Upcoming Sporting Dates

Palmers Gymnastics (Fdn)- Wednesday June 10th, 17th
Palmers Gymnastics (Yr 2 & Yr 1)- Thursday June 11th, 18th
Divisional Soccer (Yr 6 only) - Wednesday June 10th
High Jump (Yr 3-6) & 1500m (Yr 4-6) day at school - Tuesday July 23rd *Note this is only for those wishing to take part.
State Cross Country (Melbourne) - Thursday 16th July (for Yr 4-6's qualifying on from the regional cross country)
Divisional Football (Yr 6 only) - Tuesday July 21st
School Athletics Sports (Yr 3-6’s) - Friday July 24th
Divisional Girls & Boys Netball (Yr 6 only) - Wednesday July 29th
Catholic Athletics (students qualifying on from our school sports) - Thursday 20th August
Divisional Basketball (Yr 6 only) - TBC
Divisional Athletics (Yr 4-6's qualifying on from the Catholics sports) - Monday 14th September

Divisional Cross Country

On Friday 22 May, our Cross Country students headed off to the Bendigo racecourse to compete in the divisional cross country. All children are to be congratulated on their efforts, and for representing our school so wonderfully.

We had many outstanding performances, and a huge 18 students qualified for Regional Cross Country. To do so, they needed to be in the top 12 place getters in the blue group (noting 9-year-olds do not move on). We also had several students just miss the top 12, we hope they keep at it and go again next year!

We would also like to recognise the outstanding leadership shown by our Cross Country Captains, Lotti Childs, and Quade Baker. Unfortunately, both were unable to compete due to injury, but despite their own disappointment, they understood that their role was about much more than running.

Throughout the day, they rallied around their teammates, assisted with warm-ups, helped calm nerves before races, celebrated successes, and supported those who may not have achieved the result they were hoping for. Their encouragement, positivity, and leadership were invaluable to the team.

Sport provides wonderful opportunities for young people to step up as leaders, and Lotti and Quade embraced that responsibility with maturity and enthusiasm. We are incredibly proud of the way they represented our school. Well done, Lotti and Quade!

Finally, a big thanks to Paul again for his assistance in the lead up and for taking the time to come along and support our students at the cross country, Paul was gently giving out encouragement as our students turned for home, I’m sure it gave them a really positive boost.

Blue Group Top 12 Individual Results

9yr Boys

3rd – Oscar Ring

4th – Leo Mangan

9th – Harry Brown

9yr Girls

3rd – Sophie Coultas

6th – Ruby Svensen

11th – Luca Meyer

10yr Boys

1st – Gus Arundell

5th – Spencer Pearce

12th – Ned Anderson

10yr Boys

2nd – Hazel McDermott

6th – Fleur Muling

11th – Charlie Rodda

11yr Girls

3rd – Ada Emmerson

4th – Airlie Intamanon

8th – Audrey Brown

12/13yr Girls

4th – Eadie Willis

6th – Adele McKinley

10th – Leticia Bulota

12/13yr Boys

1st – Josh Rodda

2nd – Henry Harrington

7th – Max Nielsen

8th – James Shadbolt

Red Group Top 3 Individual Results

10yr Girls

1st – Billie Prowse

2nd – Stella Harrington

3rd – Ruby Hicks

10yr Boys

1st – Ollie Fitzgerald

2nd – Billy Barnes

11yr Girls

1st – Lucy Fidler

11yr Boys

1st – Kai Mitchell

3rd – Beau Wright

12/13yr Girls

1st – Pippa Fishley

2nd – Eloise Rodda

3rd – Poppy Baker

12/13yr Boys

1st – Aiden McDermott

2nd – Leo Mason

3rd – Jenson Chambers

Team Event Age Group Winners

This event recognises team performance, where students compete in colour groups and their individual placings are combined. The school with the lowest overall total- reflecting the strongest collective results across all age groups wins the award.

We were thrilled to take out a number of these team awards! Leading into the event, we spoke to the students about the importance of giving their best effort all the way to the finish line, regardless of their position. Every place counts, and each student’s effort contributes to their team’s overall success. It was fantastic to see this message embraced so strongly on the day.

9yr girls blue group – Sophie Coultas, Ruby Severson, Luca Meyer, Maddy Gleeson, Charlotte Delaney
9ys boys blue group – Oscar Ring, Leo Mangan, Harry Brown, Jimmy Donat, Kade Jones
10ys girls blue group – Hazel McDermott, Fleur Muling, Charlie Rodda, Louise Doyle, Finley McMillan
10yr boys blue group – Gus Arundell, Spencer Pearce, Ned Anderson, Jack Mummery, Archie Stagg
11yr girls blue group – Ada Emerson, Airlie Intamanon, Audrey Brown, Adelaide Ciancio, Daphane Shackcloth
12/13yr girls blue group – Eadie Willis, Adele McKinley, Leticia Bulota, Bella Hope, Macy Macumber
12/13yr boys blue group – Josh Rodda, Henry Harrington, Max Nielsen, James Shadbolt, Xavier Connolly, Tim Jennings
10yr girls red group – Billie Prowse, Stella Harrington, Ruby Hicks, Primrose Lyons, Ivy McSwain
10yr boys red group – Ollie Fitzgerald, Billy Barnes, Alby Pearce, Jack Fishley, Harvey Taffe
11yr girls red group – Lucy Fidler, Samantha Perry, Aaliyah O’Meara, Jasmine Marshall, Ruby Grinton, Isla Nicholson
11yr boys red group – Kai Mitchell, Beau Wright, Finn Dubyna, Riley Djuric, Harvey Edgley
12/13yr girls red group – Pippa Fishley, Eloise Rodda, Poppy Baker
12/13yr boys red group – Aiden McDermott, Leo Mason, Jenson Chambers, Tom Mason, Noah McGovern

We are continually proud of our students, for the effort and attitude they bring, but more so for the way they look out for each other. It was an absolute joy to watch them get around each other from marshalling, to making sure all their teammates were placed well at the start line, but the absolute highlight was seeing students eyes light up as they saw teammates who crossed the line and placed high enough to progress! Genuine happiness for each other. A big thank you also to our wonderful staff for supporting the students so beautifully as always.

Below is a link to further photos from the Divisional Cross Country

https://www.flickr.com/gp/96690119@N03/43tB756Jr5

Divisional Cross Country - Captains write-up

On Friday 22nd of May, Quade and I where privileged to be able to go to the Divisional Cross Country to help support all the incredible kids who participated in the race. It was a nice sunny day, and we really enjoyed looking out for all the kids and encouraging them as they ran.

A special thankyou to Mrs Zealley, for supporting us and organising our name tags for the event, Paul for his coaching expertise and support and Mrs Coates for her coaching and organisation of the event.

By Lotti Childs and Quade Baker- Cross Country Captains

Regional Cross Country

On Tuesday, 18 students travelled to St Arnaud to compete in the Regional Cross Country Championships. Our students represented the school with pride, demonstrating outstanding effort, determination, and sportsmanship throughout the day.

While there were many fantastic individual performances, what stood out most was the way our students supported and encouraged one another. Whether they were racing or cheering from the sidelines, they celebrated each other's achievements and created a positive team atmosphere.

We are incredibly proud of each and every one of them, especially our Captain - Lotti, who stayed all day to be there for the team!

Results

12/13-year girls - 2nd Eadie Willis
12/13 year girls - 3rd Lotti Childs
12/13-year girls - 13th Leticia Bulota
12/13 year girls - 16th Adele McKinley
12/13 year boys - 1st Josh Rodda
12/13 year boys - 6th Henry Harrington
12/13 year boys - 16th Max Nielsen
12/13 year boys - 17th James Shadbolt
12/13 year boys - 43rd Nash McMaster
11 year girls - 2nd Ada Emmerson
11 year girls - 4th Airlie Intamanon
11 year girls - 10th Audrey Brown
10 year boys - 1st Gus Arundell
10 year boys - 4th Spencer Pearce
10 year boys - 13th Ned Anderson
10 year girls - 3rdHazel McDermott
10 year girls- 17th Fleur Muling
10 year girls- 33rd Charlie Rodda

Congratulations to Eadie, Lotti, Josh, Henry, Ada, Airlie, Audrey, Gus, Spencer and Hazel on their outstanding top 10 finishes at the Regional Cross Country Championships.

We wish them all the very best as they prepare to compete at the State Championships!

Past students success

In the Secondary competition, team awards are presented, and it was particularly special to see the Year 7 winning team made up entirely of students from our school last year. We love to see it!

It was also wonderful to see them offering tips on the course, along with encouragement and support for our current students.

We really value that sense of care and responsibility they showed in supporting their younger peers. It highlights the strong culture we have at St Francis, one that clearly stays with students even as they move into secondary school.

Thank you, girls.

Regional Cross Country - Captains write-up

On Tuesday the 2nd of June, I went to the Regional Cross Country to support all the amazing runners and compete in their 2km & 3km races. It was a cold and rainy day, but we still had lots of fun.

After my race, I really enjoyed cheering on all the younger students in their races. Everybody ran and competed so beautifully. Thank you to Mrs Coates & Paul for all their outstanding effort in coaching us. We can’t thank you enough.

By Lotti Childs and Quade Baker- Cross Country Captains

SSV AFL Trials

We had Eadie Willis, Albie Tyler and Lotti Childs represent the school at the SSV Girls AFL trials over the past few weeks. The girls gave their absolute best efforts, showing great determination, skill and sportsmanship throughout the process. We are incredibly proud of all three girls and the way they represent themselves and our school. We know you all relished in the opportunity and will be better players for it- well done!

SSV Soccer Trials

Last Friday, three of our students traveled to Melbourne to participate in the SSV Soccer Trials. All three competed exceptionally well against some very strong competition - Ryder Singh, Jenson Chambers, and Logan Chambers.

Congratulations to Jenson Chambers, who has progressed to the next stage of trials. We wish Jenson all the best in his next-level trial tomorrow.

We also wish Amelia Cousins all the best as she attends her first trial today.

Well done to all four students on this fantastic achievement and for representing our school so strongly.

State Relays- Little Athletics

Congratulations to two of our students who represented Bendigo Little Athletics at the State Relay Championships over the weekend.

Sophie Coultas and Luca Meyer, alongside their teammate Sienna, competed strongly and achieved an outstanding 9th place in the state.

A fantastic effort by all three girls- Well done.

PE Awards

Each assembly week, we present a tuck shop award.

The criterion for receiving these awards is very straightforward. Students demonstrating outstanding sportsmanship, effort, and attitude will be the prime candidates for these awards.

Congratulations:

Lachlan McCormick
Will Clarke
Tim Jennings

You will receive these awards at the next assembly.

Sporting News: Parents, if you have sporting news that should be shared in the newsletter, please send through a write up and picture to: dcoates@sfstrathfieldsaye.catholic.edu

Other important dates in 2026

Swimming

Junior Swimming: Tuesday 3, Wednesday 4, Thursday 5, Friday 6 Nov

Cross Country

Division Cross Country (Year 3-6’s): Friday 22 May
Regional Cross Country (St Arnaud): Tuesday 2 June
State Cross Country (Melbourne): Thursday 16 July

Athletics

School Athletics Sports (3-6’s): Friday 24 July
Catholic Athletics Championship: TBC
Divisional Athletics Championship: Monday 14 Sept
Regional Athletics Championship: Monday 12 Oct
School Athletic Sports (Fdn- Year 2) on the oval 9.15-11am: Friday 30 Oct
State Athletics Championship (Melbourne): Thursday 5 Nov

Sporting News

Parents, if you have sporting news that should be shared in the newsletter, please send through a completed write up and picture to:

dcoates@sfstrathfieldsaye.catholic.edu.au

Danielle Coates - PE Coordinator

Community Sporting notices

St Francis Newsletter

Term 2 Week 7 · 04 Jun 2026

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