This edition: 11 August 2010

 

The Radford Learner
At the next meeting of the College Board, our Head of Learning and Teaching (Ms Peggy Mahy) will join me to report on the search for the right language to describe the nature of the “Radford Learner”.

Over the past months, the academic team at the College has been working on a project to define the ideas that successfully will bind the learning process across the entire community. We have been considering words or phrases that apply with equal veracity to all ages and stages of the Radford learning continuum. Following a number of workshops and other sessions, we now have reached a final set of words for submission to the Radford College Board for their approval.

To be known as the “Radford Learner”, this simple but powerful set of words will become an important tool to inspire, inform and focus the learning that lies at the heart of our school.  Now that the College caters for students from Pre Kindergarten to Year 12, established in four distinct sub-schools (ELC, Junior, High School and Senior School), it is very important to create a common language that will bind together the learning experience of all in our community in age-appropriate and stage-appropriate ways. I believe that we have found the language: CONNECT   THINK     TRANSFORM

These powerful words will join the other anchor points in our College life – our Motto (Truth, Compassion, Wisdom), and our statement of Values in Action (Imagine, Listen, Respect).

The purpose of this announcement simply is to make the community aware of the progress made by Ms Mahy’s team. The “Radford Learner” descriptor will become one of the central themes in our forthcoming Strategic Plan. I look forward to writing more about this in the coming weeks. I am delighted by what has been accomplished so far and I look forward to presenting the above material to the Radford Board later this month.

New College Sign
Many people who visited the College over the weekend might have noticed a little work happening in the vicinity of the JA Mackinnon Oval sign. Construction has now commenced on the installation of a new electronic sign that will be placed in that vicinity.

The suggestion for an electronic sign that gave news of College events came from our Parents and Friends Association. We considered a range of alternatives, and selected a style that we hope will be aesthetically pleasing as well as functional. As families drive into the College grounds they will be able to discover quick items of news and announcements about events. We will also use the sign to welcome special visitors, and to remind the community about the importance of road safety.

We expect the sign to be operational before the end of August.

Annual Choral Recital
I congratulate all students and staff for a delightful afternoon of choral music held in the Chapel last Sunday. Under the guidance of Mr Mat Irving and Ms Heidi Anthony, choirs from across the College sang for an eager audience of parents, friends and staff members. The Warblers (under Brenda Lander) joined a range of Junior School Choirs (led by Emily Begbie, Jenna Hume, Melissa Anderson and Belinda Reitstatter). All of these choirs sang with conviction, enthusiasm and impressive skill.

The College Choir and the Chamber Choir also provided superb renditions of quite challenging pieces. The wonderful finale of African Music was sung by the combined choirs from across the College.

The large audience found much joy in the afternoon. I haven’t seen as much camera technology since the January sales! I thank everyone involved for a memorable afternoon.

Strategic Plan Update
We have now reached an important phase in our Strategic Plan. With the creation of central themes as mentioned above, we can now identify the key ideas emerging from the recent Survey and the subsequent Focus Groups. In the coming weeks we will prepare the draft plan and make it ready for comment.

It is important to note that writing the specific operational tasks will follow this step.  Please watch for opportunities to respond to the preliminary drafts during the coming weeks.

Peace

THE RADFORD INSTITUTE - Presenter Phillip Heath
Inaugural Seminar - 18 August, 5:00pm RA Young Hall
Att: Peter Dodd Institute@radford.act.edu.au

The Radford Institute is a new initiative of Radford College Canberra.  It is intended to be an open forum for the exploration and propagation of “great educational practice”.
 
The Institute’s inaugural event will be a seminar on 18 August, presented by our Principal, Phillip Heath, on the topic: Indigenous Education in Australia – a way forward. Further information is included in the attached flyer.

Confirmation of your attendance to Institute@radford.act.edu.au is essential, as we will be advertising this event widely.

FROM COMMUNITY RELATIONS
Miss Celia Lindsay

ACTION BUSES - School Bus Services
Several parents have contacted ACTION recently about the need for school bus services in the Inner North. ACTION has been advising them to contact the College, for us to put in a request. We went through this process recently regarding Belconnen Services, but the number of parents responding was not high enough for any changes to be made.

If you feel that a school bus service is needed in your area, can you please provide Annie Jones with the name, age, and street address of each child who would use the service, and she will collate it for submission to ACTION.

Apparently ACTION only reviews its school services once annually, with a new timetable issued in November, so now is the time to make your requests. In the past, we have been told that the total number of services is capped, and so to provide one service means to remove another. This, unfortunately, makes achieving changes quite difficult.

FROM THE DIRECTOR OF STUDIES SENIOR SCHOOL
Mr Michael Lewthwaite

AST Practice
All Year 12 students seeking an ATAR are required to be at school on Moderation Day, Thursday 12 August for an AST Practice.  Full details are on the intranet at AST and have been e-mailed to students.

FROM THE HEAD OF HIGH SCHOOL
Ms Lisa Moloney

"GENERATION NEXT" PARENTING SEMINAR - 29 August
An event not to be missed...
Radford College is hosting this seminar at Canberra Girls’ Grammar School on Sunday August 29th 2010, in conjunction with other independent schools in the ACT.

Speakers include:

• Michael Carr-Gregg
• Paul Dillon and
• Susan McLean

They will speak on a range of issues to help us understand the unique health and well-being challenges faced by our students, and how these challenges can be met. Please see the attached flyer for details of the presentation and how to order tickets. Please make your cheque payable to "Radford College" , and return your form and payment to Lisa Moloney via any of the Reception Offices( JS, HS, or Main Reception).

This is a fantastic opportunity to hear some of the most respected and up-to-date speakers, I hope you can join us!


FROM THE HEAD OF HEALTH & PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Ms Dearne Tulloch

Students are encouraged to get involved in:

1. The Cancer Council – Bust A Myth Competition
2. NRMA Gold Medal Challenge flyer and other information

These competitions have been advertised on the HPE Intranet Page and students will also be emailed to inform them of these opportunities. These competitions will be re-advertised and a focus during Health and Physical Education Week (13th – 17th September), along with other Health and Physical Education activities that will take place to promote the week.

FROM THE HEAD OF SCIENCE
Mr Timothy Robards

• Get involved in all the fun of National Science Week - 14-22 August!
• UNSW Science Competition Excellent Results
  

Head of Junior School: Mr Paul Southwell
JS Reception: Mrs Kerrie Shevlin

• Catch up with the latest Junior School News
• Please also check the Fete e-News

HOD: Mrs Suzanne Rentsch

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. . .

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.

Ms Karen Baker

Need help to be healthier? Read this week's article including information on:

• The Get Healthy Information and Coaching Service®
• University of Canberra Faculty of Health Clinics

Fr Richard Browning    

Saturday Sunset - NO SERVICE THIS MONTH
Please note that there will be no service this month.
The next Saturday Sunset service will take place on Saturday 11 September.

REFLECTION
Water, water everywhere....

RAS
40 Hour Famine - Booklets are now available from the Chaplain's Office.

BISHOP STUART ROBINSON
Watch Bishop Stuart's Stutube broadcast for the latest diocesan news and events...

ROUND SQUARE - 2011 Conference Korea
Mrs Lindy Braithwaite

In February 2011, a Round Square International Conference and Model United Nations is being held in in Seoul, South Korea, open to students currently in Year 8 or Year 9. The conference will be conducted entirely in English and accommodation will be in a school dormitory on site. More details will follow as they become available. http://www.roundsquare.org

To register your interest (this is not a binding commitment): please see or email Mrs Braithwaite or Mr Falconer before 1 September. 
This is a fabulous opportunity, don’t miss out!

FROM THE YEAR 9 CAMP COORDINATOR
Mrs Rebecca Cashmere

Year 9 Parents: Outward Bound will present an information session for all parents of Year 9 students on Tuesday 24th August 2010. The session commences at 7pm in the Lecture Theatre.

Year 9 Students: Now is the time to start to look at ensuring that you have the appropriate gear for camp.  A gear list can be downloaded from the Year 9 Camp Intranet page.

Year 10 Parents and Students: Do you have any second hand camp gear that you would like to sell? There will be a classifieds section on the Year 9 Camp intranet page as well as an opportunity to have your items in a second hand stall on the 24th of August.
Please email Mrs Rebecca Cashmere with the following information (1) Details and photos of items, (2) Price (3) Seller contact details.

HOD: Mr Mathew Irving
Administrator: Mr Allan Pennicook  

Don't miss the EVENING OF FINE MUSIC - a great way to recover from Election Day!

All the latest news and forthcoming events from Music, including:

• National Choirs Eisteddfod - 13 August
• Evening of Fine Music – 21 August
• Senior Strings Master Class – 24 August
  
• Classroom Music Recitals - Semester 2
• Community Music Program

HOD: Mr Peter Haynes    
Administrators: Mr Brad Luhrs, Mr Peter Wallensky, Mr Anthony Pardy

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

SUMMER SPORTS REGISTRATIONS – Due Friday 13 August
Registration forms for Radford Summer Sports are available on the Cocurricular page on the Intranet. These forms are due back by this Friday 13 August.
Details of each sport (e.g. requirements, costs, trial dates, age groups, etc.) can be found on each sport’s Intranet page.

CHESS
Latest Chess News including results of the:

• ANU Chess Festival
• ANU Secondary competition
  

Basketball
Congratulations to Cameron Johnson (8LB) on being selected in the ACT U14 Basketball Team to compete at the National Championships in Canberra in October.

BMX
Congratulations to Angus Easthope (9TKD) who competed in the World BMX Championships in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa from 27 July to 1 August. Angus finished 26th in his highly competitive age group.

Oratory
Congratulations to Ned Lis-Clarke (11DEF) on his selection to the Australian debating team after the recent  National Schools Debating competition. This puts him among the five best school debaters in the country.

Community Relations Manager: Miss Celia Lindsay     
P&F President: Mr Brett Morgan                                  
Collegians President: Ms Kate Potter  

FROM THE P&F Login to visit the P&F page on the Radford College Intranet
Next Meeting - Thursday 2 September 7:30 pm Radford Boardroom.

TWILIGHT FETE - Saturday 6 November
Fete e-News #1 - here
Convenors: Amelie Barry and Sean Harvey

We urgently need someone to act as Volunteer Coordinator to help with the rostering. If you can help with this, or you would like to be volunteer in some other capacity, please contact the convenors.

RADFORD COLLEGE MONSTER RAFFLE 2010
Raffle Convenor: Chandima de Silva

• Monster Raffle Details
• Many thanks individuals and businesses that have already generously offered sponsorship.
  

LOST
A Radford tie belonging to Cory Lee (6KM). It is marked with his name. Please return to JS Reception or Main Reception if found.