Principal’s Report

Dear Fortians, Parents and Carers,

May I take this opportunity to welcome you all to Term 2, which has already proven to be a busy, productive, exciting one here at the Fort.

I would like to firstly acknowledge the fact that I consider it an indescribably humbling privilege and honour to have the opportunity to relieve as Principal at Fort Street High School for Term 2, and have been made to feel very welcome by the staff, students and the members of the parent community who I have had the opportunity to meet.

Few places exemplify the pursuit of equity and excellence in the same way as Fort Street High School, and I have thoroughly enjoyed immersing myself in the day to day operations and many opportunities that are made available to our wonderful students here. This flourishing school occupies a unique and deservedly exalted place within the history of public education in NSW, producing so many exceptional Australians that have contributed to and shaped our society across innumerable fields and in many different ways. This would not be possible without the exceptional work of the incredible teaching staff, individually and collectively, every single day. In my quest to introduce myself to as many Fortians as possible, I have visited a large number of classes and have been very impressed with the exceptional teaching and learning that I have seen, the high level of engagement and the positive relationships that are clearly evident.

As I noted previously, this Term has already been very busy, with many extracurricular activities, excursions and enrichment opportunities for students in amongst the rigorous cycle of teaching, learning and assessment. On Friday, Week 1 Fort Street High School, under Ms Wark’s exceptional leadership, meaningfully commemorated ANZAC Day. The commemoration assembly was led by student leaders who articulately explained the meaning of ANZAC, shared personal connections and honoured past Fortians who served. The Wind Ensemble, led by Kai H and Matthew Y, provided exquisite music to accompany the proceedings. I would like to acknowledge William S, Steph H, Avivi D and Yu W for leading the school community through the assembly and Hannah S, for leading the Ode and Yevin J for the bugle.

We have also had our annual Cross Country and Athletics Carnivals, which were well attended by Fortians- as both competitors and spectators and brilliantly organised by Mr Feng. Highlights of these two events will be celebrated in an article within this issue.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my weekly meetings with the SRC Executive and have been working closely with them as they prepare for the Future Leader’s Conference which is taking place on Friday, 22nd May. The Future Leaders Conference 2026, which is in its third year, is an inter-school educational and leadership event that the SRC will be hosting at Fort Street High School. The theme this year is “Strong Minds, Strong Leaders”, and focuses on the mental battles and challenges leaders have endured, emphasised by a practical mindset, adapting to an evolving world. Through the Conference, The SRC are aiming to support young leaders in building their confidence, empowering them with strong mental habits and supporting them towards positive change for the future while having the opportunity to build and strengthen connections and network with like-minded young people. This event will be attended by 350 student leaders from public schools across Greater Sydney and Newcastle. I have been incredibly impressed with the attention to detail, thoughtfulness and leadership shown by the SRC Executive as they have planned this event and look forward to sharing reflections, stories and images from the Future Leader’s Conference in the next issue of the Mercurius. Very exceptional and inspiring work from Lucinda M, Ethan L, Jethro S-L, Beatrice S, Jane N, Tim W, Christopher A and Helen L.

Ms Deb Summerhayes, Deputy Secretary Public Schools, visited the Fort during Week 2 and spent some time with Lucinda M, Helen L and Jane N discussing the Future Leader’s Conference, leadership, and their plans for the future. We were so fortunate to be able to receive such sage advice and wisdom from Ms Summerhayes who is a very strong advocate for public education, student voice and agency and empowering leaders.

                                                 Mr O’Neill, Lucinda M, Ms Summerhayes, Helen L and Jane N

Fort Street High School successfully hosted over 400 Year 4 and 6 students who sat for the Opportunity Class Placement and Selective Schools tests over the course of the past two weeks. I would like to thank the staff who supported this important undertaking; their diligence, professionalism and care ensured that all young people and their families had a positive experience of public education in what is, undoubtedly, a trying situation.

I wish you all the very best for the rest of the Term and I look forward to meeting, supporting and working with you over the coming weeks.

All the very best.

Josh O’Neill

Relieving Principal, Fort Street High School.

Upcoming Events 

Week 5 – week B

• Monday May 18 – Year 11 Museum Excursion
• Tuesday May 19 – UNSW Model United Nations Day
• Wednesday May 20 – Year 8 Geography Excursion
• Wednesday May 20 – Year 8 History Incursion
• Friday May 22 – SRC Future Leaders Conference

Week 6 – week A

• Monday May 25 – Year 7 Incursion
• Monday May 25 – Year 10 2026 Archibald Prize excursion
• Tuesday  May 27 -Year 7 Vaccinations
• Friday May 29 – Reconciliation Week assembly

Week 7 – week B

• Monday June 1 – History Competition
• Wednesday June 3 – In Concert
• Wednesday June 3 – Parliament of NSW School Leadership Program
• Friday June 5 – Years 10 and 11 German Film Excursion

Week 8 – week A

• Monday June 8 – King’s Birthday Public Holiday
• Tuesday June 9 – Year 12 Assessment block begins
• Friday June 12 – Sydney North Regional Cross Country

Visual Arts Report

Year 8 Visual Arts

Year 8 students have been learning about Cubism this semester and working on a unit called ‘Through the Window’. They started with observational drawings of the school ground and they then distorted to achieve a Cubist look. After this, they learnt about blending skills with watercolour and oil pastels and added this to their drawings in a harmonious colour scheme. Please enjoy the following artworks by Year 8 VA students: Pranaya Prakash, Sophie Siackhasone, Michael Zhao, Felix Le, Anya Ballu and Braden Chen.

Year 9 Visual Arts

Year 9 students have made some beautiful panoramic lino prints inspired by the Petersham suburbia. After we went on a photography tour around the local area, students collaged multiple photographs together, created a drawing, and then transferred this onto a lino block. Whilst the carving process was somewhat tedious for Year 9, it has been super high reward when they revealed their first prints. Please enjoy some finished prints by: Mia Ma, Richard Wang, Sophia Luong, Silas Vincent, Asher Zhu and Callum Goodwin. 

Ms Capel 

Photographic and Digital Media (PDM) Report

Over the last term Year 10 have been focusing on colour and light to produce a portfolio of work. They started the unit of work by photographing different coloured filtered torches onto scrunched foil, resulting in beautiful textured abstract pieces. We then explored ‘light painting’ in a dark room using nothing but glow sticks and a long exposure setting on the DSLR cameras. After this, students learnt about the photographer Richard Mosse who photographed the Democratic Republic of Congo and turned green war-torn landscapes into bright magenta photographs. Students then took their own photographs and used editing to achieve a similar effect. Please enjoy the following photographic pieces by a range of students in Year 10 PDM: Olivia H., Tobias B., Nina O., James W. and Nancy Z.

Ms Capel 

Culture Club

Year 9 History Excursion

The year 9 history excursion was an exceptional experience for students. The ANZAC Memorial in Hyde Park, which opened in 1934, represents the sacrifice, courage, and endurance of Australian service men and women. The memorial itself was beautifully constructed, with features such as the statue in the hall of silence articulating the loss of ANZAC life in physical form, and the thousands of stars on the roof representing many of the lives lost in battle.

The excursion was guided by talented individuals who brought students on a tour through the war memorial. A live enactment of Morris Gleitzman’s story “Loyal Creatures” was performed by one of the guides, along with a dramatic enact/reading of a couple of the multitudes of letters sent home from nurses and soldiers in WWI. The plays expressed the weight of the war well, building a sense of connection between both person and story.

Overall the excursion was a great success, highlighting the deep loss and toll many war campaigns have had on ANZAC soldiers and their families, while providing a great learning and reflection opportunity for students.

Will, Year 9

Theatre Sports Update

Our intermediate team represented Fort Street in the TheatreSports Schools Competition on Thursday 15th May in their division heat at Tara Anglican School for Girls. There was fierce competition: teams from all over Sydney competing for a spot in the state semi-final. Unfortunately, Fort Street missed out on making it to the next round by a single place, but they should hold their heads high.

For those of you who haven’t seen TheatreSports before, it is a form of improvisational comedy where everything is made up on the spot. That’s right: no scripts, no rehearsals. One, two and three minutes scenes are improvised. The teams don’t even know the topic or title in advance (which is given five seconds before the scene starts).

Our team started with an “I Love You” scene, before hitting their stride with an “Entrances and Exits” scene. They wowed the crowd with an open scene set in an aquarium where the judges praised them for the quality of their ideas and for “being one with the sharks”. Aliya’s emotive characters, Sam’s fast yields and Will’s physicalisation of key moments were what made them a good team, but what made them a great team was their positive and supportive attitude with each other and their interschool competitors.

A big congratulations to Aliya Chaitow, Sam Hao and Will Short

Mr Reveleigh

Earth & Environmental Science Excursion

Year 11 EES Excursion – Australian Museum

On Wednesday 1 April (Week 10, Term 1), Year 11 Earth and Environmental Science students attended an excursion to the Australian Museum to support their study of Earth’s Resources.

Students participated in a two-hour workshop led by a museum educator, working within the Burra learning space and Minerals Gallery. The program provided valuable hands-on experiences, including identifying and classifying rock and mineral samples, investigating First Nations Peoples’ use of geological resources, and analysing the significance of renewable and non-renewable resources.

The Minerals Gallery was a highlight of the day, with students demonstrating high levels of engagement as they explored the extensive collection and applied their classroom knowledge to real-world specimens. The activities supported key syllabus outcomes, particularly in collecting and analysing data, and deepening understanding of Earth’s interconnected systems.

I commend the students for representing themselves and the school so positively throughout the excursion. I think them for a positive and memorable day.

Year 10 students with an interest in Earth systems, resources, and fieldwork are strongly encouraged to consider Earth and Environmental Science as a subject choice in 2027.

House Relics Backstory Competition

• A Calculator with attitude
• A man named Fortimus Street who finds a valuable icepick
• A paintbrush which creativity itself flows  through the bristles
• A spiteful megaphone
• A girl who wanted to shake (and Sheikh) the world with her voice
• A gavel that when struck reminds us that justice should always be pursued with wisdom
• A humble blacksmith uses metal recovered from a blazing meteor to forge a gavel

Leadership Forum

Debating Update

Premier’s Debating Challenge (Year 11, Round 2)

In Week 10 Term 1, I had the privilege of acting as the timekeeper for the Year 11’s Round 2 Premier’s Debate, against Hurlstone Park Agricultural Highschool.

Fort Street argued that athletes should be faced with a lifetime ban from their sport, if found guilty of serious crimes, which of course was defined more specifically within the debate, and Hurlstone arguing for the counterpart.

Within it, I observed sophistication and passion from both school’s speakers, which was not lost, even through the occasional glitchy audio, and technical issues of zoom.

As I silently watched and took notes, potentially through bias, I was very persuaded by our team’s arguments. I found them convincing and well put together in response to the opposing team’s case.

I was disappointed when adjudication came around and Fort Street unfortunately lost the debate, but our team put forward excellent arguments.

Overall, the experience was incredibly enlightening, and also exposed me to the jump in levels of articulation, structure, and content found within senior debating. I will definitely be taking some notes down for myself, and my team to learn from.

by Emma Wang, Year 10

On Monday 11th May, our senior debating team went up against Casula High School in the Premier’s Debating Challenge competition. The topic of the debate was: “That university athletes should be paid.”

Our team argued on the basis that scholarships were already available, that other subjects (such as STEM and the Arts) should be prioritised, and that not all student athletes would become professionals in the future. On the other hand, Casula argued that such funding would specifically help disadvantaged backgrounds, that it would help student athletes build the basis for their career, and that it would aid student athletes in paying off their student loans.

Overall, the debate was great and our team was able to put up a strong case, but unfortunately, Casula ended up victorious. We wish them all the best in their future debates and would like to congratulate our team for putting up a strong case and representing Fort Street High School well.

by Samuel Hao (Year 10) and Srishti Mittal (Year 9)

Inner West Council Roadworks

We wish to advise you that Inner West council has engaged Civotek to construct 4 new raised pedestrians crossing near the school at the corner of Andreas St, Palace St and Brighton St Petersham . It is anticipated that the works will commence on Monday 25^th of May 2026. Work will be completed within the 4 weeks weather permitting.

Fountain Quad

A huge thank you to our generous P&C and families who provided new permanent fairy lights in the Fountain quad. They will definitely elevate our evening events such as our upcoming Fort Fest and IMP Winter Concert!

Fort Fest 2026

Save the date! Fort Fest 2026

This much-loved biennial event takes months of planning and is a fantastic opportunity to bring together students, families and staff for an evening of fun, connection and fundraising for our school.

Save the date

Date: Friday 18 September 2026

Time: 3:15 – 8:30pm

Location: Fort Street school grounds

Expect a vibrant evening filled with music, food, games and stalls suitable for all ages. Funds raised will go directly towards enhancing school resources that benefit the students.

Calling for volunteers

To make this event a success, we rely heavily on the support of our parent community. Whether you can take on a coordination role or run a stall on the day, we’d love to hear from you. Email us at events@fortstreetpandc.org.

Coordinator roles still to be filled

Finance coordinator – responsible for planning the token sales, assisting with square reader set up, managing floats, and looking after cash and money on the night.

Sponsorship, Donations and Prizes Coordinator – finds businesses to sponsor the event, manages call-outs for donations, organises the donation week at school and purchases stall prizes.

Parent-run food stall volunteers

We are now taking expressions of interest from parents or parent groups to host food stalls on the day. Not sure what to run? Here are some ideas to get you started!

• Crowd favourites: BBQ, hot dogs, tacos/nachos, fried rice/noodles, dumplings/gyozas
• Sweet treats: cupcakes, brownies, cookies, donuts, ice cream/gelato, chocolate dipped fruit, waffles or crepes, fairy floss
• Drinks: bubble tea stall, fresh lemonade, fruit cups, coffee cart, milkshakes
• Others: sandwiches, wraps, sausages roles, meat pies, popcorn stall, mystery snack bags

Stall holders are reimbursed for their expenses and all profits go to the school. 

Express interest to run a stall here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1jN6HqeR8T4a5zznWefv9ADZBlt2bIQmxZQp2XHRziQg/edit 

Book Talk

The Many Benefits of Reading for Pleasure 

Every year I like to take a moment to remind everyone about the benefits of reading for pleasure. Numerous studies show that students who read for fun on a regular basis experience a range of benefits, including academic achievement, emotional wellbeing, and greater creativity. 

A report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) found that students who read for enjoyment perform significantly better in reading assessments than those who rarely read for fun (OECD, 2010). The study concluded that reading for pleasure builds vocabulary, improves comprehension skills, and stimulates cognitive development. 

Beyond academic performance, reading for pleasure has positive effects on mental health and social skills. A review published in the journal Child and Adolescent Mental Health argues that regular reading encourages empathy, reduces stress, and supports emotional resilience (Marek, 2019). Books can introduce students to new perspectives and help them navigate the challenges of adolescence. 

So no matter what you read, picking up a book just for fun is a small habit that brings big rewards! 

Below are some new books in the library that we reccommend. 

Cas ran away to escape his problems. Now, he may have to run for his life. For fans of Tristan Bancks and Katherine Rundell comes this electrifying middle-grade novel about a twelve-year-old called Cas, who runs away to avoid a reunion with his estranged father. Cas soon finds himself lost in the wilderness, completely alone and without help. Or is he?

A collection of poetry and prose from a new Indigenous voice on the Australian literary scene. Dropbear interrogates the complexities of colonial and personal history with an alternately playful, tender and mournful intertextual voice, deftly navigating the responsibilities that gather from sovereign country and the spectres of memory.

When seventeen-year-old Eliza Lin’s essay about meeting the love of her life unexpectedly goes viral, her entire life changes overnight. Now she has the approval of her classmates at her new international school in Beijing, a career-launching internship opportunity at her favourite magazine … and a massive secret to keep. Eliza made her essay up. She’s never been in a relationship before, let alone in love. All good writing is lying, right? Desperate to hide the truth, Eliza strikes a deal with the famous actor in her class, the charming but aloof Caz Song. She’ll help him write his college applications if he poses as her boyfriend. Caz is a dream boyfriend – he passes handwritten notes to her in class, makes her little sister laugh, and takes her out on motorcycle rides to the best snack stalls around the city. But when her relationship with Caz starts feeling a little too convincing, all of Eliza’s carefully laid plans are threatened. Can she still follow her dreams if it means breaking her own heart?

References: 

• OECD (2010). Reading for Pleasure: Unlocking the Benefits. 

• Marek, E. (2019). “Reading and Wellbeing in Young People.” Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 24(2), 74-79. 

See also: 

Sullivan, A. (2013). “Reading for fun improves children’s brains, study confirms.” In The Guardian. Retrieved, 15 May 2026 

https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2013/sep/16/reading-improves-childrens-brains 

Goodwin, C. (2023) “The Benefits of Reading for Pleasure.” In Psychology Today. Retrieved, 15 May 2026 

https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/parenting-translator/202308/the-benefits-of-reading-for-pleasure  

Wellbeing Corner

Young people today are regularly exposed to harmful misogynistic content online, often without seeking it out. To address this, a community group called All Together Now has been working with young people to create Unplug the Hate, a campaign that promotes reflection, active allyship, and healthier conversations around harmful online content. In particular, the campaign’s website provides information about the “Manosphere”, why it can be appealing to young people, and how people can leave it.

Careers Office

IMP News

Jazz Orchestra performs at Lazybones Lounge

On Tuesday 5 May, the Fort Street Jazz Orchestra were thrilled to perform at Lazybones Lounge (one of Sydney’s premiere professional jazz clubs) as part of the Tuesday Night Jazz Education Series. The band played brilliantly under the direction of Mike Raper, and it has been very exciting to hear the group’s huge progress over the past few years through this performance opportunity.

Jazz Orchestra were the support act for the incredible Tuesday Night Jazz Orchestra, a professional ensemble made up of Sydney’s finest jazz musicians. TNJO were joined by Belgian Jazz trumpet genius, Bert Joris, playing a program of his compositions. A huge number of families stayed after our performance to hear Bert and the TNJO perform, and it was a transformative experience for everyone involved.

Young Women’s Jazz Workshops

The Young Women’s Jazz Workshops are on again this year and applications are now open! Students with an interest in jazz are encouraged to apply.

The eight-week program accommodates players of all skill levels (aged 12 and over), from beginner to advanced, regardless of their prior knowledge of jazz, and has been crafted to inspire young instrumentalists to play and pursue a future in music.

For more information: https://sima.org.au/programs/young-womens-jazz-workshop/

Applications close: Monday 20 June

Strike a Chord competition now open!

Musica Viva Australia’s national chamber music competition is now open!

School students across Australia are invited to enter, whether just starting out or already experienced performers. Win prizes, get feedback, and for those who progress to the Championship Section National Final, perform live at Melbourne Recital Centre on 29 August.

FAQs: https://www.musicaviva.com.au/strike-a-chord/resources/strike-a-chord-faqs/

For more information on Champion Section: https://www.musicaviva.com.au/strike-a-chord/championship-section/

For more information on Foundation section: https://www.musicaviva.com.au/strike-a-chord/foundation-section

Entries close: Thursday 28 May

SRC Update

SRC Future Leaders Conference Coming Up

Hi Fort! 

The SRC is excited to announce the annual Future Leaders Conference for 2026 will be happening on Friday 22nd May.

The Future Leaders Conference was created three years ago by the Student Representative Council to inspire young leaders in public secondary schools across Greater Sydney, with over 300 students from 33 different schools attending in 2024 and 2025. The theme for 2026 is “Strong Minds, Strong Leaders”, focusing on the diverse range of mental health challenges that leaders have faced and will continue to face.

Year 11 will be attending the conference and listening to distinguished speakers on the day – faces to look forward to are Mark Loughran (Instructor from Martial Arts Academy Australia), Emma Kockbek (FIFA Assistant Referee), Mack Murphy from Youth Leadership Academy Australia, broadcaster Dr Sunil Badami, and many more.

For this event, access to the Fountain Quad and Rowe Quad will be restricted, so please plan your day around this.

Looking forward to seeing Year 11 there!

Lucinda Man (she/her)

SRC President

P&C News

The Parents & Citizens Association aims to support an inclusive and enriching community and provide students with the necessary experiences, resources, and facilities. 

The P&C holds meetings at 7:30pm on the second Wednesday of each month during school terms. The first meeting of the term is in the school library and the following meetings each term are held via Zoom. 

These meetings provide an opportunity to learn more about what is happening in the school and how it operates, to ask questions, and to meet other parents. The School Principal usually gives an informative report on the recent happenings within the school. 

Check the calendar on the school website for the next P&C meeting date.