celebrate their achievement of filling the Caring Container, a wonderful reflection of their kindness and compassion. To mark this milestone, it will be a Free Dress Day—no gold coin donation required.

As part of the celebration, students will enjoy a special activity planned by our dedicated Year 6 Wellbeing Leaders. It’s sure to be a memorable day filled with fun and community spirit!

REMINDER - 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:  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.

SCHOOL SAVING BONUS

Parent and carer School Saving Bonus code distribution 

The Victorian Government is delivering the School Saving Bonus – a one-off $400 support for government school students from Prep to Year 12 in 2025. 

From Tuesday 26 November 2024, you will receive an email from the Department of Education with your unique $400 School Saving Bonus code. 

The School Saving Bonus will help families cover the cost of uniforms, textbooks, excursions, activities and more. 

If you have multiple children enrolled in Victorian government schools for 2025, you will receive one School Saving Bonus code email per child. These emails might arrive on different days. Please make sure to check your spam/junk email folder. 

Parents and carers can use the School Saving Bonus code in store at school-nominated suppliers. Parents and carers can also choose to access the School Saving Bonus online system, where they can allocate part or all the $400 bonus to use at school nominated-online suppliers or for school activities.  

To learn more about the School Saving Bonus, visit School Saving Bonus | vic.gov.au (www.vic.gov.au). A step-by-step user guide will be available on the webpage on 26 November.   

If you have not received your School Saving Bonus code via email by Monday 2 December, please contact the Department of Education by emailing school.saving.bonus@education.vic.gov.au.