Wellbeing - Middle School

Thriving from Relational Learning

Over the last week, the Middle School Wellbeing Team at the College has been looking at some of our wellbeing and learning data from Term 1, as a means of reflection and further recommendations. We have also undergone comparisons to data from Term 1, 2023. 

Overwhelmingly, we have seen evidence of a high proportion of positive instances that teachers have communicated to relevant staff and parents/carers across the College - particularly regarding engagement, application, attitude, and commendations. This really brings to light the effect of opportunities that are provided where students feel safe, happy, and equipped for learning. More specifically, it speaks to me of the balance between boys perhaps and relationships, and that boys are relational learners.

Creating a classroom environment that is structured and consistent where boys feel safe to succeed and improve is an important factor. A lot of the positive comments in formal data but in anecdotal conversations point to the following factors that are increasingly evident in our classes:

• valuing the voice and life experience of boys
• connecting boys’ learning to context
• appreciating the internal and external pressures of boys; balancing sport, school, tuition etc. and subsequently engaging in pastoral conversations where possible in the classroom/ outside
• identifying and tackling blocks to learning in bite-size pieces to find solutions.

When you, as parents/carers, continue to activate trust and positive emotions at home, you’re able to help your sons foster cooperative relationships, continue to build resilience, persistence and increase motivation. These are all necessary skills that they will need to succeed in school, as they specifically transition in a few important timeframes within our Middle School:

• new to the College in Year 5 
• Primary to secondary school from Year 6 into Year 7
• Year 8 into Year 9 where subject choice and increased autonomy has occurred.

We all have a part to play to strengthen their wellbeing and in turn for their learning to thrive and flourish. Here at St Patrick’s College and along with your help and support, the proof is in the pudding, and we are doing this well, but we should always continue asking: “what are more strategies we can be doing to progress a culture of resilient, engaged young men ready to engage and always contribute positively to society.”

Alexandros Sinadinos

Director of Middle School