Learning with zest

By Andy Gordon, Deputy Principal, Head of Junior School

We all share at least this one thing in common – we get this opportunity to be a part of the Radford College community. I want to acknowledge the leadership and love of those who have led and lead us now as we enter the next phase of our return to school. Going to school should be exciting, as our learners grow in confidence and character. Schooling isn’t just an apprenticeship for university. Education is, in essence, an apprenticeship for life. It is preparation for learning, living and growing in love.

I reflected recently on the Scripture reading 2 Corinthians 8:7 – ‘But since you excel in everything – in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in truly wanting to help and in the love you learned from us – see that you also excel in this grace of giving’.

Excel! As we enter a time of the academic year where we bring together academic achievement and celebrate growth in learning, I encourage our learners to achieve – and excel – in everything. We have the character strength of ‘zest’ that we practise whenever opportunities present. Zest can be defined as living life with a sense of excitement, anticipation and energy. Approaching life as an adventure; such that one has ‘motivation in challenging situations or tasks’. We encourage students to excel in knowing, in action and in growing their loving kindness to others. To excel in ‘zest’, taking the creativity and innovation inside you, to give to others, with excitement, anticipation and expectation.

With ‘zest’ Year 6 learners are engaging in preparation for the PYP Exhibition, challenging each other to embrace that they are ‘the voice’. I encourage us all to honour the learning and innovation that our Year 12 students are demonstrating as they use high-level thinking to transform knowledge into action through their culminating assessments.

Thank you for your support, patience and foresight in honouring each other with the smooth flow of returning to school for face-to-face learning. We continue to be excited about seeing our students and families return ‘to life as we knew it’ before we break for Christmas and then the start of a new year.

There will be opportunities that the new year brings where we can share life as the Radford community, where we live out our hopes, dreams and expectations for this amazing school. This is where we excel in this grace of giving and receiving from each other, in preparation for life.

With zest

Andy Gordon

Deputy Principal | Head of Junior School