Principal’s Report

Dear Fortians, Parents and Carers,

It is already week 5 and there has been so much happening at the Fort. This term along with the school cross country at Petersham Park, and the athletics carnival we have held a study skills evening for Years 10 and 11 students and their parents, Year 7 participated in an Elephant Ed incursion and Year 12 Geography students visited the Great Barrier reef just to name a few.

Duke of Edinburgh Award

Last week, our dedicated Duke of Edinburgh participants embarked on an unforgettable adventure to the Central Coast, accompanied by Ms. Thompson and Ms. Dooley. Over four days, the group hiked an impressive 68 kilometers, showcasing remarkable resilience and teamwork. They embraced the challenge of cooking their own meals and sleeping under the stars, gaining valuable life skills such as self-sufficiency, leadership, and perseverance. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Ms. Thompson and Ms. Dooley for their organisation and unwavering support and guidance throughout this journey. Congratulations to our students for being one step closer to achieving their Gold Award. I strongly encourage all students to seize the opportunity to participate in the Duke of Ed program, as it fosters essential skills and lifelong memories.

Shave for a Cure

On Friday of last week, our school community came together for the Shave for a Cure charity event, raising an incredible $24,000 to support cancer research. A special thank you goes to Ms. Ryan and the Year 12 Charity Committee for their outstanding organisation and dedication to this important cause. Congratulations to all the brave students who participated and helped make a significant impact. Special mention to Mr Moon who raised over $5,000 and the following students who all raised over $1000 each – Brandon Djamhur, Carissa Lam, Kalanie Prabhakar, Michael Rodriguez, Jake Earls, Alex Hischhorn, Jasper Vincent, and Sofie Andersen. I would like to also extend my gratitude to the entire school community for their unwavering support and generosity. Your collective efforts truly embody the spirit of our school and show the power of coming together for a meaningful cause. It is not too late to donate to the Fort Street High School page at the World’s Greatest Shave website.

Sport at the Fort

Fortians continue to demonstrate remarkable success in sport, showcasing their talents and sportsmanship across various disciplines. Congratulations to Terence Kang and Haorui Zhang who will compete next week in the NSW All Schools Swimming Championships, please join me in wishing them luck. I would like to wish Daisy and Pia Martin the best of luck as they represent Sydney North Hockey in the NSW CHS Hockey Champions held in Wyong in June.

Heritage works

We are delighted to announce that the stonework for the Wilkins Building has been completed after more than two years of meticulous work. Our heartfelt thanks go to Heritage Stoneworks for their exceptional craftsmanship and to Ms. Davies for expertly managing the project at our school. The original school sign has been beautifully repaired, and it is wonderful to have the front of the school restored and accessible for students to use the overpass once again. Parents will have the opportunity to view the repaired facade at the upcoming Fort Fest on the 20th of September. We look forward to celebrating this achievement with our entire school community.

Metro Network Uplift Project

I am pleased to announce that the upcoming Wi-Fi Metro Uplift Project has started at Fort Street. This project will significantly enhance our school’s internet capabilities. Over the next few weeks, cabling and Wi-Fi will be updated throughout the school, promising a faster and more reliable internet service for both staff and students. This upgrade is a crucial step towards improving our digital infrastructure and ensuring a seamless online experience for our school community. This is part of the School Metro uplift project in which our school Wi-Fi is being upgraded. During week 7 there will be a day when the school will have no internet access whilst the cutover is being complete, but we look forward to having stronger and faster Wi-Fi service throughout the school.

Future Leaders Conference

I’m excited to share that the SRC executive has been working diligently to organise the upcoming Future Leaders Conference, which will take place on Wednesday. We will be welcoming over 300 student leaders from 36 NSW public schools. Fortians from Year 11 will join the conference during period 1 & 2 to hear from our distinguished keynote speakers: the Honorable Michael Kirby, Neurosurgeon Dr. Brindha Shivalingam, and the ABC’s David Anderson. Following recess, the student leaders will participate in a panel with esteemed guests from various fields including finance, performing arts, journalism, science, the environment, and education. Last year’s conference was a tremendous success, and it is encouraging to see so many schools returning for this important event. I would like to acknowledge the SRC executive for the hard work they have done in getting the conference organised.