Principals Report
Dear Fortians, Parents and Guardians,
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
It is with immense pride an joy that I reflect upon the experience of attending of attending our school’s musical performance ‘The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee’ just a few weeks ago. Under the exceptional direction of Ms Carolyn Mattick and the musical guidance of Liz Propsting, this production truly showcased the remarkable talents of our students. I must extend my appreciation to Eleanor AL, who served as the assistant director, and to Edmund H, whose skilled piano playing enriched the musical numbers. The choreography by Lila B and Edain DB brought an additional layer of dynamism to the performance. My gratitude extends to the entire cast, band and tech crew for their dedication and hard work, which was evident in the seamless execution of the show. The production not only entertained but also filled our hearts with laughter, making it a memorable and delightful evening for all.
House Competitions
Throughout this week, our house captains have orchestrated a range of inter house competitions. I extend my gratitude to Mr Simon Vaughan for his invaluable assistance in guiding the students to organise these events.
Careers Expo
Last week, our Year 12 students were presented with a valuable chance to engage with a range of esteemed universities and organisations, including UAC, the Academy of Interactive Entertainment and the Camphin Boston Accounting cadetship program. This enlightening experience took place right within our school hall during regular school hours. I extend my sincere appreciation to our careers adviser, Ms Salisbury, for her meticulous coordination of the University and Scholarships expo. Her efforts ensured that our Year 12 students had the essential resources in time for their UAC applications. Additionally, a special thank you goes to Mr Leondios for putting on a great barbeque event for our Year 12 students on that afternoon, making it an all-around memorable occasion.
Wear it Purple Day
This Friday, 25 August Fort Street will be observing Wear It Purple Day. This day was founded at Burwood Girls High School in 2010 and has since evolved into a global movement. Taking place annually on the last Friday of August, the event strives to promote nurturing, safe, empowering, and inclusive environments for LGBTQIA+ young people. At Fort Street, we will be joining this celebration by permitting students to wear mufti attire, provided it prominently features the colour purple. Moreover, during lunchtime, there will be a bake and badge sale, adding to the festive atmosphere. We will collectively affirm our commitment to a diverse and inclusive community at a whole school assembly on Friday morning.
School Improvements
The school common room kitchen has undergone a substantial upgrade, now boasting ample space and improved facilities. This transformation ensures that teachers, parents and students can effectively utilise the kitchen during school events. With increased storage, expanded sink areas and enhanced cooking facilities, the kitchen has already proven its utility during the regular breakfast program, school musical and staff morning teas.
I am delighted to share that the extensive external restorations of the Wilkins Building are drawing to a close. Scaffolding in the Fountain Quad has been erected, marking the final phase of the restoration process: addressing the chimney stacks. Anticipated for completion by March 2024, these efforts stand as testament to our commitment to maintaining our school’s historic charm while ensuring a conducive learning environment for all.
Congratulations:
Debating – in recent debating contests, year 10 have gone through undefeated, year 9 sadly lost their debate ending the season 2-1 and year 7 won convincingly against a year 8 team. Hopefully this means that both our year 10 and year 7 teams will go through to the next rounds.
Year 10 Volleyball team – the Year 10 Volleyball Schools Cup was held last week and our team did pretty well overall with some wins, lots of draws and few losses. They are a talented team and should be proud of their efforts.
Upcoming Events:
Friday 25 August
- Wear it Purple Day
- Whole School Assembly
- Year 11 Geography Excursion to the Blue Mountains
Sunday 27 August
- School Working Bee 9.00am -1.00pm
- Tournament of the Minds, Randwick Boys HS 9.00am – 5.00pm
Monday 28 August
- Senior School State Frisbee Championships at Meadowbank 9.30am – 2.30pm
- Year 12 Visual Arts & design and Technology Exhibition in the Library from 5.00pm
- Year 12 Drama & Music Showcase in the Hall from 6.30pm
- Upcoming German and Japan Tour Meetings in the Lecture Theatre and Flexible Learning Space 6.00pm – 7.00pm
Tuesday 29 August
- State Robotics Championships, Holy Cross College Ryde
- Parent Information evening on Zoom: Year 9 Duke of Edinburgh
- CHS U15 Knock Out Girls Basketball: all day Northen Beaches SC
Wednesday 30 August
- Year 9 Duke of Edinburgh Training Day
- Year 7 geography Excursion to Botany Bay
Friday 1 September
- Whole School Assembly