Pastoral Care & Wellbeing

PULSE Wellbeing Surveys

Supporting Our Boys to Start the Day Well

At St Patrick’s College, we use our PULSE wellbeing survey as a way of regularly checking in with students about how they are feeling across different areas of their lives, both at school and at home. Each week, boys take a few moments to reflect on things like their wellbeing, relationships, learning, and daily habits. This gives us valuable insight into what is going well and where we can continue to support them.

Our most recent data from one section (material basics) highlights many positives. In particular, boys report very strong outcomes in areas such as:

• Home environment – 88% of responses are neutral to positive, with 57% strongly positive
• Access to basic needs – 94% of responses are neutral to positive

These are terrific results and reflect the strong support our families are providing.

A focus on nutrition

One area where the data gives us an opportunity to keep improving is around nutrition and starting the day well.

• Around 11% of students report not regularly eating breakfast, with others indicating it is inconsistent
• In general nutrition, only 34% of students report strongly positive habits, with nearly half sitting in the “middle” range

This suggests that while students are not going without food, the consistency and quality of what they are eating, particularly in the morning, can sometimes be improved.

We also know that many of our boys are increasingly independent, catching buses, walking to school, or stopping at shops along the way. It’s quite common for students to arrive with soft drinks, flavoured milk, or takeaway food. While this is often about convenience and independence, these choices can lead to short bursts of energy followed by a drop-off, making it harder to concentrate and stay engaged across the school day.

How families can support

This isn’t about blame or “perfect” routines rather, it’s about working together to help our boys build awareness and positive habits over time.

Some simple ways families can support include:

• Encouraging a simple breakfast at home where possible, even something small can make a difference
• Having conversations with your son about what he is choosing to buy on the way to school or during the day
• Supporting better choices, such as water instead of soft drink, or more substantial food options that will sustain energy levels
• Helping boys plan ahead, particularly on busy mornings, so they’re not relying on quick convenience options

A shared approach

As a school, we will continue to work with students to build their understanding of how nutrition impacts their energy, focus and overall wellbeing.

The data gives us a helpful starting point, but the real impact comes from the conversations and habits that develop over time. When school and home are working together, boys are far more likely to make choices that support both their wellbeing and their learning.

The St Pat’s Way – Strong Focus

In 2025, St Patrick’s College staff worked collaboratively to develop a clear and consistent set of behavioural norms and expectations for students. These discussions led to the creation of “The St Pat’s Way”, a shared framework that outlines how we want our classrooms to operate so that teaching and learning can be maximised for every student.

Throughout Term 1, our focus has been on establishing a Strong Start to lessons, ensuring that classes begin calmly, purposefully, and with clear expectations. This has provided an important foundation for learning, and we will continue to build on this work across the year.

As we move into Term 2, our attention shifts to the next phase: Strong Focus.

Strong Focus is about what happens once the lesson is underway. It centres on helping students to remain engaged, minimise distractions, and make the most of their learning time. This includes supporting boys to:

• Stay attentive and on-task during class
• Be actively involved in their learning
• Respect the learning environment of others
• Develop the habits of persistence and concentration

This phase is particularly important as it supports boys not just to start well, but to sustain their effort and engagement throughout the lesson.

We recognise that maintaining focus, especially in a busy and often distracting world, is a skill that needs to be explicitly taught, practised, and reinforced. Our staff will continue to work closely with students to build these habits, providing clear expectations and consistent support in every classroom.

How can parents support?

As always, the success of initiatives like The St Pat’s Way is strongest when school and home are working together. Conversations at home about the importance of focus, effort, and making positive choices in the classroom can make a meaningful difference.

By continuing to build on Strong Start and now developing Strong Focus, we are supporting our boys to become more effective learners, equipping them with habits that will benefit them both at school and beyond.

Uniform Reminder – Term 2 

A reminder to families that during Term 2, students are required to wear the College winter uniform, which includes school trousers. Shorts are not permitted during this term, other than on approved sports days.

Approved St Patrick’s College trousers are available from Dobsons Schoolwear.

Thank you for your support in upholding College uniform standards.