Pastoral Care & Wellbeing

Parent Resources

At St Patrick’s College, we know that a young person’s wellbeing is shaped not just by what happens at school, but by the combined influence of home, family, and community. You are your son’s first and most important teacher, and the role you play in his growth—emotionally, socially, spiritually, and academically—is irreplaceable. As Michael Grose, a leading educator on parenting, reminds us: “When schools and parents work together, children do better, stay in school longer, are more engaged with their schoolwork, and go on to higher levels of education.”

We also recognise that raising boys in today’s world can be challenging. Social pressures, changing technologies, and a fast-paced culture can make parenting feel like navigating unfamiliar waters. The truth is, we’re all still learning—and that’s okay. As Dr. Ian Lillico, a respected voice in boys’ education, notes: “Boys flourish when the significant adults in their lives form strong alliances to support them—sharing consistent messages about values, expectations, and wellbeing.”

Our commitment at St Patrick’s College is not just to your son, but to you as parents. Wellbeing is a team effort, and you are a vital part of that team. We are here to walk alongside you, to listen, and to provide tools that can make this journey more manageable, rewarding, and hopeful.

In this edition, I’ll share opportunities for you to grow your own knowledge and understanding of wellbeing—so you can reinforce at home the messages we are teaching at school. By working together, we give our boys the best chance to thrive in mind, body, and spirit.

St Patrick’s College – Online Safety Hub

Our Online Safety Hub helps parents to find a rich library of helpful resources, including app reviews, how-to guides and advice on an array of online safety topics. School staff and leaders have access to an array of practical guides and information that can be used in the classroom or to inform school governance.

Parent Learning Opportunity – Online Bullying

The first instalment from our Online Safety Hub for parents is Online Bullying FAQs. This resource addresses many of the common questions parents have about online bullying and offers practical strategies you can use at home.

It includes conversation starters and prompts to help you talk with your son about his online world, empowering him to make safe and respectful choices. Whether your child has experienced online bullying, seen it happen to others, or is simply navigating the challenges of social media, these discussions can help strengthen his resilience and decision-making.

You can access Online Bullying FAQs below and I encourage you to take a few minutes to explore it. The more consistent the messages between home and school, the more supported our boys feel in their wellbeing journey.

Vaping Decoded – Upcoming Parent Webinar and Seminar

Join us for an engaging webinar that empowers parents and community leaders with practical tools and evidence-based insights to better understand and address youth vaping.