Learning
& Engagement

English

As you may be aware, the Victorian Department of Education has launched an updated curriculum for all Victorian schools. Malvern Valley Primary School has already transitioned to this new curriculum, and also to a new instructional teaching model that supports the curriculum.

The new English curriculum is a sequential learning continuum that develops knowledge, understanding and skills across three interrelated areas: Language, Literature and Literacy. Within these three areas, students will build skills in listening, speaking, reading, viewing and writing.

Additionally, as part of the new English curriculum, the way in which phonics and spelling is taught has been revised. At MVPS, students will receive daily spelling lessons using PhOrMeS, an evidence-based approach to phonics and spelling instruction.

Junior Years

In the junior years, PhOrMeS takes the form of Systematic, Synthetic Phonics, where students are introduced to letter-to-sound relationships (codes) in a sequenced manner, learn to read by blending these codes, spell words containing these codes using segmenting, and build from small vowel-consonant & consonant-vowel-consonant syllable structures through to multisyllabic words.

Students are also introduced to grammatical morphemes (such as -s, -ing, -ed), and learn various spelling rules.

Senior Years

In our senior classrooms, the focus is on reading/spelling words with Latin and Greek roots. These words have multiple morphemes, suffixes and prefixes. As students are taught these words, they learn etymology (history of words) and expand their vocabulary.

To support your child in English, MVPS utilises evidence based practices such as, book studies which include explicitly taught vocabulary, grammar and sentence structure; mini-whiteboards for enhanced student engagement and teacher feedback; and engagement protocols to minimise the cognitive load for our students.

Our school library will continue to be integral as students borrow books to bring home, or use in their personal book box in the classroom.

What you can do at home to support your child:

• Read, read, read! Reading at home is essential. Students at MVPS are expected to be reading daily at home.

During this time, whether your child is in Prep or Year 6, we encourage all families to listen to their children read aloud. Share the joy of books together by discussing the characters and events in the text

– make predictions, connections and comparisons, give opinions, note word  choices, define new words

– and most importantly, have fun.

• Encourage your child to write in authentic ways – perhaps they could write the shopping list for you or compose letters to send to friends and family.

Maths

At MVPS, we are committed to developing confident and capable mathematical thinkers. Our Mathematics program ensures students build strong foundations, develop fluency, and apply their learning in real-world contexts.

With the new Victorian Teaching and Learning Model 2.0, we focus on explicit teaching while maintaining rich, open-ended learning experiences that develop reasoning, problem-solving, and critical thinking.

The updated Mathematics curriculum follows a sequential continuum, embedding the four key proficiencies—Understanding, Fluency, Reasoning, and Problem-Solving—to help students think flexibly and apply their learning in different contexts.

At MVPS, we ensure students develop strong foundations in:

• Number Sense – recognising patterns and relationships in numbers
• Place Value – understanding the structure of our number system
• Multiplicative Thinking – applying efficient multiplication and division strategies
• Fractional Thinking – working with fractions, decimals, and percentages in meaningful contexts

Students engage with hands-on learning to build fluency and develop a deep understanding of number relationships. As they progress, they apply their knowledge to complex problem-solving situations, exploring strategies, justifying reasoning, and evaluating solutions.

We use evidence-based teaching practices, including:

• Explicit teaching for clear instruction
• Engaging in problem-solving tasks to encourage flexible thinking
• Mathematical discussions to develop reasoning
• Hands-on materials and digital tools to support understanding

What you can do at home to support your child:

• Make maths part of everyday life—involve children in shopping, measuring, and budgeting.
• Play number-based games—card games, board games, and puzzles support fluency.
• Encourage reasoning—ask how they solved a problem.
• Use Mathletics—students can log in at home to practise key skills through interactive activities. Login details were sent home earlier in the year; please see your child’s classroom teacher if you need an additional copy.

Wellbeing

The school’s Wellbeing Program is underpinned by the evidence-based Positive Education framework that is comprised of the domains of Positive Emotions, Engagement, Relationships, Purpose, Health and Accomplishment. It is taught explicitly throughout the week and habits of positive wellbeing are practised at the beginning of every session, every day in every class.

Our Values underpin all expectations of behaviours and actions as a community. They are espoused every day by everyone. They are:

• Resilience: Being able to bounce back and make the most of a situation when unexpected things happen
• Respect:  Having regard for yourself, other and property
• Cooperation: Working together for the good of everyone
• Confidence: Having faith and trust in yourself

Inquiry

Our MVPS Inquiry learning program is based on the belief that all students are capable learners who can collaborate to explore and learn about the world they live in.  Inquiry challenges students to drive their own learning and fosters thinking skills, enabling our students to problem solve. Our Inquiry units integrate the following Victorian Curriculum areas and capabilities:

The Humanities: Geography, History, Civics & Citizenship and Economics & Business

The Capabilities: Critical & Creative Thinking, Intercultural, Ethical and Personal and Social.

The Technologies: Design & Digital Technologies

Science: Earth & Space, Biological, Chemical and Physical Science 

Inquiry develops a range of transferable skills;

• Digital literacy
• Critical & Creative Thinking
• Planning and self-management
• Organisation and communication.

Inquiry lessons allow students:

•  the chance to ask questions
•  articulate their wonderings about their world
•  take ownership and autonomy of their learning 
•  forge connections with the local community in order to become global citzens.
• to experience related activities and incursions/excursions
• opportunities to take action and make change!
• collaborative learning and building team work skills.