WEEKLY e-BULLETIN - 7 April 2010
FROM THE PRINCIPAL -
Mr Phillip Heath
Reflecting on Term One
This is the final letter for Term 1, and this time I will take the opportunity to reflect a little on the past three months. I want to begin by expressing my thanks to all students, parents and staff for the hard work and support you’ve offered this term.
The term began with an excellent staff development program, the most important sessions of which enabled colleagues to share teaching practices with one another in workshops. Teaching can be a very isolating profession, and the Radford staff appreciated the opportunity to observe the techniques of their colleagues. We conducted a brief survey regarding the effectiveness of the PD experiences and these sessions were exceedingly well received.
More than 150 new students joined the College at the start of this year. They were pleased to be offered a place at Radford, and all of them appear to have settled extremely well into school life. I am particularly pleased to see the number of new students involved in co-curricular activities. Camps were conducted for the Prefects, the House Captains and Vice Captains, as well as for Year 5, Year 7 and Year 11. I was able to visit all except the Year 5 Camp, and found them to be very positive experiences. I am grateful to the staff for their willingness to dedicate their time to provide these opportunities for their students.
The first term academic program is important to set in place good habits of mind. The learning program is now well established and students seem to be engaged fully in assessments that mark the mid-semester period. Information sessions have been conducted for all years of the College, including the Early Learning Centre, and these were very well attended. We are always grateful for the level of interest that our parents express in the academic program offered here at Radford. With the launch of the “My School” website, the community has been interested to know how Radford College regards some of the new developments in education policy. I consider this level of interest as a real strength in our community. Our senior students have all been working very hard of late attending to their mid-semester assessments. By this time, all students of the College should have received valuable assessment feedback about their progress.
The number of students participating in a co-curricular activity in the summer months exceeds 70%. I am very pleased with the levels of enjoyment students gain from these activities. Congratulations to several basketball teams for their success this season. Likewise, we particularly congratulate the Radford Rowers for an outstanding Head of the River Regatta in 2010 and for their overall standings in ACT Rowing. The dedication of our rowers and their families is something at which to marvel. I notice many of these same students are also involved in West Side Story rehearsals. They are so busy!
The music program has also been admirable. I look forward to attending the Foundation Day Concert this week (Thursday), which will feature the hauntingly beautiful Requiem by Gabriel Faure. There have been separate recitals for students from Years 5, 6 and 7, which provide excellent opportunities for students to perform before an audience. Of course, rehearsals for West Side Story have been regular throughout the term. Make sure you get your ticket! It promises to be another outstanding season of Radford musical theatre.
Preparations continue for the combined schools Music Festival, this year to be held at Kinross Wolaroi School in Orange. As a founding member of the group of schools that conducts this event, Radford has a particular interest in supporting the opportunity for musicians to perform with peers from around the country, conducted by professional musicians from Sydney and Melbourne. I warmly commend this event to the music community of Radford. Further information can be gained from the College Music Department.
The College continues to do inspirational things in community service. As we move towards Foundation Day, it is good to be reminded that we enjoy so many fine things here at Radford and that we have an obligation to reach out to others. The RAS Leadership Team has combined with the Junior School Tribal Council to nominate a number of charities for special attention. I admire the energetic compassion of our students. Earlier this term, a number of Year 10 students from the Team Support Group joined with children and staff from St Lucy’s School in Wahroonga to march on Parliament House to support the call for increased funding for schools for children with disabilities. Our friendship with Black Mountain School and with Cranleigh School continues to be very important to Radford and I want to thank our students for their very effective community work in those places. It is my strong view that any gift of time and compassion is amply rewarded by the grace that flows from exposure to the needs of others. Our own humanity is nourished and strengthened when we share in the humanity of others (Ubuntu). This term also saw Crazy Night, where George Huitker revived some fond memories of the Rolling Stones! Thank you to all the Radford community for supporting these initiatives.
Vale Mrs Molly Brownbill
It was with great sadness today that we learned of the death of Molly Brownbill (1936-2010). Molly was a foundation member of the Radford College staff until 2003. She was our first Director of Studies. We give thanks to God for Molly’s energetic academic leadership of the College. More than one long-serving member of the staff has observed to me today that we owe a great debt of gratitude to Molly for the strong learning culture that we now enjoy at Radford. She made a lasting contribution to the Radford of today and the future. Molly passed away on Easter Day, after a long illness. Her funeral will be held at St Mary’s Catholic Church, Turallo Tce, Bungendore on Friday 9 April at 10am.
The College community will give thanks for the life and contribution of Molly Brownbill during our Foundation Day Ceremony on Friday 9 April. We will all rise for a minute’s silence during this occasion to mark this moment in the history of Radford with respect, sadness and thanksgiving.
Strategic Planning
My warm thanks go to everyone who participated in the elements of the strategic planning process which took place this term. In particular, I thank Ms Lisa Moloney, who so ably co-ordinated the recent surveys and the focus group sessions which followed, and all the parents who gave their time and reflections so generously. The Radford community has, yet again, demonstrated its strong engagement with the life of the College. Analysis of the data gathered so far will now take place, and I will keep you in touch with the next stages of the process, as they occur in Term 2.
Staffing Matters
This term, Radford farewells two staff members. Ms Glenice Harrison is relocating to Melbourne with her family after 14 years of outstanding service of the College, most recently as Assistant to the Senior School Director of Studies, Mr M Lewthwaite. She will be sorely missed at Radford Senior School, where she has been helpful in every way.
We also farewell Dr Danny Cohen, a notable Biblical scholar and a fine teacher of History since 2009. Dr Cohen and his family are relocating to Cootamundra.
I hope that everyone enjoyed a peaceful and blessed Easter. Congratulations on an outstanding Term 1! Let’s revive and then thrive in Term 2. Senior students should remember to treat the coming break as an opportunity to attend to their academic work and ensure that they have everything in order for the weeks ahead. West Side Story is on stage immediately upon return to school Term 2. I can’t wait!
Thank you for all your support and see you next term.
Happy holiday everyone.Peace
FROM THE CHAPLAINS
I love Easter. Alleluia is the word! Death is a door and life is a gift to be lived by giving away. Being alive and giving life to others are the same. Like love, Easter is a verb: the breath of the risen Jesus breathes into our own the wonder of living by giving. Hold on to this breath and you’ve lost it. Let it go and it never runs out!!
There are many reasons why I am Christian. Easter is the greatest. Another is because Zilla plays the organ. At my last church there was a gentle Communion service on a Wednesday morning, graced by a mob of bent-over, sunburnt, hard-of-hearing oldies. This mob taught me much. Zilla would play the organ. It was awful. Comically awful. She would bump the keys as she levered her way up onto the seat. She would miss notes, or go too slow and then randomly speed up and skip along a little faster. Fingers on chalkboards could create more godly devotion, and in my earliest days, newcomers would speak to me in hushed tones, complaining about the torture. This is where I learnt to sing loudly. I learnt that I could ‘smooth over it all’ and lead victoriously to the final, rousing chorus. Suggesting that another musician, or even none at all, would provoke greater hymnody was met with militant resistance. I hadn’t noticed how cheerfully the faithful sang. Nor had I noticed Zilla’s story or her hands. When I learnt to ask the right question, I came to an essential understand. And to this day, one of the reasons I am Christian is because Zilla plays the organ.
Zilla used to play duets with her husband. She was only seventy-ish and they’d go to the nursing homes and play for the ‘oldies’. She apparently cut a mighty sound on the violin. One day, their adult son who lived with them fell asleep in bed. This is noteworthy only because sleep came before his cigarette was extinguished. Never did Zilla blame him. The house was destroyed. Zilla lost her son and her husband to the fire. She barely escaped with her life. Her hands were badly burned. Small as they were, now fingers were literally melted in their web spaces. Zilla never played the violin again. Instead, she learned to play the piano and organ because she wanted to make music with God. Knowing this, I swear, if ever you wanted to hear the sounds of the kingdom of heaven, it was Zilla on the organ. Anyone who learned her story and heard her play, always found their voices rising. Why am I Christian? Because Jesus has died and is risen . . . and because Zilla plays the organ. Fr Richard Browning
RAS Charity Fundraiser, Foundation Day
Everyone doing what we can. Nothing more. Nothing less. The whole school target is $50K. The attached documents Information, Donation Form are also available on the RAS Intranet site (under services). We are supporting the following organisations. They are many and varied. But then, there is much to support:
Dictionaries to Timor Leste and mother tongue curriculum; House building project in Vietnam; Cancer Council (Relay for Life); S.T.E.P.S. (residential support for people with mental illness – Catholic Care); Youth in the City (AngliCARE); L’Arche Community; Red Cross Blood Bank; Black Mountain School; Cranleigh School; Pegasus riding for disabled; AngliCARE Winter Appeal, St John’s Crisis Centre and Foster Care Bags; Ginninderra Gardens Nursing Home; Microfinance through Opportunity International; Heart Foundation; CarersACT; Belconnen Community Centre Christmas hampers; Circus Quircus; Canberra Special Children’s Christmas Party; Companion House. Your support is greatly appreciated.
Saturday Sunset - Holy Communion Service
10 April, 5.30pm in the College Chapel. Preacher: Fr Nikolai Blaskow. Everyone is most welcome.
FROM COMMUNITY RELATIONS
School Bus Request to ACTION
A number of parents contacted us regarding other areas they would like to see served by ACTION school buses, after last week's item regarding Belconnen. The item specified the Belconnen area, rather than being a general request, because of the high percentage of Radford students who live in that region. Obviously ACTION will not consider additional/changed services unless there is sufficient demand. We can certainly collate requests from other regions, but the possibility of success is much smaller than in the case of Belconnen.
If you wish to lodge bus request details with us, for Belconnen (Dunlop, Spence, Charnwood, Fraser, Flynn, Melba or Evatt), or elsewhere, please e-mail communityrelations@radford.act.edu.au with the following information:
(1) your name
(2) the number of children who would use the service
(3) your street address.
Please put "Bus Request" in the subject line.
FROM THE JUNIOR SCHOOL
Catch up with the latest Junior School News.
FROM THE CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER & DOS ITAC
On the first weekend of the holidays, Sat 10 April and Sun 11 April, the Intranet and the external website will NOT be available, as maintenance work will be conducted. This means that webmail for students, and the link to the Parent Teacher booking system will not be available. If you wish to access the Parent Teacher online booking system during this time, please use this link to do so http://pto.countrynet.net.au/Logon.aspx?school=34882
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. . .
A full list of the items included in this week's Student Pathways bulletin appears below. 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
First Year Experience in Australian Universities
University of Tasmania Online
Thinking of University of Technology Sydney
(UTS)?
UMAT2010
University of Western Sydney Medicine Program
University of Sydney (USYD) Combined Medicine
Degrees
Sydney Film School Open Day
Australian Defence Force Gap Year
Deloitte Group 2010 Cadetships
Australian Gemini School Astronomy Contest:
2010 details
Whitehouse Institute of Design Holiday
Workshops
Australian School based Apprenticeships
(ASBAs)
Employment Information for School
Students – know your rights
Diary Dates April to July (from recent Bulletins)
FROM THE DRAMA DEPARTMENT
The Musical – West Side Story
Due to popular demand, an extra performance has now been scheduled - a Saturday matinee (1 May) at 2pm, tickets $16 each (whether booked before or after the holidays.) These tickets may be ordered on either of the Order forms available in the PAC, Junior School Reception or downloaded from the Intranet, but the form must be clearly marked as a request for Saturday MATINEE tickets.
Performances |
Thursday 29 April Friday, 30 April and Saturday 1 May. 7.30 in TB Millar Hall |
Ticket sales |
OPEN NOW |
Ticket prices |
Early bird price evening shows- $16 for tickets ordered before end of term (3.30pm Fri 9 April). |
Order process |
Order forms and box outside Room 61 upstairs in the PAC |
Preview |
A special preview performance for Junior School and parents of cast members only will be held on Wednesday 28 April at 4.00pm. Tickets for this performance are $8.00 each, order forms for this performance are only available from Junior School Reception. |
Dance Festival 2010
Catch up auditions will be held Thursday April 8, 3.45pm - 4.45pm in the Pavilion, for those students who miss the first round of auditions. If you have any questions please email Mrs Kylie Robards.
FROM THE HEAD OF MUSIC
2010 Radford College Music Department Concert Series proudly supported by the Friends of Radford Music
The first concert for 2010 is the 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 Foundation Day Concert – Thursday 8 April 5.30pm – 6.30pm in the Radford Chapel. Tickets are available at the door, $10 for adults, students free. The Combined Chamber and Chapel Choir will be singing Faure's Requiem accompanied by Orchestra, the Chapel Choir will sing Durufle Motets and Maddi Lymn in Year 10 will be singing Caro mio ben by Giordani.
All profits go to Foundation Day Charities.
Concert series program for 2010. (It can also be found on the Intranet.)
Recitals
Year 8 Recital forms are due in no later than Wednesday 28 April. Forms available from outside of the Music Staffroom.
Community Music Program
The Community Music Program is still looking for new members.
- Chapel Choir Mondays 5:30 – 7:30pm in the Chapel
- Big Band Wednesdays 5:30 – 7:30pm in the PAC
- Orchestra Wednesdays 7.30 – 9.30pm in the PAC (starting in Term 2)
For further information, please email the Director, Carly Brown: carly.brown@radford.act.edu.au
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.
Radford Football Referees - Seminar Saturday 10 April
The Junior Football Referee Annual Northside Seminar is being conducted on Saturday 10 April at Radford College, with Registration 8am-9am.
Referees need to attend an annual seminar to register each year.
Radford Football - important registration reminder - Please complete by end of Term 1.
To meet Capital Football & Football Federation Australia requirements, all players are required to complete online registration in a system known as "MyFootballClub" (http://www.myfootballclub.com.au/default.aspx). Instructions for this task are attached. If you have any questions, please read the "help documentation" first, then if you need more help, please call the MyFootballClub Support Centre (times and number in the help document, or e-mail Mark Arkell - radfordmyfc@gmail.com
For those of parents/players who registered last year in MyFootballClub, unless you have kept records from 2009 the 1st step will be to find your FFA number and then reset your password. Note that password resets are sent to the email address recorded in MyFootballClub, if the password reset does not work contact the MyFootballClub Support Centre for assistance.
Snowsports - Information Evening Thursday 8 April
Thursday 8 April, Radford College Pavilion from 7:00pm -8:00pm
Chess News
The Radford Chess Tournament will be running again in Term 2, commencing in Week 1, and running for seven rounds. It is open to all levels of chess players in the school, at a cost of $10 each. A variety of trophies will be awarded in both Primary and Secondary levels. E-mail Ms J Mason (jennymason99@yahoo.com.au) to register your intent to play - clocks are limited for this event.
Student Achievement
Tenpin Bowling
Congratulations to Geoffrey Quiggin (12CJW), who is captaining the ACT Junior Tenpin Bowling team at the National Championships in Victoria.
Chess
Congratulations to all players who represented Radford in The Doeberl Cup (one of Australia's Premier Chess events), especially Willis Lo (8DMD) who came 2nd in the Minor, Yijun Zhang (7PH) who placed equal 4th and Stuart Mason (5TL) who came equal 5th.
FROM THE P&F Login to visit the P&F page on the Radford College Intranet
Next Meeting - Thursday 8 April 7:30 pm Radford Boardroom.
Entertainment Books have arrived!
Last year, the P&F raised over $4,000 by selling the Entertainment Book. Entertainment Books contain vouchers and a card for discounts and special offers at many Canberra and interstate businesses, services, restaurants and cafes. The popular discount at Coles is again available. They are fantastic value (you only need to dine out twice or purchase 2 Coles cards to recoup the cost) and the school receives $11 for every book sold. Entertainment Books will be distributed to the eldest child in each family through teachers (ELC/JS) and tutors (HS/SS). Parent letter
RADFORD CELEBRATES ART - Friday 14 May to Sunday 16 May, TB Millar Hall www.radfordartshow.net
Gala opening is on Friday 14 May. Special guest is Andrew Sayers, Director of the National Portrait Gallery.
For exhibitor enquiries: please contact Fionna Granger or to download an application form, go to www.radfordartshow.net
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.
Volunteers Also Urgently Needed!
The Art Show Committee also needs volunteers to help with the following activities. We currently have 19 volunteers but need 70 this year!
In preparation for the Show we need help with the following:
THURSDAY 13 MAY (from 4pm) : In receiving work from the artists from 4 - 7 pm. Help is also needed with setting up displays, so if you enjoy the challenge of hanging pictures you would be very welcome!
FRIDAY 14 MAY (from 9am) : Further setting up of displays (paintings and glassware etc), other set up tasks etc from 9am.
During the show (Official Opening on FRIDAY EVENING, Saturday and Sunday), we need help with the following:
1. Door duties : collecting gold coin donation, selling raffle tickets.
2. Data entry, receipting : assisting experts on the sales desk
3. Red spotting : This involves walking the 'floor' and if people want to buy something, they approach you, you fill in a slip and put a red dot on the item's label and then escort the buyer to the sales desk. A nice way to see the artwork!
4. Helping in Cafe : assisting with serving food, washing dishes etc. Some of the school's Hospitality students will be assisting with these tasks.
The shifts/time slots for these tasks are (we need a couple of people for each task):
Friday night 14 May 7pm-10pm
Saturday/Sunday 10am-12pm,12-2.30pm, 2.30-5pm (until 4pm on Sunday).
On Sunday afternoon when the show ends at 4pm, we will also need helpers on hand to help with collection of art work, and then to pack up the art show (panels etc), so some strong people will be needed.
We are also looking for donations of CAKES/SLICES for the cafe over the weekend.
If you can help in any way, or know of anyone who might be able to help, please contact Marietta. phone: 6258 6876 or mobile: 0427 210 694 to discuss your preferred task and time preference.
For exhibitor enquiries, please contact Fionna Granger
COMMUNITY NEWS
LIFELINE BOOK FAIR - EPIC on 16-18 April 2010
Friday 16 April 10am-6pm;
Saturday 17 April 10am-5pm;
Sunday 18 April 10am-4pm
This year there is a large selection of jazz records including a number of old 78s. On Sunday there will be a special section on Girl Guide publications to celebrate the 100th anniversary of this organisation.
Each year the Lifeline Canberra Bookfair recycles up to 1 million books. Your continuing donations keep us going. Thank you.
Donating books - 40 Heffernan St, Mitchell, ACT. Telephone 02 6241 2901 .
Weekdays 9:30am to 1:00pm;
Saturdays 10:00am - 4:00pm
More information is available on the website - http://www.act.lifeline.org.au
FROM ACT POLICING
ACT Policing commences Operation Safe School on 9 April 2010, and this will continue up until 26 April 2010. Operation School Safe is an ACT Policing, Crime Prevention initiative which, through extra police patrols during this period, helps to keep your schools safe during the holiday period. Anyone who observes anti-social behaviour or suspicious activity around schools is urged to report this to police immediately on 131 444.
HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS BOOKLET
These commercially produced booklets list a wide range of holiday activities and programs.
Copies are available free at Main Reception or Junior School Reception.
| College Street, BRUCE, ACT 2617 - Telephone: (02) 6162 6200, Email: CommunityRelations@radford.act.edu.au |