Principal’s Report

Dear Fortians, Parents and Carers, 

Term 2 has been another bustling and productive term, culminating in the spectacular mid-year IMP concert. I would like to extend my gratitude to Matt Manchester for once again orchestrating a marvellous evening filled with music and entertainment. A special thanks also goes to our dedicated parent volunteers, whose generosity and effort in managing the dinner and dessert stalls added a delightful touch to the event. 

The concert kicked off with a captivating performance of Eric Whitacre’s “Godzilla Eats Las Vegas.” This lively and imaginative piece was complemented by an entertaining video of stock imagery, which visually narrated the story for the audience, enhancing the overall experience. The combination of music and visuals created a dynamic and engaging opening that set the tone for a memorable night. Additionally, we bid a fond farewell to our Year 12 students, thanking them for their invaluable contributions to the program over the past six years.  

Thank to you our wonderful directors and conductors of ensembles for their leadership of our musicians; Matt, John Ockwell, Alex Pringle, Ray Cassar, Martin Hyland, Rafael Karlen, Emily Irvine and Katie Robinson (accompanist). We extend our gratitude to Stuart Vangergraff for stepping in to lead our jazz groups on the night, and to Ashley Wray for her backstage organisation, ensuring everything ran smoothly. 

Student Participation 

Student participation in co-curricular activities is highlighted on the front cover of academic reports, emphasising its importance in overall student development. As Semester 2 approaches, it’s an excellent opportunity for students who are not yet involved to join these activities, which offer numerous benefits and align with the Fort Street High School ethos. Participation fosters personal growth, teamwork, leadership skills, and a sense of community, all of which are key components of our exit profile. Engaging in co-curricular programs enhances students’ academic and social experiences, providing opportunities to explore new interests and develop talents beyond the classroom. Additionally, involvement in school activities can support university entry, scholarship applications, and future career opportunities. These activities also help build resilience, time management, and communication skills, preparing students for future success. It’s not too late to join, and we encourage all students to take advantage of these enriching opportunities. Fort Street offers a wide range of programs that can be found here on the school website. 

Lost Property 

Every day, several items are left around the school, especially in the gym after sports activities. Many of these items, such as jumpers, jackets, hats, drink bottles, shoes, umbrellas, and pencil cases, do not have names on them, making it difficult to return them to their rightful owners. We kindly remind parents to label their child’s uniform and belongings to ensure they can be promptly returned. With uniforms being a significant expense, this simple step can save time and money. Students are encouraged to visit the front office to check for any lost items and reclaim their belongings. 

Subject Selection 

Subject selection time is approaching for Year 8 and Year 10 students. Over the coming month, students will be making important decisions about their courses. The Year 8 information night will coincide with the parent-teacher interviews, while Year 10 students will have their session in the first week of next term. It is crucial for students and parents to read the provided information carefully to understand what each subject entails. Students should base their selections on their interests and strengths, rather than on what their friends are choosing or their assumptions about the teachers. Academic reports will provide valuable feedback, with teacher comments offering guidance on areas for improvement in Semester 2. This feedback should be carefully considered to make informed decisions about subject choices. 

Finally, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the entire school community for their support during my time as relieving principal. It has been an immensely rewarding experience, and I have thoroughly enjoyed working in this role. There have been many highlights over the last three terms, including farewelling and welcoming back our students from the IMP tour and collaborating with the SRC executive on the Future Leaders Conference. I will be returning to my substantive position as Deputy Principal, enriched with a wealth of experiences. I would also like to express my gratitude to Dr. Sherwin, who has relieved as Deputy Principal during this time. He quickly forged strong connections with the students and has been a wonderful addition to the executive and senior executive teams. Mr. Sherwin will be returning to his teaching role in the Social Science department, and we are grateful for his contributions. From the start of term, we welcome back Ms. McMurray from her secondment at Randwick High School. I know she is just as excited to return as are we to welcome her back. I would also like to wish all Fortians and their families a safe and healthy holiday break and look forward to seeing everyone back in Term 3. 

Upcoming events in Term 3: 

Tuesday 23 July: Return to school Term 3 for all students. 

Monday 22 July – Friday 26 July: Junior State Music Camp 

Thursday 25 July: Year 10 Subject Selection Evening, 6.30pm School Hall 

Monday 29 & Tuesday 30 July: Regional Athletics Carnival 

Monday 29 July to Friday 9 August: Year 12 Trial HSC Exams, weeks 2 & 3 

Wednesday 7 July to Friday 9 July: Year 9 Duke of Edinburgh Camp 

Friday 2 August: Second-hand Uniform Stall 

Monday 12 August & Tuesday 13 August: Year 11 Geography Fieldwork Excursion 

Wednesday 14th August: P&C Meeting  

Student Sporting Achievements

Zone Athletics 

Zone Athletics took place on Wednesday June 19th. We had a strong team with over 70 students competing on behalf of Fort street. Our students  exceeded expectations, achieving outstanding results in both track and field. We had several age champions including Sophie Kelly 15 years girls, Sofiah D’Haeveloose 14 years girls and Reuben Winkler 13 years boys.  

In track events Alfred Zhou took out first place in both the 100m and 200m as did Sofiah D’Haeveloose and Jun Min Yap. Our success continued on the field with a number of students placing first in their field events, including Venus Li and Darwin Chan who came first in the Long Jump. Our strength was on show with Pranaya Prasath (Javelin), Loic Chiang (Discus), Benjamin Doumit, Ethan Luu and Roger Luo (Shot Put) all topping their throwing events. Finally, our 4x100m relay teams looked as fast as ever, with the Boys 12s, 13s, 14s, 15s and Girls 14s, 15s coming Top 2, qualifying themselves for the Regional Athletics Carnival. 

A big shoutout to Sofiah D’Haeveloose who broke the Girls 13 years 100M Sydney North record in a time of 14.02, and the Boys 13 years 4x100M Relay Team (Jun Min Yap, Kayvis Lan, Victor Feng & Benjamin Doumit) who did the same in a time of 52.66. Overall we placed a very close second, out of seven schools. All students who participated are to be congratulated on an outstanding effort.  

Zone Cross Country 

On the 17th of May, the annual Zone Cross Country was held at the Macquarie University Sports Oval. We had over 100 Fort Street students participate in this carnival, competing against the best from other schools in our Zone. Fortians produced excellent results across all the age groups, putting us through as the best performing school at 434 points, over 100 points clear of 2nd place.  

Individually, we had 30 students place in the Top 10 in their race, qualifying them for the Sydney North Regional Cross Country Carnival. A big congratulations to the following who came 1st and were awarded Zone Age Champion. 

Miles Elliott (13 Years Boys) 

Ashleigh Pitzing (13 Years Girls) 

Harrison Ma (14 Years Boys) 

Akira Howard (15 Years Boys) 

Calan O’ Dwyer (18 Years Boys)  

Thank You to Mr Gaal and Jasmine Loh (2023 Graduate) for helping out on the day and making the carnival run smoothly! Congratulations to all our students, and a big good luck to those going to the Regional Cross Country Carnival later in this term! 

Regional Cross Country 

The 2024 Sydney North Regional Cross Country Carnival took place on the 21st of June at Wyong Race Club. As a result of their outstanding efforts in the Zone Cross Country, we had the following 23 Fortians participating. 

A big congratulations to Reuben Winkler (3rd, 13 Years Boys) and Miles Elliott (6th, 13 Years Boys) who placed in the Top 10, qualifying for the NSWCHSSA Cross Country Championships in Term 3. 

German HSC Speaking Day Excursion and Farewell to Frau Hunger

On Tuesday 25 June, the Year 12 German class participated in the HSC Speaking Day at the Goethe Institut. A yearly event, the day provides students from schools all over Sydney the opportunity to meet and practise their speaking skills in preparation for their HSC oral exams.

The students participated in three workshops designed by the accompanying teachers to get students communicating as much as possible. There were also special sessions for German Extension students concentrating on the prescribed novel and themes. The event culminated in a fun “speed-dating” session in which students asked and answered HSC-style questions in pairs, each conversation lasting just a few minutes before students greeted the next person and started a new conversation.

Afterwards, Fort Street students visited a near-by German cafe and enjoyed specialties such as Apfelstrudel and Currywurst.  

I also want to take this opportunity to thank and farewell Katrin Hunger, an assistant teacher who has been working with the German classes since March. During her time at Fort Street she helped out in classes, practised conversation with students and even taught some lessons. With her positive and engaged attitude, she developed a great rapport with all classes. We will miss her greatly and wish her all the best with her future studies and her career as a primary school teacher. 

Kristina Reynolds

German teacher

School Debating Update

The Premier’s Debating Challenge is in full swing in Term 2 with Fort Street having some strong and convincing victories in the competition. Firstly, a big congratulations to our Year 11 and 12 Debating Team who have made it through to Round 6 with some big wins over some top tier opposition. The team consists of Johnathan Bonnice (Year 12), Min Park (Year 11), Ella Lo (Year 11), Gina Hong (Year 11) and Toby Smith (Year 11). We wish you all the best luck for your next debate against Penrith High School.

The Junior debating season has already started with Years 7, 8, 9 and 10 completing their first round of the Premier’s Debating Competition. The Year 9 and 10 debate saw a crowd of excited Year 7 and 8 students eager to see how their peers engage in verbal combat. The combined Year 9 and 10 A team defeated the Year 9 B team in a hotly contested debate. The following week in a packed out Auditorium the Year 8 team narrowly defeated the Year 7 team in a tightly fought contest.

The junior teams all move on to their second and third round debates against Tempe High School, Marrickville High School and Sydney Tech High School.

Mr Tennent

Debating Coordinator

Chess Success

This season of round-robin Chess has completed and our students have done incredibly well.

Fort Street Intermediate A team has won their division and will move on to the metropolitan finals as the #2 seed (26.5 points out of a possible 28) and Fort Street Junior A will move on to the metropolitan finals tied for the 1 seed (25.5 points out of a possible 28).

This puts our players amongst the very best in the region with our formidable board ones, Oliver Williams and Parthiv Prithvi, going undefeated in their games.

Our all girls Junior Team also completed their inaugural season with a winning record, winning four of their seven matches.

With 9 teams and over 50 players participating, it’s one of if not the biggest collective teams in the state and all of the students did sensationally with several of our teams finishing in the top 2 or 3 in their division.

A big thank you to the many members of staff who have made our regular hosting events a success. Roll on the finals.

Senior Drama Production by Owen Druery

Fort Street Student Shines at the Music Viva Competition

A huge congratulation to Fort Street’s brilliant cellist, Clara Moloney, who will be performing in the Musica Viva ‘Strike a Chord’ Competition Grand Finals in Melbourne in August 2024. Along with three fellow students from the Sydney Conservatorium Rising Stars program, their Lumina Quartet is one of just 12 groups from around Australia who have been selected to progress to the Grand Final from a record 155 groups who applied this year.  

Fort Street’s Sax Quartet won the inaugural Strike a Chord competition back in 2020 and commissioned a piece by IMP Alumnus Carlo Antonioli, who has worked with many of Australia’s major orchestras including Assistant Conductor of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.  

Best of luck to Clara and Lumina Quartet! 

Fort Street Winter Concert 2024 

The Winter IMP Concert, held on Friday 28th of June 2024, was a huge success with stellar performances all-round.  

The Wind Ensemble opened with the brilliant and technically challenging ‘Godzilla Eats Las Vegas’ (composed by Eric Whitacre) complete with hilarious video montage, and the Big Band followed with Edgar Sampson’s ‘Stomping at the Savoy’. The Wind Orchestra entertained the huge audience with ‘Encanto’, composed by Robert W Smith, and the Jazz Orchestra had us tapping along to two numbers – ‘My Foolish Heart’ by Victor Young and ‘The Puffy Taco’ by Victor Lopez. The Concert Band showcased ‘Gadget’ composed by Randall Standridge. To round out the first half, the Junior Percussion Ensemble performed Sweet Rio by Arthur Lipner, the Training Band demonstrated how far they had progressed with Hot Apple Pie & the oldie, Ayers Rock, and the Senior Percussion Ensemble amazed us with the technically difficult ‘Ellipsis’ by Nathan Doughtrey.  

Before interval, each of the outgoing year 12 IMP students was honoured for their participation and services the program. We look forward to seeing them go on to achieve great things.  

The second half of the program included stunning vocal performances by the Chamber Choir – ‘Esto les Digo’ composed by Kinley Lange, and ‘O Pastor’ composed by Madredeus and arranged by Alex Pringle – and the Vocal Ensemble, who performed ‘Gloria’ movement 3 by John Rutter and ‘Matilda Medley’ by Tim Minchin. Following that, the Philharmonic Orchestra dazzled the audience with ‘Overture to Meistersingers of Nurnberg’ composed by Richard Wagner. To finish a musically diverse and inspiring evening, the Jazz Ensemble performed ‘Sycamore’ by Dave Douglas and the Symphony Orchestra showcased ‘The Sea’s Son’, composed by Fortian Edmund Huang, and the Finale from Beethoven’s ‘Symphony No. 5’. 

Many thanks to the conductors for their hard work with the IMP Ensembles during term 1 & 2, including Matthew Manchester, John Ockwell, Alex Pringle, Emily Irvine, Martin Highland, Rafael Karlen, and Stuart Vandegraaff, as well as the amazing accompanist, Katie Richardson. The evening could not have happened without the collaboration and efforts of IMP Coordinator and Director of Bands, Matthew Manchester, as well as Fort Street staff and teachers, the hard-working IMP Committee, parent volunteers, families and, most importantly, the students.  

Amelia’s Work Experience report

It is said that we will spend approximately one third of our lives working, and I am sure most of us have spent untold hours imagining what that future career might be, and how we will get there. In my case, I have always been committed to the sciences but exactly how to translate interest into a career isn’t straightforward. My primary passion is medicine but, even then, dozens of careers come to mind, not just being a doctor. So, to aid my search for clarity on what HSC subjects, university courses or ultimate career paths I should follow, I looked to work experience.  

A common concern with finding work experience is that you must know someone in the workplace, but that is not true. While it may be a little more difficult to find someone who is willing, it’s certainly not impossible. Over the past year, I have self-negotiated three work experience placements, each giving me exposure to different potential career paths, and each in turn helping refine my career planning.  

First, I spent a week last year at the Charles Perkins Institute at the University of Sydney, working with a senior research fellow and Head of Clinical Resources to explore various areas of medical research. From that, I confirmed my interest medical research and, more specifically, cardiology, but found that I desired more patient focused work.   

Later that year, I was able to explore cardiology in a hospital context and spent a week in the Cardiac Care Unit of the Prince of Wales Hospital. In addition to attending patient rounds with doctors from the Eastern Heart Clinic, I spent numerous hours in the Cardiac Catheterisation Lab and with the Cardiothoracic Surgery team. There I confirmed my preference for patient facing hospital-based medicine, but also discovered a strong interest in surgery. I got to develop my skills in patient interaction and observe many very interesting procedures, including open heart surgery! 

More recently, I got to spend a week seeing a very different kind of hospital medicine at Orange Base Hospital. This hospital is one of only two major hospitals to service the entire Central West of NSW, an area the size of the United Kingdom. Living in a village of 760 people 6 hours away from Sydney, I spent my time between the oncology and rural emergency departments.  

In oncology, I got to see both the short- and long-term management of patients with conditions such as acute and chronic Leukemias, lung cancer, and brain cancer. Each day I was in the hospital for early morning clinics, seeing the personal realities of the patients, and through that, the less glamourous side of being a doctor.  

In rural emergency, patients would come from up to 14 hours away to seek emergency medical care, a sad reality for the nearly 40% of NSW residents living in rural areas. The emergency department was extremely fast paced and hectic, with patients coming in with a wide range of injuries and illnesses. I got to speak to patients, take histories, and work with the specialist medical teams as they would diagnose, treat, and manage the patients who came in.  

My experience in both departments cemented not only my desire to pursue medicine but also to commit to service these understaffed and underequipped hospitals in regional and rural Australia. 

I am also very excited to have been selected for the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation’s Women in STEM program, during which I will spend a week at the nuclear reactor at Lucas Heights. A once in a lifetime experience, I am greatly looking forward to! 

Work experience may not be mandatory, but I cannot stress more highly the value of putting the time and effort into doing it. If nothing else, it has helped me to feel confident, assured, and engaged, as I head into senior high school, that the subject and university choices I am making are the right ones to put me on the path to my career goals.   

If you decide to do work experience, it may feel difficult to know where to start but you don’t have to do it all by yourself. You have the backing of the career advisor, Ms Salisbury, and the school. I have been very fortunate to get these opportunities, but it wasn’t without time, effort, paperwork, and plenty of rejections.  

1: Decide your area of interest and make a long list of organisations that could provide the type of experience you are after. You may send 30 requests and get only one positive response, so be prepared for rejections, but you only need one to say yes. Once you have created a list, have a chat to Ms Salisbury who can help you formulate your approach. 

2: Be prepared to jump plenty of hoops. Many organisations will require lots of paperwork, but again this is where Ms Salisbury can be of help. Remember that the school is here to support you, and the outcome is very much so worth the effort.  

3: Don’t be embarrassed to use personal connections or networks. My Cardiology placement came from a connection I made when I introduced myself to the director of the Cardiac Care Unit at a UNSW lecture, where he was on a discussion panel. It was worth it! 

Good luck! 

Amelia Khoury 

SPECIAL REPORT: Celebrating NAIDOC Week

NAIDOC week celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It is celebrated by all Australians and is a great opportunity to recognise and learn more about the history and culture of indigenous communities.

NAIDOC stands for National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee. Its origins can be traced back to the Aboriginal rights movement, when on Australia Day 1938, protestors marched through the streets of Sydney to highlight the status and treatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. Today, it is a week-long celebration held in July that consists of range of traditional and contemporary activities.

NAIDOC Week is an important event that helps build positive relationships between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people. It enables a deeper understanding of our differences and similarities. NAIDOC week is an opportunity for all Australians to eliminate bias and discrimination by reflecting and reconciling the wrongs of the past to facilitate hope and build a fairer future. Families are encouraged to join in and support young people in learning the significance of NAIDOC Week.

This Special Report offers suggestions on how families can celebrate NAIDOC Week together. We hope you take a moment to reflect on the information offered, and as always, we welcome your feedback. If this raises any concerns for you, a loved one or the wellbeing of your child, please seek medical or professional help.

Here is the link to your Special Report https://fortstreet.nsw.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-celebrating-naidoc-week

UNSW x National Science Week 2024

Careers Information

Are you looking for adventure? Seeking to broaden their horizons and challenge themselves outside the classroom? Interested in gaining international work experience and learn North American best practices? Canada is a fantastic first stepping stone into the real world and a gateway to global opportunities. It is safe, friendly and welcoming.

International Experience Canada (IEC) is a Government of Canada program that allows youth aged 18-35* from IEC’s over 30 partner countries/territories to work and travel in Canada for up to two years*. Whether it is to go on a gap year, working holiday, complete a co-op/ internship abroad, or gain international work experience after graduation, IEC can help make these experiences happen. 

A job offer isn’t required under the working holiday category and participants can work for any employer in Canada.

Benefits of a Gap Year: 98% of students who completed a gap year said it helped them develop as a person. 96% also said that it increased their maturity and self-confidence. 77% said that it helped them find their purpose in life. 90% of students who took a gap year returned to university within a year and 75% said it helped or will help them get a job¹.

Recognized Organizations (RO): RO’s are Canada-based organisations that help youth work and travel internationally through IEC. They can be non-profit, for profit or educational. Most charge a fee for their services, which may include finding a job, planning your travel or accommodations and helping in an emergency. The use of ROs is optional.

Job Bank: To find out what jobs are available, a good starting point is the Job Bank, which is run by the Government of Canada. Applicants can search thousands of jobs from employers all across Canada in various sectors and disciplines.

Ski Field Jobs: Perhaps students would like to trade their books for a pair of skis or snowboard next winter. ‘On snow’ work opportunities await at hundreds of Canadian ski areas. Jobs can be in a number of sectors, including hospitality, administration, retail and snow professions.

Tourism Jobs: Check the website for an interactive career map with exciting career opportunities in hospitality and tourism.

Testimonials:
“Moving to Canada was probably the biggest catalyst for personal growth that I’ve had in my adult life. I stopped looking outwards for advice and instead started using my own head, which is such a valuable tool that I would never have learnt had I not moved overseas and away from my support network.” – Virginia A.

“Working in Montreal was great for my career. The visual effects industry in Montreal was well established when I arrived; however, over the year I was there, it boomed and gave me a lot of experience that I would not have been able to get in Australia.” – Jonathon S.

Contact the Consulate General of Canada in Sydney, Australia at whpcanada.sydney@international.gc.ca:

• Queries on International Experience Canada
• Careers Expos, Presentations and Q&A sessions for students and parents (in person or online depending on capabilities)
• Presentations and round table discussions for Career Advisers (in person or online depending on capabilities)
• Brochures (electronic or hard copy)
• Moose keyrings or other giveaways for students and Career Advisers

* Eligibility criteria and duration of work permit and differs based on country of citizenship.

Thank you, and we wish you and your students all the best!

Kind regards,

Migration Section / Bureau de migration

whpcanada.sydney@international.gc.ca
Consulate General of Canada | Consulat général du Canada
Government of Canada | Gouvernement du Canada

Level 6, 111 Harrington Street / 6^e étage, 111 rue Harrington
Sydney NSW 2000
Australia | Australie

www.australia.gc.ca | www.australie.gc.ca

The Careers Advisers Association of NSW & ACT Incorporated (ABN 58 877 417 536) (“CAA”) does not guarantee or provide any representations or warranties in relation to the integrity, completeness, accuracy, fitness for purpose or suitability of the information set out in this email and does not review or endorse the information set out in this email. You shall accept sole responsibility associated with the use of the materials in this email and must make your own enquiries regarding the suitability and fitness for purpose of any information, scholarship, service, course and provider. This email may contain links to third party websites and CAA does not give any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability or completeness of information contained therein. Your use of this information is governed by CAA’s Website Terms of Use.

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