Principal’s Report

Dear Fortians, Parents and Carers,
As the end of term approaches Year 12 have returned to classes following their end of term one HSC assessments. The Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme gold walk will take place next weekend and into the last Monday and Tuesday of term.

I would like to thank Matt Manchester and all of the staff who attended the recent IMP camp for yet another successful IMP event. The afternoon tea and concert performances were both outstanding. I wanted to share a comment made by one of the guest conductors who has attended many school music camps. He wrote an email to express that this had been the most rewarding music camp experience that he had ever had. He wrote that the collegiality, commitment and diligence of the students was obvious and that the IMP at ‘The Fort’ is truly a beacon of excellence in the NSW Education department and the program an exemplary model of excellence that should be embraced by the DoE and every school in NSW.

I have been overwhelmed by the generosity of the Fort St community and the ongoing willingness of our community to support numerous causes, fundraises and events throughout the year. I feel that this is a reflection of the selfless, caring and generous nature of this community to which we belong who genuinely think about others and about how they can contribute to bringing about change.
Three weeks ago students and staff participated in the World’s Greatest Shave during lunch in the school hall. So far funds raised by the community only just fall short of the $25 000 goal. This money will support families facing blood cancer to provide the emotional and practical support they need. It will also go towards funding vital research that will help more people survive blood cancers like lymphoma, leukaemia and myeloma, while improving their quality of life.

At year meetings last week Year Advisers spoke of the devastating tragedy that had occurred in Christchurch New Zealand on Friday 15 March. A Year 9 Muslim student who was originally from New Zealand spoke to the Year 9, 10 and 11 year groups and a collection box was passed around to raise money to be sent to the victims’ families in Christchurch. I am proud to say that over $1 000 was donated on that day.

On behalf of the teaching staff I would like to thank the parents who baked and sent in food for the staff thank you lunch organised and coordinated by Leylee Gressel one of our Year 10 students mothers on Thursday 28 March. The staff certainly felt appreciated and enjoyed the enormous variety of food both savoury and sweet on offer.