Principal's Update

Dear Families,

Our students will take part in our annual Caritas Walk on the walking track around our school grounds on Friday 20 March at 9.30am. All parents, siblings and grandparents are most welcome to take part in this walk.

This special event helps our children understand that even small actions can make a big difference. By walking together, we stand in solidarity with communities around the world who face poverty, injustice, and hardship.

The funds we raise through Project Compassion support life‑changing programs that provide education, clean water, healthcare, and opportunities for families to thrive. Our Caritas Walk is a simple but powerful way for students to live out compassion, gratitude, and hope—values at the heart of our school community.

Loving God,

As we prepare for our Caritas Walk,

open our hearts to those in our world who face hardship, poverty, and injustice.

Help us to remember that even the smallest actions,

done with love, can bring hope and make a real difference.

Bless our students, families, and staff

as we walk together in solidarity with communities near and far.

May this simple act remind us of the values at the heart of our school

— compassion, gratitude, and care for others.

Guide us to follow Jesus’ example of kindness and generosity,

and may our efforts through Project Compassion

help build a world where all people can live with dignity.

We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

2027 Enrolment – Change of dates (repeat)

We will hold our Enrolment Information night this term, as well as our Principal Led Learning Tours. The dates for these are as follows:

March 23 Principal Led Learning Tour @ 5.00pm
March 24 Principal Led Learning Tour @ 9.30am
March 25 Principal Led Learning Tour @ 12.30pm

We will also hold our Enrolment Information evening on Tuesday 24 March @ 7.30pm in the Meeting Room.

Please note that parents can complete the enrolment application form attached to our school website link under the “Enrolment Application” button.

Please note that enrolments will be open from Tuesday 21 April and will close on Friday 22 May. These dates are the same for all Bendigo Catholic schools.

School Photographs

I am informing families that our school photographs will be held on Thursday 26 & Friday 27 March. Hopefully this early notification will ensure attendance of all students. Please ensure all children are dressed in their full summer uniform (NOT Sports uniform) on BOTH days.

Unique image codes will be issued to all students on/after photo day so families can register online to view images when they become available in the web shop. Registration is simple, just follow the 3 simple steps on your child’s personalised flyer once you receive it and remember to add the codes for all your children attending this school. Even if you registered last year, it’s important that you re-register again this year using your child’s 2026 image code to link their images for the current year with your contact details.

Prepare to change over to winter uniform

The weather, over the next 9-10 weeks, can vary greatly in temperature. Subsequently, for the first four weeks of Term 2 students can wear either summer or winter uniform. However, all students are required to be in the Winter uniform by Monday 18 May.

Term 1 Holidays

Please note that Term 1 ends on Thursday 2 April at 2.30pm.

Term 2 resumes on Tuesday 21 April as our diocese is holding 1 professional learning day on 20 April.

Term 2 Public Holidays & Pupil Free Days

Just letting all families know that St. Francis of the Fields Primary School will be closed on the following dates in Term 2:

Monday 20 April - Learning & Teaching PD (Pupil Free Day)
Friday 5 June - Student Wellbeing & Safeguarding PD (Pupil Free Day)
Monday 8 June - King’s Birthday Holiday

Traffic concerns - Repeat

There has been several concerning traffic incidents at drop-off and pick-up that I need everybody’s help with.

On several occasions, children have exited the car on the right-hand side at the rainbow drop off area.
Some vehicles have pulled out of the rainbow drop-off zone without moving through to the front section. This creates a potential risk, particularly if a child has exited on the right-hand side, and is also hazardous to the cars driving around towards the carpark entrance when cars just pull out from the middle of the lane.
A few drivers have driven down the right-hand side of the grassed area (towards the carpark entrance) instead of following the designated path around the flagpole. On one occasion, an oncoming vehicle was forced to stop and reverse to allow them through.
We have also witnessed drivers entering the Assisi carpark via the exit, at speed on the wrong side of the road out of frustration for the long queues.

I understand these frustrations, especially when wet, but we need to ensure the safety of all. Please show the necessary patience. Thank you.

Shed Unavailability

The shed will be unavailable for training use on the following dates:

Thursday 26 March - School Photos
Friday 27 March - School Photos

Assembly

6R will lead our next school assembly on Friday 20 March from 2.45pm in the Shed. All parents, grandparents and guardians are most welcome to attend.

Christ has no hands but yours.

Tim Moloney

Principal

Congratulations!!

On the weekend of 7 & 8th March, Nate and Oscar Dickman entered the Lego competition at the Harcourt Apple Festival.

Nate's age group were asked to build bumper cars, while Oscar's age group were asked to build a bridge.

Nate placed 2nd and Oscar placed 3rd in their respective age categories.

Congratulations to Nate and Oscar!