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 | CULTURAL CALENDAR

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY SIGN

On Thursday 23rd of November at 3pm we would like to invite the community to the celebration of our new Acknowledgment of Country sign. It is located at the front of the school along with the Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Australian flags. Tanise Young, a Gunnai, Waradgerie and Yorta Yorta woman, is a former Milgate Primary School student who created the artwork for the sign. We are excited about having this sign at our school as part of our ongoing journey in learning about First Nations histories, cultures and perspectives and to pay our respects to the traditional owners of the land on which we live, learn and work.

We look forward to celebrating this great work of Tanise, and her mother Judith who supported in this process, with the community on Thursday.

A GLOBAL CONNECTION WITH OUR SISTER SCHOOL IN BEIJING

On Tuesday, select Year 5 and 6 students had the unique opportunity to connect virtually with their counterparts in Beijing. This cross-cultural initiative allowed our students to showcase their diverse interests and provide a glimpse into their daily lives here at Milgate Primary School. Through engaging presentations, our students shared their passions, hobbies, and unique aspects of our school community. The exchange was reciprocated as we learned about the rich culture and experiences of our friends in Beijing. This intercontinental connection not only broadens our students' perspectives but also reinforces the values of global citizenship and understanding. We extend our gratitude to all the students and Ms. Wendy Yu for making this cultural exchange a success. We look forward to further collaborations that enrich the educational journey for our students.

TRANSITION SESSION 3

During our third transition session for future foundation students, the atmosphere buzzed with excitement and curiosity. The young learners engaged in discovery time, exploring various activities that sparked their interest and fuelled their imagination. The session also featured a captivating picture storybook, with the children eagerly listening to the tales that unfolded on its pages and a short craft activity allowed them to express their ideas and develop fine motor skills. Simultaneously, parents had the opportunity to gather valuable information from Team Kids, gaining insights into the holistic support system for their children. Additionally, crucial aspects such as canteen facilities and the prescribed uniform from PSW were discussed, ensuring that parents were well-informed and confident about their child's upcoming educational journey. 

YEAR 1 | SHARING THE PLANET EXHIBITION

This week, Year 1 students enthusiastically showcased their newfound knowledge at the "Sharing the Planet" exhibition, a culmination of their exploration into various habitats and ecosystems. The vibrant displays illustrated the impact of humans on the environment and highlighted the crucial roles played by different animals in maintaining ecological balance. The young learners, armed with curiosity and a sense of responsibility, roamed around the exhibition, absorbing information from their peers' presentations. Each Year 1 student recorded three intriguing facts from other exhibits, creating a dynamic exchange of information that not only showcased their individual discoveries but also fostered a collaborative spirit among these budding environmentalists. The event not only celebrated their academic achievements but also emphasised the importance of collective learning in understanding and preserving our planet.

YEAR 5 | Iris 

At the Year 5’s Author Incursion, Iris in Year 6 shared her text that she wrote last year, A Broken Home by Iris Chan, with Mark Wilson. He was very impressed with her beautiful work and we thought we would share her work with you. Please enjoy, A Broken Home.

YEAR 5 | MAKER'S MARKET DONATIONS NEEDED

As part of our ‘How we organise ourselves’ Unit of Inquiry, the Year 5s have begun work on their market stalls and would love some help with donations. Please see some students’ requests below:

END OF YEAR CONCERT

18th December at 5:30 pm 

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. These performances will start promptly at 6pm.

Please ensure that you child/children are ready and seated with their teachers by 5.45pm on the blue basketball court so we can promptly start. We look forward to seeing your all there.

PARENTS AND FRIENDS COMMITTEE

Calling for Nominations for our Parents & Friends (P&F) Committee 

To take the first step towards shaping the future of P&F, you could complete the Nomination Form attached for yourself or a friend you know to milgate.pf@gmail.com no later than Thursday 7th December 2023.  

Each nomination will be duly recognized and voted upon during the upcoming Annual General Meeting on 8th December 2023.

Positions available:

·    President or Co-Presidents (office bearer role)

·    Secretary (office bearer role)

·    Treasurer (office bearer role)

STUDENTS LEAVING MILGATE

Students leaving Milgate at the end of 2023

In order to support us in planning for 2024, 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

TEACHER PRESENCE

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

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 four 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.