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What's Happening At Milgate!

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

Welcome to Marcus Wicher

On Monday, we warmly welcomed our new Principal, Marcus Wicher. Marcus spent time visiting classrooms and also spoke at the Foundation–Year 3 assembly. It has been great to have him connect with students and staff so enthusiastically. Many families had the chance to meet Marcus during yard duty before and after school, and at our Community Games Afternoon on Thursday.

Farewell to Elise Henderson

We want to wish our Enrolments and Administration Officer, Elise Henderson, all the best in her new role at Park Orchards Primary School. Many families will know Elise as the first face they see when they come to the office, or through the enrolment process. We’ll miss Elise and hope she settles in well to her new role.

Community Games Afternoon

Our Community Games Afternoon on Thursday was a fantastic success! From 3:45–4:30pm, families joined us for a fun, casual event filled with energy and laughter. With soccer, badminton, downball, basketball and GaGa on offer, there was something for everyone to enjoy. It was a wonderful opportunity to connect with other families and enjoy time together on the synthetic soccer pitch and blue basketball courts.

Foundation Storytime and Visits from Early Learning Centres

On Tuesday, we had the pleasure of welcoming children from The Pines Early Learning Centre and Goodstart Early Learning Centre. The children explored our school and experienced the learning environment as they begin their transition to primary school. It was a valuable and enjoyable visit for all involved.

Today, we held our first ‘Storytime’ session with our Foundation teachers and Library Technician, who shared engaging stories and fun activities with the children. It was a joyful start to the program, with one more Storytime session to be held on 22nd of August.

Planning Week Next Week

Next week will be Planning Week for classroom teachers. Each year level of teachers will be released for half a day to work together to plan their next unit of inquiry, review assessment data, discuss the student learning needs and cater for all levels of learning.

STEM |National Science Week

Next week, we’re celebrating National Science Week with a range of exciting lunchtime science activities for all year levels! Each day, different groups of students will have the chance to get hands-on with fun and engaging experiments that explore light, flight, and forces.

Monday – Foundation students will investigate Light and Shadow, using torches and objects to explore how shadows are formed.
Tuesday – Year 1 & 2 students will make and fly their own Hoop Gliders, learning about flight and design.
Wednesday – Year 3 & 4 students will create Paper Helicopters and test how different designs affect how they fall.
Thursday – Year 5 & 6 students will take on the Ping Pong Zipline Challenge, building and testing their own zipline carriers.

We look forward to seeing students getting involved, asking questions, and thinking like scientists during this fun-filled week! Special thank you to our STEM teacher Steph Kim for organising the activity and planning the week!

Promote Your Business – Milgate PS Yearbook & Movie Night

Each year, Milgate Primary School produces a high-quality Yearbook to celebrate the amazing learning and events of the year.

For our 2025 Yearbook, we’re offering local businesses the chance to purchase advertising space. Last year, we sold and distributed 400 copies to Milgate PS families, with the Yearbook professionally printed in a glossy magazine style.

This year, we’re also hosting an Outdoor Movie Night on Friday, 12 September. Businesses can advertise on a cycled slideshow for one hour before the movie begins for $100 ex GST.

These are fantastic opportunities to promote your business while supporting our school community.

Let’s Work Together to Keep Our Kids Safer Online

As many of you may have seen, the Australian Government is introducing new laws to ban under-16s from using social media apps like TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat and Facebook. These changes come as concerns grow about the impact these platforms are having on children’s mental health, safety and wellbeing.

At Milgate, we’ve already taken steps to reduce device access through our Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) program. From next year, this program will be limited to students in Years 4–6, and we’re currently discussing how we might limit this even further. As a school, we're making these changes as we're seeing more and more situations where social media and screen use are having a negative impact on friendships, learning, and behaviour—especially when children are using platforms not intended for their age group.

Why social media isn’t for primary schoolers

These apps weren’t designed for kids—and there are good reasons why the minimum age is 13 (and soon to be 16 in Australia). Young children don’t yet have the social, emotional or critical thinking skills to safely navigate these online spaces.

And the truth is—they don’t need it.

We understand that the pressure is real: “But everyone else has it!” is something many parents hear. But at Milgate, we’re here to support families in saying no—and helping our kids stay focused on what matters most during these important years of growth.

What are the risks? Here’s what we’re seeing at school—and what the research is showing:

Friendship breakdowns and drama starting in group chats or on social media.
Online bullying or exclusion that affects kids emotionally and socially.
Increased anxiety, poor self-esteem and difficulty switching off.
Inappropriate content or messages, even with some privacy settings on.
Screen time interfering with sleep, learning and face-to-face connection.

Here are some things that can really help:

Stick to age rules. Most social media apps are legally for ages 13+ (soon 16+). Respecting these limits helps keep kids safe.
Delay smartphones. There’s no need to rush. Kids can stay connected in other ways with family support.
Use parental controls. These are available on most phones and WiFi networks to help manage what kids can access.
Create screen-free times and zones. Bedrooms, mealtimes, and family time are great places to unplug.
Talk openly and often. Ask your child how they use their devices, what they enjoy, and how it makes them feel.
Model healthy habits. Show your child what balance looks like by setting boundaries for your own screen time.
Work with other families. Chat with other parents about being on the same page—especially around birthdays and sleepovers.
Stay connected with school. If you notice social challenges or behaviour linked to screens or social media—please let us know.

You don’t have to do this alone!

If you're finding it hard to manage behaviour at home linked to social media, gaming or screen time—please reach out to us. You’re not alone, and many families are dealing with the same challenges.

Our wellbeing team and leadership staff are here to listen, support and work with you to figure out what’s best for your child. Together, we can create consistent messages at home and school that give our kids the clarity and security they need.

As a community, we all want the best for our kids. Let’s support each other by keeping the message simple and consistent: Primary school kids don’t need smartphones or social media.

Want to learn more?

Here are some great resources you might like to explore:

Thank you in advance for being part of this important conversation as we guide our children through the digital world— safely and together.

INDIGENOUS LITERACY FOUNDATION - THE GREAT BOOK SWAP

FIRST NATIONS FOCUS