By Mrs Louise Wallace-Richards, Acting Deputy Principal, Head of Secondary School

The values of our College were articulated by the founders back in the early 1980s as Truth, Compassion and Wisdom.

These values are applicable to students from Pre-Kindergarten to Year 12. They promote justice and respect for others. They work individually as guiding values for our students and together to build a narrative about how to live a life that shows care for oneself and others, and one that makes a positive contribution to society.

Our values can be found on the College crest, which is worn by students as part of their daily uniform. They can be seen on the pillars entering the school on Haydon Drive and College Street and on the Mackinnon Building. They sit at the base of the tree as the roots from which the Secondary School learner traits rise and are explained in the diaries used by students every day as:

Truth

Being truthful is demonstrated by:

• Being honest.
• Pursuing and standing up for what you believe is right.
• Acting with integrity.

Compassion

Being compassionate is demonstrated by:

• Treating everyone with respect, fairness and courtesy.
• Helping and encouraging others.
• Never condoning bullying or unkind behaviour, harassing or treating others unfairly.
• Appreciating the gifts, talents and uniqueness of others.
• Not criticising, ridiculing, belittling or humiliating others.

Wisdom

Being wise is demonstrated by:

• Committing yourself fully to your academic, physical, social, emotional and spiritual development.
• Being able to regulate one’s emotions to respond appropriately.
• Making balanced judgements and appropriate choices.

Whether a student has been at the College for most of their schooling or only for the final two years of their senior studies, these values should have a lasting impact on how they behave while at the College and when they leave Radford to join the workforce or complete further study. They should also impact how students conduct themselves when on excursions, overseas tours, playing sport, supporting from the sporting sidelines, representing the College at competitions and so on. Who a Radford student is engaging with should never make a difference to how they behave. Students should be as respectful when in conversation with Principal Mr Bradbury as they are with their teachers in the classroom, their coaches on the sporting field and their peers in the playground.

Often in conversations with students, I will ask them about our values and their understanding of them. Equally often, when students are thinking about why they want to contribute to the service-learning programs at the College, get involved in Round Square activities, attend Radford Awareness and Service (RAS) or Dirrum Dirrum Festival organisation committee meetings at lunch times, the values of Truth, Compassion and Wisdom are at work, positively influencing students to be inclusive, show understanding and care for others and have the confidence that their selfless actions can make a difference.

The values are the bedrock of a Radford education and have served generations of Radfordians for the past 40 years. How are you seeing our values in action in your children’s lives now?