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.

RESPECTING DIVERSITY

At our school, we are committed to fostering a culture of respect, inclusion, and kindness, where every student feels valued and safe. Recently, we have observed an increase in students making inappropriate comments and jokes about others’ race and culture. These behaviours can have a significant impact on the wellbeing of those targeted and do not align with our school’s values.

We know that conversations at home play a crucial role in shaping children’s attitudes and understanding. To support families in addressing these topics, we encourage parents and carers to discuss the importance of respecting diversity and the harm caused by racism.

Here are some practical ways to begin:

Highlight the value of diversity: Talk to your child about how cultural differences enrich our community and make the world a more interesting and vibrant place.
Teach empathy: Ask your child to reflect on how they would feel if someone made hurtful comments about their identity. Encourage them to consider others’ feelings before speaking.
Address stereotypes: Explain that stereotypes are often inaccurate and can lead to unfair assumptions and harmful behaviour.
Model respectful behaviour: Show your child how to treat others with dignity and kindness by modelling inclusive attitudes in your own interactions.
Encourage them to speak up: Empower your child to challenge inappropriate comments or jokes when they see them, fostering a sense of responsibility to stand up for what’s right.

For further discussion points and guidance, we recommend exploring the helpful resources on Raising Children at raisingchildren.net.au. This site provides practical advice on talking with children and teenagers about racism and supporting them to understand the importance of inclusion and respect.

By working together as a school community, we can ensure that our environment remains a welcoming and supportive place for everyone. Thank you for your ongoing commitment to these values.

YEAR 5 & 6 CAMP

Year 5 and 6 Camp at Marysville was an unforgettable adventure for our students, filled with teamwork, resilience, and outdoor exploration. Set against the beautiful backdrop of Marysville’s lush forests and mountains, students had the chance to connect with nature, tackle physical challenges, and strengthen friendships. From navigating high ropes courses to avoiding capsizing in the lake, each activity was designed to build confidence and foster a sense of community. Thank you to our dedicated staff and volunteers for making this experience possible – it was truly a week of growth, learning, and memories that will last a lifetime!

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. The students loved getting up on stage and singing and dancing next to the DJ. 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.

LAST TRANSITION SESSION

Our final Foundation Transition session for the 2025 Foundation students was a heartwarming success as they met their new teacher and classmates for the upcoming year. The excitement and curiosity in the room were palpable as the children engaged in fun activities, explored their new learning environment, and began forming connections with their peers. It was a wonderful opportunity for them to gain confidence and familiarity, setting the stage for a smooth start to their school journey. We look forward to an exciting and enriching 2025, welcoming these eager learners into our community!

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.

STUDENT LEADERSHIP

Over the past fortnight, we have had the privilege of listening to our Year 5 students deliver their inspiring Student Leadership speeches as they aspire to become School, Cultural, House, or Wellbeing Leaders in 2025. It was truly wonderful to hear their thoughtful visions for Milgate, their goals for the year ahead, and the ways they embody the Learner Profile Attributes in their daily lives. Their speeches showcased their passion, confidence, and commitment to making a positive impact on our school community. We are incredibly proud of their efforts and look forward to seeing them grow as leaders in the coming year.

YEAR 4 | BIKE ED - NEXT WEEK

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! Please see the Compass event for more details.

ENVIRONMENTAL TEAM

Julie (6CW), Pearl (6SB), Erica (6JH) and Zara (6CH)

Hello Milgate Community, we are the environmental leader team and we are here to inform you about this week’s topic: Sustainable water usage. Every day, 3 billion litres of water is wasted instead of being used to benefit the environment and settlements. Here are some sustainable ways to use water as renewable energy, recycling water and utilise rainwater.

Water is a great source of energy. It is renewable and environmentally-friendly, this is called hydropower. Hydropower is sourced from dams and diversions built to harness power from water flows, usually along rivers and streams. This energy is carried to your home and used to power light bulbs and other electronic items. Other types of renewable energy are solar power, wind power, geothermal energy and bio energy.

Recycling water can be done in many ways. It involves treating wastewater or rainwater in treatment plants and reusing it for bathrooms, taps and even washing machines. However, sometimes recycling water can be much simpler, especially when you are able to change your habits and find new ways to use water around your household. For example, collect rainwater in buckets to water plants, take showers instead of baths and turn off taps when you aren’t using them.

To conclude, responsible water usage should be an integral part of our ever-changing lifestyle. We can reduce water usage by changing ways we might do things everyday. This is a collective goal and it is important to work together to benefit the environment and our wellbeing.

Thank you for your time and we hope you learnt something from this week’s newsletter.

PLANNING FOR 2025

On Wednesday, our Leadership Planning Day will see 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.

On Thursday, we will take the 2025 Learning Leaders off-site for a focused planning session dedicated to building clarity around expectations and strategies for the year ahead. This day will be 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.

WELLBEING

SOCIAL MEDIA & WELLBEING

As a community, it is crucial to ensure that children have appropriate access to social media, keeping in mind their developmental readiness and the content they may encounter. Many popular apps, such as Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok, have age restrictions of 13+ to help protect young users from exposure to content that is not suitable for their age group. Despite these limits, a large portion of inappropriate content, including explicit material, harmful behaviours, and unrealistic social pressures, remains accessible on these platforms. This is leading to some students being exposed to information and situations they are not emotionally or cognitively prepared to navigate. We encourage parents to monitor social media use, engage in open conversations about online safety, and consider age-appropriate alternatives to safeguard their children’s wellbeing.

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 Friday 29 November, please contact the Department of Education by emailing school.saving.bonus@education.vic.gov.au

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