WELCOME TO RADFORD COLLEGE

Welcome back everyone as we commence Term 3 2010, a particularly important time in the life of Radford, as we move closer to the formation of our next Strategic Plan, and also undergo the process of Registration and inspection. At such times, we pause to reflect on the achievements of the College with thankful hearts. Yet we also focus our minds anew on the challenges that lie ahead. We delight in past success but we must continue to gaze into the future if we are to be ready to contribute to its ultimate shape under God.
 
The mid-year winter break brings a welcome punctuation mark in the busy schedule of Radford College life, though there still was considerable activity over the holidays. Students and staff travelled to the battlefields of World War I in France and Belgium, helped to build a house in a Vietnamese village, reunited with the people of Dare in Timor Leste, and joined with other Round Square schools in Singapore. Students also represented the College in Football (ACT) and in Netball (Qld), and battled difficult conditions in the NSW snowfields with the Radford Snowsports team. We thank all students for their support in these matters and honour the efforts of our excellent staff and parents who made these things happen.
 
We continue to improve our facilities in each holiday break. The work on the Junior School Stage Two is now in its final months, though the welcome rains this year have delayed the expected completion date. A major painting program continues each holiday period and we have also been refurbishing classrooms on a rolling schedule, this time focussing on Rooms 30-32.
 
We welcome a number of new staff and students this term: in the Junior School, Ms Melissa Anderson (Year 3-6 Music), Ms Kelly Mara (Year 6) and Ms Emily Goodrum (Year 4). In the Secondary School, Ms Christie Harvey (Year 7 Humanities/ Japanese), Ms Melanie Garner (RAVE and AD&T), Ms Kareena Little (AD&T) and Ms Sue Gascoigne (Visual Arts). We trust that all of these outstanding people will find great fulfilment in their time at Radford.
 
The College Strategic Planning process now moves into its final stage. Preliminary drafting is underway and we will reconvene Radford community focus groups to consider the draft plan. There is still time for the community to be involved and to have your say. We really appreciate the high level of engagement from our community in the surveys and focus groups.
 
The College welcomes the sense of accountability and reassurance that comes with the ACT Department of Education Registration system. In Term 3, we will host the Registration Panel who will meet staff, students and parents over a week, as part of their work. Later in the year, the Junior School will host the International Baccalaureate Authorisation Panel, to consider our application to be an IB World School for the Primary Years Program (PYP) Curriculum. The PYP is fully compliant with the existing ACT Curriculum requirements. The consequence of these initiatives will be to ensure that Radford is well placed both locally and internationally.

Each student should see the coming weeks as an opportunity to refresh their own goals for the remainder of the year. The academic tone of the College is excellent, and the learning culture is conducive to intellectual growth and personal integrity. With a sense of anticipation, I welcome everyone back to the College and look forward to further progress.

Best wishes for a happy term.

Phillip Heath - Principal
BA (Hons), MA (Hons), DipEd, FACE, MACEL