WEEKLY e-BULLETIN - 24 February 2010

FROM THE PRINCIPAL - Mr Phillip Heath

This week, the Radford College Strategic Planning Survey went live. Many members of the community received an email from the College inviting you to participate. I felt this week I should provide a little more background to the survey and its intended use.

The present Strategic Plan for Radford College expires at the end of 2010. As you will see if you follow the link on the Radford Intranet, virtually all of the Plan has been completed. It is a lasting testament to the outstanding work of my predecessor that the College is in such a strong condition. A great deal of the substantial building work has been accomplished. We have an enviable (though not completely finished) academic culture. The formation of the ELC and the Junior School has provided a kind of continuity to the life of Radford, and the School continues to enhance its reputation for scholarship and community building.

Yet it is very obvious to all of us that the story is not yet complete. No school should ever consider that it has reached its final destination and so relax and “coast along”.  The good work begun in the previous generations must now be consolidated and enhanced. In my view, a number of things will need our attention. Some of these are small but practical challenges, such as the ease of movement through the College grounds, the use of space for passive recreation, the provision of shaded rest areas and the adequacy of vehicular access at peak times.

Less obvious, but perhaps even more important, is the formation of a truly whole school educational philosophy that binds the ELC, Junior School, High School and Senior School together in ways that do not rob these parts of their individuality and age-appropriate approaches. I think the Senior School spaces need attention so as to ensure that the College is ready to meet the challenges of the next decade in educational developments. The issue of student needs in middle schooling is also an important question before us. Likewise, the integration of ICT into classroom experiences will continue to grow in importance in the next decade.

 As we move forward, some of the needs I have been reflecting on include:

Yes, there is still a lot to do – and there always will be. We stand on the shoulders of previous generations of Radford College. This is now our season to reach for a new future.

You may not notice specific questions about any of the above matters in the Radford Survey. I don’t want to impose a vision too early in my time here. The Survey results will provide invaluable data to the College Board as we draft plans for future endeavours. The “free response” section within the Survey enables people to write a little more detail and to pick up ideas that the specific questions omit. Often such comments offer priceless pearls of wisdom.

Once we collate results of the survey, we would like to conduct a series of focus group conversations. These are informal sessions where we can converse with members of the community to “test” some of the findings of the Surveys and explore further ideas. The College Board will be meeting for a weekend in May 2010 to consider all of this material and set the dimensions for the next decade. The drafting of the next Strategic Plan will occur after the Board Retreat. We intend to involve the Senior Executive, the School Captains and Prefects at the Retreat so as to ensure we hear the staff and student voice. It will be a strenuous but very stimulating time.

We’d love to hear from you. Radford has a superb community with a very dedicated and supportive spirit. I am hopeful of a very high response rate from our community so as to strengthen the findings of the survey and set the right parameters for the future. Thanks as ever for your interest in the work of Radford College. Peace

STRATEGIC PLAN SURVEY - now available!
Have your say
A link to the surveys has been emailed to parents and also published on the school intranet. There are separate surveys for the ELC, Junior School and Years 7-12. You will need your intranet username and password to access the relevant school home page. 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.

FROM THE HEAD OF LEARNING & TEACHING and HIGH SCHOOL DIRECTOR OF STUDIES
In response to the high level of interest in the MySchool web site and the use of NAPLAN results, reflections on these issues have been prepared by the Head of Learning and Teaching, Ms P Mahy - PAPER, and the Director of Studies High School, Mr P Dodd - PAPER. These reflections follow on from the comments made by the Principal in previous Bulletins.

K-10 AUSTRALIAN CURRICULUM PROCESS
The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority has sent a letter to Principals regarding the consultation process for the draft K-10 Australian Curriculum.

FROM THE JUNIOR SCHOOL
Catch up with the latest Junior School Newsletter

FROM THE ACT POLICING- Advice to Students, Teachers and Parents regarding Weapons
ACT Policing has issued the attached advice to schools regarding weapons. Please take the time to read this information. These issues will be discussed with students in Year/Tutor groups.

FROM THE COLLEGE NURSE
Sun Smart For parents: protecting your family

Young people's skin is thinner and more sensitive; it can be damaged more easily. Sun exposure in the first 10 years of life largely determines your child's lifetime potential for skin cancer. Melanoma, the most dangerous skin cancer, is the most common cancer in young people aged 12–24. Children whose parents model sun protective behaviours are more likely to practice sun protection themselves. So remember the five steps to sun protection: Slip, Slop Slap, Seek, Slide and protect your family from skin cancer.

Protecting Teenagers
Teenagers aren't great at protecting themselves. They worry about their image, feel covering up is a ‘hassle' and, most of the time, just forget.
Parental insistence and role modelling can improve their sun protection. Here are some hints:

• Model good sun protection yourself by wearing hats, protective clothing and sunglasses, using sunscreen and seeking shade.
• Remind your teenager to protect themselves.
• Leave sunscreen and hats at the door.
• Allow them to choose their own hat, sunscreen, clothing, rash vests and board shorts, so the brand and style is acceptable to them.
• Time outings for early in the morning or later in the afternoon.
• Take shade to the beach

Source: SunSmart Victoria http://sunsmart.com.au/protecting_others/for_parents/

FROM THE CHAPLAINS
On being human
Everything we pursue, do, build and work on, is an idea. We live out and act on ideas. This town, its location, its core business, are all about ideas. Minister Garrett is under immense pressure as the ideas he presides over faces acute examination. In chapel this term, we are challenging the idea we possess about ourselves in the word Ubuntu. In our culture, the idea of the self is firmly established as an independent, thinking agent that can move and inhabit the world as we please. We imagine ourselves first as an individual. Ubuntu offers a different understanding. Ubuntu emerges out of African communal culture and bears a beautiful resemblance to the likeness of God’s essence. Ubuntu suggests being is bestowed, not by thinking, but by relating and being known; that there is no being without being in relation, and when one is not well, all is not well. This idea lies deep within the ethic of Nelson Mandela as a leader and post-apartheid President. Archbishop Desmond Tutu describes it thus: my humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together.

With this idea, the act that most affirms our self is to be human with others, for in this activity we each become more authentically human; our humanity is found in the humanity of others. Talk to anyone who as worked among the poor, the disabled, and you will consistently hear how great a privilege it is to stand together. Not for one moment does this deny or glorify the horror of poverty or the struggle of disability. But a strange thing happens when we stand together, we both become more human. My challenge as a father, a friend, a husband, is to give my self over to those in my midst, such that they would be more free, more alive, more themselves, more authentic, more autonomous. This experience is of community. It is a gift.

When Jesus is tested by the Tempter, the urge to do something for one’s self as an end in itself is VERY real (Luke 4.1-13). Our whole advertising industry is built on this premise and the sheer gravity of this desire. Jesus was being tested: leap from this tall building and let the angels save you, THEN everyone will see who you really are and love you. “Who am I?” is being tested. “What is my purpose?” is being challenged. Jesus rides out this wilderness examination and makes it very plain: I am from God, the Creator Lord, and am possessed by this one purpose, that humankind would have life in abundance, loving God with all they have and love themselves by loving others. Jesus’ purpose is that we would enter into the imagination of God, and find our fullness of humanity through the lives of the other.

RAS
Once again we ask what local Charity Radford College should support. The criteria for selection are: the organisation reflects a real and broad issue within our local Canberra community; the money is needed and can be put to effective use; there are opportunities for students to volunteer and assist. Last year the Spastic Centre at Spence was the chief recipient. The year before it was Cranleigh and the year before that was Home in Queanbeyan. Speak to your child, any staff member or email Fr Richard to make a suggestion. Students will present three proposals for selection.

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 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
RMIT School holiday program
What Matters? Competition for Yr 5-12 students
Vet Science Open Day, Melbourne
Are you interested in Digital Media?
Broomwood Hall School (London) - 2011 Gap Year Information Evening
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
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

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 6-7 March (permission form). This weekend getaway will include climbing/abseiling with some raft building. If you have any questions please email Mrs Robards or go to the Outdoor Adventures page on the Intranet. Permission notes need to be returned by 26 February.

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 e-Bulletin
If you would like to receive the Football E-Bulletin please email Tom Wodzinski at tomwodz@pcug.org.au.

Student Achievement
Hockey
Congratulations to Matthew Halpin (12NJM), Rachel Barnsley (11AJR), Stephanie Bruce (12GP) and Emma Lomas (11DEF) on their selection in the ACT U18 Hockey squads for 2010.

FROM THE P&F Login to visit the P&F page on the Radford College Intranet
Next Meeting - Thursday 4 March 7:30 pm Radford Boardroom.

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 14-16 May , 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.

Twilight Fete Convenors Needed – 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. If you would like to discuss this role, please do not hesitate to contact President Brett Morgan by e-mail P&F.
  
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.