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Junior School

Radford places considerable emphasis upon pastoral care. The College is an orderly place, where good manners are observed and where self-discipline and individual responsibility are emphasized. The relationship between staff and students is based on mutual respect.
In order for each student to enjoy a sense of belonging and connectedness as well as enjoying opportunities to be themselves at their best, the College has developed the following aims to foster personal and social development. Each student will:

Pastoral Care in the Junior School

Radford is a community where people learn, work, and grow together. Radford seeks to build a different kind of character – one who values those ideals stated in the College motto of truth, compassion and wisdom. Radford seeks to reinforce the values of care and consideration for others, and to be respectful of each individual. We want to build a just and caring community. There is ample room for all manner of people, but there is no room for any form of bullying or harassment. Bullying is socially unacceptable and is contrary to the Radford ethos of inspiring students to strive to live just and compassionate lives.  We must build a safe second home.

A child who is fully engaged in learning usually demonstrates positive behaviour.  Therefore the Junior School staff will make every effort to be sensitive to the interests and needs of individual children in order to minimise any inappropriate behaviours.

A strong and enduring pastoral focus within the Junior School is on identifying and rewarding positive student behaviour, efforts and achievements.

Pastoral care in the Junior School encompasses all elements of life within the College and is supported by:

Sporting Houses

The Junior School students are divided into three Houses with approximately 140 students in each House.  The Houses are named Mackinnon, Wigg and Casson after our former Principals.

Students are allocated to a sporting House to which they belong for their entire time in the Junior School.  Family members are allocated the same House.  From Year 7, students move into eight Houses named after Australian native plants.

House staff and student leaders are responsible for the administration of the House.  Houses are involved in swimming, cross country and athletics carnivals, Foundation Day activities and other cocurricular activities throughout the year.  The House offers opportunities to bring all the Junior School students together in smaller groups.

The role of:

Class Teacher Years P-4 or Tutor Years 5-6

The teacher/tutor is the students’ first and main point of contact.  They are the students’ counsellor, advocate, conscience and mentor.

The teacher/tutor

Pastoral Team Years P-4
The team identify and maintain ‘positives’ displayed by students throughout the Junior School.  Positives lead to ‘Happy Grams’ being sent home to families and perhaps a morning tea with the Principal.

Head of School
Knows all the students and is actively involved in their daily welfare.  The Head of School presents a high profile interaction and availability to students and families.

Year 5/6 Coordinator
The Year Coordinator oversees the entire year group. It is their job to develop positive morale in the teachers and students in the year level and to foster and maintain an atmosphere of genuine pastoral care of all the students.

Tutor Group
Each tutor group consists of about 20-23 students from the same year level. There are approximately equal numbers of boys and girls in each tutor group. They meet as a group at least three times per week, with the Tutor. All members of the group get to know each other very well and participate in any school and social activities together. Students remain with their tutor group until Year 11 when they are divided into house groups.

Prefects
The prefects at Radford stand as a clear example of what the School represents. They are the student leaders and act as role models for all students. They have a lot to do with the junior levels.

Counsellors
School Counsellors work to provide accessible and professional psychological services to young people in schools. The Radford School Counsellor is a qualified psychologist and has a special interest in young people and their issues.

People seeing the School Counsellor can expect a confidential service. The kind of issues a School Counsellor might help with include:

Camps, Retreats and Programs

The College believes that there is much to be gained, socially and educationally from a well-organised program of Outdoor Education. All students are encouraged to take advantage of the wide variety of outdoor programs available at Radford College across the school. Opportunities for outdoor activities and adventure learning are also provided in the cocurricular program.

The Year 5 camp is held in the second week of Term 1 each year, at the Outdoor Pursuits Centre - ‘Glengarry’ - in the Kangaroo Valley. This camp is an introduction to the College's camp program. The main aim of the camp is for students to develop friendly, considerate and respectful relationships with other students, staff members and their Tutors in an out-of-school environment. We believe that having the students and staff participate in a variety of outdoor activities together goes a long way in establishing relationships that are productive to school. These activities include bushwalking, abseiling, mountain biking, canoeing and sleeping in tents.

Dormitory-style accommodation is provided but all students spend one night sleeping in tents. All meals are provided, though students will have to do some simple meal preparation.

Camp Coordinator: Mr R Heazlewood - phone 6162 6284 or email Richard Heazlewood.