Principals Report
Dear Fortians, Parents and Guardians,
On the first day back of term 4 an HSC information evening was held at school for Year 11 students and their parents. If any students were unable to attend that information session, they need to pop into Ms Cameron’s office (Yrs 7, 9 and 11 Deputy Principal) to pick up their copy of the 2023-2024 HSC Assessment Booklet and the NESA HSC Rules and Procedures booklet.
I would like to extend my enormous gratitude to the staff who gave up their school holidays to accompany and supervise Fortians on various international and interstate trips these past holidays. Mr Morrison and Mr De Jong accompanied Ms Reynolds to Germany for 23 days for the German language tour. Mr Boyle, Ms Catalan and Ms Nolan accompanied Mr Gillespie to Japan for 14 days for the Japanese language tour. Mr Patane and Ms Bui also accompanied Fortians to Melbourne for the 2023 RoboCup Australian National Championships. Without the long hours of preparation and willingness of staff to give up their own personal time with friends and family such amazing opportunities would not be available to our students.
New Staff:
I would also like to extend a warm welcome to new members of staff this term. Mr Dai Dong has commenced this term as our new and permanent Head Teacher Technology. Mr Dong joins us from Sefton High School and teaches many technology subjects including Engineering and Design and Technology. We also welcome our new and permanent Head Teacher Wellbeing Ms Kristina Strati who is joining us from Cronulla High School. As well as an outstanding leader of wellbeing, Ms Strati is also an experienced English teacher.
Mr Adrian Mok is replacing Ms Starr in Visual Arts for the remainder of the year and Mr Chan has also joined the History faculty for the remainder of this year.
Congratulations:
The Year 10 Fort Street RoboCup team Silverback – H. Phan, J. Nguyen, I. Lee and J. Sumner, placed second in the 2023 Australian Championships earlier this month. The level of competition was very high this year and in recognition of the teams hard work and dedication these students have been invited to the 2023 Asia-Pacific Robocup competition in South Korean and also to the 2024 International RoboCup competition which will be held in the Netherlands. Whilst these boys may not necessarily be able to make their way to these events they deserve enormous praise for gaining a position at such a high level.
On Sunday 29 October the Sydney Southeast Symphonic Winds orchestra will perform at the Verbrugghen Hall – Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Congratulations to H. Kan, H. Newman and R. Winkler who will be performing alongside students from 51 Primary and Secondary Schools.
Ms McMurray’s temporary departure:
Students, staff and parents have been informed of my secondment by the Department of Education to support Randwick Girls High School and Randwick Boys High School as these schools’ merge into one coeducational High School in 2025. This position commences on Monday 213 October and will continue until the end of term 2 2024.
This position is only temporary, and I will be returning to my position at Fort Street at the conclusion of this role. Ms Rebecca Cameron has accepted to relieve as Principal during my absence and I am confident that she will continue to lead the school forward in an exemplary manner.
Ms Janice Eastment is currently relieving Deputy Principal for Mr Morrison for the remainder of 2023 and Ms Carolyn Mattick will take up this position in 2024. An expression of interest has been advertised to place a second Deputy Principal to relieve in Ms Cameron’s position until the end of Term 2, 2024. It is hoped that this person will commence in week 4 of this term.
I hope to be able to visit the school for some key events throughout the first half of next year and look forward to catching up with students, staff and parents then.
Upcoming Events:
Monday 23 October – Thursday November 2nd HSC exams continue
Tuesday 24 October – Vaccination catch ups for Year10
Friday 27 October – House Captain elections
Friday 27 October – Year 8 Science Exam – VALID
Tuesday 31 October – Halloween Dress Up Day
Thursday 2 November – Year 11 Geography Excursion
Friday 3 November – Year Meeting Yr 10 and Fortunae 7,8,9 and 11