Shining bright in crisp autumn sun, the colourful playground at St Agatha’s Catholic Primary School in Cranbourne stands quietly in peaceful silence until a sudden burst of upbeat music signals the beginning of recess and students stream out into the fresh air and sunshine with squeals of laughter and delight.
Walking into this heartening scene, Principal Michelle Bruitzman is quick to greet students who surge around her with a smile.
Celebrating its fiftieth year in 2026, St Agatha’s has been a keystone in the lives of thousands of families since it was established in 1976.
“We have students whose parents and grandparents went here as well as children of families newly arrived from all over the world,” says Michelle.
Located in the City of Casey and within the Diocese of Sale, St Agatha’s, which was surrounded by paddocks in its early days, is now on the leading edge of Melbourne’s southeast growth corridor where rural landscapes are transforming into suburbia via greenfield developments.
With up to 85% of Foundation students from non-English speaking backgrounds, Michelle is aware of the heightened importance of the school to families for whom St Agatha’s is the centre of their new life in Australia.
“For some families having their children at the school means everything. It’s connection, a safe place to be, and a promise of a good future,” says Michelle.
Guided by its Catholic identity and the overarching principles from its patron - Saint Agatha, embodying Courage, Faith, and Love, the school strives to nurture students and enrich parents, care givers, and the broader community.
"It is joyful to witness the community spirit of families connecting before and after school with their children in the playground. It’s beautiful seeing families come together and talking to each other"
Michelle Bruitzman (pictured)
Principal, St Agatha's Catholic Primary School, Cranbourne
With continued population growth in the Cranbourne area, a School Masterplan was developed to respond to current and future demand for enrolments. The CDF is pleased to have supported the school’s expansion through loan funding.
Comprising Stage 3, the latest addition to the school is the Senior Building for Years 5 and 6. Opened at the end of 2025 and built with the assistance of a $2.45 million loan from CDF, the two-storey building contains eight general learning areas that provide modern, flexible, learning spaces to inspire faith and learning
“The design allows good line of sight between teachers and students, while also helping students focus and work undisturbed”, says Michelle.
Interior colours are intentionally muted and floor to ceiling felt pinboards, sound baffling panels, and soft furnishing help create a calm and nurturing environment by reducing extraneous noise.
“The physical environment plays a crucial role in helping students concentrate and learn so the building itself is helping them succeed”, says Michelle.
Inbuilt charging stations for laptops ensure technology is easily integrated into daily learning, breakout spaces cater for solo and small group work, and book stands and comfortable couches form quiet ‘library pods’ between the classrooms.
While it now has 514 students across twenty-three classes from Foundation (Prep) to Year 6, class sizes are contained, to ensure growth does not detract from the school’s core mission to provide a faith-filled, inclusive and supportive environment.
“We begin every day with a prayer. Students connect with the scripture message from the Gospel of John to ‘love one another as I have loved you”, says Michelle. This message is proudly displayed on the contemporary crucifix hanging in the stairway.
Living Gospel values means support goes beyond the classroom. Through well-being meetings and external support from agencies such as CatholicCare, psychology and speech therapy services, and financial assistance can be directed to individual students and families who may be struggling.
“There are challenges in every community, and our aim is to know everyone so when people need help, we can really wrap around them and make sure they don’t get lost in the system,” says Michelle.
As recess comes to an end and students return to their rooms, a stillness returns to the playground. Behind it, high on the side of the second level of the Senior Building, the words, Courage, Faith, Love, are a reminder that some things will always be the same even if surrounded by change.
"Courage, Faith and Love is a way of being. All the children know it. It’s our lens that we see the world through - we’re courageous in looking after the families, we keep faith in God, Jesus and connection to parish. And Love, well you just have to love one another"
Michelle Bruitzman
Principal, St Agatha's Catholic Primary School, Cranbourne
St Agatha’s Senior Building was supported by a $3 million grant from the Victorian Government and a loan from Catholic Development Fund (CDF).
Your savings can do more than grow. By opening an account with CDF Community Fund, you can earn a competitive rate of interest while empowering Catholic organisations like St Agatha's Catholic Primary School to build, serve, and grow. It's a greater return than money alone. Learn more and apply today.
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CDPF Limited, a company established by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, has indemnified the Catholic Development Fund ABN 15 274 943 760 (the Fund) against any liability arising out of a claim by investors in the Fund. In practice, this means your investment is backed by the assets of the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne. The Fund is required by law to make the following disclosure. Investment in the Fund is only intended to attract investors whose primary purpose for making their investment is to support the charitable purposes of the Fund. Investors’ funds will be used to generate a return to the Fund that will be applied to further the charitable works of the Archdiocese of Melbourne and the Dioceses of Sale and Bunbury. The Fund is not prudentially supervised by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority nor has it been examined or approved by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). An investor in the Fund will not receive the benefit of the financial claims scheme or the depositor protection provisions in the Banking Act 1959 (Cth). The investments that the Fund offers are not subject to the usual protections for investors under the Corporations Act (Cth) or regulation by ASIC. Investors may be unable to get some or all of their money back when the investor expects or at all and investments in the Fund are not comparable to investments with banks, finance companies or fund managers. The Fund’s identification statement may be viewed here or by contacting the Fund. The Fund does not hold an Australian Financial Services Licence.
