Principal's Report
TERM 4
Welcome back to Term 4 to all students, parents and staff. We hope you all had a restful and enjoyable holiday either in Melbourne or beyond. The students are looking rested and refreshed and ready for interesting and challenging learning during their last term of the year.
YEAR 2 CAMP
Our Year 2 students have been on camp this week at the Oasis camp at Mount Evelyn. This is their first school camp and they are very excited about it. Activities included:
Candle making
Low ropes
Reptile house
Games and activities
Enjoying the bush
Thank you to the teachers – Mr Will, Ms Rhodes, Mr Geaney, Ms Yang, Ms Katsineris, Ms Elhanna and Ms Ton who have organised the camp and also to the parents for assisting with the activities. Ms Mierisch, Ms Mancarella and Mr Mander also attended the camp and enjoyed working with the students throughout their activities.
MATHS TALENT QUEST RESULTS
For 5 weeks of Term 2 and 3, as part of the Mathematics Association of Victoria’s Maths Talent Quest, select students from different year levels were chosen to complete their own investigation based on something that interests them and apply mathematics in context. There was a new challenge this year - for their investigation to include aspects of financial literacy in order to also enter the Victorian education department’s ‘Financial Literacy in Practice – or FLIP – Challenge’.
We learned a lot about planning effectively, distributing work fairly, and identifying the mathematics in our everyday lives. The students are to be congratulated for their enthusiasm, collaboration and commitment to completing this inquiry project to the best of their ability. The inquiries and results are as follows:
Foundation
How is money connected to Maths? by Dallas X, Ethan C and Hannah Z, Ethan Y, Janet Y, Zachary L, Hayden V, Daniel H, Patrick L, Aaron T, Aria S, Caden H and Alexander T - Distinction
Year 1
How much does it cost to buy and raise a dog? by Eyan T - High Distinction
Year 2
How much does it cost to host a party? by Mason Z and Eloise L - Distinction
How much does it cost to buy and furnish a house? by Darijan K, Imogen H, Vienna L, Quinn J, Indira N, Imogen M, Thomas K, Hayden W, Xaden C - Distinction
How much does it cost to go on an excursion to the aquarium? by Kuhan M, Iden C, Aiden S, Josh C - Credit
How much would it cost to run my own charity? by Aybram M, Aradhi B, Elena L, Harvey C - Credit
Year 3
What does it cost to look after a dog? by Amelia F - Distinction
How much will it cost for a family of 5 to go on holiday to France for 2 weeks? Jasper H, Joshua S & Aarush G - Credit
Will I save money by using public transport? by Liam B and James H - Credit
What can I buy with $2876.96? by Joshua H - Distinction
How can we use maths in our life and when? by Nathan C - Distinction
How much does it cost to look after a golden retriever? by Kate A and Skylar X - Credit
Which house (electric and gas payments included) is the best to get? by Poinciana N - Distinction
How much does a house cost? by Jonathan H - Credit
How long will it take to save for an egg man costume and goggles? by Shahwaiz M - Credit
You want to buy a dog but first you have to find out how much all the things for a dog cost. by Romayne C & Elisha C - Credit
How people lose money by borrowing money and how people can earn money through investing? by Lachlan S, Steven L, Alessandro D, Arthur L and Alexander P - Distinction
Year 4
How much money does it cost to prevent climate change? by Hugo C, Daniel C and Vincent Y - Credit
What is the best stock market to buy in? by Sebastian N - Distinction
What % of the average wage do you spend on food a month? by Andes H and Lucas L - Credit
Planning a holiday to the snow. by Rafael C - Distinction
How much does it cost to build a waterpark? by Xavier B - Credit
How do oil prices increase and decrease over time? by Matthew C, Wei Hao L, Algren Y, Chan Y, Archer S and Henry C - Distinction
All about Doncaster. by Katherine L, Kathy D, Vinn Zee T, Nila U and Bonnie X - Credit
Comparing car prices. by James N, Mathias C, Pearl D, Naresh M, Ashleigh Y - Distinction
CANTEEN REFURBISHMENT
Over the holidays the canteen has been completely refurbished. We have new cabinetry and tiling installed and it looks fantastic. Hellen, our canteen manager is ecstatic with the extra bench space and storage. Thank you to Ms Brown, Mr Mander and School Council for their work in planning and coordinating the works.
P&F FUNDRAISING
Fencing upgrade
On Wednesday we had new fencing installed across the grassed area in the staff carpark. This was funded through funds raised by our wonderful P&F Committee. We believe this will increase safety as it will minimise students walking through the carpark and separate the footpath from where cars are parked.
TERM 4 | HATS
A reminder that students are required to wear their school hat when outside during Term 4. Please ensure your child's hat is clearly labelled. Students that do not have hats will be required to sit outside the canteen under the shade sails during recess and lunch. Thank you.
YEAR 5 | EAST DONCASTER SECONDARY COLLEGE VISIT
On the last day of Term 3, all Year 5 students visited East Doncaster Secondary College (EDSC). This experience provided students with an opportunity to see what high school will be like. Each student participated in either a Maths, English or Science lesson, which were taken by Year 10 teachers. The Year 5s were also then treated to a Pizza lunch which was a lovely way to end the term all together. It was also wonderful to be assisted by some ex-Milgate students who helped show us around the school.
ANNUAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
Feedback from our Senior Education Improvement Leader
Below is the feedback that Carolyn Elliot (SEIL) has entered onto the AIP mid year monitoring on SPOT when she signed it off in the last couple of days.
Milgate Primary School has implemented a highly strategic approach to school improvement in 2022. They have maximised resources to be able to free middle level leadership from teaching responsibilities enabling them to drive school improvement. Leadership has sourced external supports both within Australia and world wide to build their teacher pedagogical knowledge, refinement of PYP and consistency of practice.
The Principal is to be congratulated for building a culture based on distributive leadership and utilising the strengths within the team. In addition, Milgate is building on system-wide improvement particularly with regards to PYP by using their own personnel to support other schools. Milgate is having enrolment pressures which will need to be carefully monitored to ensure sufficient capacity for in zone students. They are to be congratulated for what they have achieved and the manner in which they have considered key decisions.
STUDENT SPOTLIGHTS
Olivia 3TW Gymnastics
Olivia in 3TW competed in a recent competition to qualify for the Victorian State Gymnastics Championships which will be held on 22 and 23 October. We congratulate Olivia and wish her all the best in the State Championships.
Bella 6SB Gymnastics
Bella’s final gymnastics competition for this season happened just before the holidays. Her troupe placed 2nd of 9 in the Spotlight Under 14.
They did really well despite lots of injuries and colds. So it was hard fought all round.
Congratulations Bella.
CYBER SAFETY PROJECT UPDATE
TERM 4 FREE WEBINAR SERIES
As part of our commitment to creating safe online communities the @cybersafetyproject have created a FREE Webinar Series for Families commencing in Term 4!
Each live and interactive webinar is designed for parents/guardians to join with their tweens and teens (aged 10 - 15). We’ll be diving straight into important themes and help parents ‘start the chat’.
These open events are free for all of the community, so please help spread the word by sharing with every parent you know!!
🔒11th OCT - Cyber Security at Home
📱9th NOV - My First Mobile Phone
🎮22nd NOV - Online Gaming Safety
💜28th NOV - Digital Balance & Well-being
👉 Register via link in bio
cybersafetyproject.com.au/events/
Photos in folder to add
CLASS CONSIDERATIONS / STUDENT PLACEMENTS FOR 2023
Closing Date | Friday 28 October
When developing individual classes each year, teachers consider a number of factors including academic ability, special skills and talents, social competencies, gender, students who work well together, those who may not work well together and friendship groupings.
While the students are consulted about current friendships, it is only one of the criteria considered because building new relationships is also part of our education process and an important skill for students to develop.
The placement of students for the coming year is a complex process where teachers put great thought and sensitivity into their planning. They discuss, reflect and review their decisions over a period of time.
If students have any learning or social needs to be considered when placing them in classes for 2023, parents can write a letter / email addressed to the Principal debbie.mierisch@education.vic.gov.au stating their needs and requests for consideration. If parents have written requests in previous years, we do not retain these as students’ needs and friendships change from year to year. If the consideration from a previous year is still important, a new letter should be written.
Please note that multiple student friend requests or requests that impact on another student’s class placement cannot be considered in the process. Parents are also not able to request specific teachers. The closing date for these considerations is Friday 28th October. Any requests received after this date are not able to be considered.
WELLBEING
Our fortnightly SWPBS focus is We are caring - use kind words and listen to others. The students will practice Active Constructive Responding and reflect on how this impacts their wellbeing. They will also focus on speaking kindly to themselves and how positive self-talk can improve how they feel about themselves.