Staff Insights
By Mrs Louise Wallace-Richards, Acting Deputy Principal and Head of Secondary School
This year, I have the pleasure of teaching a Year 10 English class again. Year 10 is the year we tackle some challenging texts in preparation for senior literature studies. This includes Shakespeare’s tragedy Macbeth and classic novels with universal themes. Like Shakespeare’s works, these themes are timeless in what they say about human nature and the struggles involved in pursuing dreams while remaining morally grounded.
Some of the approaches to teaching English in Year 10 fit closely with a Year 11 and 12 literature course, such as the focus on how the text is influenced by when it was created and the author’s beliefs. Others, such as the 'Shorts' unit, where we compare short films, short stories and articles focusing on the same theme, fit more into the Year 11 and 12 English course approach.
The topics my class has covered in our recent Shorts oral presentations have been varied. Many students tackled challenging topics such as the futility of war, mental health, body image, the impact of guilt on our consciousness, the decline of fact and whether true happiness lies beyond wealth.
The works of Stephen King, Charlotte Perkins Gilman (The Yellow Wallpaper) and Ray Bradbury (The Pedestrian); filmmakers including Martin Scorsese; and TED Talks were analysed, leading students to make judgements about which texts conveyed the themes most effectively. I was pleased to see many appreciate the short story over a short film through its use of entertaining language!
Many efforts are made throughout the year in all subjects to balance the teaching of a Year 10 student while also preparing them for their senior studies, helping them to hone the skills they have been developing since they first entered the school in Kindergarten. This is particularly important for English teachers to accomplish, given that all students must study English or literature in the Board of Senior Secondary Studies (BSSS) program.
Midway through every academic year, students in Year 10 throughout Australia make decisions about their future studies and careers. This is a big ask when most are only 15 years of age and looking at a projected retirement age of 67. In whichever state they are studying, it is a year when many acronyms suddenly become important. For our Year 10 students and parents at Radford College, the BSSS, the AST and the ATAR are the ones that come to be known as key terms to be understood for the senior years of study.
Save the date
To help students and parents navigate these acronyms and ensure that students make informed decisions about the subjects they wish to study in their senior years, on Tuesday, 24 June, from 6.00 pm, the College is holding an information evening for all 2026 Year 11 parents and students. It will be held in the Collegians Centre, with presentations by the Principal, Mr Christopher Bradbury, and other senior Secondary School staff, including Acting Assistant Principal of Curriculum, Mr Jason Golding; Acting Dean of Senior Studies, Mrs Alyssa Maier; and Head of Student Pathways, Mr Dale Casburn. After the presentations, Heads of Departments and subject teachers will be available to provide more information (individually or in small groups) on courses.
In Week 2 of Term 3, students will meet one-on-one with a senior member of staff to discuss their subject choices and will be referred to the relevant staff for further advice where needed. For maths, prior testing and teacher recommendations will be provided to parents and students to inform decision-making.
Each year, Radford prepares its Year 10 students effectively for their senior years through the knowledge, skills and understanding they develop in Years 7-9. It is done through carefully and thoughtfully planned and implemented events and approaches that help all students make the right decisions about what to study in Years 11 and 12.
By Reverend Andy Fleming, Associate Chaplain
During Godly Play this week, a student remarked: “I wonder if the Holy Spirit is with us in this circle?” For those of you who are not familiar with the concept of Godly Play, it is program that allows younger children greater access to Bible stories. The students sit in a circle while the story is told so they can all see the story props. Afterwards, the students are asked to share what they "wonder" about. This allows them to respond creatively to the story in their own way. This week’s story was about the arrival of the Holy Spirit, which coincides with the Day of Pentecost this Sunday.
The Day of Pentecost is a very significant one in the Christian calendar, observing the day in which the Holy Spirit comes to the followers of Jesus, the account of which is found in Acts 2:
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a noise came from heaven. It sounded like a strong wind blowing. This noise filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw something that looked like flames of fire. The flames were separated and stood over each person there. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak different languages. The Holy Spirit was giving them the power to do this.
The coming of the Holy Spirit fulfils the promise Jesus gave the disciples - the promise he made just before he ascended to heaven. In the Godly Play story, Known in Waiting, students are simply told that Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to help the disciples do their work.
After prayerfully waiting, the disciples are gifted the Holy Spirit. Through the Spirit, they are empowered to share the gospel message in the streets of Jerusalem with all those gathered there for the Pentecost Festival. The festival attracted people from many different lands, who spoke many different languages. The remarkable thing about this was that those listening to the disciples could hear and understand the message despite their language barriers.
One aspect of this Bible story that stands out is the courage the disciples gain from receiving the Holy Spirit to go out into the world to share the story of Jesus, even at great personal risk. In our context, the Spirit provides us with courage too – courage to go into our world to share love and support in areas where we can have a positive influence and to stand up to our own values and beliefs when being challenged. At present, there are many people I know who are facing challenges and their courage – born of the Spirit – is both encouraging and inspiring.
I love the sentiments of courage by author K. J. Ramsey, who writes in The Book of Common Courage:
Courage is simply
the surrender to Love
– who finds you in your sin,
who seeks you in your pain,
who weeps for all the wrong
that has smeared mud over your name.
Let this shepherd lead you into courage with every passing day.
May the Spirit bless you with the courage you need.
Rev. Andy
News
By Reverend Dr Katherine Rainger, Senior Chaplain
There are times when we are invited to participate in something greater than ourselves.
On Friday, 30 May, students in Year 5 and Year 6 and the Vivace choir embraced such an opportunity with their hands, hearts and voices!
The 1000 Voices for Reconciliation Yarning in Song event gathered singers from around Australia in the Great Hall of Parliament House. At the centre of the gathering were two flowers: the poppy, which has long been a symbol of remembrance for those who have died in wars overseas, and the Sturt Desert Pea, a flower of remembrance from Aboriginal nations across Australia symbolising innocent blood spilt on Country.
The two organisations behind the event were Making Peas/ce and the OZY Youth Choir Honouring Defence Service. Reconciliation occurred through truth-telling and acts of remembrance that included First Nations people who died defending their Country during the frontier wars, as well as those who died defending Australia on foreign soil.
Special moments from the event included a Welcome to Country by Paul Girrawah House, a senior Ngambri-Ngunnawal custodian of the Canberra region with Wiradjuri, Walgalu and Ngunnawal ancestry. Aboriginal Elders from across Australia were also present and shared their stories. Australia’s Governor-General, Her Excellency the Honourable Ms Sam Mostyn AC, was also present, along with parliamentarians
The two anthems that remember those who died on Country and for the country, The Anthem of the Desert Pea and One and Free, filled the halls of Parliament House. Vivace choir also sang Inanay, a song arranged by Aunty Dr Lou Bennett, a Yorta Yorta woman and member of the band Tiddas.
A video of the event made by the ABC gives a sense of what it was like to be in the Great Hall of Parliament House for this moment of truth-telling, unity and healing.
This article from the ABC shares more about the significance and background of 1000 Voices for Reconciliation.
Participation in this very special event is something that our students will remember for many years to come.
"It felt like the harmonies that were created when we sang were turned into real-life magic and that each of us, having different parts to sing, had to play our part to create something bigger than all of us. Everyone joined in to connect and create new bonds that will help us to grow stronger together in the spirit of reconciliation, respect and resilience." – Alexis, Year 6
"I noticed that everyone joined in together and it sounded really good because people really joined in. There was a message of Reconciliation to remember the past to make a better future." – George, Year 6
"I noticed that the room rumbled because of all the voices coming together. I learnt that if we come together, we can really make a difference." – Edison, Year 6
By Miss Melinda Hamilton, Junior School Teacher
Last night's sold-out Junior School Movie Night proved why this event is one of the highlights on our calendar.
Despite the cold, Junior School families packed R. A. Young Hall for a chance to sit back, relax and be part of this wonderful community event.
This year's film was the family-favourite, Inside Out, which centres around 11-year-old Riley and her emotions: joy, sadness, fear, disgust and anger.
Junior School students were involved in every step of the process. They crossed off names at the door, popped and handed out over 130 bags of popcorn, welcomed everyone to the event and even helped sweep up the left-over popcorn at the end. They should be very proud of their efforts.
Thanks to the Radford community's support, Radford Student Council raised more than $1000 on the night. The profits will go towards supporting the children we sponsor through Compassion.
Thank you to all who attended and helped us raise funds for this worthy cause.
