Mulwala Public School students Xander and Jacob enjoying their cooked breakfast.
Something special is cooking at Mulwala Public School each Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday morning, and it’s doing much more than filling hungry tummies.
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Thanks to the generous support of ClubMulwala, students are starting their school day with a hearty breakfast of bacon, eggs, hash browns and toast, along with cereal, milk and juice.
Principal Kylie Ellis said the breakfast program was born from her strong belief that children’s wellbeing is the foundation for successful learning.
“There’s a lot of research around how a healthy diet increases children’s ability to focus and concentrate,” Kylie said.
With the school’s first eating break not until 11am, children who have breakfast at home around 7am can face a long stretch without food, particularly during the important morning hours when literacy and numeracy learning takes place.
Since introducing the program, Kylie said the difference had been “phenomenal”, with students noticeably more settled, focused and ready to learn.
ClubMulwala’s support also extends to fresh fruit platters delivered to classrooms each morning, ensuring every child has access to a healthy snack throughout the school day.
Importantly, breakfast is available to everyone, removing any stigma and creating a welcoming, inclusive and social start to the day. With just 31 students enrolled, most eagerly take part.
Along the way, the children are learning valuable life skills, from preparing their own cereal and toast to practising good manners when asking for hot food, before sitting down together to eat and chat.
For Kylie, the school's small size is one of its greatest strengths.
Smaller classes allow teachers to get to know each child individually, and tailor learning for children who may need additional support, while also extending gifted and talented students.
It's this personalised approach, combined with a strong emphasis on wellbeing, belonging and positivity, that Kylie hopes more families will come to recognise and value.
“If our students don’t feel a sense of belonging, if they don’t feel comfortable, content and safe here, then the learning won’t happen,” Kylie said.
Looking ahead, Kylie hopes the breakfast program can eventually expand from three mornings a week to five.
Ready to serve: Mulwala Public School Principal Kylie Ellis with support teachers Debbie Donoghue and Joanne Taylor are already seeing “phenomenal” results from a recently introduced breakfast program at the school.
For now, watching the children gather around the breakfast table, sharing food, conversation and smiles, is already a special reward.
“It warms my heart,” she said. “They’re the rewarding moments.”
Club helps kids thrive
For ClubMulwala CEO Andrew Patterson, supporting Mulwala Public School’s breakfast program is about much more than providing a nutritious meal. It’s about giving local children the best possible start to their day and every opportunity to thrive.
The partnership began when school principal Kylie Ellis approached the Club for assistance. Andrew did not hesitate to meet with Kylie to discuss the challenges facing the school and how the Club could make a positive difference.
“The board was committed to trying to make Mulwala Public School a successful school,” Andrew said.
Through ClubMulwala’s support, students can now enjoy a hot breakfast three mornings a week, along with fresh fruit, with the program open to every child.
Andrew said ensuring all students could participate was particularly important, allowing families facing challenges to access the program without feeling singled out.
Andrew believes the benefits go well beyond a healthy breakfast, helping students settle into their school day, improve concentration and build friendships as they share a meal together.
“They know there’s a nutritious breakfast, they know there’s people caring for them out there in the community,” Andrew said.
The Club’s generosity will also extend beyond the breakfast table, with Club Mulwala providing its function room for the school’s end-of-year celebration. The Club’s board has also agreed to subsidise meals for students and their families, helping make the occasion more accessible for everyone.
Andrew said the celebration was another opportunity to bring families together and strengthen the sense of community surrounding the school.
For ClubMulwala, the initiative reflects the Club’s responsibility to support the community.
“We exist for the community, we’re supported by the community, and we want to give back to the community,” Andrew said.
The Club plans to meet with Kylie at the end of term to review the program, with hopes the partnership will continue into next year.
Ultimately, Andrew believes investing such a school initiative is an investment in the future of Mulwala.
“We want to help the future of our town and ensure that the children of today are the fine adults of tomorrow,” Andrew said.
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