Staff Insights
By Mr Brad Cooney, Deputy Principal, Head of Secondary School
As we approach the end of Semester 1, students in the Secondary School are entering their examination blocks, and students in Years 7–10 are deeply engaged in their learning and preparations for upcoming assessments.
Whilst reflecting on the powerful learning that is taking place, it is important to acknowledge that this is a collaborative effort that involves a strong partnership between the College and home. When parents, teachers and students work together, incredible things can and do happen.
Imagine a student who is struggling with a particular subject. With the combined support and caring guidance from both teachers and parents, that student can receive the help they need to overcome challenges and achieve success. This partnership creates a supportive environment where the student feels empowered to learn and grow.
Our staff are living their vocational commitment to ensure our students have every opportunity to participate and succeed.
Please consider taking 5 minutes to email a staff member who has been supporting your child’s growth and learning to offer a vote of thanks. We have much to be grateful for. Gratitude grows connection. Being in partnership with families is enhanced if communication goes both ways.
As we continue this journey of powerful learning, let’s remember that the College and home partnership is key to helping our students thrive. Together, we can create a nurturing environment where each student can reach their true and full potential.
Thank you for being an essential part of our school community and for your continued support of our academic staff in making powerful learning a reality for our students.
By Rev. Dr Katherine Rainger, Senior Chaplain
“The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” – Frederick Buechner
This week I heard that a meaningful life comes not by tapping into what we are passionate about, but rather by paying attention to what fascinates us. The two need not be mutually exclusive, however, I was taken with the idea of tuning into what fascinates us.
Finding our passions can sometimes seem elusive. Just when we think we have found our passion we change, or our circumstances change. Knowing who we are and what motivates and drives us are highly useful things. Yet there is something about the question ‘what fascinates me?’ that I find more interesting.
Fascination invites a way of relating that is open to revelation, curiosity, wonder and mystery. It is an invitation to an encounter with that which is already present, rather than the emphasis being on us to create a particular response or way of relating.
Young people are often told to “find you passion”, quickly followed by “follow your dreams.” I wonder what would happen if we added the question, “what fascinates you?”
Try playing around with these sentences:
I am passionate about . . .
I am fascinated by . . .
What do you notice? Both are useful questions. The answers reveal different ideas and possibilities and a different posture in terms of relating to the world around us.
Human beings are complex creatures. We have the capacity for both self-revelation and self-deception. St Paul wrote to the church in Corinth in the first century: “For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known” (1 Corinthians 13:12).
Our knowledge is finite and yet we can seek the infinite God, “the one in whom we live and breathe and have our being.” The One who knows us fully.
So how then are we to live with all our passion, fascination, giftedness and limitation? The good news is we are not on a solo journey. The following prayer and song are invitations to shape our individual and common life to seek God and the common good.
Go forth into the world in peace.
Be of good courage.
Hold fast that which is good.
Render to no one evil for evil.
Strengthen the fainthearted.
Support the weak.
Help the afflicted.
Show love to everyone.
Love and serve the Lord,
rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit;
and the blessing of almighty God,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always.
Amen.
Source: Book of Common Prayer, 1892 (modified in 1928)
Click here to listen to Seek Ye First written by Karen Lafferty (based on Matthew 6: 25-34)
Save the date: Confirmation Service, 28 July
Bishop Mark Short will be presiding at a confirmation service in the Radford College Chapel on Sunday 28 July at 5 pm. All are invited to attend as we mark the occasion in the lives of staff and students who will be confirmed. If you would like to know more about confirmation and other Christian rites, please email Rev. Katherine Rainger. Head of Ministry at Burgmann Anglican School, Rev. Alex Abecina has written a compelling piece about recognising God in our midst through reading the Bible, participating in Holy Communion and through the Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives, all of which are affirmed during the rite of confirmation.
News
By Ms Olivia Faletoese, Director of Ensembles
Join us for Radford Rocks tonight, Wednesday 12 June from 5.30 pm – 6.30 pm in the Performing Arts Centre for a wonderful evening of music featuring Contemporary Ensembles and invited groups. Our talented bands will showcase a diverse repertoire, from pop to rock to punk to jazz!
Performing this evening:
- Montgomery Guitar Ensemble
- Time Machine
- Wet Fish
- Three Sided-Die
- Is the Ocean a Soup
This event promises something for everyone, making it the perfect evening to enjoy a variety of musical styles and support our dedicated young musicians.
Entry is free and tickets are not required. Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity to experience the incredible performances our students have been working hard to perfect. See you there!
By Katie Wyman and Shennelle de Silva, Year 12 Push-Up Challenge Ambassadors
From 5 – 28 June, Radford College is taking part in the mental health and fitness event, Push-Up Challenge, challenging students and staff to complete 3,249 push-ups in total. This represents the 3,249 lives lost to suicide in Australia in 2022.
We want to extend a huge round of applause to all of you who've jumped on board with this year's Push-Up Challenge. Your enthusiasm and dedication are truly inspiring! As of yesterday morning, we've raised nearly $4,000 – that's almost halfway to our goal of $8,000.
At the moment we have just over 130 enthusiastic participants from Radford College, but there's always room for more! So, to all our Radford peers who haven't joined yet, what are you waiting for? Let's make this challenge even more epic! Click here to join.
A special shoutout goes to Karri for being the leading house in the push-up department, and to Kurrajong for raising the most funds. You are absolute legends!
Incentives Await
Here's some exciting news: Radford could snag some awesome prizes and merchandise if we hit certain milestones. Check out the details below:
- 200 participants or $10,000 raised: 200 TPUC stickers, 20 keyrings, 5 tote bags, and 2 bucket hats.
- 400 participants or $20,000 raised: 300 TPUC stickers, 25 keyrings, 10 tote bags, and 10 bucket hats.
- 600 participants or $30,000 raised: 400 TPUC stickers, 50 keyrings, 15 tote bags, and 20 bucket hats.
Keep Going Strong
Let's keep the momentum rolling! Encourage your friends, classmates, and teachers to join in on the fun. And remember, you're not limited to just push-ups – feel free to switch it up with squats, star-jumps or sit-ups.
Keep up the fantastic work, everyone!
By Tiffany Chue and Pip Humphries, Sustainability Captains
Monday 20 May was World Bee Day, and to talk about what makes them so special, we had a look at Radford's very own beehive.
Bees are hugely important, especially for their contribution to ecosystem health, their importance for biodiversity, and their role in food security. Nearly two-thirds of Australian agricultural production benefits from bees, but their role in the ecosystem is equally important. Australia is home to at least 1,700 bee species and we're dependent on them to maintain our ecosystems and keep the natural world afloat.
The hive we saw in the Radford College caretaker, Mr Florin Suciu's garden is an Australian invention! The ‘flow hive’ design minimizes the impact of beekeeping on the bees, and it makes accessing the honey a much less stressful experience.
What can you do to help the bees today and every day?
- Put the bee sprays away.
- Stop using pesticides or herbicides and consider the alternatives.
- Plant a pollinator flower or garden.
- Buy honey or other hive products and support the local Canberra market.
- Honey is an alternative to sugar and can be added to tea, coffee and other hot or cold beverages. Why not try this in the staff kitchen?
- Use honey when baking cakes, cookies and drizzle over desserts and pancakes. It is also delicious in marinades, sauces and as a BBQ glaze. Ideas for our Food Tech students!
- Share the classic honey joys with friends for your next birthday party.
- Make your own beeswax products such as candles and lip balm for the school Market Day.
- Honey has healing properties and is often used as a natural remedy for sore throats and that lingering cough.
- Junior school, consider an educational excursion to the Australian National Botanical Gardens and visit the Bee Hotel that includes little rooms to attract native bees.
