Janelle (Year 12 2020)
I feel grateful for this school and was anxious to leave but also excited. This school has provided me with more opportunities and love than any other school I’ve been to, it sucks that I was only here for Year 12 but I’m ready to finally leave school. I’m happy that I had such great teachers and staff around me.
Before I came here, I was so confused, depressed and feeling rejected by those around me but St Francis’ changed this and made me feel so welcome, so happy to be at school.
Izzy (Year 12 2020)
Through my journey at St Francis’, I felt like I had grown up more and taken more responsibility for myself. The people and environment at St Francis’ made me feel like a valued and appreciated member of the school. I’m grateful I got the to meet these people and experience the fun activities the school provided us with. Moving to a Catholic school was a huge step out of my comfort zone but after adjusting to it I’m so glad I did.
Before I started at St Francis’ I felt lost …. I had no motivation or energy for anything, I had given up. The staff at St Francis’ helped push me out of my mindset and now I’m proud of myself for how hard I’ve worked to get to where I am now.
Blake Edwards (Year 12 2020)
The best thing I reckon at St Francis’ is how chilled out and nice the staff are.
Advice I would give is, chill out and respect all the staff and try make some good mates.
I’ve gained some great mates and a great school that I know I’m always welcomed to visit.
My greatest memory is the whole thing, the whole experience being at St Francis’.
St Francis is my favourite high school I have been at; they gave me my second chance and they are willing to give you yours.
At the end of the day St Francis’ is there to help you succeed in anything you want, you have just got to be willing to put some effort in yourself and ask for help at the end of the day.
Jordan Shaw (Year 12 2019)
When I think about my life one of the most important and defining was starting Year 11 at St. Francis’ in 2014.
I have dyslexia which made school hard. It effected my self-esteem and I was often very anxious at school. Lumen Christi had good teachers, the best was Mr. McNally. He helped me a lot with my school and homework. I was really sad when he left Lumen Christi. My anxiety got worse and I got depressed and missed lots of school.
One day my Mum got a phone call from Mr. McNally asking if I wanted to come see his new school. When I first went to St. Francis it looked very old: the building was old, very dirty and abandoned. The grass out the front was dying and there were cobwebs everywhere. It didn’t look like a school at all. The school was quiet except for Rory who was his chatty and positive self. It felt so good to be there. I was nervous at first but slowly moved from sitting alone in the corner to sitting at the big table with everyone. I felt hope.
Then because of family issues and my medication I stopped going to school. I tried to get back. Mum would drive me past the school, Rory would come say hello in the car. My anxiety wouldn’t let me move, there was a giant wall that I couldn’t get over. When I heard of Rory’s passing, I was devastated. I had never felt so sad. I was angry at myself because I felt that I had let him down.
I’m back at St. Francis now and I’m finally back on track and hopeful again for my future.
Ali Ure (Year 12 2019)
The staff genuinely care and want you to succeed.
Talk to the staff when you feel like you need to - trust me you’ll leave and have way fewer people to talk to and you’ll miss the days when you had ten different people you could talk to.
I developed the ability to reflect on myself and my actions.