St Francis of the Fields Primary School will be reflecting on the past when it celebrates its 25th anniversary this Friday.
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The Strathfieldsaye school is holding a day-long celebration, including special activities for the children, tours of the school for the public, and special blessings for the students' animals.
There will also be the blessing of a new statue of St Francis, painted by Bendigo artist Terry Jarvis.
"We're a really strong community out here in Strathfieldsaye," principal Tim Moloney said.
"We really want to acknowledge the work of the pioneers but also celebrate the parents who have been part of our school journey as well."
The school will also be opening a time capsule from 1994. Back then, there were only 104 students at the primary school.
With more than 570 children enrolled in 2019, Mr Moloney said the school would create a new time capsule for the next quarter of a century.
"The students have made videos of themselves saying what they're going to be in 25 years time," he said.
"All of the staff members will be doing that as well and we will also be grabbing local newspapers and putting them in there.
"It's been really exciting hearing from each child and finding out what they will doing in 25 years time."
Mr Moloney has encouraged past students and families to come along to the school for the celebrations on Friday.
"We've done an enormous amount of work with Facebook and putting old photos up," he said.
"We've been really delighted with the feedback from past students, past parents, past staff members, and the current ones as well. We're really enjoying every memory that we're receiving."
The celebrations will extend into Friday night, with a special cabaret evening for the adults.
"There was an original band that were parents," Deputy Principal Grace Scalora said. "So they will come back together and they will be performing on the night.
"It should be just a good fun night of past and present families."
More information about the day can be found at www.sfstrathfieldsaye.catholic.edu.au
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Tara Cosoleto
Journalist covering courts and general news at the Bendigo Advertiser.
Journalist covering courts and general news at the Bendigo Advertiser.
