Staff Insights
By Mrs Louise Wallace-Richards, Acting Deputy Principal, Head of Secondary School
The House banners—that Radford collegians and some current students will remember hanging in the order of each year’s House Cup results—have just been cleaned, restored to their former glory and reinstalled in T.B. Millar Hall. The black interior walls of the hall now showcase the banners beautifully. In my 20 years at Radford, I have never seen the intricate designs and gorgeous colours so clearly, because they were obscured by 32 years of accumulated dirt and dust.
In the 40th Anniversary edition of the Radford Report, the College Historian, Mrs Annette Carter, explained that the artists who created these banners were Radford students, led by renowned artist Roy Churcher. Mrs Carter went on to describe how the students shared their ideas for the banners and Churcher—also an art teacher—helped them to bring their ideas to life on the canvases. Now that the banners are clean, the personality and cheekiness of our students shine through—especially in the playful addition of smiley faces to the House names.
In creating these precious artefacts—admittedly assisted by a famous artist—our students played a major part in developing the iconography associated with our House system, echoing the school’s bush setting on Gossan Hill.
And while the banners represent each College House, they also stand for so much more. They symbolise how we value student voices and trust our students to create such beautiful representations of the trees our Houses are named after. By working together and respecting the views of others, Mr Churcher and the students were able to capture the ...
- Delicate wattle of the Acacia, the emblematic flower of our nation,
- Silver white of the leaves of the Banksia,
- Red bell-shaped blossoms of the Boronia,
- One of the longest living species of pine, the Huon,
- Gorgeous red of the stringy bark Jarrah tree,
- Mighty eucalyptus, Karri,
- Kurrajong with its bottle shaped trunk and glossy green leaves, and
- The Wandoo Eucalyptus tree with its blue grey leaves.
Through the banners we are also reminded of the importance of the House system as a place of belonging for our students and how the values of the College—established nine years before the banners were created—live on in all aspects of student life. Truth and Compassion are embedded in good sportsmanship and evidenced through our expectation that our students play fairly and with respect for their team members and for the opposition when competing in House competitions or against other clubs.
Wisdom is shown through our students supporting each other in House activities and at our many carnivals. A striking example of this occurred last week when our Junior School students joined the Secondary School students for the House chants at our Cross Country Carnival. It was uplifting to see students of all ages coming together to cheer for their respective Houses.
Parents or collegians reading this article will also have the opportunity to see the banners displayed in the T.B. Millar Hall at the P&F Artshow this weekend. The banners are hung in alphabetical order on both sides of the Hall and will remain in situ for perpetuity. They represent Radford’s heart and heritage and are truly a joy to behold.
By Rev. Dr Katherine Rainger, Senior Chaplain
Canberra does autumn well—the leaves on the trees, the stunning skies and warm sun in the middle of the day. We know what’s coming, but it is so nice to be in this moment.
Last year, I attended a workshop led by Ngunawal custodian Tyronne Bell on the six Ngunawal seasons. Tyronne introduced me to other ways of seeing the changes in the plants and animals that can mark this time of year.
Autumn can be viewed as a time of change, transformation, paring back and preparation. Here are some prayers that capture Autumn’s essence and invitation. I wonder what a particularly Canberran ode or prayer might sound like.
God of all seasons by Ruth Flatman
God of all seasons,
we thank you that you are with us in times of joyful abundance
as well as in the cold, hard difficult times.
We thank you for the gift of autumn, for its
berry bounty, vibrant colours, crisp leaves and first frosts.
In the cycles of the earth’s seasons,
as autumn’s elegant beauty preludes the stripping away of winter,
help us to let go of all that we cling to
and free us from all that ensnares us.
Give us the courage to acknowledge our pain and weakness
and trust that fruitfulness can emerge from our vulnerability.
Amen.
The stars are singing by Richard Sharples
The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. (Psalm 19:1, NRSV)
Heavenly God, we praise and adore you.
We lift our hearts to you, for you are our all.
We see your fingerprints in clouds, in the hills and trees,
on glossy apples and dewy grass.
We see your image in the face of the child looking up in trust;
in the stillness of someone listening intently to another.
We look for you now, Lord.
We listen for your voice.
We seek your wisdom.
May She come and be with us as we worship together today.
Amen.
News
By Mrs Monique Glavonjic, Community Engagement Manager
The wait is finally over! The 41st Artshow@Radford opens tonight and we cannot wait to welcome you to this much-anticipated event.
Celebrating the vibrant creativity within the Radford community and beyond, this special evening will feature a curated exhibition of outstanding works by Radford College students, Collegians and established professional artists.
A grand total of 107 artists registered for this year's event and guests will have the opportunity to purchase original artworks.
The founder of Grainger Gallery, Kacy Grainger, is our guest judge this year. As an accomplished artist herself, with a son who has also pursued a career as an artist, Kacy is dedicated to nurturing the local art scene and supporting young emerging artists.
Kacy will present the judges' awards to artists at the Gala Opening this evening.
The prizes include: First Prize $2000, Second Prize $1000 and Emerging Artist $500.
Tickets are $20 per person and $5 per child aged over 10. Buy your tickets here.
Date and time: Friday, 16 May 2025 at 7.00 pm
Location: T.B. Millar Hall, Radford College
By Ms Emily Begbie, Assistant Head of Junior School Learning and Teaching
“A culture of thinking produces the feelings, energy and even joy that can propel learning forward and motivate us to do what at times can be hard and challenging mental work.” - Ron Ritchhart
Since its inception as an International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP) school in 2008, the work of learning and teaching in the Radford College Junior School has been guided by its philosophy and pedagogical framework. In a PYP school, thinking and meaning-making sit at the heart of all learning. Through a skilful balance of guided inquiry and explicit instruction, students participate in learning experiences that foster critical and creative thinking, questioning, analysing and problem solving, alongside the development of foundational skills. We believe that creating a culture of thinking—challenging all students to think for themselves—is key to building meaning, understanding and confidence.
A core element of the PYP is the ‘approaches to learning’ (ATL), a set of skills that are explicitly taught and nurtured in learners from Pre-Kindergarten to Year 6. The ATL reflect our belief that learning how to learn is fundamental to both education and life. They support students to be agentic and self-regulated learners, and include communication, research, self-management, social and thinking skills.
Pedagogical approaches that nurture and promote thinking are found across all learning areas in the Junior School, from literacy and numeracy to specialist subjects and transdisciplinary units of inquiry. In spelling, explicit and systematic teaching of phonics sits alongside guided inquiry into the structure and origin of words. These linguistic inquiries support students to think deeply about how words work and to understand the logic of the English spelling system. Analysing words, in turn, leads to deeper comprehension, stronger spelling skills and enriched vocabulary.
Students across the Junior School participate in regular writers' workshops, which create a culture of thinking like a writer and sharing this thinking within a community of writers. Workshop lessons provide the time, quality models, explicit teaching and personalised feedback that support students to learn the skills of drafting, revising and editing, along with the fluency and confidence to see themselves as writers.
In maths, the Junior School is exploring an approach developed by educator Peter Liljedahl, Building Thinking Classrooms, which focuses on how we can teach mathematics in a way that gets more students to think, and to think for longer. Again, through a careful balance of explicit instruction and guided inquiry, students can develop sustained thinking and complex problem solving. As well as learning core mathematical content, students are developing skills in collaboration, perseverance and risk-taking.
There are opportunities to build thinking in many other areas of learning, such as philosophy lessons, specialist subject experiences, outdoor and play-based learning, and through our transdisciplinary units of inquiry, which challenge students to engage with significant ideas beyond the surface level of knowing.
We are proud of the culture of thinking being fostered and lived out each day in our learning spaces, and echo Ron Ritchhart’s observation in his book, Creating Cultures of Thinking: The 8 Forces We Must Master to Truly Transform Our Schools:
“When we recognise that true understanding of a discipline involves learning its processes and ways of thinking as well as its content knowledge, then we naturally create opportunities for developing those abilities.”
If you’ve ever seen Junior School Music Teacher, Ms Bronwyn Potter, lead a performance, you know it’s unforgettable—from her sparkly pink ‘Look’ glasses to her expressive conducting style, Ms Potter has a brilliant way of captivating her young students and their audience. You might then be as surprised as we were to read her final answer to this interview. A beloved teacher, conductor and violinist, Ms Potter has spent the past decade bringing music to life at Radford College, both as an educator and a parent. In this interview, she reflects on her favourite teaching memories and her most cherished performances.
Congratulations on reaching your ten-year milestone at Radford College — a remarkable achievement! Over the years, you've experienced the College both as a dedicated staff member and as a parent. Reflecting on this unique dual perspective, what are the three things you’ve come to appreciate most about the Radford community?
I think the thing I appreciate most is the way the community comes together — especially when someone is experiencing challenging times, in their professional or personal life. I know from experience when I was facing a particularly difficult time, the Radford community gathered around me and all but carried me through it.
From a parental viewpoint, the care and support that staff provide our students is remarkable, especially when they arrive from another school and are trying to find their place — again, the Radford community rallies around.
The other thing I appreciate is the work-life balance. While this is something I’m not very good at, Radford consciously makes every effort to ensure there is a balance between our school and home lives.
You wear many musical hats – teacher, conductor, performer – how do these roles influence each other in your daily life?
Most of the time the lines blur and it’s difficult to distinguish one from the other. A teacher is a conductor and performer; a conductor is a performer and a teacher… In my case, I don’t think you can separate the three.
What first drew you to teaching music in the Junior School, and what do you love most about working with young musicians?
Like many music specialists, I began in the secondary space. I fell into the junior space almost by accident when the school I was working at gave me Year 3 and 4 classes to fill a vacancy. I fell in love with the under ten age group and have never looked back. I love the inherent enthusiasm and willingness of younger students to try anything new. They’re not shy about singing and moving and being a little silly from time to time – all the most fun things about learning music.
You’ve been involved in so many musicals across the region – what keeps you coming back to the orchestra pit?
While the three to four weeks of showtime is exhausting, it is also energising. I guess the best way to describe the pit is as my happy place. I also get to play so many different genres, from the classical Gilbert and Sullivans (The Pirates of Penzance and HMS Pinafore) to Hollywood classics (Oliver! and The Sound of Music), swing jazz (Guys and Dolls and Nice Work if You Can Get It) and rock/punk (Next to Normal and American Idiot).
Do you have a favourite musical you’ve played in, and why does it stand out to you?
The last musical I played in is always my current favourite. So, at the moment, it’s Legally Blonde. Before that, it was American Idiot, because it was so wildly out of my classical training experience. If I had to choose just one favourite I’ve played in, it would have to be West Side Story.
People would be surprised to know that...
I am actually painfully shy. The whole Mrs Potter persona is just a front.
By Mrs Julia Oreo and Ms Michele Sharp, Secondary School Teachers
Mrs Julia Oreo and Ms Michele Sharp represented the College at the 2025 HALT Summit last week.
HALT stands for Highly Accomplished and Lead Teachers. It is a yearly conference for high-impact teachers who are nationally accredited at the Highly Accomplished or Lead Teacher level. Julia received her Highly Accomplished Teacher accreditation in 2021, and Michele, having successfully renewed the qualification twice, has held it for over ten years.
This year's conference theme was "Spark Ideas, Ignite, Impact". The Keynote speaker, Mr Louka Parry, CEO and Founder of The Learning Future, explored the changing landscape of learning and society. One great takeaway from this session was that "our capacity to learn, unlearn and relearn has always been our greatest asset".
Dr Nathaniel Swain, author of Harnessing the Science of Learning, explored how to drive meaningful change using research-informed principles aligned with the science of learning. This includes cognitive load and the practical implications of this in the classroom. Attendees left this keynote with actionable steps to empower staff and sustain transformative change.
On Friday, Mr Andrew Fuller's workshops, Converting Neurodiversity into Neuro-Advantage and Learning Strengths and Neuro-Developmental Differentiation, provided insights into the latest practice to cater for the strengths and vulnerabilities of students with neurodiversity and how to overcome learning disadvantages by broadening teaching techniques to be more inclusive and differentiated.
Another highlight of the annual summit is the Member Sharespace, where Highly Accomplished teachers have the opportunity to share their expertise in pedagogy, assessment, curriculum and practice.
The Radford College Songsters delighted attendees by performing three songs at the Summit.
By Mrs Jo O'Brien, Assistant Head of Junior School Learning and Teaching
On Tuesday, ten Rostrum Public Speaking finalists were recognised as outstanding speakers in the Junior School.
These students in Years 4, 5 and 6 were chosen after completing a class speech, a year level final or selected after presenting at the Junior School Oratory Co-Curricular. Our finalists spoke eloquently on some of the following topics pre-selected by the ACT Primary School’s Public Speaking Competition Committee:
- Imagine That
- Making Music
- Shortcuts
- Through the Telescope
- On the Move
Congratulations to our winner, Jacob Koznjak, who will present his speech on the topic, Imagine That, at the quarter finals in June.
An honourable mention goes to Yongmin Yin, our reserve, who will compete in the quarter finals if Jacob is unable to do so.
By Mrs Kirsten Knight, Head of Co-Curricular Music
Our Autumn Concert will be held on Thursday, 22 May from 5.30 pm in T.B. Millar Hall.
The evening will showcase a selection of our concert bands, choirs, string orchestras and ensembles, involving students from both the Junior and Secondary Schools.
Entry is free and tickets are not required.
Come and join us for a fabulous evening of music!
By Mrs Michelle Xerri, Acting Assistant Principal, Deputy Head of Junior School
For over a decade, Canberra has been celebrating Tree Week every autumn. We would like to congratulate Year 1 student, Abigail Xu, whose artwork Blooming Together has been selected as one of the winning entries in the Canberra Tree Week art competition!
The theme of this year's drawing competition is Branch Out and invited young artists to use their imagination and show why trees are so important. Abby's vibrant artwork did just that, and she received a certificate and a tree from the Yarralumla Nursery.
The exhibition is currently on display at the Australian National Botanic Gardens.
Tree Week, an initiative by the ACT Government, provides an opportunity for the community to learn more about the value of trees in Canberra. Our city is full of beautiful, unique and exceptional trees and forests that provide many positive benefits to the community.
Mrs Monique Glavonjic, Community Engagement Manager
Are you a business owner or industry professional eager to inspire the next generation of leaders? The Radford Collegians would like to invite you to take part in our upcoming Radford Collegians Network Career Expo on Monday, 23 June 2025.
This event connects students in Years 10 to 12 with diverse industries and career opportunities. Participation is open to all - you don't need to be a Collegian to get involved!
What we’re looking for:
We are seeking expressions of interest from businesses and organisations across a wide range of sectors, including but not limited to:
- Technology and IT services
- Creative arts and media
- Health and wellness
- Finance and business services
- Environment and sustainability
- Engineering and manufacturing
- Education and training
- Hospitality and tourism
- Retail and e-commerce
- Social enterprises
Why participate?
- Inspire young minds by sharing your career journey and industry insights.
- Showcase your business and connect with motivated students.
- Create networking opportunities for future talent.
- Promote work experience opportunities to students.
- Engage with the community and promote your brand.
Event details:
Date: Monday, 23 June 2025
Time: 11 am to 3 pm (Set up from 9 am)
Location: Radford College
What we provide:
Chairs and trestle tables for your setup.
How to register:
If you are interested in participating in this exciting event, please register your organisation's details by Friday, 30 May via the registration form link. The event guidelines can be found here.
Join us in shaping the future of our students and showcasing the opportunities that await them in the professional world. We look forward to your participation!
For any enquiries, please contact Monique Glavonjic on 02 6162 6217 or email.
Radford College has long standing relationships with sister schools around the world with which we do reciprocal exchanges. This not only enables Radford students to broaden their horizons through travel but provides them with a deeper understanding of the languages they are studying. They are also granted the opportunity to host foreign language students and to introduce them to the sights and sounds of Radford, Canberra and surrounds.
Two students who have taken part in the language exchanges – one a collegian and the other a Japanese student – have written to our Head of Languages, Ms Michele Sharp of their experiences and we're happy to share them here today.
Zara Imhoff
My name is Zara Imhoff, and I am from the graduating class of 2021. I studied French all the way through Secondary school.
In 2019 I had the amazing opportunity to go to France on a study exchange. I was matched with a French student, Mathilde and lived with her family for a week in Le Mans, west of Paris. Mathilde came to Australia the following year to stay with my family for a week. Once the exchange was over, we stayed in touch and have developed a strong friendship.
Last Christmas and New Years, my family and I travelled to Le Mans and stayed with Mathilde’s family for three nights. Both our families were happy to finally meet each other and got along very well. It is so amazing that Mathilde and I have become lifelong friends through this experience. While in France, I enjoyed practising my French and I am looking forward to seeing Mathilde’s family again in the near future!
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mme Rhiannon Richards and Mme Di Lefebvre for providing me with this wonderful experience. If students are able to, I would encourage them to participate in a language exchange. It is definitely the opportunity of a lifetime.
Sara Shishido
I came to Australia earlier this year and gained many valuable experiences. For me, living here was a month of constantly coming into contact with various differences – both cultural differences and in school life.
The first thing that surprised me when I came to this school was the high level of enthusiasm of the students. I was very shocked to see them immediately speak up and share their questions and realisations in class. I was impressed by the lively atmosphere during discussions, where not a single person was left behind. In Japan, everyone is required to take designated subjects for a set number of hours, but I thought that a system like Radford, where students can choose subjects that they are interested in or good at, is very good for students.
Another thing that surprised me was that this school offers many languages and in class you can learn not only the language, but also the culture and traditions of each country. I felt that the students at this school are tolerant and accepting of diversity, and this learning has a big influence on them.
I was touched by the kindness of many people when I came to this school. At first, I was very nervous and anxious, but the students around me welcomed and accepted me. I was able to spend time listening to stories about Australia and talking about Japan. When I was alone, some students would ask me if I needed anything, and many teachers and students would say hello and show interest in Japan. Radford is a school full of really warm and wonderful people.
Canberra is a really beautiful city, rich in nature. I was instantly fascinated by the abundant greenery and large parrots that you don't see in Japan. I was also impressed by the various animals I encountered, such as kangaroos and wallabies, and at the same time, I felt that Canberra must be a wonderful environment for animals to live in.
My most enjoyable memory was the Canberra Show, because there are no travelling amusement parks in Japan. There were many tall and large attractions. I was a little scared, but I tried the tallest of them all, the spinning swings, which was about 40 metres high. The view of the Canberra Show from above was very impressive.
Studying abroad is sure to have a positive impact on your life. If you muster up the courage to take the plunge, you'll be greeted by amazing sights that you can't see where you are now.
And the reason my study abroad experience was so wonderful was because I was surrounded by the kindness of so many people, including my uncle’s family, who I stayed with while in Australia; my teachers at school; and my friends. This study abroad experience has become a treasure unlike any I've ever experienced. Thank you.
