From Fiona Godfrey, Principal

It is with great delight that I write my first contribution to the Bulletin for this year and in doing so offer my heartfelt welcome to all for the start of the 2015 academic year. I would especially like to welcome all families new to Radford College. I have every confidence your time at the College will be fulfilling, successful and enjoyable.

Hopes and Dreams

Last Friday the whole College came together for a Welcome to the New School Year assembly. While bringing 1625 students together in the one spot is a major logistical feat, it was fantastic for all of our students to hear stories of ?Hopes and Dreams? from a selection of students and staff. The ?Hopes and Dreams? theme for the assembly was specifically chosen to encourage all students to start thinking about what they wanted to achieve in 2015 and start planning goals.

The beginning of a new School year brings challenges but also plenty of opportunities. In these early weeks, students should plan for the year ahead by setting routines and developing sound habits of mind. Students should utilize the enthusiasm that is usually associated with the beginning of the new school year to plan their study habits, establish routines and develop sound work practices.

There is no doubt that the home environment plays a crucial role in setting the tone and inspiring outcomes. Whilst I am not suggesting for one moment that parents should be the ones who make decisions around organization of study routines, careful encouragement regarding time management and spatial requirements usually help to establish good customs. A desk or work space away from other distractions and consistency in meal times and other family routines helps considerably.

I hope all students use these first weeks to reflect on previous work habits and look for ways to improve their approach. I feel strongly that if we can set a good approach now, it will help students to cope better in the coming weeks and months, when work demands inevitably build.

New College Entry

The new Haydon Drive entry is progressing well and completion is still within expected time frame, despite a wetter than usual summer to date. Cord Civil, the project?s civil contractors, are confident that the entry should be completed by the end of April. This should see the new entry in use from the start of Term 2.

As previously mentioned, the new entry should help to alleviate traffic congestion at peak times, provide for a safer entry and exit for cars, pedestrians and bike riders, and give greater access to the new Senior School building, located on the south eastern side of the campus. Once the construction work has been completed, sympathetic landscaping around the new entry will be undertaken.This is an exciting opportunity for the College. The project has been on the ?drawing board? for well over a decade now, so it is great to see it finally coming to fruition.

Principal and Chief Operating Officer inspect new entrance construction

The Principal and Chief Operating Officer, Simon Wallace, at the site of the new Haydon Drive entry.

New Staff

As is customary at this time of the year, we welcome a number of new staff to the College.

  • Miss Chelsea Rees has been appointed as a Year 5 teacher in the Junior School. Miss Rees is a graduate teacher having recently completed her Bachelor of Primary Education and receiving the UC Dean?s Excellence Award in 2013.
  • Ms Carol Caughey has also been appointed as a teacher in the Junior School, this year teaching Year 3. Ms Caughey has 23 years teaching experience in QLD, NSW and the ACT. She holds a Masters of Education, a Bachelor of Education and a Diploma of Teaching.
  • Ms Sally Wyers has been appointed as a Teacher Assistant in the Junior School, coming to Radford from St Matthew?s school.
  • Ms Garance Detering joins the College as a Graphics and Design teacher. She was previously employed as an Industrial Design Assistant Professor at the University of Canberra. She holds a Masters of Design, Technical Degree in Industrial Design and a Graduate Diploma in Education.
  • Ms Barbara Spottiswood, French teacher, comes to Radford from Canada and is on an exchange with Ms Di Lefebvre, who will spend 2015 teaching at Ms Spottiswood?s school. Ms Spottiswood has 30 years? teaching experience. She has attained a Bachelor of Arts (French and German) and a Bachelor of Education, both from the University of Toronto.
  • Ms Clare Dawson, who worked at the College in Term 4 last year, will teach Music and will be a Year 7 Tutor this year.

Regards

Fiona Godfrey

Principal

Back To Latest News and Achievements