Staff Insights
Powerful Learning at Radford
A partnership between school and home
Powerful Learning at Radford
Share this articleBy 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.
Passion and Fascination
Finding meaning on the journey through life
Passion and Fascination
Share this articleBy 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
Giving Day
$112 000 raised by Radford Community
Giving Day
Share this articleBy Mr Alistair Coe, Chair of the Radford College Foundation
We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for your incredible support in raising an impressive $112,000 to further our mission of providing scholarships and improving our College facilities. Your generosity and dedication have made a significant impact on the lives of our students and the overall quality of education we can offer.
We would also like to extend a special thank you to one donor in particular whose generosity has truly exceeded all expectations. The Snare family with their remarkable $50,000 donation has made an immense difference and will directly contribute to the success and growth of our students. We are deeply grateful for your extraordinary support and belief in our cause.
Thanks to every one of you, we are now able to provide more scholarships and enhance our facilities to create a conducive learning environment for our students. Your contributions will have a lasting positive effect on their educational journey and future opportunities.
Once again, thank you for your unwavering support and for being champions of education. Together, we are making a real difference in the lives of our students and shaping a better future.
National Bands and Orchestras Eisteddfod
Stellar performances
National Bands and Orchestras Eisteddfod
Share this articleBy Kirsten Knight, Head of Co-curricular Music
The Australian National Bands and Orchestras Eisteddfod was held in Canberra from Thursday 30 May to Sunday 2 June. Several of our groups enjoyed the experience of performing in this event and gave polished performances.
Our groups were awarded the following trophies.
Big Band – “Gold” 16 Years & Under Jazz Bands Grade B
Stage Band – “Silver” 18 Years & Under Grade B
Gershwin Concert Band – “Bronze” 14 Years & Under Grade B
Bernstein Symphonic Wind Orchestra – “Silver” 18 Years & Under Grade B
Elgar String Orchestra – “Gold” 16 Years & Under Orchestras
Vivaldi String Orchestra – “Silver” Primary/High School Orchestras
Congratulations to all students involved and special word of thanks to the conductors, managers and other staff supporting the students.
Myall Creek Massacre remembered
An eye-opening experience
Myall Creek Massacre remembered
Share this articleBy Ankith Atluri, Year 10
Love or hate, equality or prejudice, reconciliation or destruction. No matter what occurs in life, every decision is split dichotomously into two choices: good or bad. How we make these decisions affects the attitude of society. Do we want a society filled with greatness or despair? This was the message that nine Year 10 students absorbed during the trailblazing 2024 Myall Creek Massacre Commemoration Trip.
Day 1 was the introduction to our journey, and we made our way to Newcastle’s Glenrock State Conservation Area. There we met Amos who gave us insight into the indigenous way of life in the area. We were introduced to a variety of plants that are used as perfume and soap and on our journey towards the lagoon, he regaled us with stories and music to enrich our experience of learning about the Awabakal and Worimi peoples.
Day 2 got off to a great start as the group sat in awe of the mesmerising sunrise across Stockton Beach. We then travelled to Birubi Beach and met Peter and Antoine who took us out to explore the area. They presented the clever way First Nations Peoples inhabited Australia. For example, we learnt how we could easily find fresh water on the beach. But the most important messages that Peter shared with us is how First Nations People connect with the environment. Land is seen as sacred, to such an extent that it is referred to as "mother". Mother provides a plethora of resources that are crucial to survival and thus it is our responsibility to take care of land as if it is our mother. However, this is not the happy reality of Australia. At numerous cultural sites, we saw tyre marks through them and piles of rubbish. This highlights the careless attitude of our society towards the environment. After the workshop, went to the high sand dunes where we had a terrific time and conquered our fear of heights. After running up the dunes so much that our calves felt like jelly and having so much sand on us that we felt like sandpaper, we drove away and headed towards Nundle.
Day 3 started with a meeting with Len Waters, a Kamilaroi man, who told us about stories and culture. He told a story about how humans caught a big fish and how all the fish we have today come from humans cutting up parts of that large fish and throwing it in the water. Len also talked about how a crocodile burrowed through the land and created rivers and valleys. After he told us these stories, he helped us make hand paintings out of ochre and water. He then took us to visit Boundary Rock at Moonbi. The rock art shows the meeting place between the elders of the Anaiwan and Gomeroi tribes, and how boys become men in Aboriginal culture. The painting is at least 700 years old and was made by using ochre, animal fat and blood.
Day 4 – 9 June marked the day of the tragic events of the Myall Creek Massacre. We were joined by students from Queensland, ACT and local schools in the area. The first part of the commemoration included dancing by two different Gomeroi groups and guest speakers such as Boe Spearim. Afterwards we joined with other schools to tell the story of the massacre at Myall Creek. This not only informed us about the incident but led to the forming of new friendships. Then, the most important part occurred: Wirrayaraay elder, Aunty Sue Blacklock didn’t vilify the descendants of the perpetrators, but rather invited them to embrace the descendants of the victims. This was the most majestic and beautiful part of the trip and showed that despite the struggles encountered, we learn from our mistakes and unite as Australians. We still have a long way to go to right the wrongs of the past, but can create a future of peace through reconciliation.
This trip was momentous for everyone involved and we will cherish the memories for the rest if our lives. I strongly encourage future year groups to take part in this wonderful experience so that we as individuals can unite as Australians.
Haiku written by Riley Wright (Year 10):
Breathtaking nature
perfectly peach horizon
Timeless memories
Junior School movie night
A fun night of popcorn and laughs
Junior School movie night
Share this articleBy Melinda Hamiton, Teacher
The Junior School held its annual Movie Night on 6 June. 130 families quickly snapped up the tickets and came out on a cold and blustery night to enjoy the family favourite Night at the Museum. Popcorn and other picnic dinners were munched on and plenty of laughs were had while viewing this funny Ben Stiller classic.
The Radford Student Council (RSC) students worked very hard to organise this wonderful event, with a highlight being our popcorn popping morning. Students used microwaves in the Junior School to pop 130 bags of popcorn for the evening. The smell drifted around the school all day.
The ticket sales allowed the RSC to raise $1000 for our Compassion sponsor children, which will go towards supporting their education and health.
Thanks to everyone who came and supported this great event.
Radford Rocks
Free concert at 5.30 pm tonight
Radford Rocks
Share this articleBy 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!
Radford's Biggest Morning Tea
Money raised for Cancer Council
Radford's Biggest Morning Tea
Share this articleBy Mia Deakes, Year 6 student
One of my family members has volunteered with the Cancer Council and this year, and I wanted to support the Cancer Council by hosting a Biggest Morning Tea. The Radford Student Council agreed that most people would be happy to support this incredible cause.
With a great deal of help from Ms Angie Walters, Ms Keeley Dunbar, Ms Mary Willett, the other teachers that supported and all my fellow RSC members we made this idea come alive. We all worked really hard and tried our best to make this the best day possible, but it was even better than we expected.
At 10 am on Tuesday 4 June, Year 5 and 6 students streamed in by the bucket load, all eagerly holding out keep cups, for steaming hot chocolate. We lined up and received either a muffin, cinnamon toast, or a piece of raisin toast along with a hot drink to warm us up on the cold day. Best of all, we could all just hang with our friends and have a great time. It was something special for Year 5 and 6 students, so we all made the most of it.
At the end of the day, I feel proud – proud of my fellow RSC members, proud of the teachers, and proud of our teamwork. Each person contributed and helped organise this event. I am over the moon with the end result. In total we raised:
$417.90 – Online Tickets
$346 – Online Donations
$260 – Cash Tickets
Total – $1023.90
A big thank you to all involved. This would not have been possible without you!
Sports Report Term 2, Week 7
Rugby, holiday camps and trials
Sports Report Term 2, Week 7
Share this articleRadford Rugby
ASC v CSC v Presidents XV
Wednesday 5 June saw the prestigious ACT Schoolboys Rugby Union Tri-Series played at Marist College. Radford is incredibly proud to have had three representatives selected for this honour. Congratulations to Baxter Sicily (Huon), Hugo Hayward (Huon) and Joshua McIntyre (Boronia). Baxter and Hugo were selected for the ASC team, and Joshua for the Presidents XV. ASC, CSC and the President’s XV competed in the Tri-Series, which doubled as the selection trial for the ACT U18's Schoolboys team.
Year 7-12 Brumbies Rugby 7's Gala Day
Radford was represented by a contingent of five teams at the Brumbies Rugby 7's Boys Gala Day on Tuesday 28 May 2024. Contesting the Year 7/8 division, the Radford Boys finished third in their pool and went on to beat Jindabyne in the playoffs.
In the Year 9/10 division, Radford had two teams finishing third in their pools, leading to a highly competitive play-off match against each other.
Rounding it out, Radford had two teams contesting the Year 11/12 competition. Throughout the day both teams produced some nice plays and strong performances. Team 2 faced Gungahlin in their playoff final. Team 1 secured a nice win over Lake Ginninderra in the semi to lock in a place in the Grand Final and a ticket to the Brumbies Rugby 7's ACT and Southern NSW Finals tournament in August.
In a nail-biting grand final Radford held Erindale out until the final play where they went down on the buzzer. Great effort by all the Radford teams!
Sporting Achievements
Congratulations to the following Radford students who have gained selection in a 2024 SSACT representative team:
Mia Jackson (Banksia) – 12&U AFL Girls
Matilda Sullings (Banksia) – 18&U Golf Team
Zalie Guyes (Kurrajong) – 12&U Hockey Girls
Elijah McKean (Banksia) – 12&U Hockey Boys
Alex Rogers (Boronia) – 12&U Hockey Boys
Radford July Holiday Girls Cricket Clinic
The Radford Cricket Program will be running a free 2-day coaching clinic for female Radford students.
Click on this flyer for further information and the link to register.
Coerver Coaching Holiday Camp
Coerver Coaching will be running a Football Holiday Camp on the J.A. Mackinnnon Oval in the first week of the July school holidays – click here for more information.
Upcoming School Sport ACT Team Trials
Cross Country
- Students who wish to be considered for ACT selection must compete in the 12&U and 13&O Cross Country Championships to be held this Friday, 14 June at Stromlo Forest Park.
- Qualification for this event is through the Belconnen (Year 2-6) and ASC (Year 7-12) Cross Country events. The top finishers in each age/gender division will be given a letter inviting them to register, with six students in each age/gender division selected. Interested students need to register for selection by clicking this link.
Football - Soccer (12&U Boys Team)
- Trial 1 – 2 June 3.00 pm – 5.00 pm
- Trial 2 – 9 June 3.00 pm – 5.00 pm
- Trial 3 – 16 June 3.00 pm – 5.00 pm
- Invitational Trial – 23 June / 30 June / 7 July 3.00 pm – 5.00 pm
- Wanniassa Ovals
- Any student wishing to take part in a trial must register via the SSACT website School Sport ACT Football-Soccer. More information can also be found by clicking on the registration link.
Please note the trials for the U16 Boys, 18&U and 12&U Girls Football Teams have finished.
Important
- Radford students who choose to trial for SSACT teams are to follow the registration process for the respective sport trials. Majority of SSACT trials are conducted after school hours, however if the trial does take place during the school day, it is the responsibility of the parent / guardian to notify the College of their child’s absence.
- If a Radford student is selected in a SSACT representative team, it is the responsibility of the parent / guardian to follow the normal College absence processes.
SSACT Scholarship Fund
The SSACT Scholarship Fund is once again open and available for students who have been selected in a SSACT representative team and is required to travel interstate to compete at the respective School Sport Australia National Championships.
More information on the Scholarship Fund and its consideration criteria, can be found here.
Successful applicants will receive a $500 deduction from their team fees during the payment phase of the team preparation process. The approval process can be quite quick once the student is selected and one of the criteria is deemed as a 'Circumstantial Hardship' e.g. multiple children from the same family making teams in a close timeframe.
Scholarship applications are to be submitted to eo@schoolsportact.org.au.
Push-Up Challenge
3,249 push-ups. Are you up to it?
Push-Up Challenge
Share this articleBy 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!
Don't worry, bee happy
A closer look at Radford's beehive
Don't worry, bee happy
Share this articleBy 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.
Trouble in Lollipop
Book tickets for the Years 5-6 production
Trouble in Lollipop
Share this articleBy Mr Nick Akhurst, Head of Co-curricular Drama, Dance and Technical Theatre
Trouble in Lollipop is a fast-paced fairytale with a contemporary edge and hilarious characters that will entertain and engage both performers and audience members. There's Prince Eric and Fliss protesting against globalisation, a narrator who is having a mid-life crisis, a talking horse, a bunch of snobby fairies, some sinister fruit bats, a very cool mosquito and some delicious lollipops.
The play opens on Prince Eric's birthday where everyone (well almost) is preparing for his surprise party. But trouble starts when Prince Eric is kidnapped and someone plots to steal the famous royal lollipop recipe . . .
19, 20 and 21 June – 6.00 pm – T.B. Millar Hall
We hope to see you at the show for this colourful, energetic and funny performance. Book tickets here.
Curriculum performance
Year 9's take to the stage
Curriculum performance
Share this articleBy Mr Nick Akhurst, Head of Co-curricular Drama, Dance and Technical Theatre
On the Friday 31 May, 15 intrepid Year 9 students took to the Playhouse Stage to perform an original performance. The piece, Circular Motion, that was created by the students, looked at a variety of relationships and how conflict is handled. We asked the audience to consider these questions. Does it matter who is right or wrong? When do we need to listen rather than assign blame or solve the problem?
We performed with 16 other schools with over 20 performances. Radford students got to close out the show as the last memorable performance to finish a long day of theatre watching, workshops and the odd side trip to the Canberra Centre for supplies. One student was also given the challenge of running our piece and calling the show with an industry professional guiding them. He directed the lighting and sound technicians through our script and finished the long day.
Thank you to the support from the school and parents who came to see the show.
ISC House Shirt Sale
This Saturday, 15 June
ISC House Shirt Sale
Share this articleYou may have seen our Radford House Leaders and House Captains wearing the new house shirt designs. Now it's time to release the new designs to everyone at Radford College – from Pre-Kindergarten to Year 12. Our new ISC Radford House Shirts will be available for purchase at the R.A. Young Hall, Radford College Junior School, on Saturday 15 June from 9.00 am to 4.00 pm.
Both long and short sleeve House Shirts will be available on the day. We encourage families to come along to the sale to give students the opportunity to try shirts on and ensure the correct size is purchased.
Prices: Short sleeve $35 and long sleeve $40
Sizes: Kids (K4-K16), Ladies (L6-L22), and Adult (XS-5XL)
There will be a transition period for students to move from wearing the Perm-a-Pleat house shirts to the ISC house shirts. This means we will also be selling the remaining Perm-a-Pleat house shirts at a discounted price on the day.
Please note: The House Shirts will not be available in Radwear prior to this sale date.
Tuning in to Teens
For parents of SS students
Tuning in to Teens
Share this articleBy Ms Sophie Chang, School Psychologist
The Radford Wellbeing Team will offer the Tuning in to Teens™ parenting program on campus over six sessions on Thursday evenings, from 4.00 pm - 6.00 pm, starting on 1 August and concluding on 5 September 2024.
Tuning in to Teens™ is a free evidence-based program using the principles of emotion intelligence and emotion coaching to enhance parenting skills. Over the course of the six sessions, the program aims to equip parents with the tools to engage in meaningful conversations with their teens about emotions, fostering emotional intelligence and adept conflict management within the home.
This program works with the principle of emotional intelligence. Teens with higher emotional intelligence:
- are more aware, assertive, and strong in situations with peer pressure
- have greater success with making friends and are more able to manage conflict with peers
- are more able to cope when upset or angry
- have fewer mental health and substance abuse difficulties
- have more stable and satisfying relationships as adults
- have greater career success – emotional intelligence may be a better predictor of academic and career success than IQ.
The aim of the program is to teach parents about how they can help their teenagers develop good emotional skills. For example:
- awareness of what emotions their teen is experiencing
- to view their teen’s emotions as opportunity to connect with them and guide them
- helping their teen identify and describe what they are feeling
- learn to listen to their teen’s problems without judgement
- strengthen their and their teen’s problem-solving skills and learning to cope with boundaries and limitations
This program is offered to parents with a student in Years 7 -12. Participants will be capped at approximately 12. If you wish to join us on this journey, please fill out this expression of interest form.
For further inquiries or to find out more about the program, send an email to Ms Sophie Chang.
P&F Trivia Night
13 September 2024