29 August 2025

By Ms Cathy Jackson, Head of Design Technology

This year has been both exciting and inspiring for the design and technology department, with students across all year levels embracing the challenges and opportunities presented through our diverse range of courses. From creative disciplines to technical applications, our programs continue to deliver rich, hands-on learning experiences that nurture creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving – essential skills for success in an ever-evolving world.

A holistic approach to design thinking connects the various subject areas offered across the department. Courses include traditional wood technology, food technology, textiles technology, graphics technology, digital technology, and industrial technology, providing students in Years 7 to 10 with opportunities to develop practical solutions to design challenges using innovative tools such as laser cutters, 3D printers and other digital technologies. Senior students can extend their learning in specialised areas such as robotics and mechatronics, engineering, hospitality and design and emerging technologies. The standard of work produced this year has been outstanding and reflects a strong level of student engagement, creativity, and pride.

At the core of every subject is the full design process. Students are guided to identify real-world problems, develop innovative solutions, and apply human ingenuity to bring their ideas to life. Whether designing garments, engineering prototypes, developing digital systems, or producing functional products, students are undertaking authentic tasks that reflect industry expectations and prepare them for further study and future careers.

Design and technology elective courses remain among the most popular offerings, equipping students with more than just life skills. In the classroom and workshop, students demonstrate accuracy, precision, and originality while applying design thinking processes. These courses also build essential literacy and numeracy skills through practical application – from interpreting complex instructions to calculating measurements and communicating clearly. These are the capabilities our young people need to thrive in both educational and commercial environments.

A standout achievement this year has been the successful launch of the new industrial technology course for Years 9 and 10. This course has captured the interest of many students, offering a deeper insight into engineering principles and the opportunity to explore materials, systems, and innovation in action. Its growing popularity highlights students’ desire to understand how things work and how they can shape the future through thoughtful design.

Throughout the year, our students have brought energy, imagination and determination to their projects. As a department, we remain committed to offering dynamic, future-focused programs that inspire students to think creatively and make meaningful contributions to the world around them.

At Radford College, the role of Chaplain is much more than leading Chapel services or teaching Godly Play – it’s about walking alongside students and staff in moments of joy, curiosity and challenge. For Radford College Associate Chaplain, Reverend Andy Fleming, that journey into chaplaincy began years ago with a gentle suggestion from his sister and has since grown into a vocation that combines faith, teaching and pastoral care. In this conversation, he reflects on his early life, the evolution of his faith, his love of sport and what continues to inspire him in his work at Radford.

What inspired you to pursue chaplaincy and how did your journey lead you to Radford College?

Many years ago, my sister suggested that I might be suited to school chaplaincy. At the time, I was exploring faith and what it meant for me to live authentically in my faith. During my theological studies, it became clearer that chaplaincy was not only a good option but something I should pursue further. The timing worked out well, as I was ready to move into chaplaincy just as the Radford opportunity arose.

Can you tell us about your early life – where you grew up and any formative experiences that influenced your path?

I grew up in Berowra, the northernmost part of Sydney and the ‘gateway to the Central Coast.’ I feel like I had a fairly typical suburban childhood. I played lots of different sports, enjoyed hanging out with friends and avoided doing homework whenever possible. Growing up in a church family was formative, though. The minister at our church used to tell me he had all the ‘textbooks’ I would need for when I eventually went to seminary. I would just smile politely – little did I know!

What role has your faith played throughout your life and how has it evolved over time?

My faith has always been a significant part of my life, even in times when I tried to ignore it. It continues to evolve, leading me into wonderful and fascinating thoughts and experiences.

Many staff know you for your talents on the rugby field. Do you still play?

I wish I could still play! I still love the game, although I’m not directly involved anymore – it’s a young person’s game. I did some coaching after I stopped playing, but now I simply enjoy watching.

You previously taught health and physical education (HPE). Do you miss being in that space and what did you enjoy most about teaching HPE?

I miss wearing 'tracky-daks' (and still being considered professional). Being outdoors in the sun and fresh air was the best – much better than being stuck in a classroom. I really enjoyed seeing students have that moment of realisation when they could finally perform a skill and then watching their self-confidence grow.

Your role at Radford is varied, from teaching Godly Play to leading services and providing pastoral care. What’s your favourite part of the day?

I’m not really a ‘favourites’ type of person. That said, during Chapel services, I love hearing the students sing together – it’s incredibly uplifting to hear whole cohorts sing as one. The Year 2 students’ ‘wondering’ questions during Godly Play are also special, and they keep me on my toes with some tricky theological ones! Because chaplaincy is such a relational role, I find the most joy when I connect with students and staff about the things that really matter to them, especially on social issues. Seeing people genuinely care about helping others thrive and flourish gives me hope.

People would be surprised to know that…
People are often surprised to learn that I was a HPE teacher before becoming a chaplain.

By Ms Karen Mahar, Acting Deputy Principal, Head of Junior School

Our Junior School Radford Student Council (RSC) has been recognised at the 2025 Order of Australia Association Student Citizenship Awards. This recognition highlights the commitment of our Junior School students to service, leadership, and active citizenship.

The RSC is made up of dedicated representatives from Years 1 to 6 who meet weekly to amplify student voice, initiate projects, and collaborate for the betterment of our community. Guided by Miss Melinda Hamilton and Mrs Mary Willett, the RSC is not just a space for conversation but a catalyst for real change.

Each year, the RSC leads initiatives that promote kindness, environmental stewardship, inclusion and social responsibility. Highlights include the Anglicare Winter Appeal, Ronald McDonald House 'Wrapped in Love' program, Roundabout Canberra stationery collection, the Waste-Free Schools initiative, and much-loved community events such as the Junior School movie night and Junior School disco. These projects provide meaningful opportunities for students to learn the power of serving with purpose – not to, not for, but with their community.

At the recent awards ceremony, the Principal, Mr Christopher Bradbury, proudly oversaw a strong Radford College presence across both the Junior and Secondary Schools.

Representing the Junior School, Lucas Zhang and Charlotte Twigg graciously accepted the award on behalf of their RSC peers.

This honour reflects the dedication, creativity and compassion of our RSC student leaders, as well as the many hours of support and guidance provided by their mentors. Since the Junior School’s inception in 2008, the RSC has exemplified what it means to be people of integrity who lead through service.

We are incredibly proud of our RSC whose leadership and actions continue to inspire positive change and model the values that define our Radford community.

Radford claims senior title at ASC Basketball Tournament

By Mr Ryan Kinnane, Head of Basketball

Radford College teams delivered a strong showing at the Associated Southern Colleges Basketball Tournament, highlighted by the senior squad’s unbeaten run to the championship.

After sweeping through the group stage, our seniors (Years 11 and 12) proved unstoppable! They produced a statement performance in the grand final, overpowering their opponents in convincing fashion to secure the championship.

The Years 7 and 8 team set the tone early, collecting 2 wins from their 3 pool games to advance to the semi-finals. Despite their best efforts, they bowed out just short of the decider.

The Years 9 and 10 team followed a similar path, also finishing second in their pool with 2 victories.

Radford snowboard-cross rider charges onto the podium in multiple events

By Mr Alex Timms, Snowsports Coordinator

The 2025 Youth ANC Snowboard Cross (SBX) series kicked off in spectacular style at Thredbo with Australia’s best athletes given a chance to ride the highest local SBX course ever built. Designed as a development opportunity for the next generation of snowboard cross athletes, these events allowed riders to compete 4-abreast on the course just like a World Cup SBX or Olympic SBX event.

Radford Year 7 athlete Jemima made her mark with impressive silver medal performances in both youth female SBX events on consecutive days of competition at Thredbo.

• Jemima has had a stellar season so far, with accolades that include:
• Second place in both snowboard-GS and SBX in Perisher at the ACT/Southern NSW Interschools Championships on 23 July
• Third place in SBX at the Snow Australia's Youth event at Mount Hotham on 13 August
• First place in SBX and second in snowboard-GS at NSW/ACT/QLD Interschools Championships in Perisher on 19 and 20 August.
• Third place in snowboard-GS at ACT Schools Cup in Perisher on 24 August.

We wish Jemima the very best for her final campaign for the year, the Australian Interschools Championships at Mount Buller from 2 to 7 September. She will be competing in both the SBX and snowboard-GS events on the challenging Skyline Ridercross and Little Buller Spur GS course.

We wish Jemima well with these upcoming events as the final highlight of her very busy and highly successful 2025 season.

ACT Schools Cup

Celebrating its 15^th year, the ACT Schools Cup remains an annual highlight of the Snowsports calendar for athletes from Kindergarten to Year 12.

The event was founded by Radford College through an initiative of the Friends of Radford Snowsports (FoRS) support group in 2009, who presented a proposal to the then ACT peak body, Snowsports ACT requesting an event occurring between the Regional Interschools Championships in July and the National Championships in September.

The first event was held in 2010 with Radford dominating for 5 consecutive years 2010–2014, winning both the boys' and girls' Cups before the addition of 2 additional cups introduced for Junior School boys and girls.

Held in very favourable spring-like conditions with good visibility and a blue-sky, a total of 279 athletes proudly represented their schools.

Friendly rivalries between Canberra schools ensured another competitive but highly inclusive and fun-based all-ages event, inviting recreational athletes to try a fun race experience for the very first time while also allowing our seasoned athletes an opportunity to get valuable racing experience in before the Australian Interschools event at Mount Buller next week.

Thank you to our wonderful parent volunteer course officials who made the event possible – competitor safety and fair adjudication are always paramount.

Special thanks to our tireless snowsports coordinator Mr Alex Timms whose team entry coordination optimised Radford’s chances of success in securing multiple Cup trophies on the day.

Outstanding performances on the day included:

Secondary Boys Cup

1st – Radford College (44 points)
2nd – Marist College (32 points)
3rd – Canberra Grammar School (24 points)

Secondary Girls Cup

1st – Merici College (54 points)
2nd – Radford College (42 points)
3rd – Canberra Grammar Schools (12pts)

Primary Boys Cup

1st – Canberra Grammar School (32 points)
2nd – Radford College (20 points)
3rd – Marist College (12 points)

Primary Girls Cup

1st – Canberra Girls Grammar School (46 points)
2nd – Canberra Grammar School (22 points)
3rd – Radford College (18 points)

Alpine Giant Slalom (GS)

Team 1^st – Division 1F: Charlie (Year 11), Amber (Year 12), Emily (Year 12) (Snowsports Captain) and Zali (Year 11).

Team 3^rd – Division 1F: Bella (Year 12), Sophie (Year 12) and Nicola (Year 12).

Team 2^nd – Division 1M: Joshua (Year 12), Jude Barlin (Year 11) and Connor (Year 11).

Team 1^st – Division 2F: Amelia (Year 10) (Individual 2^nd place), Taya (Year 9) (Individual 3^rd place) and Amelie (Year 9).

Team 1^st – Division 2M: Darcy (Year 10) (Individual 2nd place), Rajeev (Year 9), Lincoln (Year 9) and Sam (Year 10)

Team 1^st – Division 2F: Amelia (Year 10) (Individual 2nd place), Taya (Year 9) (Individual 3rd place) and Amelie (Year 9).

Division 3F: Georgina (Year 8) (Individual 3rd place)

Team 2^nd – Division 4M: Ethan (Year 6) (Individual 2nd place), Jarrah (Year 5) and Ethan (Year 6)

Team 3^rd – Division 4F: Tahlia Smith (Year 6), Adele (Year 6) and Jacinta Huang (Year 6)

Team 3^rd – Division 5M: Nathan (Year 3), Jack (Year 4) and Elliot (Year 3).

Snowboard Giant Slalom (SBGS)

Team 2^nd – Division 1M: Liam (Year 12) and Charlie (Year 12).

Team 2^nd – Division 1F: Charlie (Year 11) (Individual 1st place), Aanya (Year 11) and Emily (Year 12)

Team 1^st – Division 2M: Lincoln (Year 9) (Individual 2nd place), Miles (Year 10) (Individual 3rd place) and Elijah (Year 10).

Team 3^rd – Division 3F: Jemima (Year 7) (Individual 3rd place), Angelia (Year 8) and Mikayla (Year 8).

Congratulations to all our participating athletes for once again giving your very best representing Radford College in the 15th year of the ACT Schools Cup!

By Mr Ben Marston, Director of Bands

Last Friday evening the open space in the L.J. Willett Performing Arts Centre was transformed into a jazz club in preparation for one of the most anticipated concerts of the year. The audience was treated to outstanding performances from the 4 Radford College jazz groups and an ensemble featuring some of the Radford College music staff. With an atmosphere of high energy featuring lots of applause and cheers, it was a testimony to the strong sense of community this fantastic evening always delivers.

One of the standout performances came from the Little Big Band, an ensemble made up entirely of students whose first encounter with jazz came only at the start of this year. They should be commended on their excellent work. As always, the Big Band performed at a very high standard and the two small jazz ensembles demonstrated their high level of musicianship by improvising through some challenging repertoire.

This event would not be possible without the performing arts staff working behind the scenes to set up the venue, with many hours going into the preparations. Thank you to everyone who came out to support the young (and a few old) musicians. Congratulations to every one of the performers. It really was an excellent night of jazz music!

Several Radford College staff members donned a red nose in support of Red Nose Day yesterday.

Red Nose Day is more than just a fun moment to wear a silly red nose – it is an important day to raise awareness and funds for research and support services for families impacted by the death of a baby or child.

We never quite know who in our community has been impacted and showing our support is important. For those affected, the small red nose can be a big symbol of care, connection, and hope.

Every dollar raised on Red Nose Day helps stop little lives being cut short and ensures every grief-stricken family gets the support they need.

Click here if you wish to make a donation.

By Mrs Tanya Priest-Willimott, Junior School Teacher Librarian

We were thrilled to welcome celebrated author, illustrator, musician and storyteller Gregg Dreise to the College as part of our Book Week celebrations. He presented three sessions in the Junior School to students from Kindergarten to Year 6.

Gregg is from southwestern Queensland and is a proud Kamilaroi and Euahlayi man. He brought his vibrant energy, cultural wisdom, and storytelling magic to every session, leaving students inspired and highly engaged. His visit aimed to inspire young minds, foster a love of reading, and promote insights into the creative process of writing. His books have since flown off the library shelves!

His two storytelling sessions with students from Kindergarten to Year 4 were rich with humour, music, and heartfelt messages. Students were especially delighted by his use of the didgeridoo and his interactive storytelling style.

He presented a writing workshop to students in Years 5 and 6 in which he spoke about how his ideas often come from personal experiences, his cultural heritage and observations of the world around him. He encouraged students to plan out their story, starting with the ending, finding their own voices in writing, embracing imagination, and to never be afraid of making mistakes – because every draft is a step toward a potential great story.

We thank Gregg for sharing his stories, wisdom and warmth with our students and staff. His visit was a perfect reminder of the importance of storytelling in connecting us to each other and to the world around us.

It's no secret that we have students at Radford that excel in an array of co-curricular activities, but having a student compete at a World Hip Hop Dance Championship in Phoenix, Arizona, might be a first for the College.

Year 11 student, Tiasha just returned from the United States where she competed in 2 groups, or 'crews' as they are known: Legacy and Creed. To the untrained eye, hip hop dancing might appear easy, but it is a lot of hard work. Reflecting on the competition, Tiasha described the dedication, commitment and passion that goes into competing at this level:

'Training in Arizona in 44-degree heat really tests your patience and mindset. Our teams were training for up to 13 hours a day in a big training hall surrounded by dancers from 55 different countries with loud music and cheering and shouting. It really enhances the need to focus and put all your effort into your passion,' says Tiasha.

Tiasha's ability to stay calm under pressure was also tested on the trip. She recounts how there were costume and routine changes less than 24 hours before the competition, which resulted in them having to put in a mammoth 12-hour training session. Luckily she is used to long training sessions, and manages to fit in training throughout the week along with her studies and other commitments. 'Being an all-rounder is something I strive for', she says.

Tiasha was also part of the Radford College group that travelled to Oxford earlier this year.

'I have never felt the importance of being exposed to different countries and cultures more than this year. I'm looking forward to observing the symmetry between dance and my learning at the College. I can already feel the difference in mindset when facing challenges with my work.'

Ms Stephanie Comino, Assistant Head of Science

Our Year 7 Science students had an extraordinary opportunity to visit the Environmental Research Precinct at the University of Canberra, where they explored the fascinating world of dragon lizard research. Under the guidance of Distinguished Professor Arthur Georges, Dr Sarah Whiteley, and animal care specialist Chelsea Steele, students gained firsthand experience with a colony of approximately 180 dragon lizards housed in the facility. The visit provided students with valuable insights into the lizard’s biology and unique characteristics that make these creatures ideal subjects for scientific study.

During the visit, students found out more about the genetic research performed at the University of Canberra concerning the determination of the gender of the lizards prior to hatching. Dragon lizards pass on chromosomes from parent to offspring just like us, but unlike us, the mother’s chromosomes determine whether the offspring will be male or female.

Amazingly, when eggs are incubated at higher temperatures, chromosomally male embryos can develop into females instead. This temperature-dependent sex determination has significant implications for wild populations and offers a fascinating window into developmental biology. The students were also able to learn about the challenges and responsibilities of maintaining a healthy lizard colony for research purposes.

The highlight of the excursion was the hands-on experience with the dragon lizards. Under supervision, students had the opportunity to handle these remarkable creatures, while learning about their behaviour, habitat requirements, and role in scientific research. Dragon lizards, which can live for up to 15 years, are known for their calm demeanour when handled by humans. I won't be surprised if some of the students ask for a dragon lizard as a pet! Luckily, the Canberra Reptile Zoo offers retired research lizards for sale along with the essential care, knowledge and equipment needed to help them thrive in a home environment.

We were incredibly lucky to be invited to visit the research facility, and would like to express our gratitude to the staff for the experience. The visit not only enhanced students' understanding of our current unit of study, but also provided exposure to applications of scientific research and potential career paths in biological sciences. The enthusiasm and engagement demonstrated by our students throughout the visit reflected their genuine interest in real-world science and their appreciation for this learning experience.

By Miss Melinda Hamilton, Kindergarten Teacher

Kindergarten students enjoyed a visit to the Canberra Reptile Zoo this week to assist them in their ‘How the World Works’ Unit of Enquiry. They are currently learning about animals in the classroom, and this excursion broadened their understanding of reptiles' habits and features.

The students enjoyed a funny and informative reptile show with Peter who spoke about blue tongue lizards, turtles, crocodiles and snakes. The highlight of our visit was exploring the Zoo, starting with Charlie the big crocodile.

The Kindergarten students got to look at and touch many different reptiles, making observations about their scales and shells. It was busy but lots of fun. We concluded our visit by watching a documentary about animals in the Zoo's amphitheatre. What a wonderful excursion and a great opportunity to learn about the features of living things.

'The big croc Charlie was lying there with his mouth open and looking at me!' – Archer

'The frog was walking upside down on the glass!' – Madison

'When I touched the crocodile, his skin was squishy at his tummy, and his tail was long' – Vikram

Today we celebrated Wear It Purple Day at the Radford College Secondary School. This is a student-led initiative to foster inclusion and awareness.

Some students in the Secondary School chose to wear ribbons supplied by the College and there was a bake sale on the Morison lawn at lunchtime, with proceeds going to Wear It Purple.

Wear it Purple was established in 2020 to show young people across the globe that there was hope, that there were people who did support and accept them, and that they have the right to be proud of who they are.

By Mr Tom Hincksman, Junior School Teacher

This week has been an exciting step forward for our Year 6 students as they delve deeper into their PYP Exhibition journey. They have now entered the research phase – a key stage where they begin exploring their chosen issues in greater depth, gathering information, and thinking critically about what matters most to them. It has been wonderful to see their enthusiasm and independence shine through as they take real ownership of their learning.

Students also had the opportunity to take part in an Illuminate Education Australia workshop, led by Mr Adam Mostogl in the Collegians Centre. This engaging and interactive experience encouraged students to think about how they can positively contribute to their communities, develop creative solutions to real-world challenges, and continue to build on their teamwork and communication skills. It was a fantastic opportunity for them to look beyond the classroom and reflect on the difference they can make.

Illuminate Education Australia focuses on empowering students to become creative and skilled young people who are ready to drive change and make an impact in their chosen concepts. The program encourages students to apply themselves and develop essential skills throughout the challenge, rather than focusing only on the final product. This skills-based approach ensures that students are guided towards creating a path to change.

This week’s experiences have been incredibly valuable in supporting our students’ growth as inquirers, collaborators and leaders. We are excited to see how their research and ideas continue to develop in the weeks ahead as they work towards devising an action for their chosen issue.

Family involvement plays a vital role in ensuring a positive and successful PYP Exhibition experience. You can support your child by continuing conversations with them about their chosen issue and what they are researching, and by encouraging and assisting with research at home.

By Ms Sally Stenning, Head of Performing Arts

The Radford College Theatre Company invites you to join us as we journey through the world of some of our best loved fairy tales.

From 2 to 4 September, the T.B. Millar Hall will come to life with classic fairy tale character as reimagined in Philip Pullman's Grimm Tales. You'll meet the familiar characters – Little Red Riding Hood, Snow White, The Frog Prince and Hansel and Gretel – and some unexpected ones too.

The students have been collaborating with Year 11 student directors under my guidance, to retell the stories through theatre, dance, music and puppetry.

Throughout rehearsals the students have learned valuable lessons not only in performing and directing, but also in working to deadlines, taking creative risks, and collaborating. It has been wonderful to see the younger students building community with the senior students through engagement with authentic project-based learning.

The Years 7 and 8 students were also lucky enough to work with professional artist Helen Stephens, who joined us in the holidays from Brisbane to teach us puppet construction and manipulation. The workshop brought out the skills and talents of some of our budding engineers and many of the puppets created are featured in the show. In conjunction with puppetry the production will be underscored with original live music written by former Radford College student Reuben Gilman-Wells.

Grimm Tales promises to be a night of fun-filled adventure. We hope to see you there.

Dates: 2, 3 and 4 September
Venue: T.B. Millar Hall
Time: 6:00 pm

Get your tickets here.

By Mrs Kirsten Knight, Director of Co-Curricular Music

The Evening of Fine Music is a showcase of some of our top Year 12 musicians. It will be held on Saturday, 6 September from 6:30 pm in T.B. Millar Hall.

Our featured performers this year include:

• Thomas Liu – clarinet and bassoon
• Tim Kopras – bass guitar
• Cyrus French – piano
• Lucas Lin – drums
• Danny Tran – piano
• Jeffrey Pei – piano
• Amber Smith – flute and voice
• Paige Le Lievre – voice

Tickets are available here. Please note that ticket sales close on Thursday, 4 September.

Audience members are invited to bring food to enjoy during the evening. Wine and other beverages will be available for purchase at the hall.

By Mrs Monique Glavonjic, Community Engagement Manager

Gather your team of trivia-loving disco divas and funky fellas for a night of laughs, friendly competition and glittering good vibes. With toe-tapping disco hits, themed challenges and prizes for best-dressed and top-scoring teams, this is one community event you won’t want to miss!

Date: Friday, 12 September
Time: 6:30 to 9:30 pm
Where: T. B. Millar Hall
Dress Code: Disco Fever! (think flares, sequins, platforms and afros)
Trivia Topics: A mix of general knowledge and disco-era gems
Prizes: Best Dressed Team, Best Table Decoration, Trivia Champs and more!

Bring your friends, book a table and support a fantastic cause. All funds raised go towards supporting school initiatives and student enrichment.

Tickets: $15 per person, $120 for a table of 8 or $150 for a table of 10.
Limited tables are available, so book early to secure your spot!

Click here for tickets.

Please note, this is an over 18s event.

Contact P&F@radford.act.edu.au with any questions.

We can’t wait to see you under the disco ball!

By Mrs Monique Glavonjic, Community Engagement Manager

We are thrilled to welcoming back the Class of 1995, 2005 and 2015 for their milestone reunions at Radford College.

Reconnect with old friends, reminisce about your school days and see how much the College has changed since you were here. This is a fantastic opportunity to share stories, laugh over memories and celebrate your time as part of the Radford community.

We can’t wait to see you back on campus – let's make new memories together!

Date: Saturday, 13 September
Time: 4:00 to 6:00 pm
Location: Morison Centre, Radford College

Register here