Teaching Council
Number 205338, St. Mary's DS, Drogheda
“There has never been a greater need for extra wellbeing support in schools. What Wolf Academy has created is an amazing suite of programs that is just what is needed for students in Senior Cycle at the moment. Cormack and his team have an amazing youthful energy and I believe they will really connect with young people in a way that older generations can’t. Their workshop content is to the highest quality I have seen and they have brought together experts in such a wide range of wellbeing disciplines. The workshops are well thought out and tackle a variety of the different problems students face. From breathing techniques to help reduce their anxiety to goal setting for their future to performing better in sport, Wolf Academy has something for every student.
The personal stories of the coaches are what makes these workshops so engaging for students and the use of a workbook with action steps helps drive home what they are learning. The workshops are exactly what teachers are looking for at the moment. They are already bogged down with a huge workload so the fact they don’t need to learn anything extra for wellbeing makes these workshops very appealing to use in class.
I cannot recommend Wolf Academy strongly enough for principals and teachers to begin implementing as a fundamental core piece of their school’s wellbeing strategy for the Senior Cycle.”
Betty McLaughlin,
Regional Team Leader, JCT Wholeschool and Wellbeing, Former National President of The Institute of Guidance Counsellors
Ciarán Murphy,
TY Coordinator, St Patrick’sÂ
Classical School Navan
“I have known Cormac and Daryl for several years, firstly as students in St Patrick's Classical school and, more recently, in their capacity as creators of Wolf Academy. They have also been professional in all dealings but the element that I have been most impressed with is the quality of the content that they have produced. This quality is both in the content that they present but also in the way that it is presented, with its ease of navigation, its engaging layout and the relevance of the topics for students in the current situation. As TY Coordinator, my students have also commented to me on how much they have enjoyed the workshops that they have undertaken and the benefits that they have noticed from participating. I would happily recommend Wold Academy to any other school and I look forward to continuing working with Cormac and Daryl in the future.”
My Transition Years signed up a variety of Wolf Academy's Create Yourself workshops during the remote learning weeks of early 2021 as part of the Life Skills and SPHE classes; the students found the experience very rewarding. The site is very easy to navigate; each student has their own log in where they can progress at their own pace, evaluation questionnaires after every workshop help students reflect on the experience. The quality of the videos is excellent, each presenter is warm and easy to listen to, students are immediately interested in what is being said, particularly when some of the speakers give their personal stories and how they overcame past struggles.
The variety of the content means that the topics are relatable for students and very relevant for teenagers and the world they live in today. Doing these workshops has encouraged my students to embrace and value calmness; motivated them to get the very best out of their day through good sleep habits, nutrition and exercise; acknowledge stress and coping tools to manage stress, recognise how the body and mind are connected and influence better thinking through breathing, and above all these workshops have empowered my students to boost their self-confidence. I highly recommend these workshops and intend to include them as part of the TY programme in my school for future years.”
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Aideen O'Sullivan,
TY Coordinator, St Joseph's Mercy Secondary School, Navan
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Fiachra Ross,
Teaching Council
Number 205338, St. Mary's DS, Drogheda
“I Fiachra Ross, currently a teacher in St. Mary's D.S Drogheda, have been using Wolf Academy’s fantastic resources since after the Halloween break, I have used it with My T.Y classes and some S.P.H.E classes when I am filling in. I can't recommend Wolf Academy enough as everything is completed for you and it's just a simple case of logging on. Their use of I.T and videos is very welcomed in the age of technology however there is a good mix as you can also use their workshop packs. These include classroom based activities. I have used their workshop packs for discussion of topics in class. These can introduce the workshop and give aims and thoughts of developing their topic further.
The videos and instructions given also help both the teacher and student engage on a personal level and an educational level. They have a vast number of speakers and educators. This is the first in its kind that I have encountered in wellbeing and has set goals and activities which would be great on a wellbeing workshop. What's even better is that this workshop could be given to either an adult or student as the activities and workshop undertaken could relate to either one. I use this as part of my Community Care program in school and I have enjoyed the topics discussed as it brought about great debate in my classroom.”
The Wolf Academy lads have a unique approach. From the second the workshop started the students were engaged. It was a fantastic day full of laughter, confidence building, and something just a little bit different. The students thought it was “extremely motivational”, and it gave them a “massive sense of relief from their fears and worries.” A great way to start the academic year!
Rebecca Jones
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Tony Brady,
Principal, Colaiste Phadraig Lucan
"As part of our school wellbeing programme this year, Cormac and Daryl from the Wolf Academy worked with our Senior Cycle students while Paddy worked with our staff.
Paddy completed three one hour sessions with our staff via Zoom on three
consecutive Monday evenings. Attendance was voluntary but approximately 35 staff members attended all three sessions. The theme for the workshops was 'Building a Resilient Brain'. Paddy covered topics such as coping with the pandemic, the 5 pillars of resilience, emotional and social wellbeing, mental fitness, coping strategies and happiness and the brain. The feedback from the staff was very positive - they felt that the workshops were interesting and worth doing. Paddy gave a lot of practical tips that can be used on a day to day basis. Staff also found it useful to hear a different voice from outside the field of education.
At the outset of the wellbeing program with our Senior Cycle students, Cormac
and Daryl gave a one hour talk to the students sharing their personal stories of their journey to this point in their lives. They forged a great connection with the students, captivating students interest throughout. These one hour sessions were followed by students completing three online courses - 'Optimising your Day', 'Visualising your Future' and 'All about your Emotional Wellbeing'. Students enjoyed the courses and found them to be engaging and relevant. They liked the fact that they were able to work at their own pace. In some cases, students completed some of the courses in their own time at home.
In the current pandemic, I have no hesitation in recommending the work of Cormac, Daryl and Paddy to any school. They have
been a great addition to our schools wellbeing program."