Principal’s Report

Principal’s Report

Dear Fortians, Parents and Carers,

Welcome back to the Fort as we conclude the first full week of the school year for our students. Staff have been back for just over two weeks and have greatly appreciated the additional time provided by the Department of Education for planning and preparation before students returned.

Welcome to Year 7 2025

It is always a pleasure to welcome our Year 7 students to Fort Street, and this year was no exception. It was fantastic to see so many smiles as our new cohort settled into their new school environment comfortably and confidently.

A big thank you to Ms. Dooley, our Student Support Officer, Mr. Clark, our Year 7 Adviser, Ms. Richards, the Assistant Year Adviser, and of course, our wonderful Year 10 Peer Support Leaders for assisting Year 7 in their transition to high school. Year 7 participated in various fun peer support activities on their first day, helping them build friendships across the cohort.

Homework Centre – Library

This year, the library will be open every Monday and Wednesday after school until 4:10 pm for students to engage in quiet individual or group study. On Monday afternoons, Ms. Morosin (English/Drama teacher) will be available to assist students, and on Wednesdays, Mr. Feng (Maths/PDHPE teacher) will be available to provide support.

New Staff

There have been a few staff changes at the Fort for 2025. Please welcome the following teachers to our team:

  • Mathematics Faculty – Mr Choi and Ms Ngo join as new permanent members of staff
  • Science Faculty – Ms Nguyen will replace Mr Hasenbein this year
  • History Faculty – Ms Fisher joins as permanent member of staff
  • Social Science – Mr Ritchie will replace Mr Pagani in Terms 1 and 2
  • Technology Faculty – Ms Meissner will temporarily replace Ms Woodley
  • CAPA Faculty – Ms Morosin will teach Drama and Mr Atkins will teach Music
  • PDHPE – Ms Carter joins the faculty

Year 11 Camp

Year 11 students attended camp at Sydney Academy of Sport and Recreation in Narrabeen from Monday to Wednesday this week. The camp provided a fantastic opportunity for students to begin their senior school journey and connect with new peers. Despite a storm on Monday, we were glad to see the sun come out, allowing paddleboarding, kayaking, and other outdoor activities to proceed. It certainly looked like the students had a great time away together.

Year 7 Camp

Year 7 students have also been away this week at camp at Point Wolstoncroft Sport and Recreation Centre. The camp experience focuses on enhancing students’ physical, mental, and social well-being.

We hope this opportunity has helped Year 7 students build resilience, independence, and teamwork while fostering friendships and connections across the year group.

Muslim Prayers

This year a Fort Street alumnus is offering to facilitate a weekly Friday prayer session for Muslim students during lunchtime. This initiative aims to support students of the Muslim faith, both male and female. If your child would like to participate, please email the office so that we can provide a permission form.

Upcoming Events:

February 17: The SRC will host a Clubs and Committees Day in the school hall. Each co-curricular activity will have a stall with information on how to get involved. This is a wonderful opportunity for younger students to discover fun and exciting ways to engage with the school and develop new interests. Year 9 students can also use these clubs to log hours for the Duke of Edinburgh program, and participation in various activities can enhance university and job applications. Students in Years 7, 8, and 9 will visit the hall during an allocated period, while students in Years 10, 11, and 12 can attend during recess and lunch. Parents and students can also visit the school website to see the full list of clubs and committees on offer.

February 19:

  • P&C Meeting – 7:00pm in the School Library (meetings alternate between in-person and online via Zoom).
  • Year 9 Visual Arts Excursion – Walking tour of Petersham

February 20:

  • Special Religious Education (SRE) and Ethics commence for the year, Hindu classes will start the following week on February 27
  • Year 12 Legal Studies Excursion to Parliament

February 21:

  • House Meetings (period 2)
  • Second-hand Uniform Stall (Lunch)
  • SRC Rose Drive – students can purchase roses at recess or lunch from the SRC up until Wednesday February 19. The roses will be delivered to the student themselves or to a designated friend or teacher on Friday February 21

February 26:

  • School Photos
  • Year 7 Parent Meet and Greet & Study Skills Information Session – Parents and Year 7 students are invited to a ‘Meet and Greet’ sausage sizzle in the Kilgour Quad at 5:00 pm. Mr. Sherwin (Year 7 Deputy Principal), Mr. Clark, and Ms. Richards will be available to meet parents. This will be followed by an ‘Introduction to Wellbeing at Fort Street’ session in the hall led by Ms. Smith, Head Teacher Wellbeing. At 6:30 pm, Dr. Prue Salter, an expert in study skills, will deliver a workshop on effective learning strategies, including time management, note-taking, and exam techniques. This interactive session will equip students and parents with practical skills for academic success.

February 28:

  • Speech Day at Town Hall (9:30am) – A special occasion to celebrate student achievements of 2024 and to enjoy performances from the Instrumental Music Program in a prestigious venue. Students should arrive at Town Hall in full school uniform including their school tie by 9:00am for roll call. Parents are also very welcome to join us and be seated by 9:30am.

March 3:

  • Swimming Carnival at Drummoyne Swimming Centre – All students must attend and dress in their house colours. Remember to bring food, water, a hat and sunscreen.

o Joshi – Red

o Kirby – Blue

o Mawson – Yellow

o Preston – Purple

o Sheikh – Green

March 5:

  • Year 9 History/Geography Excursion
  • Year 8 French Excursion

March 6:

  • Zone Swimming Carnival
  • SRC BBQ at lunch for International Women’s Day

March 7:

  • Whole School Assembly
  • Year 9 French Excursion

March 10:

  • Year 7 Geography/History Excursion
  • Year 12 Parent Teacher Interviews

March 12 – 22:

  • NAPLAN Window for Years 7 and 9

I look forward to an exciting term ahead!

 

Juliette McMurray

Principal