Principal’s Report

Dear Fortians, Parents and Carers,

As we approach the midway point of Term 4, I would like to take a moment to acknowledge the significant milestones and achievements within our school community.

Firstly, congratulations to our Year 12 cohort of 2025, who recently completed their HSC exams with the final exam—the Physics exam—held on Friday, 7th November. Our students have shown remarkable dedication and resilience throughout their HSC journey. The media paid a visit to capture the moment our Year 12 students finished their last exams; some of you may have caught a glimpse of this on Channel 7. We are incredibly proud of their hard work and wish them all the best as they move forward.

We are also thrilled to announce the most recent HSC Showcase nominations. Anna M’s Visual Arts body of work has been nominated for ArtExpress, while Melody R-H’s Science Extension Research Report has been selected for a major prize in the Science Extension showcase..

In addition, congratulations to Owen D, Charlie M, and Kit W, whose Individual Projects have been nominated for possible inclusion in OnStage. The Drama class Group Performance has also been placed on the reserve list for this prestigious showcase. Well done to Edain B, Owen D, Emma H, Arden L, Charlie M, and Kit W for their outstanding efforts.

We also extend our heartfelt appreciation to our school wellbeing team. On Friday, 7th November, we celebrated our school counsellors, Miori Shino and Meg Huckstep-Lowe, along with our school psychologist Jean Kidd, for their invaluable contribution to the growth and wellbeing of our school community. This year’s wellbeing theme, “Together We Grow,” highlights the essential role these professionals play in fostering an environment where students and the school community can thrive.

Earlier this term on Friday 31st October, staff were acknowledged for World Teachers’ Day. Due to the excitement of Halloween celebrations on the actual date, the SRC are kindly hosting a morning tea this Friday to honour our dedicated teaching staff. Thank you to all students and staff who participated in the Halloween festivities—it was wonderful to see so many creative costumes and the spirit of fun shared throughout the school.

Our Year 8 students are now fundraising for their upcoming Year 8 Sleepout later this term. If you would like to support their efforts, please follow the fundraising link.

Finally, congratulations to Kirrily Druery, our outstanding School Administration Officer, and Angelica Catalan, Technology Teacher, who were recognised at the recent Tri-Network Awards ceremony held at Wilkins Primary School. Their achievements are a testament to the commitment and excellence within our staff community.

Stay tuned for the launch of our new school website at the end of this week — we’re excited to offer a fresh, user-friendly online experience for our school families.

Thank you all for your continued support.

Department of Education Update

The NSW Department of Education is changing the way students access school systems. From the start of Term 4 2025, students will be blocked by default from accessing any department system including things like their school email, the student portal, or online learning platforms from outside of Australia or using a virtual private network (VPN).

The change will better protect student privacy and the reputation of the
department
This is a new policy to help protect student’s privacy and reduce cyber security risks for
the Department of Education. We need to make sure our systems are as safe as they
can be.

Do not use a virtual private network (VPN) to access department
systems
VPNs can resemble unapproved overseas access or mirror cyber-criminal activity, where it might be used to create the appearance of being inside Australia. Students are not permitted use any remote access tool or VPN to access department data.Any student who uses a VPN at school or home to access department data will be
blocked by default and may have their account scrambled or locked.

What if my child is away on extended family leave?
We understand that some students may need to travel overseas for extended family leave. If this is the case for your child, the school can grant them an exemption to the new rule to make sure they can continue their learning. Please note if your child is on a family holiday or extended leave there is no expectation that the school will provide any new classwork whilst overseas.

To apply for an exemption, parent or carers can send a request to the school’s general email address. Once approved, your child will be able to access their school systems for the dates of their approved leave.

In related news, our Fort Street Year 12’s were in a Daily Telegraph article in regards to the HSC Legal Studies Exam, which focused on criminal activity overseas.The article is here to read.

NSW EduChat

• Creates new opportunities to enhance teaching and learning, while maintaining a safe and human-centred approach in the classroom where we value teacher expertise.
• Promotes equitable learning opportunities by providing students with a free, safe and effective generative AI (GenAI) tool that is owned and designed by the department.
• Enables students to develop critical AI skills in a safe environment where content is filtered, and their data is secured.
• Helps teachers advance students’ independent learning and critical thinking. We’ve heard from our trial school principals that NSWEduChat is a valuable resource for advancing these skills and increasing student confidence and engagement. Students have said it helps them understand their work better, develop their writing skills and break down complex tasks.

German Study Tour 2025

“The limits of my language mean the limits of my world” – wrote Ludwig Wittgenstein, and these words couldn’t hold more meaning for me as I was enriching myself in the German language and culture during the September school holidays. The trip, which began as a way to improve our German quickly, became something much more enriching. Students from Year 10 and 11 stayed with host families from Fort Street’s sister school, the Georg Büchner Gymnasium, which gave us an invaluable opportunity to experience German culture up close, and get to know the incredible city of Berlin from a local standpoint.

During the week and a half spent in Berlin, we certainly made the most of the city. After spending a day in German school, where we observed the different styles of education between Australia and Germany (German students can get up to 4 breaks per day!), we delved deep into the heart of Berlin, exploring the famous historical sights of the city such as the Brandenburger Tor (Gate) and the Fernsehturm (East German TV tower). It was extremely fulfilling to see these landmarks up close, as throughout the course of the months leading up to the trip we had learned a great deal about them. The only issue we faced during the sightseeing was the construction around the Brandenburger Tor blocking our photo! (Although we returned at sunset and were able to get our picture). As well as famous landmarks, while in Berlin we also learnt a lot more about Germany, including visiting the Holocaust Memorial, a sombre and heartbreaking experience, as well as the Bundestag, the parliamentary building, rich in German history. During the day we also had the opportunity to experience some delicious German cuisine, with doner kebabs being a particular favourite, as well as of course the truckloads of German pastries we collectively consumed. Overall, our time in Berlin was incredible, with the sights being like nothing we have here in Australia, the age and history of the city really showed. My personal favourite landmark was the beautiful Schloss Sanssouci, the summer palace of Frederick the Great.

Sadly though, all good things must come to an end, and after an incredible week and a half we departed Berlin by train for a quick stay in Munich before our flight home. Munich proved no less spectacular than Berlin, with the Rathaus Glockenspiel’s (Town Hall clock’s) midday show being well worth the 20-minute wait. We had the amazing opportunity to attend a guided tour of the Allianz Arena, home ground of Bayern München, a stadium with a rich history despite its mere 20 years of existence. Perhaps the most memorable parts of our stay in Munich were the fiercely competitive Foosball games in the youth hostel, and the rainy walk to a gelato place where we were spoken to in Italian, responded in broken German and eventually stumbled through in English. Then, with our bags stuffed with souvenirs, we boarded the plane and after a four-hour layover in Doha, were welcomed back by the familiar heat of Sydney.

The German trip was an incredible experience for all involved but could not have happened without the tireless hard work of our teacher, Frau Reynolds’ incredible effort in organising the trip. We’d also like to extend a special thanks to Mr Prasad and Mr Latimer for accompanying us on the trip.

– Oliver Williams, Year 10 German student.

Halloween 2025

Halloween for 2025 was a spectacular display of creativity from Fort Street students and teachers alike. Below are some of the costumes and events that were enjoyed during the day.

Year 10 History Excursion

Our excursion was not only really fun for everyone but it was also an amazing opportunity to learn more about Indigenous culture and practices. Our guides first talked with us about bush tucker, letting us eat some plants and nectar from specific flowers before teaching us how to weave the plants. The weaving was particularly interesting for all of us, and everyone was able to replicate it after some practice. After walking further to stop near the Harbour Bridge, we were taught about some of the ways Indigenous people used that land and the harbour. Information about totem animals and the way they fished and sustainably used the sea’s resources was especially interesting. Finally, we were taught about and allowed to pass around many cultural objects, such as boomerangs and woven baskets at The Rocks Discovery Museum. After we returned to school we watched a movie about an Indigenous woman reconnecting with both her biological and adoptive family after being taken as part of the Stolen Generations. Overall, the excursion was very informative and everyone was really thankful to the teachers and our guides for organising it.

Lily Year 10

National Art School – Intensive HSC Workshop

NAS (The National Art School) is a prestigious art college in Darlinghurst that offers an Intensive HSC Workshop. You have to enter via a portfolio and be selected based on your skills and dedication as an artist. A huge congratulations to Maya Badami and Mai Ngo from Year 11 Visual Arts who were successful in being selected for two places in the printmaking workshop. This involved both students spending 2 weeks in total over July and September holidays with a professional artist to produce a Body of Work. They experimented with a range of etching techniques including intaglio methods to produce an amazing series of artworks. There was an exhibition during the September holidays that I was lucky to attend, where students had their work on display with other students from NSW. Congratulations Maya and Mai, this was a great opportunity leading into your HSC. An additional congratulations to Jennie Zhu who completed the first week of the program to extend her talented painting skills.

Please enjoy the images below of some of the artworks they produced over the 2 week program.

Ms Capel

Hall Greenland Visits The Fort

The Freedom Riders Lecture – Hall Greenland

We thank Hall Greenland, Fortian class of 1961, who gave up his time to visit Fort Street High and give us a lecture on his experience with the Freedom Riders and what they stood for. As a young university student, Mr Greenland participated in the strictly peaceful protest of the Freedom Riders in 1965 which drove around regional towns in NSW to protest against racial discrimination and segregation. Mr Greenland provided us with personal anecdotes of his experiences on the Freedom Riders bus (primarily consisting of white university students), and the history behind their journey. The speech was intriguing and very engaging as Mr Greenland provided us with more insight into the Freedom Riders and gave us an element of surprise.

We hope Mr Greenland will revisit Fort Street soon!

Darwin Chan, Year 10

Halloween Treats from Year 11 Food Tech

On 31st October 2015, the Year 11 Food Technology students celebrated Halloween by preparing a variety of creative and spooky-themed dishes. Each student showcased their culinary skills and imagination through the following creations:

1. Avery Lim & Mona Takayama – Crescent Mummy Wiener Hot Dogs

2. Brandon Djamhur – Bloody Squid Ink Tentacles

3. Emidori Lum – Eerie Pie Faces

4. Emily Nguyen – Meringue Ghosts

The event highlighted the students’ creativity, teamwork, and ability to incorporate seasonal themes into their cooking.

Debating and Public Speaking

During Term 3 the Debating and Public Speaking club saw students actively engaged in debating classes, honing essential skills in debate and public speaking. These sessions have not only boosted students’ confidence but also sharpened their ability to construct arguments, think critically, and communicate effectively – all key skills that extend beyond the classroom and will prepare them for 2026 Debating and Public Speaking trials

Our school’s teams proudly participated in the Premier’s Debating Challenge this season. Both the Year 7 (B) and Year 9 (B) teams performed admirably throughout the competition. Despite their strong efforts and well-developed arguments, both teams were unfortunately eliminated in the zone rounds, showcasing great sportsmanship and determination.

Despite this, our Year 10 (A) and Year 8 (A) teams advanced further in the Premiere’s Debating Challenge, with Year 10 (A) reaching the zone quarter-finals. They engaged in a closely contested debate but were narrowly defeated. Similarly, the Year 8 (A) team made it to the zone semi-finals and, in a tight battle, were just edged out by their opponents. Both teams have debated exceptionally well throughout this year and will be two teams to watch in the future!

In addition, our students in Years 9 and 10 competed in the Sydney University Senior Debating Day. Despite being the youngest teams present, they impressed by winning all their debates against Year 11 and 12 students, demonstrating remarkable skill and poise.

As debating enters its final term, students will continue to develop their debating and public speaking abilities in preparation for next year’s trials. With such enthusiasm and growing expertise, we look forward to another successful debating season ahead.

Mr. Tennant

Balkanology Wins Again

Gymnastic’s Champion

On the 23rd of September, Chloe Xia of Year 11 Preston, competed at the National Clubs Carnival (NCC) for rhythmic gymnastics in the Gold Coast, placing 2nd overall in the level 6 senior division. She also became national champion for hoop and ribbon, placed 3rd in freehand and her team became the national champion team.Congratulations to Chloe and her team!

Book Talk

The Importance of the School Library

Fort Street High School Library is a beautiful space- just ask the students. And we believe it’s a critical space for promoting a haven for our young readers at recess and lunchtime- and a place to promote reading for pleasure. Recent surveys of Australian school libraries, however, have highlighted the decline in numbers of school libraries and a reduction in resourcing particularly of secondary school libraries. That’s a trend we are not witnessing at Fort Street High where the library and the borrowing of books are thriving and will continue to thrive.

The concept of the library is not new, libraries tracing back to ancient Mesopotamia in the Middle East. There, royalty from the Assyrian Empire amassed and stored large collections of clay tablets, with one such library in the 7th century BCE holding more than 30,000 items. Free access to books is a concept that arrived much later, from the mid-19th century. Our own State Library of NSW, while celebrating 200 years in 2026 as the oldest continuously operating library in Australia, evolved into the Sydney Free Public Library in 1869, opening its doors with a stock of approximately 20,000 volumes.

Australian and indeed global surveys reveal that school Libraries today are in decline as noted by Darcy Fitzgerald as recently as 24/10/2025 in ‘The Advertiser’. This is a dangerous trend because as libraries decline, student engagement with reading declines. The 2025 What Kids are Reading report, published by Renaissance Australia, examined the reading habits of almost 60000 students across 365 schools nationally. It found strong engagement for primary students but a notable drop in reading volume and comprehension in secondary schools. And experts time and time again reiterate, just 15 minutes a day can expose students to millions of words by the time they finish school and certainly leads to improved literacy outcomes. While we might throw our arms in the air moaning about distractions such as technology in the lives of teens, our job as educators and as parents isn’t to eliminate technology but to create ‘intentional spaces’ in libraries, in classrooms and in homes where deep attention and hopefully deep reading can flourish.

It’s great to celebrate Book Week, World Manga Day and more at Fort Street High- but promoting everyday reading in schools and at home is critical. The key is what Krashen (2001) refers to as ‘free voluntary reading’, students exercising choice in their wide reading. Peer participation is also a key strategy for building reader identity for adolescents, hence the need for book clubs, built in conversations about books, discussions in wide reading classes and more. And we need to remember, as neuroscientist Maryanne Wolf (2011) stresses, reading is essentially an ‘unnatural act’ to the brain. Which is why it is necessary to build reading as a skill through practice, repetition and developing what Wolf calls ‘deep reading circuits’. And that becomes a core mission for school libraries working in collaboration with homes.

Long live libraries and particularly long live school libraries. As T.S Eliot once said, “The very existence of libraries affords the best evidence that we may yet have hope for the future of man’.

IMP News

Choir for Life Concert raises money to support mental health

The Choir for Life concert, on Thursday 25 September, was a joyous evening featuring the Fort St Vocal Ensemble and Chamber Choir, in collaboration with several community choirs and of course, involved some fun audience participation. The concert raised more than $3000 for Headspace.

SYO Summer School, Summer Symphony Orchestra and HSC Programs

On 12-17 January 2026, join SYO for five fun and intensive days of rehearsals and tutorials with some of Sydney’s best educators, culminating in a concert at Sydney Conservatorium of Music’s Verbruggen Hall.

In the SYO Summer Symphony Orchestra, young musicians will have the incredible opportunity to learn and perform under the guidance of conductor Dr Joanna Drimatis. This program is open to orchestral strings, brass, woodwind and percussion AMEB Grade 6 to AMusA or equivalent. Recommended age is 14 to 18 years old. Previous large ensemble experience required and must be having private instrumental tuition.

For further information, including all the Summer School program opportunities and registration details, visit: https://syo.com.au/2026-syo-summer-school/ 

Artist callout for the 2026 Boys Vocal Program

The Arts Unit are looking for an original song written and composed by a NSW public school student to be featured in the 2026 Boys Vocal Program. If selected, your song will be the focus of next year’s program and will be sung and recorded by over 90 male students from Years 5-12 in a professional recording studio in Moore Park. There will also be a ‘music video’ made similar to the 2025 video.LINK: https://artsunit.nsw.edu.au/program/boys-vocal-program.

The song does not have to be a complete version to submit. Students that are successful will have the opportunity to collaborate with a song writer and composer to finalise their song for inclusion in the program.

Please contact Mr Manchester if you are interested in submitting an original song for consideration.  Applications are open until the start of Term 1, 2026.

Careers Office Update

University of Sydney Community Festival – Saturday 8 November 2025 from 12 pm.

his free, all-ages event presents a fantastic opportunity for high school students to step onto campus, go behind the scenes and be inspired by the research, ideas and people shaping the future.

Alongside live music, food trucks, markets, and interactive research experiences, the festival program includes:

• Hands-on science and research activities led by University academics and students.
• Talks and workshops designed to spark curiosity across a wide range of topics.
• Performances and entertainment throughout campus.
• A Family Fun Zone in the Quadrangle with an obstacle course, circus school, lawn games, face painting, roving performers and more for younger children.

To view the full program visit: community-festival.sydney.edu.au

Arrive & Thrive Webinar | Career Conversations @ Home, Helping Parents Have Positive Career Convos Arrive & Thrive is running a public webinar on 19 November at 6.30 pm (ADST) to support parents around Australia in having more positive career conversations at home. The webinar will share insights for parents to better support their young people in career decisions. Participants will receive a Career Conversation Kit. Register: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/1235322114699?aff=oddtdtcreator.

P&C Update

Student Representative Council Report

• Future leaders elected from Year 7 to 10, hooray!
• Upcoming SRC camp planned for the end of term, with Halloween as the first event next term.
• Year 11 executives focused on preliminary exams.

Secretary’s Report

• No conflicts of interest declared.
• Minutes from the previous meeting (13th August 2025) were accepted.

Principal’s Report

• Fort Street Foundation: Provides financial assistance and university bursaries for students. For those who are interested, details can be found on school website.
• School Musical: The Addams Family was a success, with P&C support and funding acknowledged.
• Pathways to Law Seminar: Attended by 90 Year 11 and 12 students, featuring legal professionals, including a former High Court Judge.
• Duke of Edinburgh Camp went smoothly in a true spirit of adventure in muddy conditions!

Facilities Updates:

• Valley remediation project scheduled for holidays.
• Toilet renovations expected during summer holidays.
• Canteen refurbishment needed, department support is expected, certain details uncertain at this stage.
• Library blinds ordered and to be installed soon. P & C will cover this once request approved.
• Library murals and signage under discussion.
• Front entrance landscaping project approved as a significant project.

Treasurer’s Report

• P&C funds are healthy
• Uniform pricing review underway to ensure consistent profit margins.
• Electronic payment facility being finalised for Flexischools app.

IMP Report – Poh Keng Goon

• Fort Street students well-represented in the In Concert event season.
• Upcoming Choir for Life event to support mental health charities.
• P&C funded musical instruments.
• Discussion on better managing shared kitchen stock between P&C and IMP. Elizabeth has offered to carry on discussions in next IMP meeting.

General Business

• Uniform Shop pricing review – more updates under way and it was agreed that clear, documented guidelines are need for future consistency.
• Year 7 WhatsApp/WeChat Groups: Groups will be set up for incoming families, with QR codes provided at orientation.
• Year 7 Orientation Morning Tea
• Uniform Shop Volunteers: Call for more parent volunteers to assist.
• Overseas Excursions: Discussion on IMP and language tours, with Principal agreeing to raise this with IMP and inquire with other schools about their tour organisations.

Membership Administration

• Current membership stands at 24 financial members.

Acknowledgement

• Ms. Ngo (Year 10 Maths/Year 11 Advanced and Extension Maths): Acknowledged for providing extra help sessions and extra papers.
• HSC Major Works Teachers (English, Art, Music, Drama): Acknowledged for their support and the phenomenal work produced by students.
• Ms Ngo: Acknowledged for providing extensive extra printed materials for students.

Next Meeting

Scheduled for Wednesday 12th November 2025 onsite and online