Ribbon cut on Catholic school’s new building

A NEW five million dollar learning centre at St Francis of the Fields Primary School was opened with an official ceremony and blessing last Friday.

The centre includes eight classrooms, four office spaces, two intervention learning areas, and a learning diversity space for children who require extra support.

The State Government contributed $4.98 million through the Victorian Government Capital Funding Program to the project.

Principal, Tim Moloney, said the school was thankful for the support of the program and the school’s operations team.

“I’m so grateful for the State Government’s support of the building of our beautiful senior learning centre,” he said.

“I’d also like to acknowledge the Catholic Education Sandhurst operations team members who assisted in supporting the efficacy of our funding application.”

The students and staff were also commended for dealing with the constant disruption during the construction of the building.

“I’d also like to acknowledge the work of our staff and students who were required to move rooms, furniture and teaching materials so many times,” he said.

“When the portables were then moved back and forth, your ability to handle the impositions placed on you with such grace was a credit to you.”

Member for Bendigo East, Jacinta Allan, was on hand for the opening and said the building was a boon for the students and school.

“It’s wonderful to join you here today for what is an incredibly exciting day for the school community,” she said.

“Not just because of what the physical buildings represent here in terms of the structure that we put around education.

“But it also makes sure we are supporting our students and staff with the best possible physical structures.”

Ms Allan also praised the St Francis of the Fields community for what’s achieved at the school.

“Tim, I’d like to congratulate you and your staff and the parent community for the work you do,” she said.

“Not just on a big day like today but also every single day providing top-quality education to students here at St Francis of the Fields.”