WEEKLY e-BULLETIN - 17 February 2010

FROM THE PRINCIPAL - Mr Phillip Heath

I promised last week that I would make a few comments about the My School website. At the risk of adding more verbiage to an already overworked topic, there are a number of things that are worth saying:

1. Irrespective of what arguments may be made for or against the My School website, there is an obvious appetite around the nation for information about the performances of schools. The “meltdown” of the site on the first morning of its release makes this point very clear. It was not the hype of the media that awakened curiosity about the performance of schools. People are really interested in how the nation’s schools are performing. This is a really pleasing thing. The parents at Radford I have spoken to over the past two weeks are very glad that such information is now in the public domain. Many people consider it a breakthrough in good sense.
   
   
2. Parents around Australia are intelligent people, well able to decipher data for themselves. This is particularly true here at Radford. Our parents are no strangers to understanding data and know well how to read the figures. This same skill has been evident in all the schools in which I have worked over the years. For many parents, the My School website provides access to the information about which they have long been curious. There is no doubt that successive Australian governments have read the mood of the age correctly and collated the information. For this they are to be congratulated.
   
   
3. It is interesting to see how media outlets and other organisations have sought to use the information from My School. There seems no doubt the topic of education awakens public interest, which I think is a terrific thing. Sometimes there is a tendency to exploit this interest for other ends. I have just noticed the following story in the media that illustrates my point.  http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/school-league-tables-for-sale/1753008.aspx
   
   
4. Over the past few weeks, I have been talking to numerous school principals about their reactions to My School and to the media that has surrounded it. Whilst some have been generally pleased to see the positive profile their schools have received, others have been surprised to see the kind of schools around the country with which they have been directly compared. Inevitably, these kinds of comparisons yield some anomalies. The body that generates the My School website, the Australian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (ACARA), have permitted schools to make application to amend their place in the list of sixty similar schools around Australia. You may have noticed some debate about this matter lately. The direct comparison between schools from very different settings has been mentioned by colleagues as a concern. Once again, Radford has no objection to our placement in the lists but we were also surprised to see some of the places against which we were directly compared.
   
   
5. The My School website has challenged some assumptions about schools in Australia. The belief that independent schools serve only the children of wealthy families can no longer be supported. For instance, there are 38 government schools in the list of sixty schools around Australia that are similar to Radford College! Families make choices in the educational interests of their children and not for a desire to retain a position in the social milieu. You will see this verified in the article below mine in the E-Bulletin. The Association of Independent Schools (NSW) has commissioned a nationwide survey into community attitudes about independent schools, producing results that might surprise many. The findings reveal  an increase in general support for independent schools from 54% in 2001 (Colmar Brunton study) to 70% in 2009. 75% of respondents to the survey stated that they have a positive opinion of independent schools and four out of ten parents with children at a government school would move their child to an independent school if fees were not an issue.

Our Director of Studies for the High School, Mr Peter Dodd, has written an excellent paper in which he discusses some technical issues arising from using NAPLAN data to measure the relative performance of schools. Space will not allow me to repeat his findings here, but they will be made available shortly. However, we will continue to offer these remarks to our own community from time to time, whilst generally remaining demure in the public domain. Many of the articles that have been written since the release of the data seem to shed limited light on the subject.

There is one further thing that troubles me, which has not yet been discussed in the public domain. At the heart of My School is the view that transparency of performance data will not only serve parents, but it will act as a spur to an underperforming school.  In his book, “No Contest”, Alfie Kohn argues that the notion of winners and losers that underpins competition in contemporary business and social constructs is fundamentally flawed and dehumanising. This is as true for whole school systems as it is true for individual schools themselves. No parent would consider it reasonable for Radford to produce a ranking list of students on academic achievement in the hope that revealing this data would act as a motivator for a child to do better. Schools are more enlightened than that! Yet it seems that this strategy is one of the ways in which Australian schools are being encouraged to improve. A more welcome strategy is to use the data to provide support for schools that have greater needs.  The use of shame and humiliation seems a retrograde step, one that may produce a less gracious society in the years to come.

Perhaps I should stop before this article turns into a treatise. Thank you for reading this and for supporting the education at Radford. It is the partnership between the school, the student and the home that provides the setting for the excellent learning culture we enjoy here day-to-day. Let’s never take it for granted. Peace

STRATEGIC PLAN SURVEY
Have your say
Next Monday, the school will launch the Strategic Plan survey. A link will be emailed to parents and will also be published on the school intranet. There will be separate surveys for the ELC, Junior School and Years 7-12. Parents are asked to complete the surveys at their earliest convenience and if interested, to nominate to be part of the follow-up focus groups.

The information provided in the survey will be used to inform decisions about the future directions of the school, so please have your say.

“Community Attitudes towards Independent Schools: A Nationwide Survey”
Research Report released in February 2010
Report attached above, extract below, detailed survey findings can be accessed at www.aisnsw.edu.au

The Associations of Independent Schools of New South Wales and South Australia and Independent Schools Queensland commissioned a nationwide survey, conducted by UMR Research Pty Ltd, to explore community attitudes towards independent schooling. The survey was undertaken in November and December 2009 and examined:

• Perceptions of schooling in Australia, including perceptions of government, Catholic and independent schools
• Attitudes towards different types of schools
• Knowledge and understanding of state and federal school funding arrangements
• Attitudes towards the school funding arrangements.

The research found:

• an increase in general support for independent schools from 54% in 2001 (Colmar Brunton study) to 70% in 2009.
• 75% of respondents to the survey stated that they have a positive opinion of independent schools.
• Four out of ten parents with children at a government school would move their child to an independent school if fees were not an issue.
• 69% rejected the notion that independent school students should not receive government financial support for their schooling – up from 51% in 2001.

An extremely high level of respondents to the survey (88%) agreed that the Australian education system should be a mix of government schools and schools operated by the not-for-profit sector. This belief was supported by agreement that the current system “not only provides parents with choice but benefits the wider community by encouraging healthy competition between the sectors”.

Misconceptions persist around schools funding, with most people (58%) incorrectly believing that independent school students receive the same or more government funding for their education than students in a government school. Currently, combined average yearly funding per student * from federal and state governments is:

• $12,639 for each student in a government school.
• $  6,076 for each student in an independent school.

(*Based on average funding figures from the Productivity Commission Report on Government Services 2010 and MCEECDYA Australian National Report on Schooling.)

According to the Productivity Commission, total government (State and Federal) recurrent funding for government schools in 2007-08 was $28.8 billion, compared to just $2.9 billion for independent schools. (Source: Productivity Commission 2010 Report on Government Services)

FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL
Information Evening for Year 9 Parents - Equip Schools
Friday 19 February from 5:30 - 6:15pm, Lecture Theatre
This year, Radford College is partnering with Equip Schools to deliver a skills-based program designed to foster student support and development in the areas of personal management, academic skills and career opportunities. Parents are warmly invited to attend an information session on Friday 19 February from 5:30 - 6:15pm in the Lecture Theatre.

The student program has an online component and involves several workshops throughout the year. Parents will receive information about implementing the program and will have the opportunity to ask questions relating to how they can work with their son/daughter to best effect the outcomes. Further information will soon be sent to parents' nominated e-mail accounts. Ms S van Strien - Assistant Head of High School

FROM THE AFP - Advice to Students, Teachers and Parents regarding Bullying
The AFP has issued the attached advice to all schools in the Belconnen and Gungahlin zones regarding bullying. Please take the time to read this information and contact the College if you have any cause for concern about the matters raised.

FROM THE COLLEGE NURSE
Did you know that Radford College has a Health Promotion Committee?
Its aim is to promote, encourage, acknowledge and link various health activities and initiatives throughout the College. The committee meets twice each term and is chaired by Lisa Moloney, Head of High School. Members include teaching staff from Junior School to Senior School and PE & Health Department, College Nurse, Counsellor, Canteen Manager and a parent representative. Priorities identified for 2010 include:

• Support and promote SunSmart behaviours throughout the College. The P&F will continue to provide canteen incentives for hat wearing in students in Yrs 8-12. The PE & Health Department are screening a Cancer Council documentary ‘Real Stories about skin cancer and skin damage’ to Yr 8 students. Yrs 9-12 will be given the opportunity to view it in year groups. 
• Promote activities that encourage exercise in the College Community Support and advertise campaigns such as the’ Ride to School’ initiative. The Canteen are researching options for healthy eating rewards. The PE Department are encouraging ‘Women only Wednesdays’ for increasing use of the gym by women and girls .
• Encouraging and promoting increased water intake in students. Teaching staff will be encouraging students to bring water bottles to class, particularly in High School.
• Promote parent information sessions. Generation Next Seminars will be coming to Canberra August 29. Watch for more information.
  

FROM THE CHAPLAINS
Text: Luke 9.28-36 and the Transfiguration of Jesus
A young boy, six years old, returns from playing in the rain. He has no experience nor memory of rain that falls unceasingly for a day. It is a delight for him to build dams, channel water flow, float pieces of bark. The question he asks comes as a bolt from the blue: “Where is God?” It is not appropriate to give a watery answer.

Near.
God is near.
Near enough.
Near enough to radiate a compelling loving presence, enough for human consciousness to be aware and transformed by its reality.
Near enough so as NOT to be overwhelming or consuming; near enough for us to remain free.
Near enough to be closer even than our breath, yet, at the same time and in the same proximity, to be flooded in mystery. This is strange, paradoxical. The nearer we come to God, the closer we are drawn into mystery. This is the experience of walking with Jesus, for walking towards Easter leads into pain, not away from it. It leads to passion, suffering and community, not away from it. This is not masochism, but a movement deeper into a life transfused with love. 
Ash Wednesday marks the season of movement towards Easter and the entry into paradox. As ash is rubbed onto the skin in the shape of a cross these words are used: “from dust to dust, through death into life, Jesus said ‘do not be afraid, choose life’.” Father R Browning

Tuesday Morning Prayer Group - 8am in the Chapel
Everyone is welcome!

FROM THE ACCOUNTS DEPARTMENT
Applications are now open for Secondary Bursary Scheme available through the ACT Department of Education and Training. Applications close 28 February 2010. (The College Bursary Contact Officer is Ms D Manley 6162 6202)

FROM THE HEAD OF MATHEMATICS
Mathematics Tutoring
The Mathematics Department have afterschool tutoring classes in Room 48 from 3:45 to 4:45pm on the following days:
Terms 1 and 4, Tuesday and Thursday.
Terms 2 and 4, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

The school also provides a list of senior students (Years 11-12) willing to undertake tutoring on the Mathematics page on the intranet. The cost and conditions of employment will be a private arrangement between the student and parents, however, we are more than happy to provide a classroom for after school tutoring. Please visit the intranet page for the full list of willing tutors and their email addresses.

A list of specialist tutors for Year 11, 12 Mathematical Methods and Specialist Mathematics students can be supplied by contacting me directly via email (bruce.macdonald@radford.act.edu.au).

Mathletics
2010 registration is now complete. Student log in details will be supplied during the week as teachers set up their classes and courses. If you have trouble logging on, please contact the class teacher (primary) or Mathematics teacher (secondary) or alternatively email me directly Mr B Macdonald.

Text books for Junior Secondary
A number of parents have commented about a change in texts. For 2010, Years 7-9 (except Year 9 Level 2 Mathematics) will have the ICE-EM (International Centre for Excellence for the Education in Mathematics) resources as their main text. This is a change in text for Year 8-9 compared to 2009.

Designated text books:

Year 7	ICE-EM Books 1A, 1B
Year 8	ICE-EM Books 1B, 2A, 2B
Year 9 All level 1 Classes	ICE-EM Books 2B, 3A, 3B
Year 9 Level 2	Maths Quest 9, 5.2 Pathway
Year 10 All level 1 Classes	Maths Quest 10, 5.3 Pathway
Year 10 Level 2	Connections 10 5.1/5.2

The ICE-EM texts can be viewed as PDF documents from the Mathematics page on intranet. All ICE-EM texts issued to students come with a CD that can be used on home computers.

FROM THE HEAD OF LIBRARY
Assisting With Assignments
Looking for ways to help your children with their assignments? Assisting With Assignments is an evening for parents of students in Years 5 to 12. The evening is designed to equip parents with strategies to support their children as they work on research tasks. It will include hands-on exploration of some of the excellent resources available to students.

Feedback from past evenings indicates that parents enjoy the combination of learning methods, find the focused presentation very helpful, become more aware of intranet resources, and appreciate sharing experiences with other parents.

Date: Thursday, 4 March
Time: 7.30pm - 9.15pm, including break in the middle, with refreshments
Venue: Library (Years 5-12), Radford College
Booking form attached

For further information, contact Curtis Watson on 6162 6207 or send an email to library@radford.act.edu.au. The evening will be offered again on a Wednesday evening in Term 3.

FROM THE HEAD OF STUDENT PATHWAYS
Click here to access all the latest information on university courses, scholarships and admission information, further training, Australian School Based Apprenticeships (ASBAs), apprenticeships, Gap Year opportunities, job vacancies and more. . .

Below is a full list of the items included in this week's Student Pathways bulletin. It is strongly recommended that ALL students and/or their parents from the High School and Senior School regularly check this section of the bulletin.

New to the Careers Room
Pathways Presentations at Radford
Work Experience
CSI Workshops for Yr 10-12 students at UNSW
Are you interested in a career in Criminology?
An alternative pathway into Law
CIT Makeup Techniques for Special Occasions Course
Invention Convention (IC2010) for secondary school students
Gap Year – Tutors Worldwide – for 2011 UK Tutorships
Antipodeans Abroad Information Nights
Australian School based Apprenticeships (ASBAs)
Employment Information for School Students – know your rights
Diary Dates February to April (from recent Bulletins)

FROM THE HEAD OF MUSIC
Interested in playing Harp? - Radford College in conjunction with the Harp Australia will hold a Harp demonstration on Monday 22 February, at lunch time in the PAC. Come and hear this unique instrument being played by professional players and find out more information about learning this instrument at Radford.

New Audio Production Group – This co-curricular activity will start on Monday 22 February, 3:45pm in the PAC. This activity is now full.

Swimming Carnival 24 February – All co-curricular groups will rehearse on the morning of the swimming carnival. Students will then be transported to the carnival venue. Students participating in ‘butterfly’ events at the beginning of the carnival are excused from attending rehearsals.

Beginner Instrumental Program 2010 – There are limited places still available in the BIP for Bassoon, Trumpet, Euphonium and Tuba. Any students in Year 5,6 & 7 who are interested should see Mr Irving or Mr Marston in the PAC ASAP.

Radford Community Music Program 2010 – The Radford Community Music Program will be launched on 1 March 2010. In addition to our current Music program, we are inviting all Collegians, Staff, Parents and Friends to join a Choir, Symphony Orchestra or Big Band. We will be also offering master classes throughout the year. To express your interest and find out more about the program, please email Benn Sutcliffe. Benn.sutcliffe@radford.act.edu.au

Instrumental Studies – 19 February marks the last date students must notify their tutor and the Head of Music of their desire to discontinue lessons in Term 2.

• All students having individual lessons are required to have complete and returned the instrumental lesson application form. This can be on the intranet and must be returned by 19 February. Failing this, we will not be able to accommodate students from Monday 22 February. This is a school policy and duty of care requirement.

• I would like to encourage all students to take their green lesson diary books to both their individual lessons and group rehearsals as the diary is a key communication tool between the instrumental studies and co-curricular programs. New diaries can be picked-up in the PAC library.

Daily Notices – The daily notices are often the best way for the Music Department to send out urgent information. Please make sure you check the daily notices each day for what’s - on, when and where, in the Music Department. Alternatively, go to the co-curricular music page on the intranet. Contact details can also be found here.http://intranet.radford.act.edu.au/cocurricular/cocurricular.php

COCURRICULAR - OUTDOOR EDUCATION
Outdoor Adventures: The next outdoor adventure trip will be on March 6 and 7, permission form. This weekend getaway will be a climbing/abseiling with some raft building. If  If you have any questions please email Mrs Robards or go to the Outdoor Adventures page on the Intranet).

Duke of Edinburgh: Students interested in completing an award with the Duke of Edinburgh program please see Mrs Robards, (application form), or more information can be found on the intranet under Cocurricular page.

New Zealand: Year 11 students have the opportunity to go on an adventure trip to New Zealand at the end of this year. (Expression of interest form). There are limited spaces left on this trip. More information can be downloaded from http://intranet.radford.act.edu.au/cocurricular/OutdoorAdventures.php or come and see Mrs Robards in the senior school.

FROM THE SPORTS DEPARTMENT
Sports News
For latest news, please visit the cocurricular Intranet link at http://intranet.radford.act.edu.au and enter your user ID and password.

Football – Coaching and Refereeing Courses
Upcoming Capital Football Coaching Courses can be found at http://www.capitalfootball.com.au/site/coachingcalendar.php. A beginners Referee course will also be held on 13 and 20 March at Radford College. The registration form can be found on the Capital Football website.

Football Trials
Trials will be held for the U11, U12, U13, U14, U15 & U16 boys and girls on Sunday, 21 February from 9am -12 noon at Radford. No trials will be held for the U16 girls. More information regarding exact trial times for each age group will be available shortly. Please check the Football intranet page for updates.

Football Season Dates - Junior League
The first round of the Junior league kicks off on Saturday 1 May. The season finishes Saturday 4 September.
Important Dates:
Sat 26 June, Round 9- last round of JL matches before 3 week break
Sunday 4 -Friday 9 July - Kanga Cup
U18/16PL Men and Women start 10/11 April
If you would like to receive the Football E-Bulletin please email Tom Wodzinski at tomwodz@pcug.org.au.

Friends of Radford Football - Information Evening 18 February 2010 - The Pavilion
Friends of Radford Football (FORF) invite all football players and their families to an important information evening and BBQ, to be held at the College Pavilion. Please join us for a picnic sausage sizzle @ 6pm, an information presentation @ 6:30pm and a Celebrity football match @ 7pm on the main oval. All food and drink will be provided by FORF. You’ll learn more about playing football at Radford, FORF, Representative opportunities and what is planned for 2010. RSVP as soon as possible to Cymantha Cantrill @ Cymantha.Cantrill@ed.act.edu.au   Flyer attached. Please note that this function is in the Pavilion, not TB Millar Hall as previously advised in the Principal's Newsletter. The event in TB Millar Hall is the Rugby Information session (see below).

Rugby Registration & information Evening
The annual Radford Rugby Registration & Information Evening will be held on Thursday 18 February, in the TB Millar Hall and Mackinnon Oval. Please note that the TB Millar Hall is a new venue for this event. The evening will include a free BBQ, guest speakers and Brumbies players, information for players and parents as well as skills activities and games for prospective players.The clothes shop will also have a stall set up where you can purchase your rugby uniform items from 5:30pm.

Any students interested in playing in 2010, as well as their parents, are encouraged to attend, even if you haven’t already registered. Details can be found on the Rugby page of the Intranet.

Netball
Radford Gold will begin training from Thursday, February 18 at UC.

2010 Netball Trial Dates - All trials held in the school gym. All students are expected to attend and need to sign up on the sheet on the Netball notice board outside the Sports Centre. Contact rachelle.hayward@radford.act.edu.au if you are unable to make any of the dates.

Intermediate  Yr 7        Saturday Feb 20, 8am-10am
Juniors          Yrs 5-6   Saturday Feb 20, 8am-10am
                       Yrs 5-6   Sunday Feb 21, 11am-1pm

Hockey Training
Pre-season training for all hockey players will begin in week 3. Training will be held on Wednesday afternoons at Lyneham from 4-5pm. A bus will transport students from school and parents will need to pick them up from the Hockey Centre. If there is a clash with summer sport training, the summer sport takes priority. Training will return to Tuesdays and Thursdays in Term 2.

Tennis
The Secondary Schools Singles Tennis Event will be held during the first week in March. Students need to see Ms Hayward if they would like to compete. Registrations close on Friday 19 February.

Student Achievement
Snowsports - Former student in the Winter Olympics
Former Radford student Katie (Katherine) Calder (Class of '98), was selected for the New Zealand Olympic Team in cross country skiing events.  Further information can be found on the following website: www.winterolympics.co.nz

Triathlon
Congratulations to Hannah McClusky (8EP) and Jessica Wallace (8JWi) on making the ACT Schools Triathlon team that will travel to Adelaide in March.

FROM THE P&F Login to visit the P&F page on the Radford College Intranet

Radford Celebrates Art Café - Can you help?
The Art Show committee is seeking a parent/parents who would be interested in taking on the running of the Art Show Café over the weekend of May 14-16, as Elaine and Brent at the Oaks Brassiere, Yarralumla have signalled they should hand on the reins. We offer them our deep thanks for their unstinting support with this in the past. Catering experience and/or actively managing a café is desired. Plenty of good publicity available. Please contact Hannah Baudert by e-mail or on 0412 279 788.

P&F ASSISTANCE NEEDED FOR 2010

• Twilight Fete Convenors – The Fete is the largest P&F activity, and new Convenors are required. As well as the work on the day of the Fete, the work will take about 10 days effort over the 6 months before the Fete. The previous Convenors have documented the process and are available to guide the new convenors.
  

So please, make a difference to the Radford College Community by being actively involved in the P&F this year. If you would like to discuss this role, please do not hesitate to contact President Tim Cowley on 0429 452 081, or email P&F.

IMPORTANT NOTICES for P&F
Radford College Parents’ and Friends Association Inc - Special General Meeting (SGM) Thursday 18 February 2010, 7:30 pm TB Millar Hall
A Special General Meeting of the P&F Association is to be held to approve amendments to the Constitution of the Association. A quorum of at least 20 members is required to adopt a revised constitution for the Radford P&F New Constitution.

Annual General Meeting - Thursday 18 February 2010, TB Millar Hall following SGM after 7:30 pm
The Annual General Meeting will immediately follow the SGM. This will include a report by the President and election of office bearers for 2010. Nominations for the Committee are invited, and are to be lodged with the President or the Secretary by 4pm Wednesday 17 February 2010
  
COMMUNITY NEWS
"Crazy Night" - Saturday 27 March 2010, 7.30pm, TB Millar Hall
George Huitker & Junk Sculpture present: It's Only Rock'n'Roll, But I Like It (A Rolling Stones Tribute)
Bookings: Tables of 10 or thereabouts preferred, e-mail crazynight@radford.act.edu.au
Cost: $30 per head - Payment form attached.
* Come dressed as your favourite Rolling Stone, or in groovy 60s gear.
* All proceeds to Children's Charities.