Principals Report

Principals Report

Dear Fortians, Parents and Carers, 

The commencement of another exciting year at Fort Street High School has been bustling with activity. A warm welcome extends to our new families, with a special acknowledgment for our Year 7 students who have brought smiles and curiosity, seamlessly integrating into the Fort Street community with confidence. Gratitude is extended to Mr. Carritt, Year 7 Adviser, Ms. Cove, Year 7 Assistant Adviser, and the collaborative efforts of Ms. Dooley, Ms. Propsting, and the Year 10 Peer Support leaders, all of whom have played a pivotal role in supporting our Year 7 cohort to settle in, fostering the development of friendships across the cohort. 

We are pleased to welcome several new additions to our school community.  

In the absence of Mr. Morrison, Ms. Mattick will assume the role of Deputy Principal, and Ms. Propsting will relieve in the role of HT CAPA. Also joining us in CAPA are Ms. Wray in Music, Ms. Finsterer, who will be teaching students in Drama and Mr. Wallace in Visual Arts. 

In the Technology Faculty, we extend a warm welcome to Mr. Clarke, who has secured a permanent position at Fort Street. Joining the Social Science Faculty is Ms. Richards, and from the History Faculty, we welcome Ms. Johnston. 

Changes in the front office include Ms. Choy’s departure for a position at NSW Health, with Ms. Mills stepping in as her replacement. 

Returning this year are some familiar faces. Ms. Hurrell will continue to job share with Ms. Maddox, while Ms. Kerr also continues a job-sharing arrangement with Ms. Tidon. Mr. Wilkinson has extended his leave of absence, and Ms. Shi will assume his role.  

In the PDHPE faculty, we welcome back Mr. Sarif and Mr. Feng. 

In the Science department, we welcome back Mr. Webb back as the Head Teacher of Science. We look forward to the collective contributions of both new and returning staff members in enriching our school environment. 

 On behalf of the staff, I want to express our gratitude to the P&C and all the families who contributed to the staff end-of-year thank-you lunch. The staff greatly appreciated your support, making the occasion meaningful and enjoyable. Your contributions were instrumental in creating a positive atmosphere during this event, and it did not go unnoticed by the entire staff at Fort Street. Thank you for your generosity and thoughtful gestures. 

 The swimming carnival proved to be a resounding success again this year, with a commendable turnout from our students in what could only be described as a scorcher of a day. A special appreciation goes to Ms. Ezekiel and her dedicated team for their efforts in organising the event which ran smoothly. The spirited atmosphere was further heightened by the hotly contested house chant, with Joshi House emerging victorious – congratulations to them! It was great to witness enthusiastic student participation in various events, setting a positive tone for the upcoming fiercely contested Kennedy Cup. We extend our congratulations to all competitors and wish our team progressing to the Zone carnival the best of luck. 

This week, the school was a little quieter than usual as Year 11 students participated in a three-day camp at Narrabeen Academy of Sport and Recreation. Thank you to the dedicated staff members who generously organised and attended the camp, making such enriching experiences possible for our students. 

 I would like to remind all families that if you are facing challenges in meeting school expenses, financial assistance can be provided and assistance is available. Please do not hesitate to reach out to the school to discuss your specific needs. 

 Upcoming Events in Term 1: 

  • Clubs & Committess Day – Monday 12 February 
  • School Photo Day – Wednesday 14 February 
  • Silver Duke of Ed Hike – Saturday 17 to Monday 19 February 
  • Chinese School Visit – Wednesday 14 to Tuesday 20 February 
  • Year 7 Study Skills Evening – School Hall Wednesday 21 February  
  • Annual Speech Day – Town Hall Friday 23 February – 9am 
  • Zone Swimming Carnival – Tuesday 28 February 
  • German Sister School Visit – Wednesday 29 to Sunday 18 March 
  • Year 7 Camp – Wednesday 6 March to Friday 8 March 
  • Years 7 and 9 NAPLAN – Wednesday 13 March to 25 March 
  • IMP Camp – Friday 22 March to Sunday 24 March 
  • Year 10 Vaccination – Monday 25 March 
  • Public Holidays – Friday 29 March & Monday April 1 
  • Year 12 Assessment Period – Tuesday 2 April to Tuesday 9 April 
  • Cross Country Carnival – Friday 12 April