WEEKLY e-BULLETIN - 3 March 2010

FROM THE PRINCIPAL - Mr Phillip Heath
Radford College Survey
Thank you, one and all, for your response to the Radford College Community Survey. At the time of writing this little note to the community, we have received:

• 50 replies from the ELC
• 150 replies from the Junior School
• 331 replies from the High School/Senior School
  

This represents greater than 50% response rate from the Radford community, with a few days still to run in the survey. (Survey closes Monday 8 March). I am also very thankful to the community for the number of extended responses that people took the time to provide for us. The observations written have given us invaluable insights into the life of the College. The overwhelming majority of remarks have been well considered, balanced and sensitive, with some really helpful suggestions thrown into the mix. After the survey has closed, we will work out how to share the findings with you all. Thank you for taking the time to support the College in this way.

Some news from Building and Grounds
I am delighted to inform you that the upgrade of the Food Science facilities, which was funded by the National School Pride program under the 2009 Commonwealth economic stimulus package, is virtually complete. This funding has enabled us to complete much-needed improvements to this important part of the College. I am grateful to our long-suffering students and staff who have waited patiently to return to the rooms for their lessons. Thank you for your resourcefulness and cooperation. No doubt we will soon see and smell the results of their renewed energy when the room comes fully into operation. Needless to say, we remain very grateful to the Commonwealth for the provision of funds to complete this project.
Junior School Stage 2 work continues. The recent rains in Canberra did not specifically affect the Radford building project. However, I am told that other projects in the ACT were affected, and the Radford Stage 2 project has fallen down the queue a little to accommodate the backlog of work. The steel for the upper floors began to arrive this morning, so I expect we will soon see the structure take shape. The basement car park, you will remember, replaced the parking that was on the site where we chose to build. We selected this site so as to protect the playground space for the Junior School children. In time, we will really appreciate the improved play space located adjacent to the Junior School classrooms. Mr Southwell and the Junior School/ELC team are working on the educational plans for the Year 6 Centre, which will remain in its present location. It will be very important to ensure that Year 6 children stay in close connection with the rest of the Junior School.

Learning Management System (LMS)
Over the past year or more, the College has been investigating improvements to the Intranet and alternative online learning management systems. It is clear that smooth integration of information and communication technology will be one of the keys to the future of school education. Students need to be able to readily access school resources out of hours, so that the classroom becomes much more about learning skills and understanding than about acquiring knowledge. Radford has selected the Learning Management System provider Kaleidos to assist us to transform our own intranet into something more engaging and purposeful. Over the first few months of this year, we have been preparing the ground for the implementation of the new system. In early April, representatives from Kaleidos will be at Radford to talk to staff and students before they install the system, with relevant modifications into the School.  For the College, this is a really important initiative. The new system provides more than schedules and timetables. It will offer the students and their teachers an opportunity to access learning materials as well as to communicate with staff and students alike on academic matters. Some classes will be invited to pilot the new software in their lessons, with a plan even to record test scores and samples of work on their class pages. The second semester of 2010 will be a time to increase the number of classes with pages on the new Learning Management System. This system will be used right across the College from ELC to Year 12.

West Side Story
Thank you to the wonderful students in the cast and crew of West Side Story. They are working hard to prepare for their performances. Keep a space in your diary in the first weekend of Term Two (April 29-31). You won’t be disappointed. I’m really enjoying the experience of working with the students and staff. Peace

STRATEGIC PLAN SURVEY - Closing 5pm MONDAY 8 MARCH 2010
Many thanks to all the parents who have already responded to this survey. The response period will close at 5 pm on Monday 8 March, so there is still time to have your say. Links to the surveys were e-mailed to parents, and they are also published on the school intranet.

FROM THE COLLEGE NURSE
Sun Exposure and Vitamin D
Vitamin D is essential for the development of strong bones. The best source of vitamin D is sunlight. It can be confusing whether or not you should get more sun exposure to ensure you get enough vitamin D or to be safe in the sun and protect yourself from an increased risk of skin cancer. Unfortunately too many Australians get too much sun in summer and increase their risk of developing skin cancers. The Cancer Council ACT recommends fair-skinned people can get enough vitamin D in summer from a few minutes of sunlight on their face, arms and hands before 11am or after 3pm on most days of the week.

In winter, when UV radiation levels are below 3, most people need only about two to three hours over a week of sunlight to their face, arms and hands. June & July are non-hat months wearing months in the ACT. See your doctor if you’re worried about your vitamin D level. More information at :http://raisingchildren.net.au/articles/vitamin_d.html and http://www.actcancer.org/sun-smart/vitamin-d.aspx

FROM THE CHAPLAINS
Everything we pursue, do, build and work on, is an idea. We live out and act on ideas. The ideas that possess us lie near to the root of our happiness and our distress, our inter-relational harmony and our conflict. A child “sleeping-in” reacted violently to the early morning sounds of a sibling gently singing. The idea that possessed the just recently asleep was: “I own this immediate space and have the right to choose what enters it – that includes sound!” (The doona over the head was not an effective “Cone of Silence”.) It meant that the joyful tunes were heard as a stick would be felt when deliberately poked in the ribs. Thus the violence was not only quick and ugly, but justifiable! The sleeping do have rights to personal space. This idea has merit and needs to be respected, but it can also be challenged. The ideas that possess us should be accurate, fair, lifegiving. But the idea of the individual should not be our biggest.

Dr Philip Zimbardo is author of ‘The Lucifer Effect’. He was the chief architect of the extraordinary Stanford Prison experiment, 1971. University students volunteering for the experiment were randomly allocated the role of guard or prisoner. The rapid and severe descent into violence by guards on the prisoners forced the early closure of the experiment. The source of the violence was people, good people. Zimbardo challenges our conception of evil, namely, we cannot safely locate evil ‘out there’ and ‘in them’; the propensity for evil dwells in us all. This is a challenging idea. It also locates the positive within: the hero, the good, the will for peace with justice also belongs, not ‘out there’ and ‘in them’, but in us.

Three staff members have been working hard on writing some curriculum for our friends in Timor. The resources to work from are not books, computers and smartboards. They are banana leaves, seeds and sticks. It is a grave mistake to imagine the Timorese student as deficient. Whilst the resources are very different from ours, the Timorese child can be a creative, dynamic learner, growing in literacy and numeracy skills in their own first language. Getting this idea right from the start is crucial. (The exciting thing with this is maybe we are also working on resources that could apply in any remote indigenous community . . . globally.)

The work of God in Jesus is to challenge the ideas that possess us. They must be fair. They must be big, and loving and lifegiving and healing. These ideas are foreign, threatening, life changing: the stranger is an angel, death is a door, service the path to freedom, forgiveness an act of power, love the final word. These are radical ideas and outline the mission of Jesus who leads us into the vista of God’s imagination. As we walk towards Easter, and find the power of God pinned to a cross in the throes of death, we must always be open to bigger, more dangerous ideas about God, and thus ourselves. Our humanity is bound up in the humanity of others, and most intimately, in the humanity of the Divine who comes among us in Christ.

RAS
Choosing a local charity. At the moment, one organization will be chosen from the following: Steps Programme; CarersACT; Black Mountain School. Should we be choosing another altogether?  Please email Fr Richard immediately if you can suggest another.
Selection criteria:
* The organisation needs to reflect a real and broad issue within our local Canberra community;
* The money is needed and can be put to effective use; and
* 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.

Harmony Day: celebrated here on Friday 19 March.  

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

Christians for an Ethical Society - Public Forum Wednesday 17 March, 7:30 pm.
Topic: “Poverty and Plenty… Where do/should Christians Stand?” Speakers: Professor Frank Brennan SJ AO and Rev Dr Erica Mathieson. Venue: Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture, corner of Blackall St/Kings Avenue, Barton (adjacent to St Marks Theological College) at 7.30pm, Wednesday 17 March. Flyer

FROM THE HEAD OF LEARNING & TEACHING
Change to departmental presentation dates
Please note that the presentation from the English Department has now been moved from 11 March to 3 June. Dates are now:

1. EWC – English Presentation  - 3 June
2. EWC – ELC Presentation  - 5 August
3. EWC – LOTE Presentation – 9 September
4. EWC – Library Presentation – 28 October

FROM DIRECTORS OF STUDIES - NAPLAN 2010
On the 11, 12 and 13 May, all Year 3, 5, 7 and 9 students will be taking part in the National Assessment Program for Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN). Federal government regulations require that all students in these Year levels participate. The tests provide the College with valuable diagnostic data that helps us design our academic programs. A brochure that provides parents with further information has been produced by the testing agency. This will be sent home during this week.

Please do not schedule ANY appointments (medical or other) before lunchtime on the testing days.

Parents have the right to withdraw their children from some or all of the tests. While we would encourage you not to withdraw your child, if you wish to consider this option, please contact the appropriate Director of Studies (Mr Peter Dodd for Years 7 and 9 or Mr Nick Martin for Years 3 and 5.)  Withdrawal forms must be completed by 12 March.

FROM THE HEAD OF MATHEMATICS
Competitions
The department regularly receives notification of mathematics competitions run by different organisations and universities. The two competitions we strongly support are the Mathematics Challenge, mentioned below, and the Australian Maths Competition that runs early Term 3. If students would like to enter other competitions, information will be placed in the Daily Bulletin and on the Intranet Mathematics page.

Australian Mathematics Trust Mathematics Challenge for young Australians:
It is open to students from Years 5 to 10. Any student interested in entering must register by emailing their name and tutor group to mathschallenge@radford.act.edu.au. This is a voluntary competition for very capable students. Cost $33.55 Yrs 5-7, $39.60 Yrs 8-10. Closing date:12 March 2010.

ICAS – Mathematics
UNSW, ICAS (International Competition and Assessment) will be run on 17 August. It is open to students from Years 7 to 10. Any student interested in entering must register by emailing their name and tutor group to icasmaths@radford.act.edu.au. This is a voluntary competition for capable students. Cost $6:60, Closing date: 30 June 2010.

FROM THE HEAD OF LIBRARY
Assisting With Assignments - **THURSDAY THIS WEEK**
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.

Samoan Library Project
Six year old Clea was on holiday in Samoa when she became one of the many victims of the 29 September 2009 tsunami. Clea loved reading, and in memory of their child, her parents Trudie Wykes and Jorge Salavert are encouraging people to contribute funds for the building of a library at Lalomanu, a small village which bore the brunt of the tsunami, close to where Clea perished. No donations of books are being sought at this stage, only financial contributions to the building of the library. Full details.

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
Broomwood Hall School (London) - 2011 Gap Year Information Evening
University of New England Open Day – 7 May
$2.1 million for AMC to help address skills shortages in Australia’s maritime industries
Student Fashion 2010
Careers in Medical Research Seminar
Careers in Medicine
Up date from the UNSW
International School of Aviation Australia (ISAA)
Sport NSW 2010 Career Day
Sports Medicine Australia- ACT Branch
Australian School based Apprenticeships (ASBAs)
Employment Information for School Students – know your rights
Diary Dates March to April (from recent Bulletins)

FROM THE HEAD OF MUSIC
Beginner Instrumental Program – In Year 5, 6 or 7 and want to learn an instrument for the first time?  Then it’s not to late to become a member of our Beginner Instrumental Program for 2010.  Speak to Mr Pennicook in the  PAC Office for more information.

Recitals – A warm invitation is extended to students, parents and friends to attend our Recital Series for Semester 1. All recitals are held in the Junior School Hall and start at 5.30pm. Recital Application Forms can be found outside the Music Staffroom and on the Music Co-curricular Intranet page.
Year 5/6        31 March
Year 7              7 April
Year 8              5 May
Year 9            12 May
Year 10         26 May
Year11/12      2 June

Foundation Day Choral Concert – For an evening of superb choral music, come along and hear the best Radford has to offer at this year's ‘Faure Requiem’ Foundation Day Concert, Thursday 8 April 5.30–6.30pm in the Radford Chapel. Tickets are $10 for adult, students are free. Tickets will be available at the door.

Male Chorus and Boys Choir – Vacancies still exist in both our Male Chorus (Years 7-9) and Boys Choir (Years 3-7) for boys with unbroken voices. Speak to Mr Pennicook in the  PAC Office for more information.

Friends of Radford Music (FORM) - will be holding their first meeting for 2010 on Tuesday 9 March at 7.30pm in the PAC. All parents are invited to come along and get involved in this very worthwhile parent music support group.

Performance Uniform – A letter regarding the 2010 Performance Uniform for bands and orchestras will be sent out next week. A copy will be posted on the Intranet as well as being home via email.

Instrumental Lessons – We are currently doing an audit of our database and following up on those students who have instrumental lessons at Radford, but are not a member of one of our Co-curricular Music groups. Could I please remind all students and parents that it is a condition of having lessons at Radford that they are a member of a music group. Speak to Mr Pennicook in the  PAC Office for more information.

Term 1 Tuition Fees – It is customary for all accounts to be finalised by the end of Week 4. Parents with outstanding tuition fees are asked to settle their accounts with their child’s instrumental tutor immediately.

COCURRICULAR - OUTDOOR EDUCATION
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 Trip - now open to Y10 as well as Y11
Year 10 and 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
For latest Sports News, please visit the cocurricular Intranet link at http://intranet.radford.act.edu.au and enter your user ID and password.

House Swimming Results - Click here for the Overall House Championship Standings 2010
The 2010 House Swimming Carnival was held in perfect weather at Big Splash Pool in Macquarie. In the Golden Flipper, the race to decide the fastest swimmer in the school, Nicholas Otevrel (11MW) backed up his 2009 win in 27.56 and Jessica Schembri (11ALe) was a first up winner in 29.92. A squad of swimmers will be selected to represent Radford at the ASC Championships later in the month with all details on the intranet. All individual results from our carnival are on the intranet.

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.

Hockey
Girls and Boys Belconnen Primary School Hockey Trials are on Thursday 11 March and Monday 15 March. Contact Mr Sullivan for further details.

Netball
A Skills and Fitness session will begin on Wednesday mornings during Term 1. The first session will start at 7am on March 10, in the Sports Centre. All netball players are welcome to attend.

Netball trials are completed. Thank you to all those girls who attended. Letters will be sent home shortly outlining player expectations, coach details and training times. This year there will be one grading day, instead of three grading rounds prior to the competition. Grading day for Netta and Juniors in Saturday March 20, and for Intermediates and Seniors Saturday March 27. Check the Netball page on the Intranet for more details, as they come to hand.

Student Achievement
Cricket
Under 15s School Sport Australia Cricket Championships 2010 was held in Sydney 21-25 February. The ACT side had their best performance in the 10 year history of the championships. In their pool they won the first two games against NSW invitational side and then against South Australia. They were then beaten by last year’s winners Western Australia. Christopher Fitzgerald (10SJP), representing Radford in the ACT team, played all five games, and in the final game, contributed to the win by getting 2 for 13 off 5 overs.

Rugby
Congratulations to Matthew Armstrong (11ALe) who has completed his Level 2 Referee Course and has been awarded an Australian Rugby Union Referee Scholarship. His first duty is number 6 referee at the Brumbies vs Lions match at Canberra Stadium on Friday 5 March.

Soccer
Congratulations to Caitlin Cantrill (7SEH) and Freya Brent (7PH), who have been selected in the ACT Under 13 girls soccer team to compete in the National Championships in Canberra from 16-19 April.

Rowing
Congratulations to all the rowers who competed at the Independent Schools Rowing Regatta on February 20 & 21. Radford rowers won medals in the following events: Bronze in the Yr 9 Boys Quad, Gold in the Yr 10 Boys Quad and Double and Silver in the Single, Silver in the Yr 9 Girls Quad, Silver in the Senior Girls Single, and Bronze in the Double, and Bronze in the Senior Boys Double. A special mention to James Mount (10SJP) and Luke Letcher (10SG), who won Gold in the Yr 10 double and were part of the gold winning Yr 10 Quad. Luke also won the Silver in his Yr 10 single scull. A full list of results is available from the ACTRA Website.

Triathlon
Congratulations to Freya Brent (7PH) who will travel to Adelaide in March, together with Hannah McClusky (8EP) and Jessica Wallace (8JWi), as part of the ACT Schools Triathlon team.

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 - Friday 14 May to Sunday 16 May, TB Millar Hall
The 26th Radford College Annual Art Show will be held this year on 14-16 May. This is a major fundraising event on the College's calendar and provides an opportunity for local artists and many of the College's talented art students to showcase their work. In 2009, over 100 artists submitted a total of 890 works of art, including paintings, sculpture, jewellery and photographic works.

This year, Andrew Sayers, Director of the National Portrait Gallery, will officially open the Show on the Friday evening (14th May). We hope that parents, friends and students will come along and support this important event.

If you can assist in the lead up to the show and during the weekend, please contact Convenor Hannah Baudert by e-mail or on 0412 279 788.

CAN YOU HELP?
Radford Celebrates Art Café – Seeking experienced Café or Restaurant Owners to assist
The Art Show committee is still 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. We are getting concerned we may not be able to offer the café experience of previous years! Catering experience and/or actively managing a local café or restaurant would be helpful. We can organise volunteers can assist with serving and food preparation. 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" - COMING UP VERY SOON - 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.