St Francis of the Fields Primary School in Strathfieldsaye is proud to announce that they are now officially recognised as a 5-star certified ResourceSmart School and as such are sustainability leaders in schools across the globe.  

On Friday 25 August at school assembly, the St Francis Primary Earthcare Team shared the school’s journey to 5 Stars with their extended school community. Emily Condon and Debbie Rovere from ResourceSmart School presented a 5 star Certification to Principal, Tim Moloney and students from the Earthcare Team.

The ResourceSmart School program is an award-winning school program designed to help schools embed sustainability into everything they do. The program provides practical support to schools to reduce resource use, make cost savings, integrate sustainability into the curriculum and share learnings beyond the school gate. The program also recognises and rewards schools through Sustainability Certification. Stars are obtained through the completion of actions and achieving benchmarks for resource use.

The school is named after St Francis of Assisi. During his life, St Francis developed a deep love of nature and animals and is known as the patron saint of the environment and animals. The school is inspired by the spirit and wisdom of St Francis of Assisi to live out the values of peace, joy, service, harmony and respect for all people and creation.

The school commenced its ResourceSmart School journey in 2007, although the school has a long history of involvement in sustainability. Across the last 20 years, the school has developed different student teams to lead and support their work in sustainability. They are strongly supported by staff and parents. The school has been involved in community programs and activities such as creek restoration, the Vinnies Winter and Christmas Appeals, Bendigo Food Share, Coliban Water and LandCare.

The school has strongly embedded sustainability practices into their teaching through a dedicated sustainability program OASIS (Our Amazing Sustainability in Schools), the use of dedicated recycling and waste management systems, including separating and sorting waste, vegetable gardens and orchard, compost systems, worm farms and chooks, bee and insect hotels and integrated sustainability units of study across all year levels. The school is surrounded by farmland and the children assist in the care of the cows, sheep and farm animals where possible.

As a 5-star school, St Francis of the Fields Primary School celebrates and promotes the school's achievements and acknowledges those who helped the school to get there. The school is mentoring others and showcasing how they have embedded sustainability across their school and community.

We acknowledge Monsignor Frank Marriott who was the parish priest when the school was established, the parishioners, families, teachers and John Hermann the first principal who dreamt of a school that lived out the inspiration of St Francis of Assisi. Through their courage, work and perseverance they brought to life St Francis of the Fields.

We also acknowledge and thank all the St Francis of the Fields leaders in the area of sustainability who have led our school on this sustainability journey so well – Paul Dullard, Grant Shannon, Raelene Gooch and Matt Butcher.

St Francis of the Fields Primary School would like to express our gratitude for the combined efforts to achieve the 5-star Resource Smart School certification of the past and present students, whole school staff, parents, families and for the specialised ResourceSmart School facilitator assistance from Robyn Maclean and Debbie Rovere.