Principals Report

Dear Fortians, Parents and Carers, 

Teacher Appreciation Day 

The teachers would like to express their gratitude to the SRC for the delightful treats and baked goodies delivered to staffrooms last week for Teacher Appreciation day, this was very thoughtful and certainly enjoyed by the staff. 

Year 7 2023 and Year 10 Peer Support Leaders 

The year 6 orientation day was held on Tuesday of week 8. It was wonderful to be able to invite families and Year 7 2023 students for a welcome assembly and morning tea at the Fort. I would like to thank Kellorin Long and Diane Debreczeni along with all of the office staff and our Year 7 Adviser for 2023 Ms Lawson and Assistant Year Adviser Ms Nolan for bringing this day together. 

Year 8 Slum Survivor 

Approximately 130 year 8 students slept in cardboard slums on the school oval in week 8 in an effort to gain a better understanding and to develop empathy of homelessness in Australia and refugee camps across the world. Whilst the students may not have enjoyed the three times a day ‘hike’ to and around Petersham Park for water, washing clothes in buckets and eating lentils. plain rice and potatoes for dinner they certainly enjoyed their time with friends and participated fully in all of the engaging activities and challenges presented to them. I would like to thank Reverse Garbage and Christina Gilio from Vinnies Metro Education groups for spending time with Fortians throughout this valuable two-day program. A huge thank you also to those staff members who camped overnight to supervise our students – Mr Chapman, Mr Morrison, Ms Thompson, Mr Patulny, Mr Tennent, Mr Pagani and Ms Dooley. 

So far Year 8 have raised $647.07 for Vinnies. If you would like to donate to this cause please use the following link https://my.fundraise.vinniesnsw.org.au/vinnies-school-sleepouts/year-8-fort-street-2022-school-sleepout?tab=donations&utm_source=gr-notification&utm_campaign=DonationNotification&utm_medium=email 

Year 10 Connected Curriculum 

During the Year 10 Connected curriculum week students explored a range of topics related to the theme of sustainability. The event also provided students with an opportunity to reward the multiple skills and attributes required in Cross Curricular Project-Based Learning situations. Students were supported with time and explicit instruction to help them create a short project piece which explored sustainability in their world. Students also benefited from the development of their soft skills in teamwork, inquiry and communication.  

Throughout the week students engaged with a range of guest speakers and authentic audiences to produce their final work. The speakers included Craig Reucassel (ABC), Craig Wilson (Ausgrid), Fahimah Badrulhisham (ARRCC), Beyhad Jafari (Council of Electric Vehicles) and Jean Hinchcliff (Fortian 2020, Student Climate Strike organiser 2019). Small group presentations were also given on media skills by Robyn Williams (The Science Show, ABC Radio National), business development by Jeanne-Vida Douglas (author and freelance journalist), regenerative design by Caroline Pidcock (architect and a prominent advocate for sustainable development), political art and performance by Abdul Abdullah (multi-disciplinary artist) and community and workplace sustainability by Lai Heng Foong (Emergency Physician, Chair of the Public Health and Disaster Committee, Conjoint Lecturer). 

I would like to thank Ms Maddox and her team, Ms Xu, Mr Latimer and Mr McMahon for their organisation and planning for this event. 

Congratulations 

The Silver Duke of Edinburgh Qualifying Hike was completed by twelve students in week 8, term 4. This is a great achievement and I would like to congratulate Natalie Mestre, Lucie Atkin Bolton, Tahlia Proctor, Brianna Dann, Anne Sophie Hegie, Jehanzeb Qureshi, Jacob Butler, Henry Daniels, Daniel Cao, Calan O’Dwyer, Gordan Yuan and Sam Hubbard for their huge efforts. These opportunities would not exist without the goodwill of our fantastic staff who give up so much of their time away from their own families and friends. I know that this group appreciated the time given by Ms Thompson, Ms Fluitsma and Mr O’Neill for this particular trip. 

The annual Schools Spectacular 2022 was held on Friday 25 and Saturday 26 November at the Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Olympic Park. This is the highest profile performing arts event for the NSW Department of Education and as always Fortians represented across many areas this year. Ando Harrison and Caleb Mayo represented Fort Street in the Core Choir.  Thirteen students Esther Alex, Yr 11, Yan Jun Chen – Yr 8, Sebastian Kameron – Yr 7, Jasper Kameron – Yr 9, Umasuthan Kuganathan – Yr 8, Miranda Leighton – Yr 8, Anne Liu – Yr 7, Lucinda Man – Yr 7, Akshaya Rameshbabu – Yr 9, Melody Rivard-Hyde – Yr 9, Ivy Singh – Yr 8, Maya Te – Yr 8 and Matthew Yong – Yr 8 represented in the Combined Choir.  

 In the Orchestra and Stage Band Tijana Jovic, Sascha Bakker, Cadence Ing, Carla Miers, Maya Taib all from Year 12 2022 along with Rhys Miers in Year 10 represented in the Orchestra and Stage Band. If you missed this and would like to still see the show it will be screened by Channel 7 Saturday 17 December. 

Divyan Gnanasivam Year 7 – who came second in the Junior Division of the UN Voice NSW Public Speaking Finals last Friday. The competition started with 156 participants across both divisions this year, culminating in 16 speakers at the Finals. This is a significant achievement for Divyan, congratulations! 

Coming Up 

IMP Summer Concert – Sunday December 11

Year 10 History Dance – Wednesday December 14 

Kennedy Cup Picnic Day – Thursday December 15. This event will be for all students in Joshi House. Travel will be by hired coach to Barangaroo Park in the city, where a pizza lunch will be provided and students will participate in activities organised by the Joshi House Captains. 

SRC End of Year Party – Thursday December 15 from 5pm – 8pm. Students must be picked up promptly at the end of this event. For more information contact Mr Morrison or Mr Galvin. 

School Talent Quest – Friday December 16 all entries must be submitted to the SRC by Tuesday December 13 

HSC Results Breakfast – Year 12 2022 are invited into the school to share and celebrate their HSC results.  

Staff Farewells 

This time of year when we say goodbye to dedicated and hard working staff at the Fort is always sad. Some members of staff will be taking a year break from the Fort to pursue other endeavours. These staff members include: 

Ms Clare Cotton (PDHPE), Mr Priyantha Jayakody (Technology), Ms Jean Kidd (Senior Psychologist, Education), Mr Brian Webb (HT Science), Mr Josh Wilkinson (Mathematics) and Ms Jenny Xu (English and Social Science). 

Staff who are retiring or leaving permanently this year include: 

Mr Paul Barton (Mathematics), Mr John de Bres (History), Ms Denise Sloss (Reception) and Ms Li Wang (Chinese Teaching assistant). 

I would like to wish these staff members all the best in their year away from the Fort or in their lives beyond the Fort. You will each be deeply missed by students, staff and parents. 

Term Dates

Although this is the final edition of Mercurius for 2022, I will be publishing the HSC results on the school website by Tuesday December 20. I would like to take this opportunity to wish all Fortians and their families a wonderful and restful summer holiday period. 

Ron Horan Museum wins for 20 Fortians that Shaped the Nation at the 2022 IMAGinE awards

Ron Horan Museum won the award for 20 Fortians that Shaped the Nation in the Exhibition projects category.

As one of only a few museums dedicated to the notable contributions of public education in New South Wales, 20 Fortians that Shaped the Nation highlighted 20 Fort Street school alumni and how they influenced the country. Among them are significant athletes, judges, politicians, writers, performers, doctors, explorers, mathematicians, scientists, activists, and artists. The exhibition included items from the archive not often seen, including correspondence from the Governor General, The Right Honourable Sir John Kerr, original artwork by Margaret Preston and first edition published research of the 1911-1914 Australian Antarctic Expedition by Sir Douglas Mawson.

The Exhibitions Award recognises excellence and innovation in museum and heritage exhibition practice, such as permanent or temporary exhibitions, exhibition design, exhibition publications and resources, and exhibition partnerships.

The IMAGinE awards recognise the people who work in museums and galleries across NSW and the contributions they make. IMAGinE celebrates all institutions and pays homage to those organisations run by volunteers, with limited budgets and minimal resources. These awards offer a unique opportunity for museums and galleries in NSW to advocate, promote their achievements and raise their profile within the sector and the broader community.

National History Challenge Winners

This year the Year 9 Elective History class entered the National History Challenge. The theme for the year was “Causes and Consequences”.

Students were given the opportunity to research the causes and consequences of any event in history. Their presentation could be in the format of an essay, a video, or any other type of display. Lily Vujovic’s documentary on the Flapper movement in the 1920’s was a State Finalist.

Abigail Ouw’s documentary on the Port Arthur Massacre won both the State competition and the National competition. Abigail was rewarded with a trip to Canberra to receive her award with the other National winners. Congratulations to these two very talented historians.

Fortian wins Gold

Congratulations to Vlada Vasiliev (Year 10) who secured first place at National Figure Skating Competitions in Brisbane, performing in the Senior Woman category.

It was a really tough competition with a fantastic win and a result of the tremendous effort and practice Vlada has put into the sport.

Heart Warming Success for Fortian Artists

Rhys Miers and Chloe Yongqing Zheng, Year 10 Visual Arts students, have reached new heights as young artists.

Rhys Miers entered his Lino cut with hand-coloured details of the Mungo Scott building in Summer Hill and gained a Highly Commended as well as the Sponsor’s Pick in the people’s choice segment. He also sold the work.

Rhys Miers (Year 10) created this photographic artwork, which was also selected and featured in the Greenway Prize.

Chloe Yongqing Zheng  (Year 10) entered this artwork titled Greenery Explosion (watercolour and coloured pencil on paper) in the Greenway Art Prize and was awarded a ‘Highly Recommended’ award. Her work was also awarded another prize by ArtEst, Leichhardt with a voucher for an art workshop. This work is currently on exhibit at ‘Greenway At Home’ at Art Est in Leichhardt.

Chloe also entered this watercolour on paper artwork titled Contemplation in the M16 Young Drawer’s Prize is one of the finalists for the Prize, winners will be announced in December. We wish her every success with this wonderful portrait of her mother.

Chloe also entered two more art competitions, the art below is a self portrait as an artist, in the NSW Children’s Week Art Competition and was awarded 3^rd Place in the age category of 12-18.

The second artwork below, another self- portrait as artist, Chloe entered in Little Darlings 2023 at the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra and she has been selected as a Finalist for this competition.

Amazing artworks and amazing results for Rhys and Chloe. Congratulations.

Ms Starr – a very proud Visual Arts teacher.

Year 8 Slum Survivor

As part of their cross-curricular activity, “Slum Survivor,” year 8 students slept out on the school oval in cardboard constructions on Thursday night. The students were placed in three groups named after three of the world’s largest urban slums: Dharavi in Mumbai, India; Orangi in Karachi, Pakistan; and Kibera in Nairobi, Kenya. They then completed a variety of activities over two days designed to help them understand, in a very small way, how some of the world’s poorest people live.

Students then engaged in activities to build their empathy, teamwork, creativity, problem-solving skills, and resilience. They used recycled material to make a toy, musical instrument, or home decorations. They worked in groups to learn a dance. They washed clothes, peeled potatoes, walked for water, and learned about the problems associated with global inequality. The event also had a guest speaker from St. Vincent de Paul, who spoke about the causes of homelessness in Australia and the charity’s work.

The main activity was the sleepout, which required the students to build their own sleeping accommodations from cardboard on the school oval. Designs ranged from a single piece of cardboard on the ground to well-engineered deluxe lodgings with cling-wrap windows. It was wonderful to see the positive way each student undertook the activities and their desire to understand the important social issues of homelessness and global inequality.

A Year 8 fundraising page has been set up to support Vinnies and the wonderful work they do in Australia to combat homelessness.If you would like to donate, the fundraising page can be found here. https://my.fundraise.vinniesnsw.org.au/vinnies-school-sleepouts/year-8-fort-street-2022-school-sleepout

Mr Chapman

SRC Report and upcoming events

Hi everyone! The SRC are pleased to announce our two final events for this year – the End-of-Year Party and the SRC Talent Quest!

The End-of-Year Party is a new event on Thursday Week 10 from 5pm-8pm, at school. It will be heaps of fun, and includes student-run stalls, such as boba, baked goods and raffles, as well as exciting music, and free pizza from the SRC! Tickets are only $6, and they’re selling fast, so come down to the Kilgour Quad at lunch or recess to secure your spot! 

The SRC Talent Quest will be held on Friday Week 10 during periods 3 and 4. Look out for a range of amazing student acts, both in-person and by video. Every participant receives a free donut from the SRC, and there are spectacular monetary prizes to be won! 

Look out for the Clubs and Committees Day on Friday Week 2, Term 1, as it will be a great opportunity to investigate all the fantastic clubs and committees we have! 

Particularly look out for the relaunch of the Diversity Committee, and the new Reconciliation Group (please sign up to that here, to work towards greater recognition and justice for First Nations’ People: Reconciliation Group Sign Up). The SRC looks forward to working with all our clubs and committees throughout the next year! 

We are always excited to hear from you! Please contact the SRC via our email, srcfshs@gmail.com, our Instagram @fshssrc, by approaching any of your friendly SRC members, or come along to our meetings at Monday lunch in the Staff Common Room!

Kalanie Prabhakar

SRC President 2022-23

Year 7 Charity Committee Cake stall

The Year 7 Charity Committee ran what might have been the largest cake stall in recent years during week 8. They would like to thank Year 7 families who generously contributed to the stall. Great fun was had promoting and running the stall which resulted in raising a total of $750, all of which will be donated to the Blue Dragon Foundation which supports underprivileged children in Vietnam.

Learn more about the Blue Dragon Foundation here https://www.bluedragon.org/

Final P&C Meeting of 2023

Parents and Carers are invited to join us for the last P&C meeting of 2023.

The P&C meeting will be at Wests Ashfield Leagues Club (The Garden )  Wednesday December 14 at 6.30pm.

The meeting will start at 7:30pm, but please feel free to arrive earlier if you would like to enjoy dinner and some social time. Wests Ashfield Leagues Club is an informal relaxed setting for the final P&C meeting of the year.

This event is only for people over the age of 18.

Please RSVP to  if you would like to attend to ensure we have booked a big enough area. RSVP to fortstreethighschool@pandcaffiliate.org.au