Principal’s Report

Dear Fortians, Parents and Carers,

Welcome back to the beginning of another exciting year at Fort Street High School. A big welcome to our new families and a special welcome to our Year 7 students.

I would also like to welcome our new staff:
Mr Moon – Mathematics Teacher
Ms Catalan – Technology Teacher (to commence shortly)
Alissa Tan – Learning Centre Teacher (Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday)
Ms Christie – School Counsellor (Wednesday and Thursday)
Katie Mann – Student Support Officer (Wednesday and Friday)
Kate Jenns – Student Learning Support Officer (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday)

FSHS Anti-Bullying Policy
This policy has now been updated and can be found in Sentral Portal Documents under School Policies and Procedures. This has been discussed at stage assemblies with all year groups and staff have undergone PL in relation to the new policy. Bullying in any form will not be tolerated in our school community and will be treated seriously. Students are encouraged to report incidents of bullying to any member of staff they feel comfortable speaking with. Some suggestions would be – Year Advisers or Assistant Year Advisers, classroom teachers, learning centre staff, school counsellor, student support officer, Deputy Principals or any member of the non-teaching staff.

Speech Day 2022
Due to COVID restrictions around parents and visitors and the current requirement for cohorting, we have had to cancel Speech Day this year. Prizes and awards from 2021 will be given to students in Years 8-12 at dedicated assemblies to be held throughout the day this Friday. A special event for last year’s Year 12 Fortians will be held off site at Petersham Town Hall on Wednesday 23 February. Award recipients will be able to extend an invitation to two guests to this event.

Special Religious Education (SRE) and Ethics Education (SEE)
SRE commenced last week for students in Years 7-10. SEE classes also commenced last week for Year 7 students however, Year 8 SEE classes will not commence until Thursday 17 March (TBC), due to a shortage of trained ethics teachers at the moment. SRE and SEE classes take place on Thursday morning from 9am to 9:40am. If students have opted into either of these classes, it is now appearing on their Sentral timetable. Parents/carers who believe their child has been enrolled in the wrong class should contact Joel Morrison, Deputy Principal.
Year 7 students not enrolled in SRE or SEE will be supervised in quiet study/reading in the library during the SRE/SEE timeslot. Students in Years 8-10 not enrolled in SRE or SEE begin school at 9.40am on Thursdays. Students in Years 8-10 who need to be at school earlier than 9.40am should go to the library to be supervised by staff.

COVID-smart measures at school
A combination of layered safety measures – vaccinations, masks, cohorting, physical distancing, ventilation, rapid antigen testing (RAT), hygiene and cleaning – allows us to prioritise student and staff wellbeing while keeping the school operational.

Last week students received 4 RATs to take home with the intention that two a week will be used in weeks 4 and 5 at home before school.

Cohorting at Fort Street consists of staggered starts and finishes to avoid congestion at Petersham Station. Currently Years 7, 8 and 9 commence at 8:45am every day (except Thursday) and finish 15 minutes early being dismissed at 3:00pm. Years 10, 11 and 12 commence at 9:00am on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and finish at the regular time of 3:15pm. Cohorting also extends to the playground which means that unfortunately students are restricted at the moment in terms of where they can spend recess and lunch.

Year 7 – students can spend recess and lunch either in the Fountain Quad or the Library
Year 8 and 9 – recess on the oval, basketball courts, futsal courts, cricket nets and volleyball courts. Lunch in the Upper and Lower Kilgour Quads
Year 10 and 11 – recess in the Upper and Lower Kilgour Quads and lunch on the oval, basketball courts, futsal courts, cricket nets and volleyball courts. Year 11 also have access to the library at recess and lunch.
Year 12 – recess and lunch in the Rowe Quad – new covered outdoor learning area or the library.