Principal’s Report
Dear Fortians, Parents and Carers,
As we approach the end of the school year, life at the Fort continues to be vibrant and dynamic. There’s an unmistakable buzz of excitement among students and staff as we gear up for the summer break, though some are feeling a bit weary from the busy term.
This week, Year 7 celebrated the completion of their first year at the Fort with a fun day at the movies following a morning picnic with their year advisers, teachers, and peer support leaders. Additionally, the History Faculty hosted the annual V for Victory History Dance, where it was wonderful to see both students and teachers dressed in period costumes. A special thank you goes to Mr. Carritt and Ms. Wark for their exceptional efforts in organising these memorable events.
Students from the winning house, Kirby, enjoyed a delightful pizza picnic on Tuesday, taking a well-deserved break under the shade of the majestic old trees at Petersham Park while relaxing together.
I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the Parent and Citizens Association (P&C) for their continued support this year, as well as to the generous families who contributed to our staff end-of-year thank you lunch. Your support is greatly appreciated.
I also want to express my gratitude to Dr. Matt Manchester, all the IMP tutors, and the IMP parent helpers for the outstanding end-of-year summer concert held on December 13. The event had a fantastic atmosphere and showcased an incredible array of musical talent.
HSC Results
On Wednesday this week the HSC results were released. The students of Year 12 2024 should be incredibly proud of their achievements. Whilst the Sydney Morning Herald league table of schools has not shown our school climbing the ranks, the school has seen a lift in Band 6 results across most subjects and outstanding ATAR results. Of 150 students who applied for an ATAR this year 33 (22%) achieved an ATAR of 98 or above. 49% of the entire cohort achieved over 95.
Auslee P is awarded Dux of the year with an ATAR of 99.85.
The following students achieved state ranks:
Chloe Z – 1st in Chinese in Context
Sophie Z – 2nd in Chinese Continuers
Sophie A – 3rd in German Extension
Mitchell Burriss – 4th in Science Extension
Dominic Jiang – 4th in Chinese Continuers
17 students achieved a result in the highest band (Band 6 or E4) in 10 or more of their courses making them HSC all-rounders.
124 students made it onto the distinguished achievers list.
See the school website for the full list of achievements.
Year 10 Connected Curriculum
During the recent Year 10 Connected Curriculum, students engaged in Climate Fresk workshops and listened to two guest speakers who addressed environmental sustainability, focusing particularly on the impacts of fast fashion.
Following this, students collaborated to develop prototypes aimed at addressing environmental issues that resonated with them. Their innovative plans and resources were presented at the Environmental Sustainability Bazaar, where they showcased their ideas to the school community. A variety of global challenges were tackled, with many groups creating specific resources and prototypes in just three days. This remarkable achievement highlights the commitment and creativity of our Year 10 students as they engaged with pressing global issues.
I extend my appreciation to Ms. Carter, Mr. Galvin, and their dedicated team for their meticulous planning and organisation of this event. Such accomplishments require extensive preparation and dedication, and your efforts have truly enriched our students’ experiences.
Australian Volleyball Schools Cup
I would like to thank Mr. Sarif for accompanying our students on their trip to the Australian Volleyball Schools Cup, as well as Ms. Ezekiel for her organisation of the event. Congratulations to the team and our dedicated staff for their hard work.
Congratulations to all members of the team:
They played 7 games, winning 4 of them, Placing 6th overall. Congratulations!
Staff Farewells
As we near the end of the school year, it is with mixed emotions that we bid farewell to some of our dedicated staff members. This year, we say goodbye to those taking a break and to others departing permanently. Their unwavering commitment and contributions have significantly impacted our school community.
We extend our heartfelt goodbyes to Ms. Rebecca Cameron, who has taken on the role of Principal at Canterbury Girls High School after 13 years of leadership at the Fort. We also bid farewell to Mr. Josh Wilkins from the Mathematics Faculty, who joined us in 2019, as well as several other valued staff members: Mr. Tim Lester (English Faculty), Ms. Bui (Mathematics Faculty), Ms. Anni Finsterer (CAPA Faculty – Drama), Ms. Amy Johnson (History Faculty), and Ms. Regan Palin (School Counsellor).
We will also miss the following staff members who will be on leave in 2025 and look forward to welcoming them back in 2026: Mr. James Moon, Ms. Tali Ezekiel, Ms. Allison Woodley, and Ms. Kate Dunn.
As this is the final edition of Mercurius for 2024, I would like to take this opportunity to wish all Fortians and their families a wonderful, safe, and restful summer holiday.
Visit our website to see the 2024 highlights from Fort Street, here.
2025 Important Dates
Tuesday 4 February – Wednesday 5 February: Uniform Shop Open
Thursday 6 February – Year 7 and Year 10 Peer Support leaders commence at 8.45am
Thursday 6 February – Year 8 and Year 12 first day back commencing at 9.40am (No SRE or Ethics)
Monday 10 February – Wednesday 12 February: Year 11 Camp
Wednesday 12 February – Friday 14 February: Year 7 Camp
Monday 10 February – Friday 14 February: China – Nanjing Foreign Language School Visitors
Wednesday 19 February – P&C first meeting of the year
Wednesday 26 February – School Photo Day
Wednesday 26 February – Year 7 Study Skills Evening with parents
Friday 28 February – Speech Day at Sydney Town Hall
Monday 3rd March – Swimming Carnival
Juliette McMurray