Staff Insights
By Ms Karen Mahar, Acting Deputy Principal, Head of Junior School
At Radford, we believe our vibrant community — comprising of dedicated educators, committed College staff, co-curricular teams, coaches and experts, along with parents and caregivers — come together to enrich every student’s schooling experience.
We are committed to shaping well-rounded individuals who are not only caring but are also critical and creative thinkers, poised to make a positive impact in their communities.
Our collective journey in education goes beyond individual growth; it enhances the entire community. A strong learning environment sets the stage for uplifting and transformative experiences that benefit each member, fostering a sense of belonging and shared purpose.
In our inclusive learning community, relationships and people come first. We recognise the importance of shared responsibility for learning, health, and well-being, and we aim to ensure that everyone feels they belong, are valued, and are empowered to contribute meaningfully to our collective success.
A Community of Action
Across all levels of our Radford community, we see action being taken every day.
Our Pre-Kindergarten students celebrated National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day in the ELC, where the theme was "Strong in Culture, Stronger Together," where we highlighted the power and resilience children derive from their connection to culture and community. Our youngest learners embraced this theme, honouring the importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and the strength that comes from unity.
Our Year 6 students are launching into their Primary Years Program (PYP) Exhibition, a collaborative project that encourages them to explore real-world issues and "Play Your Part" in creating change.
Meanwhile, our senior students hosted the annual Dirrum Dirrum Festival, an event that truly embodies the spirit of our community. With the guiding values of "Recognise, Inspire, Lead, For the Common Good," the festival brought together a diverse group of guest speakers who inspired our students and staff to listen deeply, reflect, and take action.
The Dirrum Dirrum Festival is more than just an event; it’s a call to action for everyone in our community to lead with purpose and compassion. It reminds us of the power of shared experiences and the importance of working together for the common good.
Even at the highest levels of leadership, action is evident. This past weekend, our College Board members and senior leaders participated in the annual College Board retreat. This workshop challenged us to think deeply about our purpose and the strategic direction of the College, reaffirming our commitment to holistic and future-focused education.
Action and Agency: Empowering Change
At the heart of our PYP learning philosophy is the belief that every student is an agent of their own learning. Action, deeply connected to agency and global-mindedness, is student driven and can be evident in various forms — whether individual or collective, short-term or ongoing. Authentic and meaningful action is supported and celebrated within our community, whether it’s through participation, advocacy, social justice, social entrepreneurship, or lifestyle choices.
As our Year 6 students embark on their PYP Exhibition, they are encouraged to explore real-life issues, collaborate, and reflect on their role in the world, applying the theme "Play Your Part" as a powerful provocation. This project exemplifies how student-initiated action can lead to dynamic and transformative outcomes, reinforcing the idea that our learners are not just participants but partners in their educational journey.
We remain dedicated to fostering future-ready skills in our students — critical thinking, creativity, communication, collaboration, digital literacy, and responsible citizenship, and so doing, prepare them to thrive and lead in an ever-changing world.
By Rev. Dr Katherine Rainger, Senior Chaplain
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith;
and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God;
not by works, so that no one can boast.
For we are God’s handiwork,
created in Christ Jesus to do good works,
which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Ephesians 2:8-9.
In Secondary School chapel we have been looking at the theme Grit and Grace. In honour of Book Week here are three stories that open minds and hearts through imagination and learning.
Angela Duckworth’s book Grit was born out of her research into the story of what makes people successful. It is not only talent, but also effort that makes a difference. Grit is the ability to persevere in reaching a long-term goal. Grit is developed as we follow our interests and find the things that fascinate us. Grit is cultivated through a sense that what we do matters to ourselves and others. Having the time to practice and to discern what goals are worth pursuing is also important. Duckworth acknowledges that the context and circumstances of our life need to be considered. This provides space for grace.
The band U2 sang “Grace, it's the name for a girl. It’s also a thought that changed the world.” A poignant story of grace is found in The Gospel of Luke (15:11-32) in the story of the son who wastes his inheritance and ends up destitute. Expecting a rebuke from his father, the son nevertheless returns home hoping for a place amongst the hired hands. Instead, he is met with the outstretched arms of his father running down the road, an undignified thing to do in the time and culture of the Bible, ready to embrace his son. Jesus tells this parable as a way of revealing the love, welcome and hospitality of God.
Victor Hugo’s novel Les Misérables contains another famous story of grace. Jean Valjean has spent 19 years as a convict for stealing food for a family member. The brutality of the situation has hardened him. Upon release his future is still grim due to his parole conditions. On route to the place he is required to report to, he receives hospitality from a bishop and his wife. During the night Jean Valjean panics and steals the couple’s silverware, striking the bishop in the process. He is caught and returned to the bishop’s residence by the police.
The bishop radically subverts the expectations of both Jean Valjean and the police by stating that the silverware was a gift and what’s more Jean Valjean forgot the candlesticks and must take them too. The bishop commissions Jean Valjean to live into the grace that he has received by becoming a new man.
Victor Hugo writes:
“What was certain, what he was sure of, was that he was no longer the same man, he was completely changed within, it was no longer in his power to act as though the bishop had not spoken to him, had not moved him.”
The compelling scene from the 1998 film can be viewed here.
Dirrum Dirrum Festival 2024
The Dirrum Dirrum Festival last weekend was a fantastic opportunity to gather and hear stories of grit and grace. Well done to the Year 12 student organisers and all the staff who lent their time and talents to create such a great event. Keep an eye out for more photos and a full report in next week's Bulletin.
News
By Mrs Tanya Priest-Willimott and Ms Shellee Nikolaou
The Junior School Students' Book Week Parade will take place this Friday, 23 August between 09.00 – 10.00 am in the Collegians Centre. Parents who wish to attend are encouraged to park at UC and walk across to the College.
In the lead up to Book Week, students from Pre-K to Year 4 were entertained with a performance called Maybe A Miracle from Perform Education. The performance was an interactive magical musical bringing to life some of the Children’s Book Council Shortlisted picture books for 2024.
The two performers had the students dancing, drawing and doing the Mexican wave as they travelled through a day in Charlie, the main character’s life. Charlie discovered how special books are, as he met some of the book characters, and was taught to look for everyday miracles in the small things.
