Director of Learning and Teaching

Supporting Every Learner:  What's Happening in Learning & Teaching

At Monivae, we are committed to understanding where every student is in their learning journey and providing the right support to help them thrive.  This article focuses on two important initiatives: the recent completion of NAPLAN and our exciting new peer support program, Thrive Together.

NAPLAN:  Turning Data into Action

NAPLAN has almost been completed for another year, and we want to take a moment to thank students and families for their engagement with this important assessment. In particular, the students demonstrated great resilience.  While the test itself is behind us, the real work — and the real value — is just beginning.

What is NAPLAN actually for?

NAPLAN is a national assessment that gives us a consistent, evidence-based picture of how students are progressing in literacy and numeracy.  It is not a pass or fail test, and it is not the only measure of student achievement.  Rather, it provides our teachers and school leaders with a valuable set of data points to complement everything else they know about your child.

How our staff use NAPLAN results

When results are returned, our teachers and Learning & Teaching team work together to analyse the data in a number of meaningful ways:

• Identifying individual strengths and areas for growth — so teachers can tailor their approach to each student's needs.
• Tracking progress over time — comparing results across year levels to understand growth trajectories.
• Informing classroom practice — results are used in faculty planning meetings to adjust teaching strategies and resources.
• Targeting support early — students who may benefit from additional assistance are identified promptly, so intervention can begin without delay.
• School-wide curriculum review — aggregate data helps us evaluate whether our programs are having the intended impact and where we can improve.

Individual student reports will be distributed to families later in the year.  If you have any questions about your child's results or what they mean, please don't hesitate to reach out to their class teacher or our Director Learning & Teaching (hbalkin@monivae.vic.edu.au).

Introducing Thrive Together | Peer Support That Makes a Difference

We are thrilled to announce the launch of Thrive Together, a brand-new peer tutoring program designed to give students a welcoming, low-pressure space to get help with their studies.

Thrive Together - at a glance

How does it work?

Thrive Together is run by a dedicated group of Year 12 students who volunteer their lunchtime to sit alongside younger students and work through problems together. Whether a student needs help understanding a tricky concept, wants to review work before an assessment, or simply benefits from having a calm, focused space to study, Thrive Together is here for them.

Why peer tutoring?

Research consistently shows that peer learning is highly effective.  Students often find it easier to ask questions of a fellow student, and peer tutors — having recently navigated the same curriculum — bring a fresh and relatable perspective.  The program also builds leadership, communication, and empathy skills in our Year 12 tutors, making it a rewarding experience for everyone involved.

Getting involved

Students simply drop in to the Silent Study Room any Wednesday lunchtime — no booking required.  We encourage all students who would like a little extra support, or who just want a quiet and purposeful place to work, to come along and give it a try.

We are incredibly proud of our Year 12 students for stepping up in this way.  Their commitment to the school community is a wonderful example of the culture we are building here — one where students genuinely look out for one another.

A Reminder:  Appropriate Use of School Laptops

School laptops are a powerful learning tool.  However, we have noticed an increasing number of students using their devices for purposes that are not related to their classwork during lesson time.  We want to take this opportunity to restate our expectations clearly.

Our policy is straightforward: school laptops are to be used for learning tasks as directed by the classroom teacher.  This means that during lessons, unless a teacher has specifically permitted it, laptops should not be used for gaming, streaming, social media, personal messaging, or any other non-academic activity.

What we ask of students:

• Keep your laptop closed or on the desktop until your teacher asks you to use it.
• Use your device only for the task your teacher has set.
• If you finish early, check with your teacher before moving to other activities.
• Remember that teachers can monitor device activity on the school network.

We also ask parents and caregivers to reinforce these expectations at home. Conversations about responsible technology use make a real difference, and students who understand why these boundaries exist — protecting their focus and their learning time — are far more likely to respect them. 

Mrs Healther Balkin

Director Learning and Teaching